Dread Making Mistakes And Failing? Ruchira Agrawal Talks to Alina Tugend, NY Times Journalist And Author Of Better By Mistake

Posted on April 11, 2012 by Ruchira Agrawal

If there is one thing that holds so many people back from attempting new things, embracing their full potential as well as living their lives fully is the fact that they fear making mistakes. Whether it is a wrong decision or an ill-timed step, we dread making an error and failing because of how it would make us look or the outcome it would produce. We try to play it safe as much as possible and resist anything that will involve risks. Deep down though, we know that if we want to grow, advance and succeed at anything, there are no short cuts, no way we can avoid risks. What we can do though is to change how we view mistakes and failures, so they stop having so much power over our actions.

When I came across Alina Tugend’s book – “Better by Mistake: The Unexpected Benefits of Being Wrong”, I knew I had to speak with her and share her brilliant work with you. I know many can benefit from her work and I am so honored that she decided to pay us a visit here at The Wise Leap. I am very appreciative of her time and grateful that our paths crossed.

Alina Tugend is a talented Journalist, Poet, Public Speaker and a Writer. She has also written for other newspapers, such as the Los Angeles Times,The Boston Globe, the San Francisco Chronicle and numerous magazines including National Journal, Government Executive,Parents,More, Child, the Columbia Journalism Review and the American Journalism Review. Tugend was a featured writer for The New York Times Practical Guide to Practically Everything — the Essential Companion for Everyday Life. In March 2011, Tugend published her first book, Better by Mistake: The Unexpected Benefits of Being Wrong.

1. Welcome to The Wise Leap Alina, please introduce yourself and your work to our audience?
AT : Hi there. I’ve been a journalist for the past 30 years, covering everything from environment to education to legal issues. For the past seven years I’ve written the biweekly ShortCuts column for the New York Times. I’m also the parenting columnist for Worth magazine.

2. You wrote a fascinating book called – “Better by Mistake: The Unexpected Benefits of Being Wrong”, what inspired you to write this book and would you please share a little bit about it?

AT : Thank you! I wrote the book after making a mistake in one of the columns I write for the New York Times. It was a small mistake, but I had to run a public correction. I was angry with myself, and it started me wondering – why when we’re young we’re taught we learn by making mistakes, but as we get older, we hate and dread them.
So I interviewed some researchers about mistakes and wrote another column about that. It really resonated with readers, and eventually grew into my book, which looks at many aspects of mistakes: how as parents and teachers we teach children to either avoid or accept mistakes; what we can learn from those in high-risk fields like aviation and medicine about handling errors; what businesses know and don’t know about mistake-acceptance; how gender and culture affect our views on mistakes; and what constitutes a really good apology – and what doesn’t.

3. While researching the book, what were your findings with regards to the reasons why people are afraid of making mistakes?

AT : People are afraid to make mistakes when they think they make them look dumb. And too often in our society we associate mistakes with being wrong. Let me briefly refer to research by Carol Dweck, a professor of psychology at Stanford University, who has done some fascinating work in the area of mistakes. Professor Dweck says when people have a fixed mindset – that is when people think they are either good at something, whether it be baseball or math or art – or not, then they believe mistakes serve no purpose. But, those with what Professor Dweck calls a growth mindset believe that we can constantly develop our potential in any area. Then mistakes serve a critical function, because it’s how we learn. I’m not saying we all have the same abilities and talent, but too often we sell ourselves short, assuming we can’t possibly develop and learn in areas we really can. But we have to be willing to take risks, to move out of our comfort zone – to mess up and try again and mess up again.

4. Mistakes and Success often don’t go hand in hand or so we’ve been taught. I find companies have this unsaid often unrealistic expectation almost where there is no room for making errors in workplace, in other words they require 100% perfection, what do you have to say about it? How should employers and employees approach making a mistake?

AT : Good question. You’re right, too often there is this “zero tolerance” for mistakes, which is unrealistic and causes morale to suffer. Mistakes and success, in fact do go hand-in-hand. As I said before, to be creative and to learn new skills and tasks, people have to be allowed to make mistakes. Too often employers either tell employees they can’t make mistakes, or they send a mixed message that it’s okay to blunder, but then punish those who do. Now, I’m not advocating that people be allowed to make the same mistake over and over, or get off scott-free if they are continuously screwing up, but if people are terrified of being humiliated – or fired – if they ever err, they will never take risks. They won’t try creative new approaches. And research has shown us that when workers are not just allowed but encouraged to make mistakes when learning something new, they not only learn faster, but more deeply.

5. In your book/article you say “We grow up with a mixed message: Making mistakes is a necessary learning tool, but we should avoid them.” Would you please share with us how this happens and impacts our adult life?

AT: Yes. A friend of mine loves to tell the story of picking up her son from kindergarten and asking what he learned that day. “Nothing,” he said. “Nothing?” she asked, surprised. “No, because my teacher said we learn by making mistakes and I didn’t make any today.” I think that’s a great anecdote. This little boy took to heart that we have to make mistakes to develop and grow. But as we get older, unfortunately what start to matter more and more are results rather than the process. That means we care more about grades and test scores, for example, then the actual process of learning. We want to get A’s, and that can be more important than really understanding the material. One definition of “to err” is “to wander or stray” and often in life that’s what we need to do. But if we are terrified of making mistakes, we will do everything to avoid them. People who are highly perfectionist, experiments have shown, can be worse at writing than those lower in perfectionism. Why? Because highly perfectionist people don’t practice because they hate making mistakes, and they fear negative feedback, so they don’t learn to improve. Avoiding mistakes that help us learn and grow means, well, that we don’t learn and grow. And that’s a shame.

6. Would you please share what are the unexpected benefits of being wrong?

AT: Teflon, penicillin — these are examples of great discoveries made by mistake. As Albert Einstein, who said, “Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new.”
Experiments with schoolchildren who did well on a given test show that those who were praised for being smart and then offered a more challenging or less challenging task afterward usually chose the easier one. On the other hand, children praised for trying hard — rather than being smart — far more often selected the more difficult task.
Also If we’re only concerned about getting the right answer, we don’t always learn the underlying concepts that help us truly understand whatever we’re trying to figure out. Mistakes need to be seen not as a failure to learn, but as a guide to what still needs to be learned. To quote another brilliant man, Thomas Edison: “I am not discouraged, because every wrong attempt discarded is another step forward.”

