BUILD ON THE BASICS

One of my mentors, Jim Rohn, used to say "There are no new
fundamentals!" He emphasized that "If you hear someone say
they've discovered a new 'secret' to success, you know
they're full of it." The rules of success and, the
principles for a great life have not changed.
We all love the phrase, "new and improved!" We like new
technology, new products, even new colors, shapes or
features that add novelty to our lives. I'm told that
advertisers have long known they can increase sales by
adding the single word, "New!" to a package, even if there
are no new features or benefits of any kind. Amazing!
When it comes to achieving success and living a great life,
I think it's important to avoid the temptation to look for
something "new and improved."
Now, please note, let's not be confused about some guru
claiming to have new principles or new insights, verses the
choice to use a new technique. If you find it helpful to
keep your to-do list on your phone rather than using paper
and pencil, go for it! If you prefer having your MasterMind
team meet on a conference call rather than at a local
restaurant, do so!
Around the margins, new technology or methods can be very
helpful. There's no reason to be stubborn or old-fashioned
about this.
But the principles have never changed.
Let me suggest a few that I consider to be the basics.
1.  Decide what you want more of and what you want less of.
Life's short and you probably cannot have everything that
attracts you. To make more money, you'll likely have to
work harder, smarter or do some things differently. If you
prefer more time off, more relaxation and vacation, that
will likely impact your earning potential. Be clear about
your choices in life. This is fundamental.
2.  Actions are more important than desires.
Visualizations, affirmations and written goals are powerful
tools. Use them! But in the end, only behavior counts.
Visualizing a trip to Tuscany is great. But saving for it,
scheduling vacation time, buying tickets and reading tour
books is even more important. Actions count! What we do
with our time and energy matters more than our intentions.
3.  There is no alternative to self-discipline. A to-do
list is a helpful reminder. Being accountable to other
people is powerful. Use these tools! But in the end, we
must run our own lives as we see fit. If you decide to get
up earlier or exercise more, you have to actually do it! No
alarm clock or accountability partner can "make" you do it.
Self-discipline has been defined as "doing the right thing,
in the right way, at the right time, whether or not anyone
else is watching." I like that!
4.  Winners are inner-directed and highly motivated. Living
and running your life on your own terms requires passion,
enthusiasm, energy and focus. There will always be nay-
sayers, doubters and distractions. That's life. A key
fundamental is to be so excited about your own life that no
temptation or "bright shiny object" can distract you from
your priorities. Be excited about your life! Be eager to
make progress, to learn and do things. Be single-minded
about the life you want.
5.  Be Selfish. I'm not talking about being mean or petty,
greedy or grasping. I'm talking about being self-aware,
self-directed, and self-confident. Know who you are, what
you want and where you're going in life. Be clear about
your values and priorities. Know what you will not (or no
longer) tolerate! Eliminate the chatter and trivialities
that are "not you" so you have more room for the things
that represent the one and only you.
These things are Fundamental. They are the basics of adult
life. You may have other principles to add to this list,
but knowing what you want in life, taking massive,
repeated, consistent action, and refusing to be distracted
are critical. Master these things and life becomes much
better, richer and more satisfying.