As a plastic surgeon Maltz observed the psychology of people coming to him with requests for surgery.

Unlike most surgeons, Dr. Maltz looked for ways to treat his patients without the scalpel.

Believing that most of his patients suffered from ” Limbic Hijacking” a condition that required no surgery, he would counsel them accordingly.

The “Limbic System” is the part of the brain that filters complicated information and tells us how we feel about it. It is where we experience emotions and form our moods.

Two people can experience the same event however have totally different interpretations of it. This is because of how their Limbic brain processes the information and stores it.

When people’s perceptions about themselves were inappropriately out of balance, it was as if someone had hijacked their “Limbic Brain”.

Dr. Maltz observed that some patients would present themselves to him with a perceived defect that they believed required surgical correction. They believed that the correction of this defect would have a dramatic impact on how others would perceive them.

In reality, they mostly suffered from a distorted perception of themselves. (one extreme example is anorexia)

Dr. Maltz was able to convince many that their “defect” was in reality not that big of a deal. It was their self perception of that body part that created the problem.

Once these patients changed their self image by making shifts at the Limbic level, they no longer required surgery.

Other patients could not make the shift until the surgery was performed.

Now, let’s talk about you!

A careful self evaluation is in order.

Do you have self image issues that effect your behavior towards others?

Does your self image misinterpret what others perceive about you?

Low self esteem and low confidence are the result of a distorted self image.

Can we change our self image or is it a genetically imprinted in our brain?

The answer is YES, you can make dramatic changes in the way you see yourself. This change much occur at the Limbic brain.

It requires discipline and courage to make the necessary shifts. It is not about “faking it till you make it”, it’s about seeing yourself in a completely different way.

Here is an exercise I give to all my coaching clients.

Create a daily “Affirmation” that you will read out loud. You must read it twice daily, with passion and conviction. Since you’re reading it out loud, make sure you’re in a place by yourself.

Your affirmation should contain an image of the person you desire to be, possessing the qualities of an empowered, valuable you!

This is a powerful tool in transforming your Limbic brain and creating a new, empowered self image!

Here are some additional ways you can reinforce your newly developing self image.

Eliminate as many negative influencers as possible. Reduce the news you watch as well as the overall amount of TV you consume.

Choose books to read that are empowering and help you grow as a person. Surround yourself with people that encourage and respect you. Stay away from those who would put you down.

When you accept that God made you, and He doesn’t make junk, you can walk free knowing you are valued, loved and cherished.

Refuse to allow anyone to “Hijack your Limbic brain” and convince you you’re not awesome. You must guard your new empowered self image carefully.

Remember, your self image is not based on some distorted concept of perfection, it is based on the principle of self acceptance, understanding and your ability to shape and mold empowering traits into your character.

A young man (20 years old) asked Mary Ellen a question that made everyone think. He asked; “Why should I read a book a second time? I don’t see the point”. After a few minutes of discussion, I offered my opinion.

I told this talented young man that that simple fact remains. Books don’t change…..We Do!

As time goes by and circumstances in life change for us, the filters of our mind opens and the capacity to receive new information (that was always there) occurs.

I remember when I first heard the ageless proverb, ” When the student is ready, the teacher appears”! Life’s experiences should prepare us to see more and gain greater understanding.

Think about all the times in life you re-read something and understood so much more, watched a movie you had already seen only to experience it in a much deeper way, re-listened to a sermon, teaching or lesson only to discover some greater meaning.

I’m an avid audio-book listener. I get to experience great books and courses on my IPod while I’m driving in my car, working out at the gym, taking a walk or working in the yard (something you’ll rarely catching me doing). I can convert less productive time into high valued time.

We don’t necessarily have to wait for years to pass by in order to gain new perspective.  We can accelerate this process through discipline.

Learning to discipline ourselves to change our perspective on what we see, read and experience can expand our understanding, increase our perception and give us greater insight. Discussing it with those who are older, wiser or more experienced can lend us new insight.

WARNING: Establish solid “Core Values” early on in life so that all you take into your mind is filtered through these. That way you are not like a wave tossed about by the wind, quickly changing directions whenever you are exposed to differing views or perceptions.

Re-reading a good book, repeating a course or lesson, seeing a great movie more than once or re-attending a seminar can be of great benefit when we open ourselves to see more, understand better and seek greater insight.

Always remember,  “When we change, the world around us changes”. This is a key ingredient to a successful life. The sooner you adopt the habit of change the faster you will grow and the richer (spiritually, physically, relationally and financially) you will become.

What is the herd? It is when masses of people move in a specific direction following a trend, strategy or movement lead by others.

