Imagine for a moment it's five years from now and you are still making the same income (or just a little more), living in the same home or apartment. You are in debt. You are barely supporting yourself and your family. And you are frustrated with the way things are.
You say, "Wait a minute now. This is not positive thinking! I was expecting your article to be motivational." Well, it is. You see, most people often take action when they are desperate. Unfortunately, they sometimes take action when it is too late.
The good thing is, I can assure you that the above scenario will never happen to you. How do I know? Although I don't know you, I am certain we have kindred spirits. You belong to a special category of winners. Or you wouldn't be reading this.
For many years, I worked as a doorman at a hotel. I was carrying bags - sometimes in the extreme heat or cold. I mean intense manual labor. But although I was a doorman, I was not a dumb man. I was a researcher and an observer. One of the many insights I received came to me from merely observing something as simple as a revolving door. Just like the word suggests, it revolves.
Now, many of our lives are just like a revolving door - and how easy and comfortable it is to get caught in it. We spend years doing the same things over and over. We simply keep turning around and around. We prefer to operate within our comfort zone. It's a natural instinct.
But if you take a good look at all of the successful people around the world, you will notice they all have one common denominator. They all became successful by going to the edge. And yes, my friend, the edge is no where near a revolving door. What's the lesson here?
The lesson is if you want more than you have now, you have to be willing to step out and dance along the edge of life's cliff. The big things that you and I are dreaming about are hanging along the edge. If they weren't, every one of us would have plenty of them.
My assignment for you is to start strategizing your life NOW. Again, this is something most people would not be willing to do. Come to think of it, it is exactly why YOU should. So, you have been thinking about going back to school but just the thought of the sacrifice seems a little scary. Hey, if it is then DO IT. Success dwells on the edge!
What else have you been thinking about and are afraid of? Do you want a promotion? Do you want to start a new life? Is it time to reinvent your life? Then get a pen and a piece of paper, and quickly start writing down what you will have to do for that to happen. Perhaps you need to acquire new skills. Maybe you need to seek out some mentors for moral support. Maybe you need to start putting together a team of people who can help you make it happen.
We can never, ever make it on our own. We need highly creative people to help us. Most of us struggle because we try to do everything ourselves. Jesus had to first put a team together. Tom Watson, the founder of IBM, before his death asked his family to share part of his wealth with his employees. He said that they helped him make the money. He could not have done it alone.
So, during this month, each day try to do something that you are uncomfortable doing. Remember, if you are afraid then DO IT. But first, make sure you have great mentors and a good team to support you along the way. And remember, not only the big boys deserve to have the big toys. You deserve to have them, too.
Rene Godefroy is the Chief Executive Officer of Village Hero, Inc., an Atlanta-based company dedicated to upliting the human spirit in pursuit of personal growth. Rene is also the author of the Award-winning book No Condition is Permanent and a motivational speaker.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Hey Me! Get Out Of My Way
Hey Me! Get Out Of My Way
By David Stoddard
How often it is we give up wanting to do something even before we give ourselves an honest chance of succeeding.
Perhaps, we begin writing our autobiography. We get the table of contents and the introduction written, then we let it sit because we don't think anyone will care.
We begin a diet over a weekend. Within a couple of days, we are back to our normal habits because we didn't see any immediate results.
Maybe we want to start a desktop publishing business. We get it started and the clients start coming in sooner than we expected. Because of our past experiences where we have been so good at what we did, we only remember getting bombarded with more and more work when we wish we could have taken a break. We may see how this can end up, so we slack off and let the business of our dreams fade away.
Or maybe we have this idea of having our own place on the Internet. We create a page, then we have different ideas to put on it. Then we think of starting a business with it. Then we also want to have a newsletter for people. Then we want to do web pages for others. Then we go back and work on ways to get people to read our newsletter. But we need a better web site. So we start from scratch and the circle continues. Having too many things we would like to do can stop us as well.
Personally, I've become an expert at getting out of my own way when it comes to doing things. After all, I have gotten in my own way over and over and over again for years.
I still fit the last one. So many different areas that interest me, I have jumped from one thing to another to another. Like many of the books on the bookshelf at home, I don't think I have ever finished one of them all the way through.
We stop ourselves in any number of ways.
- I'm not good enough: Well, on Monday, a group of students will be given a lecture by the worst teacher. The worst actor will star in a made-for-television movie. And the worst boy band will put on a mini show for friends and family in their garage.
- No one will be interested: Just look around at some of the things you see on television or read in newspapers or books or magazines. It is amazing some things have lasted this long.
- I'm too old/young: Colonel Sanders was in his eighties when he began his Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant. Anne Frank was a young girl when she wrote her diary which is still published and read to this very day throughout the world.
- I don't know what I want to do: You may not know exactly what you want to do, but there is something in the back of your mind that is important. Especially if you know you're not happy in what you are doing now, you know there is more you want out of life.
- I want to do too much: No one says you can't do a little of everything. Just have to pick one that will set the groundwork for the others. Find what is the common thread in the things you would like, and start there. You can branch off once that foundation is in place.
- The universe is out to get me: Ummmmm. Not at all. Once you make up your mind and begin heading in some direction, the universe will open up in ways you can't see right now. People will come into your life, events will take place, and you will begin to see a bit further each day. But you have to make the first moves.
Motivational speaker Les Brown in his book "It's Not Over Until You Win," tells a story of a keynote speaker at a National Speakers Association conference he attended. The speaker was perhaps the worst speaker Les had ever heard. The man spoke in a monotone voice and was dull as a butter knife. By the end of his presentation, more than two-thirds of the audience had walked out.
The speaker, noticing this said something that pretty much sums up this column.
"The reason I am up here (Doing) and you are sitting down there (watching) is because I represent the thoughts you have rejected for yourself."
Give yourself a chance and get out of your own way.
David has been getting in and out of his own way a lot over the years. When he has gotten out of the way, he has managed to write two booklets "In Search Of Ourselves" And "Que Sera Sera - The Book" He also writes a monthly newsletter available from his website "Terrific Life Concepts" Visit him online at http://www.djstoddard.net/
By David Stoddard
How often it is we give up wanting to do something even before we give ourselves an honest chance of succeeding.
Perhaps, we begin writing our autobiography. We get the table of contents and the introduction written, then we let it sit because we don't think anyone will care.
We begin a diet over a weekend. Within a couple of days, we are back to our normal habits because we didn't see any immediate results.
Maybe we want to start a desktop publishing business. We get it started and the clients start coming in sooner than we expected. Because of our past experiences where we have been so good at what we did, we only remember getting bombarded with more and more work when we wish we could have taken a break. We may see how this can end up, so we slack off and let the business of our dreams fade away.
Or maybe we have this idea of having our own place on the Internet. We create a page, then we have different ideas to put on it. Then we think of starting a business with it. Then we also want to have a newsletter for people. Then we want to do web pages for others. Then we go back and work on ways to get people to read our newsletter. But we need a better web site. So we start from scratch and the circle continues. Having too many things we would like to do can stop us as well.
Personally, I've become an expert at getting out of my own way when it comes to doing things. After all, I have gotten in my own way over and over and over again for years.
I still fit the last one. So many different areas that interest me, I have jumped from one thing to another to another. Like many of the books on the bookshelf at home, I don't think I have ever finished one of them all the way through.
We stop ourselves in any number of ways.
- I'm not good enough: Well, on Monday, a group of students will be given a lecture by the worst teacher. The worst actor will star in a made-for-television movie. And the worst boy band will put on a mini show for friends and family in their garage.
- No one will be interested: Just look around at some of the things you see on television or read in newspapers or books or magazines. It is amazing some things have lasted this long.
- I'm too old/young: Colonel Sanders was in his eighties when he began his Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant. Anne Frank was a young girl when she wrote her diary which is still published and read to this very day throughout the world.
- I don't know what I want to do: You may not know exactly what you want to do, but there is something in the back of your mind that is important. Especially if you know you're not happy in what you are doing now, you know there is more you want out of life.
