Tag: Books

I’ll be 62 years old (young) at the end of this month.

While that means I’m a member of AARP, I can get discounts at certain stores, and my remaining hair is turning gray, it doesn’t mean that I have stopped growing.

In fact, I’m aging backwards.

I’m youthing.

In the last year alone I —

— attended a strongman training and bent a horseshoe, a steel bar, and a nail, all with my bare hands, and drove a spike through a board with my fist. I was the oldest person in the room, even older than the instructor, and probably the most inexperienced when it comes to feats of strength. But I attended anyway. I learned a lot, too, including the fact that virtually “Nothing is impossible.”

Bent and straightened this horseshoe

— attended an advanced guitar camp with legendary player Tommy Emmanuel. I was one of the oldest in the room, was surrounded by players far more advanced than me – including a 14 year old girl who dazzled everyone with her skills – but I attended anyway.

— attended an online class to learn how to play the baritone saxophone, wrote an article about playing for a sax mag, recorded an entire album of saxophone music, hired Grammy nominated sax sensation Mindi Abair to perform for me and tutor me, and more.

— discovered a synthophone — an alto sax turned into a midi instrument — and bought one and learned how to play it, using it to help make another healing music audio with Guitar Monk Mathew Dixon, called The Enlightenment Audio.

– went into the studio with one of my favorite singers in the entire world – Grammy nominated Ruthie Foster – and producer Daniel Barrett and created an album called Stretch! with me writing lyrics, playing baritone saxophone, and singing with Ruthie. Talk about a stretch! But I did it.

Daniel, Ruthie and me Stretching

— traveled to Kuwait to speak to people interested in self-improvement and curious about positive psychology, but also traveled to numerous domestic spots, as well, including to one where we discussed my having my own television show in 2016.

— despite having written more books than most people read in their entire lifetime, I released several more, including the best selling The Secret Prayer and volume 3 of The Miracles Manual. And I just signed a publishing deal for my next book, coming out April 2016.

— and even though I’m an author of books designed to help people, I’m still buying and reading other people’s self-help books, too. I’m always searching for new authors, new voices, new books, new material, to help me expand my thinking and my life.

Why?

Why do I continue to invest in courses, books, audios, coaching, classes and more?

Why am I continuing to do this as I turn 62?

Because I’m still learning, growing, improving, stretching and discovering myself.

Because I don’t know it all and am eager to discover more about myself and life.

Because as long as I keep moving forward, they won’t throw dirt on my face.

I have no idea your age, and it doesn’t really matter.

My father is 90 and still enthusiastic about life.

He gets up earlier than you or me or the sun every morning and wallops a standing dummy five hundred times.

And that’s before he does light weight lifting, walking, and other exercise – with a hernia.

Actor Dick Van Dyke is 90 and still dancing.

Turn on the right music and he’ll start free styling it without a word or a prompt but with a gigantic bright smile on his happy face.

I’m sure you are younger than 90.

I’m reminding you to think big, do big, and move forward in big ways, no matter what your age.

Or, drop the “big” and just think, do, and move.

“There is a fountain of youth: it is your mind, your talents, the creativity you bring to your life and the lives of people you love. When you learn to tap this source, you will truly have defeated age.” ― Sophia Loren

It’s the end of this year.

The new one is firing up.

Ready or not, here it comes.

What would you like to accomplish in 2016?

You can begin right now by signing up for a course, or a class, or coaching.

The idea is to joyfully experience life.

It’ll keep you young, bright, happy and healthy.

“You’re never too old to become younger.”  – Mae West

And isn’t that what life is all about?

Happy Birthday to me.

Happy New Year to you.

Let’s make this new one rock.

Ao Akua,

Joe

PS — Consider my father. He’s 90 years old. He still gets up every morning and works out for two hours. He also is the primary caregiver of my ailing, bedridden mother. And, at 90, my father became an author. His book, The Most Contented Man, is on Amazon. He’s starting another book. He’s ninety. I’m sixty-two. Do you really have any excuses not to stretch and grow, learn and do?

Member BBB 2003 - 2016

When I was conducting my Rolls-Royce Phantom Masterminds, I met already successful people who knew they wanted more – more money, more success, more insight, more spirituality, more of the full life experience.

