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	<title>As A Dude ThinkethPersonal Development | As A Dude Thinketh</title>
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		<title>The Dark Jedi Guide to Getting What You Want From Life</title>
		<link>http://www.asadudethinketh.com/dark-jedi-guide-life/</link>
		<comments>http://www.asadudethinketh.com/dark-jedi-guide-life/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 06 Mar 2011 13:00:53 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>chris</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Commentary]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Personal Development]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Anger]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Business Philosophy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Fear]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mindset]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Success]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.asadudethinketh.com/?p=472</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering. ―Yoda In Star Wars movies and positive thinking manifestos, we are told to banish fear, anger, and other negative emotions in order to be successful. Modern American society has cast into us a belief that...<p><p class="notice"><img class="alignleft border" src="http://www.asadudethinketh.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/Chris20_bluehalo100.jpg" alt="Chris Elliott, Helping You Be the Next Big Success Story" /><a href="http://www.asadudethinketh.com/dark-jedi-guide-life/">The Dark Jedi Guide to Getting What You Want From Life</a> is a post from: <a href="http://www.asadudethinketh.com">As A Dude Thinketh</a> <br /><a title="As A Dude Thinketh" href="http://www.asadudethinketh.com">As A Dude Thinketh</a> is written and edited by <a title="About | As A Dude Thinketh" href="http://www.asadudethinketh.com/about/">Chris Elliott</a>. Chris helps small businesses figure out what their big idea is, how to get it to market, and how to get people to notice their wonderfulness. He is also a dynamic speaker and trainer in personal growth and public speaking. Do you need help with your next big idea or speech? I encourage you to <a title="Hire Me | As A Dude Thinketh" href="http://www.asadudethinketh.com/hire-chris/">talk with me</a> to see how Chris can be of service.</p></p>

If you liked this post, then you should also check out:<ol>
<li><a href='http://www.asadudethinketh.com/living-life/' rel='bookmark' title='Are You Living Life On If . . . Then . . .'>Are You Living Life On If . . . Then . . .</a></li>
<li><a href='http://www.asadudethinketh.com/greatest-moment-life/' rel='bookmark' title='The Greatest Moment in Your Life'>The Greatest Moment in Your Life</a></li>
<li><a href='http://www.asadudethinketh.com/stupid-people-making-money/' rel='bookmark' title='Stupid People Making Money'>Stupid People Making Money</a></li>
</ol>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<blockquote><p>Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering. ―Yoda</p></blockquote>
<p>In Star Wars movies and <a title="The Number One Problem with Personal Development" href="http://www.asadudethinketh.com/number-problem-personal-development/">positive thinking manifestos</a>, we are told to banish fear, anger, and other negative emotions in order to be successful. Modern American society has cast into us a belief that the most <a title="The Secret to Business Success: Don’t Be Original" href="http://www.asadudethinketh.com/secret-business-success-dont-original/">successful people</a> are always positive, do not get angry, and live in some transient meditative state where everything is happy all the time . . .</p>
<h3>What a load of crap.</h3>
<p>In order to truly get what we want from life, we need to harness what we are told to avoid. We need to use the fear and anger that exists within us to empower us to get want we are seeking in life. You must, as Yoda warns you against, go to the dark side.</p>
<h2>The Dark Side and Why It Will Motivate You</h2>
<p>We are often told that we need to eliminate fear and do it anyway. Why is that? Because the last time I checked, fear keeps me from playing in traffic, avoids me from walking in front of loaded guns, and from trying to jump off of the top of buildings to see if I can avoid the ground. <strong>Fear is what has kept us alive as a society.</strong></p>
<p>When you fear something, it makes you take the time you need to investigate if what you are doing is the right thing for you. I see too many people that are told to, <em>“face your fear, but do it anyway,” </em>and are now broke because they quit their jobs to follow the advice of a charismatic charlatan who convinced them to join a pyramid scheme.</p>
<p>Fear will protect you, but it can also motivate you to create a wonderful future for yourself. When you fear losing your job, being stuck with a company you hate or being in a damaging relationship, your fear can set you free on a path of discovering a way out of your situation.</p>
<p>As the Dark Jedi teach, <strong>your fear can set you free.</strong></p>
<h2>Fear Leads to Anger</h2>
<p>As Yoda teaches, fear leads to anger, but is anger a bad thing? We are taught that we should be happy and not allow anger to rule our lives. But consider this, if it was not for anger, would we be seeing the changes we are seeing in Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, and other nations that were ruled by oppressive regimes?</p>
<p>The truth about anger is that <strong>anger can set you free</strong>. When you are angry, you do not give into the status quo. Anger motivates you to seek change in your life as well as society. Instead of sitting around focusing on your navel all day, you are motivated to get up and be the change that you want to see in the world. Your anger gets you moving.</p>
<p>In my personal experience, it is anger more than anything else that motivates me to action. Many of my best writings have come from being angry about something or at someone. The anger allows me to channel my energy into a page and my writing tends to be more inspired and have a greater voice.</p>
<p><strong> What about you, are you motivated by anger to get things done?</strong></p>
<p>Fear and anger are emotions that many people want us to avoid. I say that like the Dark Jedi, you should embrace your anger, give into your fear, and come to the dark side.</p>
<p>You might just find some insight that your anger and fear will set you free.</p>
<p>Do you agree or disagree with me?</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Let me know in the comments, on <a title="As A Dude Thinketh - Facebook Page" href="http://www.facebook.com/AsADudeThinketh" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, or <a title="Chris on Twitter" href="http://twitter.com/chris_speaks" target="_blank">Twitter</a>.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><p class="notice"><img class="alignleft border" src="http://www.asadudethinketh.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/Chris20_bluehalo100.jpg" alt="Chris20 bluehalo100 The Dark Jedi Guide to Getting What You Want From Life"  title="The Dark Jedi Guide to Getting What You Want From Life" /><a href="http://www.asadudethinketh.com/dark-jedi-guide-life/">The Dark Jedi Guide to Getting What You Want From Life</a> is a post from: <a href="http://www.asadudethinketh.com">As A Dude Thinketh</a> <br /><a title="As A Dude Thinketh" href="http://www.asadudethinketh.com">As A Dude Thinketh</a> is written and edited by <a title="About | As A Dude Thinketh" href="http://www.asadudethinketh.com/about/">Chris Elliott</a>. Chris helps small businesses figure out what their big idea is, how to get it to market, and how to get people to notice their wonderfulness. He is also a dynamic speaker and trainer in personal growth and public speaking. Do you need help with your next big idea or speech? I encourage you to <a title="Hire Me | As A Dude Thinketh" href="http://www.asadudethinketh.com/hire-chris/">talk with me</a> to see how Chris can be of service.</p></p>
<p>If you liked this post, then you should also check out:<ol>
<li><a href='http://www.asadudethinketh.com/living-life/' rel='bookmark' title='Are You Living Life On If . . . Then . . .'>Are You Living Life On If . . . Then . . .</a></li>
<li><a href='http://www.asadudethinketh.com/greatest-moment-life/' rel='bookmark' title='The Greatest Moment in Your Life'>The Greatest Moment in Your Life</a></li>
<li><a href='http://www.asadudethinketh.com/stupid-people-making-money/' rel='bookmark' title='Stupid People Making Money'>Stupid People Making Money</a></li>
</ol></p>]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>Stupid Goals</title>
		<link>http://www.asadudethinketh.com/stupid-goals/</link>
