My 10:10:10 Moment!

Posted on October 10, 2017 by Azim Jamal

Exactly 20 years ago today, at 10 AM on the tenth day of the tenth month, I received a phone call that would change my life.

The call asked me if I’d like to volunteer my time for the Focus Humanitarian Assistance Agency helping refugees in Asia. At that time, I was a senior partner at a successful accounting firm, resplendent with three accounting degrees ((ACCA, CFP, CGA/CPA) and the trappings of success. The phone call came to me when I was consulting with a client who had won multimillion dollars in Canada’s national lottery.

My inner voice and the encouragement from my wife made me say yes, and what I would go on to learn shook me to the core. These refugees had nothing and were forced to live their lives on a knife-edge. But some inner strength gave them a resilience that affected me profoundly. If they could handle such adversity, what was I doing with my comfortable life? Then came the decision. I would jump off the cliff backward and devote my life to speaking and writing about ‘giving’.

Not that it was plain sailing. I struggled immensely in this new career for many years. However, if I was to turn back the clock, I would do the same all over again! I do not remember a single moment in these 20 years, barring one, where I doubted my decision. The only exception was after I had spent countless hours writing my first book but still could not get it onto bookstore shelves. This low point was followed by yet another sign via a book that fell into my lap. This book, written by an author who had once contemplated suicide, sold 10 million copies. And this nudged me into thinking – if he could do it, why can’t I?”

Today, exactly twenty years later, not only am I a hundred times ahead in my new career than I was in the accounting career but also I have lived a dream life of 20 years and continue to do so every single day. Therefore the 10:10:10 moment was for me a priceless lottery winning!

How about you? Do you have your very own 10:10:10 moment?

The 10:10:10 Moment

Posted on October 14, 2016 by Azim Jamal

Certain moments in life can change your life. For me, it was on Oct 10 at 10 am in 1997 what I now call the 10:10:10 moment when I received a phone call to go to Asia as a volunteer to work with refugees.

The phone call led me to go to Asia and work with refugees where I experienced events that moved my soul.

During one cab ride after interviewing refugees and hearing heartbreaking stories in a hut, I sobbed like a baby. That 25-minute cab ride for me was the defining moment in my life leading me to change my career from “accounting for business to accounting for life”.

It is ironical that when you give wholeheartedly you get back something even more powerful. I gave my time to volunteer and the in return I found my passion, calling, and gift that I was born with!

How about you? What has been your defining moment in life? If you have not found it yet, volunteer for a cause you care about!

What will you do differently today?

Posted on August 28, 2016 by Azim Jamal

We celebrated my parents’ 63rd wedding anniversary recently. If they had not met or had not married, then I would not be here. What a thought!

The past coincidences have played some part in where you are today. In turn, your actions today will determine the future for you.

Here are some important questions to ponder:

– What will you do differently today from what you have done in the past?

– What does a Wow look like for you today, this week, this month?
Why is it a Wow?

– What does a Wow look like to you a year from now? Why is it a Wow?

Clarity precedes mastery. Action aligned to your clear goals propels
you to the success you desire.

The Magical Way of Coincidences

Posted on March 16, 2016 by Azim Jamal

“Be grateful for whoever comes, because each has been sent as a guide from beyond.”

– Rumi, Sufi Mystic

Have you noticed the coincidence that when you’re thinking about choosing a particular car, you keep noticing that brand everywhere you go? Or if you are expecting a baby, you see more pregnant women than you did before?

Brian Tracy says that you are a “living magnet”, you invariably attract the right people, ideas and opportunities into your life that are harmonious with your goals.

When you focus on a goal, the reticular activating system (RAS), a part of your brain that filters information you are exposed to, highlights things that support your thoughts. If you have well-defined goals, RAS will direct your attention towards people, events and opportunities that can help achieve your aspirations.

The Observer Effect in the Quantum Mechanics theory of physics refers to changes that the very act of observation will make on a phenomenon being observed. In a similar vein, we each affect our future through what we think about.

Reflect on the following questions:

Is your desire strong and noble?
Is your desire consistent?
Are your actions and desire aligned with each other?
Do you notice and record coincidences in your life?
Do you express gratitude for every coincidence that brings you closer to achieving your goals?
Do you look at every coincidence, (positive or negative), as an opportunity to propel you towards your goals?
Do you regularly visualize and affirm your goals?