Mistakes can also help us change deeply embedded norms. It was discovered in aviation, for example, that accidents sometimes occurred because junior pilots were afraid to correct more senior pilots when they mishandled problems; the same is true in fields such as medicine. By examining why those accidents happened, experts figured out ways to develop more flexible hierarchies, which creates better work environments overall.

7. Can a person be successful and make mistakes at the same time?
AT: Absolutely. Look at some of the most successful people in the world. I quoted Einstein and Edison above, who made lots of mistakes. A more recent example is Steve Jobs, who made plenty of mistakes, but is considered one of the greatest inventors of our time. Bill Gates Is another incredibly successful person who constantly talks about how people have to make mistakes into order to really succeed.

8. How should a person view being wrong and making errors?
AT: We should view mistakes, first of all, as inevitable. We can, and should, strive for excellence, but if we aim for perfectionism, we will always fall short. I’m not saying we should love mistakes – I’m still not thrilled when I screw up in some way – but I’ve learned to be kinder to myself about it. I also know that if I never take any risks or try anything new, I’ll make fewer mistakes, but lead a much duller life. The goal is not to be perfect, but to know how to fail, err, come back, work harder, fall down, and get up again. It’s called resilience and everyone, from child-development experts to employers, know that it’s probably the single most important difference between those who accomplish their goals and those who don’t. So think about how resilient you are, not how perfect.

9. And finally where can people purchase your book and contact you?
AT: It is available, now in paperback, everywhere – independent bookstores, Amazon, Barnes & Noble. You can read about my book and many of my articles at www.alinatugend.com

Posted in I Achieve Goals Effortlessly, I Am Continually Evolving, I Am Successful All Around, Interview with Experts | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

6 Ways To Become More Self-Confident

Posted on March 23, 2012 by Ruchira Agrawal

If you hear a voice within you say “you cannot paint,” then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced. ~Vincent Van Gogh

Question – What sabotages human potential more than any other factor?

Self doubt, indeed. Self-confidence is one of the most difficult, yet attainable characteristics among people today. Many people feel that they will never have what it takes to have the self-confidence that they desire. They often look to others with solid self-confidence with admiration, sometimes even with envy. But it doesn’t have to be this way. Everyone has an equal chance at being self-confident and stepping into their true potential. The big question you must ask yourself is – Are you willing to be at the top of your game?

Wikipedia describes Self-confidence ‘as having confidence in oneself. Confidence can be a self-fulfilling prophecy as those without it may fail or not try because they lack it and those with it may succeed because they have it rather than because of an innate ability.’ Yes, self-confidence has that power. Whether you are an entrepreneur, leading your organization or an employee working for somebody else managing a team, self-confidence is must for anyone that is looking to succeed in business as well as in life. Without it, you won’t believe in yourself and your abilities and neither will anybody else.

Here are 6 ways you can train yourself and build your confidence reservoir –
1.Celebrate your successes, even the small ones – Sometimes, it’s easy to get caught up in the daily grind and what needs to be taken care off, that we may not get a chance to connect with our deeper selves. Take the time to disconnect from your routine and reflect. Make a note of all your past accomplishments, even the small ones – did you get an A in your assignment? Did someone thank you for something you did for them without thinking too much? Boost your confidence by connecting with your successes.

2.Surround yourself with encouragers – Consciously make an effort to build a network of friends, peers and colleagues that are positive and uplifting. Enthusiastic people with a good attitude are invaluable; they can give you ideas, genuine encouragement and even a pat on your back when deserved. Stay away from those that find it hard to give, constantly complain and stay in the victim mode.

3.Manage fear – Fear is part of everyone’s psyche’, even the most successful people can get fearful but they don’t allow that to hold them back. They have learnt how to conquer their dread, mostly because they realize that fear is not always reality based. When you find fear standing in the way of you being more confident, the best way to deal with it is to have a conversation with yourself and really ask if what you’re feeling is real. Face with your fears head on, so you can reduce the hold that it may have on you.

4.Use your failures as fuel to build your confidence – Sometimes we fail despite being prepared well and it is easy to feel down and allow the experience to affect our confidence in a negative way. While it is natural to feel disheartened but staying in that space and allowing that to chip away on your self-worth and confidence isn’t really that helpful. What will help is if you used the setback to analyze what you could have done better and apply the knowledge and pain to propel you forward. Failing isn’t the end of the world; they are the opportunity to learn. Allow them to act as fuel to build your confidence reservoir.

5.Seek validation from people you admire – While validation is always pleasant to hear but when they come from someone you admire and respect, it holds that extra meaning. If in your life or work you have people that you respect, build relationships with them and give them the opportunity to validate your progress in life and in work.

6.Trust your Intuition – Sometimes even when you have everything prepared, you don’t feel confident to move forward. In times like these, you can get an additional boost of confidence by relying on your intuition. We all know gut decisions usually turn out to be accurate, even when logical ones fail. Connect with your Intuition and use it in your daily work and personal life.

How have you faced the fears and built your confidence? Feel free to share your personal steps or strategies.

Posted in I Achieve Goals Effortlessly, I Am Completely Confident, I Am Continually Evolving, I Am Fearless In Work & Life | Leave a comment

5 Minutes To Unlock Your Motivation: Ruchira Agrawal interviews Dr. Eric Kaplan, #1Best Selling Author of 5 Minute Motivator

Posted on March 16, 2012 by Ruchira Agrawal


Working closely with people in the personal development field, I have discovered that motivation is like a pill that needs to be taken everyday if one desires to scale greater heights in their personal and professional life. It’s impossible to play from a highly motivated space all the time and this is true even for the naturally self-motivated individuals.

So what is one to do if they desire more in life but just can’t seem to find the motivation to go after what they want?

This is a common challenge that many face and so we decided to invite Dr. Eric Kaplan who has recently written a book 5 Minute Motivator to our blog. I have personally read his work and thought the wisdom he shares is a precious prescription for anyone that wants to have more success and happiness in thier life. What you sow in your mind is what you reap in your life - that is what I believe personally and Dr. Kaplan shows us how we can use the power of our mind to stay motivated.

I am very honored to have him here and extremely appreciative of his time.

