Having never heard of any such ‘law’ or ‘blueprint’, I was extremely curious to know what the 4 levels of thinking & experience were and how they would be relevant to me and my business. As the two of them spoke about the levels, I started to get a much clearer picture as to why many businesses flounder, whilst other businesses prosper and expand. In fact I started to appreciate how many people appear to always be achieving extraordinary things, whilst others seem to be continuously on a treadmill, running very fast but not really making any progress, and in some cases, going backwards – whether it be in their career, their business, their health & vitality, and certainly in their relationships.  I wanted to know why.

They shared that Level 1 thinking is doing what feels good, is good for you, is good for others and is good for the greater good – when I heard that I thought “it has to be more complicated than that – it can’t be that simple!”. But then my mentors shared that the quality of your life is actually determined by the number of Level 1 experiences you are able to introduce into your  life, and the more of these experiences you have, the better your  life will be. At this level you are 100% responsible for everything that happens in your life and your business, you live with gratitude, and operate in a comfort zone that serves you, your family and your business. I then asked my mentors “what would classify as Level 1 experiences?” They responded by saying anything that is now comfortable to do, such as speaking with clients, riding a bicycle, driving a car, providing outstanding customer service to your customers, or even working out in the gym. They then said that there is only one way to collect Level 1 experiences, and that is to have a Level 2 experience first. So what is Level 2?

Level 2 thinking is doing what does not feel good, is good for you, is good for others and is good for the greater good. Then they threw a spanner in the works by saying that most people bounce between Level 3 and Level 1 – Level 3 being doing what feels good, is not good for you, is not good for others and is not good for the greater good. I was intrigued to know why – they said that many people make decisions in their life and in their business based on feeling good, not based on what is good for them and for others. For example, for someone who is in the early stages of building their business, they may be gathering all the information they can on the market, the products to offer that market, building their website or designing their business cards and stationery, but not actually speaking to their prospects or their target market. Whilst they may ‘feel good’ about designing their business cards for example, this is not good for them, not good for others, and certainly not good for the greater good if the market doesn’t know they exist!! Classic Level 3 thinking. These are the type of people who are getting the ‘ducks lined up’ before they take any action. Have you ever seen ducks line up? I recall not so long ago watching a mother duck and her brood of ducklings wanting to cross a local road – what was fascinating was that the mother duck took action first and headed across the road. What did the ducklings then do? They lined up and followed her!! They didn’t line up first and then wait for the mother to take action – she took action first and then they followed.  So don’t wait for the ‘ducks to line up’ before you take action– take action first. Avoid  Level 3 Thinking & Experiences as much as possible, as well as always avoiding Level 4 – doing things that does not feel good, is not good for you, is not good for others, and is not good for the greater good. Level 4 is to be avoided at all costs.

My mentors then shared with us that Level 2 Thinking & Experience is where the game is played, this is where it is at. By constantly challenging yourself to embrace and do things that do not feel good, but are good for you, good for others and good for the greater good, you will find that Level 2 Experiences will actually turn into Level 1 Experiences – your comfort zone will expand, as will your capability set, not to mention your confidence, and your results!! So what Level 2 experiences can you adopt straight away? Perhaps it is making those phone calls to business prospects you have been avoiding, or perhaps it is standing in front of an audience at a business networking event and delivering a short 60 second advertisement for your business. It could be introducing yourself to someone who you know could assist you penetrate a new market but you have been avoiding them because of fear of being rejected – take on the challenge, step out of your comfort zone and put yourself out there. Embrace Level 2 Thinking and seek out as many Level 2 Experiences as you can on a weekly basis – you may just be staggered at the results you start to see materialise in your business and in your life. And this is what really shook me to the core when listening to my 2 mentors – they are 100% convinced that their success in business is directly and inexplicably linked to their ability to take on Level 2 Thinking & Experiences every single day, which has enabled them to build up a large range of Level 1 Experiences, and build extraordinary businesses and live an extraordinary life.

For more information on the 4 Levels of Thinking & Experience, and how you may seek out more Level 2 Experiences, drop me an email at darren@potentialunleashed.com.au

To your success.

“As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he”. Is it really true that what we think about, we become? Do thoughts really become things? To be brutally honest, I really don’t know. However, the research suggests that philosophers the world over agree on one overriding principle – we do become what we think about.

If this is the case, then I have realised just how critical it is to control my thinking. I am now starting to better understand that my level of thinking controls my moods, it controls what I say, it controls my actions, and ultimately it controls my character and destiny. Everything begins with a thought, whether it is positive and resourceful, or negative and unresourceful. Think about it – have you ever woken up first thing on a Monday morning knowing that you need to go to work and thought “if only I could just stay in bed – I don’t want to go to work, struggle through the traffic, hold that Monday morning meeting that is really boring”. When you think like that, how is your physiology? Do you find yourself filled with unlimited amounts of positive and empowering energy, or do you feel lethargic, uninspired and downright pessimistic?  What would happen if, when we first woke up on a Monday morning, the first thought we had was “wow what a magnificent day, I cannot wait to get into it, make a positive difference in someone’s life, make a contribution to a great cause, complete that project that I had been putting off”.  How would your physiology be then? I guarantee you would feel energised, optimistic and powerful.

Well the reality is is that we can control our thinking – it is our choice. And this leads to an extremely important point – we must always be on guard in relation to our thinking. As humans, we are an incredible machine, we have the ability to control our thoughts (unlike animals), and these thoughts can become words, which can become actions, which can become habits, which can become our character, which ultimately becomes our destiny.

