Optimism, Outsourcing, Opulence

Stay open to all possibilities. Optimism is a source, a belief, solid knowledge of what could happen. Now is the time to analyze and study what is missing from your endeavor, or product. It may be a myriad of things missing, do not be discouraged. Simply list them and then attempt to cross them off your list one at a time. This is the time to out source. If you are not good at something surround yourself with an expert that is. At this stage you may be tempted to down-size, down grade or dismiss your idea. Instead indulge in the opulence of your creation, imagine, picture it and draw, sketch, computer design, or paint it, bring it from your innermost creativity and allow it to manifest in its full glory. It is then you will find true success.

Questions

1. How do you continue or plan to stay optimistic if you have truly lost all hope?

2. What is your source of inspiration?

Exercise

1. Decide what may be missing from your endeavor, create a numbered list. Begin to work on one thing at a time. It is important to focus on completing the list. This is what will move your endeavor to the next stage or level.

No, Negativity, Narcissim

The first five hundred times you hear the word no when it comes to your furthering your idea, financing or funding, will be quite a shock. Hearing no will be a crushing blow both to your ego and your willingness to move forward in your endeavors. If you still can find the light in your idea at the end of this negative tunnel, you will need to develop an almost narcissistic point of view in your pursuit. I say almost because you cannot be so egotistical in your belief's that you close yourself off to constructive criticism, potential customer feedback and expert ideas or suggestions that can help serve your cause. One piece of expert advice that I received during my nearly three decades as an entrepreneur is that no's will knock you down, but the number of times you get up will determine how bad you want it, and how successful you will be. You must muster up the strength to analyze each no for clarity, and ask yourself these questions, was it justified, can you learn from it, how can you turn it into a yes?

Questions

1. Remember a time when someone told you know when you really wanted or needed a yes. If you abided by the no decision did it serve you well? Did it help or hinder your cause? (Example a parent saying no to a teenager about a attending a party and then if the party turns wild with the police being called, kids being arrested, and lots of property damage may make a teen grateful for the no)

2. After recalling your personal story ask yourself what would you do differently that may have resulted in a yes? List your new actions. Did you learn from the no or resent it? Are there any lessons to be learned from hearing no or do you believe that no to have been a mistake? List any lessons that were learned

Exercise

1. Practice ten minutes worth of narcissistic behavior including extreme selfishness and a grandiose view of your own talents, attention getting tactics and over the top self centeredness. If you are in a group take turns displaying this behavior on the group. If you are alone call someone either known or a stranger and practice this behavior. Practice this behavior in a mirror. If you are able go out to a restaurant, library or other public place and practice this behavior or others. Note your observations including how it felt, how others reacted towards you, what you liked and disliked about displaying this behavior. What parts of this behavior were beneficial, what part of this behavior would you keep, what parts were not beneficial, and what parts of this behavior would you get rid of?