The Law of Success: An Overview of Napoleon Hill's Lesson Fifteen

Lesson fifteen in Napoleon Hill's book The Law of Success is entitled The Golden Rule. As defined by Hill, "The Golden Rule means, substantially, to do unto others as you would wish them to do unto you if your positions were reversed." Hill goes one step farther and adds that you must "think of others as you wish them to think of you." The importance of both actions and thoughts playing a part in the Golden Rule deserves highlighting.

For those familiar with the Bible, you will recognize the phrase, "Whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap"! Hill proclaims that the Bible supports this lesson over and over showing man is the maker of his destiny.

Hill believes you must take an active role and attitude towards The Golden Rule. Your actions must be in harmony with your proclamations. He believes that The Golden Rule must be a foundation in your business or professional life or it will be economic suicide for you.

Those who understand The Golden Rule are always honest because they understand that every thought and action they perform will come back to them in like. To perform an act of injustice would be like putting poison into your own drinking water. The injustice will cause a chain of events for you leading to suffering and a destruction of your character and reputation making it impossible for you to have enduring success.

Hill emphasizes how important it is to guard your thoughts and acts. Those thoughts and acts mold your character, and your character is a magnet, which attracts the types of people and circumstances that are in alignment with it.

Hill gives an extensive list of his Code of Ethics, which is worthy of reading in its entirety. For the sake of this lesson overview, here are some key points of his list:

• Belief and practice of The Golden Rule
• Honesty in all transactions
• Forgiveness of others
• Be just, generous and fair
• Correction of your own faults instead of finding fault with others
• Refrain from slander
• Recognize the power of Thought
• Conquer hate, envy, selfishness, jealousy, malice, pessimism, doubt and fear
• Focus on your definite chief aim or thoughts of courage, self-confidence, good-will, faith, kindness, loyalty, love for truth and justice
• Active use of The Golden Rule
• Character development through guarding thoughts and actions
• Assisting and helping others to find happiness
• Acts of kindness

Hill's Code of Ethics is impressive and stands the test of time. After all, he repeats that we are all human magnets of our own making. Our character being the sum of all our thoughts and acts is ours to develop.

Hill discusses the relationship between the employer and the employee, which is sometimes contentious. If you are an employee, place yourself in the shoes of your employer. Would you want to be viewed as the enemy? Would you want your workers to slight their work and do as little as possible? If you are the employer and put yourself in the shoes of your employees, how would you want to be treated?

Both the laborer and the capitalist, using Hill's words, are dependent upon one another. He suggests both embrace The Golden Rule and remove hostility and conflict. Both can then prosper together.

Each person in which we interact is a chance to practice The Golden Rule. For as Hill puts it, "Harm to one is harm to all; help to one is help to all."

Napoleon Hill concludes his book The Law of Success with the lesson on The Golden Rule. If the reader of the book could only remember and practice one lesson of the fifteen presented, I would suggest that The Golden Rule would be the most important. The entire book is worth reading because all of the lessons will help the reader achieve greater success in life and business. That being said, remember The Golden Rule and make it your motto and your life and the world will be better for it!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lisa_Shultz

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Always Move Forward

10 years ago I was 25 years old. I had a lot more hair, a lot less girth and I just knew that I was destined to take my top spot in the field of Entertainment.

Doing what? It didn't really matter. Whether it was writing or directing I was convinced that I was going to become the Voice of the Generation.

Well, it's 10 years later and I'm still waiting for someone to swoop in and yell 'CUT!!!' on this special episode of Good Times that is my life. I'm still hoping that my halfhearted attempts at success will pay off and catapult me from Broke Street to Rich Road.

The funny thing is that while I have been waiting for the perfect opportunity to come along there were people around me doing the exact opposite and making things happen for themselves.

In some instances these people are ridiculously talented and in other instances they need to carry a dictionary and thesaurus with them to form basic sentences.

Bad grammar aside, in the 10 years I have been plotting and thinking of a master plan these people have conquered what I want and have now moved onto the next big thing.

So then, what's my next step?

Do I throw in the towel and begin waiting around for another ten years until my dreams become my reality? Hell No!

It's time to start over with a new way of thinking. Because holding onto the same mentality is a guarantee of nothing in life ever moving forward. I have learned that life should be about constant progression, not stagnation, complacency and regression.

Therefore, if I want my circumstances to change then I, too, must change.

At times pride and overconfidence can skew our vision towards going out and making things happen. So instead of doing the necessary work to advance ourselves we wait around, do as little as possible and just hope everything falls into place.

That's what I have been doing since I was 25 years old and it has taken me all of this time to realize that life doesn't work that way.

The only person who can change your life is you. You owe it to yourself to be successful. You owe it to yourself to do the work. You owe it to yourself to prove that you belong amongst the greatest.

Life is a long journey so why settle for shoddy work by using shortcuts? The only way you can rectify the mistakes of your past is to simply keep on moving. You may not know what's coming but stay focused and never stop believing in that dream you hold onto because there are people who started with less than you and have gone on to build empires. There is no limit to the possibilities in life so stop waiting around! Move forward. ALWAYS move forward and never look back.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Benjamin_Robinson_III

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Do Really You Want To Succeed?

If you Really Want To Succeed this is what your have to do 

1. See where you are at now.
2. Decided where you want to go.
3. Decided why you want to get there.
4. Become aware of opportunities.
5. Set your goals.
6. Follow your intuition.
7. Become a lifetime learner.

Step 1: See Where You Are At Now.

Is to see where you are at right now. If you know where you are at at this present moment. Then you can pretty much figure out what is working and what is not working in your life. Then you can stop doing what is not working and spend that time doing what is working in your life.

Step 2: Decided Where You Want To Go. 

• Where do you want to be in 30 days from now?
• Where do you want to be in 90 days from now?
• Where do you want to be six months from now?
• Where do you want to be a year form now?
• Where do you want to be five years from now?

It use to be said that a person can completely change their life in three to five years. Today with the internet you can change you life in as little as sixty to ninety days. There are programs on the internet today that will teach how you can increase your income to unbelievable amounts of income.

