Six Steps That Must Be Taken to Ensure Your Goals Are Achieved

A Thorough Assessment of the Current Situation (what's happening now and why?)

Describe in detail what's happening now and why is it happening? Describe the issues you're dealing with now, and determine what you want to change. If it's a personal goal, you'll need to write down everything you're dealing with right now, the good and the bad. If it's a business goal you'll need to quantify what's happening, what the people impact will be, the profit impact, the sustainability of any action you take, key leverage points, and any competitive advantage you might gain.

The Objective (what should be happening and what are the outcomes)

Review your notes from above and make every effort to determine what should be happening. Write down everything that comes to mind and make it specific, understandable, measurable, and achievable. This should be like setting the table for dinner. Make everything fit the circumstance you're in, and spell it out clearly. This is the primary step required to determine your initial goal.

The Strategic Formation (spelling out in generalities what steps you'll have to take to achieve your goal)

How are you going to achieve that goal? That's what you're going to describe in writing, step by step. You must write down in general statements, all the strategies you think necessary to achieve your goal. Remember that this is the "how-to" part. Strategies should state every step you're going to take.

The Plan (here's where you write down the specific details to achieve each strategy)

You now have to list every minute detail that you believe must be accomplished, in order to complete each strategy. Pay careful attention to this fact; you might need to complete two to five detailed statements to satisfy each of your strategies. Whatever the amount, just do it to ensure success.

Execution (now your mission is to start working on the detailed plan you've compiled.)

You're going to accomplish your goal by working the plan backwards. In other words, start working on the last part first, meaning the detailed statements you just wrote down. If you have five or six written strategies, you might have fifteen or more detailed statements to complete, to achieve each strategy.

Tracking (As you complete each detail, cross them off one at a time)

As you complete each detail statement, you can then cross it off. Then go to the next one, until you complete every detail associated with one single strategy. Then cross off that strategy as completed. Accomplish every strategy the same way until the goal is achieved.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=James_M_Egan

Believe In You

With the Christmas season approaching, I thought of all the happy families that will be gathering to share new memories with one another that will last a lifetime. For many, this is a great time of year for laughter and good cheer. For others, it will be a down time, one of discouragement and hopeless nights.

For those who are struggling right now, I wanted to offer a list of some thoughtful, soul-searching questions. Perhaps to restore some faith and confidence in yourself because after all, down deep inside I think you still believe in you!

Don't Isolate.

We are not perfect people. We all have problems that we struggle with. We've created lists of things that we love and hate to do, while we walk about with some silly habits we've picked up along the way. We are complex and have a lot of issues to work through. So find a buddy, a friend to share with because we are who we are and we need people.

Know Who You Are and What Makes You Happy

Can you describe yourself quite easily and quickly or do you need time to contemplate what you're going to say? Because describing yourself is not about your good looks but it's in knowing who it is you are and what it is that you like to do. So, describe what interests you and makes you happy. Do you make time for your hobbies or does it annoy you that you have so very little free time?

What Are You Good At?

Hopefully, you've found time to develop and explore your creative side. A little exercise can benefit the body and your mind to keep the creative juices flowing. Seriously though, finding your niche will foster confidence and give yourself a reason to be proud of ones self.

Why Are You Here?

I wonder if you have found meaning and purpose to your life. You do have value and worth, you know. Listen to your heart and pay attention to those gut feelings. If you believe in yourself and know you are loved, then you will find great satisfaction in loving others. Go meet some new people and share your ideas. Be encouraged and offer inspiration to others.

How To Believe In Yourself

In my younger days when I was carefree and discovering new lands, I thought I could do anything. I had written lots of stories in school and created bucket lists of things I wanted to do before a certain age. Some of my dreams have come true and many of my lists were unrealistic. But little by little, each and every day I've discovered improvement in my piano playing with daily discipline. The same is true with exercise and nutrition routines. Do you feel that you are really living life and experiencing it to the fullest? Are you proud of yourself? If not, then make a change today. Rediscover yourself by adding value to your life in believing in yourself.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Diana_Rogers

Harness the Power of Positive Peer Pressure

It's no secret that the people around us affect our decisions. Teens start smoking for social status. Middle-aged men buy convertibles to impress other middle-aged men or young ladies. Football players hustle to make sure they're not ridiculed for being slow.

Peer pressure usually has a negative connotation, but it can be a good thing. Positive peer pressure is simultaneously one of the most powerful and least utilized tools for personal growth. Surrounding yourself with people who want you to do better is a sure way to success.

When you're working towards a goal, there are two groups of people that can help you.

The first group is others who are on the same path as you. If you're just starting to lift weights, it can be tremendously motivating to work out with others. When you're not feeling motivated to exercise, they can push you to go on.

It's really a symbiotic relationship, and you'll be helping them out as well. The more people involved, the more successful this kind of group will be.

The second group is filled with people who have been there and accomplished your goal. They will have the experience to guide you through the hard times. When you have questions, they know the answers.

Peers at your level can help with motivation, but it's like the blind leading the blind. An expert in the field can motivate you and teach the entire group.

So what's in it for them? Why would someone want to teach you like that? They'll get motivation to stay consistent, and teaching will help improve their own knowledge. Mentors also receive a sense of pride and satisfaction from teaching others in their craft.

Finding Positive Peers 
The real first step is finding people that will encourage you and help you on your journey. Where should you look? Depending on the goal, there are lots of places to check out.

Find a Local Meeting Place 
There may already be a group of people interested in your goal that want to help. For things like working out, this is obvious - find a gym, and join.

If you're not sure, check out meetup.com and do a search for your hobby or goal.

Join an On-line Group 
You can find an on-line community for anything on-line. From knitting to public speaking, there are people on-line discussing your goal. Join one and make a post introducing yourself. These communities are generally very warm and welcoming, and are glad to see new members.

