And those who have humility, ask for help, show vulnerability, lean into their daily practices and view change as a process rather than a means to an end. As I share with my students, a process, not a pill.

Jack Canfield, a great teacher and mentor of mine teaches many success principles and I felt compelled to share these 9 with you this week on success which can be applied to anything you are working on right now.

1. Nearly all extraordinary people have the ability to bond with others (i.e. being involved and part of this community of powerful Pinky women).  Without lasting bonds with people, any success or excellence is hollow.

2. Highly effective people have moral fiber. Others trust them. They have a sense of what is good – for others and themselves.

3. Winners surround themselves with good people and learn from them. Just look at the example left by a number of famous people. Many, from George Harrison to Hillary Clinton, crawled up the ladder of success on the back of someone else.

4. Successful people work on themselves and never quit! While the “over-night wonders” become arrogant and quickly disappear, really successful people work on their personality, their leadership skills, management skills, and every other detail of life. When a relationship or business deal goes sour, they assume they can learn from it and they expect to do better next time. Successful people don’t tolerate flaws; they fix them!

5. Successful people are extraordinarily creative. They go around asking, “Why not?” They see new combinations, new possibilities, new opportunities and challenges where others see problems or limitations. They wake up in the middle of the night yelling, “I’ve got it!” They ask for advice, try things out, consult experts and amateurs, always looking for a better, faster, cheaper solution. Successful people create stuff!

6. Successful people are masters of communication. What they all have in common is an ability to communicate a vision that energizes other people and themselves. Communication requires listening. Those who listen to the people around them can understand them better. Shared understandings are what makes communication effective.

7. Determination is a powerful habit. Winners never give up.

8. Winners are not tapped in the past. They move on. They look for new opportunities, new successes. At the same time, they realize that always living in the future can slow us down as much as always looking behind. The unsuccessful are often too focused on what is ahead and never seem content. The successful understand that what is going on now is just as important as what they are planning for the future.

9. Successful people take criticism well as they see the value. Criticism shows that people believe in your ability to do better.

One of my dear students here at www.OnePinky.com is blogging weekly at http://www.NoDietingAllowed.com and her blog this week is on her new found “awareness” and how it feels to be in the world, awake to what shows up. Check it out at www.NoDietingAllowed.com.

I can tell you first hand that Leah and so many of the women in this community are living these principles Jack speaks of organically. They are showing up for themselves first and then for one another and it is truly transformational. Collectively, we are taking small Pinky Steps to becoming healthier human being.

The planet needs us.

Love to you All,

Laura

This just in from a New Pinky and I am going to use this space to reply to her and also see if you have anything to chime in with?

She writes, “The call on Monday night was very inspiring, thank you!   Pls let me know what you think.

I have a couple questions… I noticed there were several women on the call that have gone through the course already.”

Do a lot of the members go back to repeat the course?

Repeating the course is optional and is not a sign of weakness. It is more a sign of strength.

Let’s put it this way. It took most of us many years to adopt the core beliefs that hold us back…and sometimes it takes longer than we think to break down patterns that hold us back. So doing lesson 1 over and over and over is something that supports women and I highly recommend it. 12 weeks is a great start to change….and some of us need more than that. I love the question and I encourage us all to stay in this one pinky moment at at time.

For me personally, you want to guess how many times I did Jack Canfield’s workshop, level 1 before I said, OK…I think I am done now. I did it at least 5 times, maybe more…and every time I did it, I learned something new and more new…and grew deeper as a person.

What is this percentage? I would say a quarter or more of the women who do it once come back for more or move onto level 2 which you will learn about as well.

Do you encourage the group to weigh themselves?

This program is not a diet plan so weighing and measuring is something that is individual to the women.  The goal is to get to a peaceful place with your body and with the scale and you can…

If so, how often?

How often is up to each individual. Some women are not in a place of feeling peace with the scale so until that day comes, I suggest you put it away and measure your success in other ways. How do you feel for example….

Do you have to follow one of the “diets” you recommended to lose weight? I do not recommend any one plan….each body has different needs. What I do emphasize is detoxing through cleansing especially if there is a good amount of weight to release and I recommend that one eats as much whole food, from the earth as possible. I can go over this more on our calls in the next couple of weeks. Just remind me to touch on this, OK?

I’m not a big diet fan and never have been.  What are your thoughts on artificial sweeteners?  Soda pop? I use stevia to sweeten my tea, green tea and discourage any artificial foods/sweeteners/soda pop. They are not from the earth. I strongly suggest you listen to my call located in the forum/community that I did with Mariel Hemingway….

It will give you some great insight on nutrition and health.

Thank you for these questions…and..

Leah, is there anything you would like to add to my answers?

Whooo Hoooo for our new Pinky gal from our Monday call for reaching out and asking for what she needs. Love that.

To Learning, Loving, Living and Letting Go!

I Love you, XO,

Laura

Have a super day!

Live in the Bay Area? Come to my free workshop on Saturday October 24th, 2009 from 1-3pm at Bay Club Marin.  Email support@onepinky.com if you would like to attend.