Step 3: Decided WHY You Want To Got There.

You have to have a compelling reason why you want to get there? You have to see the results in your mind. We think in pictures so you have to picture what your life will be like once you have reached where you are going.

This has to become a burning desire.

Everything ever accomplished began with an idea. This idea then became a burning desire in this persons life to see it become a reality.

Napoleon Hill said in his book "Think and Grow Rich."

"There is one quality which one must possess to win, and that is definiteness of purpose, the knowledge of what one wants, and a burning desire to possess it."

So what is a burning desire?

Burning desire is something that it is a MUST for you. You cannot live without it. You get up with you in the morning and you take it to bed with you at night. It is the driving force behind reaching your desired results.

Step 4: Become Aware of Opportunities.

Opportunities are all around us but unless we become aware of them. We will not be in the position to act on them. You could create a product or service for these three areas. 

• Problems - Opportunity to resolve these problems.
• Needs - Opportunity to provide for these needs.
• Wants - Opportunity to fulfill these wants.

Step 5: Set Your Goals.

Now there are three levels of goals. As taught by Bob Proctor

C. Fantasy - What I Want

B. Plan - What I Think I Can Do.

A. Know - Present Results

The type of goals I am talking about here are C. Fantasy - What I Want goals.

What do I mean when I say Fantasy Goals?

These are they type of goals that have you reach for something bigger then you are now. I brings you into a higher state of mind. What I often call inspired goals.

Now you should set these goals in all areas of your life. 

• Health - See yourself in a better state of health then you are now
• Relationships - Improve relationships so that you will have more joy in your life.
• Financial - This can be in your present position or in a creating a new position.

Why did I just list these three ares. Because people's greatest desires are to be healthy, happy and financially secure.

Step 6: Follow Your Intuition.

Your intuition comes from the unconscious part of your mind. Some call it a hunch, a inner feeling or the inner voice.

What you need to do is be watchful for these insights and act of them.

Step 7: Become a Lifetime Learner.

The last step is to become a lifetime learner. A lot of people feel that once they completed their schooling that they do not need to learn anything else. While the most successful people are lifetime learners. These people are always finding ways to learn more in their chosen field and learning more about how they can improve themselves through self-help books and courses.

Hand in hand with learning is teaching what you have learned to others. By teaching others what you have learned it ingrains deeper into your mind. Whenever you learn something you need to start doing what you have learned. This makes it a part of you. Which you can claim as your own.

I am sure that you may think of more steps to success, but these seven steps will help you start down the road to your own success.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tom_W_Robarge

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The Law of Success

Lesson Ten in Napoleon Hill's book The Law of Success is entitled Accurate Thought. Hill writes, "The term 'accurate thought' as used in this lesson refers to thought which is of your own creation."

Your conscious thinking mind has the ability to think any thought you choose. It is the only power that you have absolute control. Your subconscious mind is the intermediary between your conscious mind and the infinite intelligence. Whatever you think about becomes translated into physical reality or physical form. The subconscious mind will act on negative or positive thoughts, constructive or destructive thoughts. These thoughts may come from the outside world if you accept them or from you yourself as the generator. Your subconscious mind does not judge your thoughts, it simply creates your reality based on them.

When you become clear on your definite chief aim (discussed in detail in lesson one), and you have faith and believe you will achieve your goal, infinite intelligence will direct you to the object of your desire at the proper time and manner.

A farming analogy is helpful to understand these concepts. Think of your subconscious mind as the soil or field in which you sow the seed of your definite chief aim. Your positive and focused thoughts are the fertilizer to awaken the seed to grow and mature. Continuous faith is like sunshine and rain. Negative or destructive thoughts such as hatred, jealousy, envy and greed are like weeds that choke the growth of your goals.

If you have faith and expect your goal to come to fruition, it will come. Do not wish for it to come true, but rather cultivate a strong desire for it. Have a clear picture of what you want and the end result. With focus and belief, your subconscious mind will impel you to take action that moves you ever closer to the desire you have created.

Hill suggests writing out your definite chief aim on paper making several copies. Read this paper several times a day especially in the morning and before going to sleep at night. This repetition and persistence imprints your goal clearly to the subconscious mind.

Because people have the power to think negative or positive thoughts, your ability to control your thoughts is of utmost importance if you wish to achieve success in your life. Hill states it well when he says, "If there is a possibility that every thought you release during this life will step out, in the form of a living being, to greet you after death, then you will need no further reason for guarding your thoughts more carefully than you would guard the food that you feed your physical body."

To think clearly, you must separate facts from information and then important or relevant facts from unimportant and irrelevant ones. Use important or relevant facts towards the obtainment of your chief aim as long as it does not interfere with the rights of others. The accurate thinker does not accept all he sees and hears. It requires sound character to become an accurate thinker and to rise above any habit of belittling or criticizing other people. Become a person who builds instead of destroys. Guard the environment that feeds you suggestions and make sure it is in alignment with your focus and goals.

Finally, your success in life will largely be a matter of persistence and understanding how to use the power of your thoughts. Your thoughts attract or repel people, events and circumstances that are in harmony with your prevailing thoughts. You have the power to master your thoughts to achieve success in your life! This is one of the sixteen lessons of success by Napoleon Hill.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lisa_Shultz

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Online Business: Tackling the Obstacles That Prevent Your Success

Jackie Joyner-Kersee has been voted as the Greatest Female Athlete of the 20th century by Sports Illustrated for Women magazine. She won 3 golden and 3 other medals in 4 different olympics in heptathlon and long jump. She has said that the secret behind her success was this: "Those who know the why, beat the how."

So when you decide to pursue success in the world of online marketing, that is the first thing to make clear: what are your motives to do this in the first place. The more clear you can be, the better. I'm advising my students to make themselves a Treasure Map to describe the things that keep them moving forward. The map can be made the old fashion way, using magazine scraps, scissors and glue, or computer programs. Technique is not relevant. Much more important is to keep it at sight. I recently saw a study which revealed that if you write down your goals, you are 40% more likely to reach them than if you just hold them in your mind. The map itself however will not be enough, you will also need a plan that takes you to the "destination" in your map.

