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How Abraham Lincoln Used an Ancient Achievement Principle

Written by: Gene Griessman

Article Overview: Abraham Lincoln believed in a principle long taught by great religious leaders. In a new book--LINCOLN SPEAKS TO LEADERS--the authors show how this principle can be used by leaders today.

How Abraham Lincoln Used an Ancient Achievement Principle

(An excerpt from LINCOLN SPEAKS TO LEADERS)

ABRAHAM LINCOLN: "When I was young, I read a book that most people read in my day, but few read today-Pilgrim's Progress, by John Bunyan. It's a classic that tells the story of a lonely, resolute traveler who struggled with temptation, overcame despondency, and reached his goal. Pilgrim's Progress became a metaphor for my life.

Great religious leaders have long taught that if you truly want something, you should act as if the object of your desire is already on its way to you. For example, if your goal is to become a lawyer, visualize yourself as a lawyer, and you will be well on your way to achieving that dream. Seeing it happen is the way to make it happen.

During the war, I wrote a personal letter to a college student who was a friend of my son Robert. His grades were bad, he was discouraged, and he was considering dropping out of college. In that letter I said, 'You cannot fail if you resolutely determine that you will not.'"

PAT WILLIAMS: "This is a message I believe in wholeheartedly. I've seen it happen time after time after time. Why do homerun hitters drive the ball into the bleacher seats? Because they see it happen before the wood connects with the leather...

Jim Brown, the legendary Cleveland Browns running back, was the first athlete I ever heard talk about visioning this way. The night before games he would think about what he wanted to accomplish, picture it as if he'd already done it. When game time came, his mission was already half accomplished. Because he'd seen himself successful, the doing of it was simply the living out of history.

Mark Price, who is among the greatest free throw shooters in NBA history, constantly visualized the ball going into the basket in advance of the games. After repeatedly playing the scene over and over in his mind, by game time it was all automatic."

--Adapted from Chapter Six: "Success Comes From Within"

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Article Tags: abraham lincoln, athlete, bleacher seats, cleveland browns, despondency, dropping out of college, excerpt from, game time, homerun hitters, jim brown, john bunyan, metaphor, nba history, object of your desire, pat williams, personal letter, pilgrim, religious leaders, shooters, time after time



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THE SECRET TO SUCCESS IS ALL IN YOUR HEAD...RIGHT NOW!!! - "Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other one thing." - Abraham Lincoln WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS STATEMENT ???
Re: THE SECRET TO SUCCESS IS ALL IN YOUR HEAD...RIGHT NOW!!! - Hey Barry, [quote="Barry Sarner":ev3dumxj]"Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other one thing." - Abraham Lincoln WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS STATEMENT ???[/quote:ev3dumxj] It's true on two levels. Level 1 - Doing something for the first time to succeed. Level 2 - Coming back from failure and not resting until you've regained success. The scares maybe deep. The wounds tender to the touch. But it will always be man's resolve or lack there of that defines the limits he is willing to go to, to gain or regain succeed. Books, audios, videos, courses, seminars, webinars, & etc. are important and I can't get enough. But nothing can take the place of what a man must decide to do, deep down within himself, if he wants to succeed.
Re: THE SECRET TO SUCCESS IS ALL IN YOUR HEAD...RIGHT NOW!!! - [quote="ThePromotionalGuy":18e9nuiy]Hey Barry, [quote="Barry Sarner":18e9nuiy]"Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other one thing." - Abraham Lincoln WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS STATEMENT ???[/quote:18e9nuiy] It's true on two levels. Level 1 - Doing something for the first time to succeed. Level 2 - Coming back from failure and not resting until you've regained success. The scares maybe deep. The wounds tender to the touch. But it will always be man's resolve or lack there of that defines the limits he is willing to go to succeed. Books, audios, videos, courses, seminars, webinars, & etc. I love. But nothing can take the place of what a man must decide to do, deep down if he wants to succeed.[/quote:18e9nuiy] No matter what we all say it always comes down to one thing...the individual
Re: Blog sells for up to $15 million - Okay. I'm in. How do we, as EvanCarmichael.com members, work together as a group to start a business blog with some niche focus that we can all contribute [u:yn1bfylm]quality[/u:yn1bfylm] content to (like the quality of the $15 million blog) to eventually attract the interest of a $15 million buyer? We can then sell it and split the limelight and the proceeds! ;-] Forgive me, Evan, if you already have such a blog started on your site! The Mastermind Principle. Can we put it into practice? GT :-]
Re: Books for Business Owners - Hi DougSchadle, Thanks for sharing your favorite business book with us! A good book I'm reading now is "Maximum Achievement: Strategies and Skills That Will Unlock Your Hidden Powers to Succeed" by Brian Tracy as it was a birthday gift from a friend. Tracy's book is helpful in identifying what's important in your life and then setting an action plan to achieve it.


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