Seven Qualities of Master Achievers
by Brian Tracy
If you think the way successful people think and adopt their success habits, you too can be successful. Here are seven qualities of the top 1% of successful people.
1) They are Ambitious. They see themselves capable of being the best. They see themselves with the capacity of being really good at what they do. This was a really big thought for me. It held me back for many years. When I saw people who were doing better than I was, I naturally assumed they were better than I was. And if they were better than I was, then I must be worse than them, so that would mean they were superior and I was inferior. That is a big problem in our society. We have feelings of inferiority, and these feelings of inferiority are often translated into feelings of undeservedness. We don't feel we deserve to be a big success. The word "deserve" comes from two Latin words meaning "from service." You deserve 100% of everything you make and enjoy as long as you get it from serving other people. Your rewards are in direct proportion to your service. If you serve better and serve more and serve at a higher level and serve more enthusiastically and serve a higher quality, then you'll have a wonderful income you'll deserve every penny of it. You must see yourself capable of being the best.
2) They are Courageous. They work to confront the fears that holds most people back. The two biggest enemies to yours and my success is fear and doubt. Eliminating fear and doubt is the key. The key to eliminating fear: If you want to develop courage, then simply act courageously when it's called for. When you do something repeatedly, you develop a habit. Make a habit throughout your life of doing the things you fear. If you do the thing you fear, the death of fear is certain. To overcome fear of rejection in prospecting, you must realize that rejection in selling is not personal. Top salespeople do not fear prospecting. Face your fear. Do the things you fear. The ability to confront your fear is the mark of the superior person. If you have high ambition and you decide to be in the top 10%, and you can confront your fears and do the things that are holding you back, those two things alone will make you a great success.
3) They are Committed. The top people in every field, especially the top salespeople, are completely committed. They believe in themselves; they believe in their companies; they believe in their products and services; they believe in their customers; they have an intense belief. We know that there is a one-to-one relationship between the depth of your belief and what happens in your reality. And if you absolutely believe in the rightness and the goodness of what you're doing, you become like a catalyst. You create what is called a transfer, like an electrical transfer of enthusiasm. People like to buy from people who truly believe in what they are doing. People who are not committed to what they do lead very empty lives. The second part is that caring is the critical element in modern selling. Caring is a critical element in life, as well. All men and women who enjoy great lives care about what they do! They have passion about what they do. They love what they do.
4) They are Professional.Top salespeople see themselves as consultants rather than as salespeople. When you think of the word "consultant," what words come to mind? When do you call a consultant? A consultant is a problem-solver. What word does not appear when you think of a consultant--the word "salesperson". We don't think of consultants as salespeople. The most successful consultants in America are the very best salespeople of their services. When a person is positioned as a consultant in the mind and heart of the customer, he is not seen as a salesperson. Do people like to be sold? Do people like to be helped to improve their lives and work? So they look upon a salesperson as someone who sells them. Selling is something you do "to" someone, and people don't like to be done "to". So when you think of being a consultant, here is the key. How do you position yourself as a consultant with your customers? Of course, you act like a consultant, but even before you get the chance to act like a consultant, you build a rapport. And the most simple answer of all, and this is the most profound principle: People accept you at your own evaluation of yourself. Consultants come in and have a cup of coffee. Salespeople wait in the waiting room and have a glass of water. If you say you're a consultant, your customer will accept you as a consultant. >From now on, position yourself as a consultant. Think of yourself as a consultant. Remember, 80% of what you accomplish on the outside is determined by who you are on the inside. How you see yourself determines how the customer responds to you. The customer's perception of you determines how much they buy and how much they recommend you to other customers.
5) They are Prepared. They review every detail in advance. To be in the top 10% requires additional efforts. It requires doing things that the average person is not willing to do. It requires making sacrifices the average person is not willing to make. It requires reviewing every detail of every call or situation before every business meeting. But the difference it makes is extraordinary. Before you go into a meeting, do your homework. Successful people are more concerned about pleasing results than they are about pleasing methods. When you sit down with a client, there is nothing more complimentary to a client than the feeling that you have prepared for the meeting.
6) They are Continuous Learners. They recognize that if they're not continually getting better, they're getting worse. They read, they listen to CDs and they take additional training. The professional never stops learning. So read, listen to CDs, take continuous training.
7) They are Responsible. They see themselves as President of their own personal services corporation. The top people in our society have an attitude of self-employed. 100% of us are self-employed. We are presidents of our own personal services corporation. You work for yourself. The biggest mistake we can ever make is to think we work for anyone else. We work for ourselves. The person who signs our paycheck may change; our jobs may change, but we are always the same. We are the one constant--we are always self-employed. The fact of the matter is -- this is not optional, it is mandatory -- you are the president of your own company, you're the president of your own career, your own life, your own finances, your own body, your own family, your own health. You are totally responsible. We are responsible. No one will ever do it for us. It's the most liberating and exhilarating thought of all, to think that you're the president of your own life.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
The psychology of Urgency
The Psychology Of Urgency: Make Them Want It Now!