		<comments>http://www.asadudethinketh.com/stupid-goals/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 04 Mar 2011 22:59:03 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>chris</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Commentary]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Personal Development]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Goals]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.asadudethinketh.com/?p=465</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[While working on a speech, I was reminded of a lesson I learned at the Lady and the Champs Speaker conference. This one lesson might just kick you in the butt like it did for me. The lesson is that there are really two types of goals: Production goals Process goals Many people in the...<p><p class="notice"><img class="alignleft border" src="http://www.asadudethinketh.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/Chris20_bluehalo100.jpg" alt="Chris Elliott, Helping You Be the Next Big Success Story" /><a href="http://www.asadudethinketh.com/stupid-goals/">Stupid Goals</a> is a post from: <a href="http://www.asadudethinketh.com">As A Dude Thinketh</a> <br /><a title="As A Dude Thinketh" href="http://www.asadudethinketh.com">As A Dude Thinketh</a> is written and edited by <a title="About | As A Dude Thinketh" href="http://www.asadudethinketh.com/about/">Chris Elliott</a>. Chris helps small businesses figure out what their big idea is, how to get it to market, and how to get people to notice their wonderfulness. He is also a dynamic speaker and trainer in personal growth and public speaking. Do you need help with your next big idea or speech? I encourage you to <a title="Hire Me | As A Dude Thinketh" href="http://www.asadudethinketh.com/hire-chris/">talk with me</a> to see how Chris can be of service.</p></p>

If you liked this post, then you should also check out:<ol>
<li><a href='http://www.asadudethinketh.com/stupid-people-making-money/' rel='bookmark' title='Stupid People Making Money'>Stupid People Making Money</a></li>
</ol>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>While working on a speech, I was reminded of a lesson I learned at the<a title="Lady and the Champs" href="http://www.profcs.com/app/?Clk=2426995" target="_blank"> Lady and the Champs Speaker conference</a>. This one lesson might just kick you in the butt like it did for me.</p>
<p>The lesson is that there are really two types of goals:</p>
<ol>
<li>Production goals</li>
<li>Process goals</li>
</ol>
<p>Many people in the <em>“woo woo” </em> Law of Attraction crowd will have you focusing on the production goals, when you should be focusing on the process goals.</p>
<h2>What is the difference, aren’t all goals the same?</h2>
<p>Not really, but here is a background on the goals to help you see what I mean:</p>
<p>Production goals are goals that state a result in dollars or another measure. A production goal could say that in the next 12 months, I am going to <a title="Stupid People Making Money" href="http://www.asadudethinketh.com/stupid-people-making-money/" target="_blank">earn $100,000</a> from my speaking business. You know when it is a production goal, because usually has a number attached to it somewhere. So the goal could state a dollar value you wish to earn, the number of twitter followers you want have, or the number of pushups you can do next week.</p>
<p>On the other side are process goals. A process goal is focused on getting an action done. An example of a process goal could be to write a blog post every week. The process goal is focused on an activity that you have control of accomplishing. The process goals have a specific activity to be completed as an outcome. While there can be numbers to highlight now many blog posts you are going to write in what period of time, the goal is something that is dependent on you completing and not on the actions of others.</p>
<h2>101 Goals of Doom</h2>
<p>When I returned from <a title="Lady and the Champs" href="http://www.profcs.com/app/?Clk=2426995" target="_blank">Lady and the Champs</a>, I had to see if I was a production or process goal focused person. Pulling out a goal exercise a <em>&#8220;woo-woo&#8221; </em>life coach had me do, I had written down 101 goals that I wanted to accomplish.</p>
<p>Reading through the list, I was hit in the face by my own stupidity. Instead of focusing on the process goals, I was focusing on production goals. Almost every single one of my 101 goals was about how much money I was going to make, how big of a house I was going to own, and how many customers I had. All of them product and not process goals.</p>
<p>And what happened? I am sitting here three years after writing out those goals, with almost none of the goals accomplished.</p>
<p>Motivating?</p>
<p>No, but it reminded me that there is a better way.</p>
<h2>Where the Magic Really Is</h2>
<p>Let’s get back to bashing the <em>&#8220;woo woo&#8221;</em> crap.</p>
<p>The Law of Attraction crowd loves production goals. Like the 101 goal exercise my Life Coach had me do, it is fun to get people to dream about selling a million copies of a book, getting paid a million dollars for a speech, or having millions of cult-like followers on Twitter that are willing to retweet your every thought. However, writing down that you are going to make a million dollars in the next 30 minutes doesn’t mean it is going to happen.</p>
<h2>The Magic is in the Process</h2>
<p>True success comes from focusing on the process goals and not production. Instead of wishing that you were 20 pounds lighter, set goals that will allow you to make it happen. Write down that you are going to work out three times this week, eat one instead of 10 donuts a day, and that you will stop intravenous injections of butter immediately.</p>
<p>By eliminating the production goals, you are focused on the process goals that will allow you to succeed. It is there that you will find the success that you have been seeking.</p>
<p>If this kicked you in the pants, then leave a comment, forward it to a friend, or hire me to help you kick your life into gear.</p>
<p>P.S. The external links are affiliate links. That means that I get a percentage of any purchases made through the links.</p>
<p><p class="notice"><img class="alignleft border" src="http://www.asadudethinketh.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/Chris20_bluehalo100.jpg" alt="Chris20 bluehalo100 Stupid Goals"  title="Stupid Goals" /><a href="http://www.asadudethinketh.com/stupid-goals/">Stupid Goals</a> is a post from: <a href="http://www.asadudethinketh.com">As A Dude Thinketh</a> <br /><a title="As A Dude Thinketh" href="http://www.asadudethinketh.com">As A Dude Thinketh</a> is written and edited by <a title="About | As A Dude Thinketh" href="http://www.asadudethinketh.com/about/">Chris Elliott</a>. Chris helps small businesses figure out what their big idea is, how to get it to market, and how to get people to notice their wonderfulness. He is also a dynamic speaker and trainer in personal growth and public speaking. Do you need help with your next big idea or speech? I encourage you to <a title="Hire Me | As A Dude Thinketh" href="http://www.asadudethinketh.com/hire-chris/">talk with me</a> to see how Chris can be of service.</p></p>
<p>If you liked this post, then you should also check out:<ol>
<li><a href='http://www.asadudethinketh.com/stupid-people-making-money/' rel='bookmark' title='Stupid People Making Money'>Stupid People Making Money</a></li>
</ol></p>]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>The Number One Problem with Personal Development</title>
		<link>http://www.asadudethinketh.com/number-problem-personal-development/</link>
		<comments>http://www.asadudethinketh.com/number-problem-personal-development/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 25 Feb 2011 13:11:38 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>chris</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Personal Development]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Commentary]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Success]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.asadudethinketh.com/?p=451</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Do you feel that the personal development industry has failed you? Have you been filled with a desire to lose weight, make a million dollars, or any other goal that can be easily solved (so I am told) by buying a book out of the self-help section of your local bookseller. Have you then been...<p><p class="notice"><img class="alignleft border" src="http://www.asadudethinketh.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/Chris20_bluehalo100.jpg" alt="Chris Elliott, Helping You Be the Next Big Success Story" /><a href="http://www.asadudethinketh.com/number-problem-personal-development/">The Number One Problem with Personal Development</a> is a post from: <a href="http://www.asadudethinketh.com">As A Dude Thinketh</a> <br /><a title="As A Dude Thinketh" href="http://www.asadudethinketh.com">As A Dude Thinketh</a> is written and edited by <a title="About | As A Dude Thinketh" href="http://www.asadudethinketh.com/about/">Chris Elliott</a>. Chris helps small businesses figure out what their big idea is, how to get it to market, and how to get people to notice their wonderfulness. He is also a dynamic speaker and trainer in personal growth and public speaking. Do you need help with your next big idea or speech? I encourage you to <a title="Hire Me | As A Dude Thinketh" href="http://www.asadudethinketh.com/hire-chris/">talk with me</a> to see how Chris can be of service.</p></p>

If you liked this post, then you should also check out:<ol>
<li><a href='http://www.asadudethinketh.com/energy-exercise/' rel='bookmark' title='Energy Through Exercise'>Energy Through Exercise</a></li>
</ol>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<h2>Do you feel that the personal development industry has failed you?</h2>
<p>Have you been filled with a desire to <a title="Are You What You Eat?" href="http://www.asadudethinketh.com/eat/" target="_blank">lose weight</a>, make a million dollars, or any other goal that can be easily solved (so I am told) by buying a book out of the self-help section of your local bookseller. Have you then been let down when that desire has not been fulfilled?</p>
<p>Are you then told that you failed because you weren&#8217;t visualizing hard enough, didn’t have the <a title="Why I Love My Feet" href="http://www.asadudethinketh.com/love-feet/" target="_blank">right attitude</a>, or you didn’t hustle enough?</p>
