EmpowerMax

“What’s talked about is a dream, what’s envisioned is exciting, what’s planned becomes possible and what’s scheduled is REAL!” - Tony Robbins

I will until. Some powerful words aren’t they?

These are words that you surround you when you envision your vision, goals and objectives.

In today’s microwave society, people expect everything to occur immediately. Nothing wrong with that except that should the expected result not appear within the projected nanosecond, it’s dropped and said person moves on to the next shiny “thingy.”

Not the suggested plan for success.

Thomas Edison had the “I will until….” mentality.

Henry Ford had the “I will until….” mentality.

Lewis & Clark had the “I will until….” mentality.

Charles Lindbergh had the “I will until….” mentality.

Walter Payton had the “I will until….” mentality.

Bill Gates has the “I will until….” mentality.

Dan Gable has the “I will until….” mentality.

The Italian Soccer Team at the 2006 World Cup had the “I will until…” mentality.

And the list goes on.

“I will until…” means that you’re committed.

It means that you will do whatever it takes to achieve the goal, no matter what.

As you are preparing to launch into the remainder of 2009 (if you haven’t already), ask yourself how committed you are to your written down goals. If you are going to make a statement about what you want to accomplish, the least you can do is make sure you are completely committed.

Any questions? If so, email me at info@empowermax.com and schedule a consultation.

The best is yet to come!

David Martin
info@empowermax.com

“In a world where the big things have little difference; it’s the little things that make a big difference.” — Peter Thomson

A few days ago I returned from a long trip that included time in both Mexico and Venezuela. One of these beautiful countries I have come to know and love quite well over the past 30 years and the for the other it was a first time visit. An excellent time was had in both.

In Venezuela I had the opportunity to talk about “Transcending Limiting Beliefs” (in Spanish) to a group of executives, entrepreneurs and educators that totaled approximately 225 participants. This was a leadership conference hosted by CATTCO.

The response was amazing. First I was giving a presentation that I hadn’t given in english yet and second because the momentum that was created surpassed even my wildest imagination. It was like harvest time in Venezuela, yet the planting was done mostly in Mexico and Panama. Imagine that, plant here - harvest there.

I made this presentation Wednesday on the Performance Zone training call and had some interesting feedback. One comment was, “How does that happen? Why if you put the effort in one area, would you receive the benefit from another area?”

Before I answer that, I want to be perfectly clear that there has been a lot of benefit in both Mexico and Panama simply due to the effort over the last nearly 4 years. My point was that the quantum leap came from an unexpected source. There have been times in my life when I was so focused on my goal and the end result that I missed the very result I was seeking. Sound familiar?

Let go! Let go of the attachment of the goal. Put your energy into the pursuit of the goal, however don’t squeeze your mind so hard that you close yourself off from the achievement of the goal. Keep your eye on the proverbial prize, just don’t choke the energetic life out of “the prize.”

Be open, turn up your sensory accuity so that when the harvest does come from a varied or variety of sources, you’re ready.

Until then, put everything you have into everything you do.

The best is yet to come!

David Martin
505.821.0157
info@empowermax.com

“Each day, and the living of it, has to be a conscious creation in which discipline and order are relieved with some play and pure foolishness.” - May Sarton

Here’s a quick thought for the day. Start each day seeing yourself at your best.

Hmmm, not a bad idea is it?

People often ask me how I got started and how I developed my career as speaker, especially internationally. Of course, I go through the list of “things.” People I know, contacts I’ve maintained, opportunities that were presented etc.

Back when I first began speaking, things did not take off for me right out of the gate. The first few months were lean, as the saying goes. I was following all of the prescribed strategies & tactics a new business is supposed to follow.

Then there was my morning ritual of “seeing me at my best.” Every morning, today included, I take a few minutes to see myself in some activity related to one of my goals.

As I would begin my morning, it began with a short 8 minute visualization process of me “experiencing” successfully reaching one of my goals. In this case, I saw myself standing on a stage speaking.

Being that my goal was to achieve an international speaking engagement by the end of December 2004 (I began this in July 2003), I constructed the most complete picture of me “at my best” doing the deed.

I saw myself on the stage.

I saw the clothes I was wearing.

I saw the lights, the cameras and the silhouettes of the audience.

I could hear my voice, the content of my presentation, the laughter and the applause of the crowd.

I could see, feel and hear myself in this situation, achieving this goal…enjoying this success.

I was watching myself perform at my very best. THAT my friend is an awesome experience.

Now why am I telling you this?

Simple answer – because I achieved this goal, not in a year and a half. I achieved this goal in less than 6 months. By the beginning of December 2003 I spoke at an international conference to an audience of 435 people. One year ahead of schedule!

And the most important point of this experience was not the achievement, but the habit of visualization and the way “seeing me at my best” made me feel about me.

Each day I was conditioning my mindset for success. Every thought, every feeling, every picture supported the belief that I deserved that goal. So when the inevitable challenges arose, I wasn’t knocked off course.