Many were millionaires or multi-millionaires.

Quite a few had widespread recognition, but only in relatively narrow niches.

In short, most of these people were already highly successful by anyone’s standards. But many wanted worldwide success. They were truly ready for “the major leagues” – they wanted to play the bigger game and make more of a difference for more people, in a much bigger way.

You could say, they wanted to become “household names”

I loved helping these wonderful people attain widespread fame and new levels of financial success. Some were surprised, but I never was. I knew in advance what was possible for each person. Even so, I learned something new as I helped so many of them move to their own personal next levels.

Here is what I found: There was a surefire way to predict whether or not they would get where they said they wanted to go.

It all boiled down to seven major blocks to worldwide success.

Take a look at these and see how many of them could be holding you back from reaching your next level.

In no particular order, here they are:

#1 Your Dream Just Isn’t Big Enough

It’s gotta be BIG. OUTRAGEOUSLY BIG. Because if you don’t have a clear, powerful enough vision – one that really excites you a lot (and even scares you a little) – then you JUST aren’t going to do what it takes to get where you want to go.

You see, to achieve worldwide fame, you need a big, bold dream to propel you into living that dream.

You need a vision to turn on the radar in your mind to seek and find opportunities and connections. Without a big dream – a goal, a desire, a vision – you will survive but not thrive; you will exist but not exhilarate.

How this worked in my own life: When I decided to become a musician at age 57, it was a scary yet exciting dream. But it was my big dream – that “humongous” vision – that gave me the energy and confidence to create 15 albums in less than five years. Which made more than enough money to buy some of the most expensive guitars in the world.

And most important of all: It was my “humongous” vision, ultimately, that got my music in the hands (and ears) of more people around the world than even I dreamed of!

#2 You’re Not Taking Consistent Action

Willingness to take action, and keep taking action, is a major factor. You don’t need an entire step-by-step plan, as you might have to create it as you go. But you do need to take action.

Any action, even a baby step, is moving in the right direction. Because you have to keep moving forward for the path to unfold.

The rest of the road will become clear as you do. It’s like driving your car at night. You can only see the road as far as your headlights shine, but you can make the whole trip if you keep driving.

Personal example: Whenever I write a new book, I begin with the same blank page. But by typing words on it, I end up building what becomes a book. Many of them are worldwide bestsellers, such as Zero Limits and The Key.

#3 You Aren’t Congruent Enough In Your Beliefs

People who obtain worldwide success have an unreasonably strong – even stubborn – belief in themselves. If you don’t believe in yourself, or in your dream, you probably won’t take any action, or last very long. Limiting beliefs about money, success, yourself, and more, could limit your vision and curb your enthusiasm.

Your beliefs create your reality. Supportive beliefs can attract the massive success you want.

Again, my decision to become a musician is relevant. I had no prior experience in singing, writing songs, recording them or much else. As I systematically erased the limiting beliefs, using what I teach in my Miracles Coaching program, I freed myself to pursue my dream.

#4 You Lack the Necessary Courage

“No guts, no glory.” It’s true! It takes courage to face your fears and come from faith and make a massive worldwide impact. You don’t have to be flamboyant or showy, but you do have to be willing to step into the limelight. This is more about being willing to gamble on your dream than it is about being an extrovert.

You can be shy and successful. But you have to have the inner faith in yourself to pursue your dream.

I’ve often said that whenever you go for a dream bigger than what you’ve attempted before, you will feel fear. It’s natural. You are leaving your comfort zone. But as you take a deep breath and just do it, you find the inner power to get going, and the movement forward creates a momentum that is virtually unstoppable.

#5 You’re Not Willing To Do the Marketing

“Build it and they will come” works great in fictional stories, but face it: Nothing gets noticed unless somebody is marketing it (including the movie where the phrase “Build it and they will come” comes from!). The visionaries who are making a long-term difference on a worldwide scale all either conducted noteworthy marketing, or hired someone to do it.

