{"id":2511,"date":"2023-05-16T12:43:52","date_gmt":"2023-05-16T16:43:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/the-pledge-early-to-rise\/"},"modified":"2023-05-16T12:43:52","modified_gmt":"2023-05-16T16:43:52","slug":"the-pledge-early-to-rise","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/the-pledge-early-to-rise\/","title":{"rendered":"The Pledge – Early To Rise"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Profit<\/a>
\n<\/p>\n

\n

When I was young and broke (and cheap and stubborn), I relied heavily on what I called, \u201cVirtual Mentors.\u201d<\/p>\n

This meant reading\u00a0every issue of the Early to Rise newsletter, and\u00a0books, like Dan Kennedy\u2019s autobiography,\u00a0Unfinished Business<\/em>. I also consulted a mental round-table of advisors,\u00a0as Napolean Hill recommended in\u00a0Think and Grow Rich<\/em>.<\/p>\n

My virtual mastermind\u00a0included Kennedy, Yanik Silver, Bill Phillips, Ted Nicholas, and Michael Masterson.<\/p>\n

Today\u2019s book report is a fine example of having a virtual mentor give you the step-by-step success tools you need to stop spinning your wheels so you can get ahead on the fast track to success.<\/p>\n

The book is called The Pledge<\/em><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

It was written by Michael Masterson (aka Mark Ford<\/a>) in 2011, just before he retired from EarlytoRise.com. True to its subtitle, the book delivers a Master Plan for an Abundant Life<\/em>. Ford was (and is) a multi-millionaire, having already retired twice in his career, before returning to teaching and writing.<\/p>\n

There are few men or women that could claim to be a greater expert in success than Ford.<\/p>\n

He has done it all, not only building great businesses, but raising three successful young men with his wife of over 30 years, having great health and hobbies, becoming a published poet and amateur painter, and all while still getting home on time for dinner (and a cocktail and cigar).<\/p>\n

Trust me, he\u2019s been a tough act to follow.<\/p>\n

But there\u2019s no use in comparing ourselves to Mark Ford. What really matters is where we are today compared to three months ago, and where we\u2019ll be in three months from now. We must focus on progression, not perfection. We must be dedicated to continual improvement, or kaizen, as the principle is known. Every day we must commit to getting better, every moment we must make the right decisions to take us there.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019ve held dreams of success and happiness that you\u2019ve failed to fulfill, if you have an underlying sense that you are underachieving, then The Pledge will help you return to the path of success in your life.<\/p>\n

\u201cYour past failures have no bearing on your future,\u201d Ford writes, \u201cAnd if you can change the way you approach your work, you can change the way you live.\u201d<\/p>\n

I\u2019m living proof, having followed Ford\u2019s advice for years (even though sometimes it took me years to implement it).<\/p>\n

For example, one of the rules I follow today, getting up and going to bed at the same time each day, was a Mark Ford suggestion that I ignored for years.<\/p>\n

When I finally implemented this tip, it had the greatest impact on my all day energy of any habit in my life. It was like having a cup of coffee at\u00a02 p.m. without any side effects. I no longer tossed-and-turned\u00a0on Sunday\u00a0evenings, and I wasn\u2019t tired from the weekends\u00a0on Monday\u00a0and\u00a0Tuesday\u00a0mornings. I was a new man, and I have Ford to thank for this.<\/p>\n

What I love about\u00a0The Pledge<\/em>\u00a0is that it\u2019s not a superficial book about setting vague goals, but instead it delivers a personal master plan for your life.<\/p>\n

It expects a great deal of commitment on your part, but if you\u2019re willing to hold up your end of the bargain, Ford is willing to show you the exact steps you must take to succeed.<\/p>\n

With his advice, you\u2019ll begin to experience results immediately and live a truly fulfilling life. This is not a book about chasing the elusive Four-Hour Work Week, although Ford shows us the practical Four Hour Work Day.<\/p>\n

A four-hour work day is something I\u2019ve enjoyed in cities such as Istanbul, Prague, Hong Kong, Sydney, Tokyo, and even Moscow.<\/p>\n

