A great little clip of inspirational quotes on staying focus, sticking with it, and becoming successful.

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I recently watched a very good movie with Matt Damon and Morgan Freeman called Invictus. There are a few things that struck me in this movie. The foremost thing that I took away from this movie was the reference to the poem where the title of the movie comes from: Invictus by William Henley (I will post the poem and comment on it in a bit), one of the other things I liked watching was the vision and leadership qualities that Nelson Mandela displayed in the movie played by Mr. Freeman.

It is also interesting to see the underdog be victorious not only with the rugby team but in the life of Nelson Mandela. I find that in life, if one can go through pain and trials and be able to learn from those experiences, they are so much stronger and better for it. That brings us into a good introduction to the poem.

Invictus

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll.
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

William Ernest Henley

I love this poem. I believe this is to be true for everyone, because my personal thoughts are that everyone living on this great planet will in some way or another “be covered by a black night, and in a place of wrath and tears.” But with your “unconquerable soul”, no matter what happens you ARE “the master of your fate” and you ARE “the captain of your soul. “

You might not be able to control the environment which you are in or some of the events that will happen to you but, you are the only one that can control your thoughts, your attitude, and your actions. When it seems like the world is falling down on your shoulders and darkness surrounds you with no way out remember, you are capable of being the master and the captain of you.

The Latin meaning of Invictus means unconquerable. What will you do today to be unconquerable in achieving your dreams?

Chris Mertz © July 2010

I have always liked Will Smith, but after watching this video I have even more admiration him.  He gives some of the best advice I’ve heard for obtaining success, enjoying your life and how to find true happiness.  I promise this will be worth your time to watch!

“Success is not something you pursue. Success is something you become” – Jim Rohn.  After reading this quote it really made me think about my meaning of success.  Have you ever thought that you aren’t successful until you have obtained A, B, or C  (i.e. BMW, 10,000 sq ft house, or vacation in Fiji)?


It’s like getting to the top of a mountain.  There a couple of ways to do this. You can take a helicopter to the top or you can climb to the top.  Now, of these two ways which one pursued success and which one actually became success?  Who benefits the most?


What happens when your helicopter pilot gets sick, your helicopter bites the dust, or you don’t have the funds to use the helicopter?  Will you be successful in reaching the top?  Probably not.  Now compare that to conditioning yourself, training, having the proper equipment, and having a plan or guide.  If you are able to do those steps and put in the necessary effort, I say you have become success.  You would be able to climb mountain after mountain.  You have more control, have done what it takes and that is a true champion.


Some people have obtained their” success” by chance or from others.  If they lost it all, would they have the ability to create it again?  I highly doubt it.  That is why learning and becoming success gives an individual power.


If you can learn the attitude, the skills, the determination, the mindset, the work ethic, the actions, then you have become successful and will continue to achieve whatever you desire.


Chris Mertz © Copyright June 2010

Everyone on planet Earth has had a crappy day. I was talking to a colleague of mine about how crappy my day was going.  After talking awhile I thought to myself, ya know it is really easy to complain, to look at the crappy things that life brings, and to get discouraged of how screwed up things can actually be. But the only thing I can really do is to keep doing the best I know how and keep plugg’n along. It takes a very good attitude and great character to see the  good things in life, shrug the crap off, step higher, and move forward. A lot easier said than done, right?

Well hopefully some of these tips help with having the determination to enjoy things and keep moving forward:

1. Think of 5 things you are totally grateful for.

(this helps get you mind focusing on the good, rather than dwelling on the crap)

2. Think of one good thing you’ve done today.

(give yourself credit, you have the ability to make a difference and sometimes other people rely on you)

3. Don’t listen to the negative voice in your head.

(It will always be there saying negative thoughts and one of the greatest things you can accomplish in life is controlling that little voice)

4. Do something good for someone else.

(This will bring you some cheer and pick me up,  guaranteed)

5. Realize that the little engine that could was going through a hard time but made it over the mountain, and by golly you can too!

(Life is going to be hard, but with persistence, and a good attitude you can do anything you set your mind to.)

I know this is not a solve all solution, but hopefully it helps. Like I said it is easy to get down on yourself, but it is sure worth it to overcome those negative thoughts and feelings, dust yourself off, and keep moving forward. You do that and life will continually get better and better!

“The power of vision is incredible! … Vision is the best manifestation of creative imagination and the primary motivation of human action. It’s the ability to see beyond our present reality, to create, to invent what does not yet exist, to become what we not yet are. It gives us capacity to live out of our imagination instead of our memory.” – Stephen R. Covey, A. Roger Merrill, Rebecca R. Merrill: First Things First


One must have a vision of what they would like to achieve, before they can progress towards it. Vision gives you a glimpse of future possibility in the present. Becoming more familiar with your vision and exactly what you’d like to accomplish, gives your mind a better comprehension of the reality it wishes to obtain. As your mind becomes more and more familiar with your vision, it will know better how to get there.


With any journey or goal one must know exactly where they are going and what they are working towards. At times there are many people that go day to day without a clear picture of what it is that they would like to accomplish. This is like a kite blowing in the wind. They are at the mercy of the wind or their current circumstances and belief system. There is too much life to live and time to become to waste it on a vision-less outcome.


Here are some tips on developing and refining your vision:


-Go somewhere quiet or outdoors and think about what you truly want out of life
-What is it that would make you the happiest?
-What do you get totally excited about?
-Where would you like to be in 1, 5, 10, 20 years?
-What will bring about the most good for you and the people around you?
-Whose life can you impact in a positive way?


Vision can be our anchor to obtain that success in the future. Vision’s loyal companion is clarity. If we plan on accomplishing or becoming something that we haven’t yet achieved, we must be perfectly clear of what it is that we want. Only then can we start the journey and know the path to get there. Clarity is the clearness of the vision. Can you perfectly see your success and future and actually feel what it would be like? Or is it a fuzzy far off dream that may or may not happen?


Vision and clarity will give us the tools to know exactly where it is that we are headed and what we really want out of life. This is an absolute must step to becoming successful. It all starts in the mind.


Chris Mertz © April 2010

Success seems to be connected to action. Successful people keep moving. They make mistakes, but they don’t quit.
- Conrad Hilton -


My parents always told me that people will never know how long it takes you to do something. They will only know how well it is done.
- Nancy Hanks -


Difficulties strengthen the mind, as well as labor does the body
- Seneca


Formula for success: Rise early, work hard, strike oil.
- John Paul Getty -


Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.
- Thomas Edison -


Never giving up and pushing forward will unlock all the potential we are capable of.
- Christy Borgeld -


The greatest results in life are usually attained by simple means and the exercise of ordinary qualities. These may for the most part be summed up in these two – common sense and perseverance.
- Owen Feltham -

“A strong passion for any object will ensure success, for the desire of the end will point out the means” – William Hazlitt. Strong passion is the fuel that keeps a focused individual moving closer and closer to their end goal. It is what makes you want to go through the difficult times and find the way no matter how hard.


I have come to realize that passion is the starting point one must have to start their journey. This passion and determination to reach your goal will decide how and if you reach it. There will be late nights, early mornings, dead ends, delays, tomorrow’s, TV, sleep, food, and everything else in the book to keep you from getting closer. The question is, is your passion stronger than all of the obstacles that will combine and stand in your way?


If your passion isn’t where it needs to be then you might want to check how deep your passion is by asking yourself these questions: Read more »

Find out about the word “how” and how it will help you achieve your goals faster!