This is a last-minute announcement, since I just found out about it myself, but it's worth you taking the time to check out.

Would you be willing to give an hour of your time if it meant being a part of something actually worth being a part of? 

When someone asks you what you are doing at 8:00pm this Saturday night, say that you are doing your part to save humanity from it's own short-sightedness. When that peaks their interest, then just send 'em right here:

99% of you reading this (myself included) did your part to help create this problem, so how about doing your part to help fix it?

Many thanks to PDP Senior Thought Leaders Thea Westra and Shauna Arthurs who brought this to my attention in this thread at Personal Development Partners.

I'll be sitting around my house bathed in candlelight at 8:00pm this Saturday. What about you? 

As with all product reviews that I do at Today is that Day, this review is not meant as a tool to convince you to buy the product, but rather to give you the inside scoop on what the product is about so that you can make an informed decision about whether or not this product is right for YOU.

If you are interested in learning more, you are welcome and encouraged to ask me questions directly, to discuss the product in the comments section below, or to click on through to the product owner's website for addition information and support.

Review of The Million Dollar Mindset by James Arthur Ray

The first thing that I want to say about The Million Dollar Mindset is that it totally lives up to its name. Although there is plenty of specific information given about creating wealth, everything that James talks about goes back to the fact that having the proper mindset about what you are doing is at least as important as the actual things that you do.

The product comes as 6 audio CD's, and one of the CD's has a very helpful workbook that you print, and then fill out as you are going through the program. The workbook not only encourages you to take notes of critical points that are discussed, but also has spaces for you to write down answers to various questions and activities that are introduced throughout the program.

Normally, people tend to gloss over the activities that are part of products like this, and I encourage you NOT to do that. One of the first activities that is on Disc 1 netted me over 20 great ideas for ways to gain success while teaching people about personal development, and over half of them were ideas that were well off the mark from anything that I had considered in the past.

Disc 1 - The Illumination Factor

In Disc 1, James dishes on the fact that success is something that you become, and then the money will follow. His specific quote is:

"Success is not the result of making money. Making money is the result of Success."

He goes on to explain concepts such as the fact that it takes a bigger person to make $100,000 per year than it does to make $10,000 per year, and that only about 1% of the population has successfully grasped true wealth creation concepts, which is why the majority of the civilized world is still trading time for money - e.g. having a JOB.

James also talks about having multiple streams of income, and how each of your streams of income need to be in alignment with the things that bring you happiness and fulfillment; what he calls "Psychic Income".

This concept is not new to most people who have been hanging around the personal development community for very long, however, by going back to the fact that over 95% of the world is still trading time for money, it is clear that being aware of something and taking action on it are two entirely different things!

Disc 2 - The Science of Success

In this disc, it is pointed out that the entire process of attaining success is simply a matter of consistently taking part in proven methods of doing so. In other words, if someone else can become a millionaire, then you can too, as long as your thoughts, feelings, and actions remain in consistent alignment with successful practices.

James also discusses the huge role that your subconscious mind plays in the attainment of success - or lack thereof. Just as consistent application of successful practices is a requirement for attaining success, your subconscious mind must also be constantly fed empowering, and belief-filled thoughts. No amount of successful practices will amount to continual improvement and creation of wealth if your subconscious mind is filled with self-limiting beliefs, or feelings of poverty and lack.

It is possible, and even simple, to reprogram your subconscious mind, but as with everything, a consistent, repetitive effort is required.

Disc 3 - Taking Charge

There is SO much great stuff on this disc, but I will keep it to the highlights, starting with this absolutely GOLDEN quote from James:

"Results do not equal NO RESULTS plus a good story."

In other words, at the end of the day, the week, the month, or the year, you can have as many wonderful excuses as you want about why you didn't consistently engage in your successful practices, but all that will matter is whether or not you did.

