“Our environment, the world in which we live and work, is a mirror of our attitudes and expectations.” Earl Nightingale
Mind food is your environment – all the countless things that influence your conscious and subconscious thought. The kind of mind food we consume determines our habits, attitudes, personality. As the saying goes, you are the product of your environment.
Recondition yourself for Success.
Most people you know can be classified into three groups:
First group: Those who surrendered completely – the majority of people are convinced deep 
down inside that they haven’t got what it takes, that real success, real accomplishment, is for others who are lucky or fortunate in some special respect. You can easily spot these people.
Second group: Those who surrendered partially - this group enter adult life with considerable hope for success. These people prepared themselves, they work, they plan, but, after a decade or so, resistance begins to build up, competition for top-level jobs looks rugged. This group then decides that greater success is not worth the effort. They rationalize, “We’re earning more than the average and we live better than the average. This group developed a set of fears: fear of failure, fear of social disapproval, fear of insecurity, fear of losing what they already have. This group includes many talented, intelligent people afraid to stand-up and run.
Third group: Those who never surrender. Maybe 2 or 3% of the total. Doesn’t let pessimism dictates, doesn’t believe in surrendering to suppressive forces, these people is the happiest because it accomplishes the most. Let’s be honest, all of us would like to be in the third group.
Supposed you tell several of your average friends with the greatest sincerity: “Someday I’m going to be vice president of this company. What will happen? Your friends will probably think you are joking. And if they should believe you mean it, chances are they will say “You poor guy, you sure have a lot to learn”.
Now, assume you repeat the same to the president of the company. How will he react? One thing is certain, he will not laugh. He will look at you intently and ask himself, “Does this fellow really mean this?” Because big men do not laugh at big ideas. Or suppose you tell some average people you plan to own an expensive home, and they may laugh at you because they think it’s impossible. But tell your plan to a person already living in an expensive home, and he won’t be surprised. He knows it isn’t impossible, because he’s already done it. Remember this: “People, who tell you it cannot be done almost always are unsuccessful people, are strictly average or mediocre at best in terms of accomplishment”. “Accept negative advice only as a challenge to prove that you can do it.” “Birds of a feather do flock together, so be sure you’re in the flock that thinks right.”
Make it a rule to seek advice from people who know.
Do’s to help your social environment first class:
- Do circulate in new groups.
- Do select friends who have views different from your own.
- Do select friends who stand above petty, unimportant things. Friends who really do want to see you succeed. Find friends who breathe encouragement into your plans and ideas.
You can test your proneness to be a gossiper by taking this test:
- Do I spread rumors about other people?
- Do I always have good things to say about others?
- Do I like to hear reports of a scandal?
- Do I encourage others to bring their rumours to me?
- Do I judge others only on the basic of facts?
- Do I precede my conversations with ‘Don’t tell anybody?
- Do I keep confidential information confidential?
- Do I feel guilty about what I say concerning other people?
Using verbal axes and grenades on another person doesn’t do one thing to make you a better or me a better me.
