Your book, "Life…It’s a piece of cake" seems to be a fictional story. Is there anything real?
Webb: Essentially it’s fictional but yes much of the story is based on actual occurrences and experiences reflecting my life’s journey and those of other people I’ve observed or those who have touched my life in some way.

The cake sure is real. It’s probably the world’s most nutritious cake containing no less than 30 natural ingredients. People say it makes them feel good, nourished and energised. Tastes great too. It’s also symbolic and has a deeper meaning and purpose.

How did you make up the character of wisdom, Trader Jack? Is it inspired or based on someone existent?
Webb: Rather than a specific person he’s a character of my imagination created from the teachings and philosophies of a variety of inspirational and enlightened mystics, saints and philosophers. In many ways he is a person I strive to be like in my own life.

Can you talk about the National Forum for Balanced Success?
Webb: The National Forum for Balanced Success or NFBS is an information sharing platform for those wanting to gain more understanding, purpose and fulfilment in their lives. It aims at taking an integrated and broad approach, looking at all ideas for their truth, practicality and effectiveness.

Balance in all areas of life including physical, mental, emotional and spiritual is the recommended key to living the life you want where one can experience the inner abundance and reflect it outwards in whatever way one chooses.
It’s about balance between thoughts and actions, dreams and reality, work and family, money and spirituality, the inner and the outer world and every other seeming dichotomy that threatens unbalance in your life.

Like many people I have experienced unbalance by being in business whilst wanting to be spiritual. Today I realise purpose can be lived out in every moment of my life and I can be at peace, have joy, feel alive, be loving harmonious and be of value regardless of who I am with , what I am doing or what I am thinking. Life in the world and life in the spirit are compatible.
For example I contribute information today to business informational sites such as www.BizzOpps4U.com , personal development sites such as www.selfgrowth.com and more spiritually inclined sites such as www.miraclesni.org.uk

Do you apply the same philosophy you talk about in your book in your daily life? How?
Webb: Being aware of who you are and what state you are acting out of in every moment is a theme running throughout the book. This is something central to my way of being in the world now and is why I practice going into the stillness and silence within on a regular basis.
The world we live our outward lives in could be called the foreground while reality is behind this as the background. I am more aware more often of this peaceful, powerful, infinite intelligence that flows through me and out into my experiences in the world.
We all have mental maps of reality that have been formed by beliefs we hold as true. These have developed as a result of various influencers in our lives, such as parents, upbringing, religion, culture, prejudices, personal experiences, role models and so on. This becomes who we think we are. Our ego minds then dominate and control our thoughts and actions.
Jung said "Until you make the unconscious conscious it will direct your life and you will call it fate"

Applying the book’s philosophy has enabled me to observe more-judge less, respond with meaning rather than react from old ingrained impulsive ideas, see the bigger picture, see value in every experience and to know that the only real problem is the one of separation from source.
I apply the philosophy too in the mental attitude arena. You learn that if something is possible for someone in the world then it’s possible for you too. You learn that things only change on the outside when you change first and that every outcome is a result to learn from. It’s only a failure if you see it that way. It’s always better to see it as feedback, so you can learn, adapt, improve and move ahead. I understand that my thoughts have a creative power and that by changing the internal thought representations I can alter the external picture accordingly.

Overall my life is being constantly enriched as I see things differently and there is a natural attraction to things that are good for me and for the good of mankind. I am more aware, more relaxed, more energised, more creative, more compassionate, and more and more I experience the interconnectedness, oneness, and harmony with the entire universe.

What you preach in your book is based on existing philosophies, have you experienced anything in particular regarding them?
Webb: Yes lots of things. In the book I share the story about the disappearance of a wart on Ben’s hand. This is based on fact. It happened to me as a young teen.
I had a stubborn wart on my left hand that refused to go away regardless of the treatments applied from the doctor and chemist. I had an old uncle who was always brimming with interesting facts and dubious stories who told me how to get rid of the wart. I deeply believed everything he told me. I had to rub a sliced potato on it for three nights. There was a bit more to the ‘magical’ ritual and it’s described in the book but in three days the wart uprooted its self and fell off. The power of belief and the use of the mind intrigued me ever since.

One of the 10 Cornerstone Principles of Balanced Success that I discuss in the book is the principle of Pure Focus. Here Trader Jack advises that you replace effort with focused activity. This is a great lesson. However like any powerful life transformational lesson it takes commitment and practice before you experience the tangible benefits showing up in your life.
I now use this principle with all creative projects, whether it’s in writing an article or a book, developing a new project, attracting a joint venture partner, developing a seminar or with any challenges that arise in any area of my life.
Replacing effort does not mean replacing work or replacing action. What it does mean is that there is a way to eliminate the anxiety, the struggle, the physical and mental torture that most people who are trying to achieve something worthwhile think they must go through to ‘get there’
It’s more a realisation than a method. It’s less about strategies and changing your behaviours and more about aligning your thoughts and creating a balance between what you desire ( which must also be for the greater good) and your state of being in the world.
There’s lots being said today about the law of attraction and the power of intention. Do these laws work? Yes, but only when applied correctly with a thorough understanding and a realisation that this is only part of the overall answer. There is no easy magical formula but there is a way and a full knowledge of this cornerstone principle of balanced success, applied in conjunction with the other principles outlined in the book can teach you this way to begin the flow of peace, happiness and abundance in your life.