I invite you to experience “seeing yourself at your best” each and everyday. Pick one goal and focus on it first thing every morning, no exceptions. Not only will you start off each day feeling powerful, you’ll have a lot of fun too!

Until next time, put everything you have into everything you do.

David Martin
505.821.0157
info@empowermax.com

“Sooner or later; everyone sits down to a banquet of consequences.” – Robert Louis Stevenson

Today we live in a microwave society, at least here in the states. Canada is not far behind and many other emerging nations (read burgeoning economies) are following along the lead set by the “Gotta have it now!” people.

Keep this in mind. There is always a consequence to whatever action you take.

The possibilities are endless and dependent on actions etc, so I am not going to make specific statements as to what will or will not happen. That’s for another email.

But you can’t have something for nothing. There is an opposite action – always.

For you academic types, for every action there is equal and opposite reaction.

For the Zen philosophers it’s called the duality of nature; the Yin and the Yang.

You know positive/negative, happiness/sadness, good/bad, day time/night time, winter/summer, black/white; all the usual suspects apply when it comes to examples of opposites.

So when you make a decision in your life, it either moves you closer to your goal or it doesn’t. It’s that simple. No Virginia, there aren’t any that do both.

There are also consequences, both positive and negative to our decisions. These consequences, although at times barely perceptible, are very, very real.

Sometimes, because we live in the aforementioned microwave society, people tend to ignore the consequences of their decisions. Sometimes because they don’t appear until down the road, sometimes it’s because they seem small. But it will have an effect, not always pleasing.

It’s just getting what they want with little or no regard for the effects.

Not a good strategy.

Does this mean that you don’t make decisions quickly? Not at all, it means that if you make decisions quickly you’ve done so with consideration.

What does that mean? Consideration?

It simply means you’ve looked at the possible outcomes both good and bad, positive and negative, of your actions. And remember, there is always an outcome, always.

Remember, we’re coming into a time when the world is becoming a very small place. Technology allows us to do business in multiple languages simultaneously at light speed, to travel in hours to anywhere in the world, obtain information about virtually anything we require immediately.

And, the rest of the world is here to stay in this economy of the new millennium. Latin America & Asia most importantly in my opinion.

So you can choose to be all or choose to be part. You can choose to create your future in advance or you can choose to allow someone else to create it for you. You can choose to put all you have into all you do, or you can choose not to.

Each has their own set of consequences and their own set of rewards.

So, here’s a choice for you. Choose to design four vision and get started on your better future. You can make it your gift to yourself.

The best is yet to come!

David Martin
505.821.0157
info@empowermax.com

“In the presence of greatness, pettiness disappears. In the absence of a great dream, pettiness prevails.” - Robert Fritz

Around this time of year I embark on a ritual change in diet.

Why? The answer is simple, it’s Lent.

Being raised by an Italian mother & Irish father, there was no choice but to be Catholic. And now, being married to a Mexican-American, well, you know the deal.

I was taught that during this time, one should deny oneself certain pleasures. Favorite foods, alcohol, sweets etc. This is supposed to represent a sacrifice.

The challenge I have with giving up something like chocolate is that it’s not much of a sacrifice. Now before some of the women out there start citing things like, “There’s a study that shows the benefits of chocolate for a woman…” Let it go!!! It’s chocolate and therefore not a huge sacrifice for you to forgo the indulgence for 40 days.

Moving right along, for the past few years I decided that during this time period, I would give up pasta, rice and bread. For an Italian living with a Mexican, we consume our fair share of all three.

This year, I embarked on my annual pseudo - fast on Ash Wednesday, right in the middle of a series of trips to Mexico, Chicago etc whilst staying some pretty fancy hotels with some seriously yummy restaurants. I, however, have maintained my commitment.

Several years ago during my unusual participation in this ancient rite, some friends joined me for lunch & asked why my plate seemed to be void of some of the more yummy morsels.

When I explained my reasoning, I was asked by the female contingent of this pair about what foods I was replacing the missing goodies with. She had a very broad knowledge about organic foods and assorted alternatives; meanwhile I had the “deer in the headlights” look.

After a  few minutes I learned more about alternatives to what is commonly found in the grocery stores than I otherwise could have. The woman certainly knew her stuff. That’s when her husband stepped in threw me a life-line.

“Basically the benefit derived is from the act, not so much the food quality,” he said.

Right on - he stated succinctly what I hadn’t. And while what she was expressing has value, for me he was more correct in my not so humble opinion.

Here’s why.

You see the physical benefits I gain from not eating pasta, rice and bread for 40 days are obvious. Lose a bit of weight, cleanse the body a bit, clothes fit better and perhaps a bit of increase in energy.

The real benefits however are in the doing. The discipline, the commitment, the follow through and the focus just to name a few.

That’s often how it is with many things in life. We derive more benefit from the actions we take than the results we seek.

The actions you take on purpose, consistently, with focus and commitment will launch you like a rocket toward the life you seek.

Remember be, do, have.

The best is yet to come!

David Martin
505.821.0157
info@empowermax.com