Competition is a good thing. A great thing. It brings out the best in a person. It shows a person where his true weaknesses are.

Yet, after a competition, there is an enormous danger. The person who loses may consider himself a failure and the winner may get a big head and think he no longer needs to practice as much as before.

It is one thing to say to yourself, ‘I didn’t do well today, but I’ll do better next time. I wasn’t myself today, but I’ll improve on this. I didn’t win today, but I’m still a winner inside.’

I realize it’s hard to do sometimes, especially if you really wanted to win – but it must be done for you to move to the next level.

The best athletes, salespeople, entrepreneurs and so on, don’t compete with others as much as they compete with themselves. Afterall, once you’re better than all your competitors, how can you continue to improve if your focus is simply about ‘beating the others.’

When I was in college my father told me to ‘make yourself your greatest opponent.’ He was right.

In order to do this you must go back in time and picture your best moments, your greatest successes. You must relive the feelings of confidence you once experienced.

Doing so is the same as a good friend reminding you of your value; that you’re someone special. Only difference is that NOW you are being a friend to yourself. You’re going within and finding the BIG SELF who inherently knows that you came into this world to succeed.

I once knew a businessman who was very successful for more than ten years. Then the demand for his product died off and he had to close up shop. He thought of himself as a failure; that he was a loser.

I talked to the man and said, ‘My goodness, you had 10 years of success. I wouldn’t call that a failure. Close this shop and move on. Figure out a way to tap into another current trend and you’ll be off to the races again.’

He listened. And he succeeded once again.

There are great athletes who go undefeated until the ‘BIG SHOW.’ Then, if they lose the big show, they feel like total failures. But they’re not. They simply lost one game.

So long as these athletes gave it everything they had in that game, they can hold their heads high. And if they didn’t give it everything they had, they can declare that ‘next time will be different.’

Instead of trying to keep up with the Joneses and feeling badly when you’re not at their level – ‘keep up with yourself.’

Make yourself your greatest competition.

Want to get the most out of yourself. Then dig into Dr. Maltz Zero Resistance Living program. This 12-week course will change your life for the better. Loaded with exercises and drills that make your imagination mega powerful – build your confidence and create the life you’ve always wanted. Go NOW to find out how to improve upon your best days of your life.

Best,

Matt Furey

P.S. Also, be sure to look into the Psycho-Cybernetics Success Group.

Replies continue to come in about the subject of speed.

One of the best is a John Wooden quote, “Be quick, but don’t hurry.”

Another one from Bob Proctor, “Don’t slow down. Calm down.”

When it comes to the question of overwhelm, it’s amazing how many people feel confused or out of balance after attending a seminar wherein a ton of new ideas got tossed around.

A few years back I told a group, “If you’re feeling overwhelmed, there’s a simple reason. All you’re doing is taking in information. But you’re not DOING anything with the information. You need to strike a balance. Study – then do. Study some more – then do. You haven’t learned anything until you do something with it.”

The concept was totally foreign to many of the people I spoke to. They thought that learning and doing were the same thing.

Not in the world of the creative.

Creators understand that you don’t know anything until you can use it and apply it. Reciting what you supposedly know is not demonstrating that you can apply it. Big difference.

In school you learn to memorize and recite. That’s not learning. Nor is it real thinking.

Thinking involves asking yourself questions – and coming up with answers. It also involves doing something with what you learn.

I’ll never forget how shocked the audience I spoke to was when I explained how I read a “how to” book – or go through a “how to” course.

I read the first chapter or lesson – then I stop reading and start doing.

Then I read the next lesson. Then I stop reading and start doing.

Such a simple formula. It’s not hurried. But boy is it quick.

Meanwhile, those who read the whole book or course and do nothing – get nothing but overwhelm.

They hurried through the book – and got nothing out of it.

Now, does this mean I’m against speed reading. Not at all.

I believe learning how to read fast is one of the most important skills you can have. But even when you read fast, the key lies in being relaxed and focused. You breathe deeply as you read.

This is yet another example of being able to go fast – even when you’re not hurrying.

Frantically rushing is the enemy. Going slower can often be quicker. Being relaxed increases speed.

You can make haste slowly and get there faster, if you’ll relax and breathe.

And if this message is overwhelming, get up and move. Be quick – but don’t hurry.

Matt Furey

P.S. When you study the world famous Zero Resistance Living Program don’t just read the lessons. Do them. It’ll make all the difference in the world to you.

This morning I had a lunch appointment with a local karate master at 11:30. I told him I’d meet him at his place.

At exactly 11:30, I pulled into his parking lot. He opened his door, got in my car and off we went. We spent a couple hours together and will probably meet again in the near future.

Now, this might not sound like a big deal – and it isn’t – except for the fact that both of us kept our word. Both of us said we would do something – and we did it.

Sadly, a lot of people don’t operate this way. They say one thing and do another. They promise but don’t deliver. And when you let them know – they don’t even apologize.

They think it’s perfectly acceptable to promise to meet you, to promise to have a job finished by a certain time – and not fulfill the promise.

How can you go through life with no honor? How can you say you’re going to meet someone, or deliver something on time, and not do it?

Worst of all, why is it that you think other people should put up with it?

Now, have I always been perfect about managing every detail of my schedule? No.

But if I make a mistake, if I’m late for an appointment, if I have a conflict come up that causes me to miss or be late, I’m the first guy on the horn apologizing and doing what it takes to make good on my promise.

Instead of promising and under-delivering – or not delivering at all, I believe in under-promise with over-delivery. Give people more than they expected.

Last Friday night I held a 4-hour seminar. There was no charge.

I showed up early, started on time and when it was supposed to end, I continued until every question was asked and answered. I ended up giving 40 minutes more than was expected – at a free event.

That’s what I call honor. I also call it respect. For oneself and for the others who’ve traveled to hear and see you.

I’d absolutely hate myself and my life if I was any other way.

Matt Furey