What does it mean to be successful? What if it was a simple as a smile? Sounds strange doesn’t it? If success was really as easy as putting a smile on our faces, why don’t we all just smile more?

How do you define success if it does not involve putting a smile on your face… and putting a smile on other people’s faces?

I have to admit, I’m one of those who used to think that success came with the massive bank balance, the fancy cars and the nice houses. If you told me to smile more, I’d have told you to get off the drugs and get serious about success. However, the reason I did not smile is because I was not happy. There was always something more to do, something more to achieve – I was always so busy that I did not have the time to enjoy the fruits of my labour. My family rarely saw me and after a while my friends stopped inviting me to things because they knew I was “too busy”. So they were out enjoying life while I was busy working. I just figured that once I landed that bigger deal, I got my fancy car and bought the big house then I’d stop and smile more. Then I’d stop and relax. But of course, I didn’t. Life was passing me by and I did not know it.

I’d see a young child run past me with the biggest smile on her face and I’d wish for a moment to be a kid again so I could smile and be carefree. I’d recall my younger days when I could smile and laugh without being burdened by responsibility. Of course, now I was too busy building my business to be able to do that – at least that’s what I thought. I, like so many other people, believed that happiness came after “succeeding”. I had it backwards and I was about to learn the truth, the hard way.

In just a few months, I fell from being one of the top in my field to being nearly bankrupt and scrambling to make ends meet. I didn’t know if this was a natural part of every entrepreneur’s journey but all I knew was that I was down. So now I finally had some time on my hands, I finally had time to stop and think. As I did, I started to realise that I had been on a journey that was not giving me any joy, happiness or fulfilment. I had not had a reason to smile in quite a while. Sure, I felt good and I smiled whenever I landed a great deal or made a massive sale or when someone cracked a joke, but that sense of happiness quickly faded away.

Now here I was, with very little left to my name, struggling to make ends meet but with plenty of time on my hands. So I had to do something and I did. I started to go for nature walks, get some fresh air, watch the birds take flight and I started to enjoy the little things in life.  I started to let life in. I also started to focus on my health and fitness, not to look good as had been my previous motivation but to have more energy. I also started looking for things to smile about. The amazing thing was that as I started to look for things to smile about, I found them.

I woke up early and smiled at the beauty of the sunrise over the hills, I smiled as I watched the birds go hunting for worms, I smiled as I took a deep breath of fresh air as the wind brushed my face, I smiled at the little kids who ran past me down the street with so much joy, I smiled as I jumped in the puddles when it rained, I smiled after a hot shower and I smiled whenever I got to see my family. I also started to call my friends and reconnect, some of them I was calling for the first time in over 18 months. The amazing thing was the joy they felt at hearing from me put an even bigger smile on my face. As time went by, my challenges remained and I still did not know exactly what the next chapter of my life would entail but I was happier than I had been when I was at the top. I was smiling more than ever before and I just felt like I could handle anything. For me waking up every day, being grateful for having a roof over my head and a warm bed to sleep in was something to smile about. Every morning as I woke up, I smiled with gratitude at the day ahead. I decided that in the new chapter of my life, success was going to begin with a smile.

Today I am more successful, by the accepted rules of success, than I ever have been. However, I remember the great lesson the Universe taught me; that success begins with a smile. The amazing thing is that with my new mindset of waking up looking for new things to smile about, I am naturally happier. I am in a better frame of mind and a better physical state – and as a result I am more productive and achieving goals faster than ever before. I am still amazed at how choosing to smile and being happy first leads to greater fulfilment and ultimately longer term success.  I am enjoying my work more and I am often seen with a smile on my face. Why? Because I can smile and because I want to smile. Do we really need any other reason?

Start today and look for more things to smile about. You’ll feel better about yourself and you’ll start looking at your problems in a different light. Smile first while you work and you can happily achieve rather than achieving to be happy.

Leave me a comment below and let me know what you think. And please share this on twitter, facebook and stumbleupon.

To your happiness,

Niro

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In life, many of us have a tendency to complain about our situation, about the fact that the deal we were dealt was unfair. Too many of us then focus on all the things that are wrong and bad, rather than the things that are good, positive and wholesome. Many of us also let the things we cannot do prevent us from doing the things we can do. We’ve all been guilty of this at some time or another – I know I have.

However, when I watched this video, it humbled me and brought me to tears. This is the story of a  boy who is crippled and blind and yet plays the paino amazingly well. This is a story of a father who will do anything for his son – and together, the two of them are making magic.

Watch this video now!

If you watched this video, then please do two things for me:

1. Leave me a comment below and let me know how this video touched you.

2. Share this video on Facebook, Twitter, Digg or even via email. Sometimes a few minutes of inspiration can be just the tonic someone you know needs.

Thank you and God Bless,

Niro

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Have you ever wondered why some people seem to constantly do things that sabotage their success and jeopardise their relationships? For me, it’s something that I have always wondered – not just because I see others do it but I have been guilty of this in the past as well. As many of you know, I have been broke many times in the past and I’ve narrowly avoided bankruptcy on two different occasions – there were of course many external contributing factors but the truth was that I was the one who was at cause. So if you are struggling with low self esteem or you know someone who is / might be, then I hope this poem written back in the 1960s helps. This video also shows that through love and caring, we can overcome any obstacle.

I hope you enjoyed the video and if so, please leave me a comment below and then share this on twitter, facebook, digg and stumbleupon. Thank you so much,

Niro

Will Smith is one of the most sought after actors in Hollywood. In this video, which is a compilation of different Will Smith Videos, Smith outlines his philosophy for success and living the life of your dreams. The wisdom in this video is truly amazing and I encourage you to watch it and integrate it into your own philosophy for living.

Some of my favourite lines are:

• I have a great time with my life
• If you are not making someone else’s life better, you are wasting your time.
• Greatness is something that truly exists in all of us
• The separation of talent and skill is one of the most misunderstood concepts by people who are trying to achieve something
• Where I excel is ridiculous, sickening work ethic.
• If you’re going to be here, there is a necessity to make a difference.
• I want the world to be better because I was here.

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If you enjoyed this video, please share it on twitter, digg or stumbleupon. I’d really appreciate it

Finally, leave me a comment. I’d love to hear what you think of this and please let me know if you would like to see more of these types of videos.

Thanks, Niro

“Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.”

All of us want a life that is magical, magnificent and one of fulfilment. Yet many of us think that a magnificent life is something that happens to us – almost as if it is something that is done to us without our involvement. We think that a life of fulfilment is something reserved only for the lucky ones. In this short video, I talk about how a magical life is created through making a choice and a decision. We can all have a life full of more memorable moments regardless of our current circumstances. Enjoy

I hope you enjoyed this video. If so please share it on twitter, digg and stumbleupon. I’d really appreciate it

Finally, please leave me a comment below. I’d love to hear what you thought.

To creating more magic in your life,

Niro

This is one of my absolutely favourite poems. I think the words within this will serve us now and forever, especially during times of challenge. The poem talks about how to handle times of crisis, when things are out of our control and we feel that there is no justice. We’ve all been there. I have recorded a short 3 minute video where I read out the poem and then I’ve included the lyrics below. I hope this serves as inspiration to you as well.

‘if’ by rudyard kipling

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies,
Or being hated, don’t give way to hating,
And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise:

If you can dream – and not make dreams your master,
If you can think – and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build ‘em up with worn-out tools:

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it all on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breath a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: “Hold on!”

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings – nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,
And – which is more – you’ll be a Man, my son!

Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936)