459. C.A.N.I. Constant and Never-Ending Improvement

Kaizen or CANI is constant and never-ending improvement. This should be one of the foundation stones of your philosophy. (The alternative is hopelessness). Continually raise your standards. Once you get 60%, aim next time for 66% or 70%, then 75% and so on. Don't stop at 100%. Look frequently at your own beliefs. Review them daily and cultivate only the empowering ones. Don't be content with just being a dreamer saying "It would be great to ..." and then stop. Look realistically at the issue and ask yourself "What would it take to..." and go and figure out for yourself how to achieve the goals you set for yourself then JUST DO IT !

It is not good enough to just know what to do, you must DO what you know you should do. Life is a practical course. Live it, don't just study it.

458. Do Not Dabble

Do not dabble, that is for ducks. Do not major in minor things. Whenever you pick a subject (make sure it is a worthy one) make a study plan and stick to it until you have mastered the subject. Only then should you move on to the next worthy subject.

457. Controlled Focus

Focus is the master key to your success. Whatever you focus on is what you wind up getting. Focus on Poverty, you get Poverty, focus on Wealth, you get Wealth. Controlled focus is like a laser beam that cuts through the apparent obstacles. You need to practice this focusing consistently until it becomes the way in which your mind operates by default. Focussing like this is the concentration and directing of your power.

Here is a nice formula :

Focus X Consistency = Effective Power.

456. There is No Need for Misery of Any Kind

Pain and Misery are unnecessary and will finally come to an end once you take control of 3 things :

(a) How you feel
(b) How you think
(c) How you act.

Once you control these 3 you will be able to modify the course of your life.

455. Guarding Your Tongue

Guard your speech. Train yourself never to say anything you will regret later. If you MUST speak at all, be forthright - always say what you mean and mean what you say. Things you might come to regret saying are things that cause hurt or pain or harm to others, things that display your ignorance, things that get you fired, things that get you sued, things that lose you money or friends and things that get you into fights. Try to find other things to add to this list.

454. The Illuminated Mind

To the illuminated mind the whole world burns and sparkles with light. Such a mind is fixed on the highest of ideas.

453. Budgets

Keep a tight rein on your spending. Learn how to prepare budgets and to re-adjust them. Learn to live by your budgets. Become friends with accounting and spreadsheets. Learn to project into the future using spreadsheets.