I’m sitting here at Westminster Cafe in Westminster, CA listening to Akshara Weave’s Cho Ku Rei: Reiki Healing. In addition to writing this, I am drinking coffee and water and smoking the occasional cigarette. This is what I do when I want to relax and process my thoughts.

I’ve been reading a free e-Book called “Napoleon Hill’s Hidden Secret in Think And Grow Rich: Why This Law Of Success Principle Proves The Master Keys To Success” by Gary Vurnum (www.ThisChangedMyLife.com). It’s a short but very enlightening read that anyone in love with “The Secret” would do well to read.

In a nutshell, it explains why Napoleon Hill’s “Golden Rule” is the KEY to making everything else work. What is the Golden Rule? Simply this: “The Golden Rule means, substantially, to do unto others as you would wish them to do unto you if your positions were reversed.”
Page 97: The Law of Success Lesson 16 – The Golden Rule.

The main point that I got from reading this short text is that it is not enough to do good deeds. Rather, your whole thought process must be based on this rule. Think about others as you would have them think about you.

I find that a lot of my thoughts are negative, especially while working in such an ego-centric field as music. How can I NOT think negative thoughts about a fellow musician who has just dropped a clam during a live show? How can I not take personally the perceived glare from one of my fellow musicians?

And yet, I tried this out last Saturday with amazing results. Both of the situations described above happened. Rather than following my normal thought routine of negativity, I thought loving, understanding thoughts instead. I immediately had a feeling of greater connection, not only with my band mates, but with the audience as well. The feeling transported me, the energy created by such a connection literally palpable. I was reminded of the reason why I chose to pursue music as a career. The final result was a fabulous performance that even our sound tech was moved by.

So, did the Golden Rule help me achieve success that day? My definition of a successful show is one that develops an emotional/spiritual connection between me and the audience. So yes, I achieved success that day. And I felt enriched and uplifted by doing so.

I am resolved to make the Golden Rule the central operating principle in my personal philosophy. Success feels great!

I encourage you to read the book and experiment with this KEY idea yourself and see if it works for you, too.