Take Freud. While his ideas and books were being published and considered, they weren’t reaching a wide audience. It took a marketer to do that. Edward L. Bernays, the father of modern public relations, was the nephew of Freud. He saw his uncle struggle and did something about it. Today, largely thanks to the marketing work of Bernays, Freud is a worldwide name.

#6 You Didn’t Launch the Skyrockets

Getting worldwide success means standing out in the crowd. Doing big things in a big way is how you send a “skyrocket” into the world and get people to turn your way.

Consider Trump. Love him or hate him, vote for him or not, he is getting his name and brand increasingly recognized around the world.

Same goes for Branson. His daredevil exploits and well-promoted adventures, from ballooning to space flights, get his name locked into the mind of the world.

#7 You Haven’t Vastly Exceeded Expectations

Ultimately, you need to surprise people with what you deliver. Your product or service has to be way more than promised or expected. It needs to WOW them.

Zappos is known for this. So are many other companies that have worldwide recognition. They go beyond what is expected to deliver a “wow” service experience. Barnum in the 1800s did the same by offering tens of thousands of oddities in his museum. We still know his name today.

So, that is my list of the seven major blocks to worldwide success.

Any one of them can stop you.

All of them would have kept you from even reading this blog post.

But if you are here, and you’ve read this far, than you probably want more, too.

And here’s some encouraging news:

I have the personal experience and proven techniques at my disposal to help you get past every single block and onto the Worldwide Stage.

If you want to overcome these blocks and achieve the level of success others write about, then consider my one year Gullwing Mastermind.

There’s nothing else even remotely like it.

And, to be fair, it’s not for everybody; it requires a serious commitment of time, money, and willingness to grow.

But if you’re ready to fly, I have the vehicle for you.

You can get details right here.

Ao Akua,

joe

PS – Remember to check out Miracles Coaching, too.

The definitive course on attracting money

One day my cell phone rang.

It doesn’t ring very often because very few people have the number.

I didn’t recognize the calling number, and there was no Caller ID name listed, so I figured it was a random sales call and declined it.

But a minute later, the phone rang again.

Same number.

Again, I declined it.

But a few minutes later, I got notified of a message.

Curious, I played the voice mail.

I was shocked at what I heard.

It was a slightly muffled conversation between two people, a man and a woman, bad mouthing my music.

It was like being a fly on the wall, listening to a couple bash your first born.

Specifically, they were quite openly thrashing my first singer-songwriter album, Strut!, from 2012.

My first singer-songwriter album 2012

“It’s trash!” the woman said.

“It’s really garbage!” the man said.

I was shocked.

Baffled.

Hurt.

I recognized the woman’s voice.

I thought she was a friend.

Their entire conversation lasted several minutes.

Since the woman had “butt dialed” me by accident, she didn’t have a clue that their exchange had been recorded.

But it was.

I’m not sure how you would feel if you overheard people you know trashing something you created out of love and passion, but I was confused.

I reached out to my music support team, my friends who helped create that first album, and told them what happened.

They were angry.

They wanted to call the woman and give her a piece of their mind.

I didn’t want to do that.

I wanted to process the Twilight Zone-ish experience and see what I could learn.

As I meditated on the bizarre event, I realized a few things –

• not everyone likes my books (!)
• not everyone likes me (?)
• much of music today doesn’t appeal to me

Of course, I wouldn’t call someone and tell them my opinion of their books or music or them, but realizing that not everyone loves me or my work, while baffling, was somehow comforting.

And then I thought about all the good things regarding my first singer-songwriter album.

Musician makes cover

For example –

• Strut! has original songs that were nominated for awards,
• one song was turned into a music video with over 300,000 views,
• the album was mentioned in Rolling Stone magazine,
• the songs were recorded with the help of Grammy nominated people
• and one Rock and Roll Hall of Fame musician,
• and I was voted #1 singer-songwriter by Reverbnation for it.

Voted #1 singer-songwriter 3 years

So, obviously, my music must not be “trash.”

It may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but what is?

And I admit that my later albums – such as One More Day (a bestseller that sold out almost instantly after it was released and includes Grammy nominated singer Ruthie Foster on one hypnotic track) – reveal a more polished singer-songwriter, but I doubt that the first album was that bad.

