Tony Michalski's Master Key Coaching

Matt Schmoldt

Everyday I take a break from my work when I get to the point of being tired of what I am doing, and I usually go play basketball. The breaks that I enjoy the most are when I am alone on the court. Uninterrupted.

I shoot, shot after shot. I enjoy trying to perfect my shot. I have an inner desire to become gifted. I have come to the point where I know what I need to do to consistently make shots, but I just don’t consistently do what I need to do.

The rim lets me know how I am doing. I love having it’s instant feed back. The loud clang of the rim challenges me to become better, and the soft swish of the net rewards me.

But today, I realized that the rim’s instant feed back is unnecessary.

I realized that I already knew if the shot was off course even before it hits the rim. I know by how I feel during the shot. I know if it is too short, or sailing wide left, and I know if the shot is perfectly on track.

I realized that I was concentrating on the result and not on how I felt during the shot. I was fixed on making my next shot (the destination of the ball), but not on how I should feel during the shot (the journey).

When I let go of my fixation on making shots and instead focused on how I felt during the shots, an amazing thing happened. I made way more shots. Why? I got rid of my self imposed pressure on the result, and became free to follow how I felt during the journey. I didn’t care if I made or missed a shot; I only cared if I was focused on feeling what I knew I should be feeling during the shot.

Our lives are the same way. We want to succeed so badly that we become fixated on succeeding. Our every thought and desire is to succeed in whatever thing it is. Sometimes we want to succeed badly enough that we do things against our conscience and better judgement. You see this happening in our schools. Students want to pass a class without putting in the work, so they turn to cheating, and when they aren’t caught, they continue cheating.

The world has recently seen what this pattern of cheating leads to in the likes of Bernard Madoff and Allen Stanford. They wanted to succeed so badly in their financial businesses, that they lied and cheated for decades. They took their new investor’s money and gave it to their old investor’s, pretending that this money came from legitimate investments.

They let their fixation on succeeding rule their actions and look what it brought. It brought devastation to thousands of honest people who invested in their lies. It brought families heartache and devastation.

In the words of Joshua Marcus Manuel, “It hurts to look at yourself in the mirror and hate yourself, look into the mirror and wonder what ever happened to that smile that used to shine so bright. When you look at yourself, you see this version of ‘you’ that your mind has created, someone that has become so distant and cold that nobody wants to be around. Empty eyes. Fragile bones. The only thing you have left are the lies you tell yourself everyday to survive, lies that have become your painful reality, lies that will swallow you whole and crush your insides, lies that have turned you into someone you never wanted to be.”

Let go. Let go of those fixations that are preventing you from living a successful life. The way to success and happiness comes from letting go and following your heart, from being in harmony with yourself.

Look at what this did for Mother Teresa. For over 45 years, she ministered to the poor and the sick. She lead 610 missions in 123 countries for people with AIDS, leprosy and other illnesses. She dedicated her life to being in harmony with her conscience; she was her best self.

What things do you need to let go of?

Let go of them.

What things does your heart ache to achieve?

Achieve those things of your heart and live a life of success in harmony and happiness. Remember, “It is better to deserve honors and not have them than to have them and not deserve them.” (Mark Twain) and “A great man shows his greatness by the way he treats little men.” (Thomas Carlyle)

About the Article’s Author: Matt Schmoldt currently attends Utah State University in Logan and is studying marketing. He loves life, his family, his heaven, and his sports (golf & basketball). He also runs a necktie website on the side which teaches people how to tie a tie.

Tony’s Comments: If you’re doing the exercises in The Master Key System, then you know that quite often Haanel instructs you to let go, both mentally and physically. This is a method of relaxation, which is somewhat key to truly understanding and getting results from Haanel’s philosophy.

When I am consulting with Master Key Coaching clients, one of the things we often do is practicing letting go. I’ve seen it do some amazing things. As one lets go, they lose the tension and they clear their mind. When that happens, they are not “tied” to the goal in a debilitating way; rather, they allow themselves to move fluidly and with agility.

Try it! Let go.

