The Strangest Secret by Earl Nightingale

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Cliff Ravenscraft @GSPN on August 8, 2012 at 10:01am

I read, highlighted, and took lots of notes on The Strangest Secret, via my Kindle, this morning.  I listened to the audio of it before I went to bed last night.  I am so excited to introduce this to so many people for the very first time.  Looking forward to discussions.

Here's my first discussion starter:

What Is Success?

Success is the progressive realization of a worthy ideal. If a man is working towards a predetermined goal and knows where he is going, that man is a success. If he’s not doing that, he’s a failure. Success is the progressive realization of a worthy ideal.

...

A success is anyone who is doing deliberately a predetermined job because that’s what he decided to do deliberately. But only 1 out of 20 does that.

 

I love that this definition of success does not depend on financial status but instead that you are living a life toward a definite purpose.  I especially love how Earl gave an example of a school teacher and a stay-at-home wife/mother as fitting the definition of success, if they are doing those things because that is what they WANTED TO DO.

Permalink Reply by Santos Auli on August 11, 2012 at 1:35pm

Awesome! I have been listening to Earl Nightingale since last year when I heard Dan Miller mention him. I have since acquired his audio and have listened to it over 30 times. Every time I go through it I pick up something different. 

Recently, I caught myself not being intentional about a decision that I made concerning my current employment and my pursuit to grow my business. I set 10/31/2012 as my final day at work but when I was asked the other day I hesitated to say it in a DEFINITIVE way. 

I caught myself after hearing myself saying, "well, it's not really etched in stone but I plan to leave on 10/31/2012. I realized that this was me speaking and operating out of FEAR. I spoke with my wife and we agreed that I had to DETERMINE to set the date and NOT LOOK BACK!

I remembered you and Tracy speaking on SLM about the general (it was Julius Cesar) that took his troops over seas and once he landed on the shores ordered the ships to be burned sending the message loud and clear to his troops, we either defeat our enemies or we die on these shores!

I have personally been meditating on this decision for a long time (over a year) and have discovered that I am one of those individuals that "waits for everything to be right" to make a change or decisions in life and many times I have passed over on the opportunity to be truly successful to in doing what I am purposed to do. It's kind of ironic, since I am a pastor and yet I have exercised very little faith in myself and in my Lord!

I know that this response has been long however I know it will help others to realize that they are not the only ones that are feeling this way! TRUE SUCCESS is doing that which you are PASSIONATE about! I learned that from a very wise person that I have adopted as a MENTOR (His initials are CR).

Permalink Reply by Cliff Ravenscraft @GSPN on August 11, 2012 at 2:35pm

Santos, When I read this response, I read the words of a man who is going to make it.

One day at a time... Another wise person once told me that I should take a step every day, no matter how small, that will take me closer to my goal.

Love that you and your wife are on the same page.  That means SO MUCH!

I'm humbled and honored to be considered a mentor.

Permalink Reply by Cliff Ravenscraft @GSPN on August 8, 2012 at 10:01am

The Issue of  CONFORMITY:

The opposite of courage in our society is not cowardness, it is conformity. And there you have the trouble today. It’s conformity. People acting like every one else without knowing why, without knowing where they’re going.

...

The trouble is that we’re acting like the wrong percentage group -- the 95% who don’t succeed.

Now why do these people conform? Well, they don’t know really. These people believe that their lives are shaped by circumstances, by things that happened to them, by exterior forces; they’re outer directed people.

A survey was made one time that covered a lot of men, working men, and these men were asked this question. Why do you work? Why do you get up in the morning? 19 out of 20 had no idea. If you ask them, they’ll say everyone goes to work in the morning and that’s the reason why they do it because everyone else is doing it.

You know, it was not too long ago, maybe only 6 or so years ago, that I wouldn't have been been able to give a decent answer to the question.... "Why do you get up in the morning?"

Today, I know that so much of the reason I get up in the morning has so much to do with my personal mission statement.

My mission is to dedicate my life to Entertaining, Educating, Encouraging, and Inspiring Others!  To share my passions and experiences in life in an authentic and transparent way that inspires others to make positive changes in their lives.  I want to be known as a follower of Jesus who authentically attempts to live out my faith (though I may fail miserably at times) in a way that engages popular culture without turning others off.  I want to always be prepared to give a reason for the hope that I have and to be ready to do so with gentleness and respect.

I know that I am a success because every day I am working toward the the definite purpose stated above.

So why do you get up each morning?

Permalink Reply by Santos Auli on August 11, 2012 at 1:50pm

"We all need paradigm shifts during our lives. They help us to understand the "why" of things and the necessity for change. These don't come about abruptly but on the contrary they are slow and stretched out over a period of time."

I wrote the above a month ago after listening to various podcasts (including SLM) speaking about the importance of having a Mission Statement. The following is what I am carving out so far:

I desire to bring as many people over to this "side" of living as I possibly am enabled to do so. From employees to "creators of opportunities" for themselves, their families and others! That is my "why" for wanting to step out of my comfortable existence and "security" (that is really based on fear). I have the support and belief of my wife and children and that is enough for me to take on this adventure.

I have found my "reason" for getting up every morning. As Zig Ziglar has said, "I wake up to the 'opportunity clock' (formally known as the 'alarm clock') everyday knowing that I have been gifted to do what I WANT to do and LOVE to do. 

Thanks Cliff for allowing me to share. 

Permalink Reply by Cliff Ravenscraft @GSPN on August 11, 2012 at 2:36pm

I love the idea of waking up each morning to the "opportunity clock" v/s the alarm clock.