And every good captain has a CREW. Who will you have with you on this voyage? A good mate - a life partner; a navigation officer - a coach or other expert who knows ropes and provides vital information to help you chart your course; a purser - accountant or financial adviser; a medical officer - your personal healthcare team; and others to swab deck, lower anchor, and do routine maintenance - clening service, yard service, car repairman, baby sitters, etc.

You’ll need a MAP. There is a map to transitions, because there are certain things in common to all transitions. Take a Transitions course, and/or hire a coach or other expert in transitions.

All sailors have a BAROMETER. What barometers do is tell you a change is coming. This is crucial to a sailor at sea, or a sailor at life. Our intuition acts like a barometer. Wouldn't you agree it would be good to be able to sense if you were about to be laid off, or if your daughter were experimenting with drugs? Everyone has intuition. Learn how to pump up volume on yours and read its messages.

A ship takes on BALLAST when it’s too light to sail. Add extra sleep and nurturing in times of stress, a solid Personal Mission Statement, money-reserves, a good time management program. Shift ballast if your ship is weighted down -- get rid of tolerations -- negative people, time-eaters, bad habits.

Good STABILIZERS for your ship are essential. A good social support network with strong intimate relationships, people you can count on, your faith, expert help such as a coach, and a well-bolstered Resilience can stabilize you through rough times. You bolster Resilience by processing Transitions well and by growing through hard times, not just going through them.

What LIFE VESTS would you take with you in lifeboat if your ship were sinking? Most people in my seminars mention specific people in their lives, and their faith. Some mention experts of various types. I've never heard anyone mention money. Life vests these days feature a light and a whistle. Your optimism is light, guiding you to safety. Your personal power, your voice, is whistle. Don’t forget to take these with you!

HOW OTHERWISE QUESTIONS CAN PRODUCE SUPERSIZE SUCCESSES (from ‛i-mail' files)

by Doug C. Grant

There are two types of questions. Stupid and otherwise.

I specialize in stupid. I am trying for otherwise.

I asked myself yesterday, "How come I'm not financially independent?"

The reply was instant. "Because you ask stupid questions."

This dialog is part of my i-mail system. That's like e-mail except it's internal. Some people call it 'talking to yourself'. But self-talkers are generally considered an inch or so below standard so I refer to my discussions as ‛i-mail'.

Continuing correspondence with Other-Self, I responded, "And what's so stupid about asking why I'm not financially independent?"

"Because asking a question like, "Why don't I have something?" puts honey-whizz on lack. And when you put honey-whizz on lack, only thing you're going to get back is more lack."

I thought about that for awhile before sending my reply. "So, are you saying that if I don't think about lack I'll have whatever it is I lack?"

"You're getting warm. But you still have to ask right question. Such as, ‛What can I do to attract more wealth into my life?'"

By this time I can tell you I was getting pretty excited. "You mean all I have to do is ask a question about attracting more wealth and riches will come?"