Dan believes that whatever the majority is doing, we should do the opposite! Especially when it come to marketing our business.

It’s hard to argue with a man that has directly responsible for helping millions of individuals become financially free.

The herd mentality is based on the principle of “Social Proof”.

Social Proof is a powerful force that causes people to “follow the lead” of others, especially when they are unsure of what it is they should do, even if it’s not in their best interest.

Think of the masses that invested money with Bernie Madoff. Based solely on misinformation and the desire for profit and the perception that he was creating massive returns on the money he would invest. From one person telling another, Billions (approximately 50 Billion) were invested into his scam.

This principle of “Social Proof” is in play all the time.

Think about the times when you were in bumper-to-bumper traffic. Ten cars ahead of you a driver singles to move to another lane. Without being able to see what is causing the tie up, the next car behind this one, singles and follows the driver in front of them. A chain reaction occurs and dozens of cars follow suit, never knowing for sure if this will get them through traffic any faster.

We are all subject to this subconscious weapon of influence. It has a powerful persuasive effect that is based in societal conditioning.

Throughout our lives, we have observed the behavior of others to help determine our behavior. We take queues from the actions of others and in most cases it has served us well.

Compliance experts often use this weapon against us when trying to get us to do something that benefits them.

How can we block this powerful weapon from moving us to do something that may not be in our best interest?

First, we must recognize it when it is being used against us.

Second, we must examine the simple premise of truth! Is what we’re being told, or what we see, the truth?

For example: We are purchasing a new car at a local dealership. The salesperson is trying to get us to buy the “Extended Warranty”. They tell us that 9 out of 10 buyers purchase it and strongly urge us to do the same.

By invoking this “Social Proof” piece of information, we might be compelled to purchase the Warranty. However, we recognize what the salesperson is doing and we quickly re-assess whether we are being told the truth about how many others purchase the “Extended Warranty”, and if we really even need it. We can then decide whether we need to buy it.

Compliance tactics are being wielded against us every day. “Social Proof” is only one that we need to be aware of. Like Dan Kennedy warned us, let’s not follow the herd blindly, rather, we may want to consider running the other way when it’s not in our best interest.

Want to turn the tables? You can become a compliance expert and get more people to say YES to you. Look for my upcoming program on this subject. You’ll want to get it at the Special Release Offer!

Life is short. This is not a dress rehearsal. It’s the only performance you get! You must get up every day and live it like it’s your last.

In my “Success Operating System” I teach a module on “Mastering Time”. This area is the most understood concept in life for most. It’s typically when there is little of it left that we start to appreciate it.

Time is the most precious commodity God has given you! How do you value it? You can always judge how well you value it by the way you use it.

The # 1 excuse I hear people use for why they can’t get ahead financially, have strained relationships with their loved ones, can’t exercise, can’t eat right and can’t go on vacation is they don’t have time!

You must learn to master your time.

Think about highly productive people like Oprah Winfrey, Richard Branson, Bill Gates, Simon Cowell, Mark Cuban and Dr. John Maxwell. Their lives are very demanding, stressful and yet they are massively effective at utilizing their time productively. Do they have more then the 24 hours you and I have in any given day?

The difference between you and those titans of the business world is how they have learned to leverage their time, talents and resources to achieve more!

Hear are several strategies I give my clients to help them get more production out of every day.

1. Plan: The evening before or the morning of, plan out you day. Don’t worry about getting it perfect. Just do it! It’s OK if things change and get in the way of your plans. Adapt, improvise, overcome (famous line by Clint Eastwood playing Gunnery Sergeant Tom Highway in “Heartbreak Ridge” 1986) should be your motto.
2. Prioritize: Here is the easiest way to figure out your priorities. Ask yourself, what can I do today, this week or month that will make the biggest difference in my life? Another way of asking this is; what will give me the biggest return on investment (ROI) for the time I invest today?
3. Prepare: You will be more productive if you prepare as much as possible in advance for the tasks at hand. Making sure you have everything you need to complete the project will increase your efficiency.
4. Job Completion: Work to complete the task the first time. When you allow interruptions to prevent a task from being completed, you will waste time figuring out where you left off when you return to that task. Adopt the rule; I will finish what I start without interruptions!
5. Excellence: Make excellence, not perfection your mantra! No one is perfect however you can be excellent at whatever to work at with passion, diligence and persistence.
6. Develop the Habit: For most of us, mastering time does not come naturally. I recommend developing the habit of using your most precious commodity with high efficiency.

For more on this subject check out my “Mastering Time” module from my home study “Success Operating System”.

This subject is all about YOU!