Fear is the most common obstacle that causes procrastination. To beat that fear you need to ask yourself: "What is the worst thing that can happen?". If the answer is related to personal insecurity, embarrassment and humiliation, I have a surefire solution for you to tackle them: choose to do something no-one has ever done before. Or at least nobody from your circles. That way you can be absolutely certain that people who predict your failure cannot know what they are talking about and therefore you don't need to care about their opinion.

When it comes to the risk of losing money, unfortunately that is unavoidable for an entrepreneur. Therefore you must set the boundaries beforehand and determine the exact amounts you are prepared to invest on your business, and then do it. This amount will grow along with your company, and so does the risk. That is something you must get used to.

While the basic investments of an online business are relatively small, they can grow quite big if you don't have a plan to follow and you end up spending on trifling products and programs. With a smart and solid plan you can avoid falling into that trap.

If the worst thing that can happen has to do with your health, you must consider it with the uttermost care. Irreparable damages happen far too easily and even minor health issues often multiply, because of extra worrying and sleepless nights. These issues can never be taken lightly and you should always keep in mind the instructions you get when going to an aeroplane: "If the cabin pressure drops, you must put the oxygen mask on yourself first before helping others."

You must put yourself first and stop thinking that it's selfish. It's everything but, because you cannot help anyone if you "stop breathing". Not your customers, employees, friends nor family, who all may be relying on you.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Eveliina_Koivula

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How's Your Recovery Time?

In life, as with running, the shorter your recovery time the more successful you will be. With running, recovery time is the time needed for your heart rate to get back down after a burst of speed during speedwork. Speedwork is a common activity for those runners that want to get faster, and improve their race time. It's often done on a track to make the results more exact. You run around the track a couple times at a certain speed, rest/recover for a period of time then do it again. Your fitness level is a direct reflection of your needed recovery time. The shorter the time you need to recover the better shape you're in.

Just as recovery time is a reflection of fitness level in the running world, it's a reflection of success in life. The most successful people have the shortest recovery time after:

• Set-backs, failure, major or minor changes. These events tend to stall many a life, sometimes even permanently. Successful people don't stay down for long. They always get back up. The most successful people, get back up the quickest.


• Success. Surprisingly, many people can get as stuck on a past success as they can on a failure. This too can stall a life. Successful people pause to celebrate the success, but they know when it's time to start running again.

A few tips to help shorten your recovery time after a set-back:

• Keep everything in perspective. Sometimes you need to step away from something to see it for what it really is. Ask yourself: What's really important here? What's really at stake? Will this matter in 10 years? Few situations come with life or death consequences. I can think of situations in my own life that didn't look good at the time, but ended up being a necessary route to the best result. In retrospect, I wouldn't change anything because all roads led to where I am now.


• Accept it and move on. It's important to learn from your mistakes, but you can't live there. Understand that Plan Z days happen. That's the day when the other 25 plans didn't work. Everyday is new, whether yesterday is deemed a success or failure. Your life story is still being told. The sooner you can accept what's happened, the sooner you can write a better future.


• Control the grey matter between your ears. Choose your thoughts wisely. They're your filter, determining your direction and ultimately your destination. "Whatever is true... if there is any excellence... think about these things." Philippians 4:8(ish) How often do you not only think, but meditate on something that may or may not even be true? Waste-of-time! Spend your time thinking about what will make a better tomorrow.

The same tips apply after a success as well. Success can distort your perception of yourself just as much as a set-back can. Make sure you always have people around you who keep you grounded. People who will give you balanced feedback. There's always something new to learn, develop, change and a new goal to conquer. Celebrate your success, but keep moving forward.

For the best results, be intentional about reducing your recovery time. View each day as the next step in your training for success. How's your recovery time?

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kaylene_S_Mathews

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How to Achieve Success Using Life's Tools

Success is achieved by being flexible and using our tools.

Flexibility

Rigidity plays its role in rallying in our wild sides. But, when left unattended, those rascals undermine our potentials. It's one thing to let loose when the time calls for it; it's another thing to let loose every minute of every hour.

Generally, it works like this. We start off as disorganized, untamed individuals. Over time we begin to realize the importance of becoming organized, having a planning and sticking to it - growing up. We may even go through a period in which we stick to our plan so much that we do ourselves harm. Our inflexibility works against us, and we miss out on opportunities.

Our plans must make room for flexibility.

Our happiness relies on our being flexible like a garden hose. Otherwise, we create rules without an end date/time and, thus, continue to follow rules way past their undeclared due date. There comes a point when the tools of life no longer serve us. Are we willing and flexible enough to let go without feeling shameful?

We are not a failure for letting something go when its time has come. There is a lifespan for everything, including our plans, schedules, rules and goals. These tools might have worked to instill in us a new habit or skill. But once that skill or habit is ingrained, is it really necessary to be so adamant as to continue when it's no longer necessary? Once we are trained, we are allowed to take the training wheels off and free flow from there - until new tools arrive.

We only need training wheels for so long, until we just don't need them anymore. We are no less of a person by removing the training wheels. In fact we are often seen as having grown up!

Wow! We are able to joyously boast, "I've achieved my goal, and I no longer need to restrict myself in this manner. I am thoroughly trained!"

We must learn to use our tools until the point at which we recognize their limitations.Then we are required to discard those tools and move on.

That's not to say we will never use tools again. In order to climb to new peaks, we will always require new tools. But once one is worn out, let's not allow our egos to stubbornly hold on to these limitations. Let's relinquish these limitations. Let's ride the bike without the training wheels for a while.

The Tools

Eventually, we will need to get a new bike. Our bodies will grow, and so we will need to get a larger bike. Eventually we may decide that the bike is not the best mode of transportation or form of exercise. Instead, we may decide that it's better to roller blade. Our feet have an appetite for the ground.

So we strap on a new pair of roller blades. Depending upon our past experiences, we may not be equipped with the proper knowledge to successfully hit the ground rolling. We may need secondary tools, such as a teacher or a smooth surface.

