How do you really attract success in life?
What’s the formula for having, doing, or being what you truly want?
Long term friends who’ve watched me achieve success in several areas — writing, speaking, movies, music, fitness, and more — say my formula for attracting and achieving goals is easy to spot. Basically, it looks like this:
1. Set Intention
2. Hire Coaches
3. Clear Fears
4. Take Action
5. Persist
That’s it. And that formula will work for virtually any goal you want to achieve.
Let me explain.
Currently I’m deeply involved in the production of my fourth music album. This is fairly startling news, because less than two years ago I had never written a song, or sung a tune, or played more than a few chords on the guitar, or recorded with a band, and so on. Yet today I am recording my fourth album.
In the studio with some legends of music — music producer Daniel Barrett, famous drummer Joe Vitale, bass player Glenn Fukunaga — everyone was commenting on how much my singing, guitar playing, and songwriting had improved. It wasn’t an incremental improvement. It was a leap ahead.
It was, in their words, dramatic.
And a few days later, when “Guitar Monk” Mathew Dixon came into the studio to play guitar on one of my new songs, he stopped everything to say the words you long to hear.
“I’ve been meaning to tell you something for a while now,” he began. “I was going to put it in an email. Then I was going to tell you at a dinner. But it feels like now is the time to tell you.”
He then paused and said, “I’m proud of you.”
Tears welled up in my eyes.
I wasn’t thinking about those words, but when I heard them, I knew they were the words I longed to hear.
Mathew went on to explain that he teaches lots of people, but not all do the work. He added, “You demonstrate what you teach. When you decided to become a musician, you gathered your support, you took action, and you stayed at it. Your life reveals the formula for success.”
I was pretty choked up to hear all of this. But I thought I would share it with you as the lesson is relevant. It reveals how YOU can achieve your goals.
So don’t think this formula is just for me.
For example, legendary drummer Joe Vitale told us he practices playing the drums two hours a day. Two hours! Talk about taking massive action.
Two hours every day!!!
Think about that.
Here’s a man who has been playing for over four decades. He’s a master at it. He’s the drummer rock and roll legends call — from Neil Young to Joe Walsh to Sammy Hagar to you name it.
Yet he continues to work on himself, stretch himself, stay sharp with constant action, and more.
Joe’s an inspiration to me. He knows the formula for success.
Again, the formula looks like this:
1. Set Intention
2. Hire Coaches
3. Clear Fears
4. Take Action
5. Persist
What do you want to achieve or attract?
Take each one of those steps and do them.
Here’s how it looked when I used the steps for my music:
1. Set Intention. I decided to become a musician. It all begins when you declare what you want.
2. Hire coaches. I put together a team of mentors and coaches. To excel in any area, you virtually always need a guide.
3. Clear Fears. I had fears bubble up. Self-doubt, lack of faith, negativity. I relied on my coaches and my background in self-help to erase all the fears as they arose. The more you get clear, the faster you attract.
4. Take action. I took guitar and voice lessons, I attended a songwriting seminar (with Ray Wylie Hubbard and Kevin Welch), I hired a famous singer-songwriter (Lee Coulter), I bought books, I wrote songs, I practiced every day.
5. Persist. I continued to take action, rely on my coaches, clear fears, etc.
As a direct result of using those five steps, I’m officially a musician with four — count ’em, four — albums to my credit.
What do you want to achieve?
The path is clear.
Start doing the above steps today and tomorrow you may hear the words you long to hear.
Ao Akua,
joe
PS – You can listen and even download the title track to my new album, titled “The Healing Song,” at http://www.TheHealingSong.com Grammy winner David Darling composed and played the beautiful cello music on that track. Give it a listen.
PPS – Here’s a short video of famed drummer Joe Vitale talking about my improvement (on the new album, The Healing Song) since the recording of my first singer-songwriter album (Strut!) just eight months ago:
I love the cover design on Leonard Mlodinow’s new book, Subliminal: How Your Unconscious Mind Rules Your Behavior. Depending on when the light hits the cover, you can’t see the “hidden” words, which is so, well, subliminal. I moved the book to and fro to catch some of the white words in this picture:
Of course, the cover design is a playful take on what your conscious mind can and can’t see. The book itself is far more in-depth, serious, scientific, and revealing. I started reading it on my iPad and loved it so much I bought the printed hardcover version, too. Why? I don’t know. Ask my unconscious.
