Just as negativity breeds negative results, positivity breeds positive results. When you incorporate positivity into your life, you boost morale, creativity, and become more likely to reach your goals.

We all remember the character of Stuart Smalley on Saturday Night Life who sits before the mirror and chants to himself, “I’m good enough, I’m smart enough, and doggone it, people like me!” As corny as it sounds, there is a basic truth there, the more you tell yourself that you’re smart, creative and able to reach your goals, the more you begin to believe it and, once you begin to believe it, you make yourself ready, subconsciously, to achieve your goals and receive your rewards.

Being positive is a state of mind, which is better than the alternative choice. The Good book tells us to think on the good things – so maybe that would be good advice to follow.

As human beings, we learn by imitation. This is true when we begin to speak, walk, and write.

Becoming a success is no different. We learn how to be successful from those who have achieved success in their own lives. This might be someone you know already, someone you would like to know, or someone who has trail blazed many years before you.

Modeling your success after the success of another allows you to avoid potential pitfalls and provides you with a map of how to achieve your own success.

If this is true, then why do so few apply this in their lives?

The reasons are as many as there are people. Excuses abound in our world and as I heard some where once before – “Excuses are like armpits – everyone has two and they both stink.” …unknown

The only way I know of for most of us to really excel is to find someone or some group we can learn from and be accountable too, otherwise we will slip into our old habits and continue along the same path to nowhere.

Personally the best thing I have done in a long time is form what is called an accountability board. I have four very successful businessmen who are willing to meet monthly with me and mentor me. It has been powerful – both from a personal level and a professional level.

Click to learn more about setting Boards of Accountability.