Taking Time for Self

Impress yourself, instead of trying to impress someone else.

Find the path that brings you authentic fulfillment.

It is time to stop doing tasks that never needed to be done in the first place.

Time is a precious commodity. Re-evaluate where you are investing time, based upon your return on investment.

Family comes before work.

Friends are important because they help you to unearth your potential and inspire you to be all that you can.

It’s time to start doing for yourself some of the things that you are doing for someone else.

You give, give, and give to others so that they can improve, but when are you going to celebrate yourself for the moves that are going to facilitate your own breakthrough?

The money that you generate from overtime and long hours on a project are no good if you have no time to spend with yourself and those that matter the most.

Reassess what projects you are presently involved in and see what you can cut away in order to be free.

There is no special badge or award that is reserved for those that work so hard that they run themselves into the ground, ruin their health, or never have time to spend with others or with themselves.

There is no need to beat up on yourself for over committing to projects in the past or present, just take steps now to change the course of those events.

Life is meant to be enjoyed, not merely endured.

You deserve the best; you deserve to have some rest.

Allow stress to roll off of your chest as you start moving away from the lesser things and choose to start moving with determination and focus toward the best things.

This is your year for dynamic, uncommon, and positive change.

Expect the best, get some rest, and I am confident that you will pass any upcoming test.

It’s ok to impress yourself sometimes, instead of trying to impress someone else.

If you don’t take time for self, you won’t have time for anyone else anyway.

Craig L. Sanders

The Comeback Specialist

http://www.craiglsanders.com/

Action Plan

One written plan that you act on is more powerful than a million thoughts that you only ponder on.
What ideas have been swirling in your head that you have refused to act on?

What one thing if you acted on right now would turn your world around for the better?

What is really holding you back?

What person have you been thinking about reaching out to for assistance?

Why couldn’t you experience uncommon success?

If it has been done before it can be done again.

There is no need to add “back-story”, guilt, shame, and blame to the fact that you have not acted on a thought, simply decide what you want to create and take action now.

Today is your life, now is all you’ve got. Don’t mess up now thinking about yesterday.

This moment is the most important moment in your life, for what you do in this moment will decide what future you create.

It’s time to write down your success thought and take action on bringing it to pass.

The most effective action plan is the one that you act on.

Make it a great day.

Comeback Question: What are you allowing to hold you back from taking effective action?

Craig L. Sanders

The Comeback Specialist

http://www.craiglsanders.com/

Master Your Time, Master Your Life

Time is the new money.
If you can master 10 minutes, then you can master 10 years.

Never give your time to pursuits that take you off of your destiny path.

You reach your destination one decision at a time.

Do not worry about what you are going to do next week, take effective action in the moment that you are standing in.

Plan for the future but take action in the present.

The things that you often worry about in your future would be moved out of your way when you decide to take action in your today.

Take advantage of technology and other tools that help you to leverage your time.

Keep your goals in front of you anyway that you can, for what you see is what you desire.

Never beat up on yourself for falling off the path, merely learn the lesson and regain your focus.

If you can master your time, you can master your life.

Life is too important to waste, if you learn to master your time then you will be able to keep an adequate pace.

Comeback Questions:

What is the single greatest use of your time today?

What one thing if you did it right now would make a positive impact on your most important goal?

Craig L. Sanders

The Comeback Specialist

http://www.craiglsanders.com/

Be a Giver

When you feel like being stingy, give more than you intended.

When you feel like withholding helpful information, find more people to share it with.

When someone needs a referral, don’t ponder too long, if it feels right in your “gut” go with it.

There is a breakthrough that takes you past any resistance when you choose to give to others.

What you make happen for someone else you are actually making happen for yourself.

Give without expectation that the receiver will give back to you.

It builds strength of character and uncommon confidence when you give knowing that it will eventually come back to you, but you don’t necessarily know through whom.

You will have more joy and fulfillment in your day when you choose to give to others in a positive way.

Lift someone’s spirit by giving the positive comment that you wanted to hold back.

Be the first to initiate a kind word or a smile to a friend, co-worker, associate, or total stranger, even if they don’t give it back.

Look at people when you talk to them today and really listen to what they have to say.

When you respond to that e-mail, take a little extra time and find a creative way to convey a soothing “tone”.

Your words and actions are more powerful than you could know. You actually don’t know exactly what someone else may be going through. On the exterior they may look like a kingly lion, but on the inside they may feel like a whipped pup. Go ahead and take the time today to give someone else a “pick me up”.

Forgive people more than they deserve.

Love people past their mistakes.

The return on your investment will overwhelm you in time, if you consistently pour positivity in to someone else and the challenges that they may be facing.

Be uncommon today, be a giver.

Comeback Question:

Who could use your kindness today?

What one small action could you do to help make a big difference for them?

Craig L. Sanders

The Comeback Specialist

http://www.craiglsanders.com/

Shift Gears

The potential of an automotive engine is unleashed and increased by the action of gear shifting.
Regardless of the mode of transportation that you use on a regular basis there is no doubt some mechanism of acceleration involved. Otherwise, you would not be using that method of transportation.

The average person wants to get where they are going faster not slower.

The same is true for our personal and professional destinies. Destiny according to dictionary.com is “fate” or “a predetermined course of events.”

We can “predetermine” to have a positive “fate” or outcome by the actions that we choose to take on a daily basis.

We can accelerate the pace of the positive outcomes that we experience by choosing to shift gears.

We can take our innate potential, our natural strengths, our developed skill sets and shift to new levels.

When an NBA point guard is dealing with a full court press defensive scheme against him in the midst of a basketball game, he will often shift gears and “push” the ball forward faster to break the “press”. He will push against the thing, i.e., the defense, that is pushing against him in order to arrive at his desired destination, which is the other end of the basketball court in order to have an opportunity to score.

Sometimes you don’t have to “learn” something totally new in order to be effective, you just have to do what you know to do at a higher or more intense level. In sales, it is often necessary to make emphatic and convincing points with passion that effectively persuade the potential buyer. When you are speaking with a family member that doesn’t seem to respond to the 1st gear of your communication, you may find it necessary to shift up to 3rd or 4th gear until they understand where you are coming from.

Shifting gears in the midst of your day can be exhilarating and fun. It is exciting and reassuring to know that at any given moment, you have untapped potential at your disposal that you can put into play. All it takes is a decision and a corresponding action.

Assess your current situation, and determine if you need to shift gears and accelerate. It may be the very key that allows you to manifest your destiny at a faster rate.

Comeback Question:
What actions do you take when you need a “breakthrough” in a certain area of life or business?

Craig L. Sanders

The Comeback Specialist

http://www.craiglsanders.com/

Live in the Moment

There is no better time than the present.
We cannot do anything about yesterday.

When tomorrow gets here we will call it “today”.

There is no need to worry about tomorrow, because we have enough to keep us busy today.

To be honest, this moment right here, right now is all we have.

Many people get “stressed out” or overwhelmed when they step out of the present moment and try to deal with the past or start trying to live in the future.

Don’t get me wrong, there is a place for processing the past and for planning for the future, but when we slip into anxiety and worry regarding the past or future we have slipped out of balance.

It is virtually impossible to be upset, anxious, angry, or worried if we focus on living in the moment. I’m not even talking about living in “today”. I’m talking about living in the very moment that you are in which happens to be encapsulated in a package called “today”.

When you catch yourself getting upset when you are speaking with a co-worker, vendor, associate, or family member, there is no need to escalate the situation. There is no need to “beat up” on yourself for realizing that you slipped into “upset” mode. Just simply take a deep breath, relax, close your eyes, and live in the moment.

Be right here, right now in every sense of the word. It is possible to control your thoughts and emotions. I find the most effective way to control my emotions is to say something positive out loud. When I am tempted to think a negative or fearful thought when faced with a sizeable task, or if someone says, “Wow, that’s a big challenge, I don’t know if you can make it.” I simply respond out loud, “We can do this!” or “We’ll figure it out!” I get excited about getting into the moment.

Change happens inside of the moment.

Answers arise inside of the moment.

Peace and calm come inside of the moment.

Your uncommon future unfolds inside of the moment.

I challenge you right now to live in the moment.

Comeback Question:

What is the most effective way that you have found to reduce your stress level on a daily basis?

Craig L. Sanders

The Comeback Specialist

http://www.craiglsanders.com/

Take Your Game to the Next Level

“Follow effective action with quiet reflection. From the quiet reflection will come even more effective action.” –Peter F. Drucker

Regardless of if we have had a recent “win” or a recent “loss”, we can take our game, i.e., our businesses, careers, families, and personal lives, to the next level.

Winning teams and individuals find ways to elevate their performance through hard work, expanding their knowledge, or getting coaching on a particular area.

We can actually find inspiration in each situation regardless of whether it feels “good” or “bad”.

It doesn’t matter what the recent result was, it matters what we do after the result. The results, “good” or “bad” are what they are, but in order to improve results, we must improve ourselves.

