What are 10 two letter words that make up one of the most powerful lessons one can learn in this lifetime? It goes along with the saying, “If you want something done right, do it yourself!” The 10 two letter words are: If it is to be, it is up to me! What a simple but profound concept one can learn from such simple words.

If it is to be, it is up to me.

If it is to be….if what is to be? That is the great part, you can fill in the blank here. If _____ is to be then you have chosen for it to be and will then bring it into existence. The blank, the “it” is the part of this statement which allows you to become a creator. It allows you to bring into existence, or in your life, that which has not been there before. This is where you dreams become realities and your goals become achievable. If becoming a millionaire is to be, it is up to me. If having the best Christmas ever is to be, it is up to me. If success is to be, it is up to me!

I always speak of a 97% and a 3%. The 97% of the worlds population believe in a different saying than this one. Even though most may agree with this 10 two letter word phrase, they don’t really believe it or apply it. The 97% really believe in a phrase that goes something like this: If it is to be, who is going to give it to me…or….If it is to be, the government will provide it for me….or….If it is to be, it is free! I could go on and on.

Now the other 3% know the true meaning to this phrase and apply it. If there is anything that happens in their lives, it is because they made it happen. They thought it up, they set some goals, and they took consistent action in making sure that it happened. Do they quit when the road gets a little rough? No! Do they listen to the nay-sayers and the wanna-be’s? No! Are they deterred by the masses opinions or the bandwagoners? No!

There is a simple theme common among most people who have achieved great success. One of the best times to achieve the greatest success, is in the midst of trial and hardship and when everyone else says not to do it, most likely, that is when you should do it. We know where most people in this world stand financially. So what most people say, is not what should be followed. Leaders know this and apply it well.

I suppose, for purposes of this last paragraph, I will change it to a 9 two letter word phrase with one three letter word. “If it is to be, it is up to YOU!”

I attribute my knowledge of this philosophy to the one and only Jim Rohn. I am sure this analogy has been around for some time now. What a visionary he truly is and what an entrepreneur. I guess it makes complete sense that in order to effectively teach people to become entrepreneur minded, you must know what you are teaching about. True knowledge comes from doing and doing creates results. What better way is there to gain a perfect knowledge than experience?

So on behalf of Entrepreneurialism, I bring you the 10 philosophies of the ant. What better way to understand, than by analogy. Some of my most respected mentors and role models have always taught by story. The relation between philosophy and real life stories embed principle and trigger memory to recall those principles because they are tied to those stories. So that sometime down the road of life, one might be going through a similar situation and remember the principle. How valuable is that?

So here are the 10 philosophies of the Ant:

1. Hard work always pays off.

2. Know your objective, or the task at hand and do just that.

3. Never quit. If an obstacle arises, find a way around, over, under or just go through it.

4. Take shelter in a storm and dodge the bullies with magnifying glasses.

5. Selfless service. When you assist others in getting what they want, you will get what you want!

6. Remain loyal and honest. True depth in any business comes from respect and a good name.

7. Prepare for Winter while it is Summer.

8. Think of Summer while it is Winter.

9. Strength comes in numbers.

10. Never say Die!

The list could probably be longer but 10 will suffice for now. I will expound on each of these philosophies in the next 10 articles and will relate each to a principle vital to the success of any entrepreneur. Now that I think of it, luck could be number 11, but I think luck has such a small part in success. Either you want it, or you don’t! That is my philosophy.

I read a story today that relates a story that applies to everything we do and become in life, and the causes for it. It starts off with a boy and his father hiking through the mountains. The father gets a little bit ahead and the boy slips and bangs his leg on a rock and yells, “Ouch!” Almost immediately he hears “Ouch” coming right back at him. A little startled he yells out to the mountains, “Who are you,” thinking it was someone mocking him. He gets the same response. He then yells, “You coward,” and just the same way it has been happening, he heard the same response! Getting more frustrated and about to burst into anger, he looks to his father and asks him, “What’s going on?” His father just smiles and says, “Son, pay attention!” He then yells back to the mountain, “I admire you, You are a Leader, You are a champion, You can do anything!” With each phrase he received the same response in return.

