ONLY THE BEST WILL DO

ONLY THE BEST WILL DO

Guess what? Today, you’ve just made yourself a promise. You’ve committed yourself to leading a first-class life, because you’re sick and tired of anything less and because you think, that you’ve done your time and that you deserved it. This does not necessarily mean living the unlimited high life. Such good times always tend to end for whatever reason. What it does mean, is living your life in your own way, without ever having to worry about whether you should smile or not. Because you’re very, very happy. You may see a lot of wealth around, but the truth is, that most people don’t have any money. A lot of wealth is just wealth on paper or, more likely, borrowed wealth. That may feel good for awhile, but it is unsustainable. What you want to avoid at all costs, is building your own House of Cards. You won’t sleep at night, you’ll become restless and grumpy and you’ll lose your sense of perspective. As soon as you realize, that you don’t have to show off and that you don’t have to keep up with whomever, you are on the right track. All you have to strive for is becoming true to yourself. You will constantly exclaim: ‘ I am so proud! This is ME’.

That’s why you have to become like a squirrel, collecting seeds and nuts. Watching your collection grow by leaps and bounds, makes you ecstatic! You’ve done it, you’ve really done it. Don’t worry, that your collection is slow to take off in the very beginning. What matters is, what happens next. Keep your eyes on the stars and you’ll keep going. The law of compound interest, for instance, may truly be the eighth wonder of the world. Given enough time and effort, your collection will become very impressive indeed to behold. And it’s yours! There is no lender breathing down your neck with a contract, full of small print. You live above the crowd and therefore, you feel free from fear. You’ve left behind a life as a slave to the system. You simply must make a choice in order to achieve your ultimate aim of freedom.

Peace of mind and self-confidence are an essential part of your new first-class life. As long as you proceed, however slowly, to become the real You, all obstacles will seem like mere nuisances. You’re no longer at stall speed, because you’re on your way to fulfill your destiny in the world. You’ve actually discovered the end of your rainbow. Everybody, yes everybody, has a mission in life and you owe it to yourself to achieve more than you think you can. Remember, nothing is impossible.

RICK SCHMULL

March 17th, 2015

WESTCLIFF-On-SEA, Essex, U.K.

FADING INTO THE SUNSET, NOBODY KNOWS WHEN

FADING INTO THE SUNSET, NO ONE KNOWS WHEN

One day it will all come to an end

I will fade into the sunset

Stealthily and unnoticed

No traces left behind.

There will be no more pain

No sorrow languishing in the heart

My name will be lost in infinite space

No remembrance from the earth.

(Maria Franco)(2012)

We are not immortal. Yes, we are living longer, but that’s because more people have given up smoking, have eaten better and have taken drugs to control blood pressure. Medical breakthroughs in the last couple of decades, even with cancer, have been few and far between. We’re still waiting to see the benefits of gene and stem-cell therapy, cloned organs and the decoding of the human genome. We still have no idea how to treat Alzheimer’s disease or dementia on a longer term basis.

Or could young blood offer the antidote to aging for those, who are keen to extend life? Apparently, blood from a young mouse has been able to rejuvenate the muscles of an old mouse (Kaiser, SCIENCE, Dec 19th, 2014). Ever since ‘the Fountain of Youth’ (de Leon) of 150 years ago, experiments have multiplied to reverse the signs of aging.

Nothing is forever. Life is a process of up and down cycles. Don’t be in a stressed state of mind, because of this! It’s a fact of life. Just do, what you have to do as long as you’re sure, that you are meant to do it. O.K., you can never be sure of anything, but make no mistake: everybody has a destiny, otherwise your maker wouldn’t have bothered! Your life cannot be in vain. You can increase the likelihood of being the right person, in the right place, at the right time. Luck is rare.

Therefore, you have to keep moving in order to cope with all the headwinds, which threaten to get you off course. All you need is one breakthrough and you have lift-off. You will then be put into a new orbit. Never accept your present situation, however, even though that may feel comfortable enough. It’s chaos out there. Relentless competition is all around you, so being unconcerned will make you very vulnerable. ‘Only the paranoid survive’ (Andrew Grove).

