The Struggle of Learning

 

 

 

OUCH!

 

Guess what? Learning from your mistakes and/or failures is PAINFUL!

 

But, you know what is even MORE painful? Making the same mistakes OVER AND OVER AGAIN and never learning anything!

 

And, it's painful to watch as well.

 

Growth (which is really what learning promotes) is always a painful process whether it be in business (or any type of organization) or even physically.

 

I remember when I was a teen lying in my bed at night, on my stomach, kicking my legs because they hurt so much from the "growing pains" that I was experiencing. But it's not always physical when you are "growing up", is it? Emotionally learning how to deal with social skills as you go through those "awkward stages" of physical growth can sometimes be difficult to navigate.

 

But, just as in these examples I just shared, though "learning" and growth can be difficult they do go "hand in hand" and they DO produce positive results.

 

IF we don't give up and IF we don't miss out on the opportunity to LEARN from our mistakes and failures.

 

Seeing people do the same wrong thing over and over again is just plain painful to see. But, you know what? Whether they realize it or not, it's even more painful to live that kind of life.

 

So, "suck it up" buddy and GET ON with the process of learning and growing through your mistakes and failures.

 

You will make it as long as you don't give up and as long as you don't stop learning.

 

Yeah, now you get it.

 

Until next time...

 

 

"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"

 

Mike

 

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A View of Hope

"As long as there's breath, there's hope" - Mike Spillman

 

Yeah, that's one of mine and it does actually fit into what we are going to talk about today.

 

Re-read the words in the graphic above and think about it.

     1. Have you made mistakes?  (Yes)

     2. Have you ever failed at anything? (see #1)

     3. Have you ever done anything right? (Yes)

YOU ARE HUMAN!

 

Whether you tried and failed or failed because you didn't even try doesn't really matter. What matters is the fact that, since you are a human and you are alive, there is HOPE for a turn around and HOPE for a celebration of success!

 

Mistakes and failure are a part of life! There is no way around that fact. But, as has been mentioned several times in the last few blog articles and podcasts, what you DO following your failures is what matters most.

 

I FAIL!

 

I STRUGGLE!

 

I don't always do what I set out to do and I don't always do "it" successfully. That's a fact.

 

BUT...I still know that the very fact that I'm alive and breathing points to the fact that I still have the chance to change things and make them better. I still have the chance to LEARN FROM MY MISTAKES AND FAILURE and make positive progress from here on out.

 

Will I still make mistakes and fail at times? YES. Again, just a fact of being alive.

 

BUT...hopefully I will continue to improve on what I learn from each of these negative episodes and I will begin to experience them less and less.

 

As we talked about in the last article, let each one of those failures become a stepping stone on your way to success.

 

HOPE.

 

We all need it, we all must have it in order to continue on. Take a look, see it, feel it, know it, believe it, bask in it and be grateful for it.

 

Beautiful, isn't it?

 

It's there for you each and every day that you are alive.

 

Take that fact and use it to your advantage and, as you do so, be sure to...

 

 

"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"

 

Mike

 

Future You University     "Like" FYU on Facebook!     Podcast on iTunes     Podcast RSS feed

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Read, Study & Learn!

Read, Study and Learn!

If you are at all like me, once I finished college I wanted to STOP studying and - how silly of me - stop learning! It was a sign of immaturity and, I believe, temporary insanity to be thinking such a thing!

However, it didn't take long for me to understand and realize that, even if that were my true wish, it just wasn't going to come true! One WILL always be continuing to learn whether they want to or not!

So, here's the thing - we need to make this a "WANT TO" situation in our lives. And, yes, at the same time, it IS a "HAVE TO".... if we plan to continue to move toward our goals and dreams!

Can I point something out right up front? I believe there is a BIG difference between "reading" and "studying". Yes, it is true that you cannot study without reading but it IS possible to read without studying.

So, my focus for this blog today is very similar to what I said about "practice" a few days ago when I worded it as, "Practice With Purpose!". The same is true with this, "Read With Purpose!".