There are also several key psychological factors that are discussed in great detail on this disc, and they include:

• Fear - the avoidance of pain as a motivating factor
• Desire - a cue for us to grow enough on a personal level in order to attain whatever we desire
• The Path of Least Resistance - recognizing that the pain of not having what we want can be used as fuel to attain our goals
• Personal Growth - since growth is the key to success, growth is also the driving factor behind our desire; it is the growth that we want, not the objects or experiences
• Lack of Understanding - using our lack of understanding about how to do something as a motivating factor to grow, rather than a self-replicating, dis-empowering belief
• Self-Motivated Action  - the difference between "selfish" and "self-centered" and how to use that knowledge to stay in touch with your strengths
• Instant Gratification - a method of controlling our natural desire for the "big win," yet staying highly motivated during the journey

Again, there is a lot of awesome content on this disc, and that is just a brief synopsis. I recommend a heart-felt study of this disc to discover some interesting and empowering facts.

Disc 4 - Providing Value

One of my most memorable parts from this disc is when James says that you should always provide 10 times the value that a customer has paid for.

He discusses not just delivering massive value to the people who purchase your products or services, but about the fact that you are not looking for one-time sales. Rather, your goal should be to build a trusting relationship with that customer, which benefits both you and the customer in countless ways. Since becoming a millionaire requires that you do something that gives value to others, providing more value than people pay for ensures massive success in any endeavor.

There is also a very interesting section on this disc that references a study done by Howard Gardner about how each and every person is a genius in at least one or two broad areas of life. By discovering which of those areas of your life YOU are a genius in, building your product or offering around those areas is a great way to ensure not just success, but joy in your work as well. They are:

1. Linguistic Intelligence
2. Logical Intelligence
3. Logical/Mathematical Intelligence
4. Spatial Intelligence
5. Bodily/Kinesthetic Intelligence
6. Intra-personal Intelligence
7. Inter-personal Intelligence
8. Apprehension of the natural world

James give a full description of what each concept means in the real world, and despite some of the intense names, they are all very down to earth concepts. I found several that I was comfortable with saying that I was very good at.

Disc 5 - Strategic Influence

Very interesting concepts discussed on this disc, including an acronym worth remembering that I will share in just a minute, and also this important bit that is certainly worth making note of:

James discusses the fact that all people who have ever accomplished anything of note had strategic influence, and that influence can be done on an individual, per person level, or it can be done on a larger level.

He talks about Robert Chialdini's book Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion, and how the acronym C.R.A.L.S.S. can help you to remember the best ways to influence people in a manner that is beneficial to them, as well as yourself. Again, it would take too long to write out a full description, but here is what C.R.A.L.S.S. stands for:

• Consistency
• Reciprocity
• Authority
• Liking
• Social Proof
• Scarcity

I found this disc to be particularly eye-opening, and my notes are kept handy for whenever I get into the creation and maintenance of my own products and services.

James does point out, however, that although a firm understanding of how to use these psychological factors could be used for both short-term and long-term gain, that it should always be remembered that the goal is a long-term relationship with customers, not a short-term sale.

Disc 6 - Creating a Winning Team

The information on this disc could be used by someone who wants to create a great mastermind group, or even just a group of people to work together on a project, and for anyone who works with teams in a business environment, this should be required listening.

The idea, as James points out, is that each member of the team has their eye on the same prize, not that each member of the team acts like a bunch of robots, simply doing what they are told. That stifles creativity, and ends up being a process that creates stale, boring results, not to mention unsatisfied partners or teammates.

"Winners hang out with Winners"

It has been often discussed that one of the best ways to learn how to create success is to spend time with successful people. An interesting example that is given on this disc is that of people who live in low-income, or high-crime areas. Why is it that the cycle of life in those areas keeps on replicating itself over and over again?

Are people who live in those areas simply not as smart, talented, or creative as everyone else? Hardly. Those cycles of life keep repeating themselves because as people are raised in those environments, they simply mimic the actions and the mindsets of the people around them.

James also talks about the difference between creating something remarkable and valuable vs. simply trying to out-do your competition. Many people are beginning to realize that the entire concept of competition is itself steeped in thoughts of lack, and that type of thinking will only create more of the same.

CONCLUSION

Overall, I learned a lot from listening to these 6 CD's, and despite the length of this product review of The Million Dollar Mindset, I only scratched the surface of the in-depth notes that I took, or of the material that was shared on these 6 discs.

