Let me tell you a story…
There were once two farmers working together in a field. The sun beat down on them as they toiled away clearing rocks. With so much work to be done before the field could be planted they were putting in long hours. By mid-afternoon one of the farmers had become quite famished. He stood up and stretched his back then said to the other man, “My lunch is long gone and I’m so hungry. I’m sure that you must be also. I know of an apple tree that grows in the next field. Why don’t I go and get us some apples. We can have a snack and then finish our work.”
Also very hungry the second farmer agreed. Some food and a break was going to be most welcome. “I’ll stay here and keep working.” he replied. “Once you get the apples you come on back and we can have a break.”
The first farmer agreed so he set off, hiking across the field towards the promise of the prized reward. The second farmer continued working. The sun beat down and his hunger grew more and more with the passing time. He checked his watch and was baffled at what could be taking his partner so long. Finally, he set off towards the apple tree himself to find the cause of the delay.
When he could see the tree he started to get angry. Here his partner had been simply standing under the tree while he had been working all by himself. “I’ve been slaving away while you’ve been simply standing here?” he snapped. “What have you been doing for all of this time?”, the second farmer demanded. The first farmer looked at him and simply replied, “I’ve been waiting for the fruit to drop.”
So where did our farmer go wrong? He knew what he wanted. He had a burning desire. He formed a plan. His mission included service to others. He even went to the source that could supply his need. What could possibly be missing? What was missing was action.
I have a vision for the future. It is so real that I can almost taste it. Without action, though, a vision is all it would ever be. As the Japanese proverb says, “A vision without action is a daydream.” A video that I saw from Derek Atchley this week discussed this very concept.
You see, we can wish for something all day long but in the absence of action wishing just doesn’t make it so. If desire alone was enough then every kid would have an ice cream cone and every little girl would have a pony. Desire is useful to the extent that it prompts us to action so that the elements of our dream can be drawn forth into reality. At some point, the rubber needs to hit the road.
This is the part that seems to get overlooked so often but Haanel is very clear. In the introduction of Part 10 of the Master Key System he states, “…nothing happens without a definite cause.” He puts the message even more plainly in paragraph 25 when he says,
“Knowledge will not apply itself. You must make the application. Abundance will not come to you out of the sky, neither will it drop into you lap…”
This is not to say that we can explain every effect… Sometimes the power of thought can make an outcome seem almost magical. Somewhere, however, there must be a definite cause.
There is an old saying… Ready, Aim, Fire! Ready is about preparing for action. Ready is the phase where we sit, we think, we build our mindset and our habits and we cultivate the world within. Aim is the phase where we set our sights on our target by crafting our DMP. We decide what we want and create a plan of action to achieve it… Finally comes the third phase… Fire! It is time to act! It is time to charge forward and do the work.
It can be tempting to skip a step. It can also be tempting to stay too long on a step as in the case of paralysis by analysis; “Ready, aim, aim, aim, aim, aim…”. Our success, though, hinges on our having the courage and faith and confidence to actually pull the trigger. The apple won’t fall into our laps… the world that we create within must express itself through action.
I am ready. I have prepared. I have taken aim for my definite purpose. I pull the trigger. “Do the work!” has been added as one of my daily autosuggestions. I am ready to reach out and pick the darned apple. If you haven’t already done so for yourself I hope that you will join me in the next phase of this incredible journey. Let’s not just stand around waiting for the fruit to drop.
You got it Brother! Take that reach for the Apple! and Believe it cause we can Achieve it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for the encouragement, Darren. After all, I know that I can achieve the object of my Definite Purpose in life.
LikeLike
Gosh, you have an awesome way of making such salient points in such an entertaining way! Thanks again for sharing your gift 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s so kind, Shirley. Thank you! I enjoy writing the posts but knowing that they are enjoyed and useful is what makes it all really worthwhile!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Helped me realize that many times in my life I have been waiting for the apple to drop and blaming the tree for not releasing it. Thank you…I need that!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Wow, Bruce! That’s a great insight and breakthrough! I can’t wait to see you in ACTION and watch what you DO with it. 🙂
LikeLike
Such a wonderful, fantastic post. Thank you so much for writing and sharing this! I will say to myself, PICK THE DARNED APPLE! do the work!
Such a blessing to me!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Glad you enjoyed the post and thank you for the encouragement! We’re in it together so I’ll be up here in Canada saying “PICK THE DARNED APPLE! DO THE WORK!” right along with you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a great thought, well said. I love the Ready Aim Fire too. Thank you for making me think!
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s great, Anne! Fire away! I can’t wait to see what you hit you miracle, you!
LikeLike
great. ‘I allow myself — give myself permission — to take action.’
thanks 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
As well as permission to release whatever had prevented the action before! So great, Dominica! Proud of you! Thanks for stopping by!
