I think that was a well focused response from Winston, but if we also remember that as my current sig file states (it does change) "If It Is To Be, It Is Up To Me". We all, each and every one of us, create or break our own focus. If you are following along the wrong path, it is because you put yourself there. If you are on a path that is showing success, it is because you put yourself there. Following some self appointed guru on some lame brain adventure only happens because you want to do it. There are plenty of examples on the net about this and some right here at Adlands. You create your own focus, your own apathy, your own laziness, and your own whingeing. You also can create your own success.

Hi Mark! ========================================= I think we're all pretty much in agreeance on this another excellent post by Linda, who I have to say possess' a rare quality in Internet Marketing UNCOMMON SENSE. ========================================= Well thank you! :) ========================================= What I'm interested in is how we and I include every participant in this post remain positive in the face of apathy, laziness, and whingeing. Some mornings I look at my computer and think why am I doing this- then I'll have some success and away I'll go again, but sometimes its hard to remain positive in the face of negativity.. ========================================= Let's play pretend for a minute, okay? Pretend you find yourself at one end of a long, long hallway. The hallway is lined with doors. Hundreds and hundreds of doors. Inside one of the rooms is everything you ever wanted. Your job is to find the right door. What do you do? Turn the doorknobs, of course. Would you collapse in front of a door in depair and defeat when it doesn't open? Of course not. You try again, and again and again - until you find the one that opens. Life is the same way. When you try something and it doesn't work - instead of questioning why we're doing this - think of the doors. Every failure is one more step on the way to success. It's the universe telling you one more thing that doesn't work so you can get to what does that much faster. : ) Linda

Hey Daniel ========================================== Very good, Not that you need my approval. But sometimes the hammer hits the nail precisely dead center on the head. Thank you ========================================== Every time I scroll past your post, it makes me smile. So, thank you. And you're welcome. : ) Linda

Hey Winston; I really wanted to reply to this particular part of your post because the topic so fascinates me. : ) =========================================== My personal thought is that because it's so much easier to be negative than to be positive it is the natural route for people to take. =========================================== Funny thing is - for some people it IS easier to be negative. For others, it's easier to be positive. Fortunately for us, if we have a natural tendency to be negative, we can change it. It all boils down to the neural pathways in our brain. Our brain is actually 100 billion brain cells - called neurons - connected together. For every connection of neurons (brain cells) there is a tiny gap called a synapse. Imagine the "neurons" (brain cells) as stepping stones that form the path to a friend's house. You jump from stone to stone to arrive at the familiar destination. But here's where it gets interesting. The synaptic gap (space between brain cells) is very tiny - but for an electric signal to cross it isn't easy. In human terms it's like jumping across a reachable but frightening ravine. The first time you cross takes the most effort. Having done it once, it gets easier and easier every time. That's why the first time you do something, or tackle a new skill, it's most difficult. With enough repetition, it becomes effortless. Those neural pathways are responsible for all our habits, good or not so good! To create habits the brain forges neural pathways until automatic responses (ie; habits/skills/knowledge) are created. The fun part is that we start forming those before we can even talk. By the time we reach adult age, we have formed MANY neural pathways that are "habitual" ways of responding. So yes - for many people it's easier to be negative. That's how they've always been. They probably started learning that as a child when their parents spent more time chewing them out than praising them. And for others - it's easier to be positive. It's how their neural pathways operate. But - we can change it. And the way to do that is massive and intentional brainwashing. Retraining our brain. At first, it takes effort. But, it gets easier and easier as new neural pathways are formed. The same applies to lazinesss, tendency to be unproductive, having a defeatist attitude, picking everything apart, etc., etc. Anything that has been programmed into our brain can be unprogrammed and reprogrammed. We don't have to mindlessly accept what someone else put in our heads 30, 40 or 50 years ago. But - it does take consistent effort until we form the new and desired habits. Sorry for the soapbox speech... I love this stuff! Can you tell? lol : ) Linda P.S. There are 3 things that help us with forming new neural pathways in the brain. Anyone want to guess what they are?

Linda ============================================ P.S. There are 3 things that help us with forming new neural pathways in the brain. Anyone want to guess what they are? ============================================ I love guessing games, especially when I don't have to guess, lol. The first is repetition. Cheri