Here's a starter check list of places to look:

Reddit 
Google Groups or Google+ Communities
Search Google for hobby_name Forum Example
Just remember, on-line communities are a great motivation but can also be a huge time-sink. Don't waste your well-deserved time reading something you don't care about!

Post a Craigslist Ad 
Yes, really. People on Craigslist can be weird, but there are also lots of success stories. Just post in the right section indicating you're looking for a friend with interest X.

Work in a Different Industry 
This won't apply to everybody, but some jobs are very transferable between industries. Examples: IT help desk, receptionist, secretary, sales. The list goes on.

All industries have a need for these positions. If you're a marketer looking to get fit, you should consider joining an agency focused on health and fitness.

The culture of the job will be a strong influence, and if you work full-time, you can experience powerful mental changes in a short period.This applies doubly if you're an entrepreneur and own your own business.

Eliminating Negative Peer Pressure 
The average person between 18 and 24 has 510 Facebook friends (Source). That's a lot of people.

Out of those, I would guess that 100 are seen on a regular basis. This includes family, friends, and co-workers.

What kind of influence do your 100 closest people have on you?

That's the question you need to ask yourself. You might already have a positive circle of friends, but you're probably struggling with at least a few that keep pushing you back.

Maybe you've known them since high school, or maybe you have some other bond that keeps you together. Only you can decide if you should keep a relationship going, but if your views and goals have changed dramatically since you first met, it may be time to move on.

Don't be a jerk about it, but consider polite unavailability.

Find Your Focus 
Spending effort to get positive peer pressure in your life won't do you any good if they're pressuring you to do the wrong things. Make sure you have a strong set of goals before you start.

That way, when your new friends and acquaintances push you, they'll be pushing you in the direction you really want to go.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Samuel_Ricks

Not Just Talent, Commitment Is What You Need to Succeed in Life

"Talent is cheaper than table salt. What separates the talented individual from the successful one is a lot of hard work." - Stephen King, American novelist

Many people believe that talent is the only thing you need to have, to be successful in life. Many tend to measure a person's ability by the marks/ranks he/she scored in academics. But, do all the top scorers, though talented, can really succeed in life? Will they bring Nobel Prizes to their country? Where will they be after 10 years from now? The answer for all the above questions is most likely to be not outstanding.

This is just because talent alone cannot assure success. Many of these top scorers think that they are talented and can easily get any job that they wish - but the fact is talent can make you eligible for a job, but not successful in life.

It's not talent, you need to have commitment to succeed in life
Though talent gets you further, it is commitment that leads to success. Commitment towards your learning or towards your work, will help you grow in your career, while talent at the most, can help you in acquiring a job.

If you flip through history, you will find people who were successful, had commitment to their goals, than just their talent. Take the example of our Indian Nobel Prize winner in Chemistry (2009), Venkataraman Ramakrishnan, a Ph.D scholar in Physics. An interesting fact about him is that he failed to qualify for the national-level entrance exams like IIT and Christian Medical College entrance exam, and opted for the basic sciences (B.Sc.) in his UG.

Though he was a highly qualified Ph.D holder in Physics, he transitioned to Biology, by doing a two-year graduation program. Later, in the year 1983, he started his research work in Bio-chemistry and spent many years of his career on it.

If we really see, his failure at the IIT entrance shows that he was an above average student and not that brilliant. But he pursued his passion towards Bio-chemistry for decades by staying out of comfort zone, and finally won the Nobel prize for his work on ribosomes in the year 2009. It took almost 16 years for him to become a Nobel laureate. Though he was talented, it was only his commitment that has made him a successful person.

Not only Venkataraman Ramakrishnan, there are many such people who may/may not have talent, but have succeeded in life because of their strong commitment. A recent example is Rahul Dravid, who himself stated that, unlike his talented counterparts, he didn't have the natural flair for batting; it was his practice, perseverance, hard work and commitment that made him the second highest test run scorer.

Hence, it is commitment, not just talent, that will lead you to success and to achieve your goals in life.

"Desire is the key to motivation, but it's determination and commitment to an unrelenting pursuit of your goal - a commitment to excellence - that will enable you to attain the success you seek." 

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=B._K._Vijay

Does Success Chase You?

I hear a lot of people talk about the need to find balance in their lives. Whether it is between work, family, hobbies, friends, and chores, there seems to always be a pull in some sort of direction. People and things vie for our time every day and it can become quite stressful. In fact, according to physicians, chronic stress is a major reason for ailments and some types of diseases.

Why are we so stressed out? Why do we feel like we have to be super heroes that can take on the universe single-handedly without so much as breaking a sweat? Is there some sort of conspiracy that is out to make us feel super bad if we do not complete A, B, and C within a certain time period?

Are We Running Ragged?

I'm sure we all desire success at some level. I think it's wonderful to have goals and dreams and go after them. Productivity is important and there are certain things that we can do to become more productive. We even have plenty of apps to choose from to help us. But are we running ourselves ragged in the meantime? Do we reach one goal only to pause for a second and then rush off to "secure" the next?

Sigh.

The road to success is paved with people running on all they've got, yet they are very tired. Frustrated. They look ahead at the successful and accomplished and wonder how in the world they did it. Copying their style. Buying their books. Some even sell out on their values and morals to achieve that elusive carrot which dangles before them. They feel empty at the thought of NOT being successful.

The road to success is broad, but know that there are also little trails along the way for those who are tired of the beaten path. For those who have traveled with the masses only to find themselves beaten down, frustrated, disappointed, terribly lonely, and spiritually dying. For those who have tried to "balance everything out" and have fallen short. Some lose their partners. Some put their families to the wayside. Some thought that "success" would be the one thing that makes them happy.