LikeLike
Awesome post Daniel. You are absolutely right. Take action. As we have been told to repeat to ourselves 20x or more a day… Do it Now!! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes! Great observation! That is such a great link! There are so many elements of the MKE that are linked together as long as we are paying attention and observing!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Daniel, amazing post – loved that you linked to Derek’s video – reminds me of the Steve Harvey video that I saw this week – Jump. I will apply what I’ve learned … I’ll have to Jump to Pick the Apple or climb the tree, pick the apple, then jump – thank you for the light you shine 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Natalie! I appreciate your stopping by and commenting. Derek’s post was on Facebook. Great video on his profile if you wanted to check it. As long as you’re jumping and acting, it’s all good! Thanks again.
LikeLike
Thanks for sharing…I got to go pick an apple…Mahalo
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well, Robert, don’t let commenting here keep you from ACTION! Love it! 🙂 Thanks for stopping by.
LikeLike
I am blown away! Great. Thank you
LikeLiked by 2 people
So glad that you enjoyed it, Britta. Thanks for stopping by and for commenting.
LikeLike
What tremendous realizations…. Congratulations on fully engaging, Daniel! SO grateful to be able to read your words… You’re a great storyteller too. 🙂 Mahalo for shining your light!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Trish, for the encouragement! I appreciate it very much. I love a good story and being able to share one is so much fun.
LikeLike
Thank you for sharing great points. Of view very easy to follow great job
LikeLiked by 1 person
And thank you for stopping by and for your feedback. So glad that you enjoyed the post.
LikeLike
Awesome post. I loved the analogy with the Ready, Aim, Fire example. Thanks for sharing the farmers story and how it relates to the MKE.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Leanne. Here’s to taking the shot and taking action!
LikeLike
There’s a French saying that makes me think of your post : “one can always dream of beverage, when one is really thirsty, one has to wake up to drink”. 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
LikeLiked by 1 person
That saying is BRILLIANT! I love it! Thank you for sharing. I may have to write a follow up post just to go into that saying more deeply!
LikeLike
Amazing story!!! ” I am ready to reach out and pick the darned apple.” Great post.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s what I love to hear, Nisa! Can’t wait to see what your ACTION brings your way!
LikeLike
Great story about the two farmers. How often do we line everything up and wait for the fruit to drop? We get an impression to do something. You know, intuition, hunch, something told me, etc. Picking the apple would be doing what He told us.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s a really good point. Sometimes we can be more diligent with the preparation than with actually pulling the trigger and persisting. Thanks for that input! I appreciate it.
LikeLike
great blog – thanks for sharing
LikeLiked by 1 person
And thank you for stopping by and for your feedback. I appreciate it!
LikeLike
Beautifully written and great interpretation, Daniel!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for the encouragement! I’m so glad that you enjoyed it.
LikeLike
Another great post with such creatively shown insights! Thank you for sharing – and it’s so true about the “Ready, aim, aim, aim, aim, aim, aim…” – I see it with myself sometimes, so thank you for addressing that!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks for commenting, Sam. I’m a white on the color code test… We love aim, aim, aim, aim, aiming so I just had to put that in there. Eventually you’ve just got to pull the trigger. Thanks again for the input.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I love apples. Never pictured myself as a fruit picker but today I am. Thank you for your insightful post.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for commenting, Adalanta. So glad that you enjoyed the post. I hope that apples, and the ACT of picking them, stays in your routine.
LikeLike
Great post Daniel!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for stopping by, Kare.
LikeLike
Thanks for the encouragement. Much appreciated.
LikeLike
Daniel, this is EXCELLENT!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! I’m so happy that you enjoyed it.
LikeLike
Awesome post Daniel. Right to the point! Your’e a great influence here, thank you my friend for all you do. Plenty of apples…..Start picking!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Dave. It’s my pleasure to be a part of the class! We’ve got an awesome group, amazing guides and material to fascinate us for the rest of our lives as we take control of our own lives. What’s not to love? Thanks again.
LikeLike
Daniel, this was a great post. WOW! You know everybody likes a story, and some of us love analogies. So for me this insightful post was two fold. Thank you. Look forward to reading some more of your posts.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for the kind feedback, Chris. So glad that you enjoyed it and I hope that you enjoy some of the other posts. As a lover of stories and analogies we’re painted with the same brush! Thanks again for stopping by.
LikeLike
Incredible post! Nicely done! “Paralysis by analysis”, never heard that before, I think it’s fantastic!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Ryan, for the feedback. “Paralysis by analysis” is a state well known to those of us who are white on the color code. Glad that you never had to deal with that hurdle, my friend. Thanks again for commenting.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great story-telling, coming to a strong point. Well done!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for stopping by and for commenting. Glad that you enjoyed it.
LikeLike
Super inspirational, Daniel. I needed this kick in the butt this week. Thanks so much. And congrats on the shout-out on the webinar. I’ve known you rock for weeks now. So thrilled to have you as a partner on this journey!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for that, Day. So glad that the post came at just the right time to give you a kick in the butt. 🙂 It’s my privilege to be a part of the class with so many people contributing in so many different ways. Inspiring!