In The Master Key Workbook, I wrote

Many people dwell on the past. “It’s not my fault, Your Honor. I had a bad childhood.” Have you heard that before? How about “My mother was never there. She didn’t love me enough.” Have you heard a person explain with that excuse why they encounter one bad relationship after another?

Let go of the past. It is gone. Bring yourself into the Now. Why dwell on something that happened many years ago? If you’ve encountered failures, then try something new! The movie Vanilla Sky provides us with a wonder- ful thing to remember.

Every passing minute is another chance to turn it all around.

What goes for the past is true of the future. If you are not making plans, then why are you worrying about the future? Worry and anxiety are some of the biggest wastes of mental energy. They cause us to fear and many times they throw us into a state of paralysis. Keep your thoughts courageous and in the Now. You will be happy that you did.

Letting go may not be easy at first, but with practice you’ll get there. Pretty soon, you’ll be able to let go with ease.

As Haanel wrote, “You will not succeed the first time you try, but practice makes perfect, in this as in everything else…”

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I was speaking with a prospective Master Key Coaching client. He was telling me what he wanted to attain and what he wanted to do. As he told me his goals, I noticed something — something just popped into my head.

One of his goals was that he wanted to tithe to his church. He wanted to give a portion of the money he made to his church so that they could perform good deeds.

As you well know, giving is important. The amount doesn’t necessarily matter. It’s mainly the idea that you are putting yourself — and your money — out there so that it will do good for others.

I asked this person, “How much  do you give now?”

His response was, “Nothing. It’s something I want to do when I have more money.”

I responded, “Why not begin giving now? Just give yourself permission to give now. It doesn’t have to be a lot. You don’t have to make a grand gesture. Every little bit counts and as your income grows, then what you give can grow with it.”

This seemed common-sensical to me.

It was a revelation to this person.

What I have discovered from coaching so many Master Key Coaching clients is that more often than not, it’s not that a person doesn’t know how to achieve a goal; it’s not that a person doesn’t have the means; nor is it that the person isn’t willing.

What happens far too often is that the person — like you — is probably just not giving themselves permission to do the thing they want to do!

Instead of just allowing themselves to do or get the thing they want, they make  excuses about why they can’t!

If they want to tithe, they say it won’t be enough.

If they want a new car, instead of investigating the various financing options that are available, they just file that goal under the heading “Pipe Dream” or, even worse, “Later.”

Instead of springing into action on their idea, they over-think things and instead of inventing ways to make it happen, they invent reasons why it won’t work — without even trying!

Stop it! Now.

Give yourself permission to live how you want to live, to do what you want to do, to get what you want to get.

You are ALLOWED to do so!

This is your life. Live it. Own it.

What is the difference between you and the people who “made it,” who succeeded?

Beyond what they did, beyond what they thought, beyond the actions they took and the alliances they made, it was the fact that in the beginning, when they first conceived their goal, they gave themselves permission to go after it.

Far too often, I speak with people who deny themselves their goals and their dreams, no matter how simple they are. And the only reason they do so is because they don’t give themselves permission to just go for it.

So, give yourself permission to chase your dreams. Give yourself permission to catch your dreams. Give yourself permission to live your dreams.

If it helps, I give you permission.

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There are many things that you can do today — right now — that will increase your chances for success.

What is the BIG ONE, though?

Is there even a BIG ONE?

I know that there is.

It’s something that most people don’t do.

Why don’t they do it? Is it too hard? Don’t people know any better? What is it?

It’s theoretically simple, but it is a hard thing to do. But, once it is done, then success, while not guaranteed, is definitely closer. Success becomes in reach!

So, what is it?

As I wrote, it’s seemingly simple, but oh so hard to do.

It’s …

DECIDE WHAT YOU WANT TO DO.

See? Simple.

Yet hard.

You have to make the decision that you are going to do something. You must stand by that decision. You must follow through on that decision and see it to the end. When you do that — and as you do that more and more — you’ll find yourself becoming … *gasp* … SUCCESSFUL!

Why?

Because successful people do what other people are either unwilling or unable to do.