It's a paradox. Success is not some "thing" you acquire. Success is simply a term. A word. Our society has put way too much emphasis on the "secret" to success in five or seven step plans. Do this. Be that. Look this way. Do it that way. I did it this way; so can you.

Success as defined by the majority is not a bad thing. Success is largely looked at as the accomplishment of certain goals or dreams. That is wonderful, but what goes amiss is when people set their goals and deem themselves unsuccessful until they achieve them. That's like going on a long road trip and the only time you feel good is when you reach your destination. What about the hours driving? You could have some fun. Talk with your family. Jam out to the radio. Have meaningful conversations. The journey itself can be magnificent!

Does Success Chase You?

Most people like to chase after success. I like to think success chases after me. Sometimes it catches me and sometimes it's just an inch behind giving me a boost, but it is always attached to me. I'm successful because I am alive. I'm successful because I have breath in my lungs. I'm successful because I am worthy.

The Ebb and Flow of Life

It is a good thing to seek balance in various areas of life, but don't get so caught up in it. Life is meant to have some ebb and flow and variety is a good thing. One week you might be sailing along quite quickly with momentum galore and the next week you might hit some pretty big waves. Both are part of the journey and both are alright. You learn lessons when you hit the waves; lessons you wouldn't have learned had you not hit them.

Get off the beaten path. Do your thing. Sing your kind of song. Walk your walk. Wear the bow tie, the edgy hair, and the bright pink socks. Be you.

Do some yoga or whatever rocks your boat. Take a long walk in nature and sing with the birds. Stop reading self-help books for just a moment and allow silence to soothe your soul. Try something new. Try nothing. Draw a line in the sand and determine that today starts a new start and though you have no idea what the journey will look like, it's fine. There are no losers on the trails, but there are plenty of pioneers.

Be a pioneer. Feel the spirit of life and hope beating within. Carve your path and smile the whole way.

You are success every moment of every day right where you are.

It was Bob Dylan who said,

"A man is a success if he gets up in the morning and gets to bed at night, and in between he does what he wants to do."

After all, when you do what you want and what you love, not only does success permeate your being, but peace and joy as well.

And that my friends, is what we all want.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tony_Fahkry

How to Make Sure Your Dreams Never Die

In this article I want to talk about your dreams. Every one of us has dreams, whether big or small. But, unfortunately we don't always reach our goals. Sometimes we even lose our dreams at a young age. And to lose your dream, is like losing part of yourself.

For me, the dream was baseball. I started playing baseball since before I can even remember. I played in elementary school, middle school, and up until high school. And I was always pretty good. The only thing I ever wanted to do was to play baseball professionally. But, I didn't realize that talent alone wouldn't get me there. You have to have a work ethic and mental toughness, which I lacked.

Once I hit high school, I just expected to start playing great and get drafted out of high school or go to college to play. Well, that didn't happen.

Instead I quit after my sophomore year. I told myself I quit because of 2 reasons, the coach and a girl. But the real reason I quit was because of myself. I didn't have the drive to succeed, and I blamed it on others.

Now, whenever I go to a baseball game I always think, "What if?" And it hurts, I wish that I didn't give up and I even sometimes think about getting back into it, but it's too late for me. Sports are the one thing you can't just jump right back into and play at a super high level like Major League Baseball.

Our dreams are very fragile.

Now that you know what happened with my dreams, I want to make sure that you have the ability to keep your dreams alive and if they are dying, the necessary means to revive them!

I'm going to give you the steps to keeping your dreams alive. If I was able to implement these back in the day, I definitely would have. So check them out and make sure to implement them!

1. Support - There is nothing better than having somebody or somebodies rooting for you to succeed. When you have somebody that will support your dream and that doesn't let you quit, your dream will take off.

2. Hang out with people who have your same dreams - You can do this in many ways, you can befriend these people, find them in a discussion forum, work with them, etc. Whatever it is, having people around you who have the same dreams will help a ton.

3. Find a mentor - Having someone who can coach you to your dream is HUGE! This is probably the number one recommendation I would make.

4. Research - Read and apply everything you can to help you reach your dream.

5. Visual Reminders - Keep the images of your dreams around you at all times. For me, I should of posted pictures of different baseball players and the baseball fields I wanted to play at. Do something like this so you can keep your dream around you at all times.

Do these things and you will be well on your way to achieving your dreams!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jason_Jeter

Keeping Your Focus For Success

In this article I want to talk about keeping your focus on your goals. One of the things most critical to having success is defining your goals and keeping your focus on them. If your focus wavers at all, you will struggle to find that success you desire.

To reach a goal, we have to keep them in front of us at all times in order to maintain the motivation often needed to get us over the rough spots.

However, the first thing you must do is define your goal. You must define it and then keep it in your thoughts. Make it a part of you. Visualize as if you already have the goal completed an you are looking back on it. This will be key to your success.

Does this mean that you must spend hours contemplating your ultimate goal? No! It simply means that you need to know exactly what it is that you want and want it so badly you keep it in your mind.

I've personally taken this and used it in my own life. No matter what your goals are, it's possible for you to use this same method to maintain your own focus and reach your goals.

Let me tell you why.

My ultimate goal is to run a 7 figure per year business from the comfort of my own home. Now you see I have a very definite image of what my life will be like once I reach that goal, and each day I set aside a few minutes to simply close my eyes and bring up the mental picture of how I will feel and see myself as if I already have it. Where will I be living? What kind of car will I have? How will feel mentally? Will I have more confidence? And I could go on and on, but you get it..

You too can use this exact same method no matter what you goals are. Even if you can't put your goals into pictures or words, this will still work.

When you use those few minutes each day to form create this image of your goal already being completed. You have to imagine the feelings that you will have when you have reached your own goals.

Another great thing, which I personally believe is the most important thing in reaching your goals is to change your story, which you can learn from my other articles.