- I want to do too much: No one says you can't do a little of everything. Just have to pick one that will set the groundwork for the others. Find what is the common thread in the things you would like, and start there. You can branch off once that foundation is in place.
- The universe is out to get me: Ummmmm. Not at all. Once you make up your mind and begin heading in some direction, the universe will open up in ways you can't see right now. People will come into your life, events will take place, and you will begin to see a bit further each day. But you have to make the first moves.
Motivational speaker Les Brown in his book "It's Not Over Until You Win," tells a story of a keynote speaker at a National Speakers Association conference he attended. The speaker was perhaps the worst speaker Les had ever heard. The man spoke in a monotone voice and was dull as a butter knife. By the end of his presentation, more than two-thirds of the audience had walked out.
The speaker, noticing this said something that pretty much sums up this column.
"The reason I am up here (Doing) and you are sitting down there (watching) is because I represent the thoughts you have rejected for yourself."
Give yourself a chance and get out of your own way.
David has been getting in and out of his own way a lot over the years. When he has gotten out of the way, he has managed to write two booklets "In Search Of Ourselves" And "Que Sera Sera - The Book" He also writes a monthly newsletter available from his website "Terrific Life Concepts" Visit him online at http://www.djstoddard.net/
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
5 Ways to Fight Pessimism
Some people are naturally pessimistic and are happy being so. They view themselves as pragmatic and as having a better sense of reality. Then there are those of us who feel weighed down by negativity and wish that we could be more optimistic. This is completely possible. It all lies in the way we perceive things...
1. Stress management
When we conceal our anxieties, they only build. Each concern can snowball into a feeling of being overwhelmed. Each person has their own way of letting off steam. This varies from exercise, to listening to music, to reading a good book. More of us are beginning to realize how important proper stress management is to both our physical and mental health.
2. Constant reality checks
It is sometimes necessary to debate the validity of your concerns to determine whether they are rational or not. This is called self-rationalization and one of the most recognized methods is the worst case scenario. This is when you consider the worst possible situation, then go on to consider whether it is likely to happen. For example, a loved one said they would call once they arrived by subway to a certain destination. They should have reached that destination 15 minutes ago. You may dream up scenarios of there being a train accident or some other frightful incident took place. But after a little thought, you find that it's more probable that they either have yet to reach their stop or they will simply call you when it is convenient for them. You never want to leap to conclusions and cause yourself unnecessary stress.
3. Support of friends and family
Friends and family are usually more than willing to provide you with a much needed reality check. Not everyone is fortunate enough to have close friends and family members to confide in though. It is detrimental to find some type of support when you are feeling extremely confused or overwhelmed. This support may have to come from a trusted co-worker or a member of a support group. Sometimes all it takes is another person's point of view to put things into perspective.
4. Own your feelings
Accept that you have complete control over your perceptions and internal responses. You may not have control over what happened on your commute to work that upset you. But you are able to decide whether you become relieved when the day is finally over, or frustrated, claiming you are always being dealt a bad hand.
Denni Gill is an up-and-coming Canadian poet.
www.urban-eden.org chronicles her own spiritual growth.
Feedback may be sent to denni@urban-eden.org.
1. Stress management
When we conceal our anxieties, they only build. Each concern can snowball into a feeling of being overwhelmed. Each person has their own way of letting off steam. This varies from exercise, to listening to music, to reading a good book. More of us are beginning to realize how important proper stress management is to both our physical and mental health.
2. Constant reality checks
It is sometimes necessary to debate the validity of your concerns to determine whether they are rational or not. This is called self-rationalization and one of the most recognized methods is the worst case scenario. This is when you consider the worst possible situation, then go on to consider whether it is likely to happen. For example, a loved one said they would call once they arrived by subway to a certain destination. They should have reached that destination 15 minutes ago. You may dream up scenarios of there being a train accident or some other frightful incident took place. But after a little thought, you find that it's more probable that they either have yet to reach their stop or they will simply call you when it is convenient for them. You never want to leap to conclusions and cause yourself unnecessary stress.
3. Support of friends and family
Friends and family are usually more than willing to provide you with a much needed reality check. Not everyone is fortunate enough to have close friends and family members to confide in though. It is detrimental to find some type of support when you are feeling extremely confused or overwhelmed. This support may have to come from a trusted co-worker or a member of a support group. Sometimes all it takes is another person's point of view to put things into perspective.
4. Own your feelings
Accept that you have complete control over your perceptions and internal responses. You may not have control over what happened on your commute to work that upset you. But you are able to decide whether you become relieved when the day is finally over, or frustrated, claiming you are always being dealt a bad hand.
Denni Gill is an up-and-coming Canadian poet.
www.urban-eden.org chronicles her own spiritual growth.
Feedback may be sent to denni@urban-eden.org.
Monday, September 21, 2009
Rebirth from the Ashes
The legend of the phoenix can actually be found in several belief systems. It can be traced back to ancient Egypt when it was then known as "Bennu" or Bynw", a symbol of the sun god Osiris. Osiris was resurrected to life from serving as ruler of the underworld.
Whether this mystical bird is attributed to the Chinese "Feng-huang", the Jewish "Milcham" or even an emblem of Christ, the legend remains the same?
After serving its life cycle, the phoenix builds a nest and then by the sun and the friction of its own wings, is consumed by fire. It is inevitably reborn from the very ashes. The phoenix is therefore symbolic of resurrection, immortality, and my personal favourite - triumph over adversity.
I has been said repeatedly that there are two types of people in this world: "marathoners" and "sprinters". Both are ambitious at heart. They set a goal and will pursue it zealously. The only difference is that a sprinter expects to see immediate results and if they do not receive those results, they may get discouraged and give up all together. A marathoner on the other hand, can get side tracked, knocked down, and trampled on, but will refocus and redirect when necessary in order to meet their ultimate goal.
For example, a woman who had planned to lose thirty pounds in three months may be disappointed upon realizing that after the first month, she has only lost six. She had obviously expected to see faster results. But if that same woman takes into consideration that she is more toned or has more stamina, she may alter her official goal. She may decide "I want to go down a few dress sizes", or "I want to be able to incorporate fitness and nutrition into my lifestyle permanently." Along the way, she may miss a few morning jogs or go off her so-called diet, but above all, she is patient with herself.
Patience is essential. It's important to accept that results are not always immediate. Sometimes, they aren't even tangible. But by just going through the necessary steps, you are on your way, whether you realize it or not. Afterall, the journey of 1000 miles begins with one step. Accepting that the process is slow will likely prevent you from giving up. By altering your original goal, you haven't fallen short. You've simply become aware enough to realize when and where to strategize.
It is very important not to perceive set-backs as failures. Coming down hard on yourself can even crush your spirit. Within your spirit lies your innermost dreams, desires, and your attitude toward life. It was Benjamin Franklin who said, "Some people die at twenty-five and aren't buried until they are seventy-five".
Some of us passively sit back and watch the rest of life go on because we feel we have had too many set-backs or let-downs to furthur pursue our dreams. Then there are those of us who have felt defeated at one point, but after getting side-tracked, knocked down, and trampled upon, rise up more determined to succeed than ever.
Denni Gill is an up-and-coming Canadian poet.
www.urban-eden.org chronicles her own spiritual growth.
Feedback may be sent to denni@urban-eden.org.
Whether this mystical bird is attributed to the Chinese "Feng-huang", the Jewish "Milcham" or even an emblem of Christ, the legend remains the same?
After serving its life cycle, the phoenix builds a nest and then by the sun and the friction of its own wings, is consumed by fire. It is inevitably reborn from the very ashes. The phoenix is therefore symbolic of resurrection, immortality, and my personal favourite - triumph over adversity.
I has been said repeatedly that there are two types of people in this world: "marathoners" and "sprinters". Both are ambitious at heart. They set a goal and will pursue it zealously. The only difference is that a sprinter expects to see immediate results and if they do not receive those results, they may get discouraged and give up all together. A marathoner on the other hand, can get side tracked, knocked down, and trampled on, but will refocus and redirect when necessary in order to meet their ultimate goal.