"I'll think it over and get back to you." "Sure, we'll do that someday." "I need to check with my colleagues." "Give me a call next month, then we can set a date." Tired of excuses? Looking for a more successful way to get others to take immediate action? For the last century, psychologists have been studying simple persuasion tactics that will allow you to motivate people and get the results you desire. This article focuses on using the psychology of persuasion to create a sense of urgency in your customers. The Psychology of Limited ResourcesThe first strategy for getting people to take immediate action is to present yourself or your product as "limited," "scarce," or "in demand." Why? People want what they can't have. Repeatedly, psychologists have shown that human beings find more value in things that they have a hard time obtaining. If you tell people that they can't have something, they end up wanting it more! You may have experienced this in your own life. Have you ever found yourself interested in a home or a car and then discovered that someone else may try to buy it first? If you're anything like me, the item becomes even more valuable to you. You are more motivated to get it. Do You Want It? You Can't Have It!This is an important point for sales and marketing purposes. Car salespeople are quick to let us know, "This is the last model of its kind available on the entire lot-after it goes, that's it." Newspaper and television ads constantly remind us that the "sale ends soon," "supplies are limited" and"time is running out." Some retail stores create motivation by putting "sold" tags on merchandise that they have a hard time selling. When customers see the "sold" tag, they become more interested in buying the item. Infomercials place a ticking clock at the end of the advertisements. They say, "Order before the clock runs out and you will also receive a free set of knives." Getting Immediate ResultsWhen I first started speaking and consulting, it was hard for me to get business. I made the error of telling potential customers that I would be available whenever they were ready to hire me. Big mistake. It wasn't until I became so busy that I had to start turning customers away that I was able to charge what I am worth. When they felt as if they couldn't have me, they wanted me more. When I was inaccessible, they became anxious and assigned more value to my service. This sense of urgency has had a huge impact on my business. Here are three steps that you can use to create a sense of urgency in others:1. Set a deadline. People are natural procrastinators. Without a deadline-and the potential risk of losing something-people will wait until they collect more information, talk it over with their spouses, or save more money. By setting a deadline, you create an inner drive helps them take action.2. Remind them that your offer is "limited." Always present your opportunity as being limited with regards to time or quantity. If someone asks you whether you have a certain product in stock, don't say, "Oh, yeah, we have tons of them." The better approach is to say, "Yeah, we have some, but they go fast."
3. Play hard to get. Remember, people want what they can't have. By sounding too available, you're diminishing your value. By sounding somewhat unavailable, you're greatly increasing your value. Never say, "Oh, yes, I'm available any day next week." Instead, use the more powerful and persuasive approach by saying, "Hmmm, I'm very busy next week, but I might be able to squeeze you in."
"I'll think it over and get back to you." "Sure, we'll do that someday." "I need to check with my colleagues." "Give me a call next month, then we can set a date." Tired of excuses? Looking for a more successful way to get others to take immediate action? For the last century, psychologists have been studying simple persuasion tactics that will allow you to motivate people and get the results you desire. This article focuses on using the psychology of persuasion to create a sense of urgency in your customers. The Psychology of Limited ResourcesThe first strategy for getting people to take immediate action is to present yourself or your product as "limited," "scarce," or "in demand." Why? People want what they can't have. Repeatedly, psychologists have shown that human beings find more value in things that they have a hard time obtaining. If you tell people that they can't have something, they end up wanting it more! You may have experienced this in your own life. Have you ever found yourself interested in a home or a car and then discovered that someone else may try to buy it first? If you're anything like me, the item becomes even more valuable to you. You are more motivated to get it. Do You Want It? You Can't Have It!This is an important point for sales and marketing purposes. Car salespeople are quick to let us know, "This is the last model of its kind available on the entire lot-after it goes, that's it." Newspaper and television ads constantly remind us that the "sale ends soon," "supplies are limited" and"time is running out." Some retail stores create motivation by putting "sold" tags on merchandise that they have a hard time selling. When customers see the "sold" tag, they become more interested in buying the item. Infomercials place a ticking clock at the end of the advertisements. They say, "Order before the clock runs out and you will also receive a free set of knives." Getting Immediate ResultsWhen I first started speaking and consulting, it was hard for me to get business. I made the error of telling potential customers that I would be available whenever they were ready to hire me. Big mistake. It wasn't until I became so busy that I had to start turning customers away that I was able to charge what I am worth. When they felt as if they couldn't have me, they wanted me more. When I was inaccessible, they became anxious and assigned more value to my service. This sense of urgency has had a huge impact on my business. Here are three steps that you can use to create a sense of urgency in others:1. Set a deadline. People are natural procrastinators. Without a deadline-and the potential risk of losing something-people will wait until they collect more information, talk it over with their spouses, or save more money. By setting a deadline, you create an inner drive helps them take action.2. Remind them that your offer is "limited." Always present your opportunity as being limited with regards to time or quantity. If someone asks you whether you have a certain product in stock, don't say, "Oh, yeah, we have tons of them." The better approach is to say, "Yeah, we have some, but they go fast."