Latest Bestselling CD sold out

Not everyone loves Elvis, the Beatles, Lady Gaga, or Neil Diamond – and those people are legends – but not everyone likes any of the hundreds of thousands of new, alternative, jazz or any of a staggering amount of music coming out today, either.

So, what are you or I going to do?

Stop?

Give up?

Let the critics win?

Mark Twain wrote in his autobiography –

“I believe that the trade of critic, in literature, music, and the drama, is the most degraded of all trades, and that it has no real value–certainly no large value…However, let it go. It is the will of God that we must have critics, and missionaries, and congressmen, and humorists, and we must bear the burden.” – Mark Twain

I’m with Twain, but I didn’t get to the same conclusion overnight.

All of this was a day-long process.

It took me more than a few minutes to get clarity.

After I realized that what I was given was an opportunity to clear up some limiting beliefs I had about approval, I was free to turn the event into a teaching lesson for you and me both, hence this post.

As I wrote in my book, The Attractor Factor, I pulled a TIISG: Turn It Into Something Good.

As you pursue your dreams and goals, you will probably encounter a person or two that doesn’t approve.

You have to continue forward anyway.

There will always be critics.

Their job is easy: put you or your project down.

Your job is harder but more rewarding:

Allow them their opinion, and continue towards your vision.

After all, everyone with a butt has an opinion.

And if you’re really worried about being butt dialed a bad review, just turn off your phone.

Ao Akua,

joe

"Dare Something Worthy!"

PS – If you want to see for yourself how bad my music is, go review all 15 albums I’ve created over the last 4 years at All Healing Music.

Member BBB 2003 - 2016

As I type these words, people in Paris are traumatized by the recent surprise attacks on them, and worried about family, friends, and their future well-being.

While the world is still reeling from the effects of war, many are now bracing for something that could be worse.

As I overhear all of this, I hear an underlying victim mentality.

We’re victims of storms.

We’re victims of attacks.

We’re victims of a poorly run government.

We’re victims of gas prices, gas shortages, inflation, recession, taxes, wars, and more.

I’m going to say something unusual.

It may upset some people.

I’m hoping it will inspire you.

Here goes:

You have more power than you think.

While you may not want to stand in the path of war, you don’t have to cower under the bed, either.

As odd as it may sound, I believe that if enough of us think positive, we can create a counter storm of sorts.

We can protect ourselves and our loved ones with our thoughts.

I’ve described and proved this with the research in the back of my book, The Attractor Factor.

More than nineteen studies *proved* that when a large group of people hold positive intentions, those intentions radiate out and become reality.

I asked my readers to help stop Hurricane Rita almost ten years ago.

Rita stopped.

I asked my readers to help stop the Texas wildfires several years ago.

The fires stopped.

I asked my readers to help my dying mother several years ago.

My mother is still with us.

Together, we can do something about Paris, too.

I’m not saying ignore current reality.

I’m asking you to create a better reality.

I’m saying don’t get caught up in fear.

I’m asking you to come from faith.

Look. If you think an attack will get you or a loved one, then it’s already gotten you.

You’re living in fear.

Your life is dark, gloomy and in a cage.

The media is flawless at whipping us into fear.

So I suggest ignoring the mainstream media.

It’s not information, it’s propaganda.

That’s why it’s called “programming.”

It gets large groups of people to think negative, which of course then becomes reality.

Why can’t we do the opposite?

Why can’t we get large groups of people to think positive?

Yes, be sure to travel safely and wisely.

Yes, be sure you take care of yourself and your family.

Yes, contribute to any causes you believe in that help people who need it right now.

But also check the storehouse in your mind.

Are you living in fear, or living in trust?

Are you coming from fear, or faith?

Are you focused on the negative, or are you doing something to create a positive?

We are always at choice.

My plea is that the readers of this blog — you — will stop, breathe, and focus on love; pray, or in some positive way send out an energy that will help dissolve the fear in and around us.

I’m asking you to do this today.

As I was writing this, I was reminded of the famous Paradoxical Commandments written by Dr. Kent M. Keith.

They go like this –

“People are illogical, unreasonable, and self-centered.
Love them anyway.