So, we acquire a roller rink and a professional to guide us until we feel safe to ride the wall alone. We ride the wall and the smooth floor until we decide the wall is not the center, and we want to see what's in the middle. Soon we realize that the center of the rink is just as boring as the rink by the wall. What does the street hold for us?

We acquire different tools throughout our life. Each tool arrives newly packaged. We move through a process of unwrapping, using and discarding, and then we enter a period without use for tools or manuals.

Each aspect of the process enables us to explore different avenues life. Without these tools we would not be able to get where we're going. The wonderful part about this is that we have all the tools we will ever need right now.

We may not recognize the tools for what they are. We may be carrying around several worn out pieces, or we may have failed to pick up the shiny new tools. We may have perfect tools in our box that we simply neglect. Of course, they are growing cobwebs and deteriorating from disuse, but that doesn't mean we can't dust them off and use them.

Once those tools become well worn, we mustn't worry about the acquisition of new tools. Instead, we must only be concerned with respectfully laying aside what no longer works for us.

It's important to pay respect to what has served us. Without those tools, we would not be where we are today. Let's be thankful for what we've been given and then lay it aside.

New tools will be given to us. Let's not be afraid to pick them up and use them. They are ours to use. We are entitled to use whatever comes our way, given that we recognize it's for us and no one else. And don't try and steal someone else's tools. Simply be patient. Ours will arrive.

Being overzealous in our adventures will only cause us stress. We can't move forward without our tools and we can't move forward with someone else's tools. We can't climb Mount Everest with our friend's roller blades, we are going to need very specific gear. And don't think we can use our friend's scuba gear to camp in the desert.

The time between is a reprieve - a tool in itself. While there may be no form associated with these times, realize that it is just as much a tool as anything else.

Sometimes we just need a break. There's no point in avoiding that. Let's no go out searching for our tools, ogling other people's tools and wishing for our own - as if they weren't on their way. Take the lull as a gift. It's a time for us to rest up. How can we use our new tools if we spend all our energy in these fruitless ways?

Let's restore ourselves to high levels of energy. Refresh ourselves for the road ahead. We are on an adventure, and every adventure requires energy. Let's not waste ours. Let's be patient and rest in the peaceful serenity of this period. Let's recognize its use.

Once our tools have arrived, let's be appreciative. We can never be too appreciative! Appreciation is a prayer for success and happiness.

Let's love what we've been give with our whole mind, body and spirit. Then, let's take up our new tools and set out to explore the new world. We've just been given the keys - let's unlock the door!

It's ours for the taking if we would only take it.

That is, if we haven't been off stealing someone else's tools and going down their path. But, if that is the case, our tools will be waiting for us when we get back. Or new tools for a new path will arrive.

Whatever the case may be, the quicker we give back what doesn't belong to us and recognize what does, we can be on your way, galavanting in the direction of brand new experiences.

Adventures await us in all directions. Let's figure out whether we've been using the wrong tools, neglecting the tools we've been given, or if we failed to get rid the old.

Let's take a personal inventory. What's going on? Which tools are being used? Are they the right tools? How do they feel? Are we ready for new tools? Or, is this a period of grace?

These are questions that need to be answered honestly.

Let's let go of any thoughts that tell us to do something that we don't feel is right. Let's let go of the opinions of others. Let's call on our higher powers to guide and direct us in the direction of our dreams. We have all the tools we will ever need right here, right now, so long as we are flexible enough to recognize when to stop, let go and move on.

It's alright to stop a while and rest, if that's what we feel you need to do. The world will go on. We are allowed to give Atlas the world back and resume our unique roles as OURSELVES.

Let's be successful. Let's be flexible. Let's use our tools.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Paula_D_Jones

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Two Simple Strategies to Improve Your Life Success

In my last article I discussed the absolute necessity of taking personal responsibility for your thoughts, feelings, and above all your actions. Your actions bring your results. All the knowledge in the world cannot help you if you do not act upon it. In this article I will discuss two simple easy things to do, which if done, will improve your life guarantee. They are not time consuming or difficult. They cost nothing and can be instantly implemented into your life.

RESPONSIBILITY EXERCISE:

Taking personal responsibility is one thing. Remembering to take it for yourself in the heat of everyday interactions is quite something else. Here is what you can do. Take a piece of (A4) paper and in thick black magic marker write "I AM RESPONSIBLE" on it and hang it up on your bedroom wall next to the door. Every morning when you get up and even before you go to the bathroom you will see "I AM RESPONSIBLE." The second half of the exercise is simply to think "for my actions". Now, looking at "I AM RESPONSIBLE" is passive. You simply look at the words and let them register in your mind. Thinking "for my actions" is active. Every time you go into your bedroom look at your piece of paper on the wall. See the words and think "for my actions." Think "for my actions." Think "for my actions."

After about two weeks you will see real results. Even when you are in an uncomfortable situation, dealing with an uncomfortable person, you become aware of "for my actions." The first time I experienced this awareness was quite invigorating. I was aware of being in the situation but I was also detached from it. It was a blessed feeling of freedom. Knowing that I am responsible for my actions freed me from having to react to the situation and made me able to respond to it. Needless to say, what could have become a problem resolved itself before it became a problem.

Before I leave this theme, however, there is one point I wish to make perfectly clear. There came a point in our discussion where this gentleman made a rather derogatory remark. Actually, it was a roundabout insult. My first feeling was to defend myself or attack his position. This was my first feeling, but, then came this moment of "blessed freedom" as I saw that reacting to his comment would bring an end to our discussion. I saw that acting out my anger to his comment was not necessary and that acting peacefully actually gave me the possibility to feel at peace. I write this to let you know that this is not some kind of magic, but, rather a way to freedom. As this idea of "being responsible for my actions" has taken root in me I find it easier to control myself and therefore the situations in which I find myself. Try it. Practice it.

THE SMILE EXERCISE:

After getting up and reminding yourself that you are responsible for your actions for that day there is a one-minute exercise, that, if indulged in, will truly change the character of your life.

