tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59434272715468154742023-11-03T03:54:17.095-04:00ralphs wordsUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger47125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5943427271546815474.post-20698133385244548282011-03-30T06:22:00.002-04:002011-03-30T07:27:13.824-04:00Running For My Life: Lessons Learned From My Half-Marathon Race<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves/> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:donotpromoteqf/> <w:lidthemeother>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:lidthemeasian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:lidthemecomplexscript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:splitpgbreakandparamark/> 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</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal">Last year I decided to do something crazy; well crazy for me at least.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I decided to run a half-marathon.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The reason this was a crazy decision was because I hated long distance running! Sure, I played sports, even ran short distances to stay in shape, but to run 13 miles just for the sake of running? That just seemed like unnecessary punishment.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">The decision came when someone presented me with the idea of running a half marathon.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>My first response was, “I can’t, I’m not a long distance runner.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal">When I first began training for my race, I could hear the voice of doubt loud and clear.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I began to doubt everything.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I doubted my ability to build my endurance to be able to complete the half-marathon.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I even doubted my ability to stick to my diet and exercise routine.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>But as time went by, I began to feel more confident.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Soon, I began to believe that I could run more than 13 miles.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="line-height:115%;font-size:14.0pt;" >The Setback</span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Its seems as though when things when things are going well, there is always a setback that gets in your way.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>My setback came in the form of iliotibial band injury.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The IT Band is the muscle that connects the hip to the knee.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>When a person increases the amount of miles they run in a short period of time like I did, the band becomes irritated. The irritated band causes pain at the hip or in my case, in my right knee.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It was painful!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>So painful that I was unable to run long distance for two weeks.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">During those two weeks doubt infested my thinking. The confidence that I had that I was going to be able complete that half marathon was fading and fading fast.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The doubts were flooding in at a feverous pace.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I began to believe all of the things the voice in my head was telling me.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I thought that I would not recover fast enough to continue my training.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>And even if I did, I was sure that, “with my luck”, I would get injured again.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="line-height:115%;font-size:14.0pt;" >The Bounce Back and The Lesson Learned</span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal">“With my luck?”, I thought to myself, “What am I saying?”<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Its strange how the voice of doubt plants ideas into your mind that that aren’t true.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>What started as a little discouragement due to an injury became a generalization of the way my life should go.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">I decided to evict the doubt in my mind.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Doubt was no longer allowed to reside in my mind.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I was determined to get my old way of thinking back!</p> <p class="MsoNormal">First, I started by educating myself about my injury.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Even though an IT band injury is painful, I learned that it is manageable but stretching the muscle and icing it.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>So, I decided to carry an ice pack with me where ever I went.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I stretched whenever possible.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>No matter if I was at work, home or walking down the street, I used any and every extra second I had to stretch the aching muscle.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">I began running again with a whole new focus.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The focus this time was to not let the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">voice of doubt rule my life</b>. The more I trained the more the confident I became.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The voice of doubt was becoming an inaudible blimp in my ear.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Whether you are trying to run a race or trying to excel in your career, doubt can spread through your mind like wildfire.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>When we allow the doubts in our minds to run wild, we are allowing are dreams to be taken away from us.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Don’t let this happen to you! </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="line-height:115%;font-size:14.0pt;" >Race Day</span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I was so excited about my race that I could barely sleep the night before.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The waiting was killing me so I decided to leave my house extra early.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>As I was approaching the half-marathon location, I saw several people walking towards the starting area.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>There were also some other runners doing laps in preparation for the race.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">As I parked and walked towards the starting line, I grew more excited.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I could feel the energy in the air.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Here, along with myself, were going to be about 2,500 people who trained for months just to participate in this race.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">When the race finally started my excitement transformed into focus.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I watched my pace, breathing, and listened closely to my body for any signs of injury.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The cold December air made it a little harder to breath but as time went by and my mileage increased, I began not to notice.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Before I knew it I crossed mile marker #12.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The other runners along side of me began to cheer and celebrate.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>We all knew we were getting closer.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I began to feel tired with only about ¾ of a mile to go but I knew I couldn’t stop.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I made sure I focused on the finish line.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">When I crossed it I was exhausted and relieved.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I had done it.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Something that I thought I would never be able to do was now on my list of accomplishments.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>After catching my breath I went back to watch the other runners cross the finish.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I watched as they were about to feel the same sense of accomplishment that I was experiencing.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">As I walked back to my car I thought back to my race and began thinking about my next challenge.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>What else did I think I couldn’t do?<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>What other challenges have I been avoiding?<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Whatever they were, I now had the confidence to take them on and to overcome them too.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5943427271546815474.post-13497056825536224272009-07-28T20:20:00.005-04:002009-07-29T21:43:07.710-04:0030 Day Writers ChallengeDuring a presentation I gave last week, someone asked about my writing style and how to develop a good one. I answered with a statement about being yourself and using writing as a way to reflect your personality.<br /><br />As I thought more about that question, I realized that there is much more to it than that. I know that much of being a good writer has to do with practice and persistence. I learned that first hand when I began my writing career.<br /><br />When I started my site, I was writing constantly for it while writing roughly 20 pages a week for my courses in college. The amount of writing was insane but the results were spectacular. My papers earned high marks and the articles I wrote for the site during that time are still amongst the most viewed.<br /><br />So, in order to improve myself as a writer I am setting a challenge to write at least 250 words a day for the next 30 days without losing quality. How do I plan on doing this?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >1. Time<br /></span><br />Most writers and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">bloggers</span> will talk about the large amount of time it takes to produce good content. There is truth to the idea that good content takes time. But not having enough time is not just a writing problem, but an overall time problem. In "<a href="http://potential2success.com/Create-More-Time.html">How to Create More Time</a>" I talked about knowing how your time is spent and eliminating the unimportant in order to create time for the important things.<br /><br />I will use the same method in my 30 day writing challenge. Some of my post require research and verification of ideas. I will have to limit the amount of time spent researching possible ideas and spend most of the time researching facts and ideas that are the most relevant for the post.<br /><br />In order for this challenge to be successful, I need to be mindful of how I use my time.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly</span><br /><br />Most people who take part in any creative work are very particular about what they create. Artist, musicians and writers are they're own worst critics. I have at times spent hours on an article just to click "delete" on the file after reviewing it. Saying to myself,<br /><br />"It seemed like a good idea at the time."