For example, a woman who had planned to lose thirty pounds in three months may be disappointed upon realizing that after the first month, she has only lost six. She had obviously expected to see faster results. But if that same woman takes into consideration that she is more toned or has more stamina, she may alter her official goal. She may decide "I want to go down a few dress sizes", or "I want to be able to incorporate fitness and nutrition into my lifestyle permanently." Along the way, she may miss a few morning jogs or go off her so-called diet, but above all, she is patient with herself.
Patience is essential. It's important to accept that results are not always immediate. Sometimes, they aren't even tangible. But by just going through the necessary steps, you are on your way, whether you realize it or not. Afterall, the journey of 1000 miles begins with one step. Accepting that the process is slow will likely prevent you from giving up. By altering your original goal, you haven't fallen short. You've simply become aware enough to realize when and where to strategize.
It is very important not to perceive set-backs as failures. Coming down hard on yourself can even crush your spirit. Within your spirit lies your innermost dreams, desires, and your attitude toward life. It was Benjamin Franklin who said, "Some people die at twenty-five and aren't buried until they are seventy-five".
Some of us passively sit back and watch the rest of life go on because we feel we have had too many set-backs or let-downs to furthur pursue our dreams. Then there are those of us who have felt defeated at one point, but after getting side-tracked, knocked down, and trampled upon, rise up more determined to succeed than ever.
Denni Gill is an up-and-coming Canadian poet.
www.urban-eden.org chronicles her own spiritual growth.
Feedback may be sent to denni@urban-eden.org.
Stop Squeaking! Align Yourself for Business Success!
Even for a remarkable business owner like you, from time to time, you may still loose motivation in continuing the expansion of a service or product line. At time, you may seem to have a hard time figuring out why this once fantastic business that got you so excited every morning is making you feel like a heavy weight now.
Remember the last time you heard that squeaky sound in your car? What happened? Parts are not in alignment and there was no lubricant, so there was tension, there was unpleasant sound. If you don't fix it fast, there is going to be smoke and there is going to be a you in frustration.
The same thing is true when your every business tasks are not in alignment with your vision, mission and values. In your soul, you experience that "squeaky" feeling that you have a hard time to explain.
Most of us are familiar with having a clear vision and mission, so I will not get into it here.
I would like to talk with you today about your values.
Before investing more time and efforts to take your business to a fascinating new level, you must re-evaluate first what your primary values are, how you prioritize them inside you. And, see if your business activities support and are in alignment with the priority of your values.
Let's say, you just became a father or mother. You used to travel a bit to speak to specific groups of people to market your business. Now, to take your business to the next level you need to travel and speak and network more frequently.
But, family life is on the very top of your priority list, in a place higher than business or career success. So, whenever your work requires that you travel for an extensive amount of time, your inner self experiences a misalignment. You may still go ahead and do what your "head" tells you what you are supposed to do, but your heart is centered to your value. When the head pulls the whole body to do what it dictates it to do, the heart starts to send out signals to you that if you don't make adjustments, you will not stay in wholesome health any longer. The heart sends out signals by decreasing your enthusiasm, motivation and self-esteem. You start seeing yourself get down more easily, you feel lonely, not understood and you feel that you get angry easily or you get blamed for shutting your emotions.
One of the easies way to figure out what your values are and in what priority they are in is to make a "Desire List."
Ask youself or have a trusted friend ask you, "What do you want?" Then, begin to jot down your list of answers.
Don't judge yourself for your wants. You need to create a safe and open environment for yourself so that your true self gets uncovered. Don't be ashamed to say, "I want to own a house by the lake with an amazing view to the mountains and a dock for launching your very own boat." Or, "I want to be a millionaire." Or, "I want to be a famous dancer!" Just let things flow.
Let the same question come at you for 10 to 15 minutes. You may start getting bored of the same question, but you may start seeing what is hiding under those wants. Your initial "wants" are really saying, "I want to be recognized." "I want to be trusted and respected." "I wanted to be loved by my family members.' "I want to be understood and loved for the real me." "I want to make a difference in this world."
Your wants and desires express your values.
Take your top 5 values and complete the following questions to get an inner alignmen
1. What are you doing on a daily basis to support these values?
2. What are you doing on a daily basis that does not support these values or that are in conflict with these values?
3. How can you modify your business life so that you support your most important values? How can you eliminate or start eliminating business activities that are in conflict with your values? If these business activities are important to the growth of your business, what else is out there for you to consider for the replacement of such activities. Take the example above; ask yourself if you can find out ways to market the same audience through the phone, internet and other ways? Hold a teleseminar?
If you are a busy business owner, you will have many activities and to-do's everyday. Form the habit to run your business tasks through these results-proven questions and get a sleek business owner's inner alignment from time to time.
Everything we do is an opportunity for personal growth. As you get better at integrating your business activities with who you are and your priority of values for the period of time that you are in, you will begin to see yourself operating your business in a superior new level of effectiveness and profitability.
Helen Chen is a Business and Life Coach. She specializes in partnering with remarkable individuals in business to get out of their own way and take themselves to the next fascinating new level of effectiveness and profitability. To receive her FREE ezine with proven tips and exercises to take yourself and your business to a SUREFIRE new level of success, go to http://www.HYCCoaching.com.
Remember the last time you heard that squeaky sound in your car? What happened? Parts are not in alignment and there was no lubricant, so there was tension, there was unpleasant sound. If you don't fix it fast, there is going to be smoke and there is going to be a you in frustration.
The same thing is true when your every business tasks are not in alignment with your vision, mission and values. In your soul, you experience that "squeaky" feeling that you have a hard time to explain.
Most of us are familiar with having a clear vision and mission, so I will not get into it here.
I would like to talk with you today about your values.
Before investing more time and efforts to take your business to a fascinating new level, you must re-evaluate first what your primary values are, how you prioritize them inside you. And, see if your business activities support and are in alignment with the priority of your values.
Let's say, you just became a father or mother. You used to travel a bit to speak to specific groups of people to market your business. Now, to take your business to the next level you need to travel and speak and network more frequently.
But, family life is on the very top of your priority list, in a place higher than business or career success. So, whenever your work requires that you travel for an extensive amount of time, your inner self experiences a misalignment. You may still go ahead and do what your "head" tells you what you are supposed to do, but your heart is centered to your value. When the head pulls the whole body to do what it dictates it to do, the heart starts to send out signals to you that if you don't make adjustments, you will not stay in wholesome health any longer. The heart sends out signals by decreasing your enthusiasm, motivation and self-esteem. You start seeing yourself get down more easily, you feel lonely, not understood and you feel that you get angry easily or you get blamed for shutting your emotions.
One of the easies way to figure out what your values are and in what priority they are in is to make a "Desire List."
Ask youself or have a trusted friend ask you, "What do you want?" Then, begin to jot down your list of answers.
Don't judge yourself for your wants. You need to create a safe and open environment for yourself so that your true self gets uncovered. Don't be ashamed to say, "I want to own a house by the lake with an amazing view to the mountains and a dock for launching your very own boat." Or, "I want to be a millionaire." Or, "I want to be a famous dancer!" Just let things flow.
Let the same question come at you for 10 to 15 minutes. You may start getting bored of the same question, but you may start seeing what is hiding under those wants. Your initial "wants" are really saying, "I want to be recognized." "I want to be trusted and respected." "I wanted to be loved by my family members.' "I want to be understood and loved for the real me." "I want to make a difference in this world."
Your wants and desires express your values.
Take your top 5 values and complete the following questions to get an inner alignmen
1. What are you doing on a daily basis to support these values?
2. What are you doing on a daily basis that does not support these values or that are in conflict with these values?
3. How can you modify your business life so that you support your most important values? How can you eliminate or start eliminating business activities that are in conflict with your values? If these business activities are important to the growth of your business, what else is out there for you to consider for the replacement of such activities. Take the example above; ask yourself if you can find out ways to market the same audience through the phone, internet and other ways? Hold a teleseminar?
If you are a busy business owner, you will have many activities and to-do's everyday. Form the habit to run your business tasks through these results-proven questions and get a sleek business owner's inner alignment from time to time.