So are you currently living the life of your dreams? Are you surrounded by people who inspire, uplift, empower and positively challenge you? If not, take a few moments to really ask yourself this question: “Am I controlling the thoughts that are in my head, or am I letting everything and anything penetrate my mind?” If you don’t like the answer to that question, let us help you develop some key strategies to wrestle back the control of your thinking, so that you can get back on course and moving towards the positive, exciting and empowering future that you deserve.

Always guard your thoughts!

Or are you no closer to your dreams than you were 12 months ago?  Consider what is standing in your way of your fulfilment and satisfaction.

Last month we spoke about the 4 levels of Thinking & Experience, and that the quality of your life is determined by the number of Level 1 experiences you can have – and that the only way to gather up Level 1 Experiences is to embrace and take on Level 2 Experiences. That is, doing things that don’t feel good, but are good for you, are good for others, and are good for the greater good. So as you reflect on the year 2013, how many Level 2 experiences have you managed clock up? If you are like 80% of the global population, it would not be many at all. But that is okay, because you now have the opportunity to change that as we head into 2014.

Before we start thinking about 2014, let’s look at the year that has been – 2013. What were the highlights for you in 2013 that has made this year the most extraordinary year? What has happened with your health, your wealth, your career, your business, your family and your relationships that has made this year your best year yet? Have you achieved something this year that you never thought possible? Have you managed to take your most intimate relationship to an entirely new level that you never knew existed?  Did you take that overseas holiday that you had been dreaming of and planning for a number of years? Whatever it is, now is a perfect time to sit back and reflect on what you have achieved this year. In fact it reminds me of a beautiful quote made by be immortal Dr Seuss –

“Oh the things you can find if you don’t stay behind! In the places I go there are things that I see that I never could spell if I stopped with the Z. I’m telling you this ‘cause you’re one of my friends. My alphabet starts where your alphabet ends! So, beyond Z! It’s high time you were shown that you really don’t know all there is to be known”

As we start thinking about 2014, it is important to recap that success leaves clues. In fact there are 5 key principles to success:

1. Know your outcome – what is it that you aiming for?
2. Take action – actually it is take ‘massive’ action
3. Have sensory acuity – are you on track?
4. Have behavioural flexibility – if something is not working, be flexible to alter it to suit
5. Always operate from a physiology and psychology of excellence – a mindset of excellence

All successful people, either consciously or unconsciously operate according to the above 5 success principles. They are also experts in what I call the “Be/Do/Have” model or as some people call the “Start/Maintain/Finish” model. The people who achieve their dreams are experts in not only starting something; they are also experts in Maintaining – doing what is required in order to deliver a positive and outstanding result. And they are certainly experts in Finishing, closing off the deals that need to be done, completing the projects that deliver a successful outcome, or finishing off those relationships which will not deliver a positive outcome.

So in order to start planning for 2014, it is time to look back on some of the ecstatic moments of 2013 – What activity were you doing? Who were you with? What emotions were present? What actions did you take to make it happen? What did you learn? And importantly, what did you let go of? This is a really important point, because again, in the words of Dr Seuss : “Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind” Take some time to reflect and write down some of the things that you achieved  this year that you are really proud of. And acknowledge yourself  for achieving these.

Now it is time to start planning for 2014, and making 2014 Your Best Year Yet! In order for 2014 to be your best year yet, there are a number of areas that need to be considered as part of your plan, including:

• Health
• Personal Relationship
• Family
• Friends
• Business
• Financial
• Hobb ies
• Toys
• Travel

Take a blank piece of paper out and start writing your goals out for each of the 9 areas above, starting as follows:

“It is December 31^st, 2014 and I have had the BEST Year of My Life. Here’s what happened…..”

And start describing everything you have managed to achieve during 2014, exactly as you want it. You may wish to use the following as starting points:

• I have…..
• I am……
• I feel….
• I have shown…..
• I have learned……
• I have experienced…….

The next key to achieving your best year yet is to break the year up into 90 day chunks. For a number of people it is difficult to focus on a goal that may take 12 months to achieve – by breaking it down into 90 day chunks it is something you can focus on and control in the short term. Remember this; you are only 90 days away from completely changing your entire world!

The final key on ensuring that 2014 is Your Best Year Yet is the Action Steps, briefly mentioned above under “Start/Maintain/Finish”:

Start – What do you need to start doing right now in order to create your ideal year? What books, CD’s, DVD’s, Programs, Courses etc do you need to start? What do you need to start eating as part of a healthy diet? What level of exercise do you need to start? What marketing for your business do you need to start doing? Who do you need to engage with? What relationships do you need to increase your investment and focus in?

Maintain – What relationships do you need to maintain and continue to grow? What conversations and activities do you need to maintain with family? What health strategy do you need to maintain? What routines do you need to maintain? What business activities do you need to have in place? And what business systems need to be in place?

Finish – What areas of your life do you need to stop? For example, in the home – in the kitchen, clean out food that hasn’t been used, bring out the good plates and cutlery that you normally only use for ‘special occasions’, in the bathroom clean out old soaps and sponges, in the bedroom, clean out the wardrobe of clothes that you haven’t worn for over 12 months, if you have jewellery that you haven’t worn for over 12 months, give it away or wear it! In your office, clean out everything from your ‘old identity’ and create new files for 2014 for your business.

If you follow the advice in this article, you will be sitting down on December 31, 2014, looking back on the year and reflecting on the most extraordinary year – your best year yet.

As you start to plan your 2014 – Your Best Year Yet, I would like to leave you with another beautiful quote from Dr Seuss:

“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You’re on your own, and you know what you know. And YOU are the one who’ll decide where you go”.

Here is to making 2014 your best year yet!!

To your success

Darren