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Check out Michael Annese’s newest article featured in Best Self Magazine

Michael Annese, author of “The VICTORY Cycle” featured in Best Self Magazine with his latest article.

6 Steps to Creating Your Future: A simple framework for shifting your life and creating your future

 

Are you standing in the ‘What’s next?’ doorway? Are you wondering what you should do with your life? So often we pull back from these pivotal moments unprepared to execute a plan — not because we don’t want to change, but simply because we just don’t have a plan. What you’re looking for is a new vision for yourself—one that will ignite your spirit, fueled by the energy within your heart — a new vision that will transform your life into a new reality.

Here’s the good news: Believe it or not, you’re in the right place at the right time for change.

Here are 6 ways to step forward to create a compelling vision for your future:

1 – Slow Down

All too often we focus on reacting to what’s going on around us — the phone, the car, the job, the continuous pressing noise that surrounds our daily life. Stop. Hang it all up for a little while. Put aside time for yourself, to heal and adjust to your surroundings, to set a course for your future. Take some real time for yourself to just be by yourself for a little while, free from all the distractions in your life. Sit and think about what you want your life to be like and what you want it to represent.

2 – Clear Your Mind

Find a quiet place to be alone with your thoughts, to really spend some time with your inner self. Take some deep diaphragmatic breaths in and out. Feel the air passing your lips while you clear your mind. When you arrive at a clear, open space in your mind, what do you hear? What is your inner voice saying to you? What’s really important to you, what are you really passionate about, what are you great at? What is your true purpose in life?

3 – Think Big

Now is not the time to hold back; now is the time to let go. Think about what you are capable of and reach for the maximum outcome. If you aim high, your successes will be monumental. If you shoot too low, who cares, right? Take this time to dream about the possibilities and what you can do if you put your heart and soul into it. Truly step outside the norm and think about what you could accomplish if you bring your full self to it. Really let go and dream about the possibilities for a while.

4 – Get Focused

Once you have a clear idea of what’s important to you and what you’re capable of, it is time to focus on what that really looks like. See your vision for yourself in full detail, as if it were already completed. Imagine every single angle of this vision. Feel what it would be like to embody this image. Clarity is key; you must completely know what your vision will look like from front to back, side to side, inside and out.

5 – Believe in Yourself

Your spirit lies in your belief in ‘what if’ and the possibilities of what you are capable of accomplishing. When you find yourself on the edge of self-doubt, stop and say: “Yes, I can do this. This is really who I am and who I am about to become!” Accept nothing less than your personal best for yourself and take things one step at a time. Small steps lead to giant leaps over time. Remember a time when you experienced success. Hold those thoughts and feelings close to your heart, and remember that you can do it. You’ve succeeded before and this time there’s no stopping you.

6 – Take Action

Once you’ve developed your vision, you must take a step towards it in order to start the process of change. If not, you’re just leaving another idea left to wash away and be forgotten. It doesn’t have to be overwhelming — just a small step to symbolize the beginning of this next journey in your life. Prove to yourself that you are committed to making this a reality by serving yourself a taste of your future.

Remember, this is only the beginning. Time is ticking off right in front of you. What you do with your time shapes your destiny, so make every day count. Where you focus your heart is who you really are and what you will leave behind. What you do with your spirit will light up your soul forever. What you see with your vision is how you will live today and how decisions will be made for tomorrow. Visualize your future as rewarding and exciting, and recognize that your personal best is available to you right now. Be the true you and live the adventure of a lifetime—your lifetime, your vision!

FREE Kindle eBook of “The VICTORY Cycle”

IMG_9730Get your FREE copy of “The VICTORY Cycle! If you’re the kind of person that usually drives for success, and drives for results but have found yourself stuck in a rut, then here’s your chance to break free and unleash unstoppable results.

Contact us or send us an email at info@michaelannese.com with your name and email address. You may be selected to receive a personal email from the author and FREE copy of the Kindle eBook of “The VICTORY Cycle!”   Winners automatically qualify for the opportunity to be in the next book “Stories of Victory,” detailing stories of real people applying the Victory Cycle for their own personal goals and dreams.

ENTER NOW!