Each disc is approximately 1-hour long, and each succeeding disc builds on the concepts that were talked about on the previous discs. It is very apparent that James Ray's philosophies on life and success are constant, and you will find that consistency in this entire product, and in all of his teachings that I have been exposed to.

Would I recommend that you purchase The Million Dollar Mindset program? Absolutely, but only on 2 conditions:

1. That you are going to actually study the knowledge and techniques that James shares so that you can understand how they work.
2. That you are going to then apply that knowledge to growing a new or existing business or service offering.

These CD's will not turn you into a millionaire unless you are willing to find a way to provide value to the world at large, and then consistently apply the principles that are taught!

This one's for you, MW, and all the lessons that you teach!

Most people would gladly accept a second chance if it was offered to them.

Who among us hasn't made decisions in the past that - despite our present level of happiness - we might have done differently if given the opportunity? Well, until time travel becomes both proven - and accessible to the masses - we all have to accept the fact that there is no going back, only moving forward.

That being the case, why is it that people get a second chance every single day of their lives, yet they never significantly change anything?

Many people want their lives to be a certain way, yet they have the completely incorrect belief that they have already missed their golden opportunity. Their ship finally came in, but then it left port without them. Lady luck finally came calling, but they were in the shower and didn't hear the doorbell. They finally picked the winning lottery numbers, but then left the ticket in their pocket when they did the laundry.

Then there are the people whose lives deliver a less than subtle reminder that there is only so much time here on Earth to accomplish their goals. Anyone who has ever had a near-fatal accident, a heart attack, or a debilitating illness or disease comes out of that experience with a renewed desire to get moving on their goals, lest the next incident be more permanent than their first wake-up call was.

The simple truth of the matter is that you don't have to wait until you have a brush with success or with death before you can start chasing your dreams with a vengeance. Every single day - every moment, for that matter - is your second chance for success. If you are serious about getting something done while you are here on this plane of existence, here is a 3-step process that will guarantee you'll reach the finish line before your time runs out!

1. Fan the flames of your Burning Desire

If you want to get something done, you have to first know what it is!

That may seem like a ridiculous statement, yet it describes a situation that happens with most people. We allow our lives to become so busy and so cluttered with the tasks of our existence that we simply don't spend enough time thinking about - and acting on - our true long-term desires.

Sure, most people have a general idea of what they want to get out of life, and they may even be on a general path to attain it. However, "general" is not a strong enough shield to protect you from the distractions that life will throw at you in the meantime. You need a specific goal; one that you don't want to die without having accomplished.

Your goal does not need to be selfless, however, as many people have been led to believe. None of us were put here to accomplish anything less or more than what we personally want to accomplish. Even saints and visionaries who have sculpted the very fabric of history did so because it was what they wanted to do.

If you want to be a saint, then be a saint. If you want to be a sinner, then be a sinner. However, in either case, if you don't know specifically what you want, then you'll just settle for whatever you happen to get. Not to put too fine a point on it, but that is often something that won't sound all that impressive during your eulogy.

If my life's purpose is to learn and grow, while having a knock-down, drag-out good time in the process, then I want it said during my eulogy that I did exactly that, and that I never chased after some purpose that I wasn't truly passionate about.

True visionaries have their own vision, and what other people think is of little consequence. 

2. Learn from what didn't work in the Past

Once you have decided what you want to accomplish - and I reiterate, what you have a burning desire to accomplish - then look back on all the days of your life so far to figure out why you don't have it yet.

• Were you not clear enough about what you wanted?
• Did you not know how to attain it?
• Did you not apply yourself to the attainment of that goal?
• Was it your lack of confidence in your abilities that stopped you?
• Did you let other people hold you back?
• Were you a victim of the "victim mentality"?

Whatever your personal reasons are for not having accomplished your goals, there is only one person who is responsible for that, and it's you. Don't go beating yourself up about it, however. All lessons learned are learned for a reason, so rather than wallowing in self pity, simply do what we've all been told to do since the cradle:

Learn from your mistakes.

If whatever you did before didn't work, it's not going to work this time around, either. Change your tactics, and you'll change your results.

