My Mentors

For years I have believed the maxim that we are the sum-total of everything that has gone into our minds. In fact, it was many years ago—long before I ever had a computer of my own—that I heard Zig Ziglar say: “The quality of the input determines the quality of the output.”

I never questioned the fact that each of us is programmed much like a computer by everything that we put or allow to be dumped into our minds. I just never fully saw the power of this until recently.

There is a ritual many people ascribe to called “Spring Cleaning.” This urge to get rid of old junk and start anew like the world around us can be very powerful. Since I don’t like cleaning, I have my own version of spring cleaning, call it “Spring Re-Programming” if you will.

Every March I get the urge to get out old tapes and books or to get new tapes and books that will push my life forward. When March swung around this year, I pulled out several collections of old tapes from three mentors I hadn’t listened to in awhile: Zig Ziglar, Anthony Robbins, and Mike Warnke. And I was in for the shock of my life!

Most people have thoughts, beliefs, ideas, and values that they base their lives on. That’s nothing new. However, most of these people never have the incentive to articulate those values and beliefs beyond the playback loop in their heads. I, on the other hand, regularly must sit down and articulate my own thoughts and values to an audience of my friends, my peers and my colleagues through my newsletter, my articles, and my books. Therefore, I constantly evaluate where I stand on issues and look for ways to put the results of those evaluations into words.

The Staci thoughts that you read are the same Staci thoughts playing through my head. It was only when I started to relisten to my mentor’s recordings that I realized my beliefs did not originate with me—I HAD BEEN PROGRAMMED!

You can look at this and say, “What a terrible realization,” but what I said was: “Man, I’m glad I was careful about what I put into this brain of mine all those years ago!” There is a phrase: “Good, clean, pure, powerful, positive.” I’m not quite sure where I heard that, but it resonates with me when I choose what goes into my mind now. More importantly when I choose what to let into my children’s minds. You see, they aren’t yet old enough to guard that door for themselves—that is my job and one I take very seriously.

That’s why although I might like to watch the movie of the week or something on Pay Per View rated more than G, if the kids are home, the answer is, “No.” I know that letting those messages into my living room also constitutes dumping them into my children’s minds, and now, more than ever, I see the dangers of doing that.

"Who has programmed you and what were the messages you received and are now mirroring back to the world?"

Yes, I have been programmed, and so have you. The question is: Who has programmed you and what were the messages you received and are now mirroring back to the world? If these thoughts move your life forward now, great. Go back and revisit them if you can. If they are holding you back, it is never too late to change the input into that amazing computer called your brain and thus change the output.

In any case, these are some mentors that you might want to check out. (One small caveat: All men are human, and these men are no exception. They are not perfect, nor do they profess to be. Just remember going in that the truly good, clean, pure, powerful, and positive always comes from God, even though the vessel it comes in is sometimes cracked.)

Anthony Robbins: One of America’s foremost personal development coaches, Tony has a way of getting you to get leverage on yourself to get you to take action! All the affirmations in the world won’t work if you don’t, and Tony will teach you how to work—effectively and productively so that the change in your life will be profound.

I highly recommend the Personal Power II series. It and the book, “Awaken the Giant Within” were what convinced me to go out and seek my dream of becoming a published author.

Mike Warnke: If you were around Christian circles in the late 70’s and early 80’s, you probably heard about Christian comedian, Mike Warnke. If you followed his career into the 90’s, you probably also know about his “fall from grace.” Fortunately for the world, God was not quite finished with Mike Warnke yet, and he’s back. I am a firm believer that the world needs Mike’s message of not just tolerance but of reaching across denominational lines to join hands in the fight to save the world from evil’s clutches. Mike is the reason my spiritual life isn’t dictated by the labels of religion. My faith is important. Your faith is important. What we choose to label that faith, to me, is not.

Zig Ziglar: My first true mentor outside the walls of my home growing up was Zig Ziglar. Years ago my parents were in a prominent MLM group. Although it never made them rich, it was responsible for introducing us to Zig. I cannot tell you how thankful I am that this man helped me form the foundation that is under me. If the foundation of your life seems cracked and you don’t know how to fix it, this is the place to start. I’m not “at the top” in every area I would like to be, but I have no doubt that because of Zig Ziglar, one day I will see him (and I hope you too!) “At the top!”

Anthony Robbins can be found at www.tonyrobbins.com
Mike Warnke can be found at www.mikewarnke.org
Zig Ziglar can be found at www.zigziglar.com