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FREE Kindle eBook of “The VICTORY Cycle”

Don’t waste this opportunity to turn things around and break free of those chains holding you back.  You have greatness within you, all you need to do is reach for your Victory…

 Live your VICTORY!

 Michael

Being Inspired at the Rotary Club of Fort Lauderdale South

On July 29th, Michael had the privilege of being  invited to speak at the Rotary Club of Fort Lauderdale South.    What a warm and welcoming reception we received from the chapter president, Lesleen Bolt and her fellow Rotarians.  Listening to the stories of the work these fine folks are doing in their community and around the world was truly inspiring.  It was a gift to meet this wonderful group of people.

As an expression of appreciation for his appearance, a donation to the Rotary’s Polio Plus Program for the inoculation of 25 children was made in his honor.  We are so very grateful!07292016 Rotary of Ft Laud South IMG_9685

Ignite Your Personal Revolution With The Victory Cycle

Addicted to SuccessIgnite Your Personal Revolution With The Victory Cycle

It’s time to think seriously about your New Year’s resolution. Maybe this year it’s the goal of losing weight, starting a new career, getting a promotion, launching a new business venture, working on a relationship, or running that marathon you always wanted to run.

Here’s a thought: let’s take this year’s resolution to the top and make it really stick. All you need is to actually do it, right? All too often we come out of New Year’s Day with amazing ideas of change, but what happens a few weeks into your journey? Did you make it happen? Or did you falter once again?

This time it’s going to be different, and here’s why. I’m going to share with you a solution, a system for you to maintain control, make lasting change, and begin a sustainable recipe for personal growth, and change. It’s called “The Victory Cycle.”

This idea is based on a continuous cycle of personal leadership and development. Here’s the truth: none of our New Year’s resolutions, or any goal for that matter, will work without consistent daily actions. The Victory Cycle is based on small, daily powerful actions towards your “Personal Vision”; as you build your vision, your “Victory” will start to take form. Change your focus, improve your state of mind, and take progressive action today by stepping into The Victory Cycle!

Victory is an acronym for the 7 steps to achieve your goal:

  • V- Vision
  • I- Inspiration
  • C- Commitment
  • T- Timed Steps
  • O-Obstacles
  • R-Rejoice
  • Y-Yearlong Adjustments

1. Vision

Your personal vision is the starting point in the process. It’s a clear, compelling purpose of what you want, or who you want to become. You must see it so clear that you can touch it, smell it, and really feel it in your heart and soul as if it were real.

Leave no detail out of the picture as you create your vision; really see it as if it were right in front of you. All successful people knew who they truly were inside even in what appeared to be defeat. They rose up based on the internal belief and purpose they had within them. Find your purpose, your vision.

“Vision is the art of seeing what is invisible to others.” – Jonathan Swift

2. Inspiration

Your why you are doing this. All too often we forget why we’re doing what we’re doing. We get stuck in the wrong details, like numbers on a scale or how big our bank account is. Our inspiration centers more on how we feel, specifically, how we would feel if we were living our vision.

So many times our train for success is derailed from the very beginning due to lack of an understanding of why we are doing it and what we really want.

3. Commitment

This centers around how badly you really want it. Without rock-solid determination, you will fail, and lose momentum. Because when it gets difficult, and it will, you need to have a warrior’s level of commitment, a complete “life or death” determination that you will succeed no matter what. This is your “how,” this is you making it happen, no one else, just you.

4. Timed steps

This in essence is your plan, small scheduled-out steps towards your vision, your ultimate victory. It starts today, by the way, not tomorrow. Think of what you can do right now! Then, something by the end of the week, next month, and so on.

Write it out so you can hold yourself accountable for the progress, otherwise you lose traction. Naturally you are going to adjust these benchmarks, but you likely already have an idea.

5. Obstacles

These are things that pop up, trip you up, and slow you down. Anticipate them beforehand; be ready for them. Don’t worry if you do get knocked down—it’s ok. Dust yourself off and build strength from it. You just learned what not to do.

This is where the fire is, the forging of who you are, and will become. Adversity builds character. Capitalize on what’s gone right and build upon it. Never ever give up on you; if you don’t believe in who you are, who else will?