According to Mlodinow, my unconscious is pulling my behavioral strings in ways my conscious can only rationalize.
No news to me. This is the whole reason “getting clear” is the cornerstone of my work these days. What you are “getting clear” of are the unconscious beliefs causing you to get the results in your life.
In other words, the results you get (or don’t get) are tied directly to your unconscious programming. You didn’t know it, though, because it was un-conscious.
Subliminal is a brilliant, up-t0-date look at your unconscious and how it plays you. Oh, it wants to protect you and help you survive, which is good, but it may be doing so in ways you wish it wouldn’t.
People who wash their hands non-stop are driven by unconscious programming. The unconscious wants them safe and clean. But consciously those people would love to not have to wash so much.
People who struggle with money may have an unconscious keeping it away from them, believing that money is evil or bad. Again, that’s the unconscious “protecting” the person. The person, however, would probably consciously really love to have more money about now.
I addressed this issue of money and beliefs in the first step in my book, Attract Money Now. Until you clear up the beliefs in your unconscious about “money evil,” or any variation of that erroneous statement, most likely nothing you do will work. You’ll never admit the problem is in your unconscious database, either. You’ll blame everyone and anything and never look in the mirror.
Yet the mirror holds the key.
If you’ve read my coauthored book, Zero Limits, then you know about programming. According to Dr. Hew Len and ho’oponopono tradition, we have programming/beliefs/data stuffed in our unconscious, and probably wired deep in there over generations.
More than once Dr. Hew Len told me we can never stop cleaning. We simply have too much in the unconscious to expect it to disappear with a click of a cosmic delete button.
He also said that if you knew how much clearing was being done when you practiced the healing phrases (“I love you, I’m sorry, Please forgive me, Thank you”), you would never stop.
Back to Mlodinow’s book.
It’s excellent. It explains some shocking facts, such as the ease in which “false memories” — events that never happened — can be implanted in you. (Remember the money you owe me?) The sad thing is, you may read this fascinating book and think “People are strange,” without ever realizing that everything the author explains applies to you.
Any book that helps illuminate how our mind works — especially our unconscious operating center — is going to take us a step closer to awakening. I don’t personally know Mlodinow and I’m not an affiliate for his book, so when I tell you I believe his book is a masterpiece and you need to go read it right now, it’s because I consciously feel it will help you.
Unconsciously, who knows?
Ao Akua,
PS — Having a miracles coach is still the best way I know to get clear of hidden limiting beliefs operating in your unconscious mind so you are free to attract what you consciously long for. Check it out by clicking right here.
PPS — And for funsies, here’s a video of a talk I gave a few years ago to a local group in my area. I’m not sure if you will enjoy this consciously or unconsciously, but I believe you will enjoy it. Here it is…
During my training to become a private pilot back in 1972, I learned something I still use today in accomplishing my goals.
When I was flying, I was taught to look at the beginning of the runway as I came in for a landing, and to look down the runway at the same time. In other words, I had to be aware of where I was as well as where I wanted to go.
When I attended car racing school a few years ago, I was taught something similar. As I drove around the track, I was urged to note where I was but to also look ahead and note where I wanted to go.
This serves me in all areas of life.
I note that I want to write this blog for you, and I notice where I want to go as I am writing. I’m here and I’m there.
Said another way, if I’m writing a book – and I have two in process right now – I am aware of how much I’ve written, and I’m aware of how much more I need to write. This moment is current reality; where I want to go is the future reality.
In the fitness contests I’ve been in, I noted where I was with before pictures, and also noted where I wanted to be with a photoshopped image of my desired end result.
This probably can be applied to everything in life.
Not in a romance?
If you only looked at now, you might miss the goal.
If you only looked at the future goal, you might miss the gift of now.
When flying, if I only looked at the start of the runway, I’d crash into it.
If I only looked at the end of the runway, I wouldn’t level off for a balanced, safe landing.
You need both.
This may be part of the reason people don’t attract what they consciously want. If they are hung up on the end result, they miss the magic of this moment, where the point of power and the leverage exists. If you just sit and visualize receiving what you want, you don’t use what is available right now.