I have met 3 types of people only. Those who spend their lives, taking inventory of what others get in comparison to what they get in life.

They keep score. It’s all about them, getting their fair share. For the most part they are moving through life passively, always coming up short, and letting the world around them know it! This group, I call “The Bean Counters”.

The second group is the “Seed Planters”. They are by far the minority! They have discovered that to be truly rich, you learn to give away, create value in others lives, and to sow richness wherever you go or whatever you do.

When you plant enough seeds over time, you reap a bountiful harvest in season, year after year.

The third group is somewhere in the middle. They spend a lot of time as “Bean Counters” however they “Plant Seeds” occasionally. Once they make the connection that being a victim (Bean Counter) is wasted energy, they will rapidly focus all of their energies on being a “Seed Planter”.

OK, it’s time to chose. Which category do you fit in? If you’re not are die hard “Seed Planter”, what are you going to do about it? More importantly, WHEN will you do something about it?

I know I’ve said it so many times before, “what you focus on in life, expands in your life” (I first read this in T. Harv Eker’s book, “Secret of the Millionaire Mind”).

When your energies are spent on creating value in others through “Planting Seeds”, your life will explode with abundance! Your relationships, spiritual, physical and financial worlds will grow exponentially.

The power of choice is yours. Choose wisely! Be a “Seed Planter” not a “Bean Counter”

Less than 3 months ago most of you made some resolutions to change your life in 2012.

So, how’s it going? Are you on track? What benchmarks have you hit? What have you accomplished so far?

For many of you, these questions are difficult to hear. You started out with great dreams and hopes but you either failed to plan properly or the problems of life, which so easily creep in, have derailed you.

All is not lost. The time is now to design the best year of your life. Yes I used the word design!

Success rarely is ever by accident. It is not the default setting in the life of the average person, like you and me. We must actively participate in the design of our lives if we hope for exchange.

Designing the life of your dreams requires great understanding, patience, endurance and a lot of hard work.

In order to get which you never had, you must be willing to do what you’ve never done!

It all begins by figuring out exactly what it is you want. It is here we you must spend some serious time putting your life, your dreams and your goals in perspective. Then write them down!

In my “Success Coaching” program I encourage my clients to create a balanced life by setting goals and working diligently in the 4 areas that are essential to a complete life, spiritual, physical body and health, relational and financial.

Once you’ve carved out a detailed list for each of the 4 areas, you must then get busy on action plan for each. Set small achievable goals in the beginning to help you build momentum and confidence.

Develop patience. Success is like farming; you plant good seed, water your garden regularly, pull the weed that sprout up, and pray for abundant sunshine. In season you will harvest a bountiful crop.

Your journey to success will involve obstacles, setbacks and trials. Expect them, for they are necessary part of your growth and will assist you in being prepared for even bigger obstacles when the storms of life hit.

My clients have included medical doctors, engineers, real estate brokers, contractors, teachers and full-time moms working on part-time businesses.

The majority of these individuals are interested in moving from one career into the world of entrepreneurship where they have a greater opportunity to create financial freedom for themselves and their families.

It would be easy to ask the question, why would so many well-educated, driven individuals need your services as a success coach? The answer is simple.

I believe everyone is hardwired for success. Everyone has experienced different levels of success along the way throughout their lives. The key most have found elusive is their ability to create success, repeatedly sustained and in multiple areas of their lives.

Some may find financial success in one field but not know how to transition this very same success into another area or endeavor. Others have found success in their physical body through fitness and proper nutrition but may struggle financially to make ends meet.

One of the main obstacles most people have in creating repeated, multidimensional and sustainable success is nothing more than self-imposed limitations.

Too often our self-imposed limitations were imported from someone or somewhere else. We are all very much affected by the influences we allow in our lives.

Not all of these influences are beneficial to us. As a matter of fact, I believe the majority of influences most people permit into their lives are disempowering.

Let me give you a practical example that may help drive the point home.

For the past 9 years, my wife and I have been active real estate investors. At the time I’m writing this article,February 2012, the general state of the economy worldwide is bleak. The housing market crashed in 2008 and no one’s really sure whether we are at the bottom.

There are 2 ways we can look at this current economic crisis.

The majority of people are listening to the news reports and following all the naysayers. When these individuals asked me why I’m investing in real estate at this point in history, what they’re really saying is that they believe the housing market is bad and one would be crazy to be investing in it at this time.

Obviously, many others, and I view the current economic situation in a completely different way. We see this as a “window of opportunity” to purchase real estate at a substantially discounted price. We believe “America is on sale”. Our philosophy is to purchase these assets when they are at an all-time low price.

There is a clear distinction between both views.