6. Rejoice

Once you start moving forward in your progress, rejoice. Life is about living and enjoying your life right. Celebrate and rejoice in your accomplishments along the way. Just don’t stay there too long, get back to work. Remember: if you stop, it all stops moving forward. Make sure you get back on course.

7. Yearlong adjustments

Yearlong adjustments is just that—a way for you to see what’s going right and what’s going wrong and adjust it. Remember, your victory is a lifelong journey, something that you will continuously work on.

So, this is only going to make you stronger and sharpen the sword for success, your vision, and your ultimate victory. Small steps equal giant leaps over time; remember: it all comes back to your vision. Make sure it all adds up and is on track, and start over again.

“Good business leaders create a vision, articulate the vision, passionately own the vision, and relentlessly drive it to completion.” – Jack Welch

Own who you are today and who you want to become; no matter what it is, you can do it. It is you who needs to believe in YOU first—before you can go out into the world to accept your own victory. The Victory Cycle is meant to be applied daily; you get up in the morning and say, “How can I take a step towards my Victory?” And when you lay down at night, ask yourself, “Did I honor my Victory?”

Here’s the reality: you’re accountable for you—no one else is. It’s time to take that New Year’s resolution once and for all and turn it into a personal revolution within your heart and soul. Use The Victory Cycle to ignite your future, stand up and make it happen starting today.

When are you going to start to use The Victory Cycle to Ignite your future?

Ignite Your Personal Revolution With The Victory Cycle

 

“Highly recommended… Self-Help/Self-Improvement” – Midwest Book Review

Critique: Impressively well written, organized and presented, “The Victory Cycle: 7 Progressive Steps to Forge a Lifetime of Everlasting Personal Growth and Change” is informative and practical as it is thoughtful and inspiring. If you only have time for one self-help instructional, make it Michael Annese’s thoroughly ‘reader friendly’ do-it-yourself improvement guide, “The Victory Cycle”. Highly recommended for community library Self-Help/Self-Improvement collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that “The Victory Cycle” is also available in a paperback edition (9781614933793, $14.95) and in a Kindle format ($3.99).

Synopsis: In the pages of “The Victory Cycle: 7 Progressive Steps to Forge a Lifetime of Everlasting Personal Growth and Change”, Michael Annese has created a practical and effective method for anyone regardless of background, circumstances or education. Readers will apply the steps within “The Victory Cycle” to create the momentum required to fuel their journey, achieving their own personal Victory. “The Victory Cycle” is direct, to the point, and quickly yields results. “The Victory Cycle” provides a system for those who are ready to feed the fire within their heart and soul.

The Victory Cycle
Michael Annese
The Peppertree Press, LLC
1269 First Street, Suite 7, Sarasota, FL 34236
www.peppertreepublishing.com
www.thevictorycycle.com

January 2016

The Portsmouth Review – Interview With Local Author Michael Annese by Rebecca Skane – November 10th, 2015

Interview with Local Author Michael Annese by Rebecca Skane

Author Michael Annese originally hails from Lynn, Massachusetts and now calls Florida his home. He is the author of the new personal development book called The Victory Cycle.

Tell me a little bit about who you are and where you live.

I am originally from the north shore of Boston. Lynn Massachusetts to be exact, I basically grew up in the area. I left for south Florida when I was 20 years old. When I got down here I was a typical confused 20 year old and not sure of what to do with my life? I had always played drums and found my way into a rock band and started pursuing a music career. In short, I made it all the way up to a record company showcase in NYC where unfortunately things didn’t work out for us in the end. So, I shuffled my way back to south Florida with my head in my hands and the band crumbling around me. I outline this much better in the book, but needless to say disappointment was a total understatement. In any case, I took some time to pick myself up and dust myself off with many self-help/ personal development books. While studying this subject I reignited a childhood dream of civil service and started taking classes to become a firefighter / paramedic. Well today, some 20+ years later my home is in sunny Boca Raton Florida with my wife Kathi and two children Zach and Ashely where I am serve as a battalion chief at a career fire department in south Florida. All along though, I continued to study personal development and always considered penning my own take on the subject. I always thought, what a wonderful way to contribute and help people when they need it most. Maybe in a way, lend someone that helping hand when they are down. Which I have obviously taken the next step on in creating The Victory Cycle – 7 Progressive Steps to Forge a Lifetime of Everlasting Personal Growth and Change. Victory is an acronym for the steps required to reach success beginning with – Vision, Inspiration, Commitment, Timed Steps, Obstacles, Rejoice, and Yearlong Adjustments. All of which build on ones momentum for a greater outcome in life’s goals.