Go ahead and put this into action and I have no doubt you will have the focus necessary to reach your goals.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jason_Jeter

Discover What Traits You Need to Have a Success Mindset

It's the truth. Having a success mindset comes with a price. It takes time, effort, and discipline to say the least. Wanting to succeed in life and in business has about 90% dependency on your mindset. With that being said, it's way more involved than just speaking about it and wishing for it to happen.

Unfortunately, many people do not understand just how powerful the mind works and why it is the determining factor in achieving success.

Let's look at the Network Marketing industry for example. This industry has the highest failure rate of all, simply because the successful mindset concept is undermined. Many people come into the business expecting to soar, but they don't want to put in the self-work that's needed to help them along the way.

Here are a few success traits that are easily attainable and needed if you want to roll with the Big Boys.

Above all, be determined.

This makes me think about the movie, "The Pursuit of Happiness" with Will Smith. It is such a powerful movie that showed the determination of a man that had gone through failure in business, marriage, and in life. Overall, nothing stopped him from reaching his goals and making a better life for himself and his family. He went through so much adversity, from being homeless, broke, and going through a downward spiral in life. However, he stayed the course and came out on top. That's what determination is all about.

Successful people don't quit when things aren't going their way or things aren't working fast enough. But success does have a process of elimination. Those who are determined will be in a class of their own.

Stay on Track, Through Adversity

Whether in business or in life, you're going to face obstacles. We all do. It's the way you deal with them that matters. Everyone deals with adversity differently, there's no question. If you feel as though you need help in this area, do some meditating to relax your mind and declutter. The more clear you are in your head, the better you can operate and handle whatever comes your way.

Expand on What You Know and What You Don't Know

You don't have to be the smartest person in the world, but you will need to increase your knowledge to be a success story. Everyone isn't naturally born with
common sense, but it's important to be knowledgeable in areas where you fall short. In your business, you solve problems and educate, so knowing how and what to do is essential.

Invest in Yourself

When you are striving for success, you don't look at a price tag. You don't look at something that's going to educate you like it's too expensive. You simply look at it as an investment. Successful entrepreneurs spend thousands of dollars investing in their knowledge and are not afraid to do so. The best way to get to where you want to go is to gain the knowledge from someone who is already there. If that means investing in their resources, coaching, and training, then that's what is recommended.

Overcome Any Fears

First, you want to get clarity on what it is you are fearful of. Some people are afraid to succeed. Others are afraid of failure. What are you afraid of? After you determine that, you're going to have to reset and reprogram your mind to get rid of it. Saying affirmations daily is a good start. Once your mind starts to resonate with what you are telling it, you will internalize this type of thinking and believe what you are speaking. Speak life into your faith to overcome your fears.

Be consistent in doing your self-work. It's a process but it's worth doing. Your success comes with a price, but only you can do the work to afford it.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Cheryl_J._Moses

Your Path To Your Professional Success Doesn't Have To Be A "Secret"

There's been so much written about the "secret" this or the "hidden" that. All of these books and articles about the keys to success tend to cause most people to wonder how mankind has survived the past few millennia.

You've heard about how so many bits of knowledge have been hidden from the masses over the centuries. You've heard that there's a specific secret that only a select few have been authorized to acquire. They have the hidden codes to unlock and solve the mysteries that billions of people throughout time have sought.

Well, I'm here to tell you that these so-called secrets and hidden codes aren't hidden at all. The real secret to the amazing success of a small minority of the world's population has been in plain sight for eons. There have been hundreds of books and articles written about it. When asked, many of the truly successful have openly exposed the secret to their success to anyone wishing to simply touch the talisman that would bring them the success that they seek.

I have found that the sip from the holy grail of success that everyone is looking for is this -

PERSISTENCE!

It's this quality that everyone has at birth, but as time goes on, and life throws the obstacles directly onto our paths, the vast majority of people wear down, tire out, and stop their forward progress. They put their big plans and ideas away in the closet of their minds and settle for the more mundane life of everyone around them. They settle for making a living to keep a roof over their heads and food in their stomachs. Every once in a while, they may take a nice trip out of their local areas for an all too brief vacation.

Don't get me wrong. There's absolutely nothing wrong with being self sufficient. I applaud those that go out daily and take care of their households by honest effort. Far too many able-bodied individuals have decided that the gravy train of government sponsored income is the way to live. "Let someone else pay for my needs. I'm perfectly content living the life of a parasite."

In the next day or two, take the time to do an experiment. Ask those that you know over the age of 40 (if you're one of the "young and swingin'" over 40, you count!) if they could do any job in the world, what would it be? Ask them what they thought their life's occupation would be when they were 12 years old. I'd make a small wager that over 90% of those you ask will say a job that they're not currently doing.

The reasons for their course change will vary, but at the root will be the lack of persistence. They gave up on achieving the career that would bring them child-like joy through their adult lives because they quit taking the actions to get there. When the going got tough, they said "Forget it! I'll settle for a life here. It's gotta be better than this!"

They were right. It is better to stop short... as long as you can live with your thoughts of what could have been for the next 40 - 60 years.

So how do you avoid settling for the "okay" life of the majority? You start your journey today to pursue your happiness with dogged determination. You can build the momentum you'll need if you -

• Find your passion - When you were in your youth, what did you do with little or no effort? When you were in school or college, what classes did you take that you found particularly interesting? What talents have you found by pursuing your hobbies? What makes you feel good when you're taking part in it? Your level of passion is critical to maintain the drive you'll need to keep moving forward.


• Do your research - Once you find your passion, look into ways others have begun to make money doing something similar. You may find that your hobby has a devoted following that's willing to pay you for something you'd do for free.


• Renew your desire and stoke it to a blazing level - You can do this by taking two to five minute "thought breaks" at least three times each day. During these breaks, put yourself in your new career or position. Imagine that you're already there and doing the job you love. Visualize your office, stage, gallery, workshop, etc. with you there thoroughly enjoying what you do. If you're feeling really good after your thought break, then you're doing what you need to do to keep build your desire into the fire of obsession.