1. Welcome to The Wise Leap Dr Kaplan, would you please share a little bit about yourself and your work with our audience?

Dr. Kaplan - Doctor, Speaker, Best Selling Author, Business Consultant.

#1 Best-selling author, Dr. Eric Kaplan, recently featured on the Dr. Oz show, Good Morning America, Primetime Live, Montel Williams, as well as CNBC, ABC, NBC, and Fox, has been working to change the world — 5 MINUTES at a time.

Born from humble means, he went from the streets of Jersey City, NJ, to President and COO on Wall Street and acquiring and running Nutrisystem, the famous weight loss company. Learn why business leaders like Donald Trump, who sits a top Dr. Kaplan’s first book, Lifestyles of The Fit & Famous, has utilized Dr. Kaplan as a speaker and physician, embrace his life-changing philosophies.

Dr. Kaplan began as a chiropractor owning and operating six clinics. After selling his clinics he went on to Wall Street and became the founder and President of Clinicorp Medical Centers, Medical Diagnostic Imaging. His entrepreneurial skill, combined with excellent leadership and communication skills led him to become the President, COO & board Member of Complete Wellness Centers, NASDAQ traded. Dr. Kaplan guided the company from losing 1 million dollars per month to profitability which it remained during his entire tenure. One of the ways he did this was with the merger, acquisition of 50% of Nutrisystem and 100% of all their company owned stores.

After leaving Wall Street Doctor Kaplan has remained a internationally recognized business consultant, pioneering the likes of LPG, Inc from France and Italy and AST from the United Kingdom and Wall street to implementation in the United States. He later went on to become founder and President of Discforce Inc, one of the nations leading companies in the non invasive way of treating herniated discs. He is currently CEO of Concierge Coaches a nationally recognized consulting company.

As a speaker Dr. Kaplan has spoken for the likes of Trump, as well as for Presidents of companies like Coca Cola, Pepsi Cola, McDonalds, Burger King, Wendy’s, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Land-O-Lakes, Pillsbury, Keebler, Frito Lay, and Radisson, just to name a few.

Now, in his new book, The 5 Minute Motivator, let Dr. Kaplan show you the empirical formula to success, health, and happiness. Imagine how 5 Minutes a day can change your life. Learn the secrets to life, success, and happiness outlined in this book.

2. You have recently written a book called 5 Minute Motivator, what inspired you to write this book?

Dr. Kaplan - Every one wants to be healthy successful, happy, but there is no course for this. I wanted to give my readers their PH.D, in success. When the GREATEST and most SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE were asked what the single most important secret to their success was, they all answered-unanimously–that it was personal growth. The larger you grow, the smaller your problems and obstacle become. In time, with the help of book like the “5 Minute Motivator” you will soon outgrow all of your former problems and achieve success you never thought was possible before. You don’t reach great heights by making more money–you make more money by reaching great heights through personal growth.

3. Life is Difficult, that is what people often say about their personal and professional life; what are your thoughts about it?

Dr. Kaplan - M. Scott Peck, MD sold over five million copies of his book, The Road Less Traveled. What I remember most from reading this book are the first three words: Life is difficult. Is that a positive or negative thought, or is it just a fact? We must all recognize that success does not follow the path of least resistance, that words can be substituted for other words, and that words do not have to control our mindset. It’s the thoughts we create, the visions we apply while reading these words that define our lives and put up obstacles to that success.

Life is difficult if you don’t have a map, my goal was to show the reader the ay, the road to success. However the road to success is always under construction” Meaning never give up, never give in. You don’t fight back from certain death to 100% full recover with having great reserves of inner strength. I teach the reader how to access these reserves.

In 5 minutes, or 300 seconds, you can control your mind and your life by accepting your circumstances and by changing your attitude.

4. I enjoyed reading the concept of taking just 5 minutes every day to create something a person wants in their life, to some this may sound too easy, would you please share why and how that is all the time one needs?

Dr. Kaplan - Imagine if you were given an inheritance of $86,400 a day, every day you woke up there was $86,400 deposited in your checkbook. The catch though, is what you don”t spend you cant keep. So would you spend you money, on what? To make yourself happy.

IN life every day we wake up we wake up with the inheritance of 86,400 seconds, every day. we get, lets invest this time, cherish this time, this gift to our happiness.

Well in life we all get what we put into it, don’t waste your inheritance of 86,400 seconds invest them wisely.

5. In your book, you share the 7Cs to Success, would you please share with us what they are?

Dr. Kaplan -
1. Confidence

2. Clarity

3. character

4. Caring

5. Choice

6. consistency

7. Courage

We should all work to possess these qualities. If you’re not happy, spend “5 minutes” a day studying the secrets to happiness. Anyone can learn how to be happy, even without being anywhere near the achievement of your goals. Winning and achieving your goals takes time, the fact you are working on your goals puts you in control of your future.

It’s important to stay and become positive and happy if you want to change any aspect of your life.

Without changing your state of mind, you will not be able to move from where you are now to where you want to be.

It’s impossible to find happiness outside of yourself and it’s better to not even attempt to do that—happiness is an inside job.

If you try to find happiness in something other than yourself, you’ll be disappointed because you will realize that nothing or no one else can give happiness to you.

Yes, there are times you may temporarily become happy by using some external excuse, like shopping or finding a new partner, for example. But such happiness is always temporary. You can’t buy happiness; you must cultivate it to control it.

The only way to find true happiness that lasts forever is by searching for it inside yourself, by being honest with yourself. What you focus on daily brings out those features in yourself and others. The key is to pay attention only to things that make you happy or that are pleasant to your senses; you’ll eventually bring out those features in you.

This way you will start attracting other positive things and events into your life because they will resonate with who you have become. The proof of your absolute control of your happiness will make you confident and relaxed. That’s how the true happiness will come into your reality and stay there.

6. We all want to lead happy lives, would you please share some of the 5 minute tips with the readers?

Dr. Kaplan - 10 Ways to Have a Great Day Today

1. Wake up 30 Minutes Earlier Than normal.
Get up 30 minutes before the alarm goes off and take the first half hour for yourself. Exercise, meditate, say your affirmations hug your wife, your family. Read a poem, enjoy the sunrise. Once we get busy and into our daily routine there never seems to be enough time in the day our ourselves.