Most people are not able and willing to make a decision — to choose a course of action — and stick to it.

Think about how many people declare New Year’s resolutions. Now, think about those people one, two, three months later. They’ve forgotten their resolutions, haven’t they? They’re unwilling and they’re unable.

But you are willing and able. Because you were meant to be successful. That’s why you’re here.

Now, please note one thing:

I did not write “DECIDE WHAT YOU WANT.”

I wrote “DECIDE WHAT YOU WANT TO DO.”

There’s a big — huge! — difference between the two.

Some gurus, movies, infomercials, whatever declare that all you have to do is concentrate on the things you want. We all want things. We’re human beings. We want an infinite amount of things. Sitting around and thinking about them all the time is nothing more than mental masturbation. Or, as Haanel would write, “mental dissipation.”

While those things that you want may serve as an incentive, it’s not the thing that will bring you success

Only your actions will bring you success!

Once you begin thinking about what you want to do — whether it be starting a business, changing careers, embarking on a career, helping a charity, going on an adventure, exploring, writing a book, learning a new skill, solving a problem, going on a date — and once you make that decision, then the planning is easy. And when the plan is in place, the doing practically becomes a no-brainer.

Chances are likely that once you decide to do something, you can find someone whom you can model — and perhaps even follow their plan!

If you know where you’re going (what you want to do) and you have a map (a plan), how much will your odds of succeeding increase?

From my experience, I would say a lot. It happens with me — and I see it happen with my Master Key Coaching clients all the time.

So stop masturbating over vision boards. Become the person you want to be by your actions — by the things you do — not the things you own.

People on their deathbeds never regret not having things. They only regret the things they haven’t done!

Decide what you want to do and do it!

It’s the best — and only — way to become successful.

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Goals.

If you’ve been into personal development for a mere five minutes then you’ve heard of them. Even if you’ve never cracked a book like The Master Key System or Think & Grow Rich I am highly confident that you’ve not only heard them mentioned, but you’ve even set a few goals for yourself.

I receive emails from people around the world. I recently received the following email from a fellow who needs help discovering what he really wants. He also has a question regarding the number of goals he can set. Here is what he wrote to me.

Dear  Tony,

I have been thinking about this question: What do I really want? Must it be one thing or many things? I had been changing my desire because of feeling like this is not what I really want. How do I find my real inner-most desire?

From my years of studying and practicing and coaching this material, I emailed to him what I think is a good response to a question (to a few questions, actually!) that we all have. What follows is my response in full.

Thank you for your email. Your question is one of the main reasons I have discerned that people don’t succeed often despite their talent, ingenuity, and drive. Without knowing where you want to go, chances are great that you’ll get there — and that “there” may not be where you want to be. So, it behooves you to decide what you want; that way, you can form a plan to attain it.

Must it be only one thing? Yes and no. You see, we can have different goals, or “levels” of goals. I consider business and lifestyle goals to be what I call the “grand goals,” those goals that impact our entire life. If you decide that you want to become a doctor, then that’s a grand goal because every aspect of your life will be influenced by that decision — you’ll have to devote time to school, you’ll have to work to earn money to attend school and live while you’re in school, your friends will become fellow students, your role models will become your teachers and doctors, and your future will be in many ways decided.

You also have a level of goals that are what I consider “secondary” goals. You may want a new car. Well, your grand goal will help you to attain the car (or cars) that you desire. The same for your house and your sundry possessions.

Along with those goals, we also have goals for our relationships, our spiritual life, our hobbies … Everything! Just think about when you decide that you needed a new shirt. Well, that’s a goal! You go to the store and endeavor to find a shirt that you like at a price that is a good deal for you.

What I have found is that the grand goal is the most important one. It’s the one where we are called to stretch ourselves. It should be one that motivates us and practically compels us to take action — lots and lots of persistent action and hard work. That’s why many authors advise people to pick a goal that is not only financially rewarding, but one that we enjoy. (I will say here that just because you enjoy something does not mean that you will earn lots of money doing it. That’s where a person can make a choice between complete enjoyment (emotional reward) and compensation (financial reward). Think about it this way: we all want to be rock stars and movie stars; a lot of people actually embark on making that dream a reality; but very few actually attain that goal and the ones that stick through it even though they don’t “make it” are the ones that truly love the art.)

