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Here are the three important characteristics of world-class which differentiate them from average people. Steve Siebold, a self-made multi-millionaire, has interviewed more than 1,200 of the world’s wealthiest people over the past 30 years. The below excerpt is from his outstanding book ‘177 Mental Toughness Secrets of the World Class’.
1. Happily Dissatisfied
“Show me a thoroughly satisfied man – and I will show you a failure.” – Thomas Edison
Ordinary people have been labeled “somewhat dissatisfied.” This level of dissatisfaction probably says more about their lack of belief in themselves than it does about their feelings of contentment. If a person earns $50,000 per year and believes he has the ability to earn $60,000 per year, a low level of dissatisfaction with $50,000 likely results. On the other hand, a person earning $50,000 a year who believes he can earn $500,000 is very dissatisfied with his results.
World-class performers understand the power of healthy dissatisfaction and are in a never-ending quest to raise their levels of expectation and upgrade their beliefs. While average people believe, “If you don’t expect much, you won’t be disappointed,” champions believe, “The only way I’ll be disappointed is if I don’t take risks and give it my all.” This is a classic example of how directly opposite philosophies drive these two groups. The results are obvious. The middle class ends up playing it safe in order to gain comfort and security; the world-class becomes the movers and shakers. A good description of the world-class is “happily dissatisfied.” The great ones are in the habit of playing the game of life without a net, and it all begins with the pain of being dissatisfied with their current results.
ACTION STEP: If you’re satisfied in every area of your life, ask why. Are you content because you are truly content, or are you content because you don’t believe you are capable of accomplishing or becoming more?
2. Masters in Time Management
“Even as we speak, jealous time flees–seize this day, and put little faith in tomorrow.” – Horace
Average people hate Monday, refer to Wednesday as “hump day” and “Thank God it’s Friday.” On the other end of the spectrum, champions enjoy all of it. The middle-class consciousness lives for the weekend; the world-class lives in the now. Champions use their belief in themselves and their strong ambition to create the work and home life they desire; so there is no need to wish time away. This is one of the biggest secrets of the high achievers.
Average people search for a security, while champions discover their life’s vision and purpose. When they discover the work they love so much they would do it for free, they embark on the journey of what Dr. Abraham Maslow referred to as “self-actualization,” or becoming all one can be. This is the true secret of their success. They are using time, rather than allowing time to use them. In other words, the great ones understand that no matter how successful they become, time is the one resource they cannot create or purchase. Therefore, time becomes their most valued prize.
Since they love their work and home lives, they tend to outwork, outplay, and (some would say) outlive their middle-class counterparts. The great ones know that no one can truly manage time, yet everyone can manage activities. With that in mind, the great ones surround themselves with activities they love so they are sure to get the most fulfillment out of the time they have.
ACTION STEP: Ask yourself how much time you are wishing away in anticipation of a more pleasurable or fulfilling time. Look at your life with honesty: is it possible to stop investing time in activities you like and exchange them for activities you love?
3. Follow The Results Matrix
“Sales results say more about the salesperson’s belief system than it does about her sales skills. What the salesperson believes about her product, company, herself and her prospect has a greater impact on her results than anything she learned in sales training. Beliefs control behavior, and behavior creates results. The real secret to increasing sales is upgrading the salespersons belief system, and it all begins with programming.” – Steve Siebold
Average performers tend to take a hit-or-miss approach to attract success, fulfillment, and happiness into their lives. Professional performers follow the formula known as the Results Matrix. (Some are aware they’re following it, others are not.) The great ones believe the ultimate prize is happiness, and that happiness is the result of success and fulfillment. They further believe success and fulfillment are created by the appropriate habits, actions, and behaviors, which are dictated by a performer’s level of consciousness.
The performer’s level of consciousness is created by their beliefs, and their beliefs are created by their own programming, which is the manifestation of the language and mental pictures they use with themselves and others. The Results Matrix works for any level you want to attain, and it all begins with making a decision on what level of words and pictures you will use on a regular basis. The great ones decide to go pro and immediately upgrade their language and visualization to a world-class level. After this change has been turned into a habit, it’s only a matter of time before a mental domino effect begins and the performer starts to achieve world-class results. It’s such a simple formula for world-class happiness that most of us miss it. As speaker Jim Rohn says, “It’s easy to do, and easy not to do.”
ACTION STEP: Review the Results Matrix and decide what level of happiness you wish to attain. Your choices are Poverty class, Working class, Middle class, Upper class, and World class. Next, begin the process of upgrading your language and mental pictures that you use with yourself and others.
Results Matrix
(__) Class LANGUAGE and VISUALIZATION
creates(__) Class Programming,
(__) Class PROGRAMMING creates(__) Class BELIEFS,
(__) Class BELIEFS create (__) Class CONSCIOUSNESS,
(__) Class CONSCIOUSNESS creates (__) Class HABITS, ACTIONS, and BEHAVIORS,
(__) Class HABITS, ACTIONS, and BEHAVIORS create (__) Class SUCCESS and FULFILLMENT,
(__) Class SUCCESS and FULFILLMENT create (__) Class HAPPINESS. (The ultimate prize).