<br /><br />I have come to realize that trashing every work that doesn't seem worthy is a bad idea. I read some years back about how Sammy Davis Jr hated the song "The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Candyman</span>" when he was recording it. But the song won him his only Grammy. Similar events have happened to me on my site. At times the post that I think is going to generate the best response gets ignored while the one that I write and am not completely sold on get an overwhelming <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">amount</span> of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">pageviews</span>. It is true that everything that we produce will not be golden, but sometimes it is not up to us to decide.<br /><br />During this challenge, it is also important that I grow my ability to write my thoughts in a clear, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">concise</span>, and effective manner. Although my actually <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">writing</span> takes between 3-4 hours per week, I often spend a lot of time thinking about what to write and how to write it.<br /><br />No matter what, it is important to write and publish. This will help me understand my your better and help understand yourself and what makes you effective.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >Blackberry, iPhone and Napkins</span><br /><br />30 days can be a long time and there are going to be <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">several</span> times when I can say to myself,<br /><br />"Forget writing today, The Office is on."<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">That's</span> why I have decided to write as soon as the inspiration or idea hits me. Sometimes when writing, we tend to wait until the idea is crystal clear and defined before we dive in. I have learned that this approach sometimes prevents any ideas from being produced because of the Law of <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Demonising</span> intent. It is important to produce whenever and wherever you are.<br /><br />The fist 166 words of this post were written on the Notepad function on my Blackberry during a 15 minute break. Attacking inspiration at its peak will be one of the major actions that will make this challenge a success. Whether its on phone, napkin, or your hand, try not to let any thought or inspiration go to waste.<br /><br />It is going to take discipline and focus to complete this challenge. There will be many days when I will not feel like writing but by applying these few techniques and a few more, I know that I will come out with great content.<br />By the way, this is 784 words if you are counting<br />Visit my personal development site <a href="http://potential2success.com/">Potential2Success.com</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5943427271546815474.post-66115193616676958982009-05-10T19:24:00.008-04:002009-05-13T00:45:01.538-04:00Lessons Learned During My Self-Discipline Fast"I don't remember being this hungry the last time." I thought to myself.<br /><br />I looked at the clock on my computer screen and did the math in my head. "Another hour and a half and its over.". Its a strange feeling to long for a salad, but after not eating for three days, any food is good food.<br /><br />After I wrote <a href="http://www.potential2success.com/Building-Self-discipline.html">Building Self-Discipline</a>, I thought a lot about my own self-discipline. Being busy had caused me to comprise on my <span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); cursor: pointer;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1241997847_0">good eating habit</span>. Enjoying pizza, wings, and rich dark chocolate mousse, had taken its toll on my <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1241997847_1">energy level</span>.<br /><br />I decided it was time for a fast. My last fast was in July of 2008. While I was fasting, I decided to write "<a href="http://potential2success.com/Eatthisnow.html">Eat This Now.</a>.". A post about some the <span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); cursor: pointer;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1241997847_2">healthiest foods</span> in the world. I though it was a good test of <span style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; cursor: pointer; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1241997847_3">mind control</span> to write an article about food while not being able to eat food.Even though this time I was on the exact same type of fast, during the last day, I couldn't stop thinking about food.<br /><br />Fasting is a good way of detoxing your body of impurities. Since your body does not have to work hard digesting food, it starts to get rid of all of the unwanted junk that it had to put in the "to do" box of your digestive system. My fast officially started on Tuesday at 8pm and ended on Friday at 8pm. When I fast, I do a juice fast. That means that I replace food with fresh vegetable and fruit juice.<br /><br />I don't like to advertise my fasting to everyone around me (yet somehow I'm able to broadcast it to the world on my blog). I guess one of the reasons I usually only let the people closest to me know about my fast is because of all of the questions and reactions I get. I usually do a juice fast about 2 times a year. This is the first time that I have taken note of the effects and results of my juice fast. This is what I learned.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >Temptation Follows You</span><br />One of the first things I learned on my fast is that temptation follows you. If you ever want a free meal, go on a fast. During my fast I had so many people offering to take me out to lunch or dinner. It seems that whenever you abstain from something in your life-good or bad-it seems to appear everywhere.<br /><br />The company I work for was bidding for an important account. We were trying to retain a very important customer whose account we're managed for years. The loss of this customer to the competition would mean a loss of jobs. The last day of my fast, the staff was pulled into a meeting where they announced that we've won the bid for the account. That was fantastic news for everyone who valued their job.<br /><br />So, does this Fortune 500 company send an email thanking everyone for their hard work? Nope, instead they throw an ice cream party. It was a great gesture I'll admit, but here I am and I haven't eaten for 3 days and ice cream is flowing like water. Not to mention I'm getting strange looks from co-workers because I'm refusing to partake in the festivities. Now the people I work with probably think that don't care about my job or that I'm lactose intolerant.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >You Don't Know What You've Got Until Its Gone</span><br />We don't realize how much influence some thing have in our lives until it is removed. We need food to fuel our bodies but food has become more than just a way to stay alive. It has become a way of life. Food is associated with work, home, and social activities of all kinds. If you go to any event there is food available. When you go see a movie, you may think that you the theater is making money from the $9 ticket. But actually the movie is there just so they can cash in on the 300% profit margin on popcorn and soda.<br /><br />When we are eating we are usually doing something else. Whether you are with friends, watching tv, or reading a book. During my fast I found that I was hungry during a certain time of the day but during certain activities. The way I combated this was by applying my focus more to the activity. For example, if I was with a friend and they were eating, I would be much more involved in the conversation.<br /><br />Also, I seemed to have more brain space to apply to anything I wanted. Without thinking about what I'd like to eat for lunch or dinner, I thought about other more important things. Since the decision not to eat had already been made my days flowed very well.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" ><br />Fasting Gives You a Burst of Energy</span><br />I've read about the effects that fasting may have on your energy level. During a fast your body is not working as hard to digest food. Like I mentioned before, I was on a juice fast so I was still consuming vitamins but those nutrients could be absorbed and then used to fuel my body.<br /><br />This is really the way the body is supposed to work but with all of the processed foods we take in, our bodies work extra hard to break down these foreign substances. For three days before the fast, I ate nothing but fruits and vegetable. The burst of energy may have been a residual result of the overall diet change. Either way it felt great! I literally hopped out of bed on the second day.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >Learned How to Tell My Body 'No'</span><br />This was learned during the third day. I was finishing up some online work when I started to feel hungry. I scheduled my fast to end a 8pm and around 6:30 I thought to myself, "Go ahead and have an apple. An hour and a half is no big deal."<br /><br />But it was a big deal. I was very close to giving in and eating before 8 but I had to tell my body 'no' because one of the reasons why I took on this fast in the first place was to build discipline. If I gave in then the purpose of the fast would've been lost.<br /><br />But I made it. I plan on doing another discipline challenge in the near future. I've learned a lot about myself in those three days and I'm curious to see how much more I can learn and grow.<br /><br />Visit my personal development website <a href="http://potential2success.com/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Potential2Success.com</span></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5943427271546815474.post-20731114001416771612009-02-04T17:30:00.005-05:002009-02-10T20:06:23.862-05:00Keeping Promises to YourselfI stepped out of my car today into the 50 degree weather where I parked across the street from the city lake where I often run. It's February and unusually cold for Florida, especially in the late afternoon. In addition to the unseasonably cold weather, it had been raining the entire day but now the pouring rain has now settled into a windy drizzle. Images of myself walking into the living room where I would settle on my couch and cover myself with a blanket while watching Wheel of Fortune and waiting for the tea kettle to whistle, kept running through my head. "Proof" back to reality. There is no hot tea waiting for me. All I have now is the rain, wind, and a promise.<br /><br />Like most people, one of the things that I have decided to improve this year was my physical fitness. For most of last year I was in great shape. Year 28 of my life was filled with a comment to participate in races, maintain leafy green diet, and hours in the gym lifting weights. But so far this year I have relaxed my promises to myself. "I've been so busy lately, I better just grab some drive <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">thru</span>." and "It's January, the gym is going to be too packed." have been the excuses that I've sold myself.