We are all interconnected. In his book, SynchroDestiny, Deepak Chopra used the famous Grinberg-Zylberbaum experiment (1987) to prove that we are all connected on a spiritual level.

The experiment documented two meditating subjects who were able to feel mentally connected even when placed in separate rooms – when one was exposed to bright flashes of light, the other meditator’s brain responded as if he too were being exposed to flashes of light.

This isn’t just proven by lab studies. Many artists, thinkers, performers and creators were able to embark upon their careers because of serendipitous moments like these.

When Jazz musician James Morrison and his brother were trying to make it big in New York, they often played music on the streets to support themselves. Once they made enough money to get a burger from Burger Boy, and within hours of eating his burger, James was flying business class, eating smoked salmon on his way to Europe for a major jazz tour.

It turned out that a waiter at Burger Boy spotted his trumpet and put the Morrisons in touch with an agent who urgently needed a replacement for a sick soloist.

While Harrison Ford dabbled in acting in the 1960s, he also moonlighted as a carpenter to support his meager earnings. During one of his carpentry stints, he was noticed by George Lucas, who chose him for a role in the 1973 film, American Graffiti. Later, luckily for Harrison, both Christopher Walken and Al Pacino turned Lucas down when presented with the role of Han Solo in the 1977 mega-hit, Star Wars.

These coincidences happened because these people were clear about their purpose and gave their best to whatever they did.

We each have the power to create our life through our thoughts. You can use this knowledge to be in command of your own existence and create coincidences in your life.

For more amazing tips on creating an inspired life, read our latest book, ‘What You See is Seeking You by Azim Jamal & Brian Tracy.

How to Attract Positive Coincidences

Posted on February 29, 2016 by Azim Jamal

David Letterman, the late-night funny man, started his career with a flop. After a string of guest appearances on comedy shows, sitcoms and game shows, Letterman finally landed a hosting gig for a TV pilot called The Riddlers.

The series was a bust.

But Letterman got noticed by the producers of The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. He soon became a regular guest, and eventually a TV talk show host who earned $40 million a year.

Examples of coincidences often appear to be simply accidents. However, as Albert Einstein said: “Coincidence is God’s way of remaining anonymous.”

If you have faith that the Universe is there to help you, you will find this concept easier to accept. But if you have never experienced positive coincidences, you may be wondering why. Here are a few reasons:

You have goals but no burning desire. You do not make enough effort to succeed, giving the Universe mixed signals and confusing the outcome.

Your desire is not consistent.
Your actions and desires are not aligned.
You are not grateful for the good things that happen to you.
You accomplish many things but don’t acknowledge or are shy to acknowledge your successes or are too self-critical, leading to weakening of morale and enthusiasm.
You have poor awareness. You fail to see the connection between your desires, actions and results, eventually leading to missed results.
You do not affirm and visualize your goals regularly.

Many of us avoid uncertainty because we fear negative outcomes. However, even a negative outcome can lead us in the right direction. An unhappy experience in your life, like losing your job, can open new career avenues for you. But if you ignore the learning and instead just focus on the negative experience; you will invite more of the same. On the other hand, if you treat them as another chapter in the narrative of success, you’ll find it easier to draw positive solutions.

The important thing to remember is that problems affect everyone.

Steve Jobs could have felt victimized after he was fired from Apple. He chose to react differently. After his dismissal, he saw opportunity where others couldn’t. He went on to lead a small animation company and turned it into the juggernaut that is now Pixar. When The Walt Disney Company bought Pixar in 2006, Jobs became the largest shareholder in Disney. Moral of the story: when unwanted changes happen, look beyond them and see the opportunity they might contain.

Challenge yourself with the following “How to” exercises:

BECOME aware of what is going on in your life and start actively looking for the coincidences. You strengthen what you focus on.
RECORD all the coincidences you observe in a week and analyze them to see how they brought you closer to your goals.
EXPRESS gratitude for every event that brings you closer to your goals.
SET clear goals – yearly, quarterly, monthly, weekly and visualize them twice every day. The clearer your goals, the more you invite positive coincidences.
ALIGN your goals with a larger selfless purpose. When you want to help others, the Universe wants to help you.
TRUST that all coincidences are there to help you, even though you may not think so at the time.
DURING each encounter, ask yourself: How does this incident bring greater awareness into my life?
WHEN you face obstacles, view them as learning opportunities.

What is important is that you learn to recognize coincidences, and use them to help you reach your goals. You then begin to look at every setback as a stepping-stone to success.