We are constantly amazed at how the simple things in life can be so powerful. The small basic abc-123 ideas, thoughts and actions of life really are amazing. The ancient Chinese wisdom holds merit, no matter who/what/when/where/why/how: When the student is ready, the teacher will appear. The teacher is often a painful life experience or maybe a book that you read while searching for answers to your life challenges. Yes, experience is the best teacher, as my grandfather Skipper Michael Joseph Bruce used to say. But it is often tougher than school because we get the test first and then the lesson afterwards.

I recently quoted Jim Rohn, one of the leading pioneers in the personal development movement, on a simple idea that has helped millions around the world. This is probably the backbone idea for life success and happiness because it forces us to truly THINK, and hopefully act, in a way that we take responsibility for our lives. Here is that gem of wisdom in simple form: when you make the changes, things will change for you.

A friend of mine asked me what it meant and so I told him in an email that it would be best to have a conversation over the phone to really help him get down to the business of lifelong learning and self-development. We at times are all lifelong students, and what a better time than now for the teacher to surface. I told my friend basically that for me the quote means this: living the afternoon of your life - and you cannot live it by morning's program.

I needed to change. The economy, even though we are in a supposed recession, was not going to change that much to affect me unless I let it, the government was not going change, my negative relatives were not going to change, my ex (key word: EX) girlfriend was not going to change; so I HAD to. And I did. First I started with the simple changes that I had neglected in the past few months. Here are a few for you to consider:

1. HEALTH – fitness and the gym are necessary for me; everyone must consider their own health if they are to excel. I think the goal of life is to FEEL GOOD! The counselling model I use is by Dr. David Burns and it is Cognitive Behaviour Therapy. His book is called “Feeling Good-The New Mood Therapy.”

2. GOOD friends and better RELATIONSHIPS with all people. This is a MUST and we are foolish when we think otherwise. The world always has been and will continue to be filled with “negative” news; that is not going to change. So we must and at least hang out with people who help lift us up.

3. Finding a CAREER GOAL that excited me. It is easy to work and earn a living but if you are not excited while doing so, then it becomes mundane, monotonous, boring and all the rest. The new model of “career” involves the COMPLETE person and everything about that individual. It is not just a job anymore which really means Just Over Broke. The “streams of revenue” business model will be covered in a later month and from studying people, I know it works…when you work it.

Paul