Dr. Terri Kennedy

Success

"They can because they think they can."
-- Virgil

"The difference between consistent success and chronic struggle in any area of life is perspective and practice. Your perspective – how you see and interact with the world - translates into habitual thought and behavior. And those patterns form your experience. They become your practice. You may have a practice of abundance or lack, a practice of passion or disconnect, or a practice of clarity or delusion."

"You've probably heard the saying, "practice makes perfect." Ask yourself, "What am I perfecting in my life? What am I practicing every day?"

"As you become more successful, you may find that you have an 'embarrassment of riches' with multiple opportunities coming your way. However, one of the most important things for you to do is to focus; ensuring that every choice you make is aligned with your over-arching life vision."

"Companies that have identified at least one special thing to set them apart from their competition and are constantly focused on retaining excellent customer interactions, succeed."

"Think of each inspired thought as a gift from God. Honor it with immediate action. Otherwise, the urgency will diminish and you will lose the initial enthusiasm. Action is the food that will nourish your success."

"Begin where you are, with whatever you have. Be mindful and specific in your actions. Participate fully in life. Live each day purposely with joy and passion. As long as the action synchs with your core values, then go for it. The key is to do something. The first step will inform the rest and if you’re listening, you will be guided along the right path."

"We often look for big actions and big results. Instead, take small steps which will systematically move you closer to your destination, and increase your confidence. Once you start, unforeseen circumstances will help propel you forward. If you make a mistake, you will learn and grow in the process. We are meant to evolve."

"Planning is good, but until you take action nothing will happen."

"In the world of Power Living, "specificity" is being specific about your thoughts, words and actions. In this context, the practice of specificity allows you to create a personal code of conduct to manifest an effective and authentic life - what I call true PWR: Purpose With Results. Like in science, if you live with high specificity then you are likely to have a low error rate. In other words, you are likely to achieve your vision." 

"In very simple terms, you reap exactly what you sow. It's all up to you. To effectively use this power and achieve Purpose With Results, you first need self-awareness - understanding your own thought and behavior patterns, living with your eyes wide open. Then, you can get to self-control - making smart and deliberate choices, living with specificity."

"Many of us hide our light by being quiet when we should speak. Let people know what is on your mind. Don't be cruel, but always seek to be truthful. When you ask for what you want, don't be surprised when you actually receive it!"

"Respect yourself as a creative being - creating a life that is uniquely yours."

"It's bold to be an entrepreneur, an educator, or a loving parent. Whatever you choose to be; be that fully. Being bold can be scary and fun, difficult and liberating, ordinary and then extraordinary!"

"We all know that tomorrow is not promised. Do the things in your heart today – don't wait. Be prepared for greatness, remembering that faith is belief plus action. Don't take the easy way out. Choose what you feel you have to do to live authentically. Make a statement with your life."

"Prepare yourself. Do whatever you need to do to be ready to live your dream. If you want to run a marathon, then start training today. If you want to launch a business, then start saving today."

"Our everyday success is dependent upon making good choices, and aligning those choices with our personal vision."

"People who nurture their imagination are often very creative, resourceful and successful. They see opportunities rather than obstacles, possibilities versus problems. They can draw upon their imagination to problem-solve and think of new options."

"If your mind is consistently focused on abundance then you're going to see the opportunities around you. You will be open to the possibilities in life and ready to take action. On the other hand, if your consciousness is clouded by thoughts of lack, then you will most likely miss the treasure in front of you or think yourself into inertia."

"Know that the power of the Universe is with you. It doesn't mean that your days will always be sunny; but when the fog comes you will be able to navigate more effectively. Focus on what you want and claim it as real."

"No matter what your current circumstance, your 'inside' dream can be your new 'outside' reality. Your primary task is to allow power to flow through you, creating a receptive atmosphere."

"Every one of us is unique with specific gifts to share. Some people have the clarity and energy to fulfill their destiny - achieving what I call PWR, Purpose With Results. Others either do not spend time understanding their Purpose, or lose steam along the way falling short of their vision."

"Those who have paved the way are now passing the torch. Are we going to let the fire burn out, or shine brighter than ever? Ask yourself: What do I stand for? Who am I going to inspire? What am I going to do to continue this tradition of greatness?"

"Just as we perform 'due diligence' in business when evaluating a prospective investment, you should perform due diligence on your own life. Are you at times exhibiting sloth-like behavior? Have you gotten lazy in any area of your life – in what you eat or how you communicate with your partner? Are you putting things off 'for a later date' or quitting when things get tough?"

"Success is based on perseverance. Keep your personal vision at the forefront of your activities. Work on your agenda instead of allowing other random people's agendas to work on you."

"Failure provides a greater challenge to personal diligence than success. If things don't go quite the way you planned, learn from the detour - you can still get to the destination!"

"The quality of the answer depends on the quality of the question. Seek specificity. Scientists and researchers live by this principle. They know that the answer is really in how you structure the question, and if you don’t like the answer, it may be time to reframe the question. "

"Questions can be a valuable tool in business and in life. Open-ended questions, in particular, can yield significant information allowing you to be in charge of the discussion by finding out what is on the other person's mind. They allow you to challenge assumptions, reduce misunderstandings, solicit honest feedback, make more informed decisions, and illicit insights."

"Having a long-term plan is necessary to achieve your life vision. However, it is important to realize that there may be some other items on the cosmic menu. When you open your eyes to this fundamental truth, you will partake in an even greater feast than what you could have imagined. The key is to be able to recognize and appreciate divine timing – working with it instead of blocking its flow."

"If you are feeling frustrated, don't give up what's in your heart. Instead, detach yourself from a perfect schedule, and become a partner with providence. You can aid the process by sowing the seed or delay it by complaining that the gardener quit! Instead of resisting the flow through procrastination and worrying, engage in active waiting by preparing yourself for that desired outcome."

"Be Present. Instead of fretting about tomorrow, live your best life today. Your actions right now will have tremendous impact on your future."

"Be persistent. You're never too old or too young for what's in your heart. If it serves your highest Purpose, it will come to pass - but maybe not in the form you originally thought. Continue to take conscious action and remain optimistic."

"You may have all of the best intentions in the world, but if you don't have the tools readily accessible and a very specific game plan then you are likely to be disappointed. You must set yourself up for success."

"Achieving clarity and focus are critical to achieving success in business and life. How you organize your thoughts, your goals and your space can affect how effective you are at realizing your dreams and simply getting daily tasks done with ease. Work smart and you will stress less!"

"The first step to being a success is to do what you love. Your passion will be a source of energy and fuel your progress. When there is a motivating WHY the HOW becomes easier."

To contact Dr. Terri Kennedy, call 212.901.6913 or email info@drterrikennedy.com. Read more "The Power of..." columns. Learn more about the Power Living® philosophy.