First of all, if you haven’t read Think & Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill, make it a priority to pick up a copy at the bookstore and read it cover-to-cover. If you have read it, get it out and read it again. Take notes, write in the margins and use sticky tags; you won’t regret it.

Having a positive mindset is a secret to success. When you begin to deliberately look at things in a positive light, whether you believe it yet or not, your subconscious will begin to make it a reality. Your subconscious mind doesn’t know the difference between truth and fiction. Don’t believe it? Have you ever cried or been scared during a movie? You know that the movie isn’t real, but your senses are bombarded with images and sounds that seem real and as far as you subconscious is concerned, its reality.

Affirmations

Using positive affirmations is an excellent way to develop a positive mindset. Develop a list of 25 to 50 positive affirmations similar to the list below and read them out-loud to yourself several times a day. You will begin to memorize them and once you do, you can begin to repeat them to yourself as you’re driving, exercising, trying to fall asleep, or any other alone time. After awhile, certain situations will come up that lead you to your list of affirmations; this is when you know it’s working.

• I am happy and excited.
• I am healthy and full of energy.
• My happiness and success radiates.
• All of my thoughts are positive.
• I am wealthy.
• I am a confident speaker.

Remember, don’t use only positive words and always use the present tense even if you aren’t quite there yet. If you run short of ideas, search in Google for ‘positive affirmations’ and you can find endless lists.

Visual Cues & Dream Board

Another way to work on your mindset is to give yourself visual cues that remind you of your reasons, your goals, and what you have to do to get there. Hang pictures of places you plan to go, activities you would like to do and things you would like to have. Also, leave books about business, leadership and success on your coffee table. Every once and a while you conscious mind will be reminded of why you are working so hard, but your subconscious mind will be constantly soaking up all of this information and working behind the scenes to make it happen.

You might think this sounds silly, but it works: Create a ‘Dreamboard’ on a piece of poster board, just like a collage from middle school, that displays pictures and words that will serve as visual cues. Hang this up near your desk or somewhere else where you will see it everyday.