• Plan your path - I don't know of anyone that achieved any level of success in their desired field that didn't have a plan of the path that they'd take to get there. At the very least, they knew where they wanted to go. The plan you develop will keep your destination in sight when life places the inevitable obstacles and detours in front of you.


• Do the steps in your plan - This is the big step for everyone. It's great to fantasize about what you really want to do, but it's the actual taking of steps toward your goal that make your dreams reality. One thing is certain; you have no chance of reaching the end of your journey if you don't take the first, or subsequent, steps.


• Don't make mountains out of molehills - Life happens and unforeseen events come to all of us. While they may not be pleasant, you'll survive these as you have done all of your life. Don't fall into the trap of making an issue bigger than it really is. It's an event, not a death sentence. The magnitude you place on these less than ideal events of your life are inversely proportional to your success.


• Take a step forward each day - This is especially true if it seems that you're taking two steps back. The true test of your dedication will be how many times will you take even a small step forward each day. If all you can muster is reading a page of an uplifting book or a biography of someone you admire, then do it. Can you make another phone call or knock on another door even though you've done these same actions 100 times?

There isn't a person alive that hasn't had to overcome distresses in their lives. Those that achieve success take the hits, get back up, and continue on their journeys. Their secret is that they've persisted in taking the steps in their plans until they reached the level of success that they desired. They've built, and maintained, their stamina by building their desires to a level where the flame couldn't be extinguished.

After a while, life gives way to those that keep going. That's the "secret" to your success that's been right in front of you... if you keep moving toward it.

Persistence - make it a habit.

Do you hate your job? Are you ready to make a change in your career, either moving up in your current company, or to a new company? Do you want to work in an entirely new position or a new field? Leon R. Scott is a Certified Master Life Coach specializing in Career Transitions for veterans, upwardly mobile employees, and those wanting to change career paths.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Leon_R._Scott

Gratitude, A Journey To Perfect Balance

Is having balance an important trait to have in your life? This is a question that could be worth asking yourself. The idea of balance could be one of the more important concepts that you come across. Indeed the idea of balance is seen in many aspects of life. Balance could be one of the most important things that could add the greatest value to your life. So let us look at the idea of perfect balance and gratitude, and if gratitude can lead to a life of perfect balance.

Life As A Journey
It has been said that life is a journey and not a destination, what does this mean and what is the benefits of understanding this concept. Many people seem to be always looking at life in terms of reaching a destination, but could it be more worthwhile taking your time and enjoying the journey? This could be looked on as the difference between taking a quick route and taking a scenic route. A quick route will get you to your destination quicker, however a scenic route could prove to be more enjoyable and satisfying. The point here is that the way that you look at life could have a very phenomenal impact on the value you gain from life.

The Importance of Real Balance
The need for balance in life should not be underestimated. If you look at the idea of a wheel on a car, you note that if a wheel has not been balanced you could find that the Tyre would tend to wear out quicker. However if the Tyre has been correctly balanced you could find that the Tyre has a much more extended life period. So applying a similar idea to life, you could see that balance could be found to be essential to having and living a live that brings greater joy and many other benefits.

Gratitude a Fuel for your Journey
One of the essential articles that you could find that you need in the journey of life you may find is developing the habit of showing real gratitude for the things that you have in life. Often it could be found that many important things are taken for granted. This could prove to be very dangerous, as things taken for granted could be lost forever if they are not properly looked after. This could prove very sad, because with a little thought, and gratitude you could begin to value the things that you currently take for granted. By encouraging the attitude of gratitude you could find that your life becomes much more rewarding. Because having a change outlook on life could be a transformational change in your life.

Journey to Gratitude
You may find that the journey to living a life of gratitude might prove to be one of the more rewarding things that you might discover in your life. Indeed, by mastering the ability to live a life of gratitude may be found to help you in many aspects of your life. Gratitude could be the key that allows you to find new joy in all the things currently in and around your life. You may in-fact find that things that you may have taken for granted might in-fact be new treasures and sources of pure joy.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_G_A_Brown

Self Improvement And Be The Best Person You Can Be

The key to personal development is growth as a person that increases your awareness and outreach. Self awareness is improved by reaching personal goals and growing spiritually. You can pick up a lot of good ideas for personal development by reading the below article. Refine your personality little by little, and you will understand yourself better.

You will miss many opportunities to develop personally if you put off making decisions. Do not fear the decision making task. Educate yourself, if necessary, to make the best decisions possible. Do not rely entirely on your instinct. Bad decisions have value though because they are experiences that teach lessons. A bad choice will just open up the door for a better one.

Try to maximize your work time and get more work done. One effective way to work more efficiently is to schedule more regular break times. It may seem counter intuitive, but you can actually increase your productivity by taking frequent breaks. That way, you will be refreshed when you return to work and motivated to produce at a much higher level.

By being a leader, you can help improve your personal development. Leadership has many different definitions, but the common theme is influence. Understand the events in your life that make up your leadership journey. Have certain people and events made more significant impacts on your life? How have those events changed you? What personal qualities do you have that make you a good team player? By asking yourself these questions, you can become more aware of how you best fit into a team.

If you hope to advance your state of knowledge regarding personal development, it can help to show a little humility. When you acknowledge the insignificance of your being in comparison to the size of the universe, you will begin to realize the shortcomings of your knowledge. Once you realize this, you will be able to understand and improve upon yourself.

Your unique and individual values can help to mould a productive personal development plan. You will not be happy or motivated if your plan goes against what you believe in. Focus on what makes you a happier person and what needs to be improved. Implementing a plan for personal development can improve both your work and home life in the future.