We can turn any circumstance in our favor, especially if we learn from it.

We can learn what to do and what not to do. We can learn from watching the successes and setbacks of others.

We can actually maintain momentum in the midst of an apparent “defeat” and accelerate momentum after a recent “win”, especially when we extract the knowledge that the recent event is offering us. We can do this be doing reflection and self-inquiry.

We can ask ourselves, “What could I have done better…why did I get that particular result…what small change will accelerate my progress for the next go round?”

It is not always the big changes that yield big results, it is often the minor adjustments that seem to move insurmountable mountains.

Author and speaker, Mike Murdock says, “Small keys open big doors.” Use the knowledge from your most recent results, make minor adjustments, take your game to the next level, and enjoy continued success.

Craig L. Sanders

The Comeback Specialist

http://www.craiglsanders.com/

Manage Change Daily

“To change your life, change something you do in your daily routine.” –Mike Murdock

Change can be a challenge to our minds, our careers, our businesses, and our families.

Change is a lot easier to deal with if it is understood that change must happen and will happen whether we “like” it or not.

Change is a lot easier to deal with when we realize change does not have to be dreaded; we can actually welcome and look forward to change.

Change is a lot easier to deal with when we put systems in place to manage it.

The reason that we don’t have to fear chaos is that we do have the power to create order.

Creating order is a form of management.

We can manage change. One of the easiest ways to manage change is to manage it daily.

We can make smoother transitions in the midst of a course adjustment by daily oversight of our activity.

If we try to change one habit on a daily, gradual basis, we will make significant and accelerated progress.

Managing “problem” areas in our lives, careers, and businesses on a daily basis will take mountains down to the size of mole hills.

Areas of our lives, careers, and businesses that once seemed insurmountable and impossible now become accomplished areas of improvement and progress, all because we chipped away at the problem a little bit every day.

Take a significant area of your life, business, family, or career that you would like to see change in and act like it is a game. Act like it is not really a big deal and that it is a “project” that you will make progress on a little bit at a time. Think of it as a masterpiece that you are creating just like a world-class sculptor, painter, or composer. You make a little change here today, a minor adjustment there tomorrow, and before you know it the area that was once a problem now has found a workable solution.

Change may often “feel” uncomfortable but you can make it work for you if you manage change daily.

Be aggressive about making the changes that are needed in your life, business, or career. Get excited about it, put a plan and system in place, get to work on the area of challenge and make daily progress. Before you know it, you will likely make a beautiful masterpiece out of what was once a horrendous mess. Positive change can often happen for you when you decide to manage change daily with consistent and effective activity. You only have to commit to do it, one day at a time.

Comeback Questions:

What area of your life needs the most change?

What small action can you implement today that will bring change to this area of your life?

Simply commit to do this same action tomorrow and repeat the process daily until the area changes.

Craig L. Sanders

The Comeback Specialist

http://www.craiglsanders.com/

Make Course Adjustments

“Change is inevitable, misery is optional.” –Unknown

It is said that airplane pilots spend more time off course than on course. It is said that they spend the majority of their time making course adjustments.

It is not that they have done or are doing anything wrong. It is just that it comes with the territory.

Pilots are human. Humans are imperfect. We are all imperfect humans that live in an imperfect world.

Therefore, course adjustments are a part of the deal.

If we set out on a project with a certain end-goal in mind, it may be likely that several changes, adjustments, and modifications will be required to successfully reach the goal.

Making changes is not a negative thing. It is interesting that we often perceive change as being negative. We perceive it as a sign that something is wrong with us or our family or our company. We often take it intensely personal.

This is actually a “normal” reaction to change. However, it does not mean that it is “right”. We have to understand how our minds work. We are creatures of habit. Anytime our habit or routine is challenged to change our minds send a signal to our central nervous system that something uncomfortable is taking place. We sense a feeling of stress, a twinge in our stomach, a thought that brings displeasure, or something similar.

This is no big deal. We should never fear chaos because we have the power to create order. We can take authority over our thoughts, feelings, and emotions at any given time and take the actions that are necessary. We have the power to take the proper course of action that will “right the ship”, and keep us on the proper pathway of success.

I have found personally that once I can admit that I don’t “have it all together” and that I need help, and that change is a good thing, I find that I can make it through the process a lot easier.

Making course adjustments is a beautiful thing. It keeps us fresh, creative, and constantly growing. Change comes to make us better, not bitter.

I encourage you to welcome change. Don’t be thrown off kilter just because someone threw you a curve ball. Learn from whatever event that has taken place, make the needed adjustment, and move on down the road of success.

Pilots have to adjust what is known in aviation as there “attitudes”. If they do not adjust their attitudes, i.e., flying instruments, then they place themselves and their precious cargo at great risk. Pilots know the importance of adjusting to the atmosphere and the elements. The same is true for us. We should be confident and bold, but humble enough to make changes when needed. Our attitudes should be positive and pliable, not negative and brittle. In the long run it will help us and those that are with us to reach our desired destinations successfully and safely.

Comeback Questions:

What is your biggest challenge to accepting change?

What is the most effective way to overcome this challenge?

Craig L. Sanders

The Comeback Specialist

http://www.craiglsanders.com/

Make a Good Catch

In football a good catch is not determined by how pretty, athletic, or elegant a catch was. A good catch is one that is caught, one that is held onto until the play is over. When a quarterback throws the football to a receiver and the receiver successfully catches the ball it is called a “completion”.
There are no extra points given for style or if you caught it with one hand, or almost dropped it but held onto it. The point is did you catch the ball?

The same is true for your personal pursuits or business ventures. Make a good catch, not a perfect catch, not a pretty catch, not an impressive catch; just make a catch. Start the project and complete the project.

Launch the business idea, get it started. Start the new initiative in your department. Lead your family in that exciting new direction. Go take the night or weekend class. Write the book. Start the blog. Create the new fashion line. Bake the cake. Go for the new position. Start the new fitness program. Take the vacation. Go get the new client. Whatever it is, just make a good catch. Get it started and get it completed.

Effective entrepreneurs, professionals, and people in general make good catches. They get things done. They do the best that they can at the time. They believe in excellence, not perfection.

Perfectionism may be responsible for killing more dreams than anything else.

You don’t have to be great, just good enough; good enough to get the job done with the best level of excellence that you can muster at that time.

If you were walking on a sidewalk and slipped on a banana peel but didn’t quite fall to the ground, that’s a good catch. If you did happen to fall to the ground you would probably get back up and go at it again. That is still a good catch because I am very confident that you would have learned from the slight mishap. Anytime that you learn from a mishap or a setback it’s a good catch. In our personal and professional lives there may be proverbial banana peels that seem to lie in our pathways, little “hiccups” along the way. There is no need to stop or quit, it’s merely a minor delay. Throw the ball, make a good catch, and advance your team and yourself into new victory.

Comeback Question: What is the best way to recover after a setback?

Craig L. Sanders

The Comeback Specialist

http://www.craiglsanders.com/

You Can Do More Than What You Give Yourself Credit For

You can do more than you give yourself credit for.

Failure is not final.

An attempt that does not align with your target does not mean you have to bail on your efforts.

If you slipped off your diet or missed an “important” appointment or whatever your blunder happens to be, stop adding “back-story” to it. “Back-story” is all the negative internal and external things that we tell ourselves as to what this failed attempt means. Like a virtual news reporter here are some of the back-stories we tell ourselves: “This happened because I’m just stupid…I can’t believe I was dumb enough to…I’m an idiot…I’m not good enough to win that account…”, etc.

Why does it have to “mean” something? Why can’t it just be a mistake? Why do we have to wrap your entire self-worth around an event that didn’t go the way we wanted it to? Why do we choose to get on the fear and self-loathing ride that is going nowhere but down, and really fast?

These things don’t have to be. The first thing that usually happens when we make a mistake of whatever nature it happens to be is that, we are complete and utter “failures”, unworthy of the air that we are breathing.

When we jump on this train of thought what usually happens is that we settle for things that we really don’t want.

We want more, we want higher and better but we can’t. Why? Well, because we “failed” of course. This is garbage. A failed attempt is nothing more than feedback on what may not be the best route to take in a particular endeavor. Rejection is nothing more than positive redirection.

Learn to give yourself credit for the good things that are in you, the good things that you’ve done, and the good things that you can create. To say that no one is perfect is stating the obvious. That is what personal development is all about. The people that get on in this life are those that acknowledge where they missed it and they simply take actions to fix it. It’s that hard and it’s that easy.

In business, career, relationships, health, finances, or whatever area you can possibly think of, give yourself credit. Every attempt may not be a home run, but if you don’t step up to the plate it is guaranteed that you will never hit one. Baseball legend, Babe Ruth said, “Every strike brings me closer to the next home run.” Every unsuccessful attempt brings you closer to a better result if you learn from it. So what if you failed on that particular attempt, at least you tried. Plus, look how far you’ve come, not how far you have left to go. Celebrate your progress.

