Earl Nightingale was one of the most influential people in my life. But we never met. I wished we had.
Dubbed the Dean of Personal Development, Earl recorded over 7,000 radio programs and 250 audio programs. I’ve listened to hundreds of his recorded Insight messages since the mid-80s.
Earl’s Pearls
I must have gone through his most popular program Lead The Field a dozen times or more. And I’ve given away numerous copies to people I care about as the pearls of wisdom (I refer to as “Earl’s Pearls”) are timeless and priceless.
So I’ve decided to capture these pearls and translate them into every day ‘property manager speak’ so you can apply them in your life immediately. My reference book for this series is his written compendium of life lessons entitled The Essence of Success.
Today’s Pearl
One of Earl’s most recognized revelations that might be considered his ‘legacy phrase’ was released in 1956 within the audio recording entitled The Strangest Secret.
What I love about secrets is there’s a hint of mystery and intrigue about them. And when you truly understand this one, your life may never be the same.
It’s simply this: We become what we think about.
Six words describing a law that, when fully understood, can either “lead a man to a life of success, wealth, happiness” or “lead him into the gutter.”
The PM Takeaway
As a property manager, what do you think about? Are your thoughts positive or negative?
I’ll admit, I’m often tempted to lean toward the all-too-tempting negative thoughts about:
- Nagging deadlines
- Mammoth reforecasts
- Massive to do list
- Time constraints
But, when I step back from my 9-to-5 and see things as a sane person might, I’m able quickly revert to more positive thoughts like:
- Leaving a family legacy
- Financial independence
- Faithful service
- Lifetime adventures
One of my major lifelong goals is to live aboard a catamaran and sail the Caribbean. I would escort passengers to coastal villages that need help. It’s a mission mixed with a passion and it fills me with excitement at the very thought of it.
To help cement the vision, I have color pictures of catamarans and the ocean all over my home office. They act as vision boards for me to instantly get my thinking back to where my heart sings.
5 Min to Win
Read this once through then follow the instructions.
Take the next five minutes to THINK.
If you have a lifelong goal, then I want for you to close your eyes and picture it. Now play it like a video. Magnify it. Make it as large as a movie screen. Boost the color so everything in the setting pops.
Then turn up the volume. Add sound if there isn’t any yet. Deepen the bass. Max out the treble. Are there certain aromas in the air? Magnify them. Taste them. Are you outside? If so, feel the warmth of the sunshine on your shoulders. Feel the cool breeze wash over you.
Bask in the sensation for having achieved this goal and absorb this setting. Smile for knowing you’re now on your way to become that person. Cherish that feeling of fulfillment for the next 60 seconds.
And realize, you can summon that picture, that video, and that feeling again so you can return to it and restore your sense of purpose when the going gets tough.
Feel good? I hope so. This mini-visualization exercise can be done virtually anytime and anywhere. It will help center your thoughts and acknowledge your potential to truly become what you think about.
Feedback
If you experienced something beneficial, however briefly it may have been, please let me know. I’d love for you to share your thoughts, ideas and struggles with me. I read every email I receive.
I hope you enjoy the rest of your day. Thanks to Earl for inspiring me to pass this message onto you.