<br /><br />But yesterday as I was finishing off the last of the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Tiajuana</span> Flats chicken <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Quesidia</span>, I made a promise. "No more excuses." Tomorrow I start my previous health routine. If I would have looked at the weather <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">forecast</span> for today I probably would've <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">delayed</span> my promise until more favorable circumstances permit. But there I was, at the lake, in the windy rain <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">scrolling</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">through</span> my <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">iPod</span> looking for some inspirational music wishing I had downloaded the theme to Rocky like I had intended to last year. I kept scrolling until I realized I was just stalling so I clicked on a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">playlist</span> that I <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">conveniently</span> called "running music".<br /><br />As I began my run, the idea of hot tea became more and more <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">appealing</span>. As I looked out over the lake I noticed something very strange. There was nobody else at the lake, anywhere. Usually this time of day would cause me to swerve around <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">elderly</span> power walkers, slow joggers, and baby strollers. But today I was in solitude. Sure it was cold but it wasn't freezing. Yeah it was wet but the rain had become a light drizzle.<br /><br />It dawned on me that there must have been someone else, somewhere, today that told themselves that the were going to walk or run around this very lake that I was currently making my way around. But here I was, all alone.<br /><br /> We make promises to ourselves all of the time that we never keep. New Year's resolutions are a prime example of that. I realized at that moment how important it is not to break promises to yourself. The moment we tell ourselves we are going to do something (like start exercising, getting a better job, or anything else we want to do that will improve our lives) and we back out of our promises to ourselves due to obstacles, we make it easier to give up when thing get tough.<br /><br />The key to achieving any goal that you set forth is to commit to doing what is necessary to achieve that goal. Once you allow yourself to back out of a commitment that you make to yourself, you will be more likely to do repeat that habit of retracting. No matter how tough the task or the amount of obstacles that you may encounter, you must do everything possible to keep any commitment you make to yourself.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5943427271546815474.post-3845646718861989972008-12-21T23:20:00.010-05:002008-12-22T00:16:47.381-05:00Channel 3 FocusI was listening to the audio form of the book Succeed on Your Own Terms by Herb <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Greenberg</span>. The book consist of different stories of people who have succeeded despite great obstacles. One of the examples the book uses is of Tyrone "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Mugsey</span>" <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Bogues</span> who was the shortest player ever to play in the NBA. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Mugsey</span> was 5'3" and I remember watching him play on TV when I was in middle school.<br /><br />While interviewing <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Mugsey</span>, he said something that I thought everyone could use in their life. When they asked him how he was able to overcome people always telling him that he was too short to play basketball, he said that all he did was to focus on basketball. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Mugsey</span> grew up in a very rough neighborhood and could have easily been caught up in the negative environment that surrounded him. He made the decision that he wanted to play basketball and there was nothing that was going to stop him from doing that.<br /><br />"You know how in order for your VCR to have a clear reception it has to be on channel 3? I was like a VCR and I had to stay on the basketball channel. If I switched channels, things would get blurry." <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Bogues</span> said.<br /><br />This during this time of year, people often set goals of how they would like to be and what they would like to do in the New Year. Most people set those goals because they feel as though they have to. Others are very serious about accomplishing what they've resolved to do. The majority of people, however, never see their resolutions come to pass. The problem that they seem to have is the lack of focus or they are focusing on the obstacles instead of the goals. Instead of staying focus on their financial goals or their goal to get in shape, they focus on how bad the economy is or how difficult it is to eat right when there is so much temptation available. So they change their channel from 3 to 4 or even 5.<br /><br />I myself tend to loose focus when I attempt to accomplish to many things at once. Doing this divides my focus and makes it harder for me to accomplish everything I set out to do or I just end up doing the smaller, less important things. I have already made my New Year's resolutions and have been working on them since November. But thinking about that interview has made me realize that my list should be revised and made so that I am able to put the most important goals on channel 3. I am planning specific steps that will make it possible to reach those big goals. I know they will be easier to accomplish once I fix my mind to stay focus on the goals and accomplishing them.<br /><br />Do you have a goal that you would like to accomplish but somehow cannot stay focused on what you need to do you accomplish it? How can you set that goal on channel 3 and keep it there?<br /><br />Visit my personal development site <a href="http://potential2success.com">Potential2success.com</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5943427271546815474.post-41955481199310231542008-06-22T13:07:00.004-04:002008-06-22T13:55:59.968-04:00Extended AssertivnessSend a Clear Message<br /><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Ambiguity</span> is a mistake that many people make when they want to deliver a message. Being <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">straight</span><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">forward</span> and sending a clear message solidifies what you want. Over 50% of what an average person says is <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">misinterpreted</span> during a conversation. Be aware of what you are saying and how you are saying it so that your intention is clear.<br /><br />Alter Body Language<br />Your body speaks a powerful language. <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">People</span> will read into whatever you are saying by your facial expressions and body language. If a smile is genuine and warm, then someone saying how nice it is to you will be better <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">received</span>. In the same way, when you are asserting yourself, your body and face should go right along with what you are saying. Use direct eye contact and establish a presence. <br /><br />Stand Firm<br />In one section of my article I mentioned how important it is to be right when you are asserting yourself. In most cases there is plenty of room for negotiation and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">compromise</span>. In some cases, however, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">compromise</span> is not an option. When dealing with <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">integrity</span> and something you know is <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">detrimental</span> to a person or situation, you should stand by your convictions. Many times the right thing to do is not always the most popular or the easiest, but that doesn't mean that it should not be done. <br /><br />Standing firm and holding your ground means that you've asserted your ideas and voiced your view on the opinion and will not back down. The most difficult thing to do is not to <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">succumb</span> to pressure and outside influences. <a href="http://www.giga-usa.com/quotes/authors/christian_nestell_bovee_a001.htm">Christian <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Nestell</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Bovee</span></a> said, "Justice, not majority should rule". This means that the right thing to do should be on the forefront not what everyone else is doing.<br /><br />This is a follow up on my article <a href="http://www.potential2success.com/assertingyourselfeffectively.html">Assert Yourself Effectively</a> posted on my<br />Personal Development Site <a href="http://potential2success.com/"><strong><span style="color:#3366ff;">Potential2Success.com</span></strong></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5943427271546815474.post-20858391773676753442008-06-07T20:57:00.001-04:002008-06-07T20:58:51.055-04:00Connecting daily activities to work-life goalsEverything these days is marketed to keep you moving. The Drive-thru, text messaging society we live in revolves around time saving, convenience so that you have more time to live your life. So why does it seem like we have less time for the important things in life? Even though we have responsibilities like work and family, personal development and goals are an equally important part of life. So how does someone handle work life-goals and daily activities?<br /><br /><br />Prioritize what is important<br />At different times throughout your day, you should be asking yourself if what you are working on is a priority. Most people will spend too much time on activities that aren’t as important as they may seem. Find out what are the major priorities for your day and handle them first. The devices and systems that are in place so that we have more time may actually work if we don’t waste the extra time we’ve saved.<br /><br /><br />Map your life goals<br />The morning DJs on a local radio station in my city asked people who were about 28 or 29 years of age to call in and tell them what they thought they would be doing 10 years out of high school. A lady called in and said, “when I was in high school I wanted to be an actress and I’m still pursuing that dream.” When the DJs asked how she intended on “making it big” she replied, “I’m looking for an agent but I’m not sure what else to do.”<br />Knowing your life goals is one thing, but understanding how to get there is another. It is amazing how many people know what their goals are in life but have no idea how to get there. When you map out how you intend on accomplishing your goals, you eliminate the possibility of taking a wrong turn. Know where you are going before you try to get there.<br /><br /><br />Delegate task<br />CEOs understand that they can’t do it all. That is why they have people under them to complete the task that they don’t have time to complete. Begin to incorporate the help of others into your life goals. Share your goals and passions with others and you will be amazed by how many other people have the same dream or know of someone who does.<br />Successful people are usually eager to help other people who want to succeed. Have you ever wanted to lose weight? If you told your goal to lose weight to someone who has lost weight, they usually jump at the chance to tell you how they did it and give suggestions on what you could do to accomplish your target weight. Use the knowledge, skills, and experiences of people around you.<br /><br /><br />Enjoy both life and work<br />Taking time to enjoy the simple pleasures in life can be an enormous boost. My father once told me “wherever you are, be there”. When you are working, be there. When you are with your family, be there. There is nothing worse than trying to enjoy a nice dinner with the ones you love, while thinking about the horrible day you had at work. Learn how to separate the two so that the negative aspects of the different parts of your life do not ruin the positive aspects.