One of the common threads amongst all the wealthy in my study of the daily habits of the rich was obsession. The rich were single-mindedly obsessed with achieving a long-term goal or in pursuing a major purpose or dream. Pursuing a long-term goal, dream or purpose infuses you with a passion that allows you to focus and persist. Obsession, by definition, is an unrelenting focus backed by persistence. You can’t force obsession. You either have it or you don’t. It is the byproduct of setting a long-term goal or in pursuing a major purpose or dream. Human beings are goal-seeking mechanisms. We function at an optimum level only when we are obsessed with achieving something big in life. Goals, purposes and dreams are catalysts for great achievement in life. They lead you down a path towards your new life.

Being a parent success mentor to your children sets your kids up to be successful in life. Parent success mentors teach their children good daily habits such as:

• the 80:20 Rule (Living Below Your Means)
• the 5:1 Rule (Listen for 5 minutes, talk for 1 minute)
• limiting T.V., Internet, cell phone use to less than one hour a day
• reading for self-education 30 minutes or more each day
• exercising aerobically 20-30 minutes each day
• volunteering 5 hours or more per month
• practicing optimism and gratitude every day
• setting goals
• pursuing a dream or major purpose in life
• controlling your emotions
• eating and drinking in moderation
• staying in touch every day with valuable relationships
• avoiding gossip and
• always doing more than you are paid for

Time is a limited, valuable resource, second only to health. Most people, unfortunately, spend most of their time working to achieve the goals and objectives of other people, commonly referred to as employers. When you set a long-term goal or follow a dream or major purpose in life, all that changes. Passion explodes from within. Passion forces you to change your priorities. Somehow you are able to find the time. That’s one of the the unique character traits of passion. It changes how you use your time. It gives you the motivation to go the extra mile. It creates energy you didn’t know you had. This newfound energy enables you to do the work that is necessary in pursuing a long-term goal, dream or major purpose. Only when you are pursuing your long-term goal, dream or major purpose in life will you be truly happy. That is why goal-setting is so important. It creates the passion and energy that allows you pursue individual success.

We all talk to ourselves. Sometimes the self-talk is verbal and sometimes non-verbal. Non-verbal self talk are thoughts that pop into our minds from time to time and usually follow immediately after something happens such as a conversation, action, event etc. Verbal and non-verbal self-talk act as mini computer apps that infiltrate our subconscious (limbic system and brain stem) and program our minds a certain way. Self-talk can be positive or negative and can confirm or change an exiting belief. If you have limiting beliefs that are holding you back you need to change your self-talk from negative to positive in order to rid yourself of those limiting beliefs.

Wealthy, successful people all have one thing in common: ongoing, daily self-improvement. Whether it’s reading books, periodicals, digital media, listening to audiobooks or podcasts, exercising, eating less, eating healthier, meditation or any other number of self-improvement activities. Select just one and do it first thing upon waking up. It will make you feel better about yourself and will inspire and motivate you, no matter what your mental state. One self-improvement activity for one day. Give it a try. You have everything to gain and nothing to lose except a little time.