“Don’t you trust me?”
That is the attitude some people have when asked to write down their plans for their business, their designs or their goals.
It’s one thing to be able to explain something to someone, but it’s another to get it on paper.
On paper things come alive for both yourself and others.
After all, a picture is worth a 1000 words.
Or in this case I’m talking about a blueprint.
A blueprint is a plan on paper that allows people to envision the finished product, whatever that may be.
More commonly it applies to housing and earlier this year when we got approved for a loan to build our first property, it was pretty exciting to have the blueprints in our hands.
It seemed so real.
We could see ourselves opening the door and then turning to the right towards the bathroom and to the left the living room with two large windows, stairs just in front of us.
When the final project was completed this October it was nice to see the final touches; the light fixtures, the wallpaper, the curtain railings, the bathroom and doorknobs.
The blueprint may have allowed us to see the layout, but it’s something else to see everything done. Still, the blueprint is what made it all possible.
The point is – you should never start anything of value without a blueprint.
The same is true for success (aka – your life).
The end of the 20th Century brought with it incredible change.
The amount of information available on any topic imaginable is simply staggering.
Now with smartphones all the rage we carry around with us more knowledge in our pocket than entire nations had access to just a short time ago.
And yet, despite all this change a few things thing haven’t – we still only have 24 hours a day, we still need sleep and we still have lots of responsibilities that eat up our time.
These days it seems as if we’re busier than ever in spite of all the technological gifts we have been given.
We have to work harder to compete, we must think faster to stay on top of things, we must innovate or get left behind.
With all change comes good and bad.
Our lives may have become easier in many ways, but at the same time we are expected to do so much more.
As such it is imperative that anyone who truly wants to take their career or business to the next level learn fast and not waste a single moment.
With so many amazing audio sessions, books and DVD seminars where should one start?
I suppose you could do what I did and that’s buy a ton of material, read every day for a few hours, listen to hours upon hours of audio lectures and watch a few thousand hours of DVDs.
It works…but it’s probably not your best course of action. A better way of approaching your own success is:
- Which material gives you the best bang for the buck?
I mean, if you can watch a 3 hour lecture and get the same knowledge from a 40 hour audio session, why you bother with the later?
Why read a book that’s 500 pages when you can get more from one that’s 100 pages?
Where can we find that information? I think the best way is to find someone who has what you want and then simply ask him or her what material they should invest in.
Some might not tell you, but most will…if you’re kind, curious and sincere.
But since you’re reading this let me give you my recommendation.
Before I do let me say this – if you remember nothing else study the 5 key areas of study – time management, self-development, marketing, leadership and sales. These are the pillars upon which I believe all solid success is built.
As my good friend Charles once told me the key component is the mindset (self-development) as it lays the foundation for everything else. I wholeheartedly agree.
So if you were to ask me what are the 5 best materials that are the best value I would have to go with the following
- Robert Kiyosaki’s Rich Dad, Poor Dad (book)
- Tony Robbins’ Live with Passion (audio)
- Jim Rohn’s Living an Exceptional Life (audio)
- Mike Litman’s Conversations with Millionaires (book)
- David J Schwatz’s The Magic of Thinking Big (book)
There you have it – my quick blueprint to success.
You might have noticed that I left off my own book, iSucceed: secrets for the average joe and jane. I did so intentionally, because while I believe my book is a great place to start, these 5 choices are among the best ever created. Maybe one day my book will make that list but for now I’ll keep it at #6.
Adrian Shepherd