Obviously, everyone may sometimes get the urge to tell the world, that you have checked out, that you’ve left the building. There are pressures everywhere and you may well seem overwhelmed by them. In that case, think of the bird high up in the sky. What a wonderful sight, what a miracle, defying the law of gravity, observing the turmoil from above. Are you at peace yet? Just relax, because restlessness won’t get you anywhere. Sit still for awhile and confront, whatever makes you uncomfortable. It may take some patience and discipline, otherwise you’ll be unable to focus on what’s essential.

Regret, shame, guilt and worry hinder your progress and are a waste of time. You cannot change history, but you can change your future. Life consists constantly of second chances. The most important phrase in life is: next! Even the best athletes fail 90% of the time. No use to dwell on what’s gone wrong for whatever reason. All you need, is the next light in the tunnel. It will surely come. Be ready. Eternal darkness is simply not an option. Make optimism a way of life! Never give up, because we have no time for despair. Great faith is actually often born in the greatest hour of need.

RICK SCHMULL

February 16th, 2015

WESTCLIFF-On-SEA, Essex, U.K.

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HOW TO MAKE YOUR HEART SING

HOW TO MAKE YOUR HEART SING

You may dream of the day, that you can be together with someone or that you can relax in a beautiful environment or that you can own a particular goodie. Perhaps you have held that wish fervently, which may pave the way for becoming tomorrow’s reality. Your eyes may do the talking! You may not know, how to proceed, but nature takes care of that. When lightning strikes, your heart will be on fire and it’s wonderful.

If you’re headed toward a life, that makes a difference, you’re on your way. You’ll have to program your mind with positive thoughts, all the time, in order to overcome amazing obstacles. Figure out all the simple things, that make your day go better. Whatever works for you, should be your focus. Whatever makes you happy, should be your ongoing commitment, day in, day out. No, that’s not boring, It’s part of your positive bank account, that will act as your stockpile in leaner times. Anytime things are getting you down, you will automatically have a backup. You will be a tower of strength in your personal down cycle. You will be able to engage in a period of personal renewal, whenever you’re called to do so.

One of life’s lessons is, that nothing is permanent. There are lots of up and down cycles and you’ll have to face up to these challenges. As long as you can draw on happy memories, you actually are able to keep going, because you’ll be visualizing, that the good times will return. You will absolutely not accept, that these good times will remain in the past. You’ll have to be angry at yourself and beat yourself up in order to let your victim thoughts go! You and only you, are responsible for sabotaging your own well being. Make a pact with yourself, that you surround yourself with the right people, that you have a triumphant relationship with your loved ones, and that you will not deny, what you know to be true about yourself. Practice, practice seeing yourself in a different light and you’ll attract the right kind of life style for you personally. It’s never ‘too late’! And it’s nothing to be ashamed of either, because ‘genius is 1% inspiration, 99% perspiration’ (Thomas A. Edison). Failure may be frustrating at times, but it comes with the territory. Eventually, success will be worth it. That’s real bliss, not ignorance. You’ll be like a bird, flying above the fray and defying gravity.

Grab a sheet of paper and pen. That’s right, you’ll be writing a romantic love letter today. To no one in particular, because this letter is destined for a bottle, which you will throw in the river. It will be cherished for years to come by whoever finds this! You will write about a smile or about eyes or about anything, that has your heart beating. This is your perfect opportunity to express your deep feelings and lifting your spirit. You’ll feel like the sun rising. It’s breathtaking, how this will impact your new life, because someone or something will come along, that makes your heart sing.

RICK SCHMULL

January 20th, 2015

WESTCLIFF-On-SEA, Essex, UK

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BE YOUR OWN PIED PIPER

BE YOUR OWN PIED PIPER

‘Dear Children, do not let anyone lead you astray’ (1 John 3:7). Of course, this is not easy! The easiest thing in the world is to live like a drifter, subject to the push and pull of the tide, and have others push you around. Mastering yourself is a skill, to be acquired over time. It can lead to true power. Are you ready to get to know yourself? Then, and only then, will you give true wisdom a chance. Otherwise, you may remain a powerless stranger in a land of lost opportunities. Isn’t it about time, that you call time on your life like a dog, that has lost its scent (Voltaire)? Enough is enough!