<br />With a clear vision, a good plan, and some help, you can reach your life goals without sacrificing life.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5943427271546815474.post-34953927705674240472008-06-03T18:52:00.001-04:002008-06-03T18:56:05.252-04:00Confidence ChallengeConfidence is a transferrable characteristic. Having self-confidence is a great feeling. That is why so many people want it. It gives you a sense that you can do it all without fail. The projection of confidence comes with an added side effect. It causes others to increase the confidence they have in you.<br /><br />A friend asked me recently if I could give a presentation for a group of high school students. The person she originally asked to do it cancelled last minute and she was stuck. I told her I’d move some things around so I could be free. The problem was the talk was a day away and she neglected to tell me what I was suppose to be presenting to these students. <br /><br />The morning of the presentation I met her in the parking lot of the school and she laid out for me the program and the topic of the day’s events. I said to here, “I don’t have a speech prepared but I know a little about this so I should be able to fill 45 minutes.”<br />She said, “Oh I know you will. You’re so confident. They are going to love you.”<br /><br />Just because I projected confidence in my ability to speak spur of the moment, she became confident in my ability to speak spur of the moment.<br /><br /> That made me ponder confidence and it’s power. The thing is, even if a person isn’t confident, they could reap the benefits of confidence if they project it.<br /><br />My Challenge to you<br />This month increase you confidence projection. Find something that you do well and increase your confidence in it so that others around you will have confidence in you.<br /><br />Advance challenge<br />So you already project confidence huh? Well, this month find something that you are not so good at and project confidences in that until people believe in your ability to do it.<br />Post your results hereUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5943427271546815474.post-28425691113886994172008-03-06T17:46:00.001-05:002008-03-06T18:25:29.216-05:00Doing What You LoveI was watching the press conference of Brett <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Farve</span> who recently announced his <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">retirement</span> from the National Football League after 17 years of playing the game. Like most great athletes who decide to hang it up, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Farve</span> began to cry during his announcement as he realized he was leaving behind a successful career that brought him great <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">fulfillment</span> and joy.<br /><br />Watching this made me wonder about the future. Most people have a job or a career in which they put in hour after hour of work all the while longing for retirement. Why is quitting your career and retirement such a great thing in the work force? Why is that the goal of working? The answer is the lack of love for the job. When an athlete is in the height of <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">their</span> career, nobody wants to even think of the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">possibility</span> of them quitting. But we make retirement the ultimate goal.<br /><br />Are you doing what you love? At the end of your career when you begin to reflect on how hard you worked, will you get emotional at the thought of never doing again what you've done for years? Why not?<br /><br />What is the one thing that you love to do? What is that one thing that is so important to you that the thought of walking away from it makes you teary eyed? Why should fear, doubt, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">discouragement</span>, age, background or anything else stop us from doing the one thing we love? I think the bulk of the unhappiness that people <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">experience</span> in their lives is a lack of purpose and an absence of doing a job that they love. Why not begin to think about the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">possibility</span> of looking at retirement as something to delay <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">because</span> of love as opposed to something to look forward to <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">because</span> of the lack of love.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5943427271546815474.post-29681094144346078532008-01-29T20:50:00.000-05:002008-04-02T22:06:12.091-04:00Starting meaningful conversations Q & AI've been getting emails about one of my articles called <a href="http://http//www.potential2success.com/startmeaningfulconversations.html">Start Meaningful Conversations</a>. I've posted the email and my response.<br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="color:#3366ff;">"I understand that we are supposed to meet people in the middle with our comments and converstions. But what if I am talking to a person, and given the topic of the coversation, I oppose everything they say. For example I feel that child pornography is a morally reprehensible act and should be punnishable by death. The Iraq war is unnecessary, the global warming crisis isn't all that much of a crisis. So in a conversation pertaining to those things, how would I meet the person in the middle if my views are too polar?<br /><br />How do I convey a sense of my moral values to the other person, without much negativity being induced into the conversation? This is only if I strongly disagree with the person I am talking to. I have thought about this question alot myself. Only way I seem to handle it is to agree with everything they say all the time.<br /><br />Also if a conversation is about a subject that I do not know much about, say soccer, home improvement, computers, gardening, I find my friends knowing much more about a it, than i do. How do I converse with them meaningfully without having them think I am a total neophyte in that subject? I would love to have your opinion on that question to geared toward friends I already have and say some stranger who I start talking to.<br /><br />If there is a subject that comes up in a converstion, such as death of a close relative, that I am uncomfortale talking about how do I answer it?<br /><br />If i meet a person that is usually shy, and reserved, how do I spark a meaningful conversation with them? What are examples of things I could say? I am not talking about killing the spontaniety by preparing in advance, yet sometimes examples convey a sense of thinking that you could have. I have been told that obeservations around you, such as, "this room is too cold", or , "thats a nice dress" are examples, but when I do those things it seems too much like I am trying to converse with them, which turns them away from me.<br /><br />Thank you for your time,"</span><br /><br /><span style="color:#3366ff;"></span><br /><br />I am a strong believer that a person should stick by their convictions. When meeting someone new, you are essentially trying to learn more about that person while you slowly reveal things about yourself to that person. Such extreme topics such as child porn shouldn't really be a topic of conversation for two reasons. One, it is a negative topic that evokes negative emotions. Two, if you don't know that person well enough, you may strike a nerve. The way I stick by my convictions when someone opposes them is to find a way to tell them you disagree. Then, in a few words, tell them why. Most people will bring up another point. That’s when I decide whether it is worth getting into a debate or not. Ultimately, a debate is what will eventually happen if the situation is not handled correctly.<br /><br /><br />My decisions are based upon where I am and who I am conversing with. Once you become accustomed to dealing with different types of people, you will begin to understand how better appeal to a person's sense of logic or how to appeal to their emotions. Depending on who that person is, you can direct your response to appeal to what you have learned about them through your conversation. I tend to stay away from disagreement when I first meet a person. I state my point and then move on to something else. If that person persist and is determined pick a "fight", then it is time to find someone else to talk to and here is why.<br /><br /><br />If a person is trying to push all of these serious issues down your throat, then they are not interested in building a relationship or friendship, they are interested in being right. If I strongly disagree with someone I usually preface my statement with some information about myself so they can understand where I am coming from and add some credibility to my point. If you stand by your conviction, then they are not going to change your mind and you are not going to change their mind. I've been in this situation plenty of times so I've learned to pick my battles. Sometimes you make a friend that respects your opinion and other times you will end up wasting 30mins because nothing gets resolved by the debate. But I almost never agree with someone if I really disagree with them. But I’ve known people who prefer to make a point rather than make a friend. I make friends first then express my viewpoints because I think they are more likely to listen to the viewpoints of a friend as opposed to a stranger they just met.<br />When you are talking to someone about a topic that you know nothing about, then this is a perfect time to learn. If you are talking one on one with someone then ask questions about the topic so that you can learn about it. If you are in a group, then listen to the conversation and try to pick up as much as you can. I am not a baseball fan at all but I can hold a decent conversation about what is currently going on because I have friends that talk about baseball and I listen. Then I bring what I've heard to other conversations and I usually ask other people what their opinions are on what I've learned from my friends. If you have friends that like soccer and you know nothing about it, then glance at the sports section or ESPN.com and read a little short piece on what is going on in the soccer world. It shouldn't take more than ten minutes but it is amazing what it can do.<br /><br /><br />As far as what to say, I've found that people will talk to you if you talk to them. Observations are best but how genuine they are and how they are presented may affect the person's reaction. What I mean is if you mention that it is cold, what do you follow it up with if the person says ' yeah a little'? The same thing is true if you say someone has a nice dress. Do you really like her dress? If so your follow-up will come naturally. If not you’re stuck. If you observe things that you truly are interested about or interested in talking about then you have your openers. Open-ended questions are also a great way to start conversing while learning more about the other person.<br /><br /><br />I hope this helps. If you have any more questions let me know and I will try my best to answer them.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5943427271546815474.post-79792126862143997112007-12-09T22:02:00.000-05:002007-12-15T07:15:42.509-05:00Greater PurposeWe often go through life attempting to make good use of the time we've been given on this earth. Many people have different views on what life is supposed to be. The way you live your life is depended upon what you think the purpose of your life is.