2. Read, Listen, or Watch Something Uplifting.
This will uplift your spirit. Read your affirmations and make this a this a daily “5 Minute” habit. A great day does not begin with the negative news of the day we see in our televisions or newspapers. Great days begin with great ideas, with great energy.

3. A Healthy Breakfast Will Start Your Day Off Right.
I start my day with a protein shake, go to my web site www.drerickaplan.com for the recipe. Lets start our day with healthy foods in our body. Protein comes from the Greek word proteus, meaning “of prime importance. Think about the energy our bodies need to perform on any given day. Life is not a race, it is a marathon. What would you need to eat and drink to win it?.

4. Awaken Your Winning Attitude.
Your attitude is a choice you make. Don’t let it come between you and your success. Be careful to keep it positive all day long. A good attitude, a good smile will make for a better day.

5. Listen to Family and Friends.
The people around us have a profound effect on how we get through life. Our closest friends and family are our greatest environmental influences. Make sure you have the best advisors you can find and when you find them listen.

6. Make the Most of Everyday.
When you get to your work, make it the best place to be, make it a happy place. So many of us go to work and never think about making the office a fun and happy place. Raise the spirit of your office and a raise is in your future as well. Focus on your contribution. What would it be like if you were not around? Make yourself irreplaceable. Give a 100% each and every day.

7. Always Remember the Walls Have Ears.
Make a point of speaking well of others. Wish others the best in life and they will do the same for you. Remember, what goes around does come around. Don’t talk negative about anyone. Try to understand them as individuals and aware of their life, their circumstances Practice being a support system to your friends and family and co workers. The world needs you.

8. Be Fair and Honest with Others.
It does make a difference, ethics goes a long way and you only have one name, make it a good one. What you give to others is usually what you get from others. Practice integrity that people can see and feel. Always make a conscious effort to be aware you say and how you say it. Tone goes a long way in communication. Learn to walk your talk at all times. The more people trust you, the more of their time they will trust with you.

9. Pace Your Energy to Last The Entire Day.
Be careful of bursts of energy, we don’t want you to burn out. Have something left for your friends and family. You are not a candle, you control the burn of your light. Pace yourself, your energy throughout the day. By spending “5 Minutes” planning your entire day before you begin, you will have what you need. You’ve heard the old saying “look alive.”

10. Early To Bed Early to Rise. Develop the “5 Minute” habit of reading positive material before you sleep. You can’t succeed if you don’t read. Remember throughout your day that life is what we make it, day by day. Practice having the best day ever. It adds up to a great life and don’t forget # 1 get up a half hour early tomorrow to start your day in a appositive way.

7. And finally where can people purchase your book and how can they contact you?

Dr. Kaplan - They can buy the book at www.5minutemotivator.com, if they do I will send them my eBook “5 Minutes to Wellness” as my gift.

Posted in I Achieve Goals Effortlessly, I Am Continually Evolving, I Am Successful All Around, I Stay Motivated, Interview with Experts | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

How To Attract Financial Abundance: Ruchira Agrawal’s Interview with James Goi Jr.

Posted on February 15, 2012 by Ruchira Agrawal

Money is an essential part of living; we need it and we want it to take care of our responsibilities as well as to fulfill our dreams and desires. But isn’t it true that so many seem to struggle with it? Whether you are an individual, family or a business owner, we could all do with more financial abundance, coudn’t we?

Now you know from my work, that I am a big believer in the Power Of Mind as much as I am in physical effort. Thoughts precede form; in other words what you think, feel and believe not only attracts more of the same, it also forms the basis for one’s actions. In order to understand this better and how we can attract more financial abundance by using the power of our mind, I thought I would invite a Mind-Power expert to The Wise Leap. I am happy to have our very special friend and guest James Goi Jr. visit with us and agree to share his wisdom so graciously.

James Goi Jr. is a speaker, mind-power coach, and the author of How to Attract Money Using Mind Power. His book is a serious work in which he quotes 160 other books. The U.S. edition is available world wide through Ingram Book Company, and a second English-language edition is available on the Indian Subcontinent through Indra Publishing House, India. The book has also been published in Arabic, and Italian and Spanish editions are now in the works as well. James has published the free monthly “Mind Power & Money Ezine” since January, 2008. Since 1978, James has read hundreds of books in an effort to understand the laws of life. He’s lectured on metaphysics and spirituality with an emphasis on manifesting abundance. James believes that in today’s economy, the information he shares is more needed than ever, and that his teachings could mean the difference between financial success and financial ruin for any individual, family, business or organization.

1. Welcome James. Please introduce yourself?

Other than what you’ve already stated about me, I can say that I’m a life-long student of Truth. I’m inspired to share what I know, and I’m especially drawn to teaching people how to lead more abundant and prosperous lives, and especially as it has to do with attracting more money. I believe that if they have enough money, people are empowered to improve and grow in virtually every area of their lives.

2. You have recently written a book called How to Attract Money Using Mind Power. Could you briefly tell us about it?

Well, I truly believe my book is the most concise and usable book of its kind. It sums up key points taught in countless mind power, metaphysics, and success books. It shows how to apply this knowledge to the specific task of attracting money. The book can be read through in just a sitting or two, yet it has the power to radically transform a person’s financial life.

3. Some people may find it hard to believe that anybody can attract money by using the power of their own mind. Can you explain how this really works?

The results we see in life, financial and otherwise, stem from causes we ourselves have put into play. The world of thought and feeling is the causal foundation of everything we end up seeing in the physical world. That’s true of things, events, circumstances and any combination of them.

So as an example, if we think about abundance and gain having to do with our finances, and entertain the associated positive feelings, we will tend to attract abundance and gain in our finances.

4. What are the common blocks people face around finances?

There are many common blocks around finances, and especially for those people who would consciously use mind power to improve their finances. Here are two main ones that come to mind:

*First, there’s “act as if.” It’s one thing to profess that one is thinking right and constructively regarding money, but if that person is not acting as if they really believe they’ll have what they want, their belief is not strong enough.

*Another block is habitually speaking in ways which cause unwanted financial circumstances to come about. Our words reinforce and project our thoughts and so our words have a powerful effect on our circumstances.

5. In your book you list 20 different ways people can start attracting financial abundance. You talk about “Laws of Money” as well. Would you please share a little bit about this?