One is driven by a sense of imported self-limiting belief and the other by a careful analysis of the situation and the realization of the immense opportunity that exists.

The reason why so many people believe this a bad time to invest in properties is because they listen to the news reports of all the gloom and doom. Perhaps they haven’t figured out yet, that for the most part it is “bad news” when it comes to the media.

This is just one example how often too many people are allowing disempowering beliefs to infiltrate their minds from external sources. These imported self-limiting beliefs are the reason so many people struggle to create success in their lives physically, relationally, spiritually and financially.

The way to combat this phenomenon is to control the influences you permit in your life.

Below is a list of some recommendations I give to my clients in my coaching program. Start implementing these simple steps, and in no time you’ll begin to see massive shifts in your ability to achieve success.

1. If your job does not depend upon keeping current with the news, then limiting the amount of news sources you watch or listen to, is in your best interest.

2. Read books that are empowering. Listening to audio books is an effective way of creating more productive use of your time. You can listen to many of these empowering books when you’re driving in the car, jogging or cleaning your home.

3. Invest in seminars, home study courses and coaching that will facilitate your growth in a chosen area. If you want to be a real estate investor for example, you can shorten your learning curve with a qualified mentoring program or home study course.

4. Eliminate toxic individuals from your inner circle. Surround yourself with people that will empower you with encouragement and positive feedback. The world is filled with toxic individuals who pour out their negative advice and comments to everyone they interact with. Steer clear of these individuals.

5. Create a clear vision of what you want in life. Make sure you include all 4 areas, your physical life, spiritual, relational and financial. Be very careful whom you share your dreams and vision with. The majority of people around you will have limited vision, if any at all. Most people are jealous of anyone who wants more than they have, their subconscious goal will be to sabotage your dreams.

6. Surround yourself with like-minded people, people that will encourage you and spur you on to greatness in life. I make it point to spend time with other Christians who will help me stay accountable to my faith. I have many close relationships with other who do not share my faith, but respect my faith and encourage me toward my goals.

It’s time to stop importing others self-limiting beliefs. It’s up to you to take control of the influences you will allow into your life. You are the gatekeeper of your mind and it is your responsibility to guard it well.

The commercial features Mr. Barkley telling the whole world that he is not a role model. He described his job as wreaking havoc on the basketball court. He makes the claim that he is not paid to be your child’s role model, that’s the job of parents.

Sir Charles and Nike both got it wrong!

No one is expecting Sir Charles to raise their child, however does this mean that millions of adoring fans who happen to be children aren’t taking many cues from sports heroes like Sir Charles? You can bet they are.

Here is where the real problem is. What you do for a living and how you do it are extensions of who you are on the inside. You can’t separate the two.

Everyone is a personal brand. Whether you have a sphere of influence of 250 or maybe 250,000,000, others are watching you. What does your personal brand project?

We have a responsibility, first to ourselves and then to those we interact with, to create a memorable impact, through our behavior and our speech. What impact we create will be directly related to our core values and how congruent we are to them.

When a priest or a football coach is inappropriate with young boys, or a stockbroker is involved in insider trading, or perhaps a vice presidential candidate is cheating on his wife (who happen to be fighting cancer), society is outraged, and rightfully so.

As a society, we do expect people to behave in a manner that is acceptable to our values. Here is where it gets sticky. When does public opinion and societies wishes interfere with our right to personal freedom of expression?

Our personal freedoms are a closely guarded treasure in the USA. The moment anyone feels his or her personal freedoms are being threatened or limited, our rebel comes out.

So how do we balance this dilemma? How can we reconcile the preservation of our personal right to express ourselves, and our social responsibility to act in an acceptable manner?
The answer might be simpler than you imagine.

First, we have to stop making excuses for our inappropriate behavior. We all blow it from time to time. Once we recognize we acted in a way that is both inconsistent with our core values and, acceptable societal practices, we should quickly apologize and correct such behavior.

We have a responsibility to act in a way that benefits us, others watching us, and the world in general.

Imagine what a positive impact you can have on the world if you simply establish strong core values and live congruent with them.

“You must be the change you wish to see in the world” Mahatma Gandhi

His e-mail encouraged us to listen to a song written by Laura Story titled “Blessings”.

The words of the song really deliver a powerful message and I wanted to share them with you.

Today more than ever before, broken hearts surrounding us everywhere. Many people are hurting today for a variety of reasons. Some are working through the trials of divorce. Others have lost jobs, gone through bankruptcy, had their homes foreclosed, suffer from sickness, drug and alcohol addiction, struggle with wayward children etc.

