Charles Horton - Ignite the Secret: 19 Lessons for Business and Life

Disclaimer: The activities described in this book are intended to be performed under professional supervision only. Do not try them at home without the proper training.

Foreword

If I Can Firewalk, What Else Can I Do?

Stop. Wipe your feet. Celebrate.

I had done it. I had walked on fire, my bare feet touching a bed of coals. My body knew itthere was a tingling starting up from my soles, more an energized sensation than the burn Id been expecting. But my mind was asking, What just happened? How did I do that?

I didnt know it then, but my life had just shifted to a whole new level. That firewalk lifted my consciousness in a way I didnt know was possible. It shook up my nervous system and released something in me that made me ask, Hmmm, well, if I can firewalk, what else can I do?

We all face the fire at times throughout our lifein business, in relationships, in our personal development. As a tool for everything from personal insight to professional success, the firewalk is unlike anything Ive ever seenone of the most unique things anybody can do if they want to change something in their life.

The nineteen lessons of this book come directly from Charles Hortons life experiences from three different companies, including his motivational business and the Firewalking Institute of Research and Education. Charles is a one-of-a-kind guy, a man of great honor and integrity who has an amazing story to tella lifelong entrepreneur, he came to firewalking as a convert like meand as with the firewalking experience, I cant think of anyone who would fail to benefit from it. Its a story of personal development and professional success despite (or perhaps because of) many challenges and much difficulty. Its a story full of insight and wisdom that just about anyoneincluding youcan apply in their own career and life.

Now, you may be thinking, How can Charles Hortons story help me? Im the last person who would ever walk through fire. Well, whether or not you ever choose to do a firewalk, these nineteen lessons can transform your life as if you had. And believe me, I certainly understand where youre coming from: I once felt quite sure I was the last person who would ever walk through fireand it ended up transforming my life.

*****

One of my best friends had invited me to hear motivational speaker and self-help coach Tony Robbins at a four-day live event. He told me hed get the tickets, and by the way, wed be doing a firewalk.

As soon as those words came out of his mouth, fear shot through me like nothing Id felt before. I had joined Alcoholics Anonymous seven years previously out of desperation. I was no stranger to fear, especially when it came to facing my demons. My recovery had included plenty of themand insomnia had been one. In fact, Id been up late one night and seen a Tony Robbins infomercial, so Id ordered his thirty-day program. I went through it. It worked. I was very grateful for the massive changes in my life. But I had never considered doing a firewalk.

Despite the fear welling up in me, of course I said, Oh, yeah, sure, the firewalk. That should be really fun. It should be interesting. But in reality I was thinking, No way in hell. That is not going to happen. I am not doing that. That is stupid. That is crazy. Theres no reason to do that. I mean, come on, why would anyone do that?

The self-talk continued all the way up to the first day of the event. We arrived and took our seats. Tony hit the stage at about three oclock in the afternoon, and (pardon the pun) he was on fire! Next thing I knew, it was one oclock in the morningten hours laterand all three thousand of us were heading outside on a beautiful summer night. There was a big bonfire burning over on one side, but I was still holding my ground. Im not going to walk on fire. Its not going to happen. Im sure thats only for the crazy people. Not everybody is going to firewalk.

I stood all the way at the back, as far back as I could stand without leaving the event. I was the wallflower in the shadows of the gymnasium at the school dance. Up where the action was, many wheelbarrows full of coals had been dumped into lanes, and people were lined up facing each lane, waiting their turn. Everybody was really intense, yelling, Yes! Yes! Yes! But I was thinking, No! No! No! No, its not going to happen. No, I have nothing to prove here.

A guy came up to me and said, Hey, how are you doing? Are you going to walk tonight?

Absolutely not, I replied.

He smiled and said, Hey, thats not a problem. We dont want you to do anything that you dont want to do. But wouldnt you at least like to watch?

The question stopped me in my tracks. I answered, Yeah, I really would.

Well, then all you need to do is get in line, and eventually youll get up close and youll be able to see.

And then somehow I was in line. Soon I got to a position where I could see them walking. All these different peoplemen and women, short and tall, younger and olderthey were all walking.

I was fascinated, mesmerized. I was just blown away.

Then somebody came up to me and said in my ear, He knows when youre ready. When he says go, you go.

Suddenly, I realized I was next in line. I was staring down at the lane of coals. And my feet. Over the roar of the supporting crowd, this guy yelled, Step up!

I could feel the heat of the fire pushing me away, pulling me in. I was thinking to myself, Youve got to be kidding me. But also, This is my freaking chance.

The guy yelled to me, Eyes up! Keep your eyes up! Squeeze your fist and say yes!

I squeezed my fist and I said, Yes.

Stronger! he yelled.

Yes, I said, a little louder.

Stronger!

I screamed, Yes! and next he yelled, Go! Go! Go!

I took off.

The next thing I knew, a couple guys are catching me, saying, Stop! Wipe your feet! Celebrate!

Stop. Wipe your feet. Celebrate.

A girl grabbed me by the shirt, pulling me out of line. You did it, you did it, you did it! she cried out.

I must have looked confused. I did it. I did it, I replied. What? I did what? No, I didnt... Conflict raged in my head. I looked back at the lane of red coals behind me and muttered, Holy crap, I just did it.

My next thought was, You must have burned the hell out of yourself.

I waited for the pain that I knew would come. Yet I didnt feel any pain. I looked at my feet, and there was nothing. I didnt have any burns.

As I said before, my next thoughts were, What just happened? How did I do that? These were followed by that question rising up inside me: If I can firewalk, what else can I do?