If you want to get more from your personal development then take care of your physical self. Always keep a healthy routine that includes exercise, diet, and sleep in order to be successful. Although this is simple advice, it is perhaps one of the hardest things that we can master.

Your pastor or counsellor is there to help. They are trained to help you with issues, and also are experienced. You will find that they are eager to hear what you have to say and assess your situation in such a way that will further your personal growth. Sharing your issues with such an adviser can result in a greater sense of peace and wisdom.

In order to continue on your personal development journey, you need a way to measure your successes. Make short-term and long-term goals for the optimum benefit. Keep a journal of how often you are doing a task, and you will start to notice some changes that you are making.

On a Final note to increase your personality development you should be educating yourself with self improvement books. There are hundreds to choose from. Here are a few I would recommend.

How To Win Friends & Influence People by Dale Carnegie

How To Stop Worrying & Start Living by Dale Carnegie

The 7 Habits Of Highly Successful People by Stephen R. Covey

Hope you enjoyed this Article

Have A Great Day

http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Martin_Edward_Higney

The Five Minute Rule

Last week I could not get myself motivated. Swimming in mud would have been easier.

First I tried the gentle approach. I cranked up the music to get my energy flowing and gave myself permission to focus on whatever I wanted - even my uber-low-priority items.

No impact.

Adopting a sterner tone was no more effective. Pointing out to myself that I had way too much on my plate to be frittering away time made no difference. I stayed stuck.

95% of people are prone to procrastinate.

There are all sorts of interesting statistics to be found while cyber-slacking. I have no idea whether that percentage comes from a credible source, but I do know most of us hit periods where getting motivated seems all but impossible. (And yes, I see the irony of researching procrastination as a way of avoiding what I should have been doing.)

After several days of profound inefficiency, I suddenly remembered - I know how to break through the unmotivated doldrums.

Apply the five minute rule.

Whatever you're avoiding, do it for just five minutes. That's it. Nothing complicated or dazzling; simply five minutes of focused time. And when the buzzer rings, you get to stop.

But a funny thing happens in that short time. You've created energy - and you'll probably keep going.

Getting started is the hardest part.

Whether it's a regular ritual like exercise or writing, or something different like launching a new project, sometimes your enthusiasm is nowhere to be found. It happens for lots of reasons... you feel uninspired, overwhelmed, or tired. It's too hard or there's not enough time. You're afraid you'll fail or get stuck.

So you stall, investing your time in getting ready to be ready or whipping yourself into a frenzy on other activities. Anything but the task that's glaring at you from the corner, getting bigger by the minute.

I've had moments where cleaning the grout with a Q-tip is more appealing than tackling the project I'm avoiding. (And the project I'm avoiding is usually not that big a deal!!)

Hoping for the gusto to hit rarely works.

You need to create energy to break out of the procrastination cycle. And the best way to do that is to simply get going. Not forever... only five minutes. You can endure anything for five minutes!

And guess what?

You gain momentum. It's suddenly easier to keep going. You've launched yourself into an upward spiral.

It works with anything, big or small.

Having a hard time getting yourself in a workout groove? Lace up your shoes and go for just five minutes. Stuck getting started on a large project? Perform one project-related task for just five minutes. Tired of looking at an office or house filled with clutter? Clear stuff out for just five minutes.

Your turn to get going!

What's gotten stale or stuck on your list?

Pick one thing and go do it for five minutes.

And then stop... but only if you want to. My guess is momentum will keep you going!

"Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated."

~Confucius

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sherry_Essig

How To Control Your Creative Power

Great creative power comes from balancing the spiritual and personal parts of you. Spiritually, you are a creative being. That's your essential nature - how you are constituted. You were created by creation to be creative. You are creative by virtue of being endowed with a free will. Everything you think, feel, say, do or desire is a free-will creative activity, so all you have to do is be more conscious about the formation and direction of those activities. Point them in a direction that can make a difference in the world - be of some use or service to the world, and as a result be happy and prosperous yourself. To the degree those personal faculties aren't controlled, your creative power is diminished and won't be very useful to many people or situations - so you won't be very happy or prosperous.

Spiritually, you don't have to do anything. Your virtually unlimited creative power is already fully established in your subconscious mind, so all you have to do is realize it personally. You do that by springing into conscious, personal action - conscious physical, mental and emotional action. Think of yourself as an action hero who's come to save the day, but the day will be wrought with hazards and hindrances. You know that'll be the case so you're prepared to be patient and persevering. Adventure wouldn't be adventurous without opposition that's at least equal to you and your goal. That's what makes the game worthwhile, challenging and inspiring. If it were easy, you wouldn't value it because there would be nothing in it for you spiritually. It wouldn't fulfil you or grow you. You accept the challenge knowing and accepting three things: 1, that there will be pitfalls and hindrances, 2, that all the hindrances are personal not spiritual, and 3, that there are no hindrances you cannot overcome. In other words, once you've made up your mind, you cannot fail.

Confident that you can't fail, you nerve yourself up to ceaseless activity. Your tirelessness depends on not scattering energy on many projects but limiting your field of activity. You make yourself strong and untiring, but you don't push. You don't force results prematurely. You wait till the time is ripe. Time is always on your side. You persevere in always doing the right thing knowing that universal justice will prevail for you - you're in harmony with it, and that's your key to power, influence and happiness. Your reliability and seriousness of purpose attract the people and situations that propel you inevitably to your goal. You develop yourself so that your influence endures by renewing your character daily - honestly recognizing and letting go of all that's inferior.

Being creatively active all day, your bedtime may be beset with cares and concerns. Here you learn the difference between movement and rest - the two cycles that run the whole universe. One compliments the other and depends upon the other. You're up all day and now you come down. Now you relax, recharge and recuperate. You keep the two phases in their respective places. Turn one on and the other off. You don't work in bed nor sleep at work. You don't have to force it; you just have to allow it. This is how to manage and conserve energy and creative power. Worry lives in mentality while faith lives in reality. Worry is destructive while faith is creative. Worry is emotional while faith is spiritual. Which mindset will you choose? Happiness is not at the end if it's not along the way.

