“You Become What you Think About”… I first heard these powerful words from Earl Nightingale’s Lead the Field program.  If you haven’t noticed already, I’m a huge fan.  He makes the example in his talk that people that think about becoming doctors, go to school and do the necessary steps to become doctors.  It all begins with their thought, then decision, and action.

Its a little bit scary how true this process is.  If you’ll start paying attention, you’ll notice you do this for almost everything.  For instance, imagine you are at home watching TV and you are kind of hungry.  You’ll then go through the options in your head.  Then, you make a decision based on different variables (mood, what’s in the pantry, etc.) and then take action…but it all starts in your mind!

Most people get bogged down in the decision making process.  As has been mentioned in almost all the previous posts, most people are followers.  Unfortunately, they wait for someone else to tell them what they should be doing.  They may want to, for example, be a doctor, but are deferring the decision making process to someone else! Something I learned from Dan Kennedy, possibly the best marketer alive, and easily a business genius, is that you can’t wait for someone else to give you permission or appoint you to a position.  First of all, in a lot of cases you already have the power (kind of like Neo in the Matrix, although I feel cheesy referencing it), you simply have to give yourself permission.

Secondly, certifying bodies (for example, think of Karate’s white to black belt process) don’t want everyone at the top.  You might be the best Karate fighter at a blue belt, but for status and power in the group, you have to wait your turn and take your licks.

You can wait 20 years to be sensei, or just give yourself the power

A lot of very successful people give themselves titles and positions of power.  A lot of rappers come to mind like Biggie, Tupac, Kanye, et al.  They have the Scarface mentality of  “I’m gonna get mine.” They have the thought of having lots of money and women.  They then make a committed decision – “I’m gonna get mine.” Then they take action by rapping about their goals on stage and competing in the entertainment arena.

All the bling and money started as a thought in his mind

At the end of the day, its a simple process.

Thought

You’ve got to know what it is that you want.  What does your future look like? Where do you want to be? What do you want to be doing? Before you embark, you must know your destination, or you will float hopelessly adrift the sea of life.

Decision

Make a firm decision about where you will end up.  Be committed to your decision, but make a decision!  Correct course as you head to your destination, but be persistent. Persevere.

Action

Its funny how much more life force you get when you have a definite purpose.  Suddenly you have the energy to get out of bed in the morning.  You can work longer and with joy.  It doesn’t feel like work.  That is how you know you are on course.  Take massive action everyday…its like taking miles out of the long journey to your goal and to the vision that you had in your head.