Everything we do is an opportunity for personal growth. As you get better at integrating your business activities with who you are and your priority of values for the period of time that you are in, you will begin to see yourself operating your business in a superior new level of effectiveness and profitability.
Helen Chen is a Business and Life Coach. She specializes in partnering with remarkable individuals in business to get out of their own way and take themselves to the next fascinating new level of effectiveness and profitability. To receive her FREE ezine with proven tips and exercises to take yourself and your business to a SUREFIRE new level of success, go to http://www.HYCCoaching.com.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
4 Powerful Ways To Fire Up Your Motivation
It's so difficult to go on when everything seems to fail, isn't
it? Are there times in your life when you really want to call
it "quits" because you just can't see any good results from all
the hard work you've done?
Hold your horses!
Never ever think of giving up. Winners never quit and quitters
never win. Take all negative words out of your mental dictionary
and focus on the solutions with utmost conviction and patience.
The battle is never lost until you've abandon your vision.
But what if you're really exhausted physically, mentally, and
most of all emotionally? Here are some sources of motivation
to prompt you in reaching the peak of accomplishment.
1) The Overwhelming Feeling of Attaining your Desired End
How would you feel after accomplishing your mission? Of course
you will feel ecstatic. You might be shedding tears of joy. Let
this tremendous feeling sink in and encourage you to persist
despite all odds.
When I was studying for the Board Exams, I used this technique
to motivate me. I would envision the sweetness of folks calling
me a CPA. It would command respect. People will look up to
me as a higher level of authority. And I would have better
chances of finding a good job. I absorbed all these great
perceptions into my inner being in order to achieve my ultimate
goal.
2) The Reward System
How would you feel if you've entered a contest, but there are no
prizes for the winners? It's not very encouraging, isn't it?
The same principles apply to your vision. Reward yourself after
accomplishing a goal. Set a particular incentive for every
objective.
Let's say if you've achieved a particular task, you'll treat
yourself to your favorite restaurant. When you've finished
a bigger task, you'll go on a vacation.
Got the idea?
Just set something gratifying to indulge in after completing
a certain undertaking.
3) The Powerful Force of Humanity
If you want to succeed, surround yourself with the right
kind of people who will support and encourage you all the
way.
Be with people who have the same beliefs and aspirations as
yours. Positive aura is generated by this fusion of
collective energy from people of "like minds."
On the contrary, being with people who oppose your ways of
thinking may trigger a negative, yet very powerful, kind of
motivation.
Has anyone ever said to you that "You'll never get anywhere"
or "You're wasting your time with what you're doing?"
Didn't it made you furious and determined enough to prove to
them how wrong they were? This is what I'm talking about.
When aggravated, you will do anything to make those who are
against you swallow their words. But of course, your main
focus should be on the acccomplishment of your goal and not
for the purpose of revenge. Never let your emotions toward
others alter your main objective.
4) Take Care Of Your Health
Exercise regularly. Fill your brains with enough oxygen to
allow you to do your daily tasks with more vigor and energy.
Take regular breaks if time allows. Having the will power
to continue despite all hardships is extremely important, but
you should still know your limits.
If you don't take enough rest, you will not be able to think
clearly and you will not be able to do your tasks properly.
In the process, you will just get more frustrated.
Take sufficient sleep and recharge yourself after a hard day's
work. Never, ever ignore your health. I've learned my lesson
when I sacrificed my health for the sake of success. I've
worked very long hours everyday and just got minimal sleep.
As a result, I became ill.
It's not worth it. Success won't matter if you don't have
good health to enjoy it.
Fire up your motivation and live life to the fullest!
Michael Lee is the author of "How To Be A Red Hot Persuasion Wizard," an ebook designed to fully improve your relationships, multiply your profits, win negotiations, and help you attain all the desired freedom and power you could ever dream of. Go to http://www.20daypersuasion.com now and grab a sample chapter.
it? Are there times in your life when you really want to call
it "quits" because you just can't see any good results from all
the hard work you've done?
Hold your horses!
Never ever think of giving up. Winners never quit and quitters
never win. Take all negative words out of your mental dictionary
and focus on the solutions with utmost conviction and patience.
The battle is never lost until you've abandon your vision.
But what if you're really exhausted physically, mentally, and
most of all emotionally? Here are some sources of motivation
to prompt you in reaching the peak of accomplishment.
1) The Overwhelming Feeling of Attaining your Desired End
How would you feel after accomplishing your mission? Of course
you will feel ecstatic. You might be shedding tears of joy. Let
this tremendous feeling sink in and encourage you to persist
despite all odds.
When I was studying for the Board Exams, I used this technique
to motivate me. I would envision the sweetness of folks calling
me a CPA. It would command respect. People will look up to
me as a higher level of authority. And I would have better
chances of finding a good job. I absorbed all these great
perceptions into my inner being in order to achieve my ultimate
goal.
2) The Reward System
How would you feel if you've entered a contest, but there are no
prizes for the winners? It's not very encouraging, isn't it?
The same principles apply to your vision. Reward yourself after
accomplishing a goal. Set a particular incentive for every
objective.
Let's say if you've achieved a particular task, you'll treat
yourself to your favorite restaurant. When you've finished
a bigger task, you'll go on a vacation.
Got the idea?
Just set something gratifying to indulge in after completing
a certain undertaking.
3) The Powerful Force of Humanity
If you want to succeed, surround yourself with the right
kind of people who will support and encourage you all the
way.
Be with people who have the same beliefs and aspirations as
yours. Positive aura is generated by this fusion of
collective energy from people of "like minds."
On the contrary, being with people who oppose your ways of
thinking may trigger a negative, yet very powerful, kind of
motivation.
Has anyone ever said to you that "You'll never get anywhere"
or "You're wasting your time with what you're doing?"
Didn't it made you furious and determined enough to prove to
them how wrong they were? This is what I'm talking about.
When aggravated, you will do anything to make those who are
against you swallow their words. But of course, your main
focus should be on the acccomplishment of your goal and not
for the purpose of revenge. Never let your emotions toward
others alter your main objective.
4) Take Care Of Your Health
Exercise regularly. Fill your brains with enough oxygen to
allow you to do your daily tasks with more vigor and energy.
Take regular breaks if time allows. Having the will power
to continue despite all hardships is extremely important, but
you should still know your limits.
If you don't take enough rest, you will not be able to think
clearly and you will not be able to do your tasks properly.
In the process, you will just get more frustrated.
Take sufficient sleep and recharge yourself after a hard day's
work. Never, ever ignore your health. I've learned my lesson
when I sacrificed my health for the sake of success. I've
worked very long hours everyday and just got minimal sleep.
As a result, I became ill.
It's not worth it. Success won't matter if you don't have
good health to enjoy it.
Fire up your motivation and live life to the fullest!
Michael Lee is the author of "How To Be A Red Hot Persuasion Wizard," an ebook designed to fully improve your relationships, multiply your profits, win negotiations, and help you attain all the desired freedom and power you could ever dream of. Go to http://www.20daypersuasion.com now and grab a sample chapter.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Taking The Leap
Every four years, February gives us a whole 24 hours of bonus footage to add to our year. Many people take this opportunity to "do something special" with their extra day. But why wait for Leap Day? Why not celebrate the "leaps" and risks we take every day when we venture outside of our comfort zone or work to improve our lives?
Of course change, especially life-altering change, is bone-shakingly frightening sometimes. The whole concept is fraught with a veritable minefield of "what ifs" that can be hard for us to see and get past in order to reach the destination point where our dreams lie. So I offer you the following "what ifs" along with some answers to help you take that leap, whatever it may be, and land safely on the other side!
1) What if I suck?
So suck. I'm a big fan of sucking. Being awful at the outset (often referred to in Eastern cultures as the possessing a beginner's mind) keeps you from getting cocky and is the ideal state from which to achieve perfection; those who think they don't suck often believe, incorrectly, that they have no more to learn. One of the things that I learned a long time ago is that it is often better to be a blank slate upon which those who are there to teach you can write than to come equipped with prejudices, techniques and ways of doing things that are inappropriate or even destructive to the new situation and that have to be unlearned before any real progress can be made. Learn to love your inner doofus. It's one of the things that keep you from stagnating at your current level of achievement.