<p>I have realized that most companies and people that sell personal development products and services have one problem that causes most people to fail.</p>
<p>My “light bulb” moment happened when I saw the Facebook status update from one of my speaking coaches, <a title="Craig Valentine" href="http://www.profcs.com/app/?af=942816" target="_blank">Craig Valentine</a>:</p>
<p><a href="http://www.asadudethinketh.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/CraigValentine.png"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-452" title="Craig Valentine" src="http://www.asadudethinketh.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/CraigValentine.png" alt="CraigValentine The Number One Problem with Personal Development" width="462" height="83" /></a></p>
<p>Most personal development experts would say that the people that stopped going to the gym failed at accomplishing their New Years goals of getting healthy or losing weight because they lacked the will power, didn’t schedule it, or any other reason that puts the problem on the back of the person who failed to accomplish their goal.</p>
<p>Those personal development experts are <strong>wrong</strong>, and it leads us to the number one problem with the personal development industry:</p>
<p><strong>The personal development industry puts the <span style="text-decoration: underline;">product before the process</span>.</strong></p>
<h2>The Effect of Putting the Product before the Process</h2>
<p>Take the gym as an example. Come January 1st, the gym is packed with people that want to get into shape. They have been sold on the fact that they need to stay healthy and the best way to do that is by going to the gym. So they go, they workout, and everything goes well for the first few weeks.</p>
<p>They lose some weight, they have more energy, and they might have made some new friends. Then it happens. They get busy, they lose interest, or they get sticker shock when they get their first bill. People stop going, cancel their membership, and go back to their pre-January routine. Then ten and a half months later the cycle repeats itself.</p>
<p>What does the gym do?</p>
<p>The same thing they did last year, convince people that they need to work out to get fit, give them a great rate, and watch them drop like flies after the first month. I am guessing that the owners of the gyms say the same thing, “I guess they didn’t really want to get in shape.” In thinking that way, the gym owners put the product before the process.</p>
<p>When you are putting the product before the process, you are putting the self interest of the person selling the product ahead of the person using the product. Since it has worked for you and maybe a few other people, you assume that it is everyone’s best interest to do what you do in order to accomplish your goals.</p>
<p>The problem is that accomplishing a goal isn’t about you or your product. It is about the person who has a goal that they want to keep.</p>
<p>Let’s use the gym as an example and a theoretical character, Bob:</p>
<p>Bob wants to get in shape for the New Year, so he takes advantage of an offer he is given by a nearby gym. He gets some new shoes, some new workout gear, and hits the gym after work on the 2nd.  The first few days seem to go OK. It is busy, but he is getting a workout in and is starting to feel like he is making a difference.</p>
<p>After a few weeks, Bob is getting tired of having to deal with the traffic on his way to the gym. Now that the holidays are over, work is piling up again and he is leaving for the gym later and later. It is in the opposite direction of his house, and by the time he gets home, he is tired, cranky, and doesn’t feel like it is worth it anymore with all of the work that is piling up at work and at home.</p>
<p>Those <a title="Energy Through Exercise" href="http://www.asadudethinketh.com/energy-exercise/">daily workouts</a> have become once or twice a week, and then by the time spring sports start for Bob&#8217;s children, he thinks about going to the gym every time he sees the membership on his key ring. Come April, the membership is cancelled and Bob is back to his normal pre-gym routine.</p>
<p>You could say that it is Bob’s fault that he doesn’t make time, but that is still putting your needs before Bob. I believe that the problems we encounter are far more systemic that many solutions presented can fix with a low monthly membership fee.</p>
<p>The problem is not necessarily with working out. Maybe the real problem is that the only time that Bob has available to work out doesn’t work with a natural time for him to work out because of work and family obligations. It could also be that the atmosphere of the gym focuses on people that are much farther along than Bob, so he doesn’t feel comfortable working out there. Whatever the case, the person selling Bob the product has put the product before Bob.</p>
<p><strong>How can we help Bob and others like him?</strong></p>
<p><strong><br />
</strong></p>
<h2>Put the process for helping people before the product.</h2>
<p>Stop focusing so much on the product and focus on the individual. Bob’s real problem might not be working out. The real problem is his job and other obligations. Find out when and where Bob needs to workout to succeed and focus on helping him work out at those times and places.</p>
<p>Individuals are not broken when they come to you. They just might need some help figuring out where your product or service can help them. Help them find that, put their needs before the need to sell them a product, and you can help them and you be more successful.</p>
<p>Stop telling people they are broken, and start fixing the process.</p>
<p>P.S. I am coming back strong. Get ready.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><p class="notice"><img class="alignleft border" src="http://www.asadudethinketh.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/Chris20_bluehalo100.jpg" alt="Chris20 bluehalo100 The Number One Problem with Personal Development"  title="The Number One Problem with Personal Development" /><a href="http://www.asadudethinketh.com/number-problem-personal-development/">The Number One Problem with Personal Development</a> is a post from: <a href="http://www.asadudethinketh.com">As A Dude Thinketh</a> <br /><a title="As A Dude Thinketh" href="http://www.asadudethinketh.com">As A Dude Thinketh</a> is written and edited by <a title="About | As A Dude Thinketh" href="http://www.asadudethinketh.com/about/">Chris Elliott</a>. Chris helps small businesses figure out what their big idea is, how to get it to market, and how to get people to notice their wonderfulness. He is also a dynamic speaker and trainer in personal growth and public speaking. Do you need help with your next big idea or speech? I encourage you to <a title="Hire Me | As A Dude Thinketh" href="http://www.asadudethinketh.com/hire-chris/">talk with me</a> to see how Chris can be of service.</p></p>
<p>If you liked this post, then you should also check out:<ol>
<li><a href='http://www.asadudethinketh.com/energy-exercise/' rel='bookmark' title='Energy Through Exercise'>Energy Through Exercise</a></li>
</ol></p>]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>Stupid People Making Money</title>
		<link>http://www.asadudethinketh.com/stupid-people-making-money/</link>
		<comments>http://www.asadudethinketh.com/stupid-people-making-money/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 01 Oct 2010 13:49:24 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>chris</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Commentary]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Personal Development]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Advice]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Business Philosophy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mindset]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Success]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.asadudethinketh.com/?p=376</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[This post isn’t about marketing. It is about stupid people making money so make sure to read the next quote if this one doesn’t apply to you: I don’t care about the size of my list, because that’s not how I do business. I am more social in the way I sell product. I hate...<p><p class="notice"><img class="alignleft border" src="http://www.asadudethinketh.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/Chris20_bluehalo100.jpg" alt="Chris Elliott, Helping You Be the Next Big Success Story" /><a href="http://www.asadudethinketh.com/stupid-people-making-money/">Stupid People Making Money</a> is a post from: <a href="http://www.asadudethinketh.com">As A Dude Thinketh</a> <br /><a title="As A Dude Thinketh" href="http://www.asadudethinketh.com">As A Dude Thinketh</a> is written and edited by <a title="About | As A Dude Thinketh" href="http://www.asadudethinketh.com/about/">Chris Elliott</a>. Chris helps small businesses figure out what their big idea is, how to get it to market, and how to get people to notice their wonderfulness. He is also a dynamic speaker and trainer in personal growth and public speaking. Do you need help with your next big idea or speech? I encourage you to <a title="Hire Me | As A Dude Thinketh" href="http://www.asadudethinketh.com/hire-chris/">talk with me</a> to see how Chris can be of service.</p></p>

If you liked this post, then you should also check out:<ol>
