Ever since World War II, when acronyms were useful in saving newsprint space and broadcasting time and in highlighting important government programs, there has been a tremendous growth in acronyms. An acronym is a word formed from the first letters of other words. For example, RADAR stand for Radio Detection and Ranging. In 1960, there were 12,000 acronyms listed in the acronym Dictionary. Today there are well over 2,000,000. I first started using acronyms to improve my memory and as selling points in sales presentations. Soon, I discovered that they could also be used as a powerful motivational force.

Acronyms have been a hobby of mine since 1952 when I first took the Dale Carnegie Course in Public Speaking and Human Relations. The instructor summed up the three principles of all memory in the acronym IRA. The I stood for Impression, the R stood for Repetition and the A stood for Association. Since then I have been creating and collecting acronyms for over 30 years. The first acronym I created was HASP. It stands for the four subjects I studied to become a professional author and speaker: Human relations, Applied psychology, Salesmanship and Public speaking.

For many years I used acronyms to reinforce my poor memory. My first real test on using acronyms to help memory came in 1955 when I had to give a talk on how to sell advertising. I decided to use an acronym to remember the outline of my talk. The acronym I used was SELL. The S stood for See a lot of people. The E stood for Enthusiasm makes the difference. The first L stood for Learn that selling is 98% understanding human beings and 2% product knowledge. The second L stood for Lots of ideas, ideas and service. At the end of my talk I was presented a trophy and I was offered a new and exciting job. It was than that I realized how motivating an acronym can be. The acronym SELL gave me the confidence to make a well-organized and enthusiastic speech that resulted in many rewards.

I then decided to use the motivational force of acronyms and created a guaranteed-action method called Acro-action. The method took years to develop into a unique system for making people do what they dream and plan to do but never get done. it all came from the word acronym and my determination to make myself do the many things that I planned for my life…

Acro-action is a unique method that will keep you motivated by inventing your own acronyms and repeating them to yourself many times a day. These words act as an inspiration to get you started working toward your goal. They are inner motivational reminders that keep you goal-directed and act as a support system.

This is how it works: ACTION is an acronym for Always Complete The Immediate Objective Now. When you think of the word ACTION several times a day you will automatically think of the phrase. This acronym-phrase will be your inspiration and motivation now.

After developing the Acro-action method I stopped using the word acronym and created another key word called acro-gem. I use this new word because I want to create new ways to get and stay excited about life. The difference between an acronym and an acro-gem is that an acronym is just a word, while an acro-gem is a motivating word or short sentence. Acro-gems give acro-action a new and more complete definition. (Acro-action is the highest degree of self-motivation and action towards personal goals using acro-gems as the key to self-starting action and daily support system.)

This new philosophy of action gives you a choice. You can choose to just cope with life as most normal people do or you can set concrete, affirmative, realistic targets with specific dates and have the happiness and money you want. Everyone needs a constant motivation-reminder because all motivation comes from the inside and nobody can do it for you. It’s an attitude that can’t be explained–you can only experience it.

Acro-gem your way to motivation. Memorize your favorite ones and use them to keep motivated. You can also write them down and pin them in places where you will read them often.

* GOALS is an acro-gem for Golden Opportunities Allowing Large Successes. If you say GOALS several times a day and think of the phrase that it stands for it will help you keep your mind on your goals.

* ENTHUSIASM is an acro-gem for Enthusiasm Needs The High Unseen Strength Involved Around Self-Motivation. It means that enthusiasm comes from and needs the strength of self-motivation.

* TNT stands for Today Not Tomorrow. Overtime you say TNT, that’s your key to motivate you to get started on some powerful action.

* Everytime you make a mistake say ‘SOS,” That’s an acro-gem for Seeds Of Success. After all, that’s what a mistake is, a seed of success.

* TAP, TAP, TAP is Take Action Persistently, Take Action Persistently, Take Action Persistently.

* LIPMO is the definition of luck: Luck Is Preparation Meeting Opportunity.

* BAM is Be Action-Minded.

* CAN is Constant Achievement Now.

* ASK is Always Seek Knowledge.

I have given you a few examples of the acro-gems that I have created, but you can invent your own. Self-styled acro-gems will motivate you even more because of their personal meaning for inspiration and motivation in your own life.

“Positive” Paul Stanyard is a motivator, speaker and advertising specialist.