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The Unspoken Secret to Achieving Big Goals
by Joe Vitale
Years ago I attended networking
meetings. These
were usually breakfast or lunch business meetings
where people exchanged business cards and tried to help
each other get new clients.
I spoke at many of these events. What I quickly
noticed is that the same people seemed to be at the
same meetings. One observant friend said, "It's the
same people -- and they're all starving!"
That's when I first learned about the concept of
levels. That is, people tend to stay on the same level
of business or social status. When they meet friends,
it's usually in their circle of activity, whether
church, work, school, or some club. As a result, they
rarely get out of the level they are on.
That's not bad. You can stay on the level you are
at and do well. But if you want more, or if you find
yourself starving on the level you're at, you'll need
to go up a level or two.
When I was speaking at these networking events, I
was a notch above everyone in the room. This is not an
ego thing. It's a social perception. I was seen as
being at a slightly higher level than the audience
simply by nature of being the speaker. I was the
authority figure. As the higher teacher, I was elevated
a slight degree on their level.
But that's not good enough. If you want to achieve
big dreams in business, you need to step out of your
circle or network of peers and associates. You need to
go to a group with wider, stronger, richer connections.
You need to go up a level.
How do you do that?
In my case, my books brought me to the attention
of other circles of people, and higher levels of
networks.
For example, when I wrote "The AMA Complete
Guide to Small Business Advertising" for the American
Marketing Association back in 1995, I was immediately
put in a new level. I was now the author of an
important book for a prestigious organization.
This caused new people to contact me. Each of
these people had their own network of people. More
often than not, these networks were at a higher level
than anything I had ever touched before.
Here's another example: When I wrote my book on
P.T. Barnum, called "There's A Customer Born Every
Minute," for the American Management Association back
in 1997, I managed to get the attention of famous
tycoons Donald Trump and Kenneth Feldman. Clearly I had
been introduced to a new level.
If you want to succeed in phenomenal ways today,
you need to go up a level or two on the status scale of
networks. The good news is email makes this a snap to
begin. Anyone alive can be reached through email with
some persistence and cleverness. That's how I first
reached marketing superstar Jay Conrad Levinson,
direct mail legend Joe Sugarman, and even gonzo
daredevil Evel Knievel. I did it all by email.
People write me all the time for favors. I'm now
perceived as an expert, an authority, and an Internet
marketing pioneer. They want to associate their name or
product with me. I love to help people, so I usually at
least give people a chance. But I never endorse
anything without seeing, using and loving what they
have. This is important for me to maintain my level.
And now people write me from higher levels, too.
For example, Dr. Robert Anthony is a man I studied
twenty years ago. Last year he wrote me after reading
my "Spiritual Marketing" book. Today we're coauthors. I
just produced and recorded his legendary audioprogram,
"Beyond Positive Thinking." Two decades ago I was way
below his level. Today we're partners!
Keep in mind that going up a level is different
than thinking out of the box. You can be creative and
still stay on your current level. Brainstorming with
your neighbor is most likely different than
brainstorming with, say, Richard Branson, the
flamboyant owner of Virgin Records.
The point is this: To achieve goals you've never
achieved before, you may need to rise in levels and
participate with new people on a new playing field.
So the lesson today is to consider your current
level, consider your goals, and consider what people
outside of your network can help you achieve them. You
may have to step out of your level (and comfort zone)
to do it, but the step is well worth taking.
It would take an entire book to fully explain the
concept of levels. I don't have that space here.
But
before I end this short article, let me offer a handful
of tips for going to a new level:
1. Write something of value new levels will admire.
This doesn't have to be a book. This very article may
introduce me to new levels. One of the main reasons my
name is known to a vast majority of people online is
due to the hundreds of articles I've written and
distributed (like this one you're reading) over the
last ten years. You can write articles, too.
2. Apply for membership in a prestigious organization.
When I joined the Society for American Magicians, a
very old club for professional magicians, I elevated my
position among magicians. Joining the right country
club or business group can do the same thing.
3. Create or join a master mind group. Napoleon Hill
strongly urged people to form master minds. The trick
to making them work is to be among people who are
already successful in the areas you want to succeed in.
Their presence will help elevate you.
4. Write to people in higher networks. When I was first
starting out as a writer, people way above me, such as
famed copywriter Bob Bly, helped me. In later years,
marketing gurus such as Murray Raphel and later Paul
Hartunian, all helped me. I simply wrote to them. They
sensed my sincerity and offered guidance. Today I do
the same for others.
5. Speak at associations or gatherings of people in
higher levels. You'll need to have something unique to
offer, but if you can deliver what these levels want,
you'll be welcomed into their fold.
Again, there is nothing wrong with the level you're
on. You don't want to forget your friends or burn your
bridges. I'm simply suggesting that if you have giant
goals and big dreams, it may be time to take the
elevator up a floor or two.
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Dr. Joe Vitale is author of way too many books to list
here, including the #1 best-selling book "Spiritual
Marketing," the best-selling e-book "Hypnotic Writing,"
and the best-selling Nightingale-Conant audioprogram,
"The Power of Outrageous Marketing." His latest books
are the best-selling "The Greatest Money-Making
Secret in History" and "Adventures Within." He's
being called "The Buddha of the Internet." Sign up
for his monthly ezine and see many articles by him
at
http://www.MrFire.com
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© 2004 Joe Vitale. All rights reserved. Feel freee
to forward this in its entirety to anyone you wish.
Hypnotic Marketing, Inc.
121 Canyon Gap Rd.,
Wimberley TX 78676
The Unspoken Secret to Achieving Big Goals
by Joe Vitale www.MrFire.com
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