First: be alone. If you live in a family situation, or with other people, find a place where you can be alone, even if you must lock yourself in the bathroom for one minute. Now that you are alone: smile. That's it. Smile. You don't have to think anything, say anything, or do anything.

Just Smile. Personally, I explored the feelings of my face muscles and the effect of smiling on my eye muscles. Just smile, for one minute without stopping. At first, one minute is a long time, but, in a very short time it is nothing. This exercise is such fun you will want to do it more times throughout the day. It is important that you are alone. You must smile by and for yourself. My favorite place is when I am alone in the car stopped at a red light. It brings a very relaxed feeling and stress seems to evaporate as the mist does when the morning sun warms the earth.I know that this sounds too simple to have any impact, but I can attest to the fact that it has had a profound effect on my life. Try it. It only costs you one minute a day.

Life is an inner experience. The world is not as it is. The world is as you think it is. These two simple and easy exercises are like a doorway to opening your inner world. May peace be with you.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Richard_Dobkowski

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The Importance of Taking Personal Responsibility

Taking personal responsibility simply means that you accept the fact that you are the cause of all that is good and all that is dysfunctional or painful in your life. It means that you can see yourself as the doer and not the victim of your circumstances. It means that you stop blaming others or events for your situation and firmly take your life in your own hands. James Allen, in his classic book "As a Man Thinketh" put it this way: "A man only begins to be a man when he ceases to whine and revile and commences to search for the hidden justice which regulates his life, and as he adapts his mind to that regulating factor he ceases to accuse others as the cause of his condition and builds himself up on strong and noble thoughts".

There is also a very powerful psychological principle at work when you take total responsibility for your circumstances. It is simply this: when you blame others or outer conditions for your situation, you give away your personal power. When your job is to blame for your poverty or your spouse is to blame for your unhappiness, you have no power to change the situation. They are making you poor or unhappy. They are controlling you. However, when you take the responsibility to say "I made this situation by myself. If I don't like it I can make a different situation", you have just taken the power back into your own hands. If you are responsible for being poor, you have the power to change it. If you are responsible for being in a bad relationship, you may work on it or, if need be, end it and find a new one. You have stopped living in the problem and have started living in the solution. By taking responsibility for yourself and only yourself, you are taking the power away from people and things to control you. You are now the master and not the slave of your life. The doer and not the victim of your circumstances. As Napoleon Bonaparte is quoted as saying "I don't wait for circumstances to happen, I make them happen". Napoleon was a doer.

Now, in order for you to make this work for you, it is essential for you to understand one thing, which is: you are only responsible for yourself and no one else. It is not enough to tell your boss "I am responsible for me so change my working conditions". Or with your spouse "I am responsible for this problem, but you are responsible for that problem". This only has the effect of taking power to yourself and giving it away again. It is push and pull at the same time. Taking personal responsibility means that you are willing to change your thoughts, feelings, and actions.

Remember, your job is not to reform anyone else. Your job is to take your life into your own hands and be your own master. This is an inner game. When you find yourself blaming someone or something for your misfortunes, STOP, go back and see what you did or did not do to have created the situation that you are in. You may not be able to control a situation but, you can control how you respond to it.

Any self-improvement program starts in the mind. It starts with a thought. It starts with you deciding to change your consciousness and to start thinking, feeling and acting differently. As James Allen said "As you think so you are. As you continue to think so you remain". Remember, you are the only thinker in your head. Make the best of your thoughts.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Richard_Dobkowski

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The Law of Success

Lesson Six in Napoleon Hill's book The Law of Success is entitled Enthusiasm. Hill writes, "Enthusiasm is a state of mind that inspires and arouses one to put action into the task at hand. It does more than this-it is contagious, and virtually affects not only the enthusiast, but all with whom he comes in contact."

Enthusiasm is vital to successful leadership, sales, writing, and public speaking. Words are just letters or sounds unless colored with the feeling of enthusiasm. If you are a writer or speaker, expressing yourself with burning enthusiasm from your heart and a deep belief in your message affects and impresses others favorably.

Enthusiasm is developed when you are doing the type of work in which you like best. Enthusiasm energizes you making work you love seem effortless. You often do not need as much sleep and tend to be more productive when enthusiasm is a part of your daily work life.

As you strive to obtain your definite chief aim as discussed in lesson one, the enthusiasm in your heart helps obstacles fall away giving you more power and assisting you in reaching your goals more quickly.

Seek environments where others of enthusiasm and optimism are present.

In a farming analogy, your suggestion to someone is like planting a seed, and enthusiasm is like fertilizer that assists the seed to grow.

Knowledge alone does not lead to success. You must be a person of action. Enthusiasm can urge you to put knowledge into action.

Enthusiasm creates within you a higher level of vibration or energy. This stronger vibration is felt in the minds of those around you. If your thoughts, words and actions all harmonize, you will be able to influence others especially when mixed with enthusiasm.

If you do not already have enthusiasm in your life, Hill suggests you study all the 16 lessons of success as well as write out your definite chief aim in life. Combine your chief aim with a written plan for its obtainment. Each night before bed, read your aim and visualize with your imagination yourself in full realization and possession of your desire. This reading may also be done in a prayer. Believe and have faith in your ability to achieve your goal. He also suggests that as you read aloud your definite chief aim, do so with all the enthusiasm you can muster emphasizing each word. Continue this practice until you have made your definite aim a reality.

Enthusiasm is one of the 16 ingredients of success that Napoleon Hill presents in his book The Law of Success.

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Setting Goals - 6 Point Plan

Setting goals is much more than simply compiling a 'to do' list. Whether for personal or business reasons the method for achieving your goals, if followed correctly, is extremely effective.

It all starts with a dream

A goal is about fulfilling a dream. Using our wonderful human imagination we can envisage what we want as opposed to what we have. It might be a new home, a better car, giving someone you care for the option of not working, being fitter or slimmer or improving a relationship.

It is important not to restrict the scope of your dreams. If you can imagine it, you can achieve it!

Clarity is everything

It isn't enough to simply think in terms of the new home or the new car. You must sit down and write out not just the things you desire but a very detailed description of them. For example if a smart new car is your goal then describe it in terms of make, model, external color, internal trim, engine type and size and any extras or modifications.