Give yourself credit, stop wrapping twisted self-loathing stories around unsuccessful attempts and step up to the plate and take another swing. It’s time to play the game of life. Sitting on the bench because of a poor performance isn’t helping you or the team, i.e., the people that are counting on you.

Craig L. Sanders

The Comeback Specialist

www.craiglsanders.com

Your Comeback is Waiting on You

Setbacks are a part of life. We all face them in relationships, career, business, etc.

The question is not whether setbacks exist or will they come? The question is how we deal with them when they do?

Setbacks is a term that has been coined for things that have been perceived as impeding progress toward a destination or goal, and usually viewed as a negative occurrence.

Most people when experiencing a setback entertain thoughts of doubt, fear, uncertainty, worry and a host of other emotions.

Setbacks are not necessarily negative. Setbacks can be one of the most positive things that ever happen to you, a business partner, a co-worker, a company, or a friend. Why? Because setbacks shake the nest so that we can spread are wings and fly.

Setbacks jolt us out of comfort zones so that we can use our creative ability to find new and better solutions.

Regarding our emotions, we must remember that we are effective owners. Emotions are like employees, they must be managed for optimum results. We must manage our own emotions; no one else will do it for us.

Regarding comebacks, you can have one anytime you get good and ready. Your comeback is not holding back on you. You are holding back on your comeback. How you may ask?

Comebacks are like teammates on a winning football team. You are the quarterback calling the plays. If you don’t call the play, give the team direction, and “hike” the ball then no one else on the field will move. As a matter of fact, when quarterbacks take too long to call and start a play the referee issues a penalty called, “Delay of Game”. Comebacks are simply waiting on your creative and effective daily activity. Don’t delay your own game by refusing to take action.

What actions will you take today to move yourself closer to the goals that you really want? The dream job or client that you want is waiting. You can create or improve any professional or personal relationship that you want. You bring great value to the table, go tell somebody about it. It all requires simple, consistent, and effective action.

Your past doesn’t matter; move into today with fresh creative action. The ball is in your hands. Call the play, get the ball moving, and rack up enough points to win for today. Your comeback is waiting on you.

Craig L. Sanders

The Comeback Specialist

http://www.craiglsanders.com/

Be the Change

Often times people feel in order for them to be happy, someone else needs to change.

Someone else needs to adjust, someone else needs to start doing something or stop doing something in order for there to be joy, productivity, prosperity, or serenity.

It is interesting that people seldom ever change enough to our liking. Business partners don’t always make the decisions that align with our preferences. Family members seem to know exactly which buttons to push on the console of our soul to set us off in a bad mood. It is almost as if our emotions are electronic dashboards or MP3s that people can push to bring up the selection or response that they want to see. These things don’t have to be. We can manage our emotions; we can live past our own feelings, and the undesirable behaviors of others.

There is a way to negate the influence of perceived negativity in our personal and professional lives. That way is to be the change that we would like to see in others.

I find that when I expect someone else to do something and they don’t do it, I am tempted to slip into a victim mindset as if they have some elusive power or control over me.

When I ignore the perceived negativity by doing the thing that I wish they would do, I find that an untapped power source is released. It’s the feeling of the entrepreneur, the business owner, the fulfilled professional, or the effective “Average Joe” that is decisive and effective. They simply will not allow the thoughts in someone else’s head to control their life, business, or destiny.

They are not rude, they are assertive and kind. They serve others by being true to their authentic selves. They are true servant leaders. A servant leader leads by being the change that they want to see in others. They do not get bitter when someone else “disappoints” them, they get better. They are not vindictive, they are supportive. They manage their relationships for optimum effectiveness and mutually beneficial results. Yes they are human but they never allow their emotions to run too high or too low. They are even keeled. They are strong because leading by example and being the change that they want to see in others builds emotional and mental muscle. They are stable, they are steady, and they are ready for whatever comes their way. They are ready because if something doesn’t align with their true desires, they are strong enough to bring change by being the change.

All of us have the uncommon ability to be change agents by the choices that we make inside of each moment. The next time you are tempted to “fly off the handle”, choose instead to be stealth and “fly under the radar”. Choose to be cool, calm, and collected”, the proper decision that you need to make will rise to the surface, it will naturally emerge.

The process of being a catalyst for positive change is powerful. Serving others by being the change that you want to see builds strength and resolve, enabling you to gain momentum on your dreams and goals. It also helps others to do the same. Guilt, shame, and blame fall helplessly to the floor when you take ownership and decide to be the change that you want to see in others. Go ahead and change your world by taking the positive actions that you want to see. Be the change agent that you were destined to be.

Question: What ways have you discovered that bring positive and effective change?

Craig L. Sanders

The Comeback Specialist

http://www.craiglsanders.com/

The Power of Forcing the Issue

I believe that persistence breaks resistance.

Author and speaker, Roberts Liardon says, “Progression breaks regression.”

Never be afraid to press through any resistance that stands in the way of a worthy goal.

It is said that doing the same thing over and over again expecting different results is the definition of insanity. However, when you make minor adjustments and tweaks and apply steady forward progress you may often times arrive at a positive result, a breakthrough. You may find yourself stumbling over success more often than you fall into failure, when you learn to press the issue in the most effective ways.

Never be afraid to go for your dreams, desires, and goals.

Challenges are one of the beautiful things that make life interesting.

They cause your creativity to flourish and invigorate your soul.

Defeat is not a fact but rather an opinion. Choose to be of the opinion that setbacks are only minor delays along the road to a fulfilled destiny.

Enjoy your journey. Never be in a hurry. Take each instance as it comes. Notice the rhythm of life and recognize that your time will come. Live in the moment, live in the now. Decide to take your life, your business, your career, your health, your wealth, your family to the next level of success. This all happens when you decide to persist instead of quit.

Your destiny and your fulfillment are worth every hard fought victory. Never yield to the temptation to give up, instead press forward and snatch victory out of the hands of defeat.

If it was easy then everyone would do it. You’re paying the price for your success. You're passing the current life test that is before you and you will see the fruits of your labor.

I encourage you to persist. Learn to force the issue, especially when it really matters.

Question: What success keys have you used for persisting in the face of tough challenges?

Craig L. Sanders

The Comeback Specialist
http://www.craiglsanders.com/

Breakthroughs Happen in the Moment

This blog post is about breakthroughs in your personal and professional life and about seizing the moment. Each and every one of us to deal with challenges in our personal or professional lives. It could be a health challenge, financial challenge, or mental challenge. Regardless of what we're dealing with, one of the most important things to keep in mind is that change takes place in the moment. The power to change and make things better resides in the very moment that you are living in. All of us deal with challenges that have happened in our past; challenges that are pressing against us in our present and challenges that try to make us anxious about our future.

One of the most powerful questions that you can ask yourself is, "What do I want to create?” I learned that from Steve Chandler who is an author, speaker, and the leader of http://www.clubfearless.net/ . In regards to what has happened in your past always remember, it doesn't matter. All that matters is what are you going to do now?

It doesn't matter what your mistakes have been, it doesn't matter what your failures may be. Always remember, taking action in your present is a master key. Anxieties that seem as big as mountains turn to the size of sand granules, when you decide to focus on this present moment. Living in the moment is one of the most powerful skills that you can ever develop. All anxieties, find the quickest exit from your life, when you decide to shift your focus from your past or from your future, into the present moment, into this nanosecond.

When you think about the question, “What can I do right now to move myself forward?” all the creativity that is inside of you comes to the surface; solutions begin to emerge and worries begin to vanish; fears begin to evaporate. Live in this moment that is where true action takes place. Your next victory is connected to your next activity. Your next breakthrough, your next optimal result, is inextricably connected to your next action. Do not operate in fear, stay fearless. Decide to take consistent and wise action. Be persistent, be consistent, and you will move forward and be able to blast passed anything that has constrained you to this point.

What keys have you discovered for personal and professional breakthrough?

Turn Your Setbacks into Accelerated Comebacks,

Craig L. Sanders
The Comeback Specialist
http://www.craiglsanders.com/

P.S.  I believe positive and accelerated changes are coming for you!

Powerful Reasons Why You Should Never Worry

Worrying is to think negatively over and over about a certain situation whether it is actual or perceived.
Worry is a close cousin of fear.

Fear is to have confidence in a negative outcome.

Optimism is to have confidence in a positive outcome.

Regardless of what you, a loved one, an associate or close friend is dealing with, one thing is for sure; worrying will not help them or the situation.

Worrying is a waste of creative energy.

To worry is to abuse the mind.

Conversely, if we take creative action toward a solution then we lift our own mood into powerful positivity that things will work out.

To be honest, it does not take a great deal more effort to stay positive versus operating in the negative.

It is one small action step taken in a small moment of time. As a matter of fact, as we live in the moment, it is virtually impossible to be depressed or negative.