Mental clutter is your biggest challenge. All the pressures of the work day stand in the way of imagining your personal ambition. Knowing what matters to you enables you to put your energy in the right direction. Give your own thoughts the necessary space in order to not to succeed in things, that don’t really matter. You are presently surrounded by a myriad of technological gadgets, which may prevent you from focussing on your life-changing events. Don’t put off your life, as it was meant to be, until the day. when your life must end.

Are you submerged by busyness, while your productivity suffers? If you find a way to escape everyday clutter, then you can release your imagination and your creativity, which could lead to your magical life. It’s such a life, that you must feel you deserve, as you finally are on the way of unleashing your true potential. Besides, the world loves authenticity and has disdain for a fake. Who knows, where you could end up, if you manage to be true to yourself?

Anybody can do it, because anybody has a passion for something. It does require your wholehearted dedication. You will have to immerse yourself in achieving this, no matter what. The good news is, that you will be driven to it, whatever is going on around you. You feel you have no other choice. It can bring out the completely irrational side in the best of us. You may even overshoot your own potential and then you’ve reached a wholly different level in your life!

RICK SCHMULL

December 25th, 2014

WESTCLIFF-On-SEA, Essex, U.K.

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HOW TO HIT THE JACKPOT

HOW TO HIT THE JACKPOT

You can hit the Jackpot, yes, you can! You could attract Lady Luck, because nearly everybody does it at some point in their life. Pursuing a partner, a career, the living of your life, etc, inevitably leads to a certain degree of success, often against the odds, because you were driven to it. Then why not make a habit of hitting the Jackpot again and again? Spectacular things seem to happen to others, from time to time. When is it your turn?

The secret of sustainable success is quiet self-criticism. Every day you should close your eyes somewhere and ask yourself, if you’re doing the right thing in order to get from Here to There. You should make yourself sweat, every time, as you require yourself to do your utmost in order to bring the best out of you. You need to shake yourself up constantly, in order to live like you deserve to live. You should be in a trance-like state of mind, never standing still, but always moving. Complacency is your enemy, because the world is changing so fast, that you haven’t got time to lose. You have to be able to adapt to different circumstances all the time.

To go after a better life, you have to take calculated risks. Why not identify the risks you are willing to assume in order to reach certain goals? Remember to always have a backup plan if things initially don’t work out. You don’t want to be left High and Dry! As long as you have a clear vision of what you want to achieve, you will have enough mental strength not to be overwhelmed by fear of failure. Risk-takers have to muster enough courage to do the job. ‘Just do it’ (Nike)! Planet Earth is a tough place and a can-do attitude is essential for you to live up to the challenges, that await you.

Your life is often a self-fulfilling prophecy, believe it or not, and that’s why you should pursue your goals with a positive attitude, no matter what your failure rate happens to be. You can’t imagine, how many, seemingly fatal failures, many very successful people have had! Doing it wrong to get it right. Going for failure sounds like fun, doesn’t it? Well, pushing yourself to the limit involves a high chance of failure. But that is part of the process. You are actually preparing yourself for great success. So don’t wait around, until the lights go out for the last time.

RICK SCHMULL

December 10th, 2014

WESTCLIFF-On-SEA, Essex, U.K.

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NO IFS OR BUTS

NO IFS OR BUTS

Have you come to the point yet, that you no longer accept your present situation? Then, let’s get going! Leave your former life behind. No Ifs or Buts! From now on, you cannot afford to go through a day in your life, without thinking of how things should be. Don’t say, that you’re ‘going to do it’. Just do it and now is as good a time as any. You have the power to improve your future, not your past. Start living your dream. Just go for it. Don’t be a quitter, but keep pushing yourself. Write down, what you have got going for you. What are your ‘soft’ and ‘hard’ assets? Everybody has to start somewhere, mostly at the bottom and go through the motions. It’s not what you are anyway, it’s what you will become. Keep learning, all the time. There are no shortcuts. Accept some more risk and uncertainty. Real planning would be ideal, but most of us have to go through a process of trial and error. As long as you keep moving, you are on your way. You are now in search of your breakout opportunity. These opportunities come and go. If you don’t seize them, you lose them. Also, nothing is permanent in life, because the world is not static. Therefore, you cannot rest on your laurels.