One of Ford\u2019s keys to success is the Principle of Accelerated Failure. It\u2019s something I\u2019ve experienced naturally and benefitted from as a young man.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe principle of accelerated failure rests on the recognition that we learn the most \u2013 in any enterprise \u2013 by making mistakes along the way,\u201d Ford says, \u201cThe faster we learn critical mistakes, the sooner we acquire the knowledge we need to succeed. In other words, don\u2019t fear failure\u2026 seek it out!\u201d<\/p>\n

Too often, we allow fear to hold us back from buying our first rental property to starting an online business (where there\u2019s practically no risk). It even holds us back in our personal lives, stopping us from starting an exercise program or talking to that pretty woman or handsome man across the room\u2026 and thus potentially missing out on meeting the love of your life.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s time to step up and do what is right for you. The Pledge<\/em> shows you how. Ford asks you to sign a contract pledging your commitment to your Master Plan. This accountability \u2014 to your Virtual Mentor \u2014 sets you on the path to success.<\/p>\n

Accountability was one of the success pillars that allowed me to achieve my dream of acquiring Early to Rise, and accountability will allow you to achieve your goals, too.<\/p>\n

Signing the pledge is like committing to your Rules in the Perfect Day Formula<\/a>. Don\u2019t skip this step. It is far more important than you could ever imagine. Fear of obligation is natural, but Ford shares a powerful quote explaining why this responsibility actually frees you up to live the life you desire.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe irony of commitment is that it\u2019s deeply liberating \u2014 in work, in play, in love,\u201d writes Anne Morris, \u201cThe act frees you from the tyranny of your internal critic, from the fear that likes to dress itself up and parade around like rational hesitation. To commit is to remove your head as the barrier to your life.\u201d<\/p>\n

My second favorite tool that Ford shares is his goal setting technique. After helping us build our Master Plan, he puts forth a breakthrough exercise that helps us build the foundation we need to support our journey.<\/p>\n

It starts with sharing the 7-Year Goal that you created as part of your Master Plan. In the book, Ford uses the example of a client that wants to achieve a net worth of $4 million. In order to achieve this goal, the client must take action and can break down the success steps into four process goal timelines. It works like this:<\/p>\n

7-Year Goal<\/strong> = $4 million<\/p>\n

First-Year Goal<\/strong> = Eliminate $36,000 worth of debt<\/p>\n

Monthly Objective<\/strong> = Land a part-time job netting $36,000 by year-end.<\/p>\n

First Week\u2019s Objective<\/strong> = Get my first job interview.<\/p>\n

First Day\u2019s Task<\/strong> = Write letters to CEOs of my top 10 \u201cdream job\u201d companies.<\/p>\n

If this exercise reminds you of the old joke, \u201cHow do you eat an elephant?\u201d (Answer: One bite at a time.), I\u2019m not surprised.<\/p>\n

Brian Tracy, another virtual mentor of mine, wrote a book about this idea called,\u00a0Eat That Frog<\/em>. His message was that no matter how big our goals, success starts with taking action. We must break down big (and sometimes seemingly impossible) tasks into smaller and smaller action items that we can accomplish this month, this week, and today. And then we must get started. It\u2019s that simple.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne of the most important actions you can take when you are master planning your life,\u201d Ford writes, \u201cis to monitor where you have been and where you are. The simple step can help you achieve practically any goal you have set for yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mark adds, \u201cA recent study from DayTimer.com concluded that American workers with the highest incomes and most success in the workplace are those who have written goals. These superstars also have the habit of writing daily task lists prioritized in a way to help them achieve those goals.\u201d<\/p>\n

But Mark also issues a warning. \u201cOn the flip side, of the more than 70 percent of workers who don\u2019t write down career or financial goals, only 9 percent accomplish what they set out to each day.\u201d<\/p>\n

That\u2019s the power of making the pledge, signing the contract, writing out your goals, and carrying around your Rules. Don\u2019t miss out on the importance of this simple, quick, cheap, and easy success tool. There\u2019s no need to struggle. There\u2019s no reason you can\u2019t accomplish your big goals and live a life that leaves a legacy.<\/p>\n

Read (or re-read) your copy of The Pledge<\/em> today. Sign a contract of commitment to your future. If anything gets in the way of that objective, do not participate in these distractions. You have to stand up for what is right for you at this time, and that is how you will succeed.<\/p>\n

Choose your actions wisely.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Profit<\/a>
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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