Monday 24 November 2008

I Believe...

Last week I wrote a blog post to one of my other blogs aimed at teaching personal trainers how to be more successful in their careers.

The post was a call for transparency and clarity. Qualities that I truly believe underlie every single success quality. After all, transparency and clarity are, by another name, 'Truth'. Telling the truth, being honest.

Well, during that post, I laid out my beliefs about what I think success in my industry looks like (you can see it HERE) and 'put it out there' for the world.

I never had the faintest idea about what would happen next!

24 hours later, over 6500 visits to the blog, over 30 comments, over 220 personal emails to me and and untold amount of 'I believe' posts on personal trainers blogs all over the web.

It seems that I really touched something inside of people with that post and woke people up to something that was missing... or maybe just forgotten... from their lives.

So I thought I'd do the same here
!

I thought I'd see if my MAGIC Hundred community would have the same awakening and rise to the same challenge as the fitness professionals did.

Let see shall we? : )

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I was thinking about beliefs yesterday for an article I'm writing.

As I was thinking, I came to the sudden realisation that for REAL success to happen for any us it is important not only to be 100% crystal clear on our own beliefs (and to live them) but to share those beliefs with others whenever and wherever we can.

After all, our success always lies in our interactions with others.

If we want more money, better health, better relationships, greater education etc we rely on others to get it and, needless to say, those who share our beliefs are those who are most likely to help up achieve our goals.

Funny though, few of us ever share our TRUE beliefs about... anything!

Sure, we write, we youtube, we blog, we Twitter, we facebook, we Myspace and do all the other 'real time sharing' stuff but, well, what are we really sharing?

We (myself included) are normally sharing 'stuff'. Links to stuff mostly.

Yet we never let people 'in' and allow them to know what we really believe.

I think this is a BIG mistake and one that, instead of creating true connection with others, keeps us separate. And separateness keeps us struggling... no if's, no but's.

Yet, how easy would it be to create a connection if you we just took the simple step of outright telling people upfront, in advance, as often as possible and in as many ways as we can what we are 'about'. What we believe.

Don't you think that would change things?

Just a little?

I think it would. In fact, I think that the transparency I'm talking about would take practically ANYONE and make them immediately more attractive, more compelling and more successful.

To put it simply, I believe that it's easier to develop what marketers call 'raving fans' if we move away from a marketing message approach and move toward a transparent 'what I believe' statement. (And 'marketing' doesn't just mean selling a product; it means having others help you achieve your goals in EVERY area of your life)

In fact, I'm going to prove it.

First, I'm going to tell you EXACTLY what I believe and then I'm going to challenge YOU with an idea (read the end of this post for the challenge).

So here goes.

Here's what I believe:

==> I believe that it's too easy to blame past events for our current circumstances and that in doing so we weaken ourselves and do more harm to our lives than most of us will ever realise.

The past is gone and any pain that still lingers is entirely of our own making. Choose not to be hurt and you won't be.

==> I believe that it's too easy to blame other PEOPLE for things they said, things they did... or didn't do... and things that we wanted them to do but never asked.

People say and do things all the time that cause pain to other people. Intentionally or not, they do. So what?? Words CAN hurt but they don't have to. Choose not to be hurt and you won't be.

==> I believe that It's too easy to judge others by their actions whilst we judge ourselves by our intentions.

"That's not what I meant!" or "I didn't mean to!" go both ways. It's not fair to excuse yourself whilst condemning others who committed the same 'crime'. Let go of judging!

==> I believe that letting go of judging is one of the hardest things we can ever do... yet one of the most valuable!

We're trained to compare and contrast from an early age. Sometimes it's useful... most of the time it's not. To quit a judging habit choose to 'let it be' rather feeling that you need to comment one way or the other.

==> I believe that failure is impossible.

People don't truly fail; they simply choose to be less that the person they need to be to have success come to them. As soon as they become who they need to be, success will be there.


==> I believe that people make too many excuses for their 'failures'

People rationalise, blame, justify and excuse themselves of responsibility for their own lives rather than stepping up and taking action to make things better.


==> I believe that people's memories are too short when it comes to remembering the good and too long when it comes to remembering the bad

This voluntary choice about what to remember is what keeps a lot of people in pain. Simply turning this around will change EVERYTHING.

==> I believe that most of what we've been taught about goals, success and personal development is wrong

Thoughts DON'T become things - They CAN but this is not a 'law'. We think many, many things that never come to pass.

Positive thinking DOESN'T bring about positive results - Again, it CAN but but this doesn't mean it will.


==> I believe that holding a 'major definite purpose and pursuing it until it becomes real' as advocated by most success coaches is not the best way to to live a happy life.

Stories abound with people who pursued their goals and met success in the eyes of the world only to confess to extreme unhappiness in other areas of their lives. A MAJOR DEFINITE PURPOSE sounds great but it only identifies one area of our lives.

==> I believe that we are all schizonphrenic... and that's a good thing!

No-one is just one person. We're mom, dad, aunt, uncle, daughter, son, sister, brother, cousin, athlete, lover, teacher, student and much much more besides. Each one of our personalities needs a little 'time in the sun'. Each one has its own wants, needs and desires that we call goals. A happy life is letting each one achieve success rather than just one... as most of us do.

