Author and business guru, Michael Masterson, enlightens readers on the secret to becoming what they want to be in a March 2007 issue of his an e-newsletter published by Agora titled, Early to Rise (www.earlytorise.com). His enlightening and humorous insight follows, and expounds upon earlier advice he had given late 2006 in ETR on how to become and stay motivated.

How to Become What You Want to Be

In the article Masterson uses his own father as a source of inspiration, and quotes him as saying, "If you want to be a writer, you have to write."

Masterson learned at an early age (16) and from an expert in the field - his own father who was a credentialed writer, an award winning playwright, a Shakespearean scholar, and a teacher of literature.

"I'd seen him, on Saturday mornings, hunched over student essays, muttering and occasionally reading out loud passages to my mother that sounded perfectly good to me but elicited derisive laughter from them," Masterson said as he recalled memories of anxiety from his father, who would stand over his shoulder on occasion as he wrote.

However, despite his fathers surprising approval and encouragement for his son's work, and his increasingly positive self image as a writer, Masterson developed other interests, "Touch football, the Junior Police Club, girls."

Like many people who put their dreams on hold, Masterson justified his actions and pacified his guilt by promising himself that his other activities were "life experience, and that I needed life experience to become the good writer I wanted to be."

According to Masterson, this line of thinking is self-deception. "From the outside, it looks like you are doing nothing. But from the inside, you know that you are in the process of becoming, which you convince yourself, is the next best thing to being." Masterson said.

He reminds readers of the daily rhetoric people fall into by talking their dreams alive rather than living up to what they want. He asked, "How many times have you heard someone say that, one day, they will do what they always wanted to do - travel the world or paint paintings or write a book? And when you hear sentiments like those, what do you feel? Happy because you are confident that one day they will accomplish their long-held goal? Or sort of sad for them because you are pretty sure they never will?"

Masterson tells his readers, "The easiest way to become something special is also the fastest: Just start doing it. Don't wait for the 'right' time. Don't worry about being qualified. And don't worry about getting paid for it. Just start doing it.

"How to Get - and Stay - Motivated"

The article starts out with a quote from self-empowerment advocate, Wayne Dyer. "Be miserable. Or motivate yourself. Whatever has to be done, it's always your choice."

Masterson informs his readers that the lack of motivation keeps people from doing the things they've always wanted to do and suggests that readers reverse their vision of themselves if it isn't optimal.

"You have to turn yourself into number one at whatever you do," Masterson said, "the person to go to when no one else can get the job done."To assist readers, Masterson lists six steps to accomplish this.

"Get up early, and give your day a jumpstart by doing something meaningful...first thing."

"Work as late as you have to."

"Do at least 50 percent more than what is asked of you."

"Volunteer for challenging assignments."

"Educate yourself on the side."

"Become better than everyone else at the essential skills you need to accomplish your goal."

According to a special publication of The Oxford Club, called Investment, Masterson has developed a loyal following through his writings in Early to Rise that mentors more than 400,000 success-oriented individuals to help them achieve their financial goals.

We are quickly reaching the finale of a beautiful March and there has been little rainfall here in Southern California - it's too bad too because I feel Seattle calling me right about now. That's beside the point. Rain, for me, is a symbol of growth and rejuvenation.

Realizing that by the end of 2007 , our short 12 months may feel like long 12 days, I try to pack as much as I can (and as practical) into each month. So yesterday when I noticed that at March's end I've done nothing, I started getting all wierd, looking for something to do. Looking for a sign and trying to create a sign to plug into my proverbial soil to show the world and myself that I haven't been sleeping through these past four weeks.

Really, it's not that big of a deal.

Standing in the middle of my office, surrounded by chemistry books, but not really seeing them, I thought about what I actually have done.

I thought about the two letters I wrote to people in my life who have hurt me and stunted me. I thought about how I tried to set the letters on fire in my bathroom and how the paper wouldn't catch aflame, but only smolder. I thought about how the chemicals burnt against my hand and discolored my fingers (even to this day). I thought about how the discoloration was a temporary reminder of my letting go of a hurtful past.

I thought hard about how the smoldering paper made smoke chocked me and burned my lungs and eyes. I thought about how the smoke and it's odor took so long to go away. And I realized that this was my life. I've been living in a smoky bathroom with burning eyes and burning lungs. And suddenly, upon seeing this connection, a load was lifted. It sounds so understated, and so cliche... but it's what I felt.

March wasn't a month for tangible productivity, but for spiritual and emotional liberation and I can end it extaticly on that note. I'm hoping all of you had a productive month as well. This is just me musing... Happy end of March!

The Wrighter