<li><a href='http://www.asadudethinketh.com/5-reasons-smart-people-fail-creating-online-businesses/' rel='bookmark' title='5 Reasons Smart People Fail at Creating On-line Businesses'>5 Reasons Smart People Fail at Creating On-line Businesses</a></li>
<li><a href='http://www.asadudethinketh.com/business-works/' rel='bookmark' title='That is Not How This Business Works'>That is Not How This Business Works</a></li>
<li><a href='http://www.asadudethinketh.com/good-enemy-great/' rel='bookmark' title='Good is the Enemy of Great'>Good is the Enemy of Great</a></li>
</ol>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>This post isn’t about marketing. It is about stupid people making money so make sure to read the next quote if this one doesn’t apply to you:</p>
<blockquote><p>
I don’t care about the size of my list, because that’s not how I do business. I am more social in the way I sell product. I hate long sales copy. I don’t buy from long sales copy so I am not going to subject anyone to it. I don’t need to pitch my readers, because I will lose them if I seem too sales-ey.</p></blockquote>
<h3>Do you know anyone that has uttered statements similar to those?</h3>
<p>The statements above came from me three years ago when I first dipped my toes into marketing my speaking, coaching, and products. Do you know how much money I made during that time period? Zero. Sound familiar?</p>
<p>If you aren’t marketing anything, maybe you have said,</p>
<blockquote><p>I don’t need to kiss up to the higher ups to get ahead, I don’t need a college degree to get ahead because I am a rebel, or I don’t need to save money for my retirement because I am going to get promoted soon then I will start saving.</p></blockquote>
<h3>Does anything in that statement sound familiar?</h3>
<p>I am not surprised if it does, and I would be less surprised if you followed it up with saying, “Why am I not succeeding? Bob is a freaking idiot and he is making a killing online, moving up the corporate ladder, and spends half his week playing golf. Why is that idiot making money and I’m not?”</p>
<h3>Why Are Stupid People Making Money?</h3>
<p>Here is an example from one of my mentors, Darren Lacroix as he talks about <a title="Darren's Ouch" href="http://darrenlacroix.com/2010/08/ouch-how-i-fell-on-my-face-all-the-way-to-the-top/" target="_blank">his experiences running a Subway franchise into the ground</a>.</p>
<blockquote><p>I thought I knew it all. I was 22 years old and fresh out of business school. A dangerous combination. Subway told me that the most successful franchisees were farmers. Farmers? And the worst franchisees? Business graduates.</p></blockquote>
<h3>Think about it . . .</h3>
<ul>
<li>Why are people that know next to nothing about running a sandwich store succeeding at running a sandwich store?</li>
<li>Why are people that know little about technology making money selling products online?</li>
<li>Why are people that have no knowledge of manufacturing running billion dollar manufacturing companies?</li>
</ul>
<h3>Do you want to know their secret?</h3>
<p>They stupidly follow the rules.</p>
<h3>Why Being a Renegade Can Hurt Your Chances of Success</h3>
<p>Renegades, Rogues, and Rebels make for great characters in novels and movies but are not ideals if you want to succeed in life.</p>
<p>Browse the business section of your local bookstore or pick up an entrepreneurial themed magazine and you will find plenty of books and articles that will tell you to, “Break All the Rules, Play Your Own Game, or March to the Beat of Your Own Drummer!”</p>
<p>So what happens when you don’t suck up to the boss, don’t ask for a sale from potential customers, or make up your own lesson plan in school?</p>
<p><strong>YOU FAIL!</strong></p>
<p>What does someone that is stupid do? They spend time sucking up to the boss to figure out what they want them to do, they ask for the sale, and they read the lesson plan to figure out what the teacher wants them to do.</p>
<p>The stupid person learns what rules are in place and they follow them, because they know they are too stupid to make up their own. They succeed because they don’t try to reinvent the wheel, annoy people by doing it their own way, or trying to build something from the ground up when they don’t have to. They make stupid an advantage over the rebels that try to <a title="Smart People Fail" href="http://www.asadudethinketh.com/5-reasons-smart-people-fail-creating-online-businesses/" target="_self">over think everything</a>.</p>
<h3>Become Stupid</h3>
<p>In order to succeed in many endeavors, you need to be stupid. Give up on your knowledge of how to do something and start from square one. Read the instructions, ask someone what they did to be successful, or figure out what has worked for someone else and implement it in your life.</p>
<p>Many times we are too smart for our own good and just need to be stupid to get ahead.</p>
<p>How can you bring a little stupid into your life?</p>
<p>Let us know in the comments.</p>
<p><p class="notice"><img class="alignleft border" src="http://www.asadudethinketh.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/Chris20_bluehalo100.jpg" alt="Chris20 bluehalo100 Stupid People Making Money"  title="Stupid People Making Money" /><a href="http://www.asadudethinketh.com/stupid-people-making-money/">Stupid People Making Money</a> is a post from: <a href="http://www.asadudethinketh.com">As A Dude Thinketh</a> <br /><a title="As A Dude Thinketh" href="http://www.asadudethinketh.com">As A Dude Thinketh</a> is written and edited by <a title="About | As A Dude Thinketh" href="http://www.asadudethinketh.com/about/">Chris Elliott</a>. Chris helps small businesses figure out what their big idea is, how to get it to market, and how to get people to notice their wonderfulness. He is also a dynamic speaker and trainer in personal growth and public speaking. Do you need help with your next big idea or speech? I encourage you to <a title="Hire Me | As A Dude Thinketh" href="http://www.asadudethinketh.com/hire-chris/">talk with me</a> to see how Chris can be of service.</p></p>
<p>If you liked this post, then you should also check out:<ol>
<li><a href='http://www.asadudethinketh.com/5-reasons-smart-people-fail-creating-online-businesses/' rel='bookmark' title='5 Reasons Smart People Fail at Creating On-line Businesses'>5 Reasons Smart People Fail at Creating On-line Businesses</a></li>
<li><a href='http://www.asadudethinketh.com/business-works/' rel='bookmark' title='That is Not How This Business Works'>That is Not How This Business Works</a></li>
<li><a href='http://www.asadudethinketh.com/good-enemy-great/' rel='bookmark' title='Good is the Enemy of Great'>Good is the Enemy of Great</a></li>
</ol></p>]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>Habits</title>
		<link>http://www.asadudethinketh.com/habits/</link>
		<comments>http://www.asadudethinketh.com/habits/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 21 Jul 2010 10:08:31 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>chris</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Personal Development]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Advice]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Commentary]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Habits]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Happiness]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Success]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.asadudethinketh.com/?p=338</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[When was the last time you thought about your daily habits? I am not just talking about what you call bad habits, but I am talking about the activities you do the same way every day without thinking about why you are doing them. The habits I am talking about can include when you wake...<p><p class="notice"><img class="alignleft border" src="http://www.asadudethinketh.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/Chris20_bluehalo100.jpg" alt="Chris Elliott, Helping You Be the Next Big Success Story" /><a href="http://www.asadudethinketh.com/habits/">Habits</a> is a post from: <a href="http://www.asadudethinketh.com">As A Dude Thinketh</a> <br /><a title="As A Dude Thinketh" href="http://www.asadudethinketh.com">As A Dude Thinketh</a> is written and edited by <a title="About | As A Dude Thinketh" href="http://www.asadudethinketh.com/about/">Chris Elliott</a>. Chris helps small businesses figure out what their big idea is, how to get it to market, and how to get people to notice their wonderfulness. He is also a dynamic speaker and trainer in personal growth and public speaking. Do you need help with your next big idea or speech? I encourage you to <a title="Hire Me | As A Dude Thinketh" href="http://www.asadudethinketh.com/hire-chris/">talk with me</a> to see how Chris can be of service.</p></p>

If you liked this post, then you should also check out:<ol>
<li><a href='http://www.asadudethinketh.com/hurt-smile/' rel='bookmark' title='Does it hurt to smile?'>Does it hurt to smile?</a></li>
<li><a href='http://www.asadudethinketh.com/magic-bullets/' rel='bookmark' title='There Are No Magic Bullets'>There Are No Magic Bullets</a></li>
<li><a href='http://www.asadudethinketh.com/energy-exercise/' rel='bookmark' title='Energy Through Exercise'>Energy Through Exercise</a></li>
</ol>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<h2>When was the last time you thought about your daily habits?</h2>
<p>I am not just talking about what you call bad habits, but I am talking about the activities you do the same way every day without thinking about why you are doing them.</p>
<p>The habits I am talking about can include when you wake up in the morning, what you have for breakfast, or <a title="Success and Dental Floss" href="http://www.asadudethinketh.com/success-dental-floss/" target="_self">how you brush your teeth</a>. Think about those activities for a moment</p>