Are there any favorite local spots you like to visit, ones that inspire your creativity?

In terms of local spots in New England, we visit every year and go hiking in the White Mountains. Two years ago my son and I summited Mt. Washington via the Tuckerman’s Ravine trail. This was an incredible experience for both myself and my 12-year-old son. Full of inspiration and creativity, I was actually in the development stage of my book and this climb certainly served as motivation to make it happen. Another time we flew up from Florida to visit Gillette Stadium for game between the great New England Patriots and the Miami Dolphins. Talk about inspirational, nothing like the Pats to get you juiced up about winning and digging deep into your heart and soul for success.

Wow us with shock value. Is there anything about you that would surprise readers?

I had mentioned earlier I was in a band, now that I am a battalion Chief, I have to conduct myself in a professional manner at all times. Back in my days with the band, I had long black hair down to my mid-back and used to rock on with the best of them! Not that long hair isn’t professional mind you but just different for the circles I am now swimming in now.

What interested you to become a writer rather than something else such as neurosurgeon?

What interested me in writing was the opportunity to help people with my concept. I really can’t say I am a studied writer, my writing really comes from my heart, a deep place from within. When I am writing, I see it more as a one-on-one experience for the reader and myself. A time for just me and them to think and feel the situation. In essence take some time out to think, and make changes for a more fulfilling life. I find that while writing, I have the ability to express myself in such a way that while it’s happening, it’s truly living and breathing as it evolves and rolls off the page. In The Victory Cycle, I am really striving for personal connection with the reader; I am trying to ignite what is already inside them and break them free. Maybe the fire inside you has shrunken to a small flame or never really got started in the first place. My “Vision” for people is to release them from whatever is holding them back, and say to them “Let me introduce you to the incredible YOU.”

Funny side note: that was actually the first title of the book. The fact is we all are so capable of so many great things, we just sometimes get “caught up” and forget that. That is where The Victory Cycle comes in: it’s the solution to the frustration, the lack of results, and the low self-esteem. It’s the road map to lead you out of self-doubt, and release you to be the true person that lives within you, the one you truly know is inside dying to get out.

If you could spend a day with any author, living or dead – who would it be and why?

For me it would be Napoleon Hill, I know it’s not Shakespeare but you got to understand where I’m coming from. Napoleon Hill was one of the first to document success and how to get it. In many ways his book Think and Grow Rich is the corner stone for many personal development books. I would so enjoy spending a day with him learning firsthand what he found out when he spent time with such prolific people in his day.

Does the area in which you live provide influence in your writing? How so?

South Florida provides quite a bit of influence and inspiration. Sunny days, amazing people, beautiful beaches, palm trees, what isn’t inspiring?

What is the most critical piece of advice you would give to new authors?

Just start, stay true to what is within you. Reach down and make it happen, don’t get caught up in exact structure right away, just start the process. A little bit of writing everyday will turn into pages and chapters after some time. If your one who wants to lock yourself away and bust it out all at once then make the decision to do so already. What are you waiting for? Don’t wait till your lying on your death bed with a great story in your head, put your on your big girl, or big boy pants and let’s get started already!! No one is going to do it for you, or beg you to write it, you have to do it yourself. Don’t waist what’s inside of you, let your story come to life. My quote- “Desire needs to be fed, feed it ideas and it will grow, feed it progress and it will come to life.”

Coming up with a title can be difficult. Tell me how you came up with yours.

Initially, as I already mentioned, the working title was “Let me introduce you to the incredible you.” However as the concept of a “Cycle” took hold it became very evident that the secret to this idea was in fact a continuous cycle for improvement. So when the final decision was made to be The VICTORY Cycle, it was obviously the correct decision.

Are there more books coming from you in the future? Do tell!