But if you only focus on right now, without much regard or hope or planning for the future, you miss out on steering your life where you want it to go.
Again, you need both.
When you can be here and there, you can land planes safely, race cars safely, and attract what you want with acceleration.
So, where are you?
In the future?
In the moment?
Combine the two and note your new found power.
“Strangely enough, this is the past that somebody in the future is longing to go back to.” – Ashleigh Brilliant
Ao Akua,
joe
PS – Here’s an oldie but goodie lesson on how to create your own reality. Enjoy.
I have yet another amazing free gift for you.
I’ll tell you what it is in a minute, but notice how much more eager and attentive you are to read this post.
Why?
“Free” is the most powerful word in marketing. I’ve seen people scan entire sales letters unconsciously looking for the word “free” in it. I’ve seen people so eager for something free that they would read the word “fee” as “free” and misinterpret the offer.
A decade ago I offered an e-class on Hypnotic Writing. The fee was $1,500. But people fogged out over the price and misread “fee” as “free” and called to sign up. When I asked for their money, they were surprised. They truly thought it was free.
That said, I’ve been preaching the merits of giving things away for decades. I’ve always personally given away a lot, usually books, but in the last year alone I’ve given away five cars.
Yes, cars.
Giving is so important that I’ve written one book on it and coauthored another. It’s the core of my life. Obviously, I give away the posts on this blog, and my podcasts, and my videos, but I also give away items I could sell, such as my book, Attract Money Now.
As powerful as giving and the word “free” is in life, I’m a little confused that more people don’t do it. When I consult with people (usually for free), they fear giving away their product or service will cheapen their brand and ruin their business.
Even when I tell them Google gives a free service and yet is a billion dollar company, they don’t get it.
Even when I point out several books offer proof that free is a new business model, they are still reluctant.
Why?
I used to scratch my head about this until it came time for me to promote my music.
As you may or may not know, I’ve recreated myself as a musician. I have three albums out and a fourth being mixed in the studio right now. While I’ve been in marketing for decades, I’ve not had to promote music before. I found it a new breed of cat, and with three thousand new albums coming out weekly (!), the competition is staggering.
How do you stand out in the crowd?
Obviously music videos and concerts and publicity can help. I’ll have music videos up soon, and I’ll announce a public performance, too.
But what gets people to listen to your music in the first place?
I struggled with marketing my music for a few months. Oh, I did well offering it to my email list. They are fans and tend to support my passions. (I love you all.)
But how do you make a dent in the public’s mind?
One way is through videos on YouTube.
But that’s not enough. You still have to get eyeballs there.
What else can you do?
Enter the magic word FREE.
There are different ways of giving, of course.
Giving a song in exchange for an email address is one way, but that’s not really free, is it? You’re still asking for something (the email address).
Giving a lesser quality song in exchange and urging people to buy the CD with the higher quality song on it is also a version of free, but it’s manipulative. It’s still not free.
Free means no strings, or catches, or hidden barriers or steps.
Free means FREE.
So I decided to practice a more committed version of giving. I’m giving away the title track from my next album, tilted “The Healing Song.”
This is an original healing sonnet written and performed by me, with original music composed and performed by Grammy winner David Darling.
YOURS FREE: This is an original healing sonnet written and performed by me, with original music composed and performed by Grammy winner David Darling. You can listen to it — and download it for FREE — right here: Click here to get “The Healing Song” for free.
You can listen to it — and download it for free — right here: Click here to get “The Healing Song” for free.
Of course, I’m hoping you love the track and go tell all your friends.
So yes, I’m promoting my music in this post, but there’s a larger lesson here for you.
What are you giving?
In general, it goes like this:
If you want more money, give money. Give to wherever you receive inspiration.
If you want people to know about your service, give away your service. Let them sample it.
If you want more love in your life, give love away. Open the door to receiving by giving.
Get the idea?
In general, the more you give, the more you will receive.
Where will you give today?
And what will you give?
Ao Akua,
PS — My earlier healing music albums are: Strut!, Blue Healer, and Aligning to Zero. My next album, out in September, will have three Grammy winners involved and is called The Healing Song. All those sites have free samples from the albums on them. Enjoy.