No matter how “bad” a situation appears, worrying or self-loathing is not going to help it.

Author Mike Murdock often says, “Nothing is ever as bad as it first appears.”

Take another look at your situation. Things are not really as bad as they “seem”. If things “seem” really bad, then take a mental trip through the circumstance of someone who has it a lot worse than you do. Think of someone who wants to eat 3 square meals per day but can’t even afford a bowl of rice and can’t get a cold glass of clean drinking water because the well that they drink from in their village is filled with sewage.

Even if you don’t have a job right now, you have a million and one options. You can get on the phone and call someone that may be able to offer you help. You can go to your local public library and use the internet, attend free classes, and develop yourself all for free.

You are not a victim of your circumstances. You are a proactive champion. Refuse to worry. We are all tempted to take negative paths when confronted with adverse circumstances. It does not mean that you are a loser because you “feel” like every other human when faced with a challenge. The key is the decisions you make moment by moment and day by day. Choose to be proactive. Choose to be creative. Choose to be compassionate toward yourself and towards someone else.

Things always get better when you refuse to worry.

Refuse to worry and decide what you want to create instead.

Exercising your creativity is one of the most effective ways to eliminate worry and fuel your life with energy.

Creativity is a beautiful thing.

Question: What ways have you discovered to effectively avoid worrying?

Turn Your Setbacks into Accelerated Comebacks,


Craig L. Sanders
“The Comeback Specialist”

P.S. To inquire about Craig's book, "Keys to Manifesting Your Destiny", his coaching packages, or to have him speak at your event, please visit his website: http://www.craiglsanders.com/

P.P.S. Follow Craig on these following social media sites:

Twitter: @CRAIGLSANDERS http://bit.ly/5rMQy5

Facebook: http://bit.ly/8DHOzU

Linkedin: http://bit.ly/5kLw5F

Copyright 2010 Craig Sanders Unlimited, LLC

6 Ways to Turn Negative News into Positive Results

You don’t have to allow your past to hold you from your future.

I am often amazed at the number of people that I encounter that allow themselves to be held victim to an event that took place in their past.

It is “normal” to feel the effects of your past but it does not have to control the direction and results of your future.

When you hear “negative” news, just remember that information is theoretically neutral until you assign a label, positive or negative to it. Remember, news is nothing more than information. The purpose of news is to Inform you. Information should simply be processed. We can choose what information we intake and we can choose how we will process it.

First and foremost, we don’t have to see things that happen in our past, present, or future as negative.

Some things are not positive or negative; they are just a “fact of life”. It is just something we get to deal with, an opportunity to create something beautiful. We can even make the events in our life a game. We can challenge ourselves and others to come up with creative responses to “challenging” situations.

Whether you laugh, sigh, or cry after hearing “news” or information in your personal or professional life, you still have to make a decision and take an action. Whether you choose to label the news negative or positive, you still have to process the information and decide what you will do about it. To not make a decision is still a decision; it’s just a decision to not act. Either way, there will be consequences.

Any product that was made by a human will eventually need to be repaired. It is not necessarily a sign that your life or business is “cursed” or that you are experiencing bad luck when a car or your laptop needs maintenance. There is such a thing as “wear and tear”. If you continue to wear the same blue jeans often enough, eventually they will wear out. Things that breakdown need to be replaced or repaired, pure and simple. It doesn’t have to be positive or negative.

History is replete with people that have experienced what many considered to be insurmountable odds, or devastating abuse, but were able not only to survive but thrive. The common denominator of most success stories is usually the person’s choice to rise above the challenge. They chose to see the opportunity instead of the obstacle. They looked for what was possible and not for what was impossible. They chose to have a positive spin on the situation. They sided with the positive view instead of a negative view. A positive perception can be your greatest protection in “negative” situations.

Whatever you have experienced in your life, family, or business, it does not have to be viewed as negative, and it does not have to hold you back. Refuse to let anything or anyone hold you back.

Stress does not have to be a part of your life like a bad roommate that you cannot get rid of. Choose to manage your stress by focusing on methods that will accelerate your success.

Stress is a choice and so is a positive perception. Choose to increase your focus on the tasks and activities that will accelerate success. Stress is nothing but a clarion call for greater focus. You can focus just as well as anyone else on the planet. It’s a simple choice.

You do not have to be the victim of anyone or anything. Being a victim is a choice; being an owner is also a choice. You have the power to own your situation and create a beautiful result, just like a property owner has the ability to change the property's landscape anytime they get good and ready. Get rid of the weeds on your property! Someone could have done something “bad” to you or something “unfortunate” could have taken place in your business. You can choose to say, “What’s good about this?” You can choose to say, “This will turn out for my good. I can make this work. I can do this!”

At any point, you can choose to rise up and say, “What happened in my past is irrelevant. What matters now is what I choose to do in this moment.”

Operate from a position of strength in all of your personal and professional dealings.

If someone refuses to acknowledge you, you do not have to add a label of “rejection” to the interaction. They simply did not acknowledge you, it is what it is, and it’s no big deal. There could be a multitude of reasons why someone did not speak to you, hire you, or do business with you. The reasons are what they are. The reason for someone’s action or inaction toward you does not take away from the value of who you are.

A $100 bill backed by the Federal Reserve has the exact same value whether it is spanking brand new or crumpled up in the corner of someone’s purse or front pocket. That $100 bill will spend just the same no matter where it came from, and no matter what happened to it before it got to you. Similarly, your value does not change just because someone did not recognize your value. Your are brilliant, period, end of story.

Events that took place in your past don’t have to last. Process the information that they provide and decide to simply glide into the beautiful future that is yours and yours alone.

“The rest of your life will be the best of your life.” –Dr. Dave Martin

Remember the following keys when processing “negative” news from your past, present, or future:

1) Nothing is ever as bad as it first appears.

This 1st key is taken from a quote that I cherish from author Mike Murdock. One of the principles that he shares in his book, “The Law of Recognition”, is that every season in your life has a purpose. It is up to you to discern the purpose of the present season that you are experiencing. Learn to extract the benefits of every season that you are in. If you are presently unemployed or in need of new clients, use this time as an opportunity to refuel and retool; upgrade your skills and services. The season for research is not the season for marketing. The present season you are in will change. It may initially feel bad, look bad, or sound bad, but nothing is really that bad. There is likely some positive benefit in the situation just waiting for your recognition. Remember, nothing is ever as bad as it first appears.

2) Change is inevitable, misery is optional.

Things will change; this is a part of life and business. One of the best ways to manage change is to prepare for it. The economy will change. Business will change. Human bodies grow older. Muscles that are not used will eventually atrophy. Change will come, how we deal with change is a choice that is ours and ours alone. We don’t have to be “negative” about change. Change can be one of the best things that ever happens to us, but we must perceive and negotiate change appropriately in order to fully benefit from it. Make a habit of preparing for and being positive about change. Remember, change is inevitable, misery is optional. Be positive, you can do this!

3) Rejection is nothing more than redirection.

It may have been the best thing for you that you did not land that position or account that you thought you really “had” to have. You later found out that the company hit hard times 12 months later and had to reduce their workforce by 50%. You did not know this at the time but now you are grateful that you did not land that position or account. You were protected from further financial setback. It may have been for the best that the relationship that you thought you had to have never developed. You later found out that the person had some major character flaws that would have significantly impeded the positive progress of your life. Your life was spared from the potential grief and heartache. Remember, rejection is nothing more than redirection.

4) Learn the lesson and forget the drama and the details.

It is our own choice to assign a label to a particular interaction. When a buyer or a manager or a family member corrects us we should see it as a positive thing. For the most part, people that we do business with or that are friends or family only want the best for us. In mutual business dealings, the other party does not truly benefit if you are not doing well. Friends and family only want the best for you. If your friends or family don’t want the best for you then you don’t have to call them a friend, or if they are family you don’t have to be victimized by them. You can choose who you allow access to your life. If an event takes place that most people would call “negative”, refuse to feed into it. Forget the irrelevant details and the emotionally charged discourse and choose to learn the lesson. What is the main point, what is the key takeaway? Take the lesson, apply it, and experience a better result in the future. It’s not deep, simply learn the lesson and forget the drama and the details.

5) Build a Buffer Zone.

A buffer zone as defined by the American Heritage Dictionary is a neutral area between hostile or belligerent forces that serves to prevent conflict. Build buffer zones in your personal and professional life. Allow people space to disagree without you having an emotionally charged response. The fact that two people do not agree on a certain topic does not diminish the value of either party. What building a buffer zone does is enable two differing parties to exist in an area that is safe for both entities. The fact that someone does not agree with your goal or pursuit does not have to impede your progress, simply build a buffer zone.

6) Build Margin into Your Life.