LikeLike
Thank you for your insights. Love the farmer story. To often we may wait, when the next step is obvious. No rest! Do it now!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nothing more tragic that stopping progress just shy of the mark. Here’s to ACTION, Marj! Thanks for stopping by and for your comment.
LikeLike
Great post! I’ll never look at an apple the same again. Hmm red circle perhaps. 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Red circle!!! I love it! Glad that you enjoyed the post and if every apple you see prompts you to ACTION then my work here is done. 🙂
LikeLike
🎯 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
😊🎯
LikeLike
🎯😊
LikeLike
Thanks Daniel! “Do the work” is now going on a card in the stack to reinforce … “Do it now’!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m test-driving that one too, Deb! No doubt that good things will happen. Thanks for stopping by and for commenting.
LikeLike
Great Blog Daniel! I must admit most of my life I have been waiting for something. Just never knew what it was till the MKMMA. Mahalo.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for the comment! What an AWESOME realization, Danny! So great that you found the MKE and happy to be a part of your class.
LikeLike
What a great story!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Glad that you enjoyed it, Debra. May it inspire you toward persistent continuous ACTION (<== Bonus points if you caught the BPB reference there) 🙂
LikeLike
Beautifully written! Thank you. Take action. Do it now!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Words to live by! I love it! Thanks for commenting, Aanya.
LikeLike
Great reminder – Thank you. Love the story and the deep reframing of the simple expression “Ready, aim, fire” Keep firing!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Fire away, my friend! Thanks for stopping by and I’m really glad that you enjoyed it.
LikeLike
so true! I’ve been sharing that with others as I go through the course. a few people don’t like that I’m telling them that action is required but I truely believe it is so. thanks for the reminder!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Both Haanel and Hill are very clear that ACTION is required. All of our work on the world within does indeed factor in by helping us to take the best action, though, since we are in harmony. Sometimes results come from where we would never expect it but if you trace it back you will find a cause, an act, that did set things in motion. Thanks for commenting. Glad that you enjoyed the post.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Absolutely! I’m finding exactly that. I’ve been asking for answers… then actioning it by interacting with people… and somehow out of the blue the answer comes! I just love it! I thought they would come in the sit…. but they seem to come whilst interacting in person or on line with people whilst masterminding. Cool stuff!
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s so awesome! Receiving the answer started in the sit and in preparing the world within. We then launch out, different than we were before; in harmony. The answers then seem to appear as if by magic but the cause is still there. I LOVE this. So cool of you to share.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love your take on it. Helps me see things differently and opens my world up further! Thanks for responding:-)
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s a pleasure to share. I’m very easily drawn into any type of analytical discussion. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yer me too:-) My mental juices flow. Appreciate your analytical mind:-)
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’ve nailed it! Great post, thank you, Daniel.
LikeLiked by 1 person
And thank you, Marilyn. Enjoy your apples.
LikeLike
Good job Daniel, I believe in you, now get your a__ to work!
LikeLiked by 1 person
LOL! Thanks, Rex. Time to get moving!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You Got it Daniel! Love reading your post and all of the MasterMinding interACTION in your comments Brilliant Observations and sharing…You are AWEsome and You are Doing the Work!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Lorelei! I appreciate the encouragement. It’s my privilege to be a part of such an amazing community as the MKMMA!
LikeLike
so inspiring !!! I am still on the ‘aim’ phase, it does take soooo long… Most of time I tend to be more frustrated than taking an action, firing ;-( thank you for the encouragement and insight !!! blessings
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, ready and aim can both be long processes depending on what is needed. They cannot be neglected but they should not be indulged excessively either. Frustration isn’t a bad thing… Just means that you know things can be different and they aren’t… YET. Action will be what makes the difference. Thanks for stopping by and comminting.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m with you. Full steam head. Great post.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great to have good company for the journey, Wes. Thanks for stopping by.
LikeLike
What a tremendous example! Thank you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for stopping by and for commenting.
LikeLike
Loved the way you put that story and then explained and integrated it with your journey. Way to bring it together. Looking forward to seeing and sharing your journey.
Great journeys and adventures along the way.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much for commenting! I appreciate your stopping by and also look forward to great journeys and adventures along the way! 🙂
LikeLike
Now this is a totally awesome post! Thank you for a very brilliant visual on taking Action!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Mark! So glad you enjoyed it and hope that you hear your call to action loud and clear.
LikeLike
You have a wonderful talent for storytelling, Daniel. With your vision, I can tell your DMP is already a done deal. Thanks for the inspiration!
LikeLiked by 1 person
So kind of you to say, Deanna! Thanks for the encouragement!
LikeLike
BRILLIANT – ENCOURAGING – INSPIRING!!! Mahalo for your wonderful blog! Yours in Gratitude, Light & Love, Peace & Joy wendyht
LikeLike
Pingback: Looking Back – MKMMA Week 23 | LivingTheMasterKey