I am currently gathering success stories from people that have used The Victory Cycle for an upcoming book with a working title of “Stories of Victory.” Here we will share real people’s success stories and how they started out and where they went on their path to victory. So, please share your story with us so we can include yours in our next book!

Where can people find more information on you and your projects?

Best place is my website: www.thevictorycycle.com

Success Is Even Sweeter When You Know the Recipe: The Victory Cycle, a Step-by-Step Guide to Getting What You Want

the-book“One of the biggest roadblocks toward making changes in your life is the belief that it won’t work,” says Michael Annese, whose new book lays out a practical roadmap for connecting with the powerful potential in every human being.

BOCA RATON, FL, October 23, 2015 — Reading The Victory Cycle, Michael Annese’s powerful new blueprint for success through personal transformation, is like looking at a painting with a hidden visual. A shift in focus makes it visible. It produces an “aha moment” when, suddenly, you see things clearly. That’s the exact experience author Annese is looking to create for both readers and participants in the coaching seminars he gives about the 7 Progressive Steps to Forge a Lifetime of Everlasting Personal Growth and Change, which happens to be the subtitle of his book.

“One of the biggest roadblocks toward making changes in your life is the belief that it won’t work,” says Annese, whose new book lays out a practical roadmap for connecting with the powerful potential in every human being. “The Victory Cycle presents an effective system that anyone can use to prove to themselves that change is possible when they’re ready to get in touch with the fire within their heart and soul.” The fire within is a metaphor that comes naturally for Annese, who serves as a battalion chief for a career fire department in South Florida. “The difference,” laughs Annese, is that my day job is putting fires out.”

The Victory Cycle lays out a practical step-by-step program that’s direct, to the point, and is designed to produce results–quickly. “The principles behind The Victory Cycle are proven to affect the attitudes and behaviors that contribute to–and sometimes prevent–success.”

Annese, who says he developed The Victory Cycle after decades of studying personal motivation and betterment, believes in actionable results. “The Victory Cycle is designed to motivate you and help you organize yourself to radically increase your odds of getting what you want out of life.”

Victory, in Annese’s system, is an acronym for the steps required to achieve a goal. There are seven of them–Vision, Inspiration, Commitment, Timed Steps, Obstacles, Rejoice, and Yearlong Adjustments–that The Victory Cycle lays out in seven progressive steps that the reader is encouraged to absorb at his or her own pace. “Everyone is capable of mastering the steps that lead to success,” explains the author whose own stories of personal drive and motivation add a human foundation to a very practical guidebook. “The question is, are you willing to be accountable for your achieving what you want in life?”

If the answer is yes (and The Victory Cycle presents ways to help make sure you get to that answer), the book promises a personal success cycle which, if followed, will lead to overwhelming positive change.

“My driving motivation,” says Annese, “is to reach down into peoples’ souls and hearts to help brighten that light that shines within them. There’s so much potential in each and every one of us.” Lest that sound a bit New Age, Annese makes sure to ground The Victory Cycle in solid psychology, invoking, for example, Maslow’s “Hierarchy of Needs” as a basis for his system, and including motivational quotes and wisdom from everyone from Confucius to Vince Lombardi.

The Victory Cycle is uplifting and inspirational. You’ll feel good just reading it. Putting its principles and exercises into effect–to deepen your connection to success–is what Annese is all about. “Remember that small fire you have within you,” he says. “You’ve now added the oxygen it needed to burst into flames. Stoke that fire with fuel, let it roar within your heart and soul. Let it out, allow the light to shine from within you, be the phoenix of fire, be reborn, and shake the ashes of the past. Stand up now and spread your wings of fire. Leap to your destiny, be one with yourself, and live with your Victory.”

So says the Fire Chief.

About the author

Michael Annese wasn’t always a battalion chief for a South Florida fire department. Originally from the Boston area, he spent years pursuing a career in the music industry before embarking on a career in the fire service. Through fierce determination and practicing the principles he has outlined in his book, Michael has created a successful career and fulfilling life. Michael is now paying it forward by sharing his personal life-tested techniques and experience in leadership within The Victory Cycle.

For more information, please visit www.thevictorycycle.com

Media contact: Victor Gulotta
Gulotta Communications, Inc.
617-630-9286
http://www.booktours.com
victor@booktours.com