3. Consistently apply yourself to the Cause

It doesn't matter if your goal is to become wealthy, or to have the best lawn on your block, if you don't consistently apply yourself to that goal, you'll never achieve the level of success that you are capable of.

Most people have had at least some measure of success in the various areas of their lives, and most people will be able to remember a time when they:

• Had more money
• Had better relationships
• Had better health or a better body
• Had a better career
• Had more self confidence

Although there are sometimes circumstances that instantly or drastically take us away from "the good ol' days," there are no circumstances that can keep us from attaining the feelings of success that we had back then.

If you did it once, you can do it again.

Yes, I know, the excuses are already forming in your mind:

• I'm too old
• My health is not what it used to be
• I've had children, so my body can never go back
• I don't have the job opportunities that I use to have
• It's not possible to attain what I want

I have just three little words for anyone who uses any of those excuses, or anything similar:

Blah, blah, blah.

Does your age or your health affect your life? Sure. Does the fact that you've had children, that you've moved to a new area, or that you want something difficult to attain have an impact on the situation? Absolutely.

Here's the rub, though. You can only be affected by those things to the extent that you allow yourself to be affected by them.

When you consistently apply yourself to attaining your burning desires, you open up a flood gate of opportunities to reach the level of happiness and success that you want. In fact, that happiness and success will very likely come in a different form, or from a different direction than you thought it would. However, if you don't consistently apply yourself to the task of attaining your burning desires, then you will just as consistently fail to attain whatever it is that you want.

By knowing what you want to accomplish, you will put yourself on the path to attaining it.

By avoiding the pitfalls that have held you back in the past, you will ensure that you stay on the right path.

By consistently working towards your goals, you will create opportunities where before there were none.

If you don't believe me, then I challenge you to try this method out for yourself. Unless, of course, you're simply afraid of success. In that case, why are you reading a blog about personal development?

Click below to remember what you learned!

Quotable Quotes and Merchandise for the Offline World

Have you ever just had it with all of the self improvement dogma that is happily running rampant all over the Internet these days? Does the term "information overload," or the question "Where did all of these 'alleged' experts come from?" ever cross your mind?

If so, then I've got just the thing that you've been looking for!

You see, the problem with personal development isn't that the available systems don't work, but rather that people tend to "run home to momma" when they are faced with too many choices:

• Law of Attraction
• Affirmations
• Visualization
• Positive Thinking
• Goal Setting
• Time Management
• Productivity
• Meditation
• Motivation 
• Self-Acceptance
• Self-Discipline
• Subconscious Reprogramming
• Brainwave Entrainment

AGHHHHHHH! And that's just the list that I thought of off the top of my head!

I am not saying those systems don't work, because they all do, IF you believe in them, and IF you consistently practice them.

And therein lies the problem, Grasshopper. With so many methods to choose from, and with any given "guru" claiming that their way is the "best" way, most people are left standing there scratching their heads. Or, as is more often the case, people buy products, read them, watch them, or listen to them, and THEN they stand their scratching their heads!

The lack of belief and/or the lack of consistent application retards any benefit that may have been derived from a full level of faith in the process, or an impenetrable willingness to see the processes through to fruition.

Enter: Personal Development for Stupid People

This new product that I am creating is based upon the very real truth that people have allowed their hands to be tied because no one was there to HOLD their hand, and then walk them through the process. Without someone to kick them into action, people have read/watched/listened to enough self improvement information to create a race of pure geniuses, yet most people can't even get out of debt, let alone make any significant, long-term improvements to their lives.

If you are one of those people, and I am calling you out, I'll have to apologize for not feeling sorry about it. If you are getting called out, it is because you need to be called out, and that is exactly what Personal Development for Stupid People is going to do.

This is not another product going on about how you are an empowered being (although you are), or how you can do anything that you want (although you can), or about how all of your answers are already inside of you (although they are).

No, Personal Development for Stupid People is going to be more "in your face," much like many of the blog posts here at Today is that Day are. I'm not pulling any punches, I'm not holding anyone's hand, and I'm certainly not going to tell you that all you have to do is sit on your couch and think about being happy in order for success to come beating down your door!

