I, Decider: Taking the Pain out of Making Big Decisions

Decisions, decisions, decisions. With the 2008 Presidential races underway, expectedly there's plenty of debate about decisions candidates made in the past on this issue or that. This is par for the course as key decisions are at the heart of democratic debate: was this or that the best decision? What are the consequences of said decision? Can we trust this candidate to make good decisions in the Oval Office if he or she made a singularly 'bad' decision in the past? Should that decision from the past be a deciding factor now among the electorate as we move forward? It's enough to make your head spin!

In high stakes politics, it can be awfully hard to live down an arguably 'bad' decision one might have made years ago on any issue. Politics can be very unforgiving.

We all remember the now infamous statement by our current Commander in Chief when he so sternly declared, "I am the decider." For one, most of us weren't too sure if 'decider' was in fact a real word. Bush is notably our least articulate U.S. President, but the use of the word 'decider' threw both laymen and experienced wordsmiths for a loop. As it turns out, decider is an actual word. Still, the use of it by our President sounded so elementary. Second, declaring oneself 'the decider' without any hint of apology amidst a torrent of criticisms took the idea of Presidential decision making to a whole new level.

Democracy is a complex business in that we can actually vote for the persons we trust to eventually make the tougher, more complex decisions about resources, policies, war and peace that most of us would not want the personal burden of having to make. Basically, we just hope that our elected officials make the better choices that keep us safe, healthy, and prosperous.

When it comes to making major decisions in your own life, fearing that we will make choice that might come back to bite you in the butt can send anyone into a tailspin or a complete standstill. As the saying goes, 'deciding not to decide is a decision in itself'. Comfort with and practice in making difficult decisions can ultimately determine many factors in our lives, i.e., our choice in careers, our salary and mobility, our choice in partners or mates, our ability to stand for what we feel is right, how to follow our dreams, etc.

Is paralysis through analysis keeping you from moving forward on making difficult decisions in your work or personal life? What kind of decider are you when it comes to the more challenging matters in your life? Do you avoid making difficult decisions in the hopes that they'll eventually go away or somehow be resolved on their own? Or do you wait to make decisions (procrastinate) until your back is against the wall and you have no choice but to make an urgent decision?

CLICK HERE NOW to learn how self-hypnosis can help you take the pain out of making big decisions, and start living your life with greater ease and confidence in your choices.

Self-Hypnosis Synopsis

Still checking out what all the buzz about self-hypnosis is about? Look no further. Here is a friendly video introduction by one of my favorite self-hypnosis teachers and clinical experts, Wendi Friesen. Wendi is an internationally renowned and respected certified clinical hypnotherapists. She provides a full range of products and programs that can you to tackle issues from stopping smoking to improving your golf game to dealing with alcoholism.

And, she just has a great personality to boot!

Also, if you are interested in learning hypnosis and hypnotherapy Wendi has one of the very best programs on the internet. Check out more self-hypnosis programs from Wendi on the side of this blog.

Finish What You Start

Today's theme: Finish What You Start. I'm one of those people who has 20-30 new great ideas a year for inventions, products, and new solutions to solve old problems. Man, do I LOVE a fresh idea! I get so excited about some of those ideas I can't help but start sketching out how to make the idea come to be, start researching, gathering resources, and putting my plans into motion. Some ideas work out just dandy, some fizzle away, some just come to a great big thud, and others - I just didn't finish what I started. Sigh.

When you don't finish what you start you can't help but wonder about what might have been had you just kept your nose to the grindstone. More great ideas die in the woulda-coulda-shoulda zone than they do in Washington, D.C.

True, you can't always follow every single idea that pops into your head to it's absolute conclusion. If this were the case, 1/2 of the population would be either rock stars, firemen, basketball stars, and/or U.S. Presidents. We should always keep dreaming, but lighten up knowing that some ideas are just not meant to be. Still, just think how many really great ideas could actually change your life and others for the better if just followed through from the start. That's a lot to wrap your head around, but really think about it:

what ideas or projects do you tinker with in your head, but just never seem to get it together to follow through to their conclusion?