Stress will be significantly reduced when you build margin into your life. Expand the time frames in which you execute important tasks. Plan for the unexpected, some people have mounting stress in their lives because they try to get too much done in too little time. Many that feel like they have not completed half of what they intended for a particular day often have unrealistic expectations. Readjust your expectations and be realistic. Give yourself more time to do important tasks and stop trying to get "everything" done, and just get the most important things done. Margin is when you give yourself 45 minutes to get a 25 minute task done. If you get the task done in 25 minutes, great; if you don’t, no big deal, you built 45 minutes into your day for this task and it doesn’t throw your entire day off. Building margin into your life will make life more enjoyable and more effective.

Apply the above keys to your life, business, career, or family and enjoy the results of turning negative news into positive results!

Question: What methods do you use to turn "negative" news into positive results?

I really enjoy reading your comments.

Turn Your Setbacks into Accelerated Comebacks,


Craig L. Sanders
“The Comeback Specialist”

P.S. To inquire about Craig's book, "Keys to Manifesting Your Destiny", his coaching packages, or to have him speak at your event, please visit his website: http://www.craiglsanders.com/  

P.P.S. Follow Craig on these following social media sites:

Twitter: @CRAIGLSANDERS http://bit.ly/5rMQy5

Facebook: http://bit.ly/8DHOzU

Linkedin: http://bit.ly/5kLw5F

Copyright 2010 Craig Sanders Unlimited, LLC

7 Keys to Building a Stress-Free Lifestyle

Reducing stress can seem like a monumental task.
How do you get on top of tasks that seem to be getting the best of you?

There are so many things to do in this life. There are seemingly a million things pulling at you from a million different directions. Extracurricular activities turn into over commitment and extra pressure that mounds and mounds and manifests in the form of frustration, indigestion, exasperation, and the list goes on and on.

There is a way to manage your life where you can actually experience more peace, joy, productivity, efficiency, and uncommon fulfillment.

One thing that I have learned over the years is that I must never complain about what I permit. You will either be an owner of your destiny or a victim of your circumstances. It is all a choice. It’s your choice and no one else’s.

One well known international author and speaker was complaining about how busy her schedule was. After complaining and blaming others and some extensive soul searching, she suddenly realized that she was responsible for making her schedule so busy. She is the one that agreed to all of the back to back speaking engagements and television interviews. She is the one that did not make room on her calendar for rest, exercise, and relaxation. She could not blame anyone but herself. What did she do? She took responsibility for her own choices (ownership). She took ownership and refused to become a victim of her own poor planning. She got back to doing one thing; one beautiful thing at a time. She began to schedule rest and recreation into her schedule.

She began to see that she was doing some things just to please other people, even though inwardly she knew she could not afford to over commit. She forgot the power of saying “no”. She forgot to say, “No, that does not work for me, but thanks for asking…No, I will not be able to do what you are asking.” “No” can be such a liberating word. People will actually respect you more if you have the strength and courage to say “no” when something does not work for you.

If you do not make the changes that need to be made in your life, no one else can or will make them for you. Actually, life is only as stressful as we make it. Steve Chandler says there is really no such thing as being overwhelmed; we just need to be bolder and get more focused. Take control of your life, career, business, fitness, family, etc. Be courageous. Be proactive. Be decisive. Be free. Be stress-free.

As you continue your daily quest to reduce stress, remember the following keys:

1) Practice mindfulness.

Stress if reduced when you get into what you are doing. Follow your passion instead of a distraction. When you are driving and in route to your destination, notice every little thing along the way. Notice the color of the leaves on the trees. Notice the person that is crossing the street while you are at the light. Take time to look the cashier in the eyes and give a genuine smile, and say, “thank you”. When you are in a conversation with anyone, give them your total and complete focus. If you don’t really have time to talk, don’t just keep filing papers while someone is trying to talk to you, just politely tell them that this is really not the best time for you. Be mindful of everything you do, it will help to keep you stress-free.

2) Do one thing.

This key that I learned from author Steve Chandler www.clubfearless.net has helped me and so many others. You really never have a million things to do at once; you only have the one thing that you are choosing to do in that moment. You can really only do one thing at a time. It doesn’t matter who you are or what activity you are involved in, you can only do one thing at a time. Even when people say they are multi-tasking, they are really only doing one thing at a time. Make a list of the “million” things that you need to get done, pick one and get it done. Put all of your creativity, all of your energy, and all of your focus into doing the one thing that you have chosen to do. Do it with joy, do it with craftsmanship, and do it with excellence. Feel the satisfaction that comes from completion. Enjoy the satisfaction, celebrate your achievement, and then pick another wonderful task from your list of opportunities to complete with joy and mastery. Doing one thing will help you to stay stress-free.

3) Learn the power of one hour.

Your day, your business, your family, your life really takes off when you learn to give every hour a definite, clear, and concise purpose. Give every hour an assignment. Decide what every hour or a series of hours is assigned to produce. Every 24 hours should produce a measurable product or number of products for you. Even if one of the products that is produced for a specific 24 hours is rest and relaxation, give every hour an assignment. Your life moves forward one hour at a time. Don’t just plan the next 10 months or 10 years, the real power comes in planning the next 10 hours! Learn the power of one hour.

4) Anxiety subsides when you learn to just enjoy the ride.

When I was a child and my parents were driving me and my brothers to wherever they were taking us, I would ask incessantly, “Where are we going? Are we there yet?” The answer was always the same, “Just sit back and enjoy the ride.” That was never the answer I was looking for. Even now, as I take the virtual journey towards the destination of my dreams and goals, I ask myself the same questions that I asked my parents. I ask myself, “Where am I going? Am I there yet?” The answer that rises up on the inside of me is still the same, “Just sit back and enjoy the ride.” I notice that when I stop trying to figure everything out and stop trying to force things to happen out of their proper timing, and just enjoy the ride, the anxiety and stress start to subside. Before I know it, I have arrived at my destination with peace and joy. Anxiety subsides when you and I learn to just enjoy the ride.

5) Write it down.

One personal development author said, “The dullest pencil is better than the sharpest mind.” Stop carrying all of your tasks, and ideas, and responsibilities around in your head. That is not what your mind is for. Use your mind for creativity. Use your mind to drum up creative solutions and strategies. Use your planner, PDA, iPhone, or legal pad to right down your tasks and responsibilities. Once you start writing things down you will notice almost immediately how your stress levels start to significantly decline. The dullest pencil (write it down), is better than the sharpest mind (trying to remember things that you can simply write down for future reference). Write it down and you will not experience the fear and anxiety of feeling that you are forgetting “something”. Write it down and you will be more apt to maintain a stress-free lifestyle.

6) Learn the power of saying “no”.

Be courageous enough to say “no” when something does not work for you. Resist the temptation to do things just to “please” people, especially when it is not in your best interests to do what they are asking. There are certain responsibilities that we all know are inescapable. It is a wonderful privilege to be able to serve your family and help your friends. However, never fear setting healthy and appropriate boundaries. “No” is a very effective boundary word that will help you keep your priorities straight, so that you are giving your time to the people and places that you should. Always remember, giving time to yourself is just as important as the time that you give to others. If you don’t take appropriate care of yourself, then there won’t be enough of you to help anyone else because you’ll be all used up! Don’t let this happen, learn the power of saying “no”, and refuse to allow anyone to send you on pointless guilt trips.

7) Don’t condemn yourself, just make the necessary adjustment.

Everyone makes mistakes including me. It’s called being human. The wonderful thing about being a human is we have the power and ability to acknowledge our mistakes, apologize where necessary, and make the needed changes. There is no need to add labels and stories of guilt, shame, condemnation, and blame to what has happened. You cannot unscramble scrambled eggs, either eat them or throw them away. Feeling bad about spilled milk is not going to help anything or anybody, the best thing you can do is clean up the mess, learn the lesson, and move on. Don’t condemn yourself after making a mistake, be humble and honest enough to admit where you missed it and go on. If someone else can’t seem to forgive you or get passed what you’ve done wrong, after you’ve tried to make it right, that is their problem, not yours. Just move on. Depending on what you’ve done, it may take some time to rebuild trust and reputation, but never the less there is no need to carry guilt and shame with you after doing your best to rectify a situation. Pick yourself up and keep on keepin’ on! Don’t condemn yourself, just make the adjustment.

As you continue to build your stress-free lifestyle, apply the above 7 keys and enjoy a greater sense of fulfillment.

Question: Why do you believe many people seem to experience such high stress levels? What ways have you discovered to effectively reduce your own stress?

Turn Your Setbacks into Accelerated Comebacks,


Craig L. Sanders
“The Comeback Specialist”

P.S. To inquire about Craig's book, "Keys to Manifesting Your Destiny", his coaching packages, or to have him speak at your event, please visit his website: http://www.craiglsanders.com/

P.P.S. Follow Craig on these following social media sites:

Twitter: @CRAIGLSANDERS http://bit.ly/5rMQy5

Facebook: http://bit.ly/8DHOzU

Linkedin: http://bit.ly/5kLw5F

Copyright 2010 Craig Sanders Unlimited, LLC

Keys to Fearless Time Management

No matter what time management tools you choose to use, the one thing a time management system cannot do is make you do something.

