101 Great Ways to Improve Your Life

I recently “co-authored” a book with Zig Ziglar, Jim Rohn, Denis Waitley, Brian Tracy, and 96 other self-improvement authors. The book entitled 101 Great Ways to Improve Your Life, is now available…for less than $15. When you buy this book, you will be given a bonus gift bundle worth 100 times the price of the book. Click here for details.

Click here to read my article that appears in the book. You’ll have to buy the book to read the other 100!

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Quoted in Today’s Investor’s Business Daily

I am quoted in today’s Investor’s Business Daily. Click here to read the article.

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Return of the Goalaholic

This past week was quite interesting. The Goal-Free Living book officially launched. I started the “Goal-Freedom” tour with several speeches and radio interviews in the New York City area. And we did an email blast to increase awareness of the book to a massive audience. Although I’d like to claim I was 100% goal-free during this period, I have to admit, my goalaholic tendencies made a guest appearance.

At around noon on January 10th, an email was sent to a large number of people letting them know about the book and a special offer. The book’s Amazon.com rankings at the start of the day were about #4,000. To put this in perspective, #1 is the best selling book. #14,000,000 (or so) is the worst.

After the email was sent out, I was sitting on my bed in a New York City hotel room. I didn’t leave that spot all day. I wanted to be there to see the change in the ranking and catch screen snapshots at each milestone. I was glued to my computer. I hit the refresh button on my internet browser more than 100 times between noon and 10:30PM. When I went to sleep, my eyes were ready to fall out of my head.

As the day progressed, I saw the rankings move from #4,000 to #2,000. Then to #1,000, #750, #250, #100, and #50. By the end of the evening we peaked at #37. #1 in “Business Inspiration” and #1 in “Business Motivation” (yes, they are separate categories). #8 in “Business & Finance” overall. We even reached #3 in “Management & Leadership”, right behind “Blink” and “Good to Great” – very good company We were the #4 “Mover & Shaker” with an over 10,000% increase in one-day book sales.

Although these are interesting statistics, therein lies the problem. Although I don’t like to admit it, in the back of my mind, I believe I really wanted to hit #1 overall. We weren’t successful in doing that. Worse, after months of preparation, it all felt like a bit of a let down. I couldn’t remember “why” I did this in the first place. Upon reflection, I realized that I did it because everyone said I should. This is what so many others before me have done. This is now the norm in the book business. Alas if it is the norm, then it is that much more difficult to be successful with it. And, I’m not sure I really “chose” to do it. I sort of got swept away with the tide.

However, upon reflection, I was indeed glad I made the investment. Not because of the ego boost of being able to say that Goal-Free Living was the #1 “Business Motivation” book on Amazon.com. Not because I sold a specific number of copies. But rather because it helped spread the word. My theme for 2006 is “impact” – making a difference in the world. Getting it into the hands of hundreds or thousands of people helps me do this. Or maybe the book is now in the hands of one influential person who wants to help me create a Goal-Free Living “movement.” Numbers don’t matter. When I refocused on my aspiration, rather than the specific goals, my enjoyment increased.

When you are doing something, ask yourself, “Why am I doing this?”

When you are on a date, are you doing it because you want to be in a relationship? Worrying about the next date can create unnecessary pressure. Instead, do it because you enjoy the other person’s company…for that moment. When you attend a business conference, do you go because you are looking to learn something specific? If so, you may be cutting yourself off to other, more powerful opportunities. Instead, just be there, meet new people, and allow it to unfold naturally. Incredible opportunities show up when you are not burdened and blinded by myopic goals.

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Goal-Free on TomPeters.com

Today, I am honoroed to become one of Tom Peters’s “cool friends. ” With this, Goal-Free Living is featured on TomPeters.com. You can read the interview by clicking here. Tom is one of the long-time gurus in the business world, known for numerous books fromIn Search of Excellence (1982) to Re-imagine! Business Excellence in a Disruptive Age (2003)

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New Endorsement — Dr. Joe Vitale

“This book is a masterpiece. Get it. Read it. Live it.” – Dr. Joe Vitale, author of The Attractor Factor

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