It is also vital that you set a definite date for achieving your goals and the reason for this brings us to the most interesting aspect of setting goals.

The power of the subconscious

You have a conscious mind, a subconscious mind and an unconscious mind. We are concerned today with the extraordinary relationship between the conscious and subconscious mind.

Have you ever found yourself trying to remember the name of someone famous or some other fact that you know you should be able to bring to the front of your mind instantly? Of course you have. Frustrated you dismiss the whole exercise and yet some time later the answer springs into your consciousness and you announce it to the world triumphantly.

What has happened is that your subconscious mind has been sifting through the billions of pieces of information that it has stored, found the relevant facts and pushed them into your consciousness

Tapping into the power of the subconscious mind

What if you programmed your subconscious mind with your goals in such a way that your brain accepts them as not merely vague desires but as a set of instructions to act upon within your time frame. In other words your subconscious will begin to provide your conscious brain with the information you need to actually achieve your goals.

This programming is accomplished by reading your goals every day. Do you now appreciate why they must be written and in great detail.

Self image

Your self image must not get in the way of setting goals. Your self image is your version of you and it starts to form from the day you enter this world. Your surroundings and the people you meet every day are instrumental in forming the person that you believe yourself to be.

If enough people tell you often that you can't sing then you begin to accept it as a fact even though there may be no reason why you couldn't sing. Not being able to sing becomes part of your self image. Unfortunately these self fulfilling prophecies can become so extensive that they can have a very negative effect on many aspects of you life.

You can change your self image

There is every chance that you believe that you cannot achieve many or all of your goals because your self image is telling you that they are simply not achievable by someone like you. The process that I have described above is not just programming for success but re-programming your subconscious to generate a new self image.

In truth there is nothing that the average person cannot achieve. Setting goals gives your life focus and meaning, achieving them will give a massive boost to your confidence and happiness.

Don't let anyone steal your dreams.

Lawrence Stainbank

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What Happens When You Fail To Achieve Your Goals?

What happens when you fail to achieve your goals? It could be that:

• You start avoiding setting big goals because you don't want to fail. You start talking of being practical and the need to set achievable goals.


• You get upset and demotivated. You start losing faith in yourself. You start feeling that you are a failure.


• You switch over to "why" mode and analyze what went wrong? What could have been done to avoid failure? What changes you must make in your planning or action process, so that your goals remain meaningful and challenging AND you really achieve them!

Which of the above options do you choose? Of course, there is nothing wrong in failing. It happens with everyone some time or the other; but you cannot start on this premise. If you start with this thinking, that amounts to "planning to fail".

So the focus has to remain to succeed - success with a feeling of achievement, success that is not an ordinary one! Therefore, if you understand your weaknesses, there can always be some concrete plan to pull you forward.

Big targets are always going to be scary. It is natural to feel uneasy and apprehensive about them. They certainly go beyond the obvious or what you can achieve with what you already know and do. Big stretch targets force you to think out of the box. Obviously, extraordinary results cannot be achieved with ordinary actions.

It goes without saying that you have to move outside of your comfort zone while chasing big targets. So, in fact, it is the fear of unknown over there that scares you!

For some people, the failure of falling short of a big target means embarrassment, frustration, loss of face, loss of respect, disappointment and reinforcement of an already low self-esteem. Big enough reasons to avoid those big targets - big enough reasons to look for "achievable targets" and to justify why targets should be "achievable".

However, safe and achievable targets don't stretch you and as such, you end up achieving much less than what you can! You don't feel the need to think smarter, or choose more wisely or act more deliberately. Taking the easy route, you neither explore new approaches nor look beyond your current knowledge. Definitely not enough to have that adventurous feeling of fulfillment!

It is also true however, that unrealistically high targets without backing of real action plans can never motivate you to perform. Striking a fine balance between the stark reality of the present and aligning your thoughts, choices and actions towards a BIG destination in the future, is the key.

Get motivation from the distance you have traveled to inspire yourself to bridge the gap you have fallen short of. Motivation to achieve and will to succeed are the pre-requisites in this journey. The real success will come through creative thinking, meticulous planning and real hard work. So think BIG, plan BIG, achieve BIG for BIGGER accomplishments and supreme feeling of satisfaction.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ashok_Grover

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The Power Behind Setting Goals

We all have dreams and aspirations. Setting goals is a way to achieve something that most people dream about. What does that mean? To achieve great things, you must have a burning desire to succeed. Thomas Edison once said, "When a person desires something so deeply that he would stake his future on a turn of the wheel, he's a sure bet to win." The goal has to be big enough to make you persist when obstacles come. Michael Jordan is a great example of persistence. Nothing could stop him from being all that he could be. Sure, the skeptics said he would not succeed. Sure he ran into some speed bumps, but his work hard made him who he is today. What made his persistence so strong was his desire. One of his goals was to win championships. His desire was so big that it would not let him quit. To be a champ, you have to believe in what you do. That's the power behind setting goals and having success.

Setting Goals for Better Health

Let's say you want to get healthy and fit. You are going to have some highs and lows. Consistency is the key to your success. You have to decide in your mind that you want it, and then take action. That's what I did. I followed a strict nutrition and fitness plan. Was it easy? No, but the results we're fantastic. You have to do something different to get something different. The more you think about something, the more it gets deeper in your mind. Many times we say, "I think I can lose weight" as opposed to "I will lose 15 pounds by January 31st." A realistic goal with a deadline brings on a whole new meaning. It gives you a sense of purpose and a greater chance for success. Add to that writing down the goal, and you are one step closer!

Questions to think about:

• Why do you want to lose weight?
• Why do you want to have healthier looking skin?
• Why do you want to live longer?
• Why do you want to get ripped?
• Do you have that burning desire to get the body you want?

I can teach you how to get the results but it's up to you get the results.

6 Ways to Get Healthy and Fit:

• Drink more water (at least 8 glasses).
• Eat more fruits and veggies.
• Eat whole grains.
• Replace one meal each day with a healthy meal shake.
• Get more sleep.
• Get more exercise.

