Desire is a tremendous force, and must be directed in the right channels (to work). - Florence Scovel Shinn

Take one cup of Desire,

Mix well with a heart full of Passion,

Shake in a tumbler of Willpower,

Add a full cup of Thought.

Stir in a full cup of Commitment,

Slowly add one heaping spoonful of Planning, Ideas, Capital, and Fun

Add to this a pinch of Faith (about the size of a mustard seed), and stir all until well blended.

With lots of Action, you will soon start to see the results of your Effort and Hard Work.

If your success doesnt come true the first time, start the recipe over again - this time with more feeling. Discovering what you need to do to make the recipe for success work, places you at the threshold of where you wish to be. Listen to the voice inside of you. Trust the source that comes from a Higher Power. He knows all of your wishes, your dreams, your ideas, and your plans for fulfilling them. You will be guided by the wisdom of the ages.

To do this you must start from a new point of action. Get rid of all doubt, confusion, and fear that prevents you from succeeding and reaching your goals. Then you will no longer react to the negative things in your life, but will live with a purpose, and go forth with confidence. Negative events will have no affect on you or the choices you make.

Pay attention to the guidance you receive. Your inner ear will lead you to the right choice and in the right direction. If its something you desire now, go for it. Fearing to make that commitment will make you loose the opportunity - and it may just be the opportunity of your lifetime.

Feel free to change the recipe for success in any way you wish. Its yours to amend so that it fits your desires, your goals, your dreams, your life. Make it important enough to change your life. If youre in business become aware of how you conduct yourself with your clients, associates, employees, your vendors and suppliers. Measure their performance based on the way you interact and/or react to them.

If your performance is negative and critical, change it. If its positive and uplifting, keep doing it. Try not to confuse or frustrate others. Try not to let them confuse, frustrate or anger you. Be aware of your feelings moment by moment. Do you show anger? Doubt? Fear? Are you judgmental? How can you stop your thoughts from controlling you? Knowing how is the first step to knowing yourself. This leads to empowerment - and success.

Can you do it? Can you actually take this step in faith?

Copyright 2005

Gerri D Smith

Gerri D Smith combines apparel fashion design and creative writing into a successful and growing mini-business known as Distinctive Impressions. For more then ten years, Gerri seeks to inspire thousands of others to realize their goals, to look and feel ?distinctive? in the way they dress, and to improve their professional image.

With a deep passion for creating women's fashions and accessories for day and evening wear, her clients include professionals whom she has named "VIW's" (Very Important Women), as well as other small, medium, and large sized women . Her other interests include organizing, producing, and participating in promotional fashion shows, fashion contests, art and craft sales, as well as coordinating and participating in fund-raising events that show off both her fashion and small business/entrepreneur skills.

Gerri?s apparel and accessory designs are promoted and marketed both online and offline around the Bay Area, and are sold to private clients. As a free-lance designer, many of her designs are one-of-a-kind and by special-order.

Her love of writing is portrayed in her ongoing self-improvement and motivational articles, an inspirational non-fiction book, and a modern contemporary, and inspirational romance novel. Gerri?s published books are marketed nationwide through the world wide web and offline to business women and romance novel readers.

Gerri is host and publisher of an inspirational newsletter that encourages, motivates, and supports individuals, small business owners, and women entrepreneurs to go for their dreams. The newsletter is an internet resource creating multiple ways for subscribers to unlock the doors to success and improvement. And it is Free. Now, being able to share two of her deepest passions - creative fashion designing and creative inspirational writing with others is her greatest pleasure.

In addition to producing her fashions, accessories, and her creative writing to inspire and encourage others, in her spare time Gerri also finds great pleasure in researching, studying and learning new skills. She hopes to broaden her expertise with public speaking on business leadership and personal improvement. Her two self-published books, one a full length contemporary romance fiction novel, titled ?A Challenge of Love,? and an inspirational non-fiction book titled, ?31 Cups of Inspiration,? are modern classics and will inspire others for a long, long time.