As I write this I am sitting in a small cafe in Istanbul, Turkey. Having arrived here only 3 days ago it is a world away from home as I know it. My eldest daughter is now 26 and when she was at Pre-School I was lucky enough to meet up with and get to know another Mum, whose little boy attended the same pre-school.

26 years later here we are….She is Australian and when in her own country we see each other about once a year! She travelled through Europe last year and stumbled upon Istanbul and loved it, so decided to stay! She has now been here almost a year on her own, living life and loving every wondrous moment it bestows upon her.

So many of her friends and family are bewildered and perplexed at what she doing! How could she leave her husband at home, her adult children and extended family, and why?

Because she found somewhere she loved and she made a decision to act on it. So often in life we don’t heed the warning signs, and trust me there are many along life’s journey, its just that we dont always see them. The difference is she did and what a wonderfully enriched life she is living.

It’s sometimes very challenging, living where you cannot speak the language, a woman on her own, learning to live her life in a foreign country without knowing anyone here. I am sure she has days where she wants to give it all up and go home, but the passion she feels for Istanbul and her craving for adventure keeps her here.

I envy and admire her courage and tenancy for as I write this she is struggling through a university class trying to learn turkish. She will come home frustrated yet elated having risen to yet another challenge of the day. While the rest of us go blindly through our lives, not knowing what we are potentially missing.

Cheers
Mary-Ann Roche.

Tags: courage, happiness, inspiration, motivation, overcoming fear, passion, positive attitude

Tips to Make Your Mornings Easier and More Productive

Are mornings the the most difficult part of your day? Some of us find it tough to get going in the mornings no matter how much sleep we have had.

If you are a Mum and you need to get children dressed, fed and out the door with backpacks and school books, mornings can be very grueling. Now even if you aren’t a morning person, there are some strategies that you can engage that will help you feel motivated and looking forward to the day, as opposed to dreading it.

Try the following tips to help you cope with those challenging early mornings:

1. Get to bed on time the night before to ensure you are getting enough sleep. Of course, sometimes even if you have had your required sleep, you will still feel weary in the morning when you wake, but that may be due to the actual quality of sleep you are getting. This could be the very reasson why you can’t get up with a smile on your face in the mornings. So get to bed on time for a week and monitor yourself in the mornings to determine if you feel any different.

2. Try waking up earlier, I know its the last thing you want to do but this might give you a little more time in the mornings to get organised. If you’re trying to squeeze every possible moment of sleep into your schedule, when you do get up you have to madly rush around, which is too stressful first thing in the morning. Much better to wake up and allow yourself a very quiet, calm moments before your feet hit the floor! Enjoy the sunrise while you have a leisurely cup of coffee, before the rush begins.

3. Preparation. Get organised for the morning the night before. Do whatever you can the night before to make your mornings easily and less stressful.Make sure your keys are in the usual spot, make the lunches and organise the backpacks, and have everyone’s clothes laid out. That way when you wake in the morning there is much less to be stressed about!

4. Turn some music on. My music teacher always taught me to make sure I had music in the house with my children. Nice relaxing music in the morning can be a beautiful way to start your day. It can ease you gently into the day whilst keeping you calm, even if you are busy! Enjoying these first few moments that you’re awake can make a massive difference to your entire day.

5. Meditate. Meditation is great for calming your life down or slowing your life down. It allows you to center yourself and go back to a state of peacefulness which in turn can carry you throughout your day. I would recommend though that you mediate in an upright position so you’re not tempted to fall back asleep.

6. Try to develop a positive mindset. If you have a tendency to be grumpy in the morning, make a conscious decision to start your day in a positive way. Try to imagine the wonderful things that may come your way today. If you have something not so pleasant that you have to face then try to focus on all other aspects of your day which are positive.

7. Be thankful. Start your day by giving thanks for everything you have in your life. Being grateful sets the tone for the day.

If mornings just arent your thing, try to make them easier on yourself and others by remembering to use these strategies and I think you will be surprised at the difference they will make!.

By

MaryAnn Roche.

Tags: Meditation, motivation, reduce stress, rest, Time Management

Building Self-Discipline

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.

Tags: Brian Tracy, committment, focus, Goal Setting, inner strength, motivation, perserverance, Procrastination, Self-Discipline

My Top Motivational Quotes for Business and Work!

Are you at your business or work right now?
How’s your day going?

Some days a motivational quote can provide a quick pick-me-up for employees and even management. They can be a breath of fresh air when it comes to a drab afternoon.

These are also a great way to jazz up a newsletter or a memo or even to simply print and attach to a bulletin board. Using motivational quotes like these are perfect ways to create a motivated and successful work environment.

As Mr. Rick Pitino says “The only way to get people to like working hard is to motivate them. Today, people must understand why they’re working hard. Every individual in an organization is motivated by something different.” –Rick Pitino

Motivational Quotes:

1. Mahatma Gandhi: You must be the change what you wish to see in the world.

2. Jim Stovall: You need to be aware of what others are doing, applaud their efforts, acknowledge their successes, and encourage them in their pursuits. When we all help one another, everybody wins.

3. Robert Frost: The only way around is through.

4. Warren Buffett: You only have to do a very few things right in your life so long as you don’t do too many things wrong.

5. Les Brown: You must remain focused on your journey to greatness.

6. Theodore Roosevelt Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing.

7. Charles F. Kettering: Where there is an open mind, there will always be a frontier

8. Henry Ford: Whether you think you can or whether you think you can’t, you’re right!

9. Jim Rohn: You must either modify your dreams or magnify your skills.

10. William Hazlitt: Who likes not his business, his business likes not him.

11. Denis Waitley: Winners take time to relish their work, knowing that scaling the mountain is what makes the view from the top so exhilarating.