<br /><br />Outlook + Actions = Outcome<br /><br />The outlook on your life will determine your actions and your actions will determine your outcome. Those who are not mindful of what they believe and what they do, will be at the mercy of their circumstances. That is to say that if your outlook on life is that you are here on earth for no particular reason, and there is nothing special about you, then you will act as though you life is purposeless. Then, after years of living your life like it is purposeless, you will end up with a life that is fruitless.<br /><br /><br />I personally believe we were created for many purposes. An individual is responsible for carrying out their specific purpose in their own lives. Nobody else is accountable for what you do with your life. Regardless of how you were raised or who you hang out with, you are responsible for your life and liable for your decisions. The lack of owning up to your actions and decisions shows lack of clarity of that person's purposes.<br /><br />A Greater Purpose<br /><br />I think there is a bit of confusion between what skill a person is exceptional in and what that person's purpose is. Bill Gates is worth about 54 billion dollars. He is leaving about $10 million dollars to each of his children when he dies. The rest is going to charitable organizations. So what is Bill Gates's purpose in life? Is it to develop computer programs that make it easier for me to create spreadsheets or is it to help millions of people by giving of from what he was given?<br /><br />There are so many different explanations people have for the human race and why we even exist. From psychics to scientist, people have their own beliefs on what humans beings are doing on earth. I don't claim to have all the answers and I don't trust any scientist, theologian, sage, or mystic that tries to convince me that they know everything about humans and the universe.<br /><br />I fall under the category of believing that there is a God who has set this universe into motion and still sustains this universe's existence. We are still responsible for our actions and decisions. We as humans have the free will to choose what path to follow. But it is hard for me to doubt the possibility of there being a greater purpose. A purpose beyond what we as humans can imagine and may not see in our lifetime.<br /><br />This is why it is important that to start seeking and understanding your purpose. You should never be complacent about your existence and your purpose. You are here for a reason. There is much more to you than you may have even realized. The sooner you can first acknowledge that fact and start seeking your purpose, the more you will be in control of actions thus influencing your outcome. It is up to you to decide. Choose wisely.<br /><br />Visit my personal development website <a href="http://potential2success.com/">Potential2Success.com</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5943427271546815474.post-26252789546324981502007-11-01T07:29:00.000-04:002008-01-18T05:51:35.631-05:00Driven from WithinThis time of year usually makes people wonder where their life is going and what they've done with their life so far. The New Year often forces people to acknowledge that time does not stand still and change is <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">inevitable</span>. I think this is why most people feel compelled to make resolutions for the upcoming year.<br /><br /><br /><br />Although I think that making a decision to better your life is a good thing, I'm always looking at the purpose behind the decision. Just because a new year has begun is not a good enough reason to change your life. That is why most resolutions fail. January first is not a magical day.<br /><br /><br /><br />The decision to improve yourself and your life must have purpose behind it. There must be a fire that is burning from within. It is this fire that will keep you going forward throughout the year. If you want to make more money, it shouldn't be because you see how celebrities or your <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">neighbors</span> live and you're trying dress, eat, party, like they do. It is better to focus on what is <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">truly</span> important about having more money like providing better for yourself and your family. Or maybe even being able to help out those who are not as fortunate.<br /><br /><br /><br />What are you trying to accomplish this year and why do you want to accomplish it.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5943427271546815474.post-19095262346697319302007-11-01T07:28:00.001-04:002007-11-28T21:19:55.901-05:00If You Had No Fear....What would your life be like if you had no fear? There are a number of things that we should be afraid of as humans. But there so many more things we shouldn't be afraid. It's funny how we choose to let the things we shouldn't be afraid of run our lives.<br /><br />It is the little things that cause worry and doubt that have us crippled. It is the pondering of what may or may not happen that governs our lives. The reality is that the mental tug of war we have with our fears, usually ends with us laying face down in the mud of disappointment. Whenever a fearful situation presents itself, how do you react. When your faith is tested, how do you react? How often do you question what you are made of? How often do you look at the fear inside you?<br /><br />The key is to strengthen our resolve and face our fear. In order to minimize what fear does to our hopes, skills, abilities, and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">aspirations</span>, we must first decide to take on that fear, understand that fear is created by us, and then attack the fear with the intention of <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">dissolving</span> it's <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">debilitating</span> effects. Are you ready to face your fear factor?<br /><br />I just posted "<a href="http://http//www.potential2success.com/fightingyourfearfactor.html">Fight Your Fear Factor</a>"@ <a href="http://potential2success.com/">potential2success.com</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5943427271546815474.post-68909000278948212752007-10-31T22:54:00.001-04:002007-10-31T23:32:22.963-04:00Daily ClarityMost of us know or at least have an idea of what we want out of life. The goals can be as simple as getting rid of a bad habit or as major as an entire life change. Either way one of the major obstacles in our way is ourselves and our visions.<br /><br />Although we can see what we want, and think we deserve it, without true clarity the dream or goal seems unlikely. Why is this? Why is it something that should be achieved seems unattainable sometimes? When this question comes up in my life I review my clarity. My clarity is not only knowing and seeing the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">finish line</span>, but being prepared and ready to run the race.<br /><br />There are so many people in the world that know that they want something, but have no idea what they want. Then there are some that know what they want but have know idea how to get there. There are others that know what they want, know how to get there, but don't think they will get what they want. In all cases, clarity should be the focus.<br /><br />If you know what you want, how clear is the road to your destination? If you leave your house in the morning on your way to work, do you have a good idea how to get there? Now let's say that you are going to take the interstate to your job. You hop on the on-ramp and while driving on the highway you see that there is a major spill from a tanker and there is no getting through. What do you do?<br /><br />Do you stop the car and not go to work? The only logical thing to do is get of the highway and find another road. While you are on that new road do you anticipate another tanker on the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">back roads</span> to your job? Of course not. And even by some twisted series of events that lead to another road blockage, you would still try to find another road.<br /><br />So why is this not the case with our goals and dreams? Why do we fail to map out a road to our goals with clarity? Why do we not look at an obstacle and find another way to reach our destination? When you set a goal and decide to go after a dream, daily clarity is important. Everyday the road to what you want should be as clear to you as the road to any physical destination. You must be able to know the turns, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">maneuver</span> around obstacles.<br /><br />If you have a long term goal, ask yourself every morning "what am I going to do today to get me there?" And every morning have an answer to that question. A successful life is just a bunch of successful days in a row. Gain daily clarity about your dreams and what you can do to make the dreams a reality.<br /><br /><strong>Visit my personal development website</strong> <a href="http://potential2success.com/"><strong>Potential2success.com</strong></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5943427271546815474.post-78135151268924711032007-10-11T23:10:00.000-04:002007-10-12T05:05:17.456-04:00Action for Business SuccessThe week of action is going good for me. How's it going for you? I'm getting so much done I might keep this the theme for next week also. I have a few articles that I may put on my site or I may submit them to other publications. Right now I'm leaning towards submitting to other websites and newsletters. I do have some good ones that will <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">undoubtedly</span> go on my site because I really want my <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">returning</span> visitors to benefit from them. Here is another really good article that has to do with taking action when starting a business. Number 9 is the point about action and it is a good example of how important action is to success.<br /><br />Article courtesy of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Articalbase</span>.com<br /><br />If you are in the early stages of starting up a business then you may be experiencing the internal 'fear and doubt' dialogue that can often take place in one's mind. The following 9 Principles will help to release some of this tension...<br /><br />1. Do What You Love<br /><br />Ensure that you are in a business that interests you. This doesn't necessarily mean that you have to be in love with the product or service that you sell; however, you must enjoy aspects of the business otherwise you won't be motivated to give it 100% of your focus. And it will need a lot of your focus and energy, especially in the early stages!To help determine this point, you could ask yourself the following types of questions:* What do you really like to do (in a business sense)?* Are you an ideas or action type of person? Or a bit of both?* In which 20% of your talents do 80% of your results come from?* In other words, where do your key skills lie?It really all boils down to one question though - what are you really passionate about?