You are a work in progress at all times. But try to be the best in your little corner of the world. You have to carve that out. Nobody else will do that for you. The world couldn’t care less, if you fail. There is no safety net. That’s fine, because as long as you become successful in the end, after countless failures, you have become unbeatable. You learn from failure. The ladder of success requires you to fail in order for you to become better than anyone else. You’ll be able to defeat an entire army singlehandedly. That’s right. Once you have unleashed your own super powers, you’ll be forever inspired and you inspire other people. Great success flows from that. You’ll be looking forward to an exciting future. You can’t wait to get up in the morning!

Nobody is really self-made. That’s just a good story. You need mentors. You need to become part of a network of allies, that share your interests. You need to recruit and build a dream team. Collaboration is the name of the game. Are they rowing in the same direction? Make sure, how to deal with any bad apples in that team. You also need to hang out with people, who are already the way you want to be. Don’t think, what can I get from this person, but rather, what can I do for this person? Send him a note about a subject, that may be of interest and go from there. He may not respond immediately, but that’s fine. He may be very busy. But, over time, he will remember your great little attentions, which may have become helpful to him. That’s the way to get reciprocity going. That will magically open doors!

Remember, character and integrity create word of mouth. Your reputation is everything. Never compromise on that, because that’s 80% of your success. Accept responsibility and tell the truth. Don’t ever accept mediocrity. Also, if you are consistent in delivering an insanely good service, people will remember you, talk about you and refer their friends to you. If you come across as nice, then you are giving people a pleasant experience. You may have to go to acting school for that! No, it may be acting up to a point, but you should sound genuine at all times. Which could be a challenge, especially with people, who’ve got issues. Look for ways to help these people and they may actually become your friends or customers for life.

Not living your dream has a price too. It’s called ‘regret’. But don’t dwell too long on ‘I should have’ or on ‘I shouldn’t have’. The past is the past. Your aim should be to attract the future the way you want it. A sensational life may be waiting in the wings. Others seem to have such a life. Why not you?

RICK SCHMULL

6th November, 2014

WESTCLIFF-On-SEA, Essex, U.K.

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RISK IS NOT YOUR ENEMY

RISK IS NOT YOUR ENEMY

Irrational risk is. Don’t bet the farm. But in order to move forward in life, you do have to have something at risk at all times. Risk is part of life. If you constantly try to avoid risk, risk may find you. In fact, the world is not static, so what may seem safe today, could be outdated tomorrow. Detroit was the birthplace of mass production and the Silicon Valley of its day. During the 1930’s, 1940’’s and 1950’s, it experienced its Golden Age. But then customer preferences changed. Not moving with the times, proved fatal. In this world, it’s eat or be eaten. Nothing is permanent. No, Sir.

You have to accept uncertainty and try to deal with it. It’s chaos out there. No real loyalty exists. Stay flexible, keep moving, and ride the Big Waves as they are coming your way. These Waves come and go, so if you don’t seize them, you lose them. These Waves may even offer genuine Breakout Opportunities! Rapid change requires a strategy of trial and error, which does not exclude real planning. Of course, some things are simply not meant to be, but life goes on. Next! You cannot change history anyway, but you can try to shape your future.

Why are so many people, who aren’t better than you, so much ‘luckier’ than you? They’re just in the right place at the right time, right? No, it’s all about willingness. The willingness to make sacrifices and pay the price. Because that increases the likelihood, that you are in the right place at the right time! Never rest on your laurels. You’re a work in progress at all times. If you’re not getting better, you’re getting worse. Indeed, you may have to run twice as fast, just to stay even. Otherwise, you could be obsolete tomorrow.

The biggest risk in life is inertia and complacency. You have to be action and results oriented. Life is being judged by results. The world couldn’t care less about you and your situation, if you fail to show results. Feeling tired? Get people to help you or make sure, that there is new blood in your team. Are they rowing in the same direction? A solo game doesn’t work. Nobody is self-made. That just makes a good story. Life is not all about me, me me. Now, that’s really risky!

RICK SCHMULL

October 22nd, 2014

WESTCLIFF-On-SEA, Essex, U.K.

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