For a period of 7 years I couldn't find my way.

I didn't know how to turn my desire into a successful
business.

I want to share with you an important principle
that turned my life around and that all successful people
use to succeed.

Michael Dell discovered it when he was a teenager.

Steven Spielberg did decades ago.

Tiger did before he was 7 years old.

Rachel Ray discovered it and cashed in.

Warren Buffet credits this principle for becoming a
billionaire.

Before I share it with you, let me say this.

The more time you spend AWAY from this 'idea', the
greater you'll experience frustration and a lack of
fulfillment.

That's what I experienced before I tapped into this
strategy.

I believe that you and I are unique. No two people will
ever be the same, that's what the experts say.

I believe in the power of your LIFE ASSIGNMENT. There's a
problem you can solve for others as good or better than
anyone else. You can turn this 'solution' into a life of
contribution and financial success.

Let me tell you what those well known people I mentioned
above have in common and how you can model their success.

Onward.

One of the keys that transformed my life was discovering my
STRENGTHS.

This concept is very important.

Let me define a 'strength' for you.

I define a strength as - An ACTIVITY that makes you feel
strong.

***Strength Key>>>Have you ever done something you enjoy
and when you were done with it, you had more energy than
when you first started?

To this day, I keep trying to hone in on my strengths and
then use them to contribute and build my business.

I suggest you do the same.

I suggest you spend time thinking about areas where you are
strong.

***Strength Key>>>Usually our strengths come so naturally
to us that we think everyone is as good at them as we are.
The truth is most other's don't have those same strengths.

The more time you spend in your STRENGTH ZONE the greater
your happiness, contribution, and income.

Ask yourself:

What activities do you partake in that when you're done you
feel amazing?

You feel energized?

Where do you most enjoy spending your time?

What do you love doing?

GREATNESS is about discovering your strengths and then
unfolding them in the direction you choose.

Contribution. Income. Legacy.

If you're committed to discovering your strengths, I'd
read this newsletter 2x's because then your understanding
can deepen.

Discover your strengths. Spend more time around them. Share
them. Watch the results.

This message is from my coach and I can't let it go witout allowing some other serious minded person to share this information with me that's why I'm posting it on the World Urban Cafe Group Blog.
Let's start.


Thinking big almost destroyed me.

"Mike, what are you talking about???"

When I was a youngen', reading and learning, all
the 'know it all's' said, "One of the biggest
keys to success is to think big."

Thinking big didn't work for Mike Litman.

Thinking big had me chasing my tail for 7 years.

Thinking big had me waking up at 4am, taking the
subway uptown and getting paid $10 an hour for a
job I hated.

I talk from my own experience, that's it. You take
from it what helps you, understood?

Maybe 'thinking big' has worked for others, but not me.

"Mike, this is very interesting, tell me more."

Onwards, greatness soldier.

Listen, I'm all for having a vision and dream for
your life. 100%.

But here's what I don't get.

If you've never made $300, $1000, $3,000+ a month,
how in the world should your goal be to make $10k,
$20k+ a month?

For years I thought big, big monthly, yearly goals
and it was like crawling on hot coals. My progress was
sloooww.

And then I got SO FED UP with 'thinking big' and 'big
goals', I knew I had to do something else.

So I did the opposite.

I made my goals small. Tiny.

I was furious. I either had to make my business work
or go work more hours at a job.

So instead of my goal being $10,000 this month.

My goal was $300.

Then I accomplished it. The goal went to $700

Then $1,500

$3,000

$3,300

$4,100

and then I woke up shortly after at 8k, 10k, 30k, 50+
monthly.

Life teaches us about the law of growth.

Do you know anyone who went from kindergarten to college?

How about someone who got married on the first date?

Everything in life happens in steps. 1 step at a time.

Remember this***Every level of income demands a different
you.

You have people who have $1k a month mindsets, try to
make $10k+ a month. What a joke. (laugh)

Call this controversial, but for beginner entrepreneurs I
believe in the 'magic of thinking small'.

This concept transformed my life.

Success is about discipline and paying the price.

People with their 'head in the clouds' just chase their
tail for years, like I used to do.

Increase your goal each month by 10-25%.

Keep CELEBRATING your small victories.

Go from $300, $500, $900 a month and keep growing it.

Oprah started with 1 viewer.

Google started with 1 visitor.

Sure, have a big AIM for your life, but start where you
are.

What's your goal for today, this week, this month?

Begin.

Now.