2) What if get there and I hate it?
So hate it. It's hardly the end of the world. In fact, many cultures and religions believe that we're put here in this life to experience and enjoy all of the vast range of human experience, including being miserable and other negative emotions. And some people, such as writers, artists, musicians and the like, actually look forward to such times as a way to accumulate top-shelf material for their next project. So feel free to feel bad - revel in it, if you will - and then when you get bored, move on to the next amusement ride of life and give someone else a turn at whatever you were doing.
3) What if I love it so much that I'm torn about stopping to have a family, going to school, running off to join the circus (or whatever your previous long-term plans were)?
As the saying goes, "If you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans for tomorrow". Plans have a way of becoming either "traps or scraps" as life has its own way with you. They can be traps by virtue of making you feel obligated to follow them, especially if you have "sunk costs" like a degree, family expectations or a long career invested in them, even when you no longer get any enjoyment out of that way of life. And they often end up scrapped when unforeseen circumstances blow us so far out to sea, as it were, that we no longer have any hope of paddling back to that particular shore in our lifetime. When that sort of event occurs in the absence of any real alternatives, the loss can be as devastating as a death. Learn to arrange your life so that you will enjoy it even if your long-range plans never come true. Then, when and if it's the right time to head out after your original goals, you'll have a great foundation to build on.
You should also learn to distinguish between "planning for" and "planning to do". If you have a goal you'd like to accomplish or reach one day, plan for it (stay healthy and take your vitamins if you want a family, save for tuition if you'd like to go to school, sharpen your tumbling skills if the circus is your raison d'etre, etc.), but don't worry so much about planning to do it, such as engaging in the process of creating a step-by-step 5-year plan - and then dealing with the attendant stress of not meeting your arbitrarily established milestones should life intervene, as it is wont to do. You'll know when you get there that it's time to start actively working toward your goal, assuming life doesn't take you in an entirely new direction before then, and by that time your life will may changed so much that quite probably none of your previously generated plans will be relevant anyway. Trying to fit your life into an established plan despite its protests to the contrary causes untold sorrow and pain. Live the life that makes you happy today, tomorrow and everyday, and let your long-term plans stretch and bend to accommodate your life rather than the other way around.
4) What if I get depressed, sick, lost, confused, etc. and can't keep up with the requirements of this new venture?
So don't keep up - fly, fall, wallow, soar, bounce, flop. It's just more material and more experience! Again - when you get bored, move on, move up, get medical or other help if necessary, and let someone else get on the ride.
5) What if I'm too lazy, too set in my ways, too undisciplined, eccentric, etc., to be a "player"?
Work with yourself, not against yourself. It's called working smarter, not harder. They make big ol' honking posters about it and stick them up on in break rooms everywhere. Learn to work with your strengths and around your weaknesses to get the most done with the least amount of effort and you'll be a step ahead of the rest of the floundering, struggling, gasping pack expending all their generative energy swimming upstream trying to do it the "right" way!
6) What I decide I want to do this, and then can't get a high-enough salary, make money at it, get famous, make it a success (or whatever your preferred form of compensation may be)?
Well, you could kick the guys in accounting in the shins and swipe their wallets while they're down, but that's really a short-term solution.
Remember, money doesn't always come in the form of money. Company cars, laptops, benefits, etc., can all be part of a corporate package and they don't hurt the guys in accounting as bad as being forced to add zeros to a check (or as bad as being kicked in the shins, for that matter). As for non-work-related changes, remember that living a happy life that you control can net you big-time compensation in the form of better health (and we all know how medical bills can add up), less stress, an effervescent sense of freedom that is hard to replicate without illegal drugs and other intangible benefits. It usually "pays" more to live a great life with less money than to live a miserable one with a better paycheck.
7) But really, what if there's a real cash-flow problem?
Pretend to be a religious holy person on a 'real world' sabbatical. Scale back your life, use the money you do make for the bare essentials and spend your free time doing good works. Stuff will come your way through networking, contacts, your good reputation, etc. Opening the doors of your life to other people allows for two-way travel, you know.
8) What if there's not enough money, freedom, compensation, etc., to accommodate plans I've already made?
You remember what I said about plans, right? Sometimes, you'll just have to choose between plans made then and dreams sought now. Another saying that speaks to this issue is as follows: "You can have anything you want in this life. You just can't have everything." Go over both your plans and your dreams. Which one gives you the greater feeling of joy? Which one, when you think about abandoning it, gives you the greater feeling of loss? It's occasionally a close call, but usually a simple process of prioritization and revisiting old, and sometime changed, values and needs shows a clear winner.
9) What if I buckle under the pressure?
Take some yoga classes - it makes buckling easier and more graceful, and you don't make those embarrassing popping noises in your knees. Plus, the meditation and stretching/breathing will make you less likely to buckle, as well. And learn to take wisdom from those grade-school fire-safety posters - sometimes you have to get really low in order to escape the heat and save yourself. Don't assume that a lowered posture is a sign of a lowered stature. Sometimes it can serve to take the heat off your back until the fire calms down.
10) What if I FAIL (gasp!) and have to return to (whatever life you left), and everyone will know and it will suck?
And so, we have come full circle - back to sucking. Suck, baby, suck! It's when life sucks that it quits being boring. And if you do have to go back, don't go back with your tail between your legs (get that thing removed, will you? It's disturbing when you wag it). Go back with an enhanced resume/life experience including all the new and nifty stuff you've learned. Present yourself as returned from a cross-training internship working along side the big guys, and now ready to take on greater (and greater recompensed) challenges! The "real" players do it all the time - why not you?
I have created a free month-long e-course developed from this article, available on my website, including all of the material above, expanded and partnered with action steps that you can take to ensure that you stick the landing of your leap with a 10.0 score for finesse, style and energy! I am also working on an even larger and more in-depth coaching program building up from this e-course - look for it to be available sometime later this year!
(c) Soni Pitts
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Soni Pitts is the Chief Visionary Butt-Kicker of SoniPitts.Com. She specializes in helping others reclaim "soul proprietorship" in their lives and to begin living the life their Creator always intended for them.
She is the author of the free e-book "50 Ways To Reach Your Goals" and over 100 self-help and inspirational articles, as well as other products and resources designed to facilitate this process of personal growth and spiritual development.
Of course change, especially life-altering change, is bone-shakingly frightening sometimes. The whole concept is fraught with a veritable minefield of "what ifs" that can be hard for us to see and get past in order to reach the destination point where our dreams lie. So I offer you the following "what ifs" along with some answers to help you take that leap, whatever it may be, and land safely on the other side!
1) What if I suck?
So suck. I'm a big fan of sucking. Being awful at the outset (often referred to in Eastern cultures as the possessing a beginner's mind) keeps you from getting cocky and is the ideal state from which to achieve perfection; those who think they don't suck often believe, incorrectly, that they have no more to learn. One of the things that I learned a long time ago is that it is often better to be a blank slate upon which those who are there to teach you can write than to come equipped with prejudices, techniques and ways of doing things that are inappropriate or even destructive to the new situation and that have to be unlearned before any real progress can be made. Learn to love your inner doofus. It's one of the things that keep you from stagnating at your current level of achievement.
2) What if get there and I hate it?
So hate it. It's hardly the end of the world. In fact, many cultures and religions believe that we're put here in this life to experience and enjoy all of the vast range of human experience, including being miserable and other negative emotions. And some people, such as writers, artists, musicians and the like, actually look forward to such times as a way to accumulate top-shelf material for their next project. So feel free to feel bad - revel in it, if you will - and then when you get bored, move on to the next amusement ride of life and give someone else a turn at whatever you were doing.
3) What if I love it so much that I'm torn about stopping to have a family, going to school, running off to join the circus (or whatever your previous long-term plans were)?
