I take pride in sharing what I’ve learned from MDRT. I now believe that your life’s road map is totally in your control. Someone can’t judge you now based on who you were 10 years ago. If they do, they are making a mistake because my experience says that personality is not permanent; we grow with our experiences, and we shine with people we spend time with.

I have taken a very targeted approach in life. Each time, whether it’s a targeted client or a targeted behavior, I see something I want to achieve, and I work toward that.

Regarding MDRT sessions, I do give credit to my fellow senior MDRT members too. Today, I will specifically talk about mindset: how mind-changer tools can change your lives. What we visualize and what we believe — we will attract and become that personality.

Thanks to Sandro Forte, an MDRT member, I have been influenced by his book “Dare to Be Different,” which I read six years ago. From it, I picked up some great tools to be a mind changer.

My favorite mind-changer tool is called “flip cards.”

Buy yourself some colorful index cards, and on each card write one goal. The trick is to write the goals in the past tense and to make these statements interesting and exciting. Make at least 20 cards, if not 30. If you can’t think of 20 goals, it’s OK; you can repeat the goals. It is important to have at least 20 cards; we are building our mental muscles by writing more.

Put them in a place where your eyes can skim them each day at least twice. I have placed one on my washroom mirror so that it’s easy to see in the morning and evening, and one on my wardrobe so that I see it each time I open it, and while I think about what to wear, my eyes are looking at it too.

Do not forget to remove goal statement cards that are done or are no longer relevant. You can replace them with something more exciting.

I have been writing my annual goals, such as the income I want to achieve and my excitement to buy a new home, on cards for the last four years. One goal I achieved is that my son has changed schools and is happy with a new circle of friends.

This is a psychological and powerful mind changer, and it has massively impacted many lives.

My second favorite mind-changer tool is “the train.”

Honestly, this one I have seen happening within me. This mind changer was my daily mind exercise without even having to allocate any time, as I can do this anytime I lift the toilet seat, while sleeping and even while meditating.

You don’t need any material for this. Maybe you are less punctual and less organized or maybe not strong enough in the business. Whatever it is, see yourself (with the traits you want to get rid of) standing on a train station platform. However, the image you are seeing of yourself is that of an imaginary twin. You are actually in a passenger train car on the platform, and you are about to wave your twin brother or sister goodbye. As the train starts to move slowly out of the station, feel how happy you are leaving behind the person with the traits you wanted to get rid of. As the train continues to move faster, and the image of your twin gets smaller and smaller and starts to fade, you will notice how pleased you are to be waving goodbye.

I have seen the Leena left behind at that platform who was weak and helpless at one point in time and had excuses to cry in that phase of life. I worked toward the Leena whom I wanted to be.

Life changes as we want it to. Use the help of some great tools.

Leena Parwani, Cert CII, MBA, is a seven-year MDRT member with seven Top of the Table qualifications.