<p>What about after getting out of bed and getting moving? Do you go to work the same way, eat lunch with the same people, and go home the same way? When you get home, do you change into the same style of clothes, follow the same dinner schedule, and watch the same television shows before falling asleep?</p>
<h3>How to Know When to Change Habits</h3>
<p>Let’s talk about a simple habit for a moment . . . brushing our teeth. How do you brush your teeth? Are you an up and down person, side to side, or do you do the little circles as you were told to do by your dentist?</p>
<p>Now ask yourself, what are the results? Does your brushing keep you cavity free or do you always find yourself facing the drill and a hefty dentist bill?</p>
<p>If getting a nice big filling is not the result you are after, then why don’t you change your brushing style, your diet, or <a title="Success and Dental Floss" href="http://www.asadudethinketh.com/success-dental-floss/" target="_self">flossing habits</a>?</p>
<h3>Does Changing a Habit Have to be Difficult?</h3>
<p>As irrational beings, we often know what will get us the results we desire but we don’t want to change the habits are preventing us from getting those results. We reach a level of comfort in how we do things and we find it difficult to change those habits, even if it could mean a beneficial outcome in the future.<br />
<strong><br />
Does it really need to be that difficult?</strong> Can’t we stop buying Pretzel M&amp;Ms, eating ice cream, or making excuses for not exercising? Of course we can, but we often don’t because we are not focused on the results.</p>
<h3>Are You Feeling the Pain?</h3>
<p>Too often we focus on the pain of ridding ourselves of a habit instead of focusing on the pleasure of an optimal result.  It can be very painful to stop a habit, but starting to focus on the pleasure of an improved result and being to get your focus on changing the habit.</p>
<p>While focusing on the outcome can help move you forward, what will continue you down the path to change your habits are two things:</p>
<ol>
<li>An inventory of the habits that are not delivering the results you seek.</li>
<li> Accountability for changing your habits.</li>
</ol>
<h3>A Habit Inventory</h3>
<p>Sometimes we don’t realize what habits we even have that could be holding us back. To capture our habits, for a week, perform a time audit of your activities. For seven days, track in as close to 5 minute intervals as possible, every activity you perform through the day. If possible, review your activities and find a trusted mate or friend to review them and confirm which of your activities are negatively habitual.</p>
<h3>Being Held Accountable</h3>
<p>Once you have made a commitment to change, find someone that will help you change your habits every day. Then before you go to bed every evening, review the habits you are trying to change and call your accountability partner to tell them if you were able to avoid the habits that are not serving you. I recommend doing this exercise for at least 90 days or longer if possible. You will find that if you are kept truly accountable, then you will begin to break the habits that are not serving you.</p>
<p>For many of us, changing habits is a difficult task. It can be painful to change your morning routine or your after work routine. To really change your habits, you have to focus on the positive outcome you are trying to reach, know what habits are holding you back, and be held accountable for changing the habits.</p>
<p><strong>Once you change the habits that are holding you back, you will start to set yourself free.</strong></p>
<p>Watch the blog for more information on creating freedom in the coming weeks. Until then, tell me a habit you want to change in the comments and why it is painful for you to change that habit.</p>
<p><p class="notice"><img class="alignleft border" src="http://www.asadudethinketh.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/Chris20_bluehalo100.jpg" alt="Chris20 bluehalo100 Habits"  title="Habits" /><a href="http://www.asadudethinketh.com/habits/">Habits</a> is a post from: <a href="http://www.asadudethinketh.com">As A Dude Thinketh</a> <br /><a title="As A Dude Thinketh" href="http://www.asadudethinketh.com">As A Dude Thinketh</a> is written and edited by <a title="About | As A Dude Thinketh" href="http://www.asadudethinketh.com/about/">Chris Elliott</a>. Chris helps small businesses figure out what their big idea is, how to get it to market, and how to get people to notice their wonderfulness. He is also a dynamic speaker and trainer in personal growth and public speaking. Do you need help with your next big idea or speech? I encourage you to <a title="Hire Me | As A Dude Thinketh" href="http://www.asadudethinketh.com/hire-chris/">talk with me</a> to see how Chris can be of service.</p></p>
<p>If you liked this post, then you should also check out:<ol>
<li><a href='http://www.asadudethinketh.com/hurt-smile/' rel='bookmark' title='Does it hurt to smile?'>Does it hurt to smile?</a></li>
<li><a href='http://www.asadudethinketh.com/magic-bullets/' rel='bookmark' title='There Are No Magic Bullets'>There Are No Magic Bullets</a></li>
<li><a href='http://www.asadudethinketh.com/energy-exercise/' rel='bookmark' title='Energy Through Exercise'>Energy Through Exercise</a></li>
</ol></p>]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>Pushing Through</title>
		<link>http://www.asadudethinketh.com/pushing/</link>
		<comments>http://www.asadudethinketh.com/pushing/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 22 Jun 2010 00:41:27 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>chris</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Personal Development]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Advice]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mindset]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Pushing Through]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Success]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.asadudethinketh.com/?p=335</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Cleaning Carpets I spent most of Saturday morning and afternoon cleaning carpets. It was a monotonous task that felt like it would never end. How many tasks in your life feel like they will never end? Maybe you experience them at work, at school, or while working to build your business. It is what you...<p><p class="notice"><img class="alignleft border" src="http://www.asadudethinketh.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/Chris20_bluehalo100.jpg" alt="Chris Elliott, Helping You Be the Next Big Success Story" /><a href="http://www.asadudethinketh.com/pushing/">Pushing Through</a> is a post from: <a href="http://www.asadudethinketh.com">As A Dude Thinketh</a> <br /><a title="As A Dude Thinketh" href="http://www.asadudethinketh.com">As A Dude Thinketh</a> is written and edited by <a title="About | As A Dude Thinketh" href="http://www.asadudethinketh.com/about/">Chris Elliott</a>. Chris helps small businesses figure out what their big idea is, how to get it to market, and how to get people to notice their wonderfulness. He is also a dynamic speaker and trainer in personal growth and public speaking. Do you need help with your next big idea or speech? I encourage you to <a title="Hire Me | As A Dude Thinketh" href="http://www.asadudethinketh.com/hire-chris/">talk with me</a> to see how Chris can be of service.</p></p>

If you liked this post, then you should also check out:<ol>
<li><a href='http://www.asadudethinketh.com/raising-yourself-up-by-pushing-others-down/' rel='bookmark' title='Are You Raising Yourself Up by Pushing Others Down?'>Are You Raising Yourself Up by Pushing Others Down?</a></li>
<li><a href='http://www.asadudethinketh.com/post/' rel='bookmark' title='This Post Will Not Help You'>This Post Will Not Help You</a></li>
<li><a href='http://www.asadudethinketh.com/control-emotions/' rel='bookmark' title='Take Control of Your Emotions'>Take Control of Your Emotions</a></li>
</ol>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<h2>Cleaning Carpets</h2>
<p>I spent most of Saturday morning and afternoon cleaning carpets. It was a monotonous task that felt like it would never end.</p>
<h3>How many tasks in your life feel like they will never end?</h3>
<p>Maybe you experience them at work, at school, or while working to build your business. It is what you avoid doing when you are on twitter, facebook, or trolling the blogs.</p>
<p>“Work Sucks!”, you say to yourself as you check out and go find something “fun” to do.</p>
<p>It was during the time spent cleaning carpets that I realized something. Yes, this does suck, but there is something to just pushing through and getting the job done. It feels good knowing that you got the job done.</p>
<h2>Half Finished</h2>
<p>What happens when you stop working on a task telling yourself that you will go back and finish it later? Does that blog post, the laundry, or a work project get finished when you said you would finish? How do you feel as the work piles up on your desk?</p>
<h2>The Pushing Through Muscle</h2>
<p>If you are not getting the success you want in life, maybe it is time to start working on your pushing through muscle. It is that pushing through muscle that gives you the strength you need to develop <a title="Pushing Through Muscle" href="http://www.asadudethinketh.com/post/" target="_self">the mindset for massive action</a>.</p>
<h3>How strong is your pushing though muscle?</h3>