One of my favorite ideas for invention is the ever elusive Jet Pack. Where is my jet pack?! As a kid, I just knew that by the turn of the 21st Century, we'd all be buzzing about the airwaves with our ultra cool jet packs. Wonderful idea, just never seemed to quite get off the ground (pun intended). In the meantime, I remain grateful that even greater ideas were, in fact, followed through and continue to make immense contributions to humankind. For example, the inventions of the polio vaccine, the airplane, the telephone, the computer; the U.S. Constitution, abolishment of slavery in the U.S., and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Are you on the verge of changing your life -- or the world -- with a great idea or project that you've started but just can't seem to finish?

CLICK HERE NOW for a self-hypnosis program that will help you to start finishing what you start.

Escape from the Planet Hilton

I have these friends who are head over heels in love with all things Maserati. They've even formed something of a fraternal order - which actually includes a few women for balance. They call themselves the Alpha Maserati 7 Order of MojoRizing, a.k.a. Groove Masters of the Digital Universe. Okay, so they're a wee bit on the eccentric side of the go get 'em spectrum. But you know what I like about these guys and gals? They remain true to their highest standards, and what it takes to make their true dreams come true.

To them, Maserati embodies excellence and a passion for excellence. I know as much about what goes into the makings of an exquisite Maserati as I do about putting together a NASA Space Shuttle. It's all rocket science to me. But as I listen to them go on about the mastery of Maserati I can't help but enjoy them enjoying their passion for excellence. These are folks that are passionate about many things in life. It just happens that Maserati is their initial communal tie.

Maserati inspires them to pursue the very best in every area of their lives. The craftsmanship, the engineering, the feeling of the ride of the Maserati or the very idea of Maserati represents their Gold Standard.

A Gold Standard to which I aspire to realize? Necker Island. Necker Island is a caribbean spot owned by Sir Richard Branson, the billionaire founder of Virgin Records and Airlines. Why? To me it represents the pinnacle of a serene, incredibly beautiful, pamper-filled Shangri-La. A vacation getaway could not get any better than spending two weeks on Necker Island. The Hilton it ain't.

The pursuit to afford a 5+ star visit to Necker Island is half the fun. Planning and working my plan to actualize my visualization of a soon well deserved break on Necker Island keeps me focused on what I really want, and what I must do to make it happen. Not a day goes by without me seeing myself bathing in the sun, then enjoying a 90 minute full body massage on Necker Island. I can smell the sea salt kissed balmy air. I can taste the tropical meals. I can feel the soft touch of the fresh linens on my bed against my skin as I lay asleep in the most beautiful room overlooking the beach.

Owning a Maserati or a lounging about in a suite on Necker Island is not the end all, be all in life. There are more personally meaningful pursuits that I and the members of the Maserati Order hold. It is our active pursuit of our dreams and ideals as absolutely attainable that is most important.

Having a Gold Standard keeps you from settling for less than you want or deserve.

Visualizing your yourself attaining your own highest ideals is essential for living your life on purpose.

The Groove Masters of the Digital Universe have a special motto:

See it. Achieve it. Drive it on Home. Rinse. Repeat.

CLICK HERE NOW for the most advanced Dream Manifestation Program that will help you see it, achieve it, and drive it on home.

Toying with Your Brain

Some news flashes are just too interesting (read: weird) not to share. This is from my archives of tid bits featuring research from around the world on improving concentration and other brain functions. I have to admit that I was initially drawn in by the rather sleek, mod contraption affixed to the crown of the shown subject. Once I started reading the article, I quickly realized this was one for the Bookmarks.

What does this thing do? Well, for starters its a brain wave reader:

Behind the mask is a sensor that touches the user's forehead and reads the brain's electrical signals, then sends them to a wireless receiver inside the saber, which lights up when the user is concentrating. The player maintains focus by channeling thoughts on any fixed mental image, or thinking specifically about keeping the light sword on. When the mind wanders, the wand goes dark.

To learn more about how the science fiction future is now, click here to read on about this amazing experiment.

Improved concentration and focus are essentials that most of us could really use more of these days. In our constant text messaging + 355 digital channels + entertainment tricked out vehicles + internet surfing + more and more daily living it's getting harder to maintain 1 or 2 minutes of real focus on what's in front of us. If you're under 50, who isn't experiencing some degree of attention deficit disorder? The acquisition of and toying with more and more gadgets seems to be the central focus of life itself instead of the more organic enjoyment of real live direct contact with other human beings. Even the thought of picking up the phone just to have a conversation without a dozen pre-text messages beforehand seems out of protocol (rude) and just plain anxiety provoking to others. When did this happen?

