FAQ - Motivation & Leadership

1. What is your definition of success?
2. What do you mean by the 'inside-out' approach to success?
3. People are familiar with fear & failure in their lives. How do they free themselves from negative thinking?
4. Your blueprint to attaining success involves a lot of soul-searching and written exercises -- i.e. making lists and living by the rules of this list. Why did you chose this visual method?
5. Not many people know that they have a right to choose. What is this right? To choose what?
6. You mentioned in your book that there are 3 different types of people --who are they?
7. How can we be effective decision makers? At work and at home?
8. What are the steps to take control of one's life? Why do some feel that they are victims of fate? That they have no control?
9. Why are there some individuals who achieve enormous amounts of professional success - at the expense of a rich personal life? In developed countries, there is an increasing number of single people intent on pursuing their careers at the expense of marriage and long-lasting relationships. What is your advice to them?
10. Is it wishful thinking to own our right to our dreams, desires and expectations?
11. How does one prioritise their dream list? Do they separate the possible from the seemingly impossible?
12. Why must we set goals? What will this accomplish? Goals have to be S.M.A.R.T. What is this?
13. Do you really believe that someone could live the life of his or her dreams?
14. What if someone wants to be a ---- singer? But can't sing well, what advice would you have for them?
15. What is the Monthly Planner Chart?
1. What is your definition of success?

Success is the progressive realisation of a worthy goal - doing what you want to do - living your passion - living from the inside-out.

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2. What do you mean by the 'inside-out' approach to success?

Understand that you are already successful - One of 40 million sperms that survived. You are also a miracle when you think about it.

But you were exposed to all of life's external messages and internalized them to become who you are today.

Don't compare yourself to others, instead determine what you want to do, to be or to have and go after it.

List your successes todate - learned how to ride a bike, completed school, partner, job, etc. Be thankful and realise that you are already successful.

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3. People are familiar with fear & failure in their lives. How do they free themselves from negative thinking?

First they have to realise their fears before they can face them.

This goes back to the baggage we picked up along the way.

Discipline #1 - Right to Fail - don't because of F.E.A.R. Learn from failure - Success based on good judgement, based on experience, based on failure not success.

Discipline # 3 - Take control of your life - things under your control - thoughts, attitudes, self-talk. Red X or elastic bank - 21 days to make it a habit.

Discipline #11 Monthly Monitor chart 25 - 30 days to master any habit.

Discipline #4 Know Yourself - Identify fear - what has it prevented you from doing? What experience caused this fear?

If you face the fear head on, what is the worst thing that can happen?

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4. Your blueprint to attaining success involves a lot of soul-searching and written exercises -- i.e. making lists and living by the rules of this list. Why did you chose this visual method?

For a number of reasons but first let's understand that I don't set the rules, you set your own rules, I only provide you with the tools and a proven process so that you can taste success daily.

First if you don't write things down you are only dreaming.

Record keeping is important. Writing down your goals and action plans represents a commitment. Otherwise your dreams are merely wishful thinking. You can re-read and visualize written goals.

They are credible and legitimate. They live and lead you onward. When you write you have begun to act. Inertia is gone. You sense accomplishment already.

This is also an internal approach - from the inside out - nobody can tell you what your dreams are but you. Once those dreams are identified you have to apply the disciplines to make them a reality and build a plan of action that will help you get where you want to go.

If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.

The major reason for writing the book the way I did is that I realised that every book on motivation or dreams tell you what do. I decided to do the opposite - asking versus telling using adult learning principals.

By getting you involved, asking you questions, that only you can answer for yourself, you own the idea. By writing down the idea, not only do you own it, you become committed to doing it and that is where the discipline starts to set in.

I don't want to tell you what to do with your life, you have to make that decision for yourself. I cannot motivate you, I can only provide you with the tools and the process so that you can make the difference in your life.

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5. Not many people know that they have a right to choose. What is this right? To choose what?

Discipline # 1 Right to Choose, Discipline # 2 Make a Decision.

You can choose your attitude, your thoughts and your actions. You can make a decision to live the life of your dreams, somebody else's, a combination of the two or to leave life to chance and circumstances. It is your right to choose the life you want to life - choose what you want to do, be or have.