What is it that you hope to achieve as you read? Now, I know that there are times that we read stories just for pure enjoyment and escape and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. However, if that is ALL that we read -- aren't we kind of sticking our heads in the sand and not living in the real world?

As with everything, we must look at balance and, again, PURPOSE.

There are times that we read with PURPOSE (not the fictional story times) and we need to make sure that we follow through with that purpose.

FOLLOW THROUGH

Why emphasize that word? Well, first of all, follow me through this line of thinking (pretty snazzy there, huh?).

IF we read with purpose (and, by the way, everything we do should have PURPOSE in our lives) then we won't just read to say that we accomplished that task for the day. We will READ in such a way that will cross over into the area of STUDY. And, if we STUDY with PURPOSE we will also LEARN!

Read --> Study --> Learn

I remember in High School as well as college how I studied with one thing in mind. Try to pass the test. That was it! That was my goal and my purpose! That is why, many times, I would stay up all night cramming at the last minute hoping I'd retain just enough to pass the test. Sometimes it worked and sometimes it did not.

But I can tell you, without a doubt, one thing that DID NOT happen in those situations. I did not LEARN!

Learning takes place longer than the immediate need. Learning implants itself in our minds so that it is ready to be brought back out of that memory file to be used again when needed!

What's that old saying? "Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me."

What does that mean? It means simply this - If I did not LEARN from the first situation then SHAME ON ME!

So, learning takes place when we embed and incorporate what we have read and studied into our minds and our lives! This is what happens when we READ and STUDY with a purpose!

A few suggestions:

- Keep on reading this blog along with others that encourage and inspire you

- If you haven't done so, go to my website (http://www.FutureYouUniversity.com) and request the FREE report that you will find there. It's not long but, again, don't let the simplicity fool you. (I will make the podcasts that I did based on that report available to you very soon).

- Go to the "products" tab on that same website and order your FREE copy (pay s/h) of "Think & Grow Rich" by Napoleon Hill. Wow, what a great book and, indeed, this is one to be read AND studied!

- If you have some favorite e-books that you have yet to print out, DO IT! Having the material in front of you so that you can highlight, underline and make notes improves the study process and, thus, the learning process.

- Go to Success.com (if you don't subscribe to the magazine) and look over all of the FREE information that you find there. When you find an article that you really like, PRINT IT OUT for the same reason I just mentioned in the previous paragraph.

- Go to your local library and check out all of the wonderful books in the field of personal development! Don't write in the book BUT take a notepad along with you so that you can jot down notes from those books! Keep all of these types of notes in one notebook so that all of these wonderful thoughts and ideas can be easily located!

If you are not in the habit of reading, WORK ON IT and FORM THAT HABIT.

I used a quote on today's podcast from the late Charlie "Tremendous" Jones in which he said, "You will be the same person in five years as you are today except for two things, the people you meet and the books you read."

Wow. Think about that and commit yourself to do the following each and every day: Read, Study and Learn!

"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"

Mike

You Have A Brain...Use It! ;)

The brain.

Even now we know very little about how it works and how powerful it truly is. Oh, I know that we have learned a LOT over the years since the book, "Think & Grow Rich" by Napoleon Hill was written, but we still know very little about it and the power held within.

This we do know. The majority of us does not take advantage of this powerhouse that we all have. And, yes, I do know that some are unable to use it to it's fullness due to some injury or disease - but let's talk about me and you, shall we?

What are you (we) doing to continue to learn, grow and expand our knowledge that is housed in our brain? For most of us the answer would be - "very little". I believe I've either heard or read somewhere that the majority of us rarely use even 10% of our brain's capabilities. Doesn't that make you wonder what we'd be capable of if we increased that to only 20%?

So, as we read this chapter on the brain and the next chapter on "The Sixth Sense" we may be tempted to disregard the information that Mr. Hill shares in these chapters. I admit, they are a little difficult to read and understand and, yes - believe! But, perhaps we should, instead, attempt to follow the guidelines and suggestions in this book and explore the possibilities!

It always amazes me how many "experts" there are in our world. Actually, to be more specific, it always amazes me how many people are "experts" at anything and everything! You likely know someone like that, don't you? It doesn't matter what it is that you or someone else may be talking about, THEY have all the answers and, usually, all the reasons why it can't be true or why it won't work.