As your influence grows and success seems assured, the temptation to pride and arrogance will arise. If you indulge these negative, inferior emotions you risk a humiliating loss. You are coming to creative power through selfless action, and pride contradicts that power out of existence. Arrogance means knowing how to go forward but not how to step back, not how to be submissive as well as assertive. It means you know how to win but not how to lose. This is the partial knowledge that blocks the creative power and clarity necessary to enduring success and happiness.

The higher you rise the more prone you become to lose touch with those below and around you, and the more alert you must be to protect and maintain your integrity. It will be very useful to ask the advice of a person you admire and trust. Absolute objectivity is virtually impossible, so wisdom suggests getting alternate viewpoints on important actions and decisions. All the great creators, inventors and entrepreneurs had mentors or advisers. Asking for help also gives you much needed humility. Remember that your great creative power doesn't come from you, personally; it comes from you, spiritually, from your subconscious foundation of power. Your lower personality is always the hindrance to power not the source of it. The personality is what has to be overcome or transcended if you're ever going to get anywhere. The process of pursuing a worthwhile goal will reveal all the personality defects that have held you back up to this point. Achieving your goal, then, is all about achieving your self.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=William_F_McLaughlin

Finding Success - The Importance of Taking Responsibility for Your Actions

Are you:

a) aware of why you have the results you experience in your life?

Or

b) a complete Knuckle head who keeps repeating the same actions over and over again expecting different results each and every single time?

I believe it is very likely that you are in fact repeating the same actions over and over and over again. Though, that's not your fault, it's due to your over the years instilled habits that are no longer applicable, but dictate your behaviour.

But if you have studied, have learned and know at least the theory, and you're still not 'aware' or still not seeing any chances, then watch out, you're in the danger zone of becoming a knuckle head, ignorance is no longer a reason!

Every human has four endowments- self awareness, conscience, independent will and creative imagination. These give us the ultimate human freedom... The power to choose, to respond, to change.

Dr. Stephen R. Covey, Author of The 7 Habits of Highly Efficient People

You know, Life doesn't 'just' happen, it is actually designed by You!

You have to start taking responsibility for the results in your life. If you're not happy with where you are in life, it is because of the choices you made, and the actions (or not) you have taken. If you want different results, choose differently! It is that simple.

You have to become proactive and stop blaming everything and everyone around you for the results in your life. Keep doing that and you WILL, I promise you this, keep ending up with the same results you have been getting all this time!

Too many people worry about things they have no control over, and get distracted by these things, forgetting that if they shift their focus to solutions, instead of problems, all of the sudden life is not that bad at all...

As long as you can see,

As long as you are aware,

As long as you can see light at the end of the tunnel,

... you can smile! And life is so much better with a smile on your face.

So start by increasing your awareness and the best way to do this is by taking responsibility for the results in your life.

You become what you predominantly think about, thoughts are causes, and thoughts are creative. Think solution based, be creative, and steer away from focusing on problems, you will never solve a problem by wallowing in it, rather emphasize and make it worse by not dealing with the problem. So focus on the solution, not the problem.

Every Project Counts!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Henrik_Faber

How to Set Yourself Up For Success This Holiday Season

The following begins in story form to give you a visual picture of the outcomes your choices can have this holiday season.

It was New Years Eve many years ago. I was making my way along an otherwise deserted street on a dark and snowy night. I pulled my coat collar up over my ears to keep out the biting wind. As I did so, I noticed two buildings to my right. The lights from inside cast shifting shadows on the falling snow. I looked through the windows of each building and saw two very different scenes unfold. As I moved in closer, I could hear voices coming from inside each building. In the building on the left, I could hear lamenting anguished voices. The people inside were the victims of a crime. A crime so wide spread it didn't distinguish between vocation, economic status, gender or age.

In the building on the right, I could hear laughter and enjoyment. These people were steeped in celebration. Interestingly, I noticed that this celebration also was not limited by vocation, economic status, gender or age.

I had a few minutes to spare so out of curiosity I wandered in closer to each building. In the building on the left, there appeared to be a criminal investigation. Something had been stolen, something of great value and worth. The experts had been brought in to question the victims. I could hear the voices through the window. "When did you first notice it was gone?" "Has anything like this happened before?" "When?" It was an obvious search for clues and patterns.

In the building on the right, I could hear through the windows very different conversations. It seemed as if these people had actually found what the people in the other building had lost. Or maybe they had just never lost "it" to begin with. They all seemed content and happy. No regrets. No laments. How odd I mused to myself. What could "it" be?

I continued to listen and it became apparent what "it" was. The group on the left, either lost it or had it stolen from them that holiday season just before Thanksgiving. The group on the right had been guarded, well aware of the imminent danger and had gone to great lengths to protect it. I felt my head spin and my body reel at the revelation of the missing item, the stolen treasure. "It" was... time.

The Holiday Time Thief comes in various disguises. Armed with this information you can develop a plan to join the people in the building on the right New Years Eve. Content, with no regrets.

Common Disguises of the Holiday Time Thief:

• One more event - Do you find yourself squeezing in just one more event? "Oh between 2 and 2:15 am we don't have anything planned, let's say yes to this... " Even if you do have a bit of extra time, that doesn't mean you need to fill it.
• "It won't take that long," or Saying "yes" someone else's request- This causes many people to take on extra responsibilities at the last minute. Rule number one, everything takes longer than you think it will. No matter how much you like someone, or how much you want to be helpful; if it wasn't in the original holiday time plan, you may need to say no!
• Distraction/Procrastination- Don't be deceived. You know when you're being distracted. Don't choose to complete an unnecessary, unimportant task at the expense of the necessary and important ones.