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6. You mentioned in your book that there are 3 different types of people -- who are they?

1 Don't know, wander around aimlessly

2 Wish and dream, but do nothing about it - lottery ticket buyers

3 Know what they want, plan for it and go out and make it happen

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7. How can we be effective decision makers? At work and at home?

By first knowing what we want to be, do or have in life. By having goals and plans and knowing what our priorities are.

By taking control of the things that are under our control and not letting the things that are not under our control affect us the way they have in the past. First take control of your life, and then maybe you can control other things that happen around you.

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8. What are the steps to take control of one's life? Why do some feel that they are victims of fate? That they have no control?

It could be because they don't know better, the way they were raised, lacking confidence, etc.

The first step is to identify what is not under your control and what is under your control. Take control over the things that are under your control - attitude, thoughts, self-talk, reactions, etc.

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9. Why are there some individuals who achieve enormous amounts of professional success - at the expense of a rich personal life? In developed countries, there is an increasing number of single people intent on pursuing their careers at the expense of marriage and long-lasting relationships. What is your advice to them?

I can relate to this, as I too misunderstood success when I was younger. The best advise I can give them is to have a balanced plan - know what you want out of life and go for it, but remember one thing - you can have all the success in the world, but if you have no one to share your success with, what is the point?

You only live life once. Make the best of it.

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10. Is it wishful thinking to own our right to our dreams, desires and expectations?

No definitely not. You have the right to your dreams, desires and expectations. What you do about that right is under your control. You can either do something about it or wait for it to be delivered to you on a silver platter. I can guarantee you it will not be the latter.

It is your dreams, desires and expectations that get you out of bed in the morning - nothing more. That is where your motivation comes from. Without dreams, you're the walking dead.

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11. How does one prioritise their dream list? Do they separate the possible from the seemingly impossible?

Yes, but that comes out when you answer if you had six months to live and when you identify the most important things to do.

Next in Discipline #6 you group, categorise and prioritise. This will help you realise that you need to do this before that.

For example, when I was 22. I needed the job, to get the money, to secure a mortgage to build the house, to see Canada, to learn.

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12. Why must we set goals? What will this accomplish? Goals have to be S.M.A.R.T. What is this?
  1. Goal setting focuses your efforts and improves your direction in life.
  2. Goal setting causes you to set priorities and become more organized.
  3. Goal setting turns your wishful thinking into reality.
  4. Goal setting points out to you your successes as you achieve them, motivating you on to further success.
  5. Goal setting can improve your self-esteem.
  6. Goal setting makes you responsible for your own life. It causes you to define your own value system.
  7. Goal setting makes you aware of your strengths, which you can use to overcome obstacles and solve problems.
  8. Goal setting points out your weaknesses. You can begin setting new goals to improve in those areas and turn them into strengths.

Goals must be S.M.A.R.T. - Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Trackable to a Timetable. Let’s look at each of these elements in detail.

  1. Goals must be specific. "Happiness" or "success" are too vague. Ask yourself: what exactly do I want to do, be or have?
  2. Is your goal measurable? How will you know you obtained your goal?
  3. Is it attainable? Give yourself a chance to succeed. Take little steps and succeed. Success breeds success.
  4. Is it relevant? Would the attainment of the goal be worthwhile to you? Before you can answer this question you need to know what kind of life you want.
  5. Is there a way of tracking your performance on a timetable? How do you know you are getting closer to your goal?

Select dates when you will measure your progress against the milestones in your plan. You will either re-affirm that you are on track or make adjustments.

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13. Do you really believe that someone could live the life of his or her dreams?

Yes, if they take the time to discipline themselves to make it happen.

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14. What if someone wants to be a ---- singer? But can't sing well, what advice would you have for them?

It all depends on how strong their desire is and the price they are willing to pay to make it happen. If we let others influence us that we are not good, and believe them, we will never make it.

Henry Ford said it best, "If you think you can, or if you think you can't, your absolutely right."

You have to decide what you want to do, plan it out and discipline yourself to make it happen, from the inside-out, not from the outside-in. I have seen people overcome stuttering, go from poverty to riches, from having no confidence to having self confidence, even from not being able to sing to being great singers.