Of course it's not just the numerous electronic attention splitters that disrupt our focus. The inability to concentrate and focus can be derived from biological and environmental factors as well. What we feed our bellies is the same stuff we feed our brain stems. Here's some brain food for thought: high fructose corn syrup, mercury (in fish), chemical pesticides, and artificial colorings are not on the food pyramid. There's only so many scoops of fresh blue berries one can consume in a day for brain power. So, use your head and be careful out there.

Improving concentration and focus has been a long time staple of the best self-hypnosis programs. If I've kept your attention throughout this brief blog entry, then that's a decent start re-energizing your brain waves.

CLICK HERE NOW to check out the mp3 download that is helping thousands gain laser concentration and focus.

Taking Home Your Own Oscar Gold

Congratulations to all of the 80th Anniversary Oscar Winners! There were a few surprises -- I thought veteran dames Julie Christie and Ruby Dee would win for Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress in "American Gangster" respectfully. Most predictable wins went to Daniel Day Lewis as Best Actor for "There Will Be Blood", and the Cohen Brothers' "No Country for Old Men" as the odds on shoo in for Best Picture.

The best speech (read prior post)? The "Once" stars and winners for Best Song, hands down. Sadly, the female half of the singing duo did not initially get to make her remarks before an awkward rush off the stage by the orchestra. Great save by Jon Stewart by bringing her back on stage after the commercial break, giving her her due spotlight for the most real, candid, authentic speech of the evening. It was well worth it. That was the best!

Why do we love Oscar night so much? Even if you haven't seen all of the nominated movies, you still find yourself drawn to this yearly spectacular from the red carpet entrances to the opening monologue to the after party commentaries (for real junkies). We love Oscar not just for the glamour and gawking at some of the most impossibly beautiful faces on earth, but because it allows us moments of empathy for the winners...and losers. We enjoy identifying with greatness, but we also identify with bittersweet defeat. Even if our favorites weren't called to the stage, we respect the winners: they achieved the highest standard in excellence in their field, and the greatest props from their peers.

So Oscar isn't the Noble Prize. But it's still that anticipation and ultimate recognition for achievement in excellence that really turns us on. To stand before the world as the BEST.

For the real dreamers, it is just one in a potentially endless series of perfect moments.

The Oscars also inspire us to achieve our own dreams, experience excellence in our own right. We may not be recognized by our co-workers, employers, friends or loved ones with a trophy or plaque, but awards should never be the reason why we choose to become our best. It's the higher sense of truly living life to its fullest that's the real turn on, the knowing that you're giving it your all, and getting all that you can from one breath to the next.

Living to live your life to your own absolute potential is its own truest reward.

What's your Oscar Gold standard of excellence at work, at home, in love?

What's holding you back from living your potential and taking home your own Oscar gold?

CLICK HERE NOW to start achieving your full potential.

Public Speaking vs. the Apocalypse

"And the Oscar goes to...."

Tonight is the night that almost didn't happened. With the writer's strike now in the Hollywood history books, the world can now resume one of its few universal rituals shared through the miracle of world-wide broadcast: The Oscars.

Who hasn't dreamed at least once of hearing their name called at the opening of the sealed envelope. Whoa! Looking absolutely surprised, then kissing and hugging your significant other, hearing the uproarious applause of the envious crowd of your peers as you gain way to the stage to accept the most coveted golden idol on earth from last year's Best this or that, and then looking into the bright lights, cameras, and now dim sea of your peers, and saying....

"Um....um...."

As you've probably noticed, even Oscar's best performers can suddenly be struck speechless or public speech challenged when it comes to graciously delivering some big time gratitude before the orchestra starts to drown them out.

(It's also a case in point why actors do need good writers.)

While most of us will never ever have to speak confidently in front of billions of viewers, making presentations in front of your work mates, colleagues, church, team, potential voters, or social group can be trigger enough anxiety to make us start sweating buckets. I once saw a guy so anxious about giving a 1 minute brief introduction to the introducer to the real keynote speaker, he dug his finger nails into his right thigh as he sat there counting down the half hour before he had to get up and go to the podium. His nails were pretty short, so he was digging pretty hard to break through his trousers and skin. Scary.