I did break my book down into 20 chapters, and within each chapter there are multiple ways to apply what I’m teaching. As far as what I call the “laws of money,” here they are:

*Money goes where it flows. In other words, circulating money tends to attract money and stagnant money tends to repel money and invite loss.

*Money goes where it’s welcome. So we should show the universe we’re open to receive. An example would be picking up a penny we see on the ground.

*Money goes where it’s appreciated. That simply means that we should be truly grateful for all the money that comes to us.

*Money goes where it’s respected. We exhibit our respect for money by spending wisely, saving and investing carefully and so on.

*Money goes where it’s given out from. That means that we should give back to the universe part of what we receive. So this brings in factors such as tithing and giving to charity.

6. In the times that we are living in currently, everyone is watching their money. What advice would you have for anyone struggling in this area?

Well these certainly are interesting and challenging economic times we are living in. It’s a fine line we walk, though, between being careful with our money and actually repelling money with our fear and pessimism. It’s OK to be frugal and careful with our money, but we don’t want to do it from a place of fear or from a consciousness of lack. We want to do it in the right frame of mind.


7. If you had 3 mind strategies or tips to share, that people can apply immediately in order to attract more financial abundance in their lives, what would they be?

I can share three specific metaphysical techniques which are very powerful ways to attract money:

*First I guess would be affirmation. It’s one of the easiest metaphysical techniques there are. An example of a helpful affirmation is, “I continue to easily attract the money I want and need.”

*Another helpful technique is visualization. The process is to form images within our minds of the financial circumstances we want to bring about, or of how our lives will be when we have more of the money we want. For practical purposes we are “visualizing” any time we have images within our minds.

*And the third technique I’ll give here, and one people should do basically as a matter of course, is one I call “think and feel as if.” From what we’ve covered so far in this interview it should be obvious that, knowing these things, a very intelligent thing to do is to always strive to think and feel as if the financial end results we want to bring about either are now or will be reality.

8. And finally James, how can people contact you and where can they purchase your book?

My book is available basically everywhere new books are sold online and can be ordered from physical book stores. Since most people apparently buy their books on Amazon, you can purchase the book here .

And people can contact me through my website and they can also receive a free gift when they subscribe to my free monthly ezine. Please visit my website

And of course I encourage people to connect with me on Twitter and Facebook, so here are those addresses:
Twitter
Facebook Personal Page
Facebook Public Page

Posted in I Have Supportive Beliefs, I Take Care Of Me, Interview with Experts, My Business Is Thriving | 1 Comment

Think From Your Gut: Lead Your Business Using Intuition

Posted on February 3, 2012 by Ruchira Agrawal

I apologize folks I’ve been little slow in posting articles this month but we’ve been busy here working on various projects. Would love to share some news as the appropriate time draws closer and I am hoping we’ll get a chance to connect more this month.

So anyways, today as I was working with a business owner around some management issues brainstorming, finding solutions and ideas, he came to a realization : “Intuition is so important in helping me understand my employees and customers“, he exclaimed. His aha moment inspired me to write this post and share some nuggets with you.

Whether you are leading a business team or owner of a business, incorporating creativity, innovation and intuition is what makes for a well-rounded 21st century leader. There is one approach to playing it safe and using only what is visible (data, logic, rationale) to lead and then there is another, to be daring and use Intuition alongside all the practical information in order to be successful. In the business environment that we are living in today where things are complex and change rapidly, often all the information isn’t necessarily always present, and that is where your ‘gut’ can come in handy.

I was reading an article somewhere and here’s what Richard Branson had to say about using Intuition – “I research new ideas very thoroughly, asking a lot of people about their experiences and for their thoughts,” says Branson in an article in June. “But on many occasions I have followed my intuition – you can’t make decisions based on numbers and reports alone.”

He says, “it’s important to have the courage to follow through on a project if you believe it’s worth pursuing. We all have an intuitive sense of what’s best. My senior management team keeps everything moving along. My role allows me to dive in and out of situations, ensuring we keep challenging the orthodoxy in every sector we’re competing in. This approach has never let me down.”

Late Steve Jobs says in his recently published biography – “I began to realize that an intuitive understanding and consciousness was more significant than abstract thinking and intellectual logical analysis.” He also said that “intuition is a very powerful thing, more powerful than intellect, in my opinion. That’s had a big impact on my work.”

So now that more business leaders are talking and widely accepting Intuition, how can you bring in more of your ‘inner voice’ into your workplace ?

1) Acknowledge and Accept Intuition – Most people do not know what Intuition is and are quick to dismiss it thinking that it has no place in business. Reading and learning is important to gain an understanding of what this sense is and how it can benefit your personal as well as your professional and business success.

2) Recognize – Intuition is speaking and nudging people often and you may have already experienced it but may not necessarily know how it sounds or what it’s saying. So each time you have a ‘gut feeling’ pay attention to it so you can become familiar with it.

3) Practice – Once you acknowledge that it exists, begin by practicing it in everyday matters. From seeking clarity to decision making, start applying it. Once you get comfortable, you can always stretch it to other bigger areas of your life and business.

4) Think from your Gut – Haven’t we all been taught to make decisions rationally? Infact one of the qualities of a great leader is that they can not only view the whole vision but also analyze things well and break them down into small goals and inspect the progress. But in doing so, often what is missed are hidden pieces to the puzzle that may not be visible but are crucial to success.

Questions to ask yourself as you lead your business –

1) Is there anything I need to be aware off regarding a particular project or a team member?
2) Is there anything I need to prepare for while handling a stressful situation?
3) How can I resolve a team member conflict?
4) Is making such and such decision going to help the project get completed?
5) Is joint venturing with this other company, in our best interest?
6) What does my team need from me at this time?
7) What does my organization’s employees require from me?

You can access ‘higher guidance’ via your subconscious on all kinds of work situations and allow your ‘inner voice’ to help you lead in a more holistic and a deep way. You can lead successfully not only by using the left side of the brain but also incorporating the right.

Feel free to share you thoughts and experiences about using Intuition and leading successfully in the comments section.

