Most of it reads like a corporate report. There's lots of long words that don't actually say anything. You reach the end of the page and you are unsure of what it is you are supposed to do. That sadly is what they want. Why? Because their aim is to sell a book, not really help you ... and you will never recoup those five minutes of your life.

So if you've been following my suggestions so far you should have written down what it is you want to do. Neglect this simple step at your own peril (slightly overstated but you know what I mean).

This is it. This next tool I use is a biggy. In fact I would say this one thing alone has brought me more success than any other one thing that I use.

That idea you have in your head, the one you've just written down, that's a dream. Your goal is to make that dream happen.

Then what's a goal? In soccer it's one point but that's not important right at this moment.

A GOAL IS A DREAM WITH A DEADLINE

And deadline is the key word. Deadlines create results! Self Improvement ideas don't. Go throw those positive thinking books away right now.

All through life you are subject to deadlines ... assignments you have to hand in, closing dates for competitions, the stores are packed at 11pm on Christmas Eve because we all get motivated by a deadline. So why aren't we ever told to impose deadlines upon ourselves.

Set yourself realistic deadlines. To do this article I’m writing now I set myself one hour to get it completed. Larger projects like renovating the house I live in I allowed myself 10 years. My motivational show for schools had a 12 month deadline. Smaller things like jobs around the house I’ll just write them in my diary.

Talking of diaries … who uses a diary? Give that person a day off work! Get used to using one all the time, then with a highlighter mark the completion date and put in reminder notices in earlier pages--6 months to go, 1 month to go, 1 week to go.

Now you have a deadline, you need a methodical approach to puttings a whole series of steps in place. I'll tell you about that next but only if you have thrown out those self improvement ideas you found in the positive thinking books. How much have you actually achieved with those ideas? I'm guessing it's very little. I hope you are getting excited about this process. Again it has worked for me, maybe it will for you. Regardless you will find bits and pieces you can adapt to suit yourself.

Oh, have I mentioned that this is all FREE, as opposed to what the cash drunk Self Improvement Ideas industry expects from you? Honestly, if you sent me an email saying you benefited that's all the payment I need.