To Get What You Want In Life
You Must Ask For It!

by Grant Cardone

Tess was a precocious eight-year old when she heard her Mom and Dad talking about her little brother, Andrew. All she knew was that he was very sick, and they were completely out of money. They were moving to an apartment complex next month because Daddy didn't have the money for the doctor's bills and their house. Only a very costly surgery could save him now, and it was looking like there was no one to loan them the money. She heard Daddy say to her tearful Mother with whispered desperation, "Only a miracle can save him now."
Tess went to her bedroom and pulled a glass jelly jar from its hiding place in the closet. She poured all the change out on the floor and counted it carefully, three times, even. The total had to be exactly perfect. No chance here for mistakes. Carefully placing the coins back in the jar and twisting on the cap, she slipped out the back door and made her way 6 blocks to Rexall's Drug Store with the big red Indian Chief sign above the door. She waited patiently for the pharmacist to give her some attention, but he was too intently talking to another man to be bothered by an eight-year old at this moment. Tess twisted her feet to make a scuffing noise. Nothing. She cleared her throat with the most disgusting sound she could muster. No good. Finally she took a quarter from her jar and banged it on the glass counter. That did it! "And what do you want?" the pharmacist asked in an annoyed tone of voice. "I'm talking to my brother from Chicago whom I haven't seen in ages," he said without waiting for a reply to his question.

"Well, I want to talk to you about my brother," Tess answered back in the same annoyed tone. "He's really, really sick and I want to buy a miracle." "I beg your pardon?" said the pharmacist. "His name is Andrew and he has something bad growing inside his head and my Daddy says only a miracle can save him now. So how much does a miracle cost?" "We don't sell miracles here, little girl. I'm sorry but I can't help you," the pharmacist said, softening a little. "Listen, I have the money to pay for it. If it isn't enough, I will get the rest. Just tell me how much it costs."

The pharmacist's brother was a well-dressed man. He stooped down and asked the little girl, "What kind of a miracle does you brother need?" "I don't know," Tess replied with her eyes welling up. "I just know he's really sick and Mommy says he needs an operation. But my Daddy can't pay for it, so I want to use my money. "How much do you have?" asked the man from Chicago. "One dollar and eleven cents," Tess answered barely audibly. "And it's all the money I have, but I can get some more if I need to." "Well, what a coincidence," smiled the man. "A dollar and eleven cents---the exact price of a miracle for your little brother." He took her money in one hand and with the other hand he grasped her mitten and said "Take me to where you live. I want to see your brother and meet your parents. Let's see if I have the kind of miracle you need." That well dressed man was Dr. Carlton Armstrong, a surgeon, specializing in neuro-surgery. The operation was completed without charge, and it wasn't long until Andrew was home again, completely recovered.

So what is the point of this true story? For any person to get what they want in life, they must ask for it. Focus on what you want, and ask for it. Ask your customers to do business with you. When they say no, do what the little girl did, ask again!

Ask like you don't understand "no." Ask like your brother's life depends on it. Ask like your life depends on it. Ask with passion and conviction, and miracles will happen.

http://www.bluinc.com/free/askforit.html

My All-Time 12 Best Ideas for Being Successful

by Shad Helmstetter, Ph.D.

1. Set specific goals and action steps, and write them down.

The single most important step in getting somewhere is knowing where you're going and having a plan for getting there. Your goals have to be written out, and so does your plan. Be specific, date each goal and each step on your action plan. Then follow it.

2. Read and review your goals daily.

This one could change your life. Keep your goals in front of you. Always know what you plan to do next. And always take the action your plan calls for. Review your goals, review your plan, change them as necessary, and stay with it. It only takes two or three minutes each morning to read your goals and glance over your plans. You're going to spend the next 24 hours that day doing something; you might as well be doing something that counts.

3. Set daily priorities.

Your goals and action plan will tell you what to do. Next, put your priorities in order. If you make a list, keep it short.

4. Change your old programs by learning new Self-Talk.

Get rid of any old mental programs that could be holding you back. Listen to Self-Talk, practice it, and get it right. Your programs will determine whether you reach your goal or not.

5. Turn off the television.

The less television you watch, the more successful you will be. Most television wastes your time, while it programs your mind with the wrong input to be successful. Do your future and your family a favor. As much as you can, break the habit, spend your time doing something of value, and turn the television OFF.

6. Practice, every day, keeping a positive attitude.

Your attitude actually affects the biochemistry of your brain. A bad attitude turns your success switches "off." A good attitude turns them "on." Never listen to the negative opinions of others, and make the choice to eliminate negativity from your life--completely. A good attitude is not an accident; it is a habit and a skill that you have to build for yourself. Practice going through life with your success switches being turned "on."

7. Associate with people who are more successful than you are.

We become most like the people we spend our time with most. Seek out the successful people; people of quality, honor, integrity, and achievement. Spend time with them in person. Listen to them on tape. Or read their stories in books. We get the most from the people who have the most to give.

8. Live your life based on "values."

Your values are the pages on which the story of your life will be written. Practice the values of honesty, integrity, trust, determination, compassion, patience, personal responsibility, the willingness to work, and the courage to endure. All lasting success is built on positive values.

9. Practice your faith.

In the lives of people who are truly successful in every way, you will always find a foundation of faith. If you want to live your life at your best, practice your faith. Not just an hour a week. Every day.

10. Make the choice to believe in yourself and in your future.

Believing in yourself is a choice. The people who are the most successful learn to tell themselves they can do it. Practice believing in yourself. Practice telling yourself you can do it; no matter how difficult, no matter what it takes. You've got what it takes. You can do it! You are capable of more than you have ever imagined! Now tell yourself that.

11. Do at least two things each day to improve yourself.

This is one of the top ideas on every achiever's list of how to be successful. If you want to get more successful, you have to learn more. Each day, think of two simple things you can do to improve yourself that day. Set some goals about this one. Take small steps. Read something. Listen to something new. Learn something. If you want your life to get better, you have to start by improving yourself, first.

12. Never quit. Never Stop. Never give up!

If you want to be successful at anything, be determined, persevere, stay with it, refuse to give in, don't hesitate, don't hold back, and don't quit until the job is done. If it hasn't worked yet, try harder. If you haven't reached your goal, focus your sights, visualize the outcome, recommit to making it, start again, take action, stay with it, and never, ever, give up!
http://www.bluinc.com/free/12ideas.html