Plan to Avert the Holiday Time Thief:

You must be intentional to avoid being a victim!

• Plan - Get out your calendar for the next two months. What do you want your holiday season look like? Include relationships, work, events, and activities. What will it take for you to be content and finish your year strong?
• Decide - The non-Negotiables. Who are the people you want/need to spend time with? What are the events, activities etc. that you absolutely want or have to do? Write everything down on your calendar. Make sure your list includes both personal and professional items. What will equip you to finish the year strong? Write these down now. The Negotiables - What would be nice but not absolutely necessary? If it's someone you can see at another time, or an activity that will ultimately take away from something more important, then it's a negotiable. (When planning your calendar it's critical you get these two lists right so you aren't deceived into believing that a negotiable is somehow non-negotiable.)
• Prepare - Prepare yourself mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually for a great season! Let others know your decisions in advance to avoid awkward conversations in the final hour. Decide what's important and focus on that.

Article Source:  http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kaylene_S_Mathews

Doing What Needs To Be Done To Achieve Anything We Want

We may love the goals we are trying to achieve with a passion. Until we have to do something that is part of achieving the goal that we do not want to do. That is the point of this article: Doing what needs to be done to achieve what we want in terms that are not uncertain, even if we have to do some things we do not agree with at times. Sure, we must do what needs and wants to be done at all times we want to achieve our cherished goals, but what if some part of the goal achievement requires that we do something we do not want to do at times, but need to necessarily to genuinely achieve the goal? What then? That is what I am going to spend this article answering realistically.

Sure, we may fully want our goals, but put off that part of the goal that needs to be done, but, we do not really want to do. So here is the only and genuine advice I can give on that if we really want the goal: Prioritize well and act fully and genuinely honestly on that priority without fear or trepidation and get it done thoroughly and efficiently. I cannot give any other advice better than that. Because, what needs to be done, needs to be done, and nothing except necessary action taken can change that.

The most foolish thing in the world is to "cut corners" on something we genuinely want and need. The ultimate loss is to cheat ourselves in this sense. For example, for the athlete, steroids may seem easier than working out our muscles naturally, but look what happens in the long run to athletes who take this course: Disease, scandal, fear of being caught, and many other horrible things. Doing what is necessary takes on a new and better meaning with that example, does it not?

Reality works like this: When we cheat genuinely, we genuinely cheat ourselves. When we are totally honest, we benefit ourselves. When we do what needs and wants to be done, we benefit ourselves genuinely. "Getting away with it" is the worst way to go if you want real achievement.

My Mom once told me: Do not lie, be real. You have to do that at every level if you do not ultimately want to cheat yourself. We teach what we most need to learn, and I learned what I most needed to teach here, thank you for reading.

Article Source:http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joshua_Clayton

Taking Control of Your Life: Three Transformational Steps to a Life of Power

As a woman who's worked in a quiet environment serving bosses most of her life, that transformation from employee to taking control of your life as an entrepreneur can be a bit challenging. However, it's the challenge that really makes it all worthwhile.

My "taking control of your life" journey started about three years ago...

My daughter (Angie) and I were both involved in this nutritional network marketing deal. Excited to have a part in Angie's life, I agreed to be partners with her in this business.

Always wanting to run before walking, Angie lead us to on-line marketing.

My problem with this was two-fold: First, I really suck at sales (which is why I though on-line marketing was the answer for me.

And second, the average network marketing products aren't geared towards marketing on-line

I thought about how I could get my sales experienced daughter to help me host parties and let HER be the main salesperson, but once we figured out how much time we'd have to put into this thing to split commissions...

Well, that idea went bye-bye real fast!

In hind sight, that was a good thing, because I never would have learned how to take control of my life if I always had allowed her to be the front-runner.

We finally find something that worked. She was making money, and so was I.

And what does this have to do with taking control of your life?

Well, we no more than had just started this thing when she decided to move away and live with her boyfriend. Internet marketing wasn't enough to support her, so she put all her energies into insurance sales and left me high and dry!

But actually, this was my first lesson in taking control of your life: Getting past my comfort zone...

Since I had FINALLY found something that was bringing me an income where everything else did not, I didn't want to quit. When she wasn't around, I was forced to figure things out on my own.

When you spend your life asking people what to do, it's a transformational experience to find that the answer sometimes lies with YOU!

Additionally, I found that anything I was able to figure out on my own gave me a new sense of confidence and well-being. While my daughter did quit promoting what she started, she didn't quit the program.

I remember that feeling of power I had when I emailed her with a subject line, "I just made you $100 you're welcome!"

Needless to say, it wasn't long before she came back into the internet marketing business!

And as I progressed with the on-line marketing, I discovered the second lesson for taking control of your life: Finding Your Passion...

In the beginning, I was just following my daughter's footsteps - having my blog designed just like hers, and promoting in the same way she does.

The problem with this is that we're not the same person...

She likes wild parties and lots of people around her - while I enjoy quiet time and being with nature. She enjoyed the MLM industry, and I didn't. So naturally, she was way more successful than I was because she was passionate about the MLM industry - and I was just following her lead by writing posts geared for MLM marketers.

Little did I know that there is a common denominator for taking control of your life for all types of people... Blogging.

Once I become proficient at blogging on a regular basis, I discovered that my passion is more centred on personal development.

And, by law of attraction, most of my readers are drawn to my personal development posts. The final lesson for taking control of your life was discovered when I learned to just be myself...

Learning how to take control of your life is a journey, but it's so rewarding when I look back and think about the person I used to be... actually wanting to hide away in a little office room working on data entry (the most BORING job in the world LOL)!

I'm not a full time internet marketer like my daughter is, but I'm working on it... And enjoying the ride!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nancy_Harnell