It’s hard to imagine how many people are earnestly praying for God to intervene in their circumstances. Each individual looking for the blessing that will take away their pain, relieve their financial burden, remove their addictions, restore their relationships and turn the hearts of the children back towards their home and family and faith.

In Laura’s song “Blessings” she questions the meaning of the word. Too many people often become resentful when God doesn’t answer their prayers the way they want!

In Laura’s song, she explores a new way of looking at “Blessings”.

“Cause what if your blessings come from raindrops

What if your healing comes through tears

What if the thousands sleepless nights

Are what it takes to know You’re near

What if trials of this life, Are your mercies in disguise”

Whenever coaching others, I often challenge them to always consider another perspective to whatever situation they’re walking through. Gaining new perspective is a game changer. Looking at “Blessings” in a whole new way, can lift your heart and give you hope.

What if, the storm you’re walking through is exactly what you need to create in you the necessary qualities and characteristics to transform you into the person God is calling you to be?

I have personally discovered that there is joy to be had in the midst of our trials. When perspective and view changes from one of being punished to one of being blessed, our ability to endure and walk by faith brings about the sweetest fruit in our character.

The next time you face a storm in this life or if you were walking through one right now, shift your perspective and view it as a “blessing in disguise”.

Don’t ask why this is happening to you. Ask God what you need to learn and what growth opportunity is there in this storm for you.

I recognize it is easy to talk about the storms of your life, especially the ones you’re  in the midst of right now!

I want you to know that I have personally faced the trials of divorce, problems with children, financial pressure, physical pain and other personal crises. I too, have also cried out, why?

It is often difficult to believe that something good could come out of the hard times we walk through, however I encourage you to hold fast, open your eyes wide and look for the blessing that God has hidden for you in the midst of the storm.

I have experienced the “Blessings” that come from the trials. I have learned to now remain open to the blessings that always follow the storms.

Check out James 1:2-4

What she read me was so profound and comical; I had to share with you. The story I’m going to relate to you comes from “What’s it like to be Married to Me?” By Linda Dillow.

Women are a bit complicated. We want security, companionship, a lover, a soul mate, and a fixer of things. Men are simpler. Consider the following newspaper ad:

 “Single Black female seeks male companionship, ethnicity unimportant. I’m a good-looking girl who loves to play. I love long walks in the woods, riding in your pickup truck, hunting, camping and fishing trips, cozy winter nights lying by the fire. Candlelight dinners will have me eating out of your hand. I’ll be at the front door when you get home from work, wearing only what nature gave me.

 Call 404-875-6420 and ask for Daisy. I’ll be waiting.”

 15,000 men responded to this ad wanting to talk with Daisy. Guess who answered the phone? The Atlanta Humane society. Daisy was an 8-week-old black Labrador retriever.

I sat in the living room, laughing hysterically at the ingenuity of such an advertisement. How easy it is to figure out men sometimes. We are not terribly complicated creatures.

In building strong relationships, we must 1st acknowledge our differences and that, it is in the differences where we should find our joy, our love and our passion for one another.

Incompatibility is cited far too often as the excuse why relationships fail. I recognize, that there are times when this is true, however the real problem lies in our faulty perspective.

In order to maintain and build strong healthy bonds between one another, we must 1st recognize that none of us are without fault. We each have our strengths along with our weaknesses. Many times differences in relationships help fill in the gaps of these weak areas.

My wife and I for example, are from different parts of the world. She was born and raised in Colombia, South America while I was born and raised in North America. Her native language is Spanish, mine is English. She speaks four languages while I struggle with one. Her parent’s divorced when she was very young; mine divorced when I was an adult.

Despite the obvious difference that she is a female and I am a male, there are many other unique areas that we could identify, that would separate us. So how is it that God is been kind enough to allow us to in Love with one another?

The answer is simpler than you might imagine.

We were designed to be in communion with other people, who in many ways are different and in some way similar to us. How we train our minds to appreciate or resent those differences is where the real issue lies.

Anyone who’s ever heard me speak in a public venue has probably heard me quote the following; “What your mind focuses on, Expands your life”.

If you focus on how the differences can separate you, then that’s exactly what you’ll get, separation. If you focus on how differences make you stronger, then your relationships will only improve and withstand the trials that test them.

If you found humor in the above story, I hope you gained some insight in learning to appreciate why God made us so different, and how we can capitalize on it.

The quality and strength of your relationships in life will correlate directly to the amount of happiness you have.

I’ll leave you with another ad quoted in Linda Dillow’s book. This one came out of a New York newspaper:

“Farmer with 160 irrigated acres wants marriage-minded women with tractor. When replying, please show picture of tractor”

You got to love us men!