An Opportunity

Personal Development for Stupid People is not finished yet, and that is for 2 reasons:

1. It's just not finished yet. How's that for some honesty?
2. I wanted to get feedback from my personal development craving readership before I closed my word processor, and officially launched the new product.

How is that an opportunity for you? Again, I have 2 answers:

1. If you are one of the people who has been struggling with personal development, and there is some content that you want to see in the book, click right here to send me an email. Get the email to me no later than 6:00pm EST on Sunday, March 23, 2008, and if your idea has value, I'll include it in the book.
2. Since the product is not done yet, but you want to support the process (e.g. - pay the writer!), you can secure your own copy at a significant discount if you order it by the deadline, March 23, 2008, at 6:00pm EST.

Personal Development for Stupid People is going to be in eBook format (Adobe PDF), and I am also going to record the entire thing, breaking it down into chapters that can be easily downloaded in audio MP3 format. There will be no additional charge for having one version or the other. All purchasers will get links to download both.

As with all Today is that Day products, Personal Development for Stupid People will be available completely free of charge to all Premium level (or above) members of the Personal Development Partners website.

As I indicated earlier, this product is NOT going to be about making you feel good about yourself, helping you come to terms with your past, or any other similar new-age dogma. Rather, Personal Development for Stupid People is going to be about why your life isn't improving, and it is going to put it all out there with a bare bones, in your face mentality. Here is a sample of some of the chapter titles, only with the solutions cut off. You'll have to buy the book if you want those! :)

• You're Fat because you…
• Your Relationships Stink because you…
• Your Health needs to improve because you…
• You're Broke because you…
• Your Career is not what you want because you…
• Your Visualizations aren't Working because you…
• Your Affirmations are Useless because you….
• You're Confused about Personal Development because you…

This product will likely shock you, it may anger you, and you might even get insulted! I'm not pulling any punches on this one, but I am promising this:

If you read/listen to the book, and you apply the teachings that it contains, your life WILL improve, you WILL "personally develop," and you WILL see a stark contrast between what people are doing, and what actually works.

Future purchase price of Personal Development for Stupid People: $22

Discounted price if you pre-purchase your copy now: $12

Either way, all Today is that Day products come with a money-back guarantee, but as I said above, your life WILL improve as a result of applying what this product teaches, so you won't need that guarantee.

That is, if you're brave enough to buy it!

Click here to pre-purchase Personal Development for Stupid People 

Product release date is April 2, 2008

There are many who believe that in order to achieve success, we must follow the successful examples of the people who have come before us. Although that idea has merit, and on some levels can be a part of your achievements, the problem with that mentality is that not everyone is the same.

Just because one guy went from rags to riches after a life full of angst and sorrow does not mean that his system for becoming successful will work for someone else. Just because some lady was able to buck the system and achieve radical success against all odds does not mean that whatever she did will apply to the lives of other people.

The basic idea behind those types of success stories is that there were baseline personality traits that those people consistently exhibited; confidence, tenacity, ambition, focus, consistency, just to name a few.

In addition, although there are certainly success mindsets, the bottom line is that if any given success system is not working for you personally, or if you simply don't want to use it, then you need to find a new way to succeed. You need to break through the walls of normalcy, shatter the accepted norms of society, and do something truly remarkable.

When you do THAT, you'll grow whether you want to or not. Here are 5 great ways to change your stars that require you to do something other than listening to the same self improvement dogma that you have already heard so many times before.

Quit

No, I don't mean quit trying, I mean quit whatever circumstances have consistently been holding you back; and yes, that could certainly mean your job, your relationships, or even your friendships.

People are so afraid that they won't be able to succeed in the various areas of their lives that they cling to lame or generic circumstances like a life raft, but then wonder why their lives aren't getting any better.

If you want something better, then go GET something better. Do it like you mean it, too, and don't be a pansy about it. If you've got what it takes on the inside (and you do), then you will excel no matter where you go, or what you do.

Stop clinging to the parts of your life that you don't like. Cut the cord, free yourself, and go create the life you want to live by quitting the circumstances that are not to your liking.