<br /><br />2. Niche<br /><br />Another critical point which goes a long way to determining business success is your Niche. Without exception, the majority of successful business owners I know can tell you in a couple of sentences exactly what it is they love to do and why it has made them wealthy.Without a precise understanding of your Niche your chances for success are greatly diminished. After all, it's very difficult to hit a target which doesn't exist or to win a game when you don't know what it (winning) is.Ask yourself what you are trying to achieve in this business venture:* Do you want to make <a class="kLink" oncontextmenu="return false;" id="KonaLink0" onmouseover="adlinkMouseOver(event,this,0);" style="POSITION: static; TEXT-DECORATION: underline! important" onclick="adlinkMouseClick(event,this,0);" onmouseout="adlinkMouseOut(event,this,0);" href="http://www.articlesbase.com/business-articles/9-key-business-startup-success-principles-220182.html#" target="_new">quick cash</a>?* Do you want to develop and grow a sustainable business?* Are you interested in high cash-flow or developing assets? Or both?* Do you have BIG aspirations or are you just looking to develop a hobby for some part-time cash?Keep in mind that your Niche can always be adapted down the track if your situation or the market changes.<br /><br />3. Leverage<br /><br />You need to become a master of Leverage. It is one of the most powerful principles in business. Everyone who is successful in business and life uses Leverage in some way.To use the concept of Leverage you need to continually examine how you can access other people's skill, resources and money more effectively. Furthermore, consider less obvious assets in business such as systems, marketing and time.Leverage is about duplicating a high-value item or skill at a lower cost.I will explore this topic in depth in future articles; however, at this point it is important to remember the following points:* Focus on Money-Making activities* Delegate to others as much as <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">possible By</span> doing this you will see an immediate increase in your ability to work 'on' <a class="kLink" oncontextmenu="return false;" id="KonaLink1" onmouseover="adlinkMouseOver(event,this,1);" style="POSITION: static; TEXT-DECORATION: underline! important" onclick="adlinkMouseClick(event,this,1);" onmouseout="adlinkMouseOut(event,this,1);" href="http://www.articlesbase.com/business-articles/9-key-business-startup-success-principles-220182.html#" target="_new">your business</a>, rather than getting stuck 'in' the day to day running of it.Lateral Thinking shares an implicit relationship with Leverage...<br /><br />4. Lateral Thinking<br /><br />This is the concept of looking at things from a different point of view. You can increase profits significantly by doing simple things to "Add Value" in ways that others are not.In other words, continually look at your business and ask yourself questions such as:* How can we do, what we do, better?* What do our clients want that they are not getting currently?* Could we use <a class="kLink" oncontextmenu="return false;" id="KonaLink2" onmouseover="adlinkMouseOver(event,this,2);" style="POSITION: static; TEXT-DECORATION: underline! important" onclick="adlinkMouseClick(event,this,2);" onmouseout="adlinkMouseOut(event,this,2);" href="http://www.articlesbase.com/business-articles/9-key-business-startup-success-principles-220182.html#" target="_new">affiliate marketing</a> to grow our business?* Do we currently use the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">internet</span> to effectively market our business?* Could we join forces with another business to cross-promote our products?* Could we use our knowledge to create another product?What I am suggesting here is to take some time out to brainstorm ideas around your business. This is a difficult for most small business owners to achieve because they see this as wasted and unproductive time - nothing could be further from the truth...Some of the most successful companies in the world allow themselves and their employees lateral thinking time - Google and 3M immediately come to mind. Many of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Google's</span> most successful products have originated from this process.Now, I'm not suggesting that you have to take 1 day a week (as Google does) to undertake this process - they have high operating margins and therefore significant leverage. However, I would encourage you to consider 'opening you mind' for at least couple of hours each week to explore further opportunities.I am sure that you will find it a valuable and profitable experience if you stick to it!<br /><br />5. Testing<br /><br />If you can <a class="kLink" oncontextmenu="return false;" id="KonaLink3" onmouseover="adlinkMouseOver(event,this,3);" style="POSITION: static; TEXT-DECORATION: underline! important" onclick="adlinkMouseClick(event,this,3);" onmouseout="adlinkMouseOut(event,this,3);" href="http://www.articlesbase.com/business-articles/9-key-business-startup-success-principles-220182.html#" target="_new">start your business</a> with a clear idea of how you are going to monitor your systems, resources and assets then you will be well ahead of the pack. When most business owners are confronted with questions about their average transaction value, sales conversion ratios, enquiry and lead generation rates - they come up with varying excuses or reasons as to why they don't know or have this vital information.DON'T MAKE THE SAME MISTAKE!!You need to be able to calculate your ROI (Return on Investment) for everything that you do on a regular basis.To do this develop a set of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">KPI</span> (Key Performance Indicators) that are appropriate for your business - don't go overboard - just focus on the information that you need. Remember that 80% of your results come from 20% of your activities! The key is to discover the 20% and keep improving them...The other benefit of testing is that it encourages us to recognise mistakes and move on - this is a vital part of the growth process. Without action, mistakes and growth we stagnate and/or wither at the vine!<br /><br />6. Efficiency<br /><br />Hard work doesn't guarantee success or profits - look at how wealth is apportioned in the world and this soon becomes apparent - 80% of the wealth is controlled by less than 10% of the population.Personally, it took a long time for this penny to drop! The first business I owned was really just a job in disguise. I was caught in a trap that confronts many small business owners - working IN the business, rather than ON the business.This is a critical distinction...If significant profits and growth are what you desire, then it is critical that you become efficient and develop systems that will allow your business to work for you and not the other way around.There is one key concept to remember when implementing anything...<br /><br />7. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Lag</span><br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error"></span><span class="blsp-spelling-error">Lag </span>is the concept that you 'reap what you sew'. In other words, if you follow the principles suggested here and persist - you will succeed!However, your business life is going to provide you with numerous challenges and obstacles to overcome. The biggest difference between successful people and the rest is that successful people look at upsets as a chance to grow and learn rather than as failure.When confronted by a setback, rather than giving into fear and quitting you must continue to persist. Why? Because if your principles are sound, all you have to do is keep adjusting your methodology until you have a formula for success.You will have a much greater chance of success in business if you keep the principle of Lag in the back of your mind, stay focused and never give up!<br /><br />8. Timing<br /><br />Timing is an essential aspect of business ownership. It also shares a close bond with decision-making and action-taking. If you continually use Lateral Thinking and Testing then you will certainly discover further opportunities. The key to successfully implementing and taking advantage of these opportunities is Timing.As the old sayings go:If you wait too long, you may miss the boat... (e.g. someone else capitalizes)If you jump right in you may get your fingers burnt... (e.g. misjudged market enthusiasm)You need to find a middle ground when it comes to Timing, because it is very difficult to time things perfectly. Combine focused analysis, gut feeling, enthusiasm and decision making together and you will be well on the way to mastering Timing and the next Principle...<br /><br />9. Action<br /><br />Successful business owners are Masters of Action. They know that Action always beats inaction. They understand that it is better to try, make a mistake, refine and re-implement than to do nothing at all. That's because in business:INACTION = A SLOW DEATH Unsuccessful business owners are Masters of Excuses. Fear provides them with an endless stream of seemingly logical reasons why they shouldn't act.You need to make a decision right now - will you accept as doctrine your negative internal dialogue and the nay-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">sayers</span> - or will you take chances and trust your experience?I would suggest the latter...To take Action, it is critical that you take responsibility for your situation. If you are not where you want to be, then justifying or laying blame on others will not solve the situation - it will just add fuel to your negative mindset.A better way to respond is to focus on 'the gap' - the 20% of activities in your business (or life) that will take you from where you are to where you want to be. Goal setting is one of the best ways to define the 'gap' and taking Action is the best way to reduce it.<br /><br /><br /><br />CONCLUSION: The most important Principle is that you should love what you do - passion and attitude will play a large part in defining your success in business. Therefore, ensure that you find a Niche that you are comfortable with. Apply the Principles outlined here, define your own rules and goals, and you will be well on the way to creating a successful and profitable business.<br /><br /><br /><br />Andrew Cox is the Co-founder of Business Boot Camp. We provide FREE resources and paid programs to help small businesses get their bottom lines into shape! Join a profit-driven community today... <a href="http://www.businessbootcamp.net.au/">Business Boot Camp - Get Your Bottom Line Into Shape</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5943427271546815474.post-18925446677437351742007-10-09T21:14:00.000-04:002007-10-10T05:05:08.066-04:00Kicking off the Week of Action.This week's focus is on action when reaching for success. I think that taking action is so important if you want to achieve anything. Many people are riding Law of Attraction wave of making things possible by just thinking it is possible. The book and movie called The Secret brought this idea into the mainstream. Logic won't allow me to believe that all you have to do is think it and success will happen by itself, but I do buy many of the concepts of the Law of Attraction. Hear is an article courtesy of Articlebase.com. I like many of the points that are made and I think it'll help set the tone for the upcoming post this week.<br /><br /><br /><br />written by Jon Mercer<br />As a Law of Attraction coach, I'm often asked: "Do I need to take action to attract what I desire into my life? And if so, what is the role of action in the process of creating my life?<br /><br /><br /><br />"The concept of "taking action" is a big stumbling block for many people trying to using the Law of Attraction, and I too have struggled with this from time to time.