The Power of Expectation

It has been said, “You cannot rise above your current level of expectation.” What you expect, or believe is going to happen, usually does. We tend to get out of ourselves and others exactly what we expect to get.

I read sometime ago about a salesman that for several years had earned $25,000.00 per year. It didn’t matter what he did, he always earned the same amount. His company decided to give him a new territory, where the salesman before him made $100,000.00 per year. Believe it or not even though he should have and could made considerably more, he only made $25,000.00. Why? Because that is all he expected to make.

Listen to people around you, and you will hear them say things such as, “I expected that to happen.” “Nothing good ever happens for me.” I even heard one man say, “If it weren’t for bad luck, I wouldn’t have any luck at all.” And, you know what? They were all right. They all got exactly what they expected.

To be a person the person you were created to be, and to achieve what you have the potential to achieve, you must begin to develop the power of positive expectation. Determine today to begin believing for good things to happen to you. Get rid of your “stinkin thinkin!” Change your attitude. Begin to expect the best in life.

Expect success. Expect to make a sale. Expect for your efforts to be fruitful. Expect others to be favorable to you. Expect to be everything you were created to be. Expect love. Expect promotion.

If you will begin to raise your level of expectation you will be surprised at what begins to happen for you. Jesus once said, “As your faith is, so be it unto you.” Nothing could be truer. You get what you expect.

Success in Life is Like Growing a Garden (Part Two)

If you haven't read yesterdays blog you will need to as it is part one of this blog.

Sixth, I learned the value of constant, consistent, effort. After I had planted my garden I had to work it every day. There were pests I had to keep a way. There were weeds I had to pull. I had to water it. I had to fertilize it. You will never accomplish anything in life if you are inconsistent in your efforts. The easiest thing in the world is to start a project. The hardest is to finish it. I love watching marathon runners in the Olympics. There are hundreds of runners that start the race. While there is only one person that can take the gold medal, it is considered a personal victory just to finish the race. The runners have to pace themselves so they don’t burn out to soon. They have to push themselves. They have to be consistent and keep plodding ahead if they intend to cross the finish line. So it is with all of life. Anyone can start a project. Winners finish! Are you a starter or a finisher? The Bible says, “Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof.” (Ecclesiastes 7:8) Determine today to finish what you start through constant, consistent, effort.

Seventh, I learned the value of being patient. We live in a microwave society. We want everything and we want it right now! Everywhere you go you find quick oil changes, fast food restaurants, clothes tailored while you wait. Instant gratification is what we seem to be after. However, sometimes what you want takes time. For quite a while after I planted my garden it didn’t look to me like anything was happening. There were times I wanted to run out and pull the seeds out to see if they were working. But my dad said, “Just wait. Give it time. They’re working.” It was days before there was anything that resembled a plant poking its head through the soil. It was months before it was full grown and ready to be harvested. It was during this process I learned a lot about patience. Between the time the seed is planted and the time the crop is harvested is a lot of time. The Bible teaches us “Be not lazy, but follower of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.” (Hebrews 6:12) Are you patient or is that something you need to work on? Like my dad said, “If it’s worth having, it’s worth waiting on. Be patient!

Eighth, I learned that when the fruit is ripe you have to pick it or it will rot. Once my seeds had become plants, and the plants produced fruit, it was time to harvest. The first day of harvest was one of the most exciting days of my life to that point. I was able to pick tomatoes, and cucumbers, and carrots, and radishes. I will never forget that first meal using produce that I had grown. I had a sense of pride. A sense of accomplishment. I had set out to do something and through a lot of effort and patience I had succeeded. This is the way it is in all of life.

Ninth, I learned that what I had produced didn’t really bring me joy until I shared it with others. The looks of joy on my families face when they were able to partake of what I had grown still make me smile today. Nothing is more satisfying than to be able to share with others what you have been blessed with. The Bible teaches us that we are blessed to be a blessing. God has never blessed us with anything for us to just hoard to ourselves. Jesus said, “Freely you have received, freely give.” You see when I started this project I wasn’t just thinking about what I was going to be able to enjoy. I started with the idea of sharing it with others. Some I sold and made a profit on so I could do again. Others I gave a way to others so they could enjoy.

Tenth, the last thing I learned is very important to remember. Once you have successfully completed one project you have to start a new one. The joy of successfully growing a garden didn’t last a long time. After a while the vegetables and fruit were all eaten. The plants and vines had withered and died. If I wanted to enjoy a harvest the next year I had to start all over again, only this time with knowledge and wisdom. Never forget, accomplishment is an ongoing endeavor. Success is not a destination it is a journey. Celebrate your victories but don’t dwell there too long. There’s another battle waiting to be fought.

To the growth of your life, your business, your family, your health, your finances!

What You Need In A Friend

Henry Ford once said, “My best friend is the one who brings out the best in me.” Your personal associations are key to your success in life. The fact is you become like the people you associate with. Like begets like.

Negative people will drain you of your purpose, energy, time, confidence, action, and productivity. Negative, complaining, faultfinding people are toxic to your success. Most people would never dream of ingesting something poisonous into their physical body, however they are quick to associate with others that are poisonous to their future. Make the decision today to get rid of the toxic people in your life.

Determine to associate with winners. King Solomon wrote, “Iron sharpens iron.” In other words by associating with positive, productive, successful people you are sharpening your own ability for success.

Make friends with those who challenge you to be better than you presently are. A friend is someone who helps you bridge the gaps between loneliness and fellowship, frustration and confidence, despair and hope, meaninglessness and purpose, setbacks and successes. He is your friend who pushes you to be the best you can be.