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5 Career Change Mistakes: When NOT To Make A MidLife Career Change

Posted on January 19, 2012 by Ruchira Agrawal

Because part of my work involves working with people that are at a career crossroads in their 30s and 40s, it’s not unusual for me to come across a person who is so upset with their current job that they are ready to turn in their resignation immediately. Obviously this is a time that can be mentally taxing because on one hand you have worked so hard building your career and on the other hand you can’t stand going to your work everyday. When one is midlife, the prospect of making a career transition can seem daunting.

If you are in this position right now contemplating a career reinvention, the best place to begin before you do anything is to really assess ‘what is prompting you to make this career change’. Are your reasons solid and sound enough? Is transforming your career really your answer?

Often people jump into making career change for all the wrong reasons, here are some of them –

1. Wrong Office Environment – Maybe you are in the wrong environment and your personality doesn’t gel well with the organization’s culture. If this is the case, you maybe better off to change your company rather than a career.

2. Wrong Boss And Colleagues - Okay so who isn’t familiar with this scenario, at some point or another we have found ourselves in a situation where we may have wished for a more supportive boss or colleagues. If you are having troubles with the people you work with, the solution may lie elsewhere and not in making a career change.

3. You Dislike Some Aspects Of Your Job – If you are considering a career change because you dislike certain aspects of your current job, that may not be a good enough reason to do so. Even when you love what you do for a living, there are certain tasks that are you least favorite while others that are.

4. Thinking Of A Career Change As A Reaction – Perhaps there was some issue that is bothering you at your workplace, the problem isn’t getting resolved and you just don’t see a way out. Obviously the situation can get frustrating and many times make people think they should changing their career; this may not be your solution.

5. Making A Career Change Decision In Haste – People sometimes stay in unhappy careers for so long that they can’t take being there one more minute. Because they are frustrated, they turn in their resignation in haste and start working towards creating a new career. Sometimes being impulsive works in your favor but more times than not and especially if you have a family to support and so forth, this can be extremely risky.

Before you think about making a career change, take a moment to reflect on your reasoning behind that desire first and determine for yourself if this is the right step or not.

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Step Into Your Greatness: Ruchira Agrawal Interviews Marilyn Gordon

Posted on January 9, 2012 by Ruchira Agrawal

A brand new year typically brings a sense of renewal and possibilities along with it. Whether you are ready to accomplish new goals or have struggled with old problems for a while, this is a time to start afresh, wipe the slate clean so to speak, plan and begin working towards your career, business and life desires.

For me personally, this is a time to scale new heights, in other words achieve greater and bigger things over the last year; and in order for that to happen, we not only need to Dream Big but also ‘stretch and expand’ ourselves in what we want, how we think, and follow that by massive action.

By now you probably know that every month we invite guests (experts and authors) on our blog so they can share their knowledge and wisdom for us to benefit from. In order to kick off 2012, I couldn’t think of a more wise friend and teacher than Marilyn Gordon. She has my deepest respect and I am so appreciative that she decided to join us today.

Marilyn Gordon is a life transformation teacher and author, healer, speaker, board certified hypnotherapist, and hypnotherapy school founder/director. She helps you to transform anything in your life through telecourses, seminars and sessions – as well as books, CDs, home study courses, and more. Her background is in yoga, meditation, spiritual healing, and life transformation. Go to her website , there you can get a free 100 page ebook she wrote called Extraordinary Healing.

Q1.Welcome to The Wise Leap Marilyn, please share about yourself and your work a little bit?

MG- Thank you, Ruchira. I’m a life transformation teacher and author, healer, speaker, board certified hypnotherapist, and hypnotherapy school founder/director.
I help you to transform anything in your life through telecourses, seminars and sessions – as well as books, CDs, home study courses, and more.
My background is in yoga, meditation, spiritual healing, and life transformation.

Q2. We hear a lot about finding one’s purpose and life’s work, what does that mean really?

MG- I believe that everyone has a purpose on this earth. Some are here to do big things. Some are here to create space for others. Some are here to serve the planet. Others are here to serve their family. If you‘re clear about your purpose, you can move forward with a roadmap, and you can be certain about how and where you’re going. It’s okay not to be clear too. It‘s just helpful to know.

Q3. I am a big believer in the power of our mind; I have realized that creating things and manifesting them is not entirely about physical efforts alone. Would you please share what power of mind is? And how it can work in our favor while working towards achieving new goals?

MG – What a great question! This is one of the biggest interests of my life. The mind is so powerful! It can create heaven or hell on earth, depending on the quality of your thoughts. There are different levels of the mind. There’s the higher mind that is connected with the Universe. There’s the everyday or conscious mind that helps you do your daily living. There’s the subconscious or deep inner mind that stores everything that’s ever happened to you in a kind of google search engine, database or filing system. To learn to move to higher and higher levels of mind is the way to move to more advanced levels of your life. Then you can create happiness, and you can manifest success, love, health and prosperity. Your thoughts are electromagnetic, and they bring you what you’re thinking about most of the time. So it‘s good to think about what you’d like and not what you don’t like.

Q4. In your amazing work over the years, what are the biggest mental blocks that people face when they think about creating a life of their dreams or a career and a business of their desire?

MG- Many people have issues of self-worth, which they either came to this earth with or have picked up along the way. Having issues of self confidence or self worth can create roadblocks in sending out the electromagnetic messages to the Universe about what you‘d like to create in your life. Many people don’t feel worthy of manifesting their highest dreams or aspirations. They also don’t believe they can do it. And believing you have the ability to create something great in your life is necessary for actually doing it. Like Wayne Dyer says, “I’ll see it when I believe it.” Fortunately, all these mind issues can be healed.

Q5. So let’s say someone is dissatisfied in their career and life, they are looking for a sense of direction, where do they begin, what should their first steps be? What are your words of wisdom for them?

MG- First of all, it would be good to see what it is about their current situation that is not satisfying them – just to explore it and take a look at it. Then they’ll know what they’d like to avoid when manifesting something that’s right for them. Next they can see what kinds of work they really enjoy doing and what inner gifts and talents they have. They may want to see whose work they admire. Is there someone doing something that you think is wonderful? What is it that they’re doing that appeals to you, and can you imagine yourself doing that too. They also might want to close their eyes and imagine themselves doing something that would satisfy them, and they might want to visit a counselor as well, someone who could elicit from them the factors that are important to them in recreating their lives. Next comes the action part. What are the steps that you can take to get you where you want and need to be? Take it step by step and move forward in a powerful way.