A time management system cannot choose your priorities for you.

A time management system cannot help you if you don’t apply it.

What is almost laughable is that the most effective time management system is something you cannot buy in a store or on-line. You actually have had it with you all the time. It’s in you, it’s actually the power you have to choose your own actions.  It is the fearless choices that you make when you are at your best.

I actually learned some of the powerful, fearless, and effective time management principles that I am about to share with you from Steve Chandler. Steve Chandler is the author of, “The Hands-Off Manager”, which is one of the most effective management, mentoring, and personal effectiveness books that I have ever read.

He is also the leader of http://www.clubfearless.net/ which is an extraordinary business development and personal development success club that has made a profound impact on my life and business. Anyone can join and if you choose to, tell Steve that I sent you. Ask him for a free month in the club and you just might get it!

The time management system that I am about to share with you can virtually change your life and business in a relatively short period of time. Anyone can develop the skills that I am about to share with you.

It doesn’t matter if you are a stay at home parent, a small business owner, a corporate CEO, a student, or a retiree. I am going to lay this powerful principle right out in the open where you are free to choose to use it or leave it.

The powerful principle hinges primarily on two things: purpose and boldness.

To be effective at completing an important project or achieving a worthy goal, you must first have a clear and concise purpose.

Steve Chandler says, “When you declare a definite purpose to the day, things will just fall into place.” For example, if you had to catch a flight to New York, you have a clear purpose with a precise deadline! If you are not at the airport ahead of time, then you will miss your appointed flight. We can call this disappointed! To be on time for a flight there are a cascade of events that naturally fall into place. You will pack your suitcase. You will set things in order at the house. You will lay your clothes out the night before. Basically, you will carefully guard this most important appointment. You will remove and prevent any impediment to the successful completion of the goal of getting to the airport ahead of time. By the way, we get ahead on projects, instead of falling behind, when we have a written plan that we refer to and adhere to.

To remove and prevent any impediments to the successful completion of this important task, you have to be bold. If someone says, “Hey, let’s go to lunch or can I stop by or let’s go to a movie, etc.” You immediately say with all outspokenness, “I can’t, that doesn’t work for me, I have a flight to catch.”

The event of catching an important flight made its way on to your calendar. This is a master key to effective time management, i.e., guarding your calendar. Only put things on your calendar that you are going to commit to do. If you are not planning on doing something, then don’t put it on your calendar. But if you put it on your calendar, then you must commit to do it.

Guard your time like it is money. Time is the new money. If you wouldn’t let someone steal your money than don’t let them steal your time!

Even if your time is allotted for relaxing; don’t let someone steal your relaxation time. If it’s on your calendar then commit to do it.

Steve Chandler says, “Things happen when you make time for them and when you commit to them.”

The last powerful key that I will share is the kicker. This key can almost instantaneously change your effectiveness for the better. The key is to do only one thing. That’s right, do only one thing.

When you are in a conversation with a friend, co-worker, or family member, be fully engaged in the conversation. Do one thing.

When you have set aside time to do an important project, whether that is to clean your basement or to create a business proposal; just do that one thing.

Act like whatever you are doing is the only thing you have to do all day; do it beautifully, relax into it, do it with all of the joy and creativity that you can muster. When that one thing is done, pick one more thing off of your list and act like it’s the only thing you have to do.  Stress will consistently roll off of your back like water off of a duck's back, when you practice the art of doing one thing.  If there are seemingly a "million" things that are staring you in the face, simply pick one, refuse to let your feathers get ruffled, and get it done.  Just the one thing; do it peacefully, do it creatively, do it completely.  Before you know it, it will be done, and while you were doing it you may find that you had fun.  It's so easy!

No matter who you are or what you do for a living, no matter what age or stage of life you are in; if you practice the above powerful keys, you will improve your effectiveness and efficiency.

In review, remember the following keys for effective time management:

1) Declare a definite and clear purpose to your day and everything else will fall into place.

2) Don’t place things on your calendar unless you intend to do them. If it’s on your calendar then you must commit to do it. If it’s important to your life, family, career, or business then put it on your calendar and do it!

3) Practice boldness in protecting your plan and focus for the day. Stay on course. Plan your work and work your plan. Act like every task is a proverbial plane you have to catch. You would rarely miss a flight. Therefore, treat every task that you place on your calendar as equally important as catching a flight. If you do this, then you will set in motion the proper cascade of events that will help insure successful completion of your task (declared purpose).

4) Treat time like it’s money. If you wouldn’t waste money, then don’t waste time. If you wouldn’t let someone steal your money, then don’t let them steal your time.

5) Learn the power of doing one thing. Even if you say to yourself that you have a "million" things to do (which very few people actually do), just pick one thing and do it with complete focus, creativity, and joy. Act like it is the only thing that you have to do all day. When you successfully complete that one thing, then pick one more thing. By the end of the day, the week, the month, or the year; you will be a pro at effective time management. Even in “hectic” environments this can work wonders and reduce stress.

Try the above keys and see what amazing things happen for your life, family, business, or career.

Question: What keys for effective time management have you discovered or what is your greatest time management struggle?

I always look forward to reading your response!

Turn Your Setbacks into Accelerated Comebacks,


Craig L. Sanders
“The Comeback Specialist”

P.S. To inquire about Craig's book, "Keys to Manifesting Your Destiny", his coaching packages, or to have him speak at your event, please visit his website: http://www.craiglsanders.com/ 

P.P.S. Follow Craig on these following social media sites:

Twitter: @CRAIGLSANDERS http://bit.ly/5rMQy5

Facebook: http://bit.ly/8DHOzU

Linkedin: http://bit.ly/5kLw5F

Copyright 2010 Craig Sanders Unlimited, LLC

8 Ways to Benefit from a Crisis

A crisis is nothing more than concentrated information.
In spite of any situation you are facing in your personal or professional life, you can make it through with flying colors.

One of the things that I have noticed when I observe or help someone who is experiencing an adverse circumstance is how they often label what they are going through as negative, debilitating, impossible, etc.

Whatever you are dealing with regarding your circumstance, always remember that a crisis is merely providing you information, that’s all. It does not have to be labeled as positive or negative.

You got a flat tire, that’s not necessarily negative. It actually is a positive. Would you rather have had a blow out on the freeway where your life could have been at risk or would you rather walk out to your driveway or the parking lot and see that the tire is low or flat and change the tire? Many of you will only have to make a quick phone call to your road service operator and they will send someone out to change the tire for you!

No matter what the “crisis” is that you are facing, purpose to not “flip out” about what is happening. Life happens. It does not mean that something is wrong with you or that you are necessarily getting “payback” for something you did.

Author Mike Murdock says, “Crisis always occurs at the curve of change.”

I like to say that crisis occurs at the curve of positive changes.

Have you ever noticed that the world does not stop when you are experiencing a difficult circumstance? The world does not stop when you are experiencing a positive circumstance either. Traffic lights still turn green, yellow, and then red; business carries on as usual. Remember that crisis is nothing more than concentrated information, that’s all it is.

You stubbed your toe on the dining room table, your central nervous system sends a message of pain to your feet, the information let’s you know, “I need to be more careful next time and watch where I’m going.” The pain eventually subsides. No big deal. Virtually every area of your life has a similar modality.

As you or someone you know works through a crisis, remember the following keys:

1) A crisis is simply concentrated information.


2) Information is given to you so that you can process it and take appropriate action.


3) A crisis is not pervasive; it does not take over your entire life.


4) Deal with crisis appropriately.


5) Refuse to put labels of negativity on crisis. It is what it is.


6) Learn from the crisis.


7) Help someone else with what you have learned


8) Stay positive and stay proactive.

Apply the above keys to any challenging situation that you may be facing and increase your chances of having positive outcomes.

Question: How do you deal effectively with a crisis or a challenging circumstance?

I look forward to reading your response!

Turn Your Setbacks into Accelerated Comebacks,



Craig L. Sanders
“The Comeback Specialist”

P.S. To inquire about Craig's book, "Keys to Manifesting Your Destiny", his coaching packages, or to have him speak at your event, please visit his website: http://www.craiglsanders.com/

P.P.S. Follow Craig on these following social media sites:

Twitter: @CRAIGLSANDERS http://bit.ly/5rMQy5

Facebook: http://bit.ly/8DHOzU

Linkedin: http://bit.ly/5kLw5F

Copyright 2010 Craig Sanders Unlimited, LLC

3 Ways to Overcome Worry

No matter who you are, or what your experiences have been, everyone deals with worry.

Worry is to think about something negative over and over. Worry is a form of anxiety. Worrying is an ineffective use of our creative genius. Many people worry about things that are beyond their control. The majority of what people worry about never happens. So why do people choose to worry?