<p>Try working on it for the next few days. If there is something small you are considering giving up on, the dishes for example, push through and do them before going to bed. See how much better it makes you feel in the morning when you are not staring at a pile of dishes.</p>
<p>When that starts working, move on to something bigger, until you have been able to conquer everything that you just need to push through.</p>
<p>Let me know what you are going to push through and get done in the comments.</p>
<p><p class="notice"><img class="alignleft border" src="http://www.asadudethinketh.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/Chris20_bluehalo100.jpg" alt="Chris20 bluehalo100 Pushing Through"  title="Pushing Through" /><a href="http://www.asadudethinketh.com/pushing/">Pushing Through</a> is a post from: <a href="http://www.asadudethinketh.com">As A Dude Thinketh</a> <br /><a title="As A Dude Thinketh" href="http://www.asadudethinketh.com">As A Dude Thinketh</a> is written and edited by <a title="About | As A Dude Thinketh" href="http://www.asadudethinketh.com/about/">Chris Elliott</a>. Chris helps small businesses figure out what their big idea is, how to get it to market, and how to get people to notice their wonderfulness. He is also a dynamic speaker and trainer in personal growth and public speaking. Do you need help with your next big idea or speech? I encourage you to <a title="Hire Me | As A Dude Thinketh" href="http://www.asadudethinketh.com/hire-chris/">talk with me</a> to see how Chris can be of service.</p></p>
<p>If you liked this post, then you should also check out:<ol>
<li><a href='http://www.asadudethinketh.com/raising-yourself-up-by-pushing-others-down/' rel='bookmark' title='Are You Raising Yourself Up by Pushing Others Down?'>Are You Raising Yourself Up by Pushing Others Down?</a></li>
<li><a href='http://www.asadudethinketh.com/post/' rel='bookmark' title='This Post Will Not Help You'>This Post Will Not Help You</a></li>
<li><a href='http://www.asadudethinketh.com/control-emotions/' rel='bookmark' title='Take Control of Your Emotions'>Take Control of Your Emotions</a></li>
</ol></p>]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>Take A Moment . . .</title>
		<link>http://www.asadudethinketh.com/moment/</link>
		<comments>http://www.asadudethinketh.com/moment/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 20 Jun 2010 21:54:24 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>chris</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Personal Development]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Energizing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Gratitude]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Happiness]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mindset]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Thank You]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.asadudethinketh.com/?p=332</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[As I was driving home from Lake Erie, I found myself on a lightly trafficked country road. In that moment, I was struck by the beauty of my surroundings. It was then how much I realized how lucky I was to be there to capture that moment in time. Take a moment today to realize...<p><p class="notice"><img class="alignleft border" src="http://www.asadudethinketh.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/Chris20_bluehalo100.jpg" alt="Chris Elliott, Helping You Be the Next Big Success Story" /><a href="http://www.asadudethinketh.com/moment/">Take A Moment . . .</a> is a post from: <a href="http://www.asadudethinketh.com">As A Dude Thinketh</a> <br /><a title="As A Dude Thinketh" href="http://www.asadudethinketh.com">As A Dude Thinketh</a> is written and edited by <a title="About | As A Dude Thinketh" href="http://www.asadudethinketh.com/about/">Chris Elliott</a>. Chris helps small businesses figure out what their big idea is, how to get it to market, and how to get people to notice their wonderfulness. He is also a dynamic speaker and trainer in personal growth and public speaking. Do you need help with your next big idea or speech? I encourage you to <a title="Hire Me | As A Dude Thinketh" href="http://www.asadudethinketh.com/hire-chris/">talk with me</a> to see how Chris can be of service.</p></p>

If you liked this post, then you should also check out:<ol>
<li><a href='http://www.asadudethinketh.com/greatest-moment-life/' rel='bookmark' title='The Greatest Moment in Your Life'>The Greatest Moment in Your Life</a></li>
<li><a href='http://www.asadudethinketh.com/love-feet/' rel='bookmark' title='Why I Love My Feet'>Why I Love My Feet</a></li>
</ol>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>As I was driving home from Lake Erie, I found myself on a lightly trafficked country road. In that moment, I was struck by the beauty of my surroundings. It was then how much I realized how lucky I was to be there to capture that moment in time.</p>
<p>Take a moment today to realize how lucky you are and capture one of the few moments you have in time. You might not have everything you want in life, but you are alive, you are breathing, and if you are reading this. If you can do that, then you have what it takes to succeed.</p>
<p>Too often we get mired in our desire to succeed that we forget what really matters. It is not the quantity of success that we will be judged by, but the quality of the life we choose to live no matter how much or how little we obtain.</p>
<p>So on this day, stop for a few seconds and breathe in life.</p>
<p>Tomorrow we will get back to moving that life forward.</p>
<p>Enjoy.</p>
<p><p class="notice"><img class="alignleft border" src="http://www.asadudethinketh.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/Chris20_bluehalo100.jpg" alt="Chris20 bluehalo100 Take A Moment . . . "  title="Take A Moment . . . " /><a href="http://www.asadudethinketh.com/moment/">Take A Moment . . .</a> is a post from: <a href="http://www.asadudethinketh.com">As A Dude Thinketh</a> <br /><a title="As A Dude Thinketh" href="http://www.asadudethinketh.com">As A Dude Thinketh</a> is written and edited by <a title="About | As A Dude Thinketh" href="http://www.asadudethinketh.com/about/">Chris Elliott</a>. Chris helps small businesses figure out what their big idea is, how to get it to market, and how to get people to notice their wonderfulness. He is also a dynamic speaker and trainer in personal growth and public speaking. Do you need help with your next big idea or speech? I encourage you to <a title="Hire Me | As A Dude Thinketh" href="http://www.asadudethinketh.com/hire-chris/">talk with me</a> to see how Chris can be of service.</p></p>
<p>If you liked this post, then you should also check out:<ol>
<li><a href='http://www.asadudethinketh.com/greatest-moment-life/' rel='bookmark' title='The Greatest Moment in Your Life'>The Greatest Moment in Your Life</a></li>
<li><a href='http://www.asadudethinketh.com/love-feet/' rel='bookmark' title='Why I Love My Feet'>Why I Love My Feet</a></li>
</ol></p>]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>This Post Will Not Help You</title>
		<link>http://www.asadudethinketh.com/post/</link>
		<comments>http://www.asadudethinketh.com/post/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 19 Jun 2010 22:06:04 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>chris</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Personal Development]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Action]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Advice]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Commentary]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Energizing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mindset]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Products]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Success]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.asadudethinketh.com/?p=329</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The past two weeks, I have been talking about the mindset required to take massive action. You might be wondering what that really means and why I have been harping on this mindset topic so much. Why Massive Action is Important Here is the kicker; taking massive action to get something accomplished is the only...<p><p class="notice"><img class="alignleft border" src="http://www.asadudethinketh.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/Chris20_bluehalo100.jpg" alt="Chris Elliott, Helping You Be the Next Big Success Story" /><a href="http://www.asadudethinketh.com/post/">This Post Will Not Help You</a> is a post from: <a href="http://www.asadudethinketh.com">As A Dude Thinketh</a> <br /><a title="As A Dude Thinketh" href="http://www.asadudethinketh.com">As A Dude Thinketh</a> is written and edited by <a title="About | As A Dude Thinketh" href="http://www.asadudethinketh.com/about/">Chris Elliott</a>. Chris helps small businesses figure out what their big idea is, how to get it to market, and how to get people to notice their wonderfulness. He is also a dynamic speaker and trainer in personal growth and public speaking. Do you need help with your next big idea or speech? I encourage you to <a title="Hire Me | As A Dude Thinketh" href="http://www.asadudethinketh.com/hire-chris/">talk with me</a> to see how Chris can be of service.</p></p>

If you liked this post, then you should also check out:<ol>
<li><a href='http://www.asadudethinketh.com/eat/' rel='bookmark' title='Are You What You Eat?'>Are You What You Eat?</a></li>
<li><a href='http://www.asadudethinketh.com/time-is-an-illusion/' rel='bookmark' title='Time is an Illusion'>Time is an Illusion</a></li>