Q6. Please share some tips on how people can use the power of their mind to transform what is stopping them from moving forward; any simple exercise perhaps?

MG – I have a special 4-step process using the power of the Wise Mind.
1. Pay attention to whatever is going on inside, and describe it to yourself in as much detail as possible.
2. Take a deep breath in, and breathe into what you’ve just described. Break it up into tiny molecules on the exhalation and send it out to the Universe and disperse it. Do this as many times as you want or need to.
3. Ask your wise Mind to tell you whatever it would like to tell you about this .
4, Imagine yourself as you’d like to be. Then find a word or phrase that symbolizes that. Put your thumb together with your index finger, and say your word or phrase any time o the day or night.

Q7. How can people start moving towards embracing their own greatness?

MG- They can read, study, meditate, explore and keep on reaching higher and higher. I have a number of books and programs that can assist people with this. I have a program called Realize Your Greatness that will help people move upward in their lives, as well as many other programs, tools, techniques, sessions and classes.

Q8. Finally, how can people contact you?

MG – My websites: www.lifetransformationsecrets.com or www.hypnotherapycenter.com
My Facebook page: ILovethePoweroftheMind
My Membership Program: www.realizeyourgreatness.com

I’d love to hear from you! Thank you.

Posted in I Achieve Goals Effortlessly, I Am Completely Confident, I Am Continually Evolving, I Am Successful All Around, I Have Supportive Beliefs, I Work Authentically, Interview with Experts, My Career Is Rewarding | Leave a comment

Time For Career Change: 8 Signs You Have Outgrown Your Career

Posted on December 16, 2011 by Ruchira Agrawal

“The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and, if they can’t find them, make them” – George Bernard Shaw

If your current career doesn’t excite you anymore, you have two choices in front of you – either you can decide to change what you do for a living or you can continue staying where you are. I am serious when I say that staying in an unhappy place whether it’s in one’s life or in their career is actually a choice, some just don’t realize it though. They may feel helpless, like they don’t have any option and all they have to do is to make do with what they’ve got, but that is really upto them; choices are available, provided one is willing to take them.

Working with people over the years, I have come to learn that desiring a change is a normal part of life. Although we may dislike it because it requires us to step outside our comfort zone and make an effort which can seem like hard work but the reality is that we grow and change as people all the time.

Go ahead and reflect a little, ask yourself – Are you the same person you were 10 years ago or has something changed?How about your aspirations, goals, priorities, parts of your personality and what you want out of life? Is your current work aligned with who you are today and expressing your inner Truth?

People outgrow their career all the time and that’s okay. Perhaps you are feeling something isn’t quiet right off late but just aren’t sure what exactly is it that you are sensing. Here are 8 common signs that will bring you some clarity –

1. You feel restless in your soul – You go to work because you have to but you feel restless being at work and in your office. It’s not the people you work with or the environment but the work in itself that makes you feel irritated and unhappy.

2. Your gut tells you it’s time to go - So many ignore their gut feelings as something they are feeling temporarily. Is that feeble inner voice telling you something ?

3. You find yourself disinterested in the tasks of your job – Okay even if you love your job there maybe tasks that you may not be fond off, but when you are engaged in a career where every part feels like it’s dragging you down and isn’t holding your interest for months on end, you know that is a problem.

4. Your job brings you good money but it doesn’t make your heart sing – You know what that feels like right, where you go to a job, it is comfortable and takes care of you financially but when it comes to making you feel joyful inside, it just doesn’t do it for you.

5.There is no room for you to grow – Maybe you worked really hard and did really well, climbed up the corporate ladder quickly and found yourself in that perfect position you always dreamed off. But now that you are there, what’s next? You are stuck because there is no room for you to grow.

6. Dreadful Monday Syndrome – So many dread sunday evenings and monday mornings because it means preparing for the week ahead and that includes going back to work. Do you find yourself in this place?

7. Lack of energy and enthusiasm – Do you find your work draining ? Where it leaves you tired and exhausted? It doesn’t stimulate you in anyway, intellectually or energetically?

8. Your goals are achieved and objectives are met – Perhaps you chose a career with certain objectives in mind and now your work is done. For example you always wanted to start a business in publishing but you didn’t have any experience, so you decided to get a job in order to learn. Now that you’ve learnt everything there is, you feel your work is done and its time to make a change.

A brand new year is right around the corner, if you know in your heart that it is time to move forward in your career, seize the opportunity and don’t delay making the change.

Posted in I Am Continually Evolving, I Am Fearless In Work & Life, I Am Worth It, I Work Authentically, My Career Is Rewarding | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

GoodBye New Year Resolutions Hello Intentions: 7 Steps To Setting Your Intentions for 2012

Posted on December 15, 2011 by Ruchira Agrawal

“Life does not obey our expectations.
Life obeys our intentions, in ways
we may not expect.” Lloyd Strom

I generally prefer Setting My Intentions for the upcoming new year in November, only because December is always such a hectic month for us here as I am sure it is for you as well. In the hustle and the bustle and the million little things that need attention, it’s easy to lose track of time, and before you know it, the new year is already here.

When we think of New Year, one of the first things that comes to mind is Resolutions, yes those Big New Year Resolutions….remember them ? We make a list of all the things we’d like to achieve, only to lose track of them in a few weeks and forget them entirely by the time March rolls around. Somehow resolutions have a way of not working out don’t they; people just aren’t successful keeping up with them. Besides they sound really restricting anyways.

So a couple of years ago instead of making new year resolutions, I began setting intentions instead and breaking them down into goals. That seems to work much better and now that I am writing this blog, I decided to share some of what I do each year.

Before we move forward, let’s first understand what Intentions really are?

The DictionaryReference.com defines it as – ‘an act or instance of determining mentally upon some action or result’. In other words deciding in your mind what you want to do and see happen. It is giving something a general sense of direction.

1.Getting Clear And Writing Down- A good place to begin is to get clear in your heart and mind about what is it that you really want to accomplish. Think about it and write your intentions down – what would you like to accomplish? Break the intention down into goals. For example – if your intention is to live a healthier life in 2012, break it down into specific goals – Buying healthy foods, Walking 30 mins, Reading the labels before purchase, drinking more water. Get clear so there is no vagueness and ambiguity.