==> I believe that it is our duty to live a life of success

We serve no-one by playing small, struggling or just getting by. There is power, purpose and promise in achievement of your goals. Achieve more!

==> I believe that success is not about money but about happiness

Success is not defined by how much money you have, where you live or what car you drive but rather by how happy you are in your life. Are you happy? Truly happy? Then you're a success!

==> I believe that money is good

Get as much as you can use and spend it on things that make you feel better about yourself and your life.

==> I believe that in order to HAVE more you have to DO more and in order to DO more you have to BE more


Be more... in every way!

==> I believe that true success comes from living a life of passion and, more important, purpose and that those who feel a purpose to their work will always achieve more than those who simply want to earn more money.


==> I believe that there are 2 ways to go through life. The hard way and the smart way.

The hard way involves focusing on money and crying because you don't have enough. The smart way involves focusing on service and sharing your message with those who are ready to hear it. When you do, those who like your message will pay you to hear more : )


==> I believe that what you have is a direct result of what you have given up to that point.

If you don't feel you have enough then, no matter how you feel about things, you haven't given enough. Give more!

==> I believe that you cannot give what you don't have and that to try is a kind of fraud.

Don't talk to others about success if you don't feel successful. Don't talk to others about lifestyle if yours is all over the place. Don't tell people about establishing new habits if you can't establish them yourself. Don't tell people about the importance of good nutrition if yours is poor.

==> I believe that everything I wrote here is correct...

...but that as I grow and develop over the years I may add, refine or even completely change my mind about things. This is called growth. However, right now, right at this moment, I have had more success with these beliefs than I have had at any other point in my life and so have many others.

I could go on but I think you get my drift.

This isn't some kind of marketing message.

I'm not trying to sell something here.

I have no ulterior motive in sharing but to lay it out there so that others don't have to guess about me or what I believe.

Now you know and you can take it or leave it : )

Here's my challenge to you!

What do you think would happen if you did this on YOUR blog, YOUR website or in YOUR newsletter?

Do you think it would make any difference?

Do you think it would tell a better 'story' of who you are?

Do you think it would bring you closer to those who you're trying to share your message with?

Your family?

Your colleagues?

Your customers?

I know for a fact that it will but it's not what I think that counts. It's what YOU think.

If you think sharing your 'I believe' story will change things for you (or even if you're not sure), I challenge you to do exactly as I've done here. Post your beliefs and watch the ripple effect take place in every area of your life!

Go on, I dare ya!

Dax Moy
http://www.themagichundred.com/trial.htm


P.S - Make sure you leave me a message and tell me what you think of the post ok? I really want to hear from you!

14 comments:

Jeremy and Alissa Nelms said...

More great stuff here, Dax! Thanks for the continued reminder!

Jeremy Nelms
No Excuses Fat Loss!

Daniel Iversen said...

Totally. Completely. I believe in "fully integrated honesty". which means: an unbending commitment to being totally honest.
Some call it radical honesty...but I believe it just means being real.

Well put, Dax.

Daniel Iversen
Weight Loss Roadblocks!

charord said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
charord said...

Another great post Dax; the points you raise really mean something to me and after our discussion last week I have a totally different outlook, because I'm choosing to feel differently. Thank you : )

http://www.charlotteord.com

Mike's Creative Fitness said...

Well done! I have been reading your blog for a few months now and you always inspire me to push through to the next level. Thanks Dax!

Mike Guardiola

Anonymous said...

Hey Dax, You're damn right if you declare that we as fitnessprofessionals are the persons who can change the lives, health & wellbeing of many people. The medical industry is failing miserably, we have to step up and show what is needed to be really healthy. You definitivel walk the talk, I appreciate that very much.
Rob

Josten Aka Jobie said...

great post
i believe that the truth shall set you free. Also i believe that us as humans should take care of our bodies.

Anonymous said...

Great stuff! I believe that it would be such a helpful reminder to read this and the other post you did on your PTSA blog daily. I feel like doing so would awaken so much that has been dormant within. I also take your challenge and will reveal my beliefs on my blog and see what happens?

Thanks Dax.

Deb :)

Kari said...

Awesome Dax! I believe you are right - spot on as they say!

Following this has been a goal of mine for many, many years but I find sometimes I get sidetracked by the desire to make some money from my ideas. Looking back, those are the ones that didn't survive. Wish I'd have known at the time... Perhaps I'll have to add that to my hundred "Reintroduce those old ideas without thought of profit or fame".

Anonymous said...

Dax,

Yet another great post, fantastic read and thought provoking material.

Have put mine up over here: www.backpain2leanframe.com

Dave

dougal said...

Complete resonance with the concept Dax. I wonder how long it took to write or whether those values and principles are top of mind awareness. Mine are going up right now.

DaxMoy said...

Took about 10 minutes : )

This is how I think so didn't really need to engineer the post too much : )

Dax
hyyp://www.themagichundred.com

Marylin said...

Hi, Dax:

Great stuff. I totally agree with your latest blog post. I am taking you up on your challenge and will post my beliefs on my new My Space web page. What better way to break in a new web page than with this as a very first post. I'll let you know how my family and friends react! Keep being yourself!! Your the greatest.

kmdshaw said...

Interesting challenge, Dax. I will have to take some time to see what my "I Believe" post might look like....Thanks for another thought-provoking blog.