As the saying goes, "If you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans for tomorrow". Plans have a way of becoming either "traps or scraps" as life has its own way with you. They can be traps by virtue of making you feel obligated to follow them, especially if you have "sunk costs" like a degree, family expectations or a long career invested in them, even when you no longer get any enjoyment out of that way of life. And they often end up scrapped when unforeseen circumstances blow us so far out to sea, as it were, that we no longer have any hope of paddling back to that particular shore in our lifetime. When that sort of event occurs in the absence of any real alternatives, the loss can be as devastating as a death. Learn to arrange your life so that you will enjoy it even if your long-range plans never come true. Then, when and if it's the right time to head out after your original goals, you'll have a great foundation to build on.
You should also learn to distinguish between "planning for" and "planning to do". If you have a goal you'd like to accomplish or reach one day, plan for it (stay healthy and take your vitamins if you want a family, save for tuition if you'd like to go to school, sharpen your tumbling skills if the circus is your raison d'etre, etc.), but don't worry so much about planning to do it, such as engaging in the process of creating a step-by-step 5-year plan - and then dealing with the attendant stress of not meeting your arbitrarily established milestones should life intervene, as it is wont to do. You'll know when you get there that it's time to start actively working toward your goal, assuming life doesn't take you in an entirely new direction before then, and by that time your life will may changed so much that quite probably none of your previously generated plans will be relevant anyway. Trying to fit your life into an established plan despite its protests to the contrary causes untold sorrow and pain. Live the life that makes you happy today, tomorrow and everyday, and let your long-term plans stretch and bend to accommodate your life rather than the other way around.
4) What if I get depressed, sick, lost, confused, etc. and can't keep up with the requirements of this new venture?
So don't keep up - fly, fall, wallow, soar, bounce, flop. It's just more material and more experience! Again - when you get bored, move on, move up, get medical or other help if necessary, and let someone else get on the ride.
5) What if I'm too lazy, too set in my ways, too undisciplined, eccentric, etc., to be a "player"?
Work with yourself, not against yourself. It's called working smarter, not harder. They make big ol' honking posters about it and stick them up on in break rooms everywhere. Learn to work with your strengths and around your weaknesses to get the most done with the least amount of effort and you'll be a step ahead of the rest of the floundering, struggling, gasping pack expending all their generative energy swimming upstream trying to do it the "right" way!
6) What I decide I want to do this, and then can't get a high-enough salary, make money at it, get famous, make it a success (or whatever your preferred form of compensation may be)?
Well, you could kick the guys in accounting in the shins and swipe their wallets while they're down, but that's really a short-term solution.
Remember, money doesn't always come in the form of money. Company cars, laptops, benefits, etc., can all be part of a corporate package and they don't hurt the guys in accounting as bad as being forced to add zeros to a check (or as bad as being kicked in the shins, for that matter). As for non-work-related changes, remember that living a happy life that you control can net you big-time compensation in the form of better health (and we all know how medical bills can add up), less stress, an effervescent sense of freedom that is hard to replicate without illegal drugs and other intangible benefits. It usually "pays" more to live a great life with less money than to live a miserable one with a better paycheck.
7) But really, what if there's a real cash-flow problem?
Pretend to be a religious holy person on a 'real world' sabbatical. Scale back your life, use the money you do make for the bare essentials and spend your free time doing good works. Stuff will come your way through networking, contacts, your good reputation, etc. Opening the doors of your life to other people allows for two-way travel, you know.
8) What if there's not enough money, freedom, compensation, etc., to accommodate plans I've already made?
You remember what I said about plans, right? Sometimes, you'll just have to choose between plans made then and dreams sought now. Another saying that speaks to this issue is as follows: "You can have anything you want in this life. You just can't have everything." Go over both your plans and your dreams. Which one gives you the greater feeling of joy? Which one, when you think about abandoning it, gives you the greater feeling of loss? It's occasionally a close call, but usually a simple process of prioritization and revisiting old, and sometime changed, values and needs shows a clear winner.
9) What if I buckle under the pressure?
Take some yoga classes - it makes buckling easier and more graceful, and you don't make those embarrassing popping noises in your knees. Plus, the meditation and stretching/breathing will make you less likely to buckle, as well. And learn to take wisdom from those grade-school fire-safety posters - sometimes you have to get really low in order to escape the heat and save yourself. Don't assume that a lowered posture is a sign of a lowered stature. Sometimes it can serve to take the heat off your back until the fire calms down.
10) What if I FAIL (gasp!) and have to return to (whatever life you left), and everyone will know and it will suck?
And so, we have come full circle - back to sucking. Suck, baby, suck! It's when life sucks that it quits being boring. And if you do have to go back, don't go back with your tail between your legs (get that thing removed, will you? It's disturbing when you wag it). Go back with an enhanced resume/life experience including all the new and nifty stuff you've learned. Present yourself as returned from a cross-training internship working along side the big guys, and now ready to take on greater (and greater recompensed) challenges! The "real" players do it all the time - why not you?
I have created a free month-long e-course developed from this article, available on my website, including all of the material above, expanded and partnered with action steps that you can take to ensure that you stick the landing of your leap with a 10.0 score for finesse, style and energy! I am also working on an even larger and more in-depth coaching program building up from this e-course - look for it to be available sometime later this year!
(c) Soni Pitts
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Soni Pitts is the Chief Visionary Butt-Kicker of SoniPitts.Com. She specializes in helping others reclaim "soul proprietorship" in their lives and to begin living the life their Creator always intended for them.
She is the author of the free e-book "50 Ways To Reach Your Goals" and over 100 self-help and inspirational articles, as well as other products and resources designed to facilitate this process of personal growth and spiritual development.
If It Feels Good, It Must Be Right
Is it possible to motivate yourself to do something you don't enjoy doing?
Let me illustrate with my own example.
I'm not a natural networker. I'm no good at schmoozing and talking people into doing things I want them to do.
I've been told that I'm too upfront and honest for my own good. I know its true.
So how did I land up in network marketing?
Well, I always wanted to be a stay-at-home mom AND continue working.
Now network marketing OFFLINE is not exactly my cup of tea.
My "warm market" would probably be cold to my advances.
Attend meetings? But I thought the idea was to AVOID the awful commute!
If I called a friend over, it would be to chat about college days - NOT try to "introduce" them to "my new business."
I'm simply not comfortable with many of the methods that are used to "recruit" people.
But I'm still managing to do a decent job of building my organisation.
I also manage to keep myself motivated enough to WANT to spend every waking moment on my business.
How do I do it? I found something about the business I loved - the internet!
Now the internet is a whole new ball game as far as networking is involved.
On the internet you don't get rich by approaching people who aren't interested in what you have to offer. Uninvited advances are better known by the word "spam."
You don't lurk in chat rooms - the real-world equivalent of street corners - and accost them (no matter what your upline tells you).
You find out where they hang out and then make your presence felt in those places - like search engines, ezines, discussion lists.
If you can write reports, offer useful information, establish yourself as someone willing to share their expertise - your prospects will FIND YOU.
And if you can find something about the business you love - something about it that gives you a RUSH - you will never be short on motivation.
Its my love for researching and writing reports that gives me the motivation and the edge I need.
With you it could be any number of things - helping people, interacting with others, making friends, writing articles, designing a website - all the things the internet is good for.
And you'll soon find out that if it feels good for you, it'll most likely be good for your business.
Priya Shah is the editor of the newsletters Be a Whiz at eBiz! and The Glutathione Report She shows you how to truly build multiple sources of income online with the Brilliant Team Home Business Opportunity
Let me illustrate with my own example.
I'm not a natural networker. I'm no good at schmoozing and talking people into doing things I want them to do.
I've been told that I'm too upfront and honest for my own good. I know its true.
So how did I land up in network marketing?
Well, I always wanted to be a stay-at-home mom AND continue working.
Now network marketing OFFLINE is not exactly my cup of tea.
My "warm market" would probably be cold to my advances.
Attend meetings? But I thought the idea was to AVOID the awful commute!
If I called a friend over, it would be to chat about college days - NOT try to "introduce" them to "my new business."
I'm simply not comfortable with many of the methods that are used to "recruit" people.
But I'm still managing to do a decent job of building my organisation.
