Book Review: Don’t Tie Yourself Up in "Nots" by Dave Schloss, Part 1

Part 1 of a two-part book review and interview with Dave Schloss, author of Don’t Tie Yourself Up in "Nots"

(Click here to read part 2)

Have you ever wished you knew how to navigate the road to personal or career success? Financial consultant and motivational speaker Dave Schloss, author of Don’t Tie Yourself Up in "Nots," has a road map -- and he’s willing to share it. In this first part of our two-part book review and interview, Dave offers simple yet effective directions to guide anyone’s journey.

What is your advice for attaining success?
There are two variables in achieving success: desire and time. Great things in life rarely come easily, but if you want something badly enough and you’re willing work at it long enough, the odds are you’ll succeed. Many people who have a desire don’t necessarily want to work at it long enough to succeed. They’ll work at it for a little while and then if it doesn't happen, they give up. Or they may put time into something but they don’t have a great deal of desire. It's also important to understand that there’s a big difference between desiring something and just having a passing interest in it. For example, if you're swimming underwater and get yourself caught on something, you have an interest in freeing yourself. But as you run short of air, you begin to experience real desire! Every time you head in a particular direction in life ask yourself, "Is this something I merely want, or am I determined and passionate about what I am doing?" The advice is simple: If you want to succeed, develop a passion for what you want and don't quit!

Why do you think most people procrastinate over making changes?
No one likes change. And many times when we look at where we want to be in life, it looks like a big change, and therefore, a lot of work. What you need to keep in mind is that it doesn’t take big changes today to make big changes in your future destination. For example, if you draw a straight line on a piece of paper and then draw a second line on that same paper at a two-degree angle, it looks like a little change. But if you extend both lines out farther at the same angles, the two-degree difference in the second line eventually becomes quite a large change. Mountains are scaled by small steps, so recognize that it’s the small changes that will get you to your great-change destination. And if you look at it in small steps you’ll be more likely to succeed.

What do you mean by "the world’s most incredible computer"?
I’m referring to our brains. In some ways your brain is a like a computer in that it’s able to process thoughts and images. One difference, however, is that you cannot delete negatives from your mind as quickly and easily as you could from a computer. Also, you control what gets programmed into a computer but you aren't always in control of all items being programmed into your brain.

For instance, when you’re driving in your car you may be listening to the radio, and at the same time you’re passing billboards or vehicles with signs on them. Everything is being absorbed and programmed into your subconscious. You might not be aware of it, but it’s getting in there. That’s why a lot of the negative images that are hammered at us on a daily basis get programmed into our minds. We’re constantly being bombarded with the negatives of life, so it is important to constantly reprogram our conscious minds with positive thoughts and images. The bottom line is that in order for you to be successful and upbeat, you need to focus and constantly reprogram this positive information into your "computer" every day.

How can we get positive and stay that way?
I think the answer to staying positive is in dwelling on and being grateful for the positive things we do have. How would you feel if while you were busy making connections on social networking sites, shopping or just relaxing, everything in your life -- your health, your family, your house and other personal items -- were taken away from you? Then, what if you were given the opportunity to have just one thing back? What would it be? Would you choose your health? Your family? It becomes very difficult to choose just one thing, but what if you were then told you could have it all back? How would you feel? You’d be really thankful -- but wait a second! That’s where you are right now!

One of the best methods of staying positive is to dwell on the things you have to be thankful for in your life. Most of us don’t think of that because we tend to say "I have all this, but I want something else," but when you look at what you do have, chances are you have much to be grateful for. Dwell on the positives in your life. It’s not only a way to express your gratitude for what you have; it’s a great way to stay positive.

Don’t Tie Yourself Up in "Nots" by Dave Schloss is available at DaveSchloss.com. To read Dave's advice for investors, visit his investment advice, financial planning for retirement and term life insurance advice pages.