Who's in Charge Here? by Charli Williams Personal Success Coach George was having a bad day. He had procrastinated for so long preparing his presentation, he had only an hour before he needed to leave for his client appointment. He mentally kicked himself, called himself names, and sat down to the task. Forty-five minutes later, exhausted and relieved, he refreshed himself, loaded the materials into his briefcase and drove to his appointment. All the way there he was cursing himself for procrastinating. He felt angry about it. The presentation was extremely successful, resulting in greater benefit to the client and a larger case for George. Ultimately, he was pleased. Later, George was relating his actions to his friend Joe. "You prepared that entire presentation in less than an hour? Wow! It would have taken me three days." Attitude. Point of view. Focus of attention. George could have decided that he was so experienced that it would be easy to put together a powerful presentation. Had he chosen that line of thinking he could have enjoyed his preparation time. What you focus on becomes your experience. How does this happen? Where my attention is, that is my life's experience, in that moment. For example, if I have noticing and enjoying the smoothness of my new computer keyboard under my fingertips, that is my life's experience in that moment - joyful, easy creative movement. Writing is easy and fun. My experience in that moment is ease and fun. If I am annoyed with my assistant for doing something last week that I didn't like, I am choosing 'annoyance' as my life's experience in that moment. Regardless of what my assistant did or did not do, I am choosing my own experience by thinking certain thoughts. I don't control my assistant; I do control how I think about my assistant. Ideas lead to deeds. This is one way it happens: Ron was looking at his prospect list one day. He chose one prospect, a group of auto repair services, and decided he wanted the group to become his client. He thought about what it would be like to work with them, what type of products might be best for the owners and their employees, and how much service might be required of him. He then wrote a proposal and called for an appointment. At their next group meeting he presented his proposal as though he knew for sure they were going to sign up. Of course they did, or I wouldn't be telling this story. He did the things he needed to do to create something new - a new client relationship. He focused his attention on all the different details, in the appropriate order, and followed through assuming he would get his desired outcome. His focus of attention was on creating something new - a new client relationship. ''Creating something new' is a different focus of attention than ''problem solving.' Problem solving focuses on making something go away - the problem. Creating something new focuses on bringing something into being. They are very different focuses of attention. A 'client relationship' is a different focus than 'making a sale.' Your thoughts, then, determine your attitude, actions and emotions. Your 'attitude, actions and emotions' create the dynamic energies of commitment. The energy released by commitment creates the results you are experiencing. If you aren't sure what you are committed to experiencing, just take notice of what you are experiencing. Everything you have and don't have in your life is a reflection of who you are and how you think. Some people are committed to complaining. It doesn't matter how good things are, they will find something wrong. It doesn't matter how many good ideas or suggestions you present to them, they will tell you why it won't work. If there is anything you see about yourself which you don't like or would like to change, look only to yourself. No fault, no blame; just awareness and choice. By making the choices you have made, you have created the results you are now experiencing. By focusing your attention on the details of a result, you are beginning to make that change. Regarding the 'effort' involved in changing your thinking: It feels like an effort to shift to a different type of thought because it is. Whenever you change any habit - and some of your thinking is habitual - conscious effort is involved. Whether you want to stop smoking, start jogging instead of walking, or express happiness instead of crabbiness, you must be conscious of making the shift. Push through the discomfort. Be grateful you are aware of it because the discomfort is the evidence that you are doing something different. Doing different is what creates different results. You are absolutely in the process of having more of what you want - a better attitude, more personal peace and health. You have certainly heard that attitude is everything. If you would simply believe that and act on it, your entire life's experience could become more pleasant. You are in charge - in charge of your own experience. Visit my website to start creating your own success!! Charli Williams, founder of Lamont Williams in Orange County California, has been a Personal Success Coach for more than a decade. She is an author, lecturer, columnist and radio talk show personality. She also serves on the Board of Directors for the Orange County Association of Health Underwriters. She develops custom tailored programs for entrepreneurs, designed to move each person along their path to success. Lamont Williams operates under the philosophy that just as Olympic athletes have private coaches to help them fine-tune their abilities, so too should business people have a coach to help them reach their goals more easily. Lamont Williams clients are varied. Current participates include engineers, financial and estate planners, physicians, top insurance producers, educators, loan consultants, real estate agents and sales representatives. The Coaching Program enables individuals to develop clear, detailed plans resulting in success on a consistent basis, and more time in their lives for relationships, fun and relaxation. Charli helps her clients formulate and achieve their Ideal Lifestyle. This Ideal Lifestyle is not only limited to business; it carries over into personal life as well. Charli, through her unique visualization techniques, has achieved her own Ideal Lifestyle. The tools and techniques used produce success more easily, eliminating the old fashion concept of the need for "hard work." The Coaching Programs are very "person specific."That is, they are tailored to fulfill the needs of each individual, rather than the individual needing to fit the program. The programs enable people to develop clear, detailed plans resulting in more income on a consistent basis. Living a balanced, successful life is the ultimate goal. The Coaching Programs from Lamont Williams include: Private Coaching, on an individual basis; Coaching for Team Synergy, for groups; and other custom designed training's. Her workbook, Creating Your Own Success,is a step-by-step guide to achievement. For more information, please call our offices at 800-353-1170 E-mail Lamontwm@pacbell.net or Fax (713) 389-3038.