Whether you think you can or think you can't, you're right! Just take the first step.

How to Succeed with Personal Goal Setting:

• Write down a list of personal goals on paper.
• Make me your coach.
• Set a goal each day.
• be persistent.
• be consistent.
• Stick to the plan.

Why set goals?

Goal setting gives you a sense of accomplishment. When you set goals that are realistic, you have a chance to cross the finish line with both arms up.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mike_E_Davis

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How to Transform Your Dreams Into Accomplishments

Who among us wouldn't love to be a better person and live a more fulfilling life? Maybe you wish you were richer, thinner, healthier, or more successful. Perhaps you'd like a more fulfilling love life or a fuller social calendar. Make sure you're not making the mistake so many other people make and simply waiting for those things to happen on their own. It's only by taking action that you'll ultimately get where you want to be.

This is the case regardless of what you're hoping to achieve in your life. After all, even people who manage to beat the odds and win the lottery had to facilitate their stroke of good luck by deciding to buy a ticket! Let's take a look at how you can take your dreams and transform them into real circumstances through actions and purposeful planning.

Clarify your goals and decide on a time frame.

Everyone knows what it's like to have deadlines and quotas that need to be met at work... but have you ever taken the time to think about why those benchmarks are in place? It's because they're the only way to really get things done and make progress. Before you can reach your goals, you need to first figure out what they really are. Next you need to establish a time frame and make a plan for actually reaching those goals. Think about a part of your life that you really wish was different or better, whether that's your weight or the direction your career is taking. Set a specific goal you'd like to reach and attach a deadline to it. Ask those closest to you to help hold you accountable when it comes to following through.

Make sure your expectations are realistic.

Making progress is part of a process that is going to take some real time, so don't expect to be able to change everything overnight. Make sure the goals and deadlines you're setting are actually realistic. Otherwise, you'll quickly get discouraged and reach a point where you're ready to throw in the towel. Consider asking a professional consultant to help you set reachable goals if you're not sure you can do it on your own. When it comes to long-term plans, break the process up into smaller milestones. This not only helps show you you're making progress, but it helps keep you from drifting off course as well.

Knowledge is helpful... but it's not everything.

Some people feel that improving their quality of life automatically means going out and getting another degree or hitting the books and studying something new. While there's never anything wrong with acquiring more knowledge or more credentials, it's important to realize that they're not a means to an end by themselves. You need to be able to apply what you learn in a way that facilitates real change, so keep this in mind when formulating your plans.

As you can see, making real progress in life really is all about taking action and purposefully moving ahead toward one's goals. Look for ways you can apply this philosophy today and experience the difference it makes for yourself!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Johnny_J._Flewellen

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What Is Vision Mapping?

In order to live a life full of purpose and to live a life on purpose, vision mapping is an effective way to stay focused. Without a vision, there is no direction on which to live life. Without vision, there is no purpose.

Where there is no vision, the people perish - Proverbs 29:18

So when it comes to having a vision. A map is needed in order to accomplish the vision. This is called vision mapping. I learned the concept of vision mapping from Steven K. Scott's book, The Richest Man Who Ever Lived. It gives a breakdown of vision mapping and it gives steps on how to write out a vision map.

Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, That he may run who reads it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time; But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. - Habakkuk 2:2-3

What is vision mapping?

Vision mapping is writing a clear and specific vision with a detailed road map to achieving the vision. It is very similar to goal setting. This can help people accomplish their dreams and actually develop a plan on how to accomplish those dreams.

How to do vision mapping

First step: Write a clear and precise description of the vision

In vision mapping, it is important to write the vision very clearly. Make it as descriptive as possible. You can describe what you are wearing in this vision. The time and day. Who is with you in this vision. What is your location when this vision is being fulfilled? Basically, make it as vivid as possible. This is when you need to become a kid again and use your imagination. Here is an example:

I, Janarian Donte' Foster, am sitting in my apartment in Greensboro, NC. I am sitting in the living room on the sofa. I can feel the breeze hitting my face from the central air conditioning. I can hear the dogs outside barking. The date is now September 13, 2013. It is 3:00 PM and it is a sunny day outside. The TV is on and I can hear ESPN SportsCenter playing on TV. I have my laptop in my lap and I am logging into Expedia.com and I have just processed my order for two airline tickets to fly to Orlando, FL on October 24, 2013. I am now smiling and rejoicing. I can't believe how easy it was to book a flight to Orlando. I can't believe how easy it was. This is how I did it:

So you just have to be very detailed about your vision and make it real!

Second step: Do goal setting for the vision

In this step in vision mapping, you need to make a list of the goals that you need to meet in order to achieve your dream.

Third step: Turn the goals into steps

Take the goals you have set and break it down into steps that are going to be needed to achieve the goals.

Fourth step: Turn the steps into tasks

Separate the steps into daily tasks that are needed to complete the steps.

Fifth step: Set deadlines

In vision mapping, you need to keep yourself accountable. You need to set a deadline or completion date on each step and task that is needed in order to achieve your goals. This is so you can do things one step at a time until everything is achieved.

Final Thoughts

This exercise can be helpful to all of you dreamers out there. This will help you to turn your dream into a reality. This will also show you that you don't have to be sleep to dream. Stay focused and go after your dreams!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Janarian_Foster

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Why It Is Important To Set Your Goals

One of the most fundamental yet vital personal development activities is goal setting. You may be surprised at how big a difference goals can make in your endeavors. Let me discuss this topic with you and hopefully you will see why that is so.

Now the first thing I want to harp on is that goals provide you with a sense of direction. Without goals, you could end up lost in your journey. In fact, without goals, your journey could be really pointless. Let me give you an illustration. Think of two opposing soccer teams who are playing soccer on a field without goal posts. What would the motive of the game be if there are no goal posts? Now when you put two sets of goal posts on to the field, you give each of the teams a purpose, which is to score as many goals as they can to win the game. Basically, what I am saying is this. If you have no goals, you cannot be a winner, and therefore, that makes you a loser. Doing other personal development activities would hence be futile without an end destination.