I have a very important question for you…
Back in 1959, when I was five years old, my father took me on my first job. It was my introduction to being a laborer on the railroad. It taught me a lot about hard work, but little about following my life calling.
But there were signs early on that my life would have something to do with books. Still a child, there’s at least one photo of me holding a book. (Probably a volume in a set of encyclopedias.)
Decades later, around 1979, I held my first seminar. It was about improvisation and spirituality. Apparently I had an inclination that there was an undercurrent of wisdom to life, and if you trusted it, it would lead you to the fulfillment of your dreams.
I was also fascinated with the 1979 book, Impro: Improvisation and the Theatre, by Keith Johnstone. It was more about living than acting. I’ve never forgotten some of the author’s insights into human behavior, and of course his wisdom about improvisation. I still love his book.
Recently I picked up the book, Improv Wisdom by Patricia Ryan Madson. It’s a fast but deep read about not so much preparing for life as it is about showing up for life. When you trust life, life has a tendency to support you.
This philosophy has trust at the core of it. You have faith that you will be able to handle whatever life tosses at you. As long as you are present to the moment, you can trust your body-mind system to respond to what’s before you.
As Madson writes, “Some guiding force underlies each moment.”
All of this is leading up to my question for you.
One of the questions in Madson’s book really made me stop and reflect.
The question is —
“What would not get done if you were not here?”
In 1959, I went to work on the railroad because my father drove me to the job. I’m pretty sure the work would have gotten done without me. Being a trackman on the railroad was not my life calling.
Same with me in 1979, when I taught that improv and spirituality seminar. I doubt that event was a game changer for me, or a clue to my life direction, though I’m glad I did it for the experience. I did it because I was interested in the subject.
Today, with all the books I’ve written, and with two new books coming out later this year and next, I’m not sure being an author would be the answer to the question, “What would not get done without me?”
Not today, anyway. I’ve already completed that calling. I’ve already written the books.
I’ll tell you how I would answer the question in a minute.
But what about you?
Look at this question head on: How would you answer it?
Here it is again:
“What would not get done if you were not here?”
You aren’t allowed to cop out and say, “I’m not needed.” That’s self-deception. You are needed. Even if you want to sit and argue about it, pretend you’re needed. If you did, what would you feel essential for you to get done, as without you, it may not?
While you’re thinking about your answer, let me share my own answer with you.
As I mentioned, I have two new books coming out. I also have a new music album being recorded in two weeks. I’m starting a national media campaign in June. I’m in another movie being released this year. Of course, I also have new audios being created, an advanced wealth trigger training in the works, new e-books, my Miracles Coaching program to run, and much more.
As usual, I’m busy with projects. But I don’t know if they would not get done without me. In other words, I think others might finish my work (or their version of it) if I didn’t. I don’t know that more books or albums or movies or travel answers the question, “What would not get done without me?”
So what is the answer?
I reflected on this question on recent flights to see my family. Nothing like being confined to an airplane to force me to meditate. Nothing like seeing your aging parents to make you decide what’s important in your limited life span.
The clear answer for me is this: I need to complete my movement to end homeslessness and stop foreclosures.
Called Operation YES, I’ve been spending time, energy and money (tens of thousands of dollars) on making it a reality for several years now. As some of the people helping me have mentioned, we’ve never worked so hard for so little in return.
Still, this is important. While there are groups and individuals doing much to help the homeless and those struggling, I don’t see anyone doing what I feel is necessary: reveal a 3-step way to stop foreclosures — and do it in one day.
With that in mind, I have committed my resources to make this happen. As it stands, we will do the event in Austin, Texas next April. I wanted to do it sooner, but with the presidential election diverting attention this year, I’ve been advised against it.
Again, all of this is what I would do. I’m just sharing it to stir up your mind. What matters is you, not me.
You don’t need to transform society (unless that’s calling you), but you do have something to do here. You have work to do.
“Your work is to discover your work and then, with all your heart, to give yourself to it.” – Buddha
How would you respond to —
“What would not get done if you were not here?”
Whatever your answer, go do it.
Ao Akua,
joe
PS — If you are struggling with finances and wish Operation YES could help you today, remember that there are numerous resources to help you right now. Begin with reading my book, Attract Money Now, still free online. Just click on this box below —