<br /><br /><br /><br />I believe the definitive answer to these questions can be found in Wallace Wattle's classic book from 1906, "The <a class="kLink" oncontextmenu="return false;" id="KonaLink0" onmouseover="adlinkMouseOver(event,this,0);" style="POSITION: static; TEXT-DECORATION: underline! important" onclick="adlinkMouseClick(event,this,0);" onmouseout="adlinkMouseOut(event,this,0);" href="http://www.articlesbase.com/self-help-articles/the-law-of-attraction-is-action-required-120911.html#" target="_new">Science</a> of Getting Rich."Wattles believed that the "advancing person" needed to conduct their affairs in what he termed, "The Certain Way" in order to manifest their desires. This "Certain Way" involved taking efficient action for the betterment of all mankind, not just the individual. It also required acting with a hard-nosed faith that what you are seeking is also seeking you. In other words, you must act from a mindset of faith, and never from a mindset of lack or limitation.<br /><br /><br /><br />A basic overview of Wallace's points:<br /><br />1. Your action can never be to take what you want from another. The desire for "more life" is inherent in all of nature, and your actions should reflect this truth. To this end, competition is strictly forbidden. You never compete with another for what you want, but instead, create abundance in your life, by acting with faith and purpose.<br /><br /><br /><br />2. You must give the "impression of increase" in all your actions and dealing with others. The means that you must display an attitude of abundance, that you are increasing your lot in life, and give this impression to all. It is not necessary to do this with words-your strongly held faith in your advancement will clearly shine through.<br /><br /><br /><br />3. You must never do tomorrow's work today or feel that you must rush or struggle in any way. Doing so will bring you into a mindset of lack and limitation (rushing assumes a lack of time, for example). Assume that the universe is friendly to your plans (it is!), and that no rush or struggle is ever necessary (it's not)<br /><br /><br /><br />.4. Success breeds success, while failure only breeds failure. It is critical that any action you take is a "successful action." It does not matter how difficult or easy the task is, what is important is that you do it in a perfectly successful way. Even trivial tasks, like washing the dishes, need to be focused upon and completed successfully. These "trivial" successes form a "pattern of success" which will become your standard operating procedure. As Wallace Wattles put it: "When the majority of your actions are successful, you will be successful."<br /><br /><br /><br />5. Take inspired action. Those intuitive 'nudges" from within are there for a purpose. Learn to act on your impulses and intuitions. Most of the time your gut instincts will be correct. Learn to trust them and act upon them quickly. "Strike while the iron is hot.<br /><br /><br /><br />"6. "Life gives to the givers, and takes from the takers." If you want more in your life, start thinking about how you can give more. The more of yourself you can offer to the world, the more you will be rewarded. "How can I serve?" is a great mantra to have if you want to attract great wealth into your life. Understanding this principle has personally changed my life and my finances incredibly. I highly recommend it.<br /><br /><br /><br />Jon Mercer (PDC) is a Law of Attraction coach and author.<br /><br />Article Source: <a href="http://www.articlesbase.com/self-help-articles/the-law-of-attraction-is-action-required-120911.html">http://www.articlesbase.com/self-help-articles/the-law-of-attraction-is-action-required-120911.html</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5943427271546815474.post-13381124320082331112007-10-04T21:55:00.000-04:002007-10-05T05:33:06.610-04:00Money MattersWhen they show an image of a stack of 100 dollar bills with "Win $25,000" under it, it grabs people's attention. But is it the stack of newly printed bills that people are intrigued by? Or is it what that stack represents? The thoughts that go through our heads are thoughts of what we would do with all that money. I can remember when we were young and we use to play Monopoly. When those brightly colored fake bills circulated around the group, without fail, there was always one person that would say "man if this money was real I would....". Money is a means to whatever life someone wants to live. Money can create cars, houses, clothes, and girls for most people. It can also create lies, cheaters, thieves and war. Washington, Lincoln, Hamilton, Roosevelt, and Benjamin have no power of their own; in the right or wrong hands, money means the world.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.potential2success.com/">http://www.potential2success.com/</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5943427271546815474.post-6473901399038010572007-09-29T23:47:00.000-04:002007-09-29T23:48:28.015-04:00If it bleeds, it leads: Why does "drama" sell?We've all watched Jerry Springer and Maury Polvich before and said, "she is so stupid; how could she not know who the father is?" or "Why is she staying with him after he did that?" Whether it relates to our lives or not we are drawn to drama. The type of drama that we are attracted to tells us a lot about our own lives.<br /><br />Some people use drama as an escape from their lives. They see their own everyday life as unexciting and use the happening of others as their dose of drama. Other people can not live without drama. They grew up around it at home, took it with them to school, and haul it into their relationships. I knew a girl that was determined to have drama in her life whether she wanted it or not. If things in her life were going to well, she would always act out in some way and that would eventually cause drama or a conflict.<br /><br />Then there are the folks who use other people's misfortunes to make their lives seem better. The idea is if I watch someone else's messed up life on TV, then my life isn't so bad. The worse the situation the easier it is to say, "man, his life is a train wreck. I couldn't live my life like that." Yeah, you probably couldn't so it's easier to watch.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5943427271546815474.post-19005325006513421642007-09-25T20:39:00.000-04:002007-09-26T05:08:42.585-04:00What I learned on my vacationI just had a week vacation and I feel like a new man. I really am the type to use every experience and a learning opportunity. Although I decided not to go far, I used the time I had to get away from my old routine of working late on articles, updates, and links and fell into a habit of trying new things, connecting with old friends and meeting new people. Here are some things that I learned on my vacation.<br /><br /><br />College Football is better than the NFL<br />The last two weekend afternoons of my vacation were spent watching a ton of football. I’m a big college basketball fan but when it comes to football I’ve always preferred the NFL. Not anymore. I’ve been to a number of college football games and the excitement is great but on TV I’ve always liked the fact that the NFL had personalities and stories that a fan could tie into their viewing. It wasn’t until this past week that I realized how much I liked the college stories and history more than the pro’s. The Notre Dame losing streak interest me more than the Patriots cheating scandal (mostly because I don’t like Notre Dame). Now I here that the NFL is saying the cheerleaders are a distraction. That’s not good marketing NFL.<br /><br /><br />I need to update my wardrobe twice a year<br />I never go on shopping sprees. If I’m in a store and I like a shirt I’ll buy it. Earlier this year I bought a number of dress and polo shirts that I liked. After I packed I felt that I made some good selections on the outfits that I picked out to take with me. But when I got to the suite I realized that my taste in clothes has already changed. I made plans to hang out with some friends on Monday night and remember looking in the mirror with confusion thinking “is there something wrong with this mirror?” Then I realized that it wasn’t the mirror it was me. The dress shirts were fine but I no longer liked the polo shirts fits or their designs. I believe in presenting yourself how you want others to perceive you so in order to send the right message I need to make sure I feel good in the clothes that I have on.<br /><br /><br />Weight gain sneaks up on me<br />I knew my diet wasn’t that good the past two weeks but I didn’t see any change in my weight until a few days ago. I skipped my weekly workout routine during my vacation but I’m back on it starting today (maybe tomorrow).<br /><br /><br />O.J. Simpson is an idiot<br />Are you serious, O.J.?<br /><br /><br />I haven’t lost sight of my goals and now I have new ones I want to accomplish (plus I gotta lose this vacation weight). Some time off did me some good and now I’m ready to finish the year strong.<br /><br />www.potential2success.comUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5943427271546815474.post-4544794642463775972007-09-23T21:09:00.000-04:002007-09-23T21:10:07.893-04:00Benefits of Deep BreathingWhat if I told you that there was a way you can relieve stress, reduce anxiety, and have more energy would you be interested? No, I'm not talking about a new hard to pronounce prescription drug with a seemingly endless list of morbid side effects. I'm referring to the practice of deep breathing. This often overlooked method of health optimization is one of the easiest and best exercises you can do for yourself. In addition to stress and anxiety reduction, deep breathing may also lower blood pressure and lower your heart rate. Your brain also benefits from your deep breathing. The more oxygen that is allowed to enter your brain through the blood, the clearer your thinking will be. Deep breaths help relieve your fight or fight instincts so that you can clearly think during high stress situations. Here are a few types of breathing exercises you can perform at any time.<br /><br />Counting Breaths<br /> This exercise requires you to sit in a comfortable position with your spine straight, head forward, and eyes closed. Breathe in naturally and count "one" when you exhale. Breathe in again naturally and then count "two" as you exhale again and continue on until you reach a five count. Do this for about 10 minutes and if done correctly, you should come out of it with a clearer head due to a change in brain activity.<br /><br />Chest and Abdominal Breathing<br /> This exercise will help you become more aware of your breathing. Start by lying on your back and placing one hand on your abdominal and one hand on your chest. Take a deep breath through your nostrils with the focus on keeping your chest still and filling your belly with air. This will help you learn to breath through your diaphragm.<br /><br />Short Breaths<br /> This is a quick breathing technique that begins with you inhaling three short breaths through the nostrils and then exhaling smoothly through the mouth. Ten to twelve breaths in 2-3 minutes should be enough gain the full benefits of this exercise.<br />It is amazing sometimes how a simple thing such as breathing can have a positive effect on our bodies and minds. You can feel better by doing some of these exercises daily and you don't have to worry about dealing with negative side effects.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5943427271546815474.post-74581241118237786342007-09-21T03:20:00.000-04:002007-09-21T03:31:36.983-04:00What money meansMost people watch TV shows like Cribs or How I'm <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Livin'</span> and wish they could have money like the rich and famous. We assume that having money is having it all. We see how easily these stars can throw around money and get whatever they want and we think that being rich is about buying the most jewelery, cloths, and houses. I had to question what I was seeing a few years back and realized that they aren't as rich as they are made out to be. Forbes magazine published an issue recently that confirmed my suspicion that the "rich and famous" are not really that rich at all. When looking at all the billionaires in the U.S., there were only 3 that were in the entertainment industry on the list of about 200. Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, and Oprah Winfrey. And all of them were near the bottom of the list. The really rich don't flaunt <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">it around</span> or stand around waiting for people to take their picture. I don't think we will be seeing the MTV Cribs episode of Warren Buffet.<br /><br />So what is money really? If the people we see everyday on the news and magazines are rich, why do we want to be just like them? The reality is that the "rich" we see in the media doesn't equal power, it equals perks. The designer clothes and VIP rooms and the latest electronics are seen to the masses as what it means to be rich. Wealth is a culmination of a solid <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">foundation</span> which may include money. I curious how long it will take for people to realize that there is more to having money than just having the latest whatever. Billionaires run the country not millionaires. Billionaires don't waste most of their money on entertainment and image. They reinvest their money. THAT'S WHY THEY ARE BILLIONAIRES NOT MILLIONAIRES. As soon as people in general can begin to shift their thinking in the billionaire mentality instead of the the millionaire <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">mentality</span> the sooner we will see a shift in society when it comes to money..Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5943427271546815474.post-1397915092163802972007-09-17T20:18:00.000-04:002007-09-17T20:18:17.072-04:00Grasping a second chance in lifeHeavy on the mind and the heart is the feeling of failure, inadequacy, or disappointment. No matter the circumstances we all experience the same symptoms. Your mind questions the outcome and reenacts your short comings. Then the questions of "Why me" and the statements of "If only I'd..." frequently visit your thoughts with wishes and prayers quickly following. But the second chance is possible and the opportunities for it are everywhere. The key to grasping the second chance is to learn from your past, create new habits and practices, and finally, help others get a second chance in life.<br /><br />Whenever a failure happens in someone's life the blow can be crushing. We tend to lean towards blame after realizing that our dreams, hopes, trust, or expectations have turned into sand in the palm of our hands. Blaming others or blaming ourselves. With all of this emotional and mental conflict, how can someone begin to turn things around?<br /><br />First, you must start with an understanding of how you got to the place you are. There are two types of failures. The ones that you could've prevented and the ones you could do nothing about. The first type is seen all of the time in sports. The time Isaiah Thomas threw the bad pass that go stolen by Larry Bird. Or what about the "wide right" kick by Florida State when playing The University of Miami. These types of mistakes are common in our everyday lives also. The job or position you should have taken that would have made a difference in your life. Or maybe it was that relationship that ended leaving scars unhealed and questions unanswered. Not finishing school, a missed business investment, time wasted all things that we had control over but somehow did not make the right decision.<br /><br />Then there are the failures and disappointment that you could not control. It is those times when you put in every ounce of effort that you can muster up and take every precaution to ensure nothing goes wrong. But despite all your hard work and dedication; your business still goes under. You still can't get pass your addiction. Your spouse still decides to leave and start a new life, without you.<br /><br />Learn to take responsibility for the things that have happened. Be honest with yourself about your bad decisions and actions that have placed you where you are and decide to make a change in order to have a better future. Forgive others for their wrong doing in your life and learn to accept the things you cannot control. Someone once told me that God cannot place a new life in your hands if you are still holding on to the old one. The sooner you can let go, the sooner you can move on.<br /><br />Next, develop a new you. Take full advantage of the second chance you have been given. If you need to change the way you dress in order to feel better and project a different image than do it. Maybe the way you talk and who you associate with needs to change in order for you to stay focused on your new life. If that's the case, then make those changes. Your atmosphere will be a big part of how successful your new life is. And the habits that you create will outline your new life and enable the healing of the past. Be dedicated to your new life and hold on tightly to the endless possibilities you now have in order to prevent yourself from slipping back into the realm of your past.<br /><br />The evidence of success will be the ability to help others in their second chance. Somewhere along the way someone is going to need your help, your encouragement, your wisdom and experience. You may be the example that they look at and say "Wow if she can do it so can I" or "I want to do what he did." Giving back keeps you climbing the mountain and it reminds you of how far you have come.<br />The second chance is not promised to anybody. Utilizing a second opportunity can be example of great accomplishment and can also be a blessing for someone else.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.potential2success.com/">http://www.potential2success.com/</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5943427271546815474.post-7573887286042537902007-09-11T05:09:00.000-04:002007-09-11T05:11:23.745-04:00Leader vs ManagerThe true difference between a leader and a manager is that you never have to be told that someone is a leader, you just know it. A manager has to be introduced to other people as a manager. Leaders have a way about them that can be easily identified. It's the way they talk confidently and with clarity and and how well they handle people. Managers do what they are suppose to do, manage. They have a job to do and the job will get done. There is no charisma or charm necessary to be a manager just the focus to finish the job. That is why managers who are leaders are so special because they possess the ability to get the job done well and keep everyone satisfied with them and their job.<br /><br />Let's say you went to your local elementary at noon and walked into the lunch room. It would not take you more than 10 minutes to identify the kids with leadership skills. There was a kid in my 5th grade class that I am sure is a leader right now. He was popular with the popular kids was funny and a great athlete. All the little girls had a crush on him and all the little boys wanted to hang out with him. That isn't what made me realize he was a leader. It was those times I would see him stray away from his pack of followers and drift towards some of the nerds and spend a few moments talking to them and making them laugh and feel good. Whenever our Phys Ed teacher wanted to round us up to go back to class guess who they asked to call everyone in?<br /><br />Now thats a leader. Someone people will follow because they want to not because they have to.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5943427271546815474.post-84941183776220491782007-09-09T22:18:00.000-04:002007-09-10T05:05:33.785-04:00Finish Line Vision<span style="font-family:georgia;">"<span style="font-size:130%;">The successful warrior is the average man, with laser-like focus."</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">-Bruce Lee</span><br /><br />I wrote an article recently called <a href="http://http//www.potential2success.com/everlastingmotivation.html">Everlasting Motivation</a> that was about staying motivated while you are reaching for your goal. I've learned that trying to accomplish something without motivation is painful. Last week I was reviewing my To-Do list for the upcoming weeks and I realized that I have a full schedule of things to do. I started running all of the meetings, all of the blog and article writing and posting, all of the networking, all of the research, all of the everything that I had to do through my head. Have you ever been a work and seen a pile of work staring at you waiting to be done? You know you have to get started on it but it seems so overwhelming that you just sit back and think "man, where do I start?"<br /><br />That's the way I felt. I have all of these things that aren't going to get done unless I do them. But at the same time I sometimes wonder where to start. Believe it or not I had to go back and read my own article just to get an idea on how to motivate myself to keep going. My problem was that I was focusing on what I had to do not the results of what I was doing. Having finish line vision is having a clear picture of where you want to be, where you want to succeed. It's like a track runner who has a line of hurdles in front of him. As he is sprinting towards the finish line, he is not thinking about how he has to clear that third or fourth hurdle. Instead his goal is to get to the finish line and not let anything stand in his way.<br /><br />You'd be surprised how the littlest thing can stop us from reaching our finish lines. In our everyday lives we make excuses and find reasons not to do something that we know should be done. I'm beginning<span style="color:#ffff00;"> </span>to realize that the lack of focus on the result is the main reason we do this. My mission for the next few days will be to focus on the end result and not on the hurdles.<br /><br /><br />"Keep your mind on the things you want and off the things you don't want."<br />-Hannah Whitall SmithUnknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5943427271546815474.post-61364814609190723102007-09-03T22:35:00.001-04:002007-09-04T04:59:07.283-04:00Making ExcusesWhen things go wrong in our lives, the easiest thing to do is find someone or something to blame. No matter the circumstance or event most people find an outside reason for their actions, disappointments, and shortcomings. I'm sure you know someone like that. Every little thing that happens in their lives is a big deal and they react like a victim. Whenever I see this I feel like screaming STOP! Get up, get over it, and get on with your life<br /><br />The road less traveled is the road of accountability. The people who will make the most progress are the ones who can look a trying situation in the face and say "I'm responsible for this". But that is not common in our society today. If you are on drugs blame your parents and environment. Not making enough money, blame your job and the economy. Not happy with who you are, blame your spouse and God.<br /><br />The faster we can stop making excuses, the sooner we are able to improve our circumstances. Look at your life and everything that you want to gain from it and say to yourself, "what can I do to make this better?" We need to understand that the challenges in our lives are suppose to make us better. They are suppose to help us grow. If something happens in our lives and it seems too hard to fix, making an excuse makes things worse because it makes us weaker and a victim of circumstance. Take a look at your life, take responsibility for your life, and then take action in your life.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.potential2success.com/">http://www.potential2success.com/</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0