Ignite the POWER in you that begs to contribute.

That begs to CREATE.

That begs to SERVE.

That begs to WIN.

That's who YOU are. You and I both know that, it's obvious.

One more tip for today: If I was you I'd print this email
and read it once a month for 90 days. Your call.

March on.

Your Coach,

Mike

P.S. My #1 best-selling book Conversations with
Millionaires started by selling ONE (1) book. Now hundreds
of thousands of lives have been changed.

Grab this success classic ($15.95 at Barnes & Noble) and 2
energy charged CD's of mine for just $7 bucks.

http://mikelitman.com/mmsksite.php

Don't be a TAKER In life. I ONLY want GIVERS (I call people
who give 'REFRESHERS' because giving refreshes others) to
read my newsletter.

Listen Tayo, you've read to the bottom of this email.
You're a GIVER.

Whose life could you REFRESH today by forwarding them this
newsletter?

Remember this: What you do for others, the universe will do
for you.

http://mikelitman.com/mmsksite.php

Im Pamela Braide from Nigeria. I coordinate the Youth Employment Summitt Network and am also involved with other development initiatives.

Recently theres been "sanitization", read massive demolition, of houses in Abuja the capital city. The casualties have been an entire market, several settlements and business blocks. The Government claims to be correcting over a decade of fraudulently sold plots and is driving a hard lesson to show its not business as usual. I must make it clear that these communities grew over time and the Housing Council officials were up to thier necks in supplying most of theses makeshift deeds of occupancy. A lot of people had no idea they were not following legal procedures.

Whatever the long term gains of following the original masterplan, the human cost right now is enormous. Thousands of persons are homeless and without business premises. The crime rate has shot up already. It does not take a genius to guess more violence is to come. Our police could barely cope before....what happens now?

I get confused as to how so many human lives are not factored into this equation of demolition for greater good.... no alternatives etc.

Do you have any such stories to share?
I really would like stories or views that show some solution.

If anyone is interested, they can find reports on the French and Spanish discussions for the Habitat JAM here for Spanish and here for French.

Incredibly hectic 72 hours. It was though a pretty grand challenge to get thousands online to discuss in realtime urban issues. Given the challenge it was quite amazing to see thousands from around the world sharing their views and perspecitves on how to make the planet's cities a more livilable and sustainable place. Beyond visions, conrete action that will hopefully impact and be integrated into the WUF in 2006.

TIG supported the overall process by enabling the event to engage Spanish and French speakers (huge thanks to Damian, Sessi and their teams of moderators!). It was amazing to see people in Bolivia, Peru, Colombia, Africa, India and more, sharing challenges and brainstorming opportunities and solutions. Possibilities.

I think it was the challenge, and the courage to try something different that overall, despite a rough learning curve and tight corners, made the event a success and a a new process worth exploring and replicating around policy processes in the future, above all as a way to enagage civil society globally.

For those that took part in the discussions and want to read the views expressed in the forums now that the waters have calmed down, the Habitat JAM site is actually still accessible.
To read a part of the Spanish discussions or in French.

And of course you can continue to discuss the issues in this themes boards.
It would also be wonderful to see people adding their projects, events, articles, resources, images etc..., or those that they are aware of, to the Urban Sustainability theme . Our objective, through this input of content, is to create a listing that grows as a map that connects all that is relevant to the World Urban Forum. To generate and share knowledge.

Urban Sustainability: The World Urban Cafe

Hi my name is Cheryl and I write and compile content for TakingITGlobal's online community. Every two months I work with youth advisory members, TakingITGlobal designers and web developers to present a Featured Theme page on an important social issue with global impact on young people everywhere. This time the task was urban living, city life, urban sustainability.

What is urban sustainability? What does it mean? Why is it imporant?

Urban sustainability begins with a vision – a re-visioning of what came before. It is an all-encompassing strategic design that excludes no living being, ensures basic human needs are met (shelter, clean water, sanitation and security), and strives for the ongoing pursuit of peace, financial autonomy, meaningful engagement, sustainable development, cultural appreciation, and social justice.

But a vision and a plan are not enough to realize our dream cities. We, the citizens, are the agents, the implementers, who on a daily basis must work to sustain the quality of life we all long for. Without our commitment, no urban environment can sustain itself.

~~~
Thank you to Environmental Youth Alliance for partnering with us and sharing your knowledges and expertise. We couldn't have done it without you :]

We, TIG and EYA, created this web space with you and for you. It is yours to explore, enhance, and complete.