by Bob Donnell, owner of NextLevel4Success.com (article written after Larry’s presentation to his organization)

We had some incredible responses yesterday. Thank you all for sharing. Let’s talk about the final portion of this principle…”change your life”. Do you remember growing up as a kid, that people would say, “wow you have grown so much”! And thinking to yourself, “I don’t think I have grown that much”. Well when I speak with people all over it is often that I hear people saying that they are not growing, that things are not changing, or that things are not getting better. I am always amazed when I ask someone close to them to tell me what they see, and so often that person says, “I see things changing, or his/her attitude sure is different, or I just don’t think that they realize how bad things were looking before.” Sometimes our changes are not as evident to us as they are to others. Remember the old saying “Can’t see the forest for the trees”? Oh so true!

The most important thing I can say about change is that unless you have something to measure it by, it often goes unnoticed. Think back to as a kid. Most of us had a parent that drew a line one year on a wall or something and we would revisit it from time to time to check the progress. This is a must for our life changes as well.

-Know where you were and where you want to go.

-Have a predetermined idea of how you will determine whether you are moving in the right direction

-Utilize members in the Next Level group or others in your life that will give unbiased and straightforward feedback as to what they are seeing. (Note: sometimes family members are stuck with preconceived ideas of who we are and are not all that objective) (go to nextlevel4success.com to learn more)

-Take stock from time to time to see if you are changing

Key Note: It is often when you feel the most uncomfortable that you are changing. If you were to do anything different: swing a golf club, a tennis racket, write with a different hand, heck, even put a different leg in your pants first it will be uncomfortable, but it sometimes is proof that you are growing!

Apply It

1. reply with what a changed life represents to you personally

2. then share how you will know that it is changing (what is your measuring stick?)

Write the following on a 3×5 card and carry it all week:

“I am an encourager and as such I will speak words of encouragement to others and let all people know that I appreciate their place on this planet and want to bring value to their lives.”

Larry Benet’s Presentation at Next Level on Wednesday, May 21st, 2008
http://interface.audiovideoweb.com/lnk/1c3win1547/Larry+Benet+at+Next+Level.wmv/play.asx