How can you find your “innermost desire”? I cannot answer your question completely in this email, but I did write a book that will help you find your goals and form a plan for their attainment. It’s The Master Key Workbook and it is based on Haanel’s The Master key System. Here is where you can find it -

http://www.masterkeyworkbook.com (You can also find it on Amazon.com or at any other bookseller.)

The book is replete with written and mental exercises (You can view a few examples here) that will help you discover what you really want. It will also start you on the path for planning the attainment of those goals.

The Master Key Coaching Program is also a great way to define your goals. It is slightly more expensive than The Master Key Workbook (or The Complete Master Key Course, for that matter!), but you’ll get to work one-on-one with a Master Key Coach who will guide you through the goal setting process, the planning process, and whatever else you may need.

I hope I helped you a little with my response. Please let me know if I can be of service to you. All the best!

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Walt Disney

Walt Disney said this in 1966:

A person should set his goals as early as he can and devote all his energy and talent to getting there. With enough effort, he may achieve it. Or he may find something that is even more rewarding. But in the end, no matter what the outcome, he will know he has been alive.

In other words: Tune in. Unlock. Attain…

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On this date forty years ago, the most significant triumph of mankind–a triumph of thought, will, determination, and execution–occurred. On this day forty years ago, Neil Armstrong and Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin alit on the Moon. That object that illuminated our nights and our myths for millennia was finally being touched and explored by man.

Just nine years prior to this most monumental event, President John F. Kennedy challenged America’s best and brightest to “go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard, because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one which we intend to win, and the others, too.”

On July 16, 1969, Kennedy’s vision was about to become reality as the mighty Saturn V rocket thundered toward space carrying Neil Armstrong, Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin, and Lt Col Michael Collins on their journey to the Moon.

We know the rest of the story. Neil Armstrong descended from the Eagle Lander and uttered the words that would be heard ’round the world: “That’s one small step for [a] man, and one giant leap for mankind.” (Please watch the YouTube video to see this.)

History was made. Man had accomplished the “impossible.”

Celebrate this day. Celebrate the achievement of thought, of rigor, of audacity. Celebrate so that you too can define your own goals and proudly march toward them–and bravely grasp them.

Like the men and women who made this climactic event happen–the astronauts, scientists, engineers, and many others–you too can “tune in, unlock, and attain.”

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Every so often I come across something that someone has said that just captures a point perfectly. Better than I could ever write.

I call them “quotables.”

When I find a new quotable, I will share them here with you.

They can come from anywhere: business people, actors, scientists, criminals, politicians, athletes … I don’t care. The only thing that counts is what they said and if it resonates and makes a point.

Here’s something T. Boone Pickens, the businessman and investor, said about pulling “the trigger.”

T. Boone Pickens, business man, investor, and author of The First Billion Is the Hardest.

“I’ve always said that the most important quality of a good leader is that you’ve got to be willing to make a decision. Too often, people fall victim to what I call the ‘ready-aim-aim-aim-aim’ syndrome. Everything has got to be absolutely perfect. The truth is sometimes you’ve got to be willing to pull the trigger. Only afterward does it become apparent that the time was right.”

Is this something that you do? Do you think it is impeding your success and the attainment of your goals?

Are procrastination and being a perfectionist keeping you from becoming what you want to be?

If so, then read through the books of The Complete Master Key Course. Pay particular attention to The Master Key Workbook. I have found often that people fail to act (to “pull the trigger”) because they are unsure of what they want — or that what they want is not what they really want, which creates a disconnect. When you define your goal, the acting — the actions — flow naturally. You not only want to “pull the trigger,” but you need to pull the trigger. You are compelled to do so.

With this knowledge in mind, take the time to define your goal(s), plan your actions, and then act.

Pull the trigger!

[For more information about T. Boone Pickens, I highly recommend that you read his book The First Billion Is the Hardest.]

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