I also manage to keep myself motivated enough to WANT to spend every waking moment on my business.
How do I do it? I found something about the business I loved - the internet!
Now the internet is a whole new ball game as far as networking is involved.
On the internet you don't get rich by approaching people who aren't interested in what you have to offer. Uninvited advances are better known by the word "spam."
You don't lurk in chat rooms - the real-world equivalent of street corners - and accost them (no matter what your upline tells you).
You find out where they hang out and then make your presence felt in those places - like search engines, ezines, discussion lists.
If you can write reports, offer useful information, establish yourself as someone willing to share their expertise - your prospects will FIND YOU.
And if you can find something about the business you love - something about it that gives you a RUSH - you will never be short on motivation.
Its my love for researching and writing reports that gives me the motivation and the edge I need.
With you it could be any number of things - helping people, interacting with others, making friends, writing articles, designing a website - all the things the internet is good for.
And you'll soon find out that if it feels good for you, it'll most likely be good for your business.
Priya Shah is the editor of the newsletters Be a Whiz at eBiz! and The Glutathione Report She shows you how to truly build multiple sources of income online with the Brilliant Team Home Business Opportunity
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Ten Tips to Create More Life for Your Life
When people begin to investigate career change, often they don't want a new career at all. They love their career -- but they also want time for creating a life outside work. As a lifetime leisure-seeker, I've created ten tips to help you get started on the quest for "more time in your life -- and more fun."
1. Decide where leisure ranks on your list of values. Are you working to pay for something that you don't value very much?
2. Seize moments during the day, evening, lunchtime and weekend. Time management guru Alan Lakein calls this the "Swiss cheese method:" using the holes. Think "fun" in fifteen-minute segments.
3. Buy leisure time. Hiring a teenager to mow your lawn may give you an hour or more, depending on the size of your property. Get even more creative. For a price, your pet-sitter might be persuaded to take Fluffy to the vet and Fido to the groomer.
4. Stop doing things that nobody will miss.
I once worked with someone who stopped answering requests for reports from "senior management." When a vice president asked, "Where is your report?" he would prepare one on the spot. Most of the time, nobody noticed!
Same goes for housekeeping: do you need the "cleanest house in town" award?
5. Set limits and set them again. Saying "no" to invitations is a beginning. You can also define your scope: "I will be happy to help as long as I can do the work on Saturday."
I've role-played scenarios with clients who think the earth will cave in if they say "no." Often they're amazed to find nobody missed them.
6. Stop losing energy to procrastination or fear. If you dread making that call or put off changing that light bulb, do it now and enjoy leisure, guilt-free.
7. Ignore the pressure of, "Everybody else is participating." Chances are everybody else is miserable -- or isn't doing any more than you are.
8. Prioritize your time for energy boosters and time expanders? Meditation, journal writing and exercise will increase your energy and miraculously add hours to your day.
9. Grab a large block of time each week to do exactly what you want. Two hours? A whole afternoon? An afternoon in an art museum (or an evening at a basketball game) will often unravel the knots that keep you working late.
10. Call for outside help if you're still trapped by the "should" monitor. Find a friend, counselor or coach -- someone who can offer you an objective insight and clarify priorities.
Bonus tip: Remind yourself every day: Very few people on their deathbed say, "I wish I'd spent more time at the office," or, "I should have done more dusting." Will you be one of the few?
Cathy Goodwin, Ph.D., wrote Making the Big Move (New Harbinger 1999). She works with professionals who have seen the light and are ready to ditch their current career and start a second one.
Website: http://www.cathygoodwin.com
Your Next Move Ezine:
http://www.cathygoodwin.com/subscribe.html or cathy@cathygoodwin.com with "YNM" in subject line.
Contact: cathy@cathygoodwin.com 505-534-4294
1. Decide where leisure ranks on your list of values. Are you working to pay for something that you don't value very much?
2. Seize moments during the day, evening, lunchtime and weekend. Time management guru Alan Lakein calls this the "Swiss cheese method:" using the holes. Think "fun" in fifteen-minute segments.
3. Buy leisure time. Hiring a teenager to mow your lawn may give you an hour or more, depending on the size of your property. Get even more creative. For a price, your pet-sitter might be persuaded to take Fluffy to the vet and Fido to the groomer.
4. Stop doing things that nobody will miss.
I once worked with someone who stopped answering requests for reports from "senior management." When a vice president asked, "Where is your report?" he would prepare one on the spot. Most of the time, nobody noticed!
Same goes for housekeeping: do you need the "cleanest house in town" award?
5. Set limits and set them again. Saying "no" to invitations is a beginning. You can also define your scope: "I will be happy to help as long as I can do the work on Saturday."
I've role-played scenarios with clients who think the earth will cave in if they say "no." Often they're amazed to find nobody missed them.
6. Stop losing energy to procrastination or fear. If you dread making that call or put off changing that light bulb, do it now and enjoy leisure, guilt-free.
7. Ignore the pressure of, "Everybody else is participating." Chances are everybody else is miserable -- or isn't doing any more than you are.
8. Prioritize your time for energy boosters and time expanders? Meditation, journal writing and exercise will increase your energy and miraculously add hours to your day.
9. Grab a large block of time each week to do exactly what you want. Two hours? A whole afternoon? An afternoon in an art museum (or an evening at a basketball game) will often unravel the knots that keep you working late.
10. Call for outside help if you're still trapped by the "should" monitor. Find a friend, counselor or coach -- someone who can offer you an objective insight and clarify priorities.
Bonus tip: Remind yourself every day: Very few people on their deathbed say, "I wish I'd spent more time at the office," or, "I should have done more dusting." Will you be one of the few?
Cathy Goodwin, Ph.D., wrote Making the Big Move (New Harbinger 1999). She works with professionals who have seen the light and are ready to ditch their current career and start a second one.
Website: http://www.cathygoodwin.com
Your Next Move Ezine:
http://www.cathygoodwin.com/subscribe.html or cathy@cathygoodwin.com with "YNM" in subject line.
Contact: cathy@cathygoodwin.com 505-534-4294
Getting What You Really Want Everyone wants something in life, love, money, success, recognition ... Yet too many people fail to realize their des
Everyone wants something in life, love, money, success, recognition ... Yet too many people fail to realize their desires, and nearly all of them for the same reason. They seem to go whichever way the wheel turns, as if they have no control over their situation. If their vehicle takes them to places they never intended to be, or crashes into the brickwall of utter despair, that's just the cruelty of fate.
Don't get me wrong, I realize that truly horrible things do happen to folks, and through no fault of their own. Gigantic obstacles are placed in our way sometimes, that seem absolutely insurmountable. Generally speaking, however, getting what you really want out of life is a matter of three (possibly four) simple steps.
Firstly - and this may seem like a no-brainer - you have to decide what it is you want the most. Decide what to aim for, with some specificity. Don't make a laundry list of wishes, but focus on one thing at a time. If you're not sure about where you want to go, there's no point in getting into the vehicle in the first place.
Secondly, create an action plan. This will be your map for getting from point A, where you are now, to point B, where you want to go. You know what you want, what steps are you going to take to get it?
Some things are obvious. If you want a better job, start with skills assessment and maybe some additional training. Then you'll need to sell yourself and your skills either to your present employer for a promotion into the new position you want, or to a new employer.
Other goals will require a bit more thought. Some will really leave you stuck without a clue of how to get there. Not to worry, though, no matter where it is you want to go, someone, somewhere has probably already been there. So what did they do to get there, what road did they take? Books, biographies and such, can be a real help with this. So hit the library if you're in need of guidelines.
Get ideas, get advice, create a good map for yourself, and know where you're going. Write it down, and make sure you can read it every day.
The third and final step is execution. Do what you planned. Take the steps you outlined on your road map and be persistent. If you run into naysayers, simply ignore them. Everyone who ever did anything great always ran into naysayers.
Never take your eyes off the goal. Keep pushing. Whatever you do, do not give up until you have what you desire in your hands. Never, ever give into the notion that you 'can't get there from here.'
Decide - Plan - Execute. It is really that simple.