And, yet, when you check their "credentials" or their experience with such things, they have none. Zero. Not one bit. Yet, they "know" all about it! Amazing, isn't it?

So, you see, WE can be the same way (now that's a scary thought, isn't it?) when we read things found in some of these chapters in this book. It doesn't make sense to us. It doesn't sound possible. We've not experienced it ourselves. So, all of that put together must mean that it can't be true! Come on, admit it. You've had those thoughts on some of this, haven't you? To be honest, I have! And then I have to think, "Really, Mike...what do you know about it?"

We must remember how much time Napoleon Hill put into this book. It was not a quick, "write-it-in-a-weekend" endeavor. It took years - over 20 years - to put these thoughts together and - let's not forget this important fact - he tested these principles along the way.

So, as the title says, "You have a brain...use it!" But the main point is this - let's learn to use it more than we are now in order to improve our lives as well as the lives of others.

Here's to that continued process and journey and, as always...

"Make it an AWESOME Day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"

Mike

Thursday's Podcast Discussion

As I conclude my discussion of chapter 5 - "Specialized Knowledge" - I discussed the importance of YOU finding YOUR specialty!

Think about it - if all you have to offer is the same thing that thousands of other people can do - you will be limited on the amount of income that you will receive. You will also find that you are easily replaceable - hey, if everyone else can do it, perhaps they can find someone cheaper.

HOWEVER, if you can offer something that very few others - and perhaps NO OTHERS - can offer, then - guess what? YOU WILL BE GREATLY VALUED!

"Oh, but I have nothing special to offer"

"It's too much work to try to find something or to become a 'specialist'"

Another thing that was discussed was Napoleon Hill's observation that one thing for which there was NO REMEDY was a LACK OF AMBITION! Are you willing to WORK at it to improve your life? He also made the observation that those who have ambition are those that find themselves placed in the position of OPPORTUNITY.

Are you willing to spend some extra time and, yes, even money to discover something that goes along with your passion? Hey, the library is FREE but, are you willing to spend the TIME that may be necessary to learn something new or learn how to present your idea?

Many talk. Few are willing to do the work.

Stop whining - start shining! (Hey, another good one!)

Think about it. I'd love to hear any comments and/or feedback that you may have on this and all of the other topics that are being discussed in my podcasts.

Tomorrow is FUN FRIDAY and we will continue our sharing of some "unusual sayings". Monday we will begin with chapter 6 of this Napoleon Hill classic on, "Imagination".

"Make it an AWESOME Day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"

Mike

UPDATE on FIRST SEMINAR!! (yeah, READ THIS!)

Alright! (Yeah, I know, I start all of my podcasts that way, too) ;)

Due to some scheduling conflicts that have come up on my end I have had to CHANGE the DATE for my very first SEMINAR! It was scheduled for Saturday, June 13th and now it has been bumped one week to SATURDAY, JUNE 20th!!!

Mark this date down and PLAN TO BE A PART! Why? Well, go to http://www.futureyouuniversity.com/ and click on "F.Y.U. Class of 2009" to read the "why" (uh, can you say "lifetime price freeze"?). You don't want to miss this first, great opportunity!

There will be more things announced very soon that will be "part of the package" of this event - BUT BE THINKING AND PLANNING NOW (and also cast your vote as far as location).

At this point I plan to do one seminar in June, one in July and two in August - all of which will be a part of what I am calling "Future You University - Summer Session 2009".

You want to be a part of this "Summer Session" (again, the FIRST one carries the "lifetime price freeze") because beginning in September, the price for the seminar WILL GO UP!

I'm ready! Are you? Will you? (Hey, by the way, do you have any idea how much FUN we will have on top of all of the pumped up, positive vibes??)

Anyway, there you go - can you tell I'm a little - JUST A LITTLE - excited?

(One last note - I will be scheduling conference calls very, very soon to start sharing with you some more thoughts and insights to this exciting weekend - be listening and watching!)

Mike