Unattainable Goals

Go after goals that are so radically outside of what you think you are capable of that most people will think you are insane for even making the attempt:

• If you're single, find the hottest girl or guy that you know. Pick a person that makes you trip over your own two feet when you are in their presence. Got one all picked out? OK, good - now go ask that person out.
• If you want to work for the company that is the "cream of the crop" in your industry, march right in there with your resume' and tell them that you want a job. When they shoot you down, call them incessantly until they give you an interview. No stalking allowed, but anything other than that is fair game.
• If you want to lose weight, set an "Oh my God, my life would be GREAT" type of weight loss goal, and make it your entire life's purpose to attain that goal - but only for a week or two.

What is the purpose behind doing these over the top activities? In every single instance, even if you fall flat on your face and meet with little or no success, you will have gained something far more valuable than a phone number, a job offer, or a few pounds off of the scale.

You will have proven to yourself that you are confident enough to spit in the face of adversity, to throw caution to the wind, and to go after what you want, regardless of how unattainable it may seem.

From that point forward, no challenge will ever have the power to shake your rock-solid foundations.

Invent Something

Why haven't you attained your goals yet? Simple: you haven't found the product/service/opportunity/motivation/partner/resource, etc., that you need. Yes, there are plenty of individual reasons why people don't attain their goals, but they all boil down to the same thing: a lack of whatever it is they need to make it happen.

Maybe it's counseling, or a new weight loss product, or a coach, or a book, or a community, or {insert your reason here}. If there is a reason why you have not attained your goals, do you honestly think that you are the only person in that boat??

It is very likely that there are hundreds of thousands or even millions of people who have also not attained their goals for the same reason(s) that you haven't attained yours. Figure out what that reason is, and then invent the solution:

• It might be a book you write called The Commoner's Guide to Relationship Wizardy.
• It might be a website you create called….I don't know…Personal Development Partners.
• It might be an exercise program called Weight Loss for Fat Wives and Good-for-Nothing Husbands.
• It might be a counseling service called Your life Sucks and Mine used to, So you Should Listen to Me.

Some of those are obviously over the top examples, but you should get the point. If you need a certain something to kick yourself in the pants so that you'll achieve success, other people need it, too. By inventing it, not only do you create the solution for yourself, but you get to make money while you're at it. Bonus!

Escape

No, not in a "run away with your tail between your legs kind of way," but rather in a "you people are crazy, so I'm outta here" kind of way.

If the people in your circle of influence are not conducive to the achievement of your goals, then simply stay away from them. You know who they are, and they know who they are, too, so there will be no surprises when you exit stage left.

If you can't physically get away from the people that you are presently allowing to hold you back, then simply change your mindset towards them. Instead of seeing them as an anchor that is dragging you down to the depths, see them as an excellent example of how not to act. The more they act in a manner that is inconsistent with what pleases you, the more opportunities you will have to act in the opposite manner.

Everyone can at least be used as a bad example!

Trailblaze

The phrase "if you do what you've always done, you'll get what you've always gotten" is as true on an individual level as it is on a global level.

If human beings had never exercised their right and their ability to expand and create, then we would all still be living in caves, wearing furs, and enjoying a life expectancy of about 35 years.

The more you do not like the circumstances of your life, the more opportunities you have to blaze a new trail that has never been created before. Simply take a look around at how everyone else is trying to do whatever it is that you want to do, and find something that is as far opposite of their methods as possible.

• When The Beatles made rock n' roll mainstream, no one thought it would last.
• When the concept of a "personal" computer was first introduced, it was laughed at, and people couldn't imagine why anyone would want one.
• When cellular telephones first came out, they were literally big enough to be used as lethal weapons.

What could you do differently that would not only allow you to grow as a person, but that would potentially impact the world at large?

Is that vision too big for you? If so, maybe that's why you are still sitting where you're sitting.

These out of the box methods of personal growth and development should have opened your eyes to the fact that success comes not from doing what other people do, but rather from using effective habits, and then creating your own system - one that is custom built for you, but that might also change the world.

Click below to remember what you learned!

Quotable Quotes and Merchandise for the Offline World