<li><a href='http://www.asadudethinketh.com/living-life/' rel='bookmark' title='Are You Living Life On If . . . Then . . .'>Are You Living Life On If . . . Then . . .</a></li>
</ol>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The past two weeks, I have been talking about the mindset required to take massive action. You might be wondering what that really means and why I have been harping on this mindset topic so much.</p>
<h2>Why Massive Action is Important</h2>
<p>Here is the kicker; taking massive action to get something accomplished is <strong>the only difference between successes and failures</strong>. It is only in action that we are able to <a title="If you don't know where you are going" href="http://www.asadudethinketh.com/if-you-dont-know-where-you-are-going/" target="_self">live the life of our dreams</a>.</p>
<h2>My Story</h2>
<p>When I graduated from college, I barely achieved a 3.00 GPA.  The quarter before graduation, I had a 2.97 GPA and earlier in my college career, I was heading towards a 2.00 GPA. From the look of my transcript, you would have thought that I wasn’t cut out for success in higher education.</p>
<p><strong>Fast forward four years.</strong> After begging on hands and knees to get into graduate school, I graduated with a 3.93 GPA. If you would look at my transcript from graduate school, you would see that I had one B and the rest were A’s.</p>
<h3>Was I A Bad Student?</h3>
<p>If you had looked at my undergraduate grades, you might have thought that I didn’t spend much time on my studies. Here is the thing, I rarely missed classes or assignments. If you had seen me in class and working in front of the computer at the library, you would have thought I was a star student.</p>
<h3>What was my problem?</h3>
<p>The problem was that I wasn’t taking action.</p>
<p>Instead of actually taking the action to read what the professors wanted me to read; I was studying how to study, looking for simple explanations, or trying to find out how to better schedule my study time so that I could be a more effective student.</p>
<p>I was studying everything about studying, but not actually taking action on the materials I had in front of me.</p>
<h2>Success Comes From Massive Action</h2>
<p>I succeeded in Graduate School, because I spent hours in the library reading my textbooks, taking notes, summarizing notes, and working through my homework problems. I took the action required and worked my butt off in order to get the grades I wanted.</p>
<h2>What do You Want?</h2>
<p>Do you want to create and sell your own products online? Then stop spending $2000 on products that tell you how to create and sell products and start creating them.</p>
<p>Do you want to find a better job, lose weight, or fix your relationship? Spend 12 hours writing and revising your resume, exercise, or talk to your partner about the problems you are experiencing in your relationship.</p>
<p><strong>Too often we know what we want and we don’t take the action required to get what we want.</strong> Instead we head to Google and start reading about how to find a better job, lose 10 pounds in a week, or what we need to say to our spouse to fix our relationship. Instead of spending 10 hours taking the action required to do something, we spend that time reading about how we should be taking action.</p>
<p>This post will not help you unless you are willing to help yourself.</p>
<p>If you want to do something, take action to do it. Don’t think about it, don’t study the problem, and don’t buy a product that gives you a formula for figuring it out. Just take action and do the work required to get it done.</p>
<p>Will you have to work at it? <strong>Yes.</strong></p>
<p>Will it be hard? <strong>Yes.</strong></p>
<p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Deal with it.</span></strong></p>
<p><p class="notice"><img class="alignleft border" src="http://www.asadudethinketh.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/Chris20_bluehalo100.jpg" alt="Chris20 bluehalo100 This Post Will Not Help You"  title="This Post Will Not Help You" /><a href="http://www.asadudethinketh.com/post/">This Post Will Not Help You</a> is a post from: <a href="http://www.asadudethinketh.com">As A Dude Thinketh</a> <br /><a title="As A Dude Thinketh" href="http://www.asadudethinketh.com">As A Dude Thinketh</a> is written and edited by <a title="About | As A Dude Thinketh" href="http://www.asadudethinketh.com/about/">Chris Elliott</a>. Chris helps small businesses figure out what their big idea is, how to get it to market, and how to get people to notice their wonderfulness. He is also a dynamic speaker and trainer in personal growth and public speaking. Do you need help with your next big idea or speech? I encourage you to <a title="Hire Me | As A Dude Thinketh" href="http://www.asadudethinketh.com/hire-chris/">talk with me</a> to see how Chris can be of service.</p></p>
<p>If you liked this post, then you should also check out:<ol>
<li><a href='http://www.asadudethinketh.com/eat/' rel='bookmark' title='Are You What You Eat?'>Are You What You Eat?</a></li>
<li><a href='http://www.asadudethinketh.com/time-is-an-illusion/' rel='bookmark' title='Time is an Illusion'>Time is an Illusion</a></li>
<li><a href='http://www.asadudethinketh.com/living-life/' rel='bookmark' title='Are You Living Life On If . . . Then . . .'>Are You Living Life On If . . . Then . . .</a></li>
</ol></p>]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>Energy Through Exercise</title>
		<link>http://www.asadudethinketh.com/energy-exercise/</link>
		<comments>http://www.asadudethinketh.com/energy-exercise/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 19 Jun 2010 01:13:07 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>chris</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Personal Development]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Advice]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Commentary]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mindset]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Success]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.asadudethinketh.com/?p=325</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[In our discussion of mindset, I have talked about why you are fat and gave some advice on how eating better can help you create the energy you need to take massive action in your life. After my discussion of why I love my feet, I want to get back to talking about creating energy....<p><p class="notice"><img class="alignleft border" src="http://www.asadudethinketh.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/Chris20_bluehalo100.jpg" alt="Chris Elliott, Helping You Be the Next Big Success Story" /><a href="http://www.asadudethinketh.com/energy-exercise/">Energy Through Exercise</a> is a post from: <a href="http://www.asadudethinketh.com">As A Dude Thinketh</a> <br /><a title="As A Dude Thinketh" href="http://www.asadudethinketh.com">As A Dude Thinketh</a> is written and edited by <a title="About | As A Dude Thinketh" href="http://www.asadudethinketh.com/about/">Chris Elliott</a>. Chris helps small businesses figure out what their big idea is, how to get it to market, and how to get people to notice their wonderfulness. He is also a dynamic speaker and trainer in personal growth and public speaking. Do you need help with your next big idea or speech? I encourage you to <a title="Hire Me | As A Dude Thinketh" href="http://www.asadudethinketh.com/hire-chris/">talk with me</a> to see how Chris can be of service.</p></p>

If you liked this post, then you should also check out:<ol>
<li><a href='http://www.asadudethinketh.com/love-feet/' rel='bookmark' title='Why I Love My Feet'>Why I Love My Feet</a></li>
<li><a href='http://www.asadudethinketh.com/time-is-an-illusion/' rel='bookmark' title='Time is an Illusion'>Time is an Illusion</a></li>
<li><a href='http://www.asadudethinketh.com/hurt-smile/' rel='bookmark' title='Does it hurt to smile?'>Does it hurt to smile?</a></li>
</ol>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>In our discussion of mindset, I have talked about <a title="Why You Are Fat" href="http://www.asadudethinketh.com/fat/" target="_self">why you are fat</a> and gave some advice on how<a title="Are You What You Eat" href="http://www.asadudethinketh.com/eat/" target="_self"> eating better</a> can help you create the energy you need to take massive action in your life.</p>
<p>After my discussion of why <a title="I Love My Feet" href="http://www.asadudethinketh.com/love-feet/" target="_self">I love my feet</a>, I want to get back to talking about creating energy. While Thursday we talked about controlling what we put into our mouths, today I wanted to talk about the topic many people love to hate . . . exercise (Screams can be heard in the background).</p>
<h2>Can I be honest with you?</h2>
<p>Exercise is one of those activities that I know I should be doing more of, but I find myself having a hard time motivating myself to do. Do I know that I could be walking more, practicing tai chi longer, or doing some simple strength building exercises? Yes, yes and yes is the answer to all of those items.</p>
<p>I am like many people in that I see exercise as a chore, but I still do it. When I travel I get up early and use the gym, I am on the elliptical after work for 30 minutes, and I practice my tai chi form a few times a day.</p>
<p>Do I enjoy exercise? Sometimes I do, but other times I have to remind myself that I love my feet and have to focus on the outcome and not how I am getting there.</p>
<p>Exercise really does help you <strong>raise your energy levels</strong> so that you can produce the mindset of massive action.</p>
