Several times I had to speak to my bank manager and rearrange my finances. I always went along well prepared and looking very professional, and knew exactly the look I wanted since that psychology of subconscious messages is my business, and although my heart was in my mouth, we always found a way around my problems and turned them into opportunities.
I keep in touch on a more personal level with both of them, sending them cuttings from newspaper and cards. My bank manager even turned up to hear me speak one day and asked lots of questions.
Another key to succeeding in business is to have a circle of supporting friends. Most of mine are women and when the going gets tough, it’s so good to be able to talk over frustrations even if they don’t fully understand the situations. Therapy and perspective are achieved in one phone call.
My very best friend, however, is my intuition. I listen to my inner voice when I’m puzzled about an action to be taken or when I‘m looking for a solution. To help my intuition along a little, I occasionally say to myself “what would my higher-self do in this situation?” I always get a good answer.
Do you write thank you and congratulatory notes regularly? It’s an excellent habit to perfect since so few people bother to do it. I’ve so appreciated the letters and cards I’ve received after presentations and some of my radio broadcasts. They’ve touched my heart.
Whenever I see someone I know mentioned in the press or in a trade magazine I drop them a note congratulating them on their achievement. Faxing a quick “well done” is another heart-warming experience for the recipient and for me.
Keys to business success you’ll notice come at you from every direction. Here’s another important one: “To live in fear, is to live only half your life” is a line often repeated in the movies, Strictly Ballroom. There have been times when I have been fearful, very fearful, around money and following my dream, even when all the evidence told me that it would be better to change tack. I have learned to trust. Trust, that somehow the way would open up for me, and in the meantime I would get on and do my very best to ensure my success. And almost inevitably, it did: in its own time, not mine.
I don’t half live my life. What a waste that would be.
A wonderful tip for establishing excellent communication with those you work with and everyone in your personal life is this one: acknowledge, acknowledge, acknowledge - support, support, support. Avoid envy.
One more key is that I practise loving what I do no matter how small the job or tedious it might seem to be. I make it worthy of my love. Every task in life can be made more interesting and challenging whenever you decide.
A particularly powerful action is one I realised quite a few years ago. When you’re well dressed and groomed the good things happen faster. I’m reasonably sure it relates to sending subconscious messages about confidence and self-worth. Who doesn’t want to be around positive and confident people? To be in their company is to bask in that golden light.
My father told me many years ago never to close doors on relationships. Always leave the door open or at least slightly ajar. This means for me that I never have blazing rows with others, or say “I never want to see you again” or “that’s it … that’s the end of the relationship”. Everything changes. Life evolves and who knows when that person may come into your life again? Better to be reasonable and mature than full of regrets and embarrassed. Time and time again this philosophy has worked for me. I am to stay on good terms with everyone I meet.
People ask me how I stay so focused on the positive. Well, not only do I attend seminars and meetings that teach me to stretch myself, I also spend about half an hour each day reading inspirational books and focusing on love in action. I need this quiet time to give me perspective.
I need that inner time to listen to my intuition and to be guided by my higher self. Some days the only time I get to achieve this is the time I spend in my car. So that’s the time to pull out the gentle music, with no lyrics to distract, and take the stress out of my day. Only in the last few years have I stopped talking about pampering myself and actually started doing it. This for me is another key to success: having a balanced life.
What is the point of developing one aspect of your business so you are successful if you forget the main reason you’re doing it, which most probably is to fulfil a need in you? For quite a while, I thought I couldn’t afford the time or the money to have facials, get my legs waxed, have my nails done, visit the podiatrist and go to the hairdresser very regularly. A funny thing has happened. Nice I decided to do these things there was enough time and money. And I feel so good about myself and my attitude now is that I deserve all these things. Sometimes the martyr in me attempts to stop this process, but I speak sternly to that part of my persona and tell it to go jump in the lake. I love looking and feeling good.
This being-kind-to-Lynn attitude has evolved as part of a larger framework. About two years ago, my sister gave me a small card that describes my name.
This is what it says: LYNN – Gaelic origin, meaning, “clear pool; generous spirit”
Thou will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on three: because he trusteth in thee. Isaiah 26.3
Suddenly I knew that I had to live up to this! So ever since I’ve done everything possible to fit the name: to be absolutely trustworthy in business and in my relationships; to be absolutely honest, as honest as a clear pool, and to be generous. The generosity extends to others, in my actions, my love, the time I give, the help I give, the gifts I choose, the meals I plan and many other day-to-day aspects of my life. I’m also generous to Lynn.
As a result of these very deliberate actions, generosity is flowing to me from others. You know that wonderful law, I’m sure: “what you give out you get back.”
Sometimes it takes a simple tool, in this case a small plasticised coloured card, to give you a life direction. Keep your eyes and ears open for inspiration.
I always expect the best in relationships. Do you? I always expect that others will treat me fairly, professionally and in a very friendly manner. We won’t disappoint one another is another way of looking at it. So that is what happens. I expect the best in every aspect of my life. And I get it. Somerset Maugham, that great English writer put it like this: “It’s a funny thing about life. If you refuse to accept anything but the best, you very often get it.”
Being successful is not only about thinking that you are. Actions must be initiated too. Successful people start early and work late. I’ve often thought about the components of success. What does make one person more successful than another? It’s not just hard work. It’s not just following through. It’s not just doing what you say you’ll do. It’s not just listening to your intuition and following your dream. I’ve realised that it’s doing what average people do PLUS more. If you do what average people do your life will become average. I look at average people coming home from work and having dinner and getting on with household tasks, watching TV and going to bed to arise next morning and follow their routine for getting ready for work and think how bored I would be with their lifestyle.
I have to do all those things too, and more, to move from average to special there is another part of the equation. I must add another element. For me it’s getting up earlier than many others to work at my computer writing articles for magazines and the books I‘m creating. It means not watching as much TV as others, since this is the time to attend seminars, do more work or develop friendships. It means sandwiching some physical exercise and children and my partner in amongst all of that. If that’s too difficult for you at the moment, work towards it. As my children are adults now and don’t live with me anymore, I have time to work the equation the way I want to. If it means that I have to find time on weekends I do.
Most Saturdays I work on catching up or planning the next week. I keep Sundays free whenever possible. Sometimes I would