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The sages of the Talmud asked, "Who is a mighty person?" and answered, "He who can control his inclinations or character traits." And what a profound saying that is.
Whether it's trying to lose a few (or many) pounds, accomplish a long-held goal or build your business, success or failure almost always hinges on how well we overcome ourselves. Most of the time we rationalize away our failure. Of course, the word rationalize is really two words - rational lies. And the biggest rational lie we generally tell ourselves is that our failure was due to some person, event or circumstance outside of ourselves. And almost always, the Truth is the failure was due to a fault on the inside.
Each of us develop over time a set of traits which make up our character. Some of these traits make us more effective in life (and in different areas) while others cause us grief and misery. The good news is that as human beings we have a choice. We can work on ourselves in order to master these inclinations, thus make us more effective in all aspects of life.
Over 200 years ago, an American sage by the name of Benjamin Franklin changed his life by devising a method in which he could transform some of his weakest character traits into some of his strongest ones.
Here's how it began for Dr. Franklin. The following is in his own words, from his book, Benjamin Franklin: The Autobiography.
"It was about this time I conceived the bold and arduous project of arriving at moral perfection. I wished to live without committing any fault at any time; I would conquer all that either natural inclination, custom, or company might lead me into."
"While my attention was taken up and care employed in guarding against one fault, I was often surprised by another. Habit took the advantage of inattention. Inclination was sometimes too strong for reason. I concluded at length that the mere speculative conviction that it was our interest to be completely virtuous was not sufficient to prevent our slipping, and that the contrary habits must be broken and good ones acquired and established, before we can have any dependence on a steady, uniform rectitude of conduct. For this purpose I therefore contrived the following method."
So, what was it in his quest for moral perfection that Dr. Franklin quickly discovered? Basically, that it wasn't all that easy to simply make a decision and have the results happen just because you want them to. As human beings we get used to doing things in a certain way. Those ways - those traits - become habit-forming. And, once they become a habit, whether positive or negative, they become very difficult to break. Perhaps impossible to break without a method or system.
Dr. Franklin apparently thought he could, through superior will-power, simply get rid of bad habits or character traits, and take on good ones instead. He found, however, that it didn't quite work that way. And most of us have discovered that same thing at one time or another.
Of course, being the brilliant man and inventor he was, he invented a system that would enable him, and many others after him, to actually break those bad habits and negative character traits, and turn them into positive, life-enhancing ones.
Five years ago best-selling author Bob Burg (Endless Referrals, Winning Without Intimidation) studied and then followed Dr. Franklin's system and experienced the same transformation in his life that Franklin had three centuries earlier.
Among the benefits you'll receive are the ability to...
- Master any characteristic in your life you choose
- Transform your life and yourself into a disciplined, success machine
- Greatly increase your earning potential
- Dramatically improve your personal relationships
- Pass along life-enhancing information to your children
- Become a much more effective leader
Using the proven system perfected by Franklin and adapted for the 21st Century by Bob, you'll see amazing improvement in all areas of your life by focusing on the specific traits that Franklin identified. Even a small improvement in these areas will bring a dramatic increase in success for most people. Here are the 13 Traits you'll learn to master:
Trait #1 Appreciation (Or Gratitude) - Notice the blessing in everything, big and small. Dwell on the beauty in all I see, hear, touch, taste and smell. Realize that everything is a gift from the Almighty and is put there in order to enjoy and learn from.
Trait #2 Positive Speech - Judge the value of my words before I speak. Speak only what may benefit others and myself. Avoid evil speech/gossip.
Trait #3 Tranquility, Peace, Patience - Interpret everything quietly without undue confusion, excitement, or anger. Be not disturbed at trifles or at accidents common or unavoidable. Whatever is happening in life, be patient. Determine the lesson to be learned in every challenge in order to become elevated. Control anger.
Trait #4 Righteousness - Do unto others as you'd have done unto you, and as they desire to be done unto. Wrong none by doing injuries. Be just by accepting my duties and responsibilities.
Trait #5 Gentleness - The words of the wise are spoken softly and peacefully.
Trait #6 Respect/Honor Others - Be extremely careful with the honor and feelings of others. Strive always to make the other person feel good about himself/herself.
Trait #7 Physical Health - Exercise daily and eat with health and moderation.
Trait #8 Quickness - Do all I need (or have) to do without wasting time (procrastination) and with maximum productivity per moment. Cut off all unnecessary actions. Focus.
Trait #9 Resolution - Resolve to perform what I ought/have chosen to perform, without fail. Act with consistency, as well as persistency. Be diligent.
Trait #10 Order/Cleanliness - Keep all living and working environments both clean and in order. Be organized. Clean, file, straighten up as soon as necessary and right away. A place for everything and everything in its place.
Trait #11 Thrift/Frugality - Use money wisely and for the benefit of all (to do good for others and myself) and with no waste.
Trait #12 Truthfulness - Be truthful in all that I say (based on motivation/intent).
Trait #13 Humility - Understand that I have great ability, but that that ability is a gift from the Ultimate Source of all. Recognize my own weak points in order to improve upon them, but do not dwell on the faults of others. Be a servant-leader.
But even more importantly, once you've learned this method of personal mastery, you'll be able to use it to change any trait or habit you desire. This is a dynamic "hands-on" program that not only teaches you why -- it teaches you How!
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