There's a reason why people fear public speaking as a fate worse than death: public speaking can feel like how we imagine a slow, painful death to actually feel.

Click here to find the hypnosis program that many actors, CEOs, athlete's and maybe even world leaders use (or should use) to get rid of their public speaking anxieties and jitters.

Again, while you're not likely to have to speak before billions, you certainly don't want to be scratching through thigh skin to get a grip on your biggest fear ahead of the apocalypse.

You are not alone in your public speaking fears. In this category, you are definitely among world renown nominees.

No Zombie or Jedi Mind Tricks Allowed

Perhaps an inherent challenge in writing a blog that suggests hypnosis for self-improvement and peak performance is that potentially interested readers might wonder:

"Are you writing this blog because you are under hypnosis to do so. And, if you were under hypnosis, how would you know?"

"By reading this blog, am I being exposed to some hypnotic or subliminal messages as I read along?"

First, please be assured that the writer of this blog is NOT under any form of hypnosis directed towards producing these entries. I am presenting this information of my own free will and under no undue influence. No one has hypnotized me -- including myself -- to write this blog.

Second, please be assured that there are NO subliminal or hypnotic devices being used in this blog to persuade your interests in hypnosis.

Not only do I believe in free will, I believe in ethics. The fact that you are here and exploring the use of hypnosis as a tool to improve some area of your performance and quality of life demonstrates that you are open to the subject matter. Tampering with your ability to make your own decision as to whether or not hypnosis is for you would not be in either of our interests.

I strongly respect and support your right to make up your own mind.

My strong belief in free will is one of the key reasons why this blog was started. Contrary to some popular notions, hypnosis is not about placing people under a Zombie or Jedi-like mind control. Under hypnosis, people are actually acting within their own free will. Confused?

Click here NOW for frequently asked questions about hypnosis I thought might be helpful in explaining how hypnosis actually works. Just click the F.A.Q. at the top of the linked page.

And, not to worry - this information will not place you under hypnosis.

Going Out of My Head

Call it an existential crisis if you will, but a couple of years ago an awakening poured over me like a big ice cold Gatorade Dunk. However, I didn't necessarily feel like a championship winning coach pacing the sidelines as the game clock ticks down the final 15 seconds of the Super Bowl.


Don't get me wrong. I've had my share of winning moments throughout my life. This just wasn't one of those times.

I felt like a dog tired player who had been running up and down thousands of yardage, huddling and executing the plays I'd been trained to eventually lead me to record scores and titles. But the plays just didn't seem to be panning out the way the coach or the play book had promised. Either I was following the wrong play book, listening to the wrong coaches, or was in the wrong game.

The reality or simple truth of life that somehow eluded me after years of friendships, relationships, work, travel, meditation, and studying numerous personal and leadership development programs:

Twenty Four.

Twenty four point seven to be more exact. No matter our trials and tribulations in life, all things being equal, each of us above ground has 24 hours each new day to make the most of our talents, our connections, our lives each day. Whether you are Bill Gates, Oprah, or the guy at the deli, we each have 24 hours. How we each decide to spend our time is what ultimately shapes our destinies. Sounds so simple, huh?

As it turns out, time is the stuff of which life is made. This simple fact of life became painfully clear to me when I lost my father to cancer. He was just 56.

The impossible had now happened. I wasn't ready for that. Can you ever really be ready for that?

Naturally, I began to take an elevated and renewed interest in this awesome concept of time. I began to take full inventory of the product of me, asking myself a series of tough questions:

Are you getting everything you want out of your gift of every twenty four hours?

Are you giving all that you've got to your twenty four hours to get all that you really want from life?

At the end of each day, can you honestly say that you've lived your best day that day? That you were fully present?

Did you take action TODAY to break through barriers that you have allowed to delay you from living life as vibrantly as possible? If not, what are you waiting for?

What did I learn today to lift my spirit, and elevate my mind over matter?

Starting this blog is an exercise in a renewed effort, a campaign of sorts: live each day a little better, a little fuller than the last.

It's a new play book for a new game plan.