Besides giving you an end destination, goals can also help guide you along the way. Let me give you another illustration. Let's say you went trekking, and you lost your way. You know where you want to go, but you need a compass to bring you to your final destination. What can we learn from this illustration? It is important to have a long term goal, but it is also just as important to have short term goals, or what I like to call milestones. If you break down your long term goal into milestones, achieving that long term goal will not seem like such a daunting task, and it will help you with your other personal development activities as well.

Besides having a long term goal and breaking that up into smaller milestones, I also suggest that you write your goals down and put them in a place where you will always be able to see them. When you write your goals down, you show that you are committed to attaining them, and whenever you find that you're lost, you can always look back at them to get some motivation. Besides, committing to them to memory isn't very effective because as humans, we do forget.

I hope you have gained a better understanding about goal setting and I hope you will use it in tandem with your other personal development activities.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_J._Simpson

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Ten Ways to Boost Your Self-Esteem

1. Talk to someone who listens to you. It could be your mother or father, or your best friend. It could be a teacher or work colleague. But sometimes it's important to get your feelings out in the open. Find someone you can trust that will listen to what you have to say. Find a person who can provide feedback in a non-judgmental way.

2. Make a list of the things you like about yourself. List your accomplishments. Then make a list of the things you would like to accomplish.

3. Start working towards your goals today. Make a list that you will update in 3 months, and in 6 months, and that you will look back and read and revise on a yearly basis.

4. Take a break from your routine. One of the best ways to get yourself out of a rut is to take a break from your everyday routine. You will see things in a different light, and it helps to put your life in a different perspective. If you feel "stuck", this is a good way to begin again.

5. Start a Bulletin Board or Journal. This is a continuation of the ideas you have already listed. You cannot hide your light under a bushel, but instead, you should be proud of any past accomplishments and achievements. That includes your children and your past work and academic experience. Hang your diplomas and display your treasured possessions.

6. Spend some time with a child, or take a pet for a walk. Having to care for another human being, or another living creature, and just getting out of yourself and seeing things from a child's perspective can really help you to move forward. Children and animals tend to accept people for who they are, not who they want to be. It's always a good idea to keep you living "in the moment" to spend time with children. And even if you don't have a dog, you can usually find a friend or relative who would love to lend their pet to you for a short walk outside.

7. Take a good look at yourself. You don't want to be super-critical, but if you see something about yourself that you would like to improve, go for it! Put on a bright shirt, have your hair cut, get a make-over, or join a gym. Sometimes a short-term pick-me-up is a great motivator. You may want to take on a cleaning project to pull you out of the doldrums. If you have been putting off cleaning a room or a garage, make a list with bullet points. Start small, and clean up one area with large trash bags. If this looks really good, and you find things that were missing, it will motivate you to continue the cleaning spree. At that point, make a list to finish what you start. Don't make the mistake of putting things in bags and leaving them untouched for a year! Start small, and aim small. Every week, you can keep it up and you can mark off the improvements you make, by month and by season. Have a goal in mind, and you may want to start another cleaning or home-improvement project right away to keep the motivation high!

8. Volunteer to do something for someone else. Take your problems and set them aside for a while and you will lift the weight of the world off your shoulders. When you begin to look around, and see others in need, and learn to focus your talents and help others, and you will see things from a different perspective that will help you as well as others in the long run.

9. Write down something funny that happened to you. Never fall into the trap of taking yourself or life too seriously. Laughter is one way to keep things in perspective and you will feel better every time you laugh about something funny that has happened or a funny joke you may have heard.

10. Go for a Walk. Look at the world around you. Go and move and focus on things around you. Exercise and you will feel better about yourself. Set mini-goals for your exercise dates and start moving more. Keeping fit will keep you sound in both mind and body.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mary_L_Johnson

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The Wheel of Life

One of the first steps of using the Law of Attraction is to set your goals. You must know what it is you want before the Universe can begin to manifest it for you. When teaching someone to do this, I generally start off with the questions "What do you want out of life? What are your dreams?" While these questions work with some people, with other people I get a glazed look of incomprehension, or, even worse, a look of fear.

You see, some people simple do not know what they want out of life. Either they have never tried to figure out what their dreams really are, or they have been put down so many times that they have forgotten what it means to dream. For these people, the concept of a life purpose is simply out of the question. To get at the dreams these people have, you need to provide a little more guidance and suggestion. That is where the Wheel of Life comes into play.

Dividing Life Up

The Wheel of Life is a process of dividing up one's life into a number of parts. Then, rather than trying to deal with the entirety of one's life, you can deal with just one part at a time. Stephen Covey talked about this concept in his book "Seven Habits of Highly Effective People" by talking about the various roles a person fulfills.

So when I see the look of either incomprehension or fear, I immediately move towards the Wheel of Life. After calming the person down and reassuring them that we will not try to cover EVERYTHING, I then start to divide a person's life into pieces. Most Wheel of Life diagrams have either 6 or 8 pieces, depending on how you group activities. Working with the 6 piece model, you can divide your life into Physical (health and fitness), Occupational (profession and finances), Relational (family and friends), Social (organizations), Mental (learning, reading, writing, etc.), and Environmental (house, possessions, etc.). This grouping is what I use; others may do something different. The 8 piece model simply divides some of the groups differently. The key is to segment the life of the person so you can talk about one part of his life rather than the whole thing.

Purpose of the Wheel

By dividing up the life into pieces, you accomplish several key tasks. First, you show someone that their life is not one-dimensional. They have multiple pieces, and a lack of achievement in one area does not mean they are inadequate, particularly if you can point to successes in other areas. Second, you give them a focus which allows them to avoid being overwhelmed. Many people are confused when they try to evaluate their entire life, but most people can focus on one area at a time. Third, you can introduce the concept of living a balanced life. You can show them where they have made progress and where they haven't, which can provide an initial motivation for action.

Using the Wheel of Life can provide a clear starting point for action, especially for those who are just beginning their self-development. By focusing on each area of the Wheel, a person can set clear goals, which can then be manifested by the Law of Attraction.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Steely

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