It’s almost as if people act like worry is a person that forces them to think worry thoughts. Worry is not a person, worry is a choice. Worry is not a person that comes to sit down next to you to say, “Hey, why don’t you worry about how this situation is going to turn out? Come on, it’ll be fun.” No, worry is a thought path that we choose to take; no one can make us choose to worry. Even if it were possible for worry to be a person that spoke to us, we could always choose not to listen!

People worry about all kinds of things. It could be a situation at work, a challenging relationship, a problem with a key client, or a new customer. It could be your kids, grandkids, or some other family member. The list of things that people worry about is virtually endless. For most people, once they entertain one drop of worry it opens the flood gates for worry to overwhelm their mind. Worry gnaws at your insides like a termite gnaws on wood. It scratches you like a proverbial piece of sandpaper. It bothers you like a leaky faucet that won’t stop dripping in the middle of the night. We all know how worry makes us feel, and how unproductive it can be. This begs the question, how do we deal with worry thoughts effectively?

Here are three (3) effective ways to deal with worry:

1) Find a positive distraction.

One of the best ways to get rid of a bad habit is to focus on creating a good habit. The same is true for worry thoughts. You cannot really get rid of a thought as much as you can replace it with a positive thought. Instead of worrying how a bill will get paid, use your creative energy to discover ways to create wealth. Is there an additional service that you can provide to clients that will enable you to raise your rates? Instead of fretting over whether you will gain 5lbs or not, why not go for a brisk walk or stop by the gym before or after work for a 30-45 minute workout. Don’t sit and stew in your unproductive thoughts, get up and find a positive distraction that will spark your creativity, and make you feel better in the process.

2) Take action.

No matter what your situation is, sitting and feeling bad about it is not going to help anything. Do the required research, talk to whoever you need to talk to, brainstorm by yourself of with a creative group of friends, but at the end of the day, you need to make a move. Act on the plan that you have. Even if you don’t feel like you know what to do, figure out what the best move is for the time being, and set out on that path. You may not have all of the information that you feel that you need, but you probably have enough information to make a solid decision. Make your decision, and take the action that is needed.

3) Filter your communication.

One of the secrets to breaking a cycle of worry thinking is to stop talking about the thing that has you feeling worried. Brian Tracy says, “Never say something about yourself that you do not sincerely want to be true.” For example, if you are dealing with a financial challenge in your business or personal life, don’t go around saying I’m broke, I can’t afford it, I’ll never get out of this financial problem. Cut that out! Instead of complaining, say something like, “I may be dealing with a financial challenge right now but I have a plan in place and I am working out of it. Things are turning around for my good.” You can use a positive attitude and a plan to turn almost any situation in your favor, whether it’s in your business, your career, your family, or your health. Speaking negative, perpetuates the negative. Speaking positive, short circuits negative outcomes, and fuels positive results. If you catch yourself speaking negative, just correct yourself. Don’t condemn yourself or call yourself stupid, just say, “Oops, that’s not what I meant to say. I meant to say things are going to work out just fine.” If you find it too difficult to counteract the negative talk with positive talk, then just don’t say anything at all. By the way, we begin to believe whatever we repeatedly hear ourselves say. Therefore, we should continually think and speak positively, since staying positive can only help. Put a positive filter on your communication. If you are thinking or speaking negatively about yourself, other people, or your situation, just filter it by choosing to speak and think positively. Filtering your communication will help you to eliminate worry. Worry is nothing but a habit, and habits can be changed. Worry is like spam, you don’t have to receive it if you don’t want to.

Practice the above three keys and you’ll be able to effectively deal with worry.

Question: Why do people seem to find it so difficult to stop worrying? What methods do you use to counteract worry?

I look forward to reading your answer.

Turn Your Setbacks into Accelerated Comebacks,



Craig L. Sanders
“The Comeback Specialist”

P.S. To inquire about Craig's book, "Keys to Manifesting Your Destiny", his coaching packages, or to have him speak at your event, please visit his website: http://www.craiglsanders.com/

P.P.S. Follow Craig on these following social media sites:

Twitter: @CRAIGLSANDERS http://bit.ly/5rMQy5

Facebook: http://bit.ly/8DHOzU

Linkedin: http://bit.ly/5kLw5F

Copyright 2010 Craig Sanders Unlimited, LLC

10 Keys to Breaking Negative Cycles

All of us deal with patterns of behavior or results that we and others may feel are undesirable.

It could be how we communicate with a difficult co-worker or vendor.

It could be how we seem to continually misunderstand a loved one or a friend.

It could be a test of life that we continually seem to fail every time it comes around.

Here are 10 keys on how to break negative cycles:

1) Realize that everyone deals with setbacks.

You are not alone. You are special, unique, and gifted. However, you are not so special, unique, and gifted that you are exempt from failure, setbacks or challenges. Setbacks are some of life’s greatest reality checks. Stay level headed and don’t panic. Realize that making mistakes, learning new methods of success, and trying to figure out how to break negative patterns are a part of being human. You will not only survive, but thrive if you persist.

2) Realize that you don’t have all of the answers.

There seems to be a wonderful feeling that feeds the human ego when we can say, “I did that all by myself. I figured that out on my own.” The truth is we need the help of other people more than we sometimes realize. For example, did you teach yourself how to walk as an infant? Did you catch yourself when you fell or did someone assist you? How about reading? Did you teach yourself how to read or did someone help you? Even if per chance you did teach yourself to read, did you write the book that you taught yourself to read from or did someone else write it? My point is we need the help of others when trying to achieve our goals. Working together with others on major and minor tasks often gets them done faster and with less effort. Even if you do feel you have everything covered, there are other people that can see your blind spots. They may see something that you don’t see and what they see can make all the difference in the world. Realize that others may have answers, skills, and resources that may be able to accelerate your progress; challenge yourself to reach out to them.

3) Previous successes can be deceptive.

Sometimes when we have had a string of victories, we can subconsciously think that we are invincible. As though, we will emerge from every battle unscathed and without any effort. There are times when world-class athletes enter “the zone”, and everything seems to flow like an unimpeded river, no problems or hiccups. However, the truth is no one really lives in the zone. You and I will not always have a perpetual string of mountain top experiences or emotions. If we did, we would never grow. When a string of successes is snapped, when we have a challenge in our personal or professional life, it causes us to pause. It causes us to retrace our steps, to recalibrate, and reconsider our actions and our strategy; improvement is often the result. Don’t take past victories for granted. Realize that you are very gifted but you are not invincible. Prepare for your goals like a world-class athlete, and you will bounce back from setbacks, and experience more success.

4) Learn the lesson and forget the details.

When we realize that we are human and that we are fallible, we can position ourselves for uncommon growth. Even though a setback or a glitch or an unsuccessful attempt may cause us to feel discouraged or dejected, it does not have to derail our progress. Feelings are fed by our thoughts. If you want to change how you feel, just change your thoughts. Instead of focusing on how embarrassed you feel, focus on what the results have revealed. The results may show us that we have some room to improve in how we execute the task. Maybe we were not as focused as we could have been or maybe we can improve in how we communicate. Maybe we need to improve our leadership skills, or simply learn how to ask for help. Whatever the occurrence, the main point is to learn the lesson, apply it, and go on with your life.

5) Relapses are no match for comebacks.

You may have slipped back into an old negative behavior; you may have dropped the ball on a major project, big deal! Get over the mistake, and get over yourself. People are not thinking about you as much as you think they are. Even if they are, what difference does that make to you, and what you need to do? Relapses, backsliding, or whatever you want to call it is no match for your next action. You may have gained 5 or 10lbs, so what! What are you going to do now? Your comeback is waiting on you. A relapse is virtually irrelevant when you start focusing on your comeback. What’s even more important is the fact that you recognized that you relapsed! This is called progress, whether you know it or not. To be aware of something that previously went unnoticed is progress. At least now you can do something about it. Get back on the path to your comeback immediately, no matter what the setback has been. Relapses are no match for comebacks.

6) Expose negative cycles before they expose you.

When you notice you are doing something that is derailing your success, get some help. It can be a major issue or a minor issue. Squash problems when they are the size of acorns, that way they don’t have a chance to grow into a forest. Pull your problem out of the darkness and into the light of someone that can help you. Negative cycles gain strength when they remain a secret. When we try to keep a problem a secret it eventually brings itself out for all to see. This happens with major corporations, small businesses, celebrities, and average Joes. You don’t have to tell everybody, but share your problem with a trusted friend, coach, business partner, family member, or co-worker. There are also resources through employers or professionals that you can access via the internet that are completely confidential. Find someone to tell. When people keep things in they often explode like a bomb or they sink like a rock. Whether it is personal or professional, don’t let your problem take you down.

7) Never share your problem with someone incapable of solving it.