<h3>However, if you want some more advice, here is the best I have to give:</h3>
<ol>
<li>Put exercise on your schedule for either first thing in the morning or right after work in the evening.</li>
<li>Have all of your exercise gear in one place and ready to go at all times.</li>
<li>Stop researching what to do and just do something for 30 to 60 minutes. Take long walks, jog, or do push ups and sit ups.</li>
<li>Make exercise a ritual. If you have it as a habit, it is easier to fit into your life.</li>
<li>Take it easy. You don’t need to exhaust yourself with every workout. A long slow walk can have many of the same benefits as a tough workout.</li>
</ol>
<p>As with diet, exercise is one of the key factors in having energy to take action in life. It is not always easy for everyone, but if you <a title="I Love My Feed" href="http://www.asadudethinketh.com/love-feet/" target="_self">love your feet</a>, then you will find the motivation you need to exercise more.</p>
<p>Let me know your favorite exercise plans in the comments.</p>
<p><p class="notice"><img class="alignleft border" src="http://www.asadudethinketh.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/Chris20_bluehalo100.jpg" alt="Chris20 bluehalo100 Energy Through Exercise"  title="Energy Through Exercise" /><a href="http://www.asadudethinketh.com/energy-exercise/">Energy Through Exercise</a> is a post from: <a href="http://www.asadudethinketh.com">As A Dude Thinketh</a> <br /><a title="As A Dude Thinketh" href="http://www.asadudethinketh.com">As A Dude Thinketh</a> is written and edited by <a title="About | As A Dude Thinketh" href="http://www.asadudethinketh.com/about/">Chris Elliott</a>. Chris helps small businesses figure out what their big idea is, how to get it to market, and how to get people to notice their wonderfulness. He is also a dynamic speaker and trainer in personal growth and public speaking. Do you need help with your next big idea or speech? I encourage you to <a title="Hire Me | As A Dude Thinketh" href="http://www.asadudethinketh.com/hire-chris/">talk with me</a> to see how Chris can be of service.</p></p>
<p>If you liked this post, then you should also check out:<ol>
<li><a href='http://www.asadudethinketh.com/love-feet/' rel='bookmark' title='Why I Love My Feet'>Why I Love My Feet</a></li>
<li><a href='http://www.asadudethinketh.com/time-is-an-illusion/' rel='bookmark' title='Time is an Illusion'>Time is an Illusion</a></li>
<li><a href='http://www.asadudethinketh.com/hurt-smile/' rel='bookmark' title='Does it hurt to smile?'>Does it hurt to smile?</a></li>
</ol></p>]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>Why I Love My Feet</title>
		<link>http://www.asadudethinketh.com/love-feet/</link>
		<comments>http://www.asadudethinketh.com/love-feet/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 18 Jun 2010 16:18:26 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>chris</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Personal Development]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Advice]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Energizing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Happiness]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mindset]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Success]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.asadudethinketh.com/?p=320</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[In the last post, I have talked about a specific tactic you can use to raise your energy level. Raising your energy has an effect of giving you the energy you need to take massive action in your life to move forward in living the life of your dreams. What You Might be Thinking After...<p><p class="notice"><img class="alignleft border" src="http://www.asadudethinketh.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/Chris20_bluehalo100.jpg" alt="Chris Elliott, Helping You Be the Next Big Success Story" /><a href="http://www.asadudethinketh.com/love-feet/">Why I Love My Feet</a> is a post from: <a href="http://www.asadudethinketh.com">As A Dude Thinketh</a> <br /><a title="As A Dude Thinketh" href="http://www.asadudethinketh.com">As A Dude Thinketh</a> is written and edited by <a title="About | As A Dude Thinketh" href="http://www.asadudethinketh.com/about/">Chris Elliott</a>. Chris helps small businesses figure out what their big idea is, how to get it to market, and how to get people to notice their wonderfulness. He is also a dynamic speaker and trainer in personal growth and public speaking. Do you need help with your next big idea or speech? I encourage you to <a title="Hire Me | As A Dude Thinketh" href="http://www.asadudethinketh.com/hire-chris/">talk with me</a> to see how Chris can be of service.</p></p>

If you liked this post, then you should also check out:<ol>
<li><a href='http://www.asadudethinketh.com/energy-exercise/' rel='bookmark' title='Energy Through Exercise'>Energy Through Exercise</a></li>
<li><a href='http://www.asadudethinketh.com/hurt-smile/' rel='bookmark' title='Does it hurt to smile?'>Does it hurt to smile?</a></li>
<li><a href='http://www.asadudethinketh.com/mindset-moves-mountains/' rel='bookmark' title='Mindset Moves Mountains'>Mindset Moves Mountains</a></li>
</ol>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a title="What You Eat" href="http://www.asadudethinketh.com/eat/" target="_blank">In the last post</a>, I have talked about a specific tactic you can use to raise your energy level. Raising your energy has an effect of giving you the energy you need to take massive action in your life to move forward in living the life of your dreams.</p>
<h2>What You Might be Thinking</h2>
<p>After reading the last few posts, you might be saying to yourself,<em> “Chris, you are killing me. Do you know how much I hate exercising, eating well, and trying to think positive about a not-so-positive situation in my life?”</em></p>
<p>There are many times in our lives were we do not love what we are doing or have a great commitment to the monotony of an activity that we are currently engaged. This happens when we feel that eating well, spending an hour on the elliptical, or repeating positive statements to ourselves is pointless. We would rather enjoy the moment by eating sweets, not exercise, and showing the world how angry we can be.</p>
<p>When I start to go down that path, I have to tell myself that <strong>I love my feet</strong>.</p>
<h2>Why do I love my feet?</h2>
<p>In my keynote, <a title="Create your own LUCK" href="http://www.chris-elliott.com/speaking/" target="_self">Create Your Own LUCK</a>, I tell a story about that illustrates a point about Love and Commitment and how we can still stay focused when we do not love what we are doing in this moment.</p>
<p>I once had an older gentleman that used to work for me. He had lived a rough life and consoled himself with plenty of unhealthy foods, not bothering to exercise, and always coming after life with a “can’t do” attitude. Many people would have called him an old sourpuss.</p>
<p>This old sourpuss developed diabetes and over the course of a year and a half, it forced him to leave his job, lose his feet, and eventually <strong>lose his life</strong>.</p>
<p>In my keynote, I tell people that because I love my feet, I am able to cut back on the sugars, exercise, and approach more situations with a positive mental attitude. This demonstrates that even when we are not committed to what we have to do to reach success; <strong>we love and are committed to our goal</strong>. When we love and are committed to our goal, then we are able to move through the monotony to get to the greatness that is in our future.</p>
<p>So the next time you are down on working out, eating well, or developing a positive mindset. Remember how much you love your feet, that house by the lake, or whatever drives you towards your dream. When you focus on those goals, you can move towards taking the action you need to move yourself forward.</p>
<p>What do you love that drives you towards your goal?</p>
<p>Let us know in the comments.</p>
<p><p class="notice"><img class="alignleft border" src="http://www.asadudethinketh.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/Chris20_bluehalo100.jpg" alt="Chris20 bluehalo100 Why I Love My Feet"  title="Why I Love My Feet" /><a href="http://www.asadudethinketh.com/love-feet/">Why I Love My Feet</a> is a post from: <a href="http://www.asadudethinketh.com">As A Dude Thinketh</a> <br /><a title="As A Dude Thinketh" href="http://www.asadudethinketh.com">As A Dude Thinketh</a> is written and edited by <a title="About | As A Dude Thinketh" href="http://www.asadudethinketh.com/about/">Chris Elliott</a>. Chris helps small businesses figure out what their big idea is, how to get it to market, and how to get people to notice their wonderfulness. He is also a dynamic speaker and trainer in personal growth and public speaking. Do you need help with your next big idea or speech? I encourage you to <a title="Hire Me | As A Dude Thinketh" href="http://www.asadudethinketh.com/hire-chris/">talk with me</a> to see how Chris can be of service.</p></p>
<p>If you liked this post, then you should also check out:<ol>
<li><a href='http://www.asadudethinketh.com/energy-exercise/' rel='bookmark' title='Energy Through Exercise'>Energy Through Exercise</a></li>
<li><a href='http://www.asadudethinketh.com/hurt-smile/' rel='bookmark' title='Does it hurt to smile?'>Does it hurt to smile?</a></li>
<li><a href='http://www.asadudethinketh.com/mindset-moves-mountains/' rel='bookmark' title='Mindset Moves Mountains'>Mindset Moves Mountains</a></li>
</ol></p>]]></content:encoded>
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