When you begin to taste the sweetness of success, there are many pitfalls to watch out for. You really can be your own worst enemy. There are many temptations that can lead you away from your goals.

They come in many forms.

Advisors telling you only what you wanna hear, the lure of easy money from dubious characters, excess consumption of alcohol or the allure of drugs, folks of the opposite sex with questioning motives, and on it goes. It can be a minefield and it’s easy to get caught up in the rush of success.

That’s why it’s important you have your own set of rules you live by. A strict set of guidelines to keep you on the straight and narrow. Because I’ve seen too many talented folks come unstuck. They did everything they could to sabotage their success.

Look, I’m the last guy to tell you not to enjoy life. If you know me, been out with me, read my stuff, you know I enjoy the good life. Good wine, good food, great people and conversation, is the juice I need to keep me going. But the work comes first. Do the work then party. It’s that simple.

To an outsider, the work I do writing newsletters, speeches, products, copy etc. seems very creative. Nothing could be further from the truth. Writing is actually a product of enormous self-imposed discipline. Being a pro-writer means plunking myself down in this chair, shedding my mind of ALL distractions, then NOT moving until the work is done. Glamorous it ain’t. But that’s the truth.

Most times, those who wish to do what I do fail because they haven’t the discipline to stick with it. Many have talent, but they haven’t the sheer willpower to focus on the job at hand and get the work done. They are too easily distracted. Too easily led astray. Too easily sidetracked. Some succeed for a while but then burn out. Some never succeed at all.

The point is, life is a grand adventure and I try to suck out every last second. I work hard and I play hard. That’s who I am. And look, sure, sometimes, I play too hard and maybe one day I will grow up (but I’m not betting on it).

However, the work comes first. No work, no party. That’s why many have come and gone but I’m still here. Because I understand the importance of discipline. I understand there’s a “party side” to me that must be managed to maintain and grow my success. And I surround myself with advisors that give it to me straight.

Above all, I’m clearly focused on what’s best for me and my family and what’s best for my Clients and Newsletter Members. Nothing and nobody will ever lead me away from the rules I’ve set.

A good exercise for you is to be aware of any distractions in your life that are moving you further away from your goals. Make a big damn list. Think long and hard about the distractions and temptations in your life and which ones you should eliminate immediately. This is liberating stuff. Your productivity will shoot through the roof… and… so will your income.

In cricket, we call it “the sweet spot.”

That’s when you hit the ball right off the centre of your bat.

For those who have played the game, you know what I’m talking about. The feeling you get when your bat connects with the ball; the connection felt through your hands, your wrists, your forearms. You know it’s perfect, dead centre… and there’s no other sound like it, the satisfying “thump” from a clean hit so very different from a miscue.

It’s a blissful moment.

But it takes a lot of practice to find the sweet spot of the bat. Lots of miss-hits, nicks and frustration as you find your perfect timing.

There is no skipping this process.

No amount of “good thoughts” or “belief” or “affirmations” will ever take the place of actually getting out in the middle and swinging the willow.

Sure there are shortcuts… http://www.petegodfrey.com/salesletterworkshop/

The best cricketers have coaches who keep them on track, point out their weaknesses, and highlight their strengths. But it’s doing the hard yards, the grunt work where there is no audience to cheer you on, that’s where success is to be found; no matter what your vocation.

But here’s a little secret: You CAN’T do a three-day seminar on this… you’ll have the room to yourself.

You can’t tell the masses success takes hard work, commitment and focus.

Nah. They want secrets; they want undeserved recognition and success.

You’re smarter than this.

Finding your own “sweet spot” is gonna take time. Might as well enjoy the trip as you go; that way, the destination is always brighter and a whole lot sweeter.Related Posts:

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NOTE: I’ve been noticing a bit of cheap behaviour lately so I thought this article from my newsletter would give you my take on this insidious trait some folks display.

“Yeah I tipped the cabbie… it came to 39 bucks and I gave him a fifty… that’s what you would have done right?” said one of my students to me the other night.

We were at his place on the Gold Coast having a few drinks after a long seminar weekend. I had just made around $45,000 in product sales, so I was feeling pretty good.

“Yep, sure would have,” I replied.

Anyway, this little exchange brings home an important point. This student, this guy, has been in Pete’s World for over a year now and he’s kicking some real goals of late. But more importantly, he’s been out with me a few times, getting to know me; and he’s picked up on the fact that I’m a tipper.

Now for my American readers, you’ve gotta understand in Australia, tipping isn’t a way of life like in the States. It’s more of a personal choice. And I always choose to tip. (Unless the service is lousy, then they’re getting nothing.)

• I tip the pizza guy
• The concierge at hotels (Wanna get looked after? Slip the concierge a twenty and it soon gets around the hotel.)
• I tip at restaurants
• Tip cabbies
• Even my Dry Cleaning lady.

I’m ALWAYS TIPPING!

I tip for many reasons.

First, it makes me feel good. I don’t do it in a show-off manner. I do it quietly, respectfully; acknowledging a job well done. Just a few bucks can have a BIG impact on someone’s day I tell you.

Case in point: Yesterday I had the garden guys over cleaning up the palms down the back. It was a typical hot and humid tropical day. These guys done a fantastic job. Around three hours sweating in the sun and my backyard looks like a million bucks. I was impressed. (I also know what it’s like to work in such heat; sweating, cursing, breaking your back in the midday sun.) So I wrote the boss a cheque, then slipped him $50 to get the boys some beers.

You should have seen his face!

It lit up like a kid’s at a candy store. It really made his day (and his helpers).

Now sure, I tipped because they did a good job. But I tipped because I felt good about doing it. I got a buzz out of seeing his face. PLUS it reinforces to me that money is NOT in short supply; that I can get more, and that I can give more to people any time I damn well please.

Personally, I hate it when you’re out at dinner with a heap of people and they have to itemise everything they had to eat and drink right down to the last dollar. I mean, I didn’t have the seafood, I only had the steak so that’s only $29 not $35.

It gets to me.

Craps me off.

More than that, it’s friggin embarrassing to watch. And you know what? I refuse to dine with them again. Because they are pinching pennies and stepping over dollars with a closed fist mentality. I refuse to let their penny-pinching scarcity poison me so I make it a point of NOT going out with them again. Scarcity can rub off on you and frankly, I’m not risking it; don’t wanna get infected.

So yeah I tip. I tip for many reasons. I tip for them. I tip for me. Either way, it makes me feel good… and that can’t be a bad thing can it?

POST SCRIPT: What’s your take on this? Love to hear your comments…Related Posts:

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