Meet the Experts: Nationwide® Presents Success by Design: A Blueprint for a Better You

By Sheryl S. Jackson

Best-selling author, global motivational speaker, and founder and chief executive officer of Motiving the Masses – one of the country’s only publicly traded personal and business development training companies – Lisa Nichols had the audience cheering "Yes! Yes!" as she presented her advice on how to create a better you.

"First, become an abundant thinker versus a survival thinker," says Nichols. The difference between the two is a matter of thinking several years into the future as opposed to several weeks.

This focus on the future and a commitment to change the life of her son and herself began when she was the single mother of an eight-month-old infant who had $11.42 in her bank account – not enough to buy the diapers she needed. Promising her son that they would never be in that position again, Nichols set out to "learn what she didn’t know," by letting go of ego, accepting inconvenience and focusing on her dream.

Nichols shared the following techniques of abundant thinkers:

Recognize the four quadrants of your life and intentionally take care of each quadrant:

Relationships with friends, family members, loved ones and colleagues;

Finance and business;

Spirituality and faith;

Health and wellness, which means making sure your body is ready to handle your purpose in life.

Set your mind to live in a state of cognitive dissonance – interject positive thoughts that disrupt negative, or limiting, thoughts. For example, instead of thinking "I am a procrastinator," think "I always get things done on time."

Use affirmations to establish your perceptions of yourself. Whatever you say after "I am" is true to your unconscious mind, so saying "I am going to create a better life for myself" will lead to positive actions.

Tap into the "why" you want to get up early or give up expenses such as hair and nails to save money to let the new part of you grow.

Be comfortable with moving your "limit line" rather than stepping outside it. If you just step over it occasionally, you never truly expand your limits

Understand that you will fail, and give yourself permission to do so. Abundant thinkers, however, always "fail forward" and learn from the experience.

Avoid spending "dollar time" on "penny tasks." Do what you do well – focus on the highest revenue activity that only you can do.

Become a master orator, storyteller and communicator. Find classes, videos or books that can help you share your message and practice inspiring others wherever you are.

Finally, Nichols says, "Abundant thinkers lead holistically. They are compelled to lead as parents, as executives, as friends and as colleagues, even when it is inconvenient or when it hurts."