2.Make Sure Your Heart And Mind Are Aligned – You know one of the reasons why so many fail at resolutions and goals is because when they set them, there is a part of them that is already going – no way, you won’t be able to do this. For example, if you set a goal, I want to lost 20 lbs, perhaps consciously or subconsciously a small part of you is saying – You’ve tried this last year and it didn’t work out, probably won’t pan out this time as well. You probably know what I am talking about here; this feeble voice has a lot of power and can actually put your efforts in jeopardy. So as you are setting your intentions and breaking them down into goals, make sure they are achievable for you, doesn’t matter what the standard is and your heart and mind are aligned, there is no conflict.

3.Choose Your Words Wisely And Stay Clear Of Sabotage Words – Our words are very powerful and have a psychological and energetic impact on us. Just this morning I heard someone say – Life is too short and granted this is an innocent remark, one that so many use so commonly but every time you say it, you are putting the energy behind these words out in the Universe. Do you want that?

How about words such as Never, If, But, Always – ‘I NEVER do well with…’, ‘I ALWAYS mess things up’, ‘I want to lose weight BUT I know I won’t’. Make sure your Intentions are free of these words and any ‘sabotaging’ words.

4.Speak Them Aloud – Now it is time to recite them, just so your subconscious and conscious mind can register what you’ve written. Speak them aloud to yourself, this will help getting clearer.

5. Make Your Vision Board – I will be doing a post on Vision Boards a little later but in the meanwhile have a look at mine that I did last year. Vision boards are a powerful way of setting intentions. Here’s a link that I found on Oprah.com, that you can use to get started.

6.Make Sure Your Support Is Really Supportive - Now some of us need a friend or a partner to begin and stay on track. Make sure the person you pick is supportive in the true sense and doesn’t unintentionally sabotage your efforts.

7. Begin Your Day Consciously – How do you begin your day? Do you jump out of bed, get in the shower, grab a quick breakfast and head out to work. Well, we’re going to have to change this up a little bit, we will be reminding ourselves of the intentions that you have set for yourself. So go ahead read and recite your list aloud. Look at the vision board before you get out of bed and other thoughts begin showing up.

There are still 16 days before we begin a brand new powerful 2012, hope you are ready with your Intentions in place.

Posted in I Achieve Goals Effortlessly, I Am Continually Evolving, I Am Successful All Around, I Have Supportive Beliefs, I Stay Motivated | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Is Intuition Really That Woo-Woo?

Posted on December 12, 2011 by Ruchira Agrawal

Good instincts usually tell you what to do long before your head has figured it out. – Michael Burke

There was a time when I didn’t know what Intuition was, atleast I didn’t know it formally and then life happenned; events that led me to accidently discover this sense. In an effort to try and understand my new found heightened empathic sensitivity, I began studying and reading the subject. And as I learnt about it, what I also noticed was how it was viewed by others, the general impression if you will; Intuition was considered as a bit of a woo-woo subject, like it was something out there.

For some reason (which I still haven’t quite figured out) Intuition has been reduced to sink into the world of mysticism perhaps because it resides and operates from the subconscious realm. But really what it is, is the oldest and most essential form of human intelligence.

To me, just like we have a sense of smell, hearing, taste and so forth, Intuition is really a ‘sense of knowing’ that is present in all of us; if I have it, you have it too and I don’t believe that this is reserved only for a gifted few.

For those of you who aren’t aware of Intuition and are curious to learn about it, a good place for me to begin is to share with you what my understanding is and how you may unknowingly be using this sense in your daily life –

What is Intuition ?

Intuition is another name for ‘gut’ or ‘instinct’ or we can even call it a ‘sense of knowing’. It can be considered as a sort of an internal “guidance system”, one that helps align us with our Truth – our sense of purpose, what our soul is really saying, what is in our highest good and so on. From what I have experienced and come to believe, Intuition helps us stay connected with our authentic self, our wise inner higher self.

People can be on varied levels of Intuition, of ‘how tuned-in’ they really are with their inner being, subconscious and surroundings. Some maybe more aware than others and then there are those who know nothing about it.

I believe we lose touch with our instincts somewhere along the way as we are growing up because we are taught to rely solely on our conscious mind, one where all the reasoning and logic resides but not really encouraged to explore our creative instincts. So we never really know anything about it and grow up unaware and disconnected. All our choices and decisions are made relying on our practical mind.

Now let’s take a daily life example of how you may use Intuition –

1) You take a certain route when you drive to work every day. Today you’re sitting in your car getting ready to drive down the same way to work and all of a sudden you find yourself thinking – maybe you should try another route today; this route is a bit longer, an extra 5 minutes but you’ve never taken it before and it’s a bit more scenic too so you decide to take it. As you get close to your office, you turn on the radio, the traffic news comes on and you hear about how an accident on your usual way to work has created an hour long delay. There is a traffic jam and a big mess on the road due to the pile up.

Now wouldn’t you be glad that you took this different route today?

So how did you decide to take this other route, what guided you? That little voice is your Intuition.

This is ofcourse just one example but think about times in your every day life where you may have made decisions based on your instincts and gut. Maybe your logic was pointing you in 1 direction while something was telling you to go in another, you followed it and the outcome turned out to be great.


Some of the expressions when people tap into their Intuition -

I have a good feeling about…..
I have a bad feeling about…….
I know I can feel it…….

Intuition is used by many people and infact some even give it credit very openly. If you read biographies of well known people you will probably find a reference in some way shape or form. Here are some quotation on Intuition that I thought would share with you –

I have trusted to my intuition to find the subjects, and I have written intuitively. I have an idea when I start, I have a shape; but I will fully understand what I have written only after some years. – V. S. Naipaul

Intuition is the supra-logic that cuts out all the routine processes of thought and leaps straight from the problem to the answer. - Robert Graves

Follow your instincts. That’s where true wisdom manifests itself. – Oprah Winfrey

Intuition is a spiritual faculty and does not explain, but simply points the way. -Florence Scovel Shinn

Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma – which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of other’s opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary – Steve Jobs

So is trusting your instincts really that woo-woo? You decide.

Posted in I Am Connected To Intuition, I Am Continually Evolving, I Have Supportive Beliefs | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment