1)      Be well prepared and rehearse your speech/presentation. This will set your mind’s direction of thinking and keep you focused on what you say, instead of you grappling for words on stage, which is embarrassing. Rehearse at least one night before the day of your speech/presentation. A well prepared mind leads to a well presented self.

2)      Avoid using filler words like, ‘you know’, etc. If you have forgotten your lines move onto the next topic or slide in line. Don’t stand there pulling a blank on yourself, trying to remember the lines. You will make yourself more nervous.

3)      Keep your voice leveled. You are the only one that is nervous, no one knows that and you have to keep it that way. You don’t want the audience to think that you are nervous. Don’t sound too meek or aggressive. Make sure your tone is consistent throughout.

4)      Pause occasionally to give yourself and the audience a break, but don’t stretch it for too long though. If you take too long the audience might lose interest or you might just get back to your nervousness.

5)      Words and actions are all that you got, to show up there. While you have the words taken care of, you have to visualize and practice your actions too. Your body language will speak volumes about your confidence level and preparedness. Don’t fidget or overly make gestures. Practice your postures and expressions relevant for your speech/presentation. 

6)      Know your audience. Make eye contact with the audience. Don’t let your gaze go astray or be fixed on a certain spot, try to make eye contact. This will make it personable for the audience and keep them riveted to what you have to say.

7)      Make sure you get good rest the previous night. If possible do some relaxations exercises on both the day before and the day of the speech/presentation.

While going on the stage take a deep breath and stride in with confidence. Rise and let yourself shine up there in the spotlight.

By

Mary-Ann Roche

Paralized by Fear

For me personally when I reach the podium and turn the microphone on from that point on I see not much more than a black canvas in front of me. I can feel the sensation welling up inside my throat knowing that I must soon speak. Like many of us I am a perfectionist, and put considerable emphasis on delivering the perfect speech. In a way that is a double edged sword for someone with a fear of public speaking in that it is the very thing that causes the fear in the first instance, and secondly it is the very thing that the audience is looking for!

When making a speech I tend to experience all the thoughts like “what if people hate my speech and begin leaving”, what if I simply cannot speak in a fluent manner, what if something goes wrong with my slide presentation and I have to wing it?

Focus is the Key

All of these feelings cause enormous anxiety making it very difficult to deliver an effective and memorable speech.  Perhaps the key is to try to actually focus on sharing your knowledge with the audience, after all that’s what they came for!  Forget if you can, about flawlessly delivering your speech but rather, focus on the value the audience can actually get from the content delivery.  Forget about impressing them but focus on delivering to them the information you know they want to gain.  Perhaps this focus, will help you to overcome your fear of public speaking.

Communicate the topic effectively to your audience so you can see by their faces that they are receiving the information they came for.  In focusing to this degree, the nervous or anxious feelings tend to be held at bay.

Preparation

Therefore always study your subject matter thoroughly beforehand so you feel confident when it comes time to deliver this information.  Practise and refine your speaking, pausing at the correct moments and speaking slowly and effectively.  Ensure your presentation materials are prepared correctly so as to aid you in delivering your address in an effective manner.

Visualize yourself already speaking in public

Lastly as Im sure many of my readers know by now, I am a great believer in the art of meditation and visualization.  Meditate an hour or so prior to delivery of your speech and visualize yourself speaking in front of the audience.  See yourself speaking clearly and with confidence to your audience.  Think about how you are feeling when you do this, do you feel good about yourself?  Are you feeling relaxed about it?

These are my thoughts on how to overcome your fear of public speaking, from a fellow sufferer.  I have practised what I preach and can say that over time my fear of public speaking has reduced somewhat and continues to do so if I follow my own advice.

By Maryann Roche

Failure comes to all of us at some point in our lives and in some shape or form; however the fear of failure can become one of your biggest life fears.

Fear of failure really is just a fear of the unknown. You don’t know what’s out there, and so you’re scared, sometimes to the point where you want to give up entirely just to avoid failing!  It doesn’t take long to figure out that the ultimate is to not try at all!

How can you overcome the fear of failure and gain the confidence you need to succeed?

Consider these actions steps:

1. Imagine the worst case scenario. Of course, you should spend time imagining everything turning out well, but it actually helps to imagine the worst case. This is because, while horrible, imagining the worst case gives your fears a face. Your fears are then no longer the unknown and they may not be quite as scary.

2. Take action. The fear of failure can hold you hostage but when you take bold action, you’re able to recognize you simply made a mistake, learn from it and move on.

3. Talk to successful people. Ask them about the times they experienced failure and how they felt. It’s likely that they were afraid and that they’ve even failed greatly before reaching success.

4. Learn to use affirmations. Daily affirmations help to change your mind set about your fears and can reprogram your thinking so you know you will succeed at anything you attempt.

5. Know that you will keep trying.  When faced with failure it is important to pick yourself up, dust yourself off and give it another try.

Help is always Available

Many people the world over suffer the fear of failure so of course there are many people to talk to who can help you.  It is wise to talk to those who have failed many times and overcome this but trying again and again. Of course a Counselor, trained in this field can also provide enormous assistance and support.

Long Term

Remember that life is full of lessons, and when we don’t learn the lesson the first time we get it back again and again until we understand and learn the lesson, that’s really all that failure is, a lesson in life’s journey!

Usually when we hear the word “self-discipline,” we relate it to things like losing weight or quitting smoking. Self-discipline is extremely helpful when trying to break those bad habits, but it can also be beneficial in other areas of your life.

It is important to realize that we are not born with self-discipline; it is something we must develop as we grow. Generally it begins with teaching from our parents, however it is a personal thing that we must all be responsible for.

Once we develop our self-discipline so many things in life can be achieved. Sounds easy?  Well personally, I can only say that some days I believe I have mastered self-discipline and other days I havent! It takes inner strength and perserverance to push through those tough times and stay focused on your goal. Grab a copy of Brian Tracy’s book, The Miracle of Self-Discipline” where he talks about obtaining and maintaining the discipline to get going and keep going. Well worth it, especially when you are at a low and feel like giving up on your goal.

When we master the art of self-disciple we will then develop an unshakeable focus in purpose! Firstly you must be committed, really committed to reaching your goals. You cannot and I mean cannot entertain a negative thought, an excuse or any doubts whatsoever.  You must be brutally honest with yourself and know that whatever it is you want to see it through to the very end.  Desire alone will not get you there.  Call upon your inner strength, as self-discipline is all about perserverance and inner strength will get you past those challenging moments, those times where you feel like giving up. If you are getting off track your inner strength will get you focused and committed again.

We all have inner strength and most of us have used it on more than one occasion. Trust this inner strength and remember to ask for support from family and friends. Gaining self -discipline to achieve a goal is a big undertaking and sometimes you will feel overwhelmed. Entrust a friend, spouse, or parent with what you’re trying to accomplish and they can be there to support you when your self-discipline is waning, to give you that gentle push to keep going.

If you have the self-discipline to stop smoking for one week, that is excellent, but the only way you are going to build upon your self-discipline is to do whatever is necessary to avoid cigarettes today, tomorrow, and forever. Once you develop patterns of self-discipline they soon become a habit! Everyone of us has something we want to achieve in life, but we sometimes lack the self-discipline to do so.

Remember to practise self-discipline techniques every day staying focused and committed on your goal, go the extra mile when you have to, and call on help through the tough times.

By MaryAnn Roche.

Grab this Free from my ebook page!

Is life passing you by? Well I say No to Mediocrity and Yes to Success! You can too…read on my friend!

There’s an exciting world out there with a lot to offer. Deep down you know you want to get out and take a big bite of it. Sure, it may be a bit overwhelming, and even scary at times, but you can’t let your life just pass you by.

So, it looks like you’re stuck in a rut. Are you bored with your life and the same routine day after day? Of course you can’t be happy like this!

It’s time to live those dreams, take a leap of faith, and get out of your comfort zone! Lose the mediocrity and find the success! But how do you get started?

Read on for some valuable tips and suggestions to help you find the success you desire:

1. Take the first step.

It’s time to take that first leap of faith. As much as you want to step outside the box and get out of this rut, nothing will happen without taking that first big step.

* No matter how frightening it may be, you need to focus on the big picture and the pot of gold at the end of that rainbow. Muster up all the encouragement and support you can find and just do it. Once the first step is accomplished, it gets easier!

Get Unstoppable Confidence for Your Journey! – Click Here
* You deserve to be the best that you can possibly be, and deep down inside you know this. You’ll be so glad you took action – and you’ll be so proud of yourself when you celebrate at the finish line!

2. Decide what you want to do.

Put your fears aside and step outside of your mediocrity zone. If you could do anything without fear, money, or time being an issue, what would you choose?

* Make a list of everything you would like to accomplish someday. It doesn’t matter how crazy or outrageous you may think it is, just write it down.

* It also doesn’t matter if your list has three or thirty-three things listed. Just search your heart and your mind and write down what you would really like to do.

3. Faith.

It’s important to have faith to see your journey until the end, yet this may be one of the hardest qualities to develop. Remember how it feels to be stuck where you are with no excitement and no real purpose. You know things can be better than they are now, but how?

* All you need to do is believe in yourself. You know that countless people before you have lived their dreams, so why not you? What makes them so different?
Get Unstoppable Confidence for Your Journey! – Click Here

* There really is no difference between you and others, except for the belief in the possibility for great success. You can be just like they are; you just have to believe you can do it!

4. Don’t keep it a secret.

If you’re ashamed of how you’re feeling, you shouldn’t be. Many people find themselves in the same predicament. The only thing that should embarrass you is if you intentionally decide to stay in that rut! Do yourself a big favor and open up to someone you trust.

* Whether that’s a parent, spouse, or best friend, tell them that you’re ready to make a change in your life and they’ll be able support you throughout your journey. They’ll encourage you on the good days and cry with you on the bad days.

* Most importantly, they’ll be there to support you throughout it all. It’s just what you need to achieve great success!

Final thoughts on Success and Mediocrity

No one enjoys being in a rut and just going through the motions of life. Feeling mediocrity is not a nice thing! Don’t let your fears hold you back. After all, this is a wonderful world that you deserve to enjoy to the fullest!

Go out and experience everything life has to offer. Take that first leap of faith and you’ll never look back again! What ever Success means to you – Just Go Get It!
Get Unstoppable Confidence, You’ll be So Glad You Did! – Click Here
By MaryAnn Roche.

Positive Thinking is not only beneficial for the health; it also affects the people around you as well. Negative thinking is more crippling than most people think. Read on to Stop Negative Thinking and enjoy the benefits of Positive Thinking instead!

“Think positive!” I’m sure you’ve had someone give you that advice before. Whenever you’re down and about to lose hope, your friends and family often tell you to keep your head up and move forward because things will work themselves out in the end.

What are the benefits of Positive Thinking?

Psychological studies have documented that people with a positive attitude in life live healthier lives. According to experts, having a positive mood is good for the morale. This enables to person to overcome adversities in life more efficiently compared to a pessimist. They are also able to reach their goal faster because of their perseverance and determination.

The American Psychological association released a journal linking the benefits of positive thinking to better overall health. The journal documents that the pessimistic respondents were more likely to become frail later in life.

Frailty in the journal was measure using weight loss, exhaustion, walking speed and grip strength. Although there was no concrete conclusion, psychologists say that having a positive outlook increases a person’s resources which helps them cope with stress and illnesses better.

The benefits of positive thinking are not only with health; it also affects the people around you as well. A person with a positive attitude is more likely able to cheer up a friend in need compared to a pessimistic individual. In some cases, having a positive attitude is infectious which brings balance and harmony in the workplace or at home.

How to Stop Negative Thinking

Negative thinking is more crippling than most people think. It not only affects a person emotionally but psychologically, socially and even physically as well. Eliminating negative thoughts is not as simple as saying to yourself “stop negative thinking!” Thankfully, there are techniques and tips developed by experts to help pessimists stop negative thinking.

The first step to stop negative thinking is to recognize that you are thinking negative thoughts. You won’t be able to stop a problem in its tracks if you can’t address it properly. You need to be self-aware whenever you feel any negative emotions like anger, sadness or frustration. Once you realize you are having negative thoughts, you can restrain yourself from having them.

Whenever you feel bad about something, you can rationalize why you feel that way. This is the second step in addressing your negative attitude. Why are you angry? Why are you sad? What makes you feel frustrated? Address the reasons and stop dwelling on it.

It may not be as easy as it sounds, but trust me, you’ll get there soon. You have to remember that some things are out of your control and it’s ok to feel sad or angry when something bad happens. The important thing is that you don’t let the feeling linger anymore than it should.

Find a hobby or an activity to distract your mind from thinking negative thoughts. A hobby that involves thinking is a good way to distract your mind; try solving jigsaw puzzles to help calm yourself.

Have a hobby that is as productive as possible. Set up a woodshop in your home, write or paint; it doesn’t matter whether you think you’re artistic enough or not. Instead of spending your free time sulking around the house, you can start creating works of art.

Final thoughts on Positive Thinking and Negative Thinking

Finally, focus on the positive instead of the negative. Instead of dwelling on the things you’ve lost, remind yourself of what you have in the present. Bad things happen to everyone, so does good things; count your blessings no matter how small it may seem.

Remember that good and bad times come and go – its called life! If you can train your brain to stop negative thinking quickly by using the above suggestions, you are well on the way to experiencing the benefits of Positive Thinking!

By MaryAnn Roche

You can become your own course master with self discipline and find the control and focus you need to be successful.

Self-discipline is the ability to do whatever it takes to overcome obstacles and reach your goals, even when it’s inconvenient or uncomfortable. It may involve saying: “no” to things you want or saying: “yes” to things you hate, but with the power of self discipline, it becomes easier to stand up for yourself.

Self discipline is a powerful attribute to have, yet challenging to obtain.

Most individuals would love to be more self-disciplined, yet very few people actually take action to acquire it.

Perhaps you start your day with good intentions, but veer off as the day progresses due to challenging issues, stresses, or distractions. Thankfully, there are some strategies you can incorporate into your daily life so you can become a master of self-discipline and stay on task.

Follow these techniques to strengthen your self-discipline:

1. Be committed to the cause.

Are you truly unhappy being undisciplined? Is this something that you’re committed to improving? Many times people claim they want to be more self- disciplined, but the truth is, they honestly don’t mind being the way they are.

* Be honest with yourself. If this is something that you definitely want to improve in your life, it may take a bit of time and effort, but it can be done.

* The only way you’ll succeed is by staying committed to the cause.

2. Write it down.
The process of writing your ideas and goals helps you clarify the thoughts in your mind so you can come up with an action plan that you can stick to.

* Write down all the areas that you wish to improve – your finances, relationships, career, or anything in between.

Include what changes you would like to see and how you believe will be the best way to make it happen.

3. Enlist the help of others.

It’s absolutely wonderful that you’ve committed to make a positive change in your life, but don’t keep it under wraps. Tell others that you want to make a change and boost your self-discipline.

* Don’t be ashamed that you weren’t more self-disciplined from the beginning. The important thing is that you’re now taking positive action! Those who love you will be there to support you and help you celebrate your successes.

* Your support group can also help you get through the bad days and put you back on track to achieve your goals.

4. Believe in yourself.

Have faith in yourself and know that if you can master your self-discipline, you can do anything! There will be both good and bad days, but as long as you remain focused and committed, you’ll be successful in strengthening your self-discipline.

* Remember to focus on the big picture and concentrate on how your body, mind, and energy will change for the better when you stay committed.

Many people admire those who are self-disciplined. These people can stay on a schedule and never seem to lose focus on what they need to accomplish.

They make more wise decisions, take action when they need to, and achieve their goals with relative ease. Implement these strategies into your daily life and they’ll soon become habits. You can be the course master of your own self discipline, it can become your way of life – if you want it!

Critical thinking is often characterized as a scientific, analytical way of thinking. It helps us form more knowledgeable opinions and make better decisions. That certainly seems like a beneficial skill to have, but how do you develop the ability to think critically?

Critical thinking doesn’t equal higher intelligence. In layman’s terms, it’s just a more logical way to think about solutions from all angles.

Some of us may have stronger critical thinking skills than others, but we can all learn how to improve and develop our mind.

Here are some suggestions that can help you strengthen your critical thinking skills:

1. Clarify.

Make sure you have a clear understanding of the problem you’re trying to solve. You won’t be able to reasonably analyze a situation and locate a solution if you’re not completely clear on what you’re trying to accomplish!

* It’s also important that you place your own feelings about the situation aside. You cannot get a clear understanding of the issue if you have prejudiced opinions and biases about it.

2. Attempt to find a solution.

Take some time with a pen and paper to define all possibilities. At this time you’ll also want to map out how you’ll be able to reach each of these solutions.

* Include the benefits and challenges of each solution. To learn how to improve and develop your critical thinking skills, you must be open to new ideas, so try and incorporate as much as you can into your list.

3. Information.

Next, gather as much information as possible to support all the solutions you’re considering, as well as information you need to refute them.

* Considering your solutions from all angles will keep you from making a haphazard decision, which would not be classified in the realm of critical thinking.

4. Learn how to analyze.

Now you have a problem, a list of solutions, and all the information you need to support or refute each of those decisions. So what do you do with it all?

* You’ll need time to analyze everything. Take everything into consideration and don’t assume anything. Make sure you have irrefutable evidence to back everything up. The more you practice this, the better you’ll ultimately get at it, so keep plugging away.

5. Conclude.

Make an intelligent conclusion to your original problem. Make sure you have the documentation to back up and prove your decision. Always make sure this is a reasonable conclusion that is relatively simple to put into action.

* If you’ve put the time and effort into analyzing the problem and gathering the information, your conclusion should be able to support itself.

Final Thoughts on Critical Thinking

By following the steps explained here, you have just used your critical thinking skills! Though it may seem unnatural at first, as with everything, as you continue to practice these strategies, your critical thinking skills will continue to improve and develop.

Thinking critically can help you with many aspects in your life. Keep practicing these skills on a regular basis and soon you’ll enjoy the benefits of better decisions and superior choices!

Today I would like to present more content by the wonderful Brian Tracy.My regular readers will know how much of a fan I am of Brian Tracy and you can read all about him on a dedicated page in my menu!

Todays Personal Development article is Self-Discipline for Success

There is one special quality that you can develop that will guarantee you greater success, accomplishment and happiness in life. Of a thousand principles for success developed over the ages, this one quality or practice will do more to assure that you accomplish wonderful things with your life than anything else. This quality is so important that, if you don’t develop it to a high degree, it is impossible for you to ever achieve what you are truly capable of achieving.

The quality that I am talking about is the quality of self-discipline. It is a habit, a practice, a philosophy and a way of living. All successful men and women are highly disciplined in the important work that they do. All unsuccessful men and women are undisciplined and unable to control their behaviors and their appetites. And when you develop the same levels of high, personal discipline possessed by the most successful people in our society, you will very soon begin to achieve the same results that they do.

All great success in life is preceded by…..

 long, sustained periods of focused effort on a single goal, the most important goal, with the determination to stay with it until it is complete. Throughout history, we find that every man or woman who achieved anything lasting and worthwhile, had engaged in long, often unappreciated hours, weeks, months and even years of concentrated, disciplined work, in a particular direction.

Fortunately the quality of self-discipline is something that you can learn by continuous practice, over and over, until you master it. Once you have mastered the ability to delay gratification, the ability to discipline yourself to keep your attention focused on the most important task in front of you, there is virtually no goal that you cannot accomplish and no task that you cannot complete.

Successful people engage in activities that are goal-achieving. Unsuccessful people engage in activities that are tension-reliving. Successful people discipline themselves to have dinner before dessert. Unsuccessful people prefer to have dessert most of the time.

Successful people plan their work, and work their plan.

They take the time to think through their responsibilities before they begin. They make clear decisions which they then implement immediately. They get a lot more done in a shorter period of time than the average person. And it all has to do with their disciplines.

Perhaps the most important benefit of self-discipline is the personal benefit that you receive. Every act of self-discipline increases your self-esteem. It gives you a feeling of personal power and accomplishment. Each time you discipline yourself to persist in the face of distractions, diversions, and disappointments, you feel better about yourself.

As you continue to discipline yourself, you achieve more and more in life. As you achieve more things, you feel more like a winner. Your self-confidence goes up. You feel happier about yourself. You get more done and you have more energy. You earn the respect and esteem of the people around you. You get more rapid promotions and are paid more money. You live in a nicer house, drive a nicer car, and wear nicer clothes.

You get a natural high from the thrill of achievement. And the more things that you achieve as the result of employing your personal habits of effectiveness and productivity, the more eager you are to achieve even higher and better tasks. Your life gets onto an upward spiral of success and happiness. You feel great about yourself most of the time.

Every act of self-discipline strengthens every other discipline in your life.

Every weakness of self-discipline weakens your other disciplines as well. When you make a habit of disciplining yourself in little things, like flossing your teeth every night, you’ll soon become able to discipline yourself to accomplish even larger things, like working long, long hours to bring a major task to completion.

Your entire life is an on-going battle between the forces of doing what is right and necessary on the one hand and doing what is fun and easy on the other hand. It is a battle between the forces of discipline and the forces of ease or expediency. And when you develop the strength of character that gives you complete self-mastery, self-control and self-discipline, you feel wonderful about yourself. You develop a deep inner sense of strength and confidence. You replace positive thinking with positive knowing. You reach the point inside where you absolutely know that you can do whatever it takes to achieve any goal that you can set for yourself.

Self discipline is its own reward.

Not only does it pay off in terms of greater self-esteem and a more positive mental attitude, but it pays off throughout your life in terms of the goals that you achieve and the success that you attain in everything you do.

Self-discipline is a skill and a habit that can be learned by practice. Every time you practice a little self-discipline, you become stronger and stronger. Bit by bit, you become more capable of even greater disciplines. As you become a totally self-disciplined individual, your entire future opens up in front of you like a broad highway. Everything including Success becomes possible for you and your future becomes unlimited.

And that there, my friends is words of wisdom from Brian Tracy!




]]> http://www.completepersonaldevelopment.com/1505/kymmy-link-presents-brian-tracy-self-discipline-for-success/feed/ 0 http://www.completepersonaldevelopment.com/1411/how-you-can-become-a-strong-leader/ http://www.completepersonaldevelopment.com/1411/how-you-can-become-a-strong-leader/#comments Sun, 12 Jul 2009 03:56:46 +0000 Maryann http://www.completepersonaldevelopment.com/?p=1411 How You Can Become a Strong Leader

How can you become a strong leader who inspires others, drives people toward excellence, holds people accountable, and instills a sense of trust? Learning what makes a great leader is your first step.

A leader is created and the whole process starts inside the most dangerous place you’ll ever encounter – your own mind.

Projecting Strong Leadership

Here are some things you can do to become the leader you’ve always wanted to be and project strong leadership:

1. Know your people.

You can’t truly lead a group of people unless you truly understand their hopes, dreams, struggles, pains, and goals. All the good intentions in the world mean nothing unless you have a true sense of the people you’re working with.

* Talk to your team and get to know them. Getting to know each other on a personal level will strengthen the bond between you. They’ll want to do better for you because you’re more than just a “boss.”


* Be their leader, first, and their friend second. You’re their leader and that means that you have to make difficult decisions from time to time. These decisions cannot be affected by personal relationships.

2. Project your goals.

If the people you’re leading don’t completely understand the deeper meaning in their work, they won’t share your vision or work ethic. Every step of the way, communicate with your team to make sure they’re on the same wavelength and know what you expect of them.

* Get your team involved in the planning process and the implementation of your ideas. This gives everyone a greater sense of ownership toward the end result.

3. Control yourself.

Every great leader in history has had to become a master of self-discipline and willpower in order to stay focused on the big picture. If you don’t have a goal or the drive to achieve it, you can’t lead others to attain theirs.

* Follow through in everything you do. As challenging as it may be, you need to be disciplined enough to be where you need to be, when you need to be there, whether you want to or not. By being strong in your resolve and resisting temptation to give up, you are setting an example for others to live up to.

* Choose your emotional response to a situation carefully. Sometimes you’ll need to practice the art of silencing your inner thoughts when they’re not appropriate in order to set a positive example.

4. Praise highly and criticize constructively.

The way you praise and criticize others can make all the difference in being able to lead effectively.

* Make sure you publicly praise the people who do excellent work for you. You’ll give the person a sense of accomplishment and the drive to do even better.

* When someone does something wrong, offer constructive criticism and do it privately. Suggest solutions on how they can improve and take the time to answer any questions. They’ll accept your input more willingly if they know it’s done to help and not to harm.

5. Make the hard call.

There are times when you have to bite the bullet and make some unpleasant decisions. Firing, demoting, and holding people accountable for their actions can be very hard at times. As a leader, it’s your responsibility to handle these matters.

Leadership or Strong Leader?

Regardless of where your leadership role takes you, believe that you can be a strong leader. Remember that in order to lead others, you must be disciplined yourself. After all, your actions will speak louder than anything you can say.

In order to gain the respect of others, strive to lead by example in every area of your life. When you follow these simple guidelines, you’ll be well on your way to becoming a true leader!

If you find yourself in a position of leadership or power, don’t let it go to your head – that is a weak leader in my opinion! If you want to become a strong leader – re-read the above article and put my tips into action!

]]> http://www.completepersonaldevelopment.com/1411/how-you-can-become-a-strong-leader/feed/ 0 http://www.completepersonaldevelopment.com/1343/being-remarkable-better-isnt-good-enough/ http://www.completepersonaldevelopment.com/1343/being-remarkable-better-isnt-good-enough/#comments Wed, 01 Jul 2009 03:56:33 +0000 Maryann http://www.completepersonaldevelopment.com/?p=1343 Being Remarkable – Better Isn’t Good Enough

In this day and age, being the best or better isn’t good enough! You need to be remarkable to really stand out and get ahead…..

There is so much of everything today that we feel lost in this huge information ocean. There are so many sites, news, books, products, and services and so much of everything else you can imagine…..

On the other hand, as a future, or current, entrepreneur you want to get maximum exposure, to present yourself to the public and sell your products, services, etc. But with every new day it becomes harder and harder. You can not even be noticed in the variety of new ideas, new trends, and new products.

You have to be different; you have to become outstanding in order to be noticed. You should look like a purple cow to attract attention and to be able to offer high quality services and products.

Seth Godin has written a killer book “Purple Cow”. And it is all about how to become remarkable. I have bought this book and I am impressed! I recommend it to you for reading.

According to Seth in order to be remarkable, you should:

- Commit yourself to do the things today better than yesterday. Much better. Every day.

- Average is for losers. You should be remarkable to your target audience.

- Be extreme. Shock others in some way, attract their attention and keep it.

- Get to the edge. The remarkability is on the edges – best, biggest, smallest, fastest.

- Be exciting, not boring.

- Don’t be afraid to be remarkable.

- Change yourself, improve and grow constantly.

Do not allow others to move your cheese!

If you put the Empire State Building besides the John Hancock building what will you see? Just two big buildings. But what will happen if you put Empire State beside a Shell gas station? Which will you pay more attention to? Which one is remarkable and which one is just a building?

I love this saying and it is totally pertinent here…… “The only difference between ordinary and extraordinary is that little bit extra!”

Go the extra mile today!

Years ago it was enough to be better than others and you could become popular. Your product could create an image of a top quality product and you could get to the top, but not any more. To be better is just not enough.

In a world so full of mediocrity, it really wont take that much to stand out and be remarkable! Being better is not good enough – start being the best, show your individuality to the world – start on your path to being remarkable now!

Do you have a Winning Attitude? If not, you need to get one fast, so that you can join the Winning Team in Life – read on….

A vivid and defining difference between people who are successful and those who aren’t is the way they think. Successful people visualize their goals and take action to make them happen.

Unsuccessful people dwell on the negative, spend their time and energy complaining, and worry about things that are unimportant. This negativity wastes time and energy that could be harnessed toward achieving your goals.

Having a positive mental attitude helps you cope with challenges. When you’re put to the test, you’re more likely to find your inner strengths to overcome adversity, and that strength just might be your winning attitude. Whether or not you have the tools, skills, knowledge, or resources, your attitude can get you through tough times and come out on top.

On the other hand, an attitude filled with negative overtones makes everything much harder. You can’t win when you go into the contest prepared to lose! If you expect to do well, your attitude will create positive, winning thoughts that help you succeed.

Practice your Winning Attitude! – Practice Makes Perfect

If you hone your positive thinking skills and develop the mental attitudes of a winner, you’ll be able to overcome challenges without giving up. No matter how discouraging things may get or how intently others may try to dissuade you, with your winning attitude, you will be unstoppable!

A positive outlook enables you to focus on your goals with a tunnel vision that eliminates negative distractions and keeps you on a chartered course to success.

* Train your mind to focus on the good. Develop a positive mantra or affirmation to help you overlook the negative and realize the power of optimism.


Attitude Cause and Effect

It’s important to realize that for every effect in our lives, there’s a specific cause. Through positive thoughts, we can control these causes and change effects or outcomes. For every positive seed you plant, your thoughts will grow and reward you with a positive harvest. Negative seeds have the opposite effect. They’ll grow, but result in a spoiled and fruitless crop. You can’t plant negative seeds in your mind and expect positive results. It just doesn’t work that way. * In order to change your future for the better, you must first alter your thoughts in the present.

Train Your Attitude

An effective way to train your mind is to look at challenges as opportunities instead of obstacles. A problem is only a problem if you allow it to be one. With each challenge comes an opportunity to learn and improve. So if you search for solutions, you’ll find them. When you internalize this mindset, you’re sure to develop a winning attitude for a lifetime and reap the rewards of true success and happiness. Your attitude can make or break you. It’s virtually indisputable that your attitude determines how far you’ll go in life and a positive mental outlook can help you achieve optimal success. We often worry about our physical fitness, but do we think much about the fitness of our minds? Just as we train our bodies for peak performance, we must also train our minds by coaching ourselves to think winning thoughts and have a winning attitude!

Get on the Winning Team Now!…and have a great day

Have you been thinking about getting a mentor to help propel you towards your goals?

Before deciding to seek out a mentor, you must first determine what you hope to gain from the relationship. That means you need to spend time thinking about both your short and long term goals. Once you’re fully clear on where you want to be, the selection process becomes that much easier.

When people think about mentors, they often visualize a classic business setting, where everything is formal and methodical, but mentoring relationships aren’t limited to business. The truth is, you may desire a mentor for any number of reasons.

Consider these types of Mentors:

* Life Guidance. These life mentors are often referred to as “life coaches.”

* Spiritual Advisors. You can look to a priest, pastor, or friend to mentor you spiritually.

* Everyday Mentors. Sometimes we even have unofficial mentors who are simply people we admire in our community or peer group.

Choosing a Mentor

When looking for a mentor, seek someone who possesses the qualities, skills, and experiences you hope to one day have yourself. A mentor should be someone who fits your idea of success, has a positive attitude, and openly shares his or her knowledge with you.

You might want a mentor who’s at the pinnacle of success within your field so you can learn from the best. Alternately, you might want to select someone as a mentor who’s only slightly higher ranking than you, this way you can learn what you need to help take you to the next level.

Choosing the high ranking executive helps you with long term goals, while selecting the mentor who’s closer to your own experience level makes it easier to focus on a specific area of expertise so you can achieve your shorter term goals.

An ideal situation may involve both types of mentors. This way you get a well-rounded experience that allows you to benefit both in the short and long term. Either way, you should find someone who isn’t afraid to challenge you to reach your true potential.

Establishing a Beneficial Relationship with a Mentor

When you’ve selected your mentor candidate, draw up a plan to present to them detailing what you hope to give and receive from the relationship. This will help the potential mentor decide if they can provide you with the experience and knowledge you desire.

It’s only fair to both of you to be as upfront as possible about your expectations. If you aren’t clear on what you hope to gain, the relationship has little chance for success.

Successful Mentorship Begins with You

Once the relationship has been established, actively communicate your needs to the mentor in order to take the sessions in the direction you’d like to go.

You should be in the driver’s seat, even though you’re the junior party in the relationship. Without providing your mentor with guidance, the mentorship may not be fruitful for you. After all, if you don’t let your mentor know what you need, he can’t possibly give you what you hope to gain.

It’s important throughout the relationship for the mentor to be supportive. A good mentor will be patient with you. They’ll create an open and welcome environment that allows for earnest questions and concerns while making you feeling safe.

A successful mentorship will enable you to feel more confident, skilled, and knowledgeable. The reward for the mentor will be seeing the results of the positive impact they were able to make on someone else’s life.

Follow these tips to find great mentors in any area you’d like to strengthen and enjoy a relationship that brings fruits to your labor and greater life fulfillment to both of you.

Do you already have a mentor? are these things being considered within your relationship? If its all good – great! but if not consider these idea’s and suggestions and reassess where its all at!

My regular readers know that each month I have a goal setting weekend and it’s this weekend!
My own opinion says that goal setting is something that should be continually tweaked, just like anything else!

So, I have decided to write and remind you about goal setting and give you a few more tips to help you out, before I turn off the computer today and get on with my plans.

No matter where you are in life you can use your current place as a starting point for great success. All you need to do is learn how to set clear, concise, and actionable goals that push you forward and build momentum.

Keep these Goal Setting Strategies in mind:

1. SHOOT FOR THE MOON

Define greatness, challenge the limits, double the goal, or try something new…These are just some of the sentiments that put our plans into action and move us towards revolutionary results.

Look around and witness the very essence of commonplace activities being tested and re-imagined. Such as schools re-defining Physical Education by bringing in activities ranging from kickboxing to more esoteric offerings like tai chi and Yoga

Raising the bar on a project can simply mean taking one extra step, having an allegiance to a weird idea, or devoting to a regular practice.

– challenge the limits
– double the goal
– raise your standards,values or beliefs
– make it a game
– create a regular practice

2. SHOW ME THE SHORTCUT

Sometimes a goal deserves a break. TIME MAGAZINE reported that after 8 hours of sleep you’d be more than twice as likely to find a shortcut for solving a problem.

Suggesting that taking it easy is good for the brain, and what’s good for the brain is good for the overall psyche and soul. Are you doing too much, not getting nourished and being exhausted? Well perhaps its time to consider another path. Don’t re-invent the wheel.

What with weekly writing tasks & in-class exercises this alone would expedite the development of my script. Another over looked short cut is to consider smaller steps.

The smaller the increments the easier the goal. Deng Ming-Dao, writes in EVERYDAY TAO, An inch in one direction, then an inch in another already makes a span of 2 inches. Gradually we can improve on that. Go the path of least resistance, it’s a gift of energy.

– don’t reinvent the wheel-find someone who’s done it before
– keep to minimum daily standards
– slow down or change the pace
– the smaller the increments the easier the goal
– write everything down–loose ideas vs. lost ideas


3. FOCUS ON SUCCESS

Beginning with the end in mind is the power of imagination . If you are the programmer, write the program, says, goal expert- Stephen R. Covey.

Goals help us to focus, and the quality of our attention is enhanced by a having a project so cool and interesting that we can’t help but make a leap.

Let’s say, you want to organize your workspace so that everyone is inspired to do their best work. The in-between steps: like ergonomic concerns & planning comfortable lighting, in-and-of itself can seem mundane, but joined together they name a bigger accomplishment and by doing so, asks us to spice up our expectations & upgrade who we are.

Focus on success & keep in mind how you want things to end up and you’ll soon be successful.

– name the accomplishment
– what needs to be done by when
– give your project a title
– identify upbeat reasons for pursuing the goal

Goal Setting Made Easy

You need to remember that you will be constantly setting new goals for yourself throughout your life. Many people become discouraged because they feel that every time they reach one goal, they still have even more work in front of them.

Unless you want to reach a goal and stand still for the rest of your life, it is a good thing to always be setting and revising your goals! Doing this means that you will continue to move forward, become a better person, and accomplish greater things.

When setting goals, you should take a moment to envision where you will be and what you will be doing in a month, six months, a year, five years, and ten years.

For this reason, you need to set small goals all along the way so you can continue to motivate yourself and build momentum. Short-term goals are just as important as long-term goals, and this is one of the most important things that you should keep in mind when setting goals.

Create goals for yourself every few months so that when you reach them, you will feel accomplished and excited to reach the next goal. These shorter-term goals are like stepping stones; they will keep you excited about the future and push you forward in moments of doubt or frustration.

Effective Goal Setting Techniques

Many people falsely believe the goals they set are far out of reach. Be like Nike and Just Do It! Spend some time goal setting and then get to work on achieving your dreams.

By using these simple strategies and tools you can implement a great plan that will help you accomplish more and get more of what you want in life! Start setting goals today!

Don’t forget to revisit your goals and reassess the situation regularly – that’s what this weekend, once a month is for with me! Talk to you later

Do you have a fear of failure? if so you may not know the power of failure! Read on to find out more about Failure…

What do you think when you hear the word failure? You probably are thinking that you’re not good enough and that you should give up?

While failure can involve those thoughts and emotions, failure can also make us stronger or wiser.

A simple definition of failure is:

An act or instance of failing or proving unsuccessful; lack of success.

You might easily have a fear of failure if you don’t understand the power of failure!

When I think of this definition of failure, I’m reminded of Thomas Edison, the inventor of the light bulb. While there are many conflicting stories of how many times Edison “failed” at inventing the electric light bulb, most agree it was in the thousands before he found the right combination of materials.

One of Edison’s most famous quotes is, “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work. I am not discouraged because every wrong attempt discarded is another step forward.”

If you adopt this same attitude, you’ll overcome your feelings of failure and be able to see your dreams and desires come to fruition.

Robert Schuller stated these famous words, “Failure doesn’t mean you’re a failure; it just means you haven’t succeeded yet.”

Henry Ford said, “Failure is only the opportunity to begin again more intelligently.”

When you consider those words from these wise and successful people, you’ll truly begin to understand the power of failure.

The truth is, you only fail when you give up!

When you keep trying until you’ve found the answer or the solution, you’re successful. You’d never say Thomas Edison, Robert Schuller or Henry Ford were failures would you? Sure, they were unsuccessful many, many times, but they didn’t give up until they found the answer, the right procedure or the right materials to solve their dilemma.

In case those quotes weren’t enough to make you believe failure has a positive power and strength, here are some more you might relate to:

“Failure is an event, never a person.” – William D. Brown

The next time you try your hand at something and don’t achieve the desired result immediately, remember failure is an event; it’s not you.

Bill Cosby also said it well when he said, “I don’t know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody.”

If you’re trying to please everyone, you can’t possibly succeed!

“Never confuse a single defeat with final defeat.” – F. Scott Fitzgerald

“You can’t have any successes until you can accept failures.” – George Cukor

Just because you’ve failed once, twice or 10,000 times at something, it doesn’t mean you’re a failure. You only fail when you stop trying.

Still not convinced? How about this:

“You always pass failure on your way to success.” – Mickey Rooney

What do these words mean to you? No matter what you’re trying to succeed at, whether it’s a sport, project, career, invention, or at school, there will be times when you don’t succeed. But you mustn’t let that stop you from reaching your goals, dreams, and desires.

The common thread among all these famous people and their wise words is the same. You can’t have success without failure. Never give up and never stop trying.

There is power in failure, you just have to give yourself a chance. Keep trying, keep failing and soon you’ll find true success!

Inspirational Sayings and quotes about success can have a powerful effect on you. If you take the time to think about the deeper meaning behind the words, you’ll realize how easily you can apply these sayings into your own life to achieve the success you desire.

Here are the top ten inspirational success quotes,

as well as some self-reflection questions to ponder:

1. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life, and that is why I succeed. – Michael Jordan

* Every failure brings an opportunity for growth and sets you up for future success in a new effort. For example, failing at one job may bring you the opportunity to enjoy great success in another. Learning from failure will lead you to greater achievement.

2. It is no use saying, “We are doing our best.” You have got to succeed in doing what is necessary. – Sir Winston Churchill

* Too often, people use “I did my best” as an excuse for not doing what really needed to be done. Plan and prepare appropriately for the task at hand so that you can do what is required to succeed. Using this results-oriented strategy will help you accomplish your goal.

3. We are told that talent creates its own opportunities. But it sometimes seems that intense desire creates not only its own opportunities, but its own talents. – Eric Hoffer

* Try new things to spark your passions and develop your talents. You may actually have talents that you’re completely unaware of. When you desire something with a fiery passion, your mind will push you to take action and persevere until you’re successful.

4. We were born to succeed, not to fail. – William Barclay

* You were put on the Earth to succeed in your pursuits. When you use your God-given gifts, abilities, and strengths to fulfill your purpose, success is within your grasp.


5. Success is not the key to happiness – happiness is the key to success. – Herman Cain

* When you’re happy with your life and you enjoy every moment of each day, it’s easy to feel the joy of success in the smallest accomplishments. Live joyfully and your positive attitude will attract greater successes.

6. Success doesn’t come to you – you go to it. – Marva Collins

* You need to take action to achieve your goals and get what you want out of life. Once you define exactly what you want, design a plan of action steps to get you there, and then follow your plan.


7. You must do the thing you think you cannot do. – Eleanor Roosevelt

* This quote is to challenge you. You must overcome your fears that are holding you back in order to become successful.

8. A great leader’s courage to fulfill his vision comes from passion, not position. – John Maxwell

* Believe in yourself. Know that you can achieve anything. Put your mind to it and be passionate about that which calls your name.

9. Forget about the consequences of failure. Failure is only a temporary change in direction to set you straight for your next success. – Denis Waitley

* When you fail, opportunities open up to help you succeed. You may need to start your task anew or change your route, but each failure brings you closer to success.

10. Success is not measured by what you accomplish, but by the opposition you have encountered and the courage with which you have maintained the struggle against overwhelming odds. – Orison Swett Marden

* No matter how tough a situation may be, don’t give up easily. When you persevere through great odds and overcome many challenges to achieve your goal, success is even sweeter!

Success and Inspirational Self-Reflection Questions:

1. When I suffer a setback, do I still persevere toward my goal?


2. Do I bring passion to my endeavors?


3. Have I designed my action plan to reach my goals? Have I taken swift action to get where I want to be? 

We all encounter set backs and failure at some point in our lives. Did you know that Success is usually only a step behind the biggest failure?

When you need inspiration to continue on your road to Success, re-read the inspirational quotes above and have a great day!

Fear of failure will lead many people into inertia – the inability to make decisions or take action in case they receive rejection or negative outcomes. This mental state is fairly easy to identify and there are many tools in the personal development industry to help combat this plague and reprogram the mind for success.

However, the fear of success is much more subtle, harder to spot and also harder to eradicate.

It is well documented that many people fail to achieve their goals in life due to the phenomenon known as “fear of failure” but are you aware that a major factor that is often overlooked, is a state known as “fear of success“?

Perhaps you have this tendency in your life. Here are some indications of a fear of success mentality.

You settle for less than you feel you deserve or are capable of achieving.

Studying and trying to implement self improvement techniques and/or personal development tools but your life does not improve or may even get worse.

You expect things to go wrong no matter how well the situation appears to be at the moment.

You start new projects full of enthusiasm and optimism but wane in your efforts or stop short before you have completed them.

Can you identify your own patterns in the any of the above statements?

The fear of success can also make you behave in ways that hold you back. Look at the list below. These are the symptoms of the fear of success.

Procrastination is a ‘success killer’! How can you expect to reach your destination if you do not take steps towards it? Strive to do little things each day that will bring you small steps closer to your goal.

Procrastination.

Putting off what needs to be done or not doing what you know will bring you closer to your desired result. Everyone suffers from this inner ‘demon’ at some point in their lives (although some of us suffer from it more than others!).

This is why having a personal development plan is an essential ingredient in the fight against procrastination. Take action! Any action! Refine your steps as you go along but do not sit and do nothing. Taking action is one of the key aspects in personal development.

Thinking that the time is not right – have you ever waited until the timing was perfect before starting a venture? Have you ever waited until you had more information on a better plan?

Again ACTION is the key to the door to success. Taking small steps forward are better than taking none or waiting to see if your foot is landing on the right spot! Even if your actions take you away from your goal you have at least gained insight and knowledge about what does not work!

Can’t see the forest for the trees!

This is almost the opposite of procrastination but has the same effect on your personal development. The aforementioned saying is well known but have you ever given it real consideration?

Don’t get caught up in your plan believing that it is more important than the materialised goal! For many years I got caught in this trap. I started to think and act as though my plan was more important than my end result and thus missed many opportunities to alter my path and reach my goals more quickly! Let go of your ego and allow the Universe to show you a quicker route to your goal. Remain flexible.

Seeing only problems.

How do you use your focus? Do you constantly see only and alll the problems involved? If you are this way inclined it is pointless trying to change overnight! However, you can use this mindset to your advantage while you strive in your personal development to acquire an opportunistic frame of mind instead.

“How can you use seeing only problems to my advantage?” you say. “Easily”, is my reply! Look at the problems and prepare a plan to deal with them. Everytime you overcome one congratulate yourself. Use them as a gauge for your achievements.

If you keep seeing more problems remind yourself of how well you dealt with the others. Look at how far you have come! If you see a problem ask yourself, “how best can I overcome this challenge?” or “how quickly can I rectify this situation?”.

The quality of your questions are important. Use the problems as fact finders. Is there a real problem now? If so then deal with it. Is it a potential problem? If so then create a contingency plan in case it does occur but don’t get caught up in it just be prepared.

Being a Perfectionist.

This is similar to the point above and has the same effect, namely, that you never really move forward. No matter how good a job is when its finished it can always be improved! I have heard many great musicians tell how they hate listening to their own songs because they can find a million things that need improved. Yet, we still enjoy them. I think a classic example of this is “Bridge Over Troubled Water” by Paul Simon. This song is hauntingly beautiful yet Mr. Simon does not think its good enough!

Enjoy the journey, follow the above guidelines and you will achieve success. Eventually your fear of success or fear of failure will dissipate and you will have moved a long way forward in your self improvement and personal development.

Don’t be scared to succeed! Success is Great! Really

The road to success can be long and troublesome -but it doesn’t have to be! You can overcome obstacles and achieve your goals much quicker

There are always hills to climb in anything worthwhile. Some of these things are created internally and some are not. You can overcome these self-created obstacles with a little hard work and determination.

No matter what task you’re taking on, you can set yourself up for success!

Here are some ways to overcome obstacles that may provide a left turn on your road to success:

1. Trust yourself.

You’re in charge of your journey to success. You set your goals and you’re the one making it happen, so you must trust yourself. If you truly have a great passion for what you’re going to do, then you’ll be the best judge of what you want.

* Follow your instincts. That little voice in the back of your head may very well end up telling you exactly what you need to succeed in your goals.

2. Never ever give up.

Nothing has ever been solved or accomplished by giving up. Vince Lombardi said it best: “Winners never quit and quitters never win!” This is as true as it gets.


* Being too rigid on something can be counterproductive. In order to find success, we sometimes have to change our approach completely. Keep at the problem until you find a solution. It’s there; you just have to find it.

3. Understand your goals.

Know exactly what it is you’re trying to do. You can’t just run in without a plan of some kind. Take the time to plan out your goals and the steps you intend to take to reach them.

* Identify the parts of your plan that may become problematic and lay out alternatives.

* Even with an exceptional plan, the reality is that things rarely go exactly as you’d expect. You’ll have to stop and make changes at times, and that’s okay! Be prepared for the unexpected with ideas on how to handle a situation if it arises.

4. Gain a fresh perspective.

There are times when, no matter how hard you try, things just don’t go your way. This is where you need to stop, take a step back, and look at things from a different perspective.

* You become used to your routine, so the fine details can easily slip past you. Take a break and walk away for a little bit. Change your focus for a time; then come back to the problem and you may see something you missed.

5. Get help.

If there’s something in your way and it’s too big of an obstacle for you to remove on your own, get help! You can’t do everything by yourself. As humans, we’re social beings and we need help from those around us.

* Get your friends, family or co-workers involved and welcome their input on how to overcome obstacles in your path. This will bring in new ideas and fresh perspectives on the problem in ways you may have never considered.

6. Start again.

Sometimes, despite all your efforts, you need to rebuild from the ground up. Maybe one of your fundamental ideas was wrong and had an effect on everything else. This happens, and while it’s a setback, it’s not the end of your dream.

* With a little more effort and hard work, you can do it!

Being successful isn’t easy and it involves a lot of hard work, dedication and sometimes sacrifices. With these tips, a good plan, and positive people around you to help, you can accomplish anything you set your mind to and overcome obstacles easily, on your path to Success

A positive attitude has all sorts of benefits and one of them is more money for you! Here are some tips on how you can boost your income by boosting your attitude!

What would things be like if we transformed negative thoughts into positive ones? Changing how we feel about ourselves can truly change our direction in life!

Far too often, we allow our actions to be ruled by our emotions. It’s a fact: negative thoughts or a pesimistic attitude have a detrimental effect on every aspect of our lives, from family to our work and social lives and everything in between.

Having a brighter outlook on life can open our eyes to more possibilities and encourage us to move in new and exciting directions.

Living in the present and having a positive attitude about our future can help us reach goals we once thought were impossible.

How can you attain a better outlook on life and a more positive attitude?

It all has to do with the way you see yourself. Having a positive and outgoing attitude is the key to changing your self-concept, boosting your income, and improving your life.

Here are some techniques you can use to get a better attitude:

1. Be your own cheerleader.

You’re your own best cheering section. So many times in life, the things we do go unrecognized by others, whether it’s at home or work. When this happens, step in and praise yourself!

* By actively projecting a positive outlook of yourself, you will push yourself further to do better the next time. Doing so will also bring you the confidence to explore more areas in life.

* Private affirmations can make you feel better about yourself when others fail to verbalize their gratitude.


2. Get control.

Figure out the things that make you unhappy and find ways to change them for the better. A positive outlook can change everything in your life – you just need to believe in yourself first.

* You have the power to work on ways to make yourself happy. Avoid doing something for the sole purpose of making someone else happy. It must be about you. This isn’t about being selfish; it’s about being true to you.

* Loving yourself is the only way you’re going to allow others to see you in a positive light as well. If you project negativity, you’ll be viewed as a negative person.

* Realizing you can’t control how others think and feel about you is critical to getting control of yourself.

3. Change the way you think.

Negative thoughts produce negative actions. Make a conscious effort to change the way you react and deal with situations. Look for the silver lining instead of focusing on the negative attributes of situations and people.

* If you think positively, you’ll act positively. Those positive thoughts and actions will keep many anxieties at bay. Through positive thoughts and actions, anything can become a reality.

4. Dream it into reality.

Misery loves company, and if you believe you’ll never achieve anything, you can create a self-fulfilling prophecy. Dream big and dream often!

* Figure out what you want in life, and set your dreams into motion. Want a better job? Take the necessary steps to make it happen. You’re the biggest obstacle holding you back.

If you believe in yourself, you can continue to accomplish bigger and better things. Whether you’re working to advance yourself in your present job or starting an entirely new career, your self-confidence and positive attitude will increase your income.

A positive attitude can change your job situation, relationships, and life. If you feel better about yourself, other people will feel the good vibrations you’re giving off. You’ll appear more confident and have a better chance of taking on whatever life throws at you.

Your fresh outlook will energize your work and stimulate your creativity. As you continue to boost your attitude on a daily basis, you’ll see that your optimism will soon lead you to bigger and better income opportunities as well!

How good would that be? Great! Not only can a positive attitude benefit your health, but your wealth as well as many other area’s in your life!

Use these tips on how to boost your income by boosting your attitude and you will see the benefits very soon

So you’re probably thinking that fear and success dont mesh into one sentence? Well they do and alot of people actually fear success and other things that stand in the way of them achieving success.

Everyone has fears and many people let those fears stop them from doing things that may prove to be worthwhile or even lucrative.

What are you afraid of? Are your worries preventing you from getting things accomplished in your life?

How can you turn your fear into a positive force in your life?

The first thing you need to understand is the fear itself. Why are you afraid? Is it a rational fear? A fear of snakes can be rational, while a fear of spoons isn’t.

Figure out if your fear is rational; if it isn’t, try to understand why you have such an irrational fear. You may need to seek help if you can’t understand or overcome it.

Sometimes the only way to get over a stress or worry is to confront it head on. If you have a fear of failure about a certain task, then the only thing to do is take it on and beat it. If you succeed, you’ll be encouraged to face another fear.

Sometimes the things we are afraid of can drive us to do great things and achieve massive success. Once you learn to conquer your fears, you can move past them. The strength you gain from conquering them can provide the momentum that drives you to future success.

If you fail to conquer your fear the first time, regroup and try again. Each time you try, you’ll learn something new that you can use the next time around.

You can also take your mind off your fears. Here are 3 good ways:

1. Set goals.

Take some time out of your day to set some specific, short term, and simple goals. The more you can complete, the more self-confidence you’ll build. Self-confidence is a powerful tool for removing fear.

2. Talk about it.

Fears can multiply when you bottle them up inside you. When you let fear build, it snowballs and gets bigger and bigger until it becomes terrifying to you. Talking about it helps relieve the pressure and gives you the opportunity to obtain honest feedback.

3. Exercise.

Physical activity boosts the immune system and strengthens the mind and body. When you exercise, your body releases endorphins that help promote a healthy mind and body. In the least, exercise can take your mind off your worries.

Worries Are Fears, Too!

Let go of the habit of worry. Worry is a useless emotion and doesn’t help you move beyond rational fear. Why? Worry always falls into one of two categories:

1. Things you can control.

If you can control the situation you are concerned about, then it’s simple: take action! If you’re doing everything you can, then you no longer have any need to worry and are on the road to success.

* Worry slows you down, makes you second guess yourself, and could even lead to a self-fulfilling prophecy of failure.

2. Things you can’t control.

If you have no control over the outcome of a situation, why worry about it? You can’t change or control other people. What will happen, will happen.

* Worrying won’t make a difference at all in the situation. It will only add to your fears and prevent you from taking care of the things you can control.


In the end, facing your fears head on will give you more self-confidence, provide valuable experience, and make you stronger as you build your success. You don’t have to be a slave to your fears. You can face your fears valiantly and triumphantly! Don’t fear success, embrace it – it feels great! That’s what I’m thinking about fear and about success – do you have anything to add?