What does the cake represent in the book?
Webb: Imagine you were the Divine Creator, or God or whatever name you want to give to the almighty, eternal, universal creating being or power. You then create a universe with nothing but goodness for that is what you are and that is all you have. The TJ Life force energy cake is the universe and represents this perfection and goodness and all of mankind as part of this perfection and goodness.

Your essence like the cake is pure. You are made of the finest ingredients and can call on the universal power for whatever you need as this is your ultimate source. Metaphorically you can eat a piece of the life force energy cake to be rejuvenated, restored, revitalised, energised or replenished in whatever way you need – reestablishing yourself with source.

The cake is made with great care and reverence, infused with wisdom and love and the added water is ceremoniously blessed as the cake is being made.
It should be eaten physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually reminding us of the Balanced Life.

The ingredients are given in the book and further details about the recipe and the whole cake making process can be obtained by e.mailing me at samwebb@balanced4success.com

If you should sum up the main principles to live a life to the full enjoying your own happiness, what do you think the main concepts would be?
Webb:The main concepts are contained within the ten principles:

The 1st. principle of balanced success is the Principle of Personal Leadership. This deals with creating your own personal roadmap and taking responsibility. You have choice. The world isn’t being done to you but by you.

Next is the principle of Unshakeable Inner Belief which is to do with what I call experiencing the evidence of the yet unseen. It encourages the examination of our inner beliefs and thoughts to see if they are helping or hindering our growth.

The 3rd. principle is the Principle of Observing Truth and its message is to do with transcending the duality. Our minds tend to present a fragmented world to us while the reality of connectedness is obscured. All is the one energy and everything is arising from the one source. See in a more integrated way.

Principle No. 4 the Principle of Right Knowledge Acquisition and we discover here how to learn to unlearn and relearn so our knowledge and beliefs serve us more beneficially.

Let the History Go is the main lesson shared in Principle No.5 - the Principle of Living in the Present Moment. Focus on the NOW and don’t dissipate your energies by dwelling in negative retrospection of past events. Learn what you can from it and live in the present.

Use it or Lose It or the Principle of Good Habits is No.6 and what it teaches is that you are to recognise and keep using what works well for you while you discard unproductive habits - Building inner reserves of personal strength to call on as required.

Principle No.7 is the Principle of Creative Breakthrough. Do you know Einstein’s secret? He challenged and broke the rules! If the rules do not serve you in a meaningful and valuable way, you have other choices – move on, challenge, change, or break rules if necessary. See it differently, try it another way, think out of the box.
Leave the comfort zone and see what’s there.

Accept and Prefer – the Principle of the Power in Surrender is No.8.
Not to be misunderstood as quitting or giving up this principle is about accepting whatever happens as being OK. Events happen along the way as you are on your path to creating the life you desire.. The secret is not to attach to outcomes. You may prefer them to be different but accept what is. You give everything its meaning. Seemingly negative events only affect you as you allow them. Upgrade your negative reactions to preferences. What you prefer then becomes your new desire and will keep you moving positively forward in line with your purpose.

N0. 9, is the Principle of Pure Focus and advises us to Replace Effort with Focused Activity. Energy flows to where your focused attention goes. Meaningful results and worthwhile goals do not have to be achieved through hard exhausting, stressful, health-damaging work. Achieve with effortless ease through laser-focused attention to the task in hand. Activities then begin to flow in a more natural and satisfying manner.

Principle No. 10: Reduce to Your True Greatness, is the Principle of Egoless Achievement. Reaching that place of your true self within is from where your power, energy, insight, peace, happiness and best ideas emerge. Removing the blocks, managing the mind and transcending the ego will open the gates to personal greatness.
Specific deep relaxation and meditation practices, covered in the book, can facilitate your progress and aid you greatly on your journey.

Is this your first book? Are you planning to write anything else?
Webb: Yes this is my first book and I have more in the pipeline. I am working on one at the moment called ‘Stumbling to Heaven’ . It’s about getting an idea of where you are on your spiritual journey. Looking at what may be holding you back, what silent influences are at work and what could be sabotaging your progress. It will contain lots of helpful insights and transformative ideas.

I’m also writing some philosophical type poetry and a couple of more business slanted books are in the early stages.

How much can spirituality help in understanding oneself and how?
Webb: I think when we embrace the idea that we are three part beings, that is body mind and spirit, then we begin to understand that we are incomplete in some way until then.

Most people are primarily body focused, meaning that they are entrenched in the physical and materialistic at the expense of the mental and spiritual. Owning more, earning more, and having more physical satisfaction, recognition and fame are obsessions here.

Another much smaller number of humans would belong to the group that have expanded their interests to include mind related matters. Growing intellectually, being creative, goal setting and personal growth would be the main focus for this more awakened sector. But they would still be lacking the final part of the total human being . We are meant to be three part balanced beings.

The number living as three part balanced beings is very small. This is where you include the realm of the spiritual and interests here will therefore include matters concerning the soul or spirit. Spiritual growth, life purpose, eternity, connection with a supreme power or God: these are the interests that complete the make-up of the Body-Mind-Spirit being.

It’s a matter of achieving balance between these three aspects and the least developed in most cases is the spirit.

We can then live ‘in the world’ without it enslaving us and preventing us from attaining true freedom..