About that fourth step. Sometimes your action plans may not get you to where you want to be. Maybe something is missing, maybe some step is not quite right. If you find this is the case, after exercising your full patience and persistence, you simply must rework your plan.
Look at it, figure out what's missing, and get back at it. It's just like following a map through a place you've never been before. If you find taking a particular road takes you to the wrong town, rather than turning around and going home, giving up, you take a second look at your map, figure out where you made the wrong turn, and get back on the road.
Whatever you do -- Keep your hands on the wheel!
Start Your Home Business at Prosperity-Net.com
Get Your Slice Of the American Pie!
Don't get me wrong, I realize that truly horrible things do happen to folks, and through no fault of their own. Gigantic obstacles are placed in our way sometimes, that seem absolutely insurmountable. Generally speaking, however, getting what you really want out of life is a matter of three (possibly four) simple steps.
Firstly - and this may seem like a no-brainer - you have to decide what it is you want the most. Decide what to aim for, with some specificity. Don't make a laundry list of wishes, but focus on one thing at a time. If you're not sure about where you want to go, there's no point in getting into the vehicle in the first place.
Secondly, create an action plan. This will be your map for getting from point A, where you are now, to point B, where you want to go. You know what you want, what steps are you going to take to get it?
Some things are obvious. If you want a better job, start with skills assessment and maybe some additional training. Then you'll need to sell yourself and your skills either to your present employer for a promotion into the new position you want, or to a new employer.
Other goals will require a bit more thought. Some will really leave you stuck without a clue of how to get there. Not to worry, though, no matter where it is you want to go, someone, somewhere has probably already been there. So what did they do to get there, what road did they take? Books, biographies and such, can be a real help with this. So hit the library if you're in need of guidelines.
Get ideas, get advice, create a good map for yourself, and know where you're going. Write it down, and make sure you can read it every day.
The third and final step is execution. Do what you planned. Take the steps you outlined on your road map and be persistent. If you run into naysayers, simply ignore them. Everyone who ever did anything great always ran into naysayers.
Never take your eyes off the goal. Keep pushing. Whatever you do, do not give up until you have what you desire in your hands. Never, ever give into the notion that you 'can't get there from here.'
Decide - Plan - Execute. It is really that simple.
About that fourth step. Sometimes your action plans may not get you to where you want to be. Maybe something is missing, maybe some step is not quite right. If you find this is the case, after exercising your full patience and persistence, you simply must rework your plan.
Look at it, figure out what's missing, and get back at it. It's just like following a map through a place you've never been before. If you find taking a particular road takes you to the wrong town, rather than turning around and going home, giving up, you take a second look at your map, figure out where you made the wrong turn, and get back on the road.
Whatever you do -- Keep your hands on the wheel!
Start Your Home Business at Prosperity-Net.com
Get Your Slice Of the American Pie!
Monday, September 14, 2009
7 Hot Tips for Self Improvement Part 1
Have you ever imagined that life could be a lot better and more fulfilling than yours is right now? Are you eager to learn a self improvement technique that will make it so?
If you are read on.
I am going to lay down 7 simple steps for your self improvement plan. Whether you implement the self improvement steps I give you is your decision alone.
Self Improvement Tip 1
This tip will seem quite obvious and simple to you, but you'll be amazed how few actually take the effort to do it.
Unless you're not a morning person this self improvement tip will drastically change the quality of your day towards the positive.
Setting you in a good mood to face the days challenges and adversities.
Get Up Early!
This may sound more like a way to ruin your day by putting you in an awful mood, but bear with me on this.
To be able to accomplish this and still avoid losing any any precious sleep. You can go to bed just a half hour earlier since to start with you only need to get up a half hour earlier than you usually do.
To aid this purpose you should definitely use an alarm clock with persistent beeping.
You may be wondering by now just what it is that you're supposed to do in this extra half hour when you would normally be dozing peacefully in bed and how this has anything to do with self improvement.
For different people the answer can vary slightly. To start with you need to fully awaken yourself and get rid of early morning sluggishness.
To suit this purpose you can take a cold or slightly cool shower. Or you might try doing stretches combined with deep breathing.
You might skip the shower if just splashing cold water on your face is sufficient to wake you. Use whatever works for you.
After you're completely alert step outside of your house, apartment, etc... And if it's early enough and you have a clear view, watch the sunrise.
This simple but immensely satisfying act will lift your spirits and help with self improvement. If you're unable to do this, take a brisk walk, jog or run depending upon what you prefer and what you're physically capable of.
When you've been out for 20 minutes you can head inside and commence with whatever morning ritual you normally have.
Self Improvement Tip 2
Now this is extremely important but deceitfully obvious. Eat Breakfast.
To start your day out on the right foot and stay in keeping with your self improvement plan this is practically a necessity. You need the energy this will provide you with to accomplish your daily tasks.
If you are overly pressed for time you might try cereal and milk or a few granola bars, even a few pieces of fresh fruit would do.
Any of these are better alternatives than skipping breakfast.
This is also a good suggestion for those watching their weight, because if you skip breakfast you're more likely to binge later in the day. And you certainly won't be helping your self improvement by gaining unwanted weight.
Self Improvement Tip 3
When you go places, even if you find it a bit difficult at first, smile more at other people. Just curve your lips up a bit as you make eye contact with another human being.
It's really that simple. This will not only lift your spirits as you see a good many people smile back, but it will lift other people's as well. Even the ones who are too shy to smile back.
Be sure to read Part 2 of this article which contains the last 4 tips on self improvement.
For more of Beth's expert advice Click Here to visit her website now.
If you are read on.
I am going to lay down 7 simple steps for your self improvement plan. Whether you implement the self improvement steps I give you is your decision alone.
Self Improvement Tip 1
This tip will seem quite obvious and simple to you, but you'll be amazed how few actually take the effort to do it.
Unless you're not a morning person this self improvement tip will drastically change the quality of your day towards the positive.
Setting you in a good mood to face the days challenges and adversities.
Get Up Early!
This may sound more like a way to ruin your day by putting you in an awful mood, but bear with me on this.
To be able to accomplish this and still avoid losing any any precious sleep. You can go to bed just a half hour earlier since to start with you only need to get up a half hour earlier than you usually do.
To aid this purpose you should definitely use an alarm clock with persistent beeping.
You may be wondering by now just what it is that you're supposed to do in this extra half hour when you would normally be dozing peacefully in bed and how this has anything to do with self improvement.
For different people the answer can vary slightly. To start with you need to fully awaken yourself and get rid of early morning sluggishness.
To suit this purpose you can take a cold or slightly cool shower. Or you might try doing stretches combined with deep breathing.
You might skip the shower if just splashing cold water on your face is sufficient to wake you. Use whatever works for you.
After you're completely alert step outside of your house, apartment, etc... And if it's early enough and you have a clear view, watch the sunrise.
This simple but immensely satisfying act will lift your spirits and help with self improvement. If you're unable to do this, take a brisk walk, jog or run depending upon what you prefer and what you're physically capable of.
When you've been out for 20 minutes you can head inside and commence with whatever morning ritual you normally have.
Self Improvement Tip 2
Now this is extremely important but deceitfully obvious. Eat Breakfast.
To start your day out on the right foot and stay in keeping with your self improvement plan this is practically a necessity. You need the energy this will provide you with to accomplish your daily tasks.
If you are overly pressed for time you might try cereal and milk or a few granola bars, even a few pieces of fresh fruit would do.
Any of these are better alternatives than skipping breakfast.
This is also a good suggestion for those watching their weight, because if you skip breakfast you're more likely to binge later in the day. And you certainly won't be helping your self improvement by gaining unwanted weight.
Self Improvement Tip 3
When you go places, even if you find it a bit difficult at first, smile more at other people. Just curve your lips up a bit as you make eye contact with another human being.
It's really that simple. This will not only lift your spirits as you see a good many people smile back, but it will lift other people's as well. Even the ones who are too shy to smile back.
Be sure to read Part 2 of this article which contains the last 4 tips on self improvement.
For more of Beth's expert advice Click Here to visit her website now.
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