“If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives.
Do good anyway.

“If you are successful, you will win false friends and true enemies.
Succeed anyway.

“The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow.
Do good anyway.

“Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable.
Be honest and frank anyway.

“The biggest men and women with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest men and women with the smallest minds.
Think big anyway.

“People favor underdogs but follow only top dogs.
Fight for a few underdogs anyway.

“What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight.
Build anyway.

“People really need help but may attack you if you do help them.
Help people anyway.

“Give the world the best you have and you’ll get kicked in the teeth.
Give the world the best you have anyway.”

I know you may feel that thinking positive may be a waste of time.

Do it anyway.

I know you may feel that your efforts are insignificant.

Do it anyway.

I know you may wonder if group meditation will really work.

Do it anyway.

I know you may doubt if prayer will help.

Do it anyway.

Let’s create the positive future we want right now.

Let’s focus on spirit.

Let’s focus on love.

What I’m asking you to do is be happy, right now.

Smile.

Send that loving energy out, in the direction of Paris.

Intend for all to be well, for, in reality, from a spiritual view of life, all is well.

We can make a difference.

It begins with you.

And me.

Will you join me?

Ao Akua,

Joe

PS – Please forward this post to family and friends, share it on Facebook and Twitter, and wherever you think it will make a difference. Thank you.

Note: Some resources for you:

For information on The Paradoxical Commandments see –
http://www.paradoxicalcommandments.com/

For information on meditation stopping wars and attacks see –
http://www.worldpeacegroup.org/world_peace_through_meditation.html

For information on prayer and The Secret Prayer see –
http://www.thesecretprayer.com

Member BBB 2003 - 2016

At the risk of turning this blog into an obituary column, I have to again pay homage to another friend who just passed away.

I’m in tears as I write this.

Morty Lefkoe was the most loving man I’ve ever met.

I met him at my first TLC (Transformational Leadership Council) meeting many years ago.

We instantly connected, talking about beliefs, books, personal change and more.

Loving Morty Lefkoe

Morty had been deeply involved and influenced by est, the controversial seminar back in the 1970s.

He was friends with the founder, Werner Erhard (who was best man at Morty’s wedding), and handled the celebrity department as est grew.

He also personally studied with Ayn Rand, the author of staggering bestselling classics of literature, such as Atlas Shrugged.

Morty attended her private classes, once had a collection of her books, all signed (that today would be worth $20,000 each), and became personal friends with Rand.

He used to tell me stories about Erhard and Rand, that both fascinated and enlightened me.

I couldn’t help but think that Morty soaked up the wisdom of the giants.

Morty Lefkoe

But Morty never stopped learning or growing.

He developed his own system for change, called it the Lefkoe Method, and went on to use it to help tens of thousands of people, including me.

He wrote a book about it, too.

Morty's outstanding book

I love his book and suggest you read it.

When Morty and I would meet in person, we’d explore our thoughts about life and change, always wanting to learn from each other.

One time he asked me to write a blog post about the Law of Attraction.

He said he would write one, too.

We would then post them and then see what we each thought.

It was a great idea, and helped our readers, as well as both of us.*

Shelly and Nerissa with Morty and me

When our wives went clothes shopping, Morty and I went book shopping.

When everyone else talked about the news of the day, Morty and I talked about what really works in personal transformation.

He treated me with love and respect, and often felt like an unconditionally loving uncle, encouraging me, listening to me, and loving me.

The last time I saw him, a few months ago, he was in the hospital.

His spirits were good.

He smiled big, asked about my life and projects, and showed no signs that he was unhappy.

He wasn’t.

He talked about projects he was working on, and excited about.

He acted like he was not going to leave us.

But he did.

He passed away yesterday, on November 11, 2015.

I’ll never forget him.

He was the most loving man I ever met.

I love you, Morty.

Ao Akua,

Joe

PS – Morty’s thoughts are worth digging into on his blog at http://www.mortylefkoe.com and in his book. *You’ll find the blog he wrote on the Law of Attraction, with a link to the one I wrote about LOA, at http://www.mortylefkoe.com/joe-vitale-discuss-law/

Member BBB 2003 - 2016