One of my mentors has helped to drill this thought into my head. No matter what your problem is there is someone who has been through what you are presently experiencing. Regardless of your income or background, someone has walked where you have walked, find them. Don’t share things with people that you cannot trust. They may damage your reputation or misjudge you. Find someone who has proven themselves trustworthy and someone that can help you with your specific challenge. There are obviously some things you would not share with your 5 year old child that you will share with your 55 year old trusted friend. Be wise, but don’t be afraid to share what you’re going through with someone that can help you. Never be too proud to talk about it out loud, in the right environment. Taking this action can transform your life, your business, and your family.

8) Stop believing a lie.

Just because you have failed, experienced a setback, disappointed yourself or someone else, it doesn’t mean that you are a “failure.” What it means is that you are human. Stop accepting the labels that other people try to place on you or even the ones that you place on yourself. Refuse to attach additional baggage to what happened. Whatever it was, it just happened. It’s over now. Take ownership and resolve to do better next time. Put systems and accountability in place to insure that success has a greater chance of happening next time. But don’t make up some story that you are an idiot, stupid, incapable, doomed to be like this for life or whatever story you or someone else has contrived. The truth is today is your life. Decide what you want to create today. Forgive yourself and others; repair what you can, and don’t worry about the rest. Your past is no match for your future, but you are the only one that can initiate your next success. Decide to break the negative cycles, no matter what they are and no matter how many times they occur. Decide to never give up. Don’t give up, get up!

9) Get to the root.

Don’t just remove the rotten apple from the bushel; find the rotten tree that it came from. All of us have certain negative results or behaviors that resurface from time to time. It may be due to negligence, or allowing ourselves to get distracted, or a whole host of other reasons. The key is to find the root of the problem. If you or your landscaper does not remove the weeds in your garden from the root, they will reemerge, and possibly come back even stronger with other friends. What is the root of your problem? Is it a lack of discipline? Is it a lack of knowledge? Is it a refusal to address the “white elephant” in the room? Is it your ego? Always remember that your ego is your enemy. Confront your enemy. Author Roberts Liardon says, “Only what you confront will change; what you refuse to confront will remain the same.”

10) Give it time.

After you have been derailed, give yourself a little time to be realigned. When you experience a setback you should focus immediately on making a comeback. However, even though you are on the road of your comeback, it may take you a little while to get your bearings. It may take you a little while to fix your alignment after you have hit a virtual pothole. Your alignment may include your feelings, emotions, strategy, mentality, resources, etc. Also, give yourself some time to get it right. Your challenge or pattern or negative results may not go away over night. However, you can track your progress. Any step forward is a step of progress. No matter how small the change, change is still change. Progress should be acknowledged and celebrated. Don’t wait for someone else, acknowledge your own improvements. Celebrate your own success. Give yourself time to change. This is also known has having patience. Be patient with yourself. Be patient with others who are trying to change. Developing patience builds inner strength just like lifting weights builds muscle. If you have dealt with a negative cycle for an extended period of time, then it will probably take some time before you see the complete transformation. The process of change can be very exciting, but you must give it some time.

I encourage you to apply the above keys and break the negative cycles in your life, business, family, or career.

Question: Why do you believe people repeat negative cycles or slip into old failure habits?  What do you believe is the key to breaking a negative cycle?

I look forward to reading your response!

Turn Your Setbacks into Accelerated Comebacks,


Craig L. Sanders
“The Comeback Specialist”

P.S. To inquire about Craig's book, "Keys to Manifesting Your Destiny", his coaching packages, or to have him speak at your event, please visit his website: http://www.craiglsanders.com/

P.P.S. Follow Craig on these following social media sites:

Twitter: @CRAIGLSANDERS http://bit.ly/5rMQy5

Facebook: http://bit.ly/8DHOzU

Linkedin: http://bit.ly/5kLw5F

Copyright 2010 Craig Sanders Unlimited, LLC

3 Ways to Break Negativity

When you experience something that you label negative, how does it make you feel?

When you make a mistake or if someone “tells you off”, do you have a sinking feeling inside?

When you or someone else does not produce the results that you were expecting, how do you react?

The fact is most of us have a negative response internally, to a negative occurrence that took place externally. It is the basic stimulus response modality. Something happens, positive or negative, and we have a reaction, positive or negative. It seems pretty simple. The problem is when our own negative responses are causing problems in our lives, families, businesses, or careers.

The difference maker is that we actually can control our own reactions. We don’t have to respond the way that we feel, especially when we feel like responding negatively.

When you hear that a key client is upset and is considering doing business with your competitor, you don’t have to “lose it.” Calm down, settle yourself. Instead of getting upset, examine the situation, look and see what opportunities are at your disposal. This may be a wonderful opportunity to turn this disgruntled client into a raving fan, by simply asking a few questions and addressing a few problems. It could have been a huge misunderstanding or the client could have just been having a horrible day. Maybe the client heard some negative news and they were taking it out on you! That is the stimulus response modality. It happens all the time. You may never know what the root problem is with a client, coworker, family member, or a particular situation; unless you take the high road, stay positive, and are bold enough to ask.

We must understand that problems are not pervasive. In other words, just because you have a problem in one area of your life, it does not mean that it has to take over your entire life.

I know of one person that explained some of the tremendous problems that they were facing in their professional life. The problems they outlined would have made most people’s head spin. However, this person did not have one bit of indigestion and did not lose one bit of sleep. They were operating in total peace and serenity. Why? They learned to compartmentalize their life. Problems in one area of your life do not have to destroy the other areas of your life. Put systems in place that help you to deal with problems, and establish and maintain healthy boundaries in your personal and professional life.

E-mail does not have to ruin your day. Put a system in place.  I respond to e-mail once a day, i.e., before 10:00am or after 4:00pm every day. Or whatever will work best for you, but whatever you do, create a system that will reduce the stress and keep you from getting negative. Delete the negative aspects of your life. Maintain a ruthless focus on staying positive. Don’t let negativity creep up on you. When it does, deal with it tactfully and effectively, and keep moving forward. Always operate from a position of strength, never weakness. Stay upbeat and expect even negative occurrences to turn for your good. Keep a smile on your face, walk with a purpose, and project the confidence that is resident on the inside of you. Negativity has a way of raining on your parade. However, you have enough positivity and sunshine in you to evaporate every drop of negativity.

Many things come out in the wash. Some things are not worth the time that you worry about them. Why? Because some things just don’t matter. You cannot control people, their attitudes, actions, or opinions. What you can control is how you process what happens to you and how you choose to respond. That is where your power lies. Your attitude is your choice; no one can take that away from you.

At the end of every day, make sure to archive all of the positive occurrences, put a plan in place to deal with pertinent opportunities, and choose to delete all of the negatives. You will be able to start the next day with a clean slate, fresh energy, and a plan that will accelerate positive results.

The next time you experience something negative ask yourself the following questions:

1) What thought am I choosing to believe that is causing me to feel uneasy?

Most fears are caused by a thought. Worry is a thought. It is obsessively thinking in the negative. Find the negative thought, identify it, and get rid of it. Just because 500 other people lost their job doesn’t mean that you will lose yours. And even if you did lose your job, you will not only survive, you will thrive. But only If you get your mind right; you actually have the power to create whatever you want. Find the negative thought that is messing you up and choose to replace it with a positive thought. You will feel more at ease when you do this.

2) What is good about this?

Always ask yourself what is the benefit of this situation. What good things can I pull from this experience? If you stay with this question, if you stay positive and persistent the answers that you arrive at will astound you. Maybe it’s good that you did not get that client that you felt you had to have, because 3 months down the road you heard how they made your competitor miserable with their unreasonable and incessant requests. That company that you felt you just had to work for went “belly up” the year after they turned you down for a position. Are you upset that you did not get that job now? Always ask yourself, “What is good about this?”

3) Is it true?

Everything you hear is not necessarily true. Every criticism that is hurled at you is not necessarily appropriate or applicable. You can deal with negatives more effectively if you examine to see if they are true, and if they even apply to you. There are crooked people in the world. There are dishonest people in every profession that you can name under the sun. However, there are also good people everywhere you look, and there are people full of integrity in every profession that you interface with in your daily life. You just have to find them. Don’t lump everyone into one category. Don’t let people put a label on you that does not apply to you. Never forget, you don’t have to agree with everything that is said to you. And you don’t have to get upset over anything if you don’t want to. It’s all in how you choose to respond. Just ask yourself, “Is it true?” If it is true then you can deal with it appropriately; if it’s not true then keep on keepin’ on!

A question for you: Why do you believe some people allow negativity to stop them?

I look forward to reading your response!


Turn Your Setbacks into Accelerated Comebacks,


Craig L. Sanders
“The Comeback Specialist”

P.S. To inquire about Craig's book, "Keys to Manifesting Your Destiny", his coaching packages, or to have him speak at your event, please visit his website: http://www.craiglsanders.com/

P.P.S. Follow Craig on these following social media sites:

Twitter: @CRAIGLSANDERS http://bit.ly/5rMQy5 

Facebook: http://bit.ly/8DHOzU  

Linkedin: http://bit.ly/5kLw5F

Copyright 2010 Craig Sanders Unlimited, LLC