Why, they knew what they wanted, created a plan and disciplined themselves to make it happen.

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15. What is the Monthly Planner Chart?

The monthly monitor chart is a form that provides you with a 31 day habit forming process for monitoring and measuring your progress. It keeps you on track, disciplined and focused.

You will note this is the outcome of all the work in the book, while saving the most important discipline of all to last - Discipline # 12.

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Speaking Success Stories

"You are so dynamic that I noticed you have no trouble holding people's attention. You are knowledgeable, organized, articulate, and pace yourself to the learning level of the class. You make your audience very comfortable and that promotes good discussion. Your energy and enthusiasm are contagious and I can't wait to get out and sell, sell, sell!"

Janie Burstein, Director, Government Sales
Canada Post Corporation



"I wanted to thank you for contributing to the success of our sales meeting. I was impressed with the way you clarified our objectives and invested time and effort to understand both the audience and their issues. You made a difference. Thank you."

Terry Francis, executive VP & COO
Canadian Tourism Commission



"I was most impressed with all of the positive evaluations. But mostly, with all of the time you spent prior to the event to identify the association's objectives, specific needs and desired outcomes. I appreciated your suggestions, the resource material you distributed, and the follow up after the presentation. I can honestly say, that I've never worked with a speaker who cared so much about the success of our meeting."

Anne Babej, Director, Professional Development
Canadian Professional Sales Association (CPSA)



"The three days I spent attending Up Your Bottom Line has been extremely useful. I have to admit that this is the first training I attend and find myself to be benefiting from the trainer. Your style, the contents of the booklet are immaculate!"

Wassim Bitar, Investor relation Executive
Dubai Properties



"Despite the challenge of having to speak to an audience coming from diverse cultures and businesses, your candour and knowledge of sales made rapport and learning easy. The post conference evaluations were extremely positive with several singling you out for Kudos."

Michael Tan, Director
Reed Elsevier (S) Pte. Ltd, Singapore



"I began noticing your work since the beginning of your Positive Business Minute radio segments on News Radio 93.8 (Singapore). The things you said hit me like a rock! Then I found out about your book launch appearance at the NationalAchievers Congress. I attended it and I found your segment the best of all.

Listening to your talk was not enough so I bought your book "Up Your Bottom Line", and a copy of your CD. I listened to it so much that I could split the topics discussed on the CD into tracks and seconds.

Hearing your voice triggers off my mental anchors, which I have established during your NAC talk. I was so pumped up then, I really cannot forget that feeling. This e-mail is just my way of saying "thank you" and letting you know how much your book and CD changed my way of thinking and life too.

In the past, I had very low self-esteem because I was a salesman, to survive I need to cheat, lie and swindle. After listening to your CD, I became proud to be a salesman, and loving every minute of it!"

Mark Loon, Business Owner
Singapore



"Bob, you quickly earned the representatives'respect. You are credible and they could identify with you right away. Your enthusiasm & humbleness came through perfectly and ultimately it is you, the individual, who significantly contributed to an overall successful day."

Nathalie Charette, Manager,
London Life Insurance Company



"Your book is helping me to organize my thoughts, set goals and prioritize as I go through a transformative period in my life. I can relate to the notion of being in touch with the bigger picture in order to overcome real and pressing obstacles as I have done so at different stages of my life.

I have overcome the adversity of a very broken home and a prison sentence as a teenager, to changing my core value set, gaining a top notch education and some good work experience. Still, the struggles of my upbringing and adolescence have left deep scars which I am processing as I move forward in life. Your book is helping with this process."

James Taylor



"Success Requires Discipline. Bob Urichuck sets the example and provides you with the step by step approach. Everything you need to live the life of your dreams is included in these 12 Disciplines. Don't just read it, do it!"

Richard Tan, Managing Director
Success Resources Pte Ltd
(Asia's Largest Seminar Company)



"I am inspired by your books and your words. I just love the way you speak and write and would like to hear from you more. The more I read your writing in your mail, the more I feel inspired. Although I am 57 years, I feel like just being born into a new world and having new dreams. May you and family be blessed always.""

Aziz
Singapore



"A very good seminar, up to the subject which we are facing challenges right now."


Riaz Bottlers,
Pepsi