The boy looks and little confused so the father explains, “Son, people call this an ECHO but really this is LIFE. It gives you back everything you say or do. Life is a reflection of our actions!” If you want more love in the world, it first starts with creating more love in your heart. If you want more competence in your team or your employees, become more competent yourself. If you want more respect, give more respect. If you want all out massive success, help others to become successful.

This relationship applies to everything, in all areas of life. Your life is not a coincidence….it is a reflection of YOU!

All I have to say is that no matter your circumstance, your income, or your current situation, THAT IS NOT YOU! I speak to so many people who are down, mentally and emotionally due to their financial situation. They think that is who they are. They are so far from the truth. Just because you are hatched from an egg does not necessarily mean you will be a bird. Your environment does not govern who you are and what you are capable of.

Many people have the difficulty of changing their circumstance. How do we do that. How does someone go from being behind 3 months on their bills to making more than enough to cover their bills, travel the world, and have the lifestyle of their dreams? I can tell you exactly the thing that can create that….Personal Development. It is all done upstairs, just a few inches from the neck. One must just simply think a little differently to experience a huge shift in results. One degree of temperature brings a 211 degree pan of water to a boil. It makes all the difference.

So just remember this…you create who you are. If you are going to let a low income and some debt stop you from becoming who you deserve and know you should be, you know where that leads, right? Enjoy it as much as you can. Otherwise, make a bold decision to move forward, and experience what life should be and is truly all about!

One day Mr. Shoaff said, “Jim, if you want to be wealthy and happy, learn this lesson well: Learn to work harder on yourself than you do on your job.”

Since that time I’ve been working on my own personal development. And I must admit that this has been the most challenging assignment of all. This business of personal development lasts a lifetime.

You see, what you become is far more important than what you get. The important question to ask on the job is not, “What am I getting?” Instead, you should ask, “What am I becoming?” Getting and becoming are like Siamese twins: What you become directly influences what you get. Think of it this way: Most of what you have today you have attracted by becoming the person you are today.

I’ve also found that income rarely exceeds personal development. Sometimes income takes a lucky jump, but unless you learn to handle the responsibilities that come with it, it will usually shrink back to the amount you can handle.

If someone hands you a million dollars, you’d better hurry up and become a millionaire. A very rich man once said, “If you took all the money in the world and divided it equally among everybody, it would soon be back in the same pockets it was before.”

It is hard to keep that which has not been obtained through personal development.

So here’s the great axiom of life:

–TO HAVE MORE THAN YOU’VE GOT, BECOME MORE THAN YOU ARE–

This is where you should focus most of your attention. Otherwise, you just might have to contend with the axiom of not changing, which is:

–UNLESS YOU CHANGE HOW YOU ARE, YOU’LL ALWAYS HAVE WHAT YOU’VE GOT–

To Your Success,
Jim Rohn

On a very limited basis do we eat Chinese food, but last night we decided to get some take out. The best parts were the egg rolls and the fortune cookies! Most of the fortunes were more weird than fortune. But I did get one that made some sense, “You must be the change you wish to see in the World.” You must be the change. There are two kinds of people, those who are changed and molded by the world and those who change and mold the world. You must be the change you wish to see in your life! You must be the change you wish to see in your business, in your income, in your children, in your marriage! It all starts with you. How do you change the things you wish to change?

First things first, it all starts with action. You have all heard of the biblical saying of faith without works in dead. Most of the world forgets this part. What? You mean I have actually walk to the fridge to get that coke? Yeah! That is the point. For change to happen, it takes first desire and then action towards that desire. The area that I learned to take action, and focussed action, was in the Personal Development industry. I have learned things about myself and my circumstance that I had no clue about. I have had so many “ahah” moments that they cannont be counted.

Personal Development is where change takes place, in you! So the saying goes, “You must be the change,” meaning, you must change before your World will. I like to thing of Personal Development as more of steeping into you greatest potential rather than changing. That is the bulk part of what happens but you are just realizing what is already within you and taking the necessary changes to become the ultimate you. So, change yourself and you change your World. You change how you see the world, how you operate in world, and how the world operates around you.

I have been in the personal development industry for several years now and have assisted many in changing their world through a business opportunity geared towards this very thing. Personal Development mingled with a million dollar business opportunity. Lives are being transformed. People are changing their worlds and are able to assist others in doing the same. Be the change you are looking for. Make it happen!