12. Le Iacocca: Management is nothing more than motivating other people.

13. Dwight D.: Motivation is the art of getting people to do what you want them to do because they want to do it.

14. Drucker: The most serious mistakes are not being made as a result of wrong answers. The truly dangerous thing is asking the wrong question

15. Max Schmelling: Why did I want to win? Because I didn’t want to lose!

16. J. Paul Getty: To succeed in business, to reach the top, an individual must know all it is possible to know about that business.

17. Pierre Corneille: To win without risk is to triumph without glory.

18. Tony Dorsett: To succeed… You need to find something to hold on to, something to motivate you, something to inspire you.

19. James Broughton: The only limits are, as always, those of vision.

20. George Kneller: To think creatively, we must be able to look afresh at what we normally take for granted.

21. Peter McWilliams: To the degree we’re not living our dreams; our comfort zone has more control of us than we have over ourselves.

22. Johann Wolfgang Von Goeth: To think is easy. To act is difficult. To act as one thinks is the most difficult.

23. Tryon Edwards: To waken interest and kindle enthusiasm is the sure way to teach easily and successfully.

24. Spanish Proverb: Tomorrow is often the busiest day of the week.

25. Lyndon B. Johnson: The noblest search is the search for excellence

26. Charles M. Schwab: The man who does not work for the love of work but only for money is not likely to neither make money nor find much fun in life.

27. Chinese Proverb: The miracle is not to fly in the air, or to walk on the water; but to walk on the earth.

28. John Naisbitt: The new source of power is not money in the hands of a few, but information in the hands of many.

29. Henry Ford: The man who will use his skill and constructive imagination to see how much he can give for a dollar, instead of how little he can give for a dollar, is bound to succeed.

Many employers will add these motivational quotes inside the employees’ paycheck envelope. Sometimes it may be a motivational quote, other times a silly antidote. Include employee birthdays or other important events to help your employees feel a part of the team.

By showing your own motivation, others will suck it in and find it hard to be lack lustre in your presence!

So, come on – use my top motivational quotes to your advantage and have a great day!

Tags: motivation, motivational quotes

Some Quick Motivation Techniques

Here are a few ways to get motivated fast!

Motivation: it’s something we all desire, though few of us can get motivated and, most importantly, stay motivated, especially when life throws us some setbacks. This is why we have put together the best techniques for getting and staying motivated, so you can reach your dreams and goals faster than ever.

How to Get Motivated

How do you get motivated, especially after encountering a snag in your plan? It’s easier to attain than you may think. These motivation techniques, though simplistic, work like a charm as long as they are carried through:


* Recall the initial thoughts and purpose for what you are trying to achieve.


* Create a plan that helps you get to where you want to go. The more interested you are in your purpose, the more likely you will succeed. 


* Keep a physical reminder of your goal nearby. Whether in your workspace or at home, make sure you have a constant visual reminder of the happiness you will, in fact, attain.

How to Motivate Others

How do you inspire and motivate others to achieve greater goals? There are a few simple techniques that successful team leaders and managers can use that just as easily apply to your friends, and family:


* Give positive reinforcement. Encourage others by pointing out the positive. For example, comment on a past success or appreciate the good work they’ve been able to accomplish so far. 


* Ask how you can help. Whether you are a boss or a friend, you can boost the motivation of others by taking an interest in their needs and offering your help.


* Be constructive, not critical. Even if you think others are having a tough time coping, instead of chastising them, show them what to do differently next time and how they can improve.

Motivate Yourself Towards Happiness

Surely, being motivated and being happy are inextricably intertwined, but how can you foster happiness within yourself before attaining your goal?


* Remember that everything you do has meaning. It may seem difficult to see the big picture sometimes, but every experience and every task is part of the puzzle.


* Do not dwell on mistakes or criticisms. Dwelling on the past won’t fix anything. You can’t change the past, you can only live and act in the present. Comfort yourself with the fact that you’re capable of doing things differently next time.


* Breathe deeply and let go of negative thoughts. Whenever a worry or concern comes your way, take 10 deep breaths. Taking that moment to push the negativity out will give you a fresh perspective whether this worry is really that important.

Motivate Yourself Towards Health

It is true that the healthier we feel, the more motivated and productive we will be, but sometimes it’s just so hard to get started. How do you stick to a healthy diet and exercise lifestyle? The remedy is never drastic; it just requires a few modifications to boost health and energy:


* Start small and devise a realistic diet and fitness plan that works for you.


* Make sure to get enough sleep per night: 7-8 hours should be a standard.


* Modify your diet to include more veggies and fruits, and less sugars and white starches.


* Exercise at least 3 times a week at 25 minutes or more. A brisk walk will do! Also, remember that you don’t have to do all the exercise at once. 10 minutes here and there is still good exercise!


* De-stress with your favorite activity or hobby when you find yourself overcome with worry. It may be reading a good book, playing some music, or going out for a night with friends.

Motivate Yourself Towards Productivity

How can you motivate yourself towards greater productivity? Achieving greater productivity is totally possible. Here are a few tips to boost your motivation and productivity: 


* Remind yourself of the feeling you get after you complete a task. It feels good, doesn’t it? Hold onto that positive feeling!


* Remember the rewards at the finish line. It may be more time, money, recognition, or simply the satisfaction of knowing that you’re capable of completing any challenge. 


* Focus on your loved ones. The purpose of becoming more productive is to provide for your family and spend more quality time with them. Let this serve as a reminder as you work. After all, you’re not alone!


As you know, motivation is necessary to getting things done in your life. By implementing these quick motivation techniques into your life, your success is within reach!

Tags: motivate, motivation, motivation techniques, Quick Motivation Techniques