3. Play hard to get. Remember, people want what they can't have. By sounding too available, you're diminishing your value. By sounding somewhat unavailable, you're greatly increasing your value. Never say, "Oh, yes, I'm available any day next week." Instead, use the more powerful and persuasive approach by saying, "Hmmm, I'm very busy next week, but I might be able to squeeze you in."
If you're not selling
If You're Not Selling
Are you working hard, but not getting the results you want? If you're a professional salesperson and you're not selling, it could be because:- You are boring. Do customers cut you off in mid-sentence, or jump in when you pause for breath? Chances are, you're boring them. Paint a vivid picture and put them in it; use an example or interesting case history to illustrate your point. Whip out some visuals to show them how much they will save.- You insult their intelligence. "Mr. Jones, would you like to save money on your long distance phone bill?" Polling prospects with lame questions in an attempt to get them to say yes is manipulative and insulting. Instead, ask open-ended questions to elicit their needs. Treat them with respect by tailoring your questions to their company, industry and circumstances.- You are uninformed. Take time to visit the website of your prospect's company. Check out their competition, industry association and trade journals. Remember: the more you learn, the more you earn. If you do not understand what your prospects do, and what issues they face, how can you expect to determine how your product or service can best help them?- You are talking to the wrong person. Oops! Once again, you have not done your homework, and end up pitching someone who has no decision-making authority. This hurts, because it's usually hard to get a second bite of the apple.- You do not listen. Pay attention to what your customers are saying and how they are saying it, including their non-verbal communication. Effective listening will provide you with most of the answers to your qualifying questions without even asking them. You will learn about your customers' needs, what their hot buttons are, and how to convince them. Simply put: when your customer talks, you sell; when you talk, you lose.- You talk about features, not benefits. You are crazy about all those neat bells and whistles your product offers, but you do not let the buyer know how they will directly benefit him.- You do not understand their needs. In the world of sales, one size rarely fits all. Find out your prospect's special needs and concerns, and show how your product or service can help. Again: listen and he will tell you.- Buyers do not like you. You have heard it a million times: people buy from people they like. If your prospect doesn't like you, he's not going to spend time getting to know your product or service. Investing some time in your rapport-building skills will pay big dividends.- They do not know you, and have never heard of your company. All things being equal, who do you think your prospect is going to buy from: the company he has known for years, or you, the new kid on the block? Allay his fears by providing him with current customer lists (including contact names and numbers for some of your accounts), testimonial letters on your customers' letterhead, documented case histories, and press coverage. A referral from someone he knows and respects will swing doors wide open.- Make your buyers heroes. Even in a business-to-business sale, you need to show your prospects what's in it for them personally. How do they personally gain? Will they look good to their boss? Will they save time and effort? Will they make their customers or employees happy? There's an important difference between, "Your company will save over $50,000 a year with our product" and "You will save your company over $50,000 a year with our product." People want to be heroes. Make it so. It's the little things that make a difference in the sale. Pay attention to these ten factors, and make more sales.
Are you working hard, but not getting the results you want? If you're a professional salesperson and you're not selling, it could be because:- You are boring. Do customers cut you off in mid-sentence, or jump in when you pause for breath? Chances are, you're boring them. Paint a vivid picture and put them in it; use an example or interesting case history to illustrate your point. Whip out some visuals to show them how much they will save.- You insult their intelligence. "Mr. Jones, would you like to save money on your long distance phone bill?" Polling prospects with lame questions in an attempt to get them to say yes is manipulative and insulting. Instead, ask open-ended questions to elicit their needs. Treat them with respect by tailoring your questions to their company, industry and circumstances.- You are uninformed. Take time to visit the website of your prospect's company. Check out their competition, industry association and trade journals. Remember: the more you learn, the more you earn. If you do not understand what your prospects do, and what issues they face, how can you expect to determine how your product or service can best help them?- You are talking to the wrong person. Oops! Once again, you have not done your homework, and end up pitching someone who has no decision-making authority. This hurts, because it's usually hard to get a second bite of the apple.- You do not listen. Pay attention to what your customers are saying and how they are saying it, including their non-verbal communication. Effective listening will provide you with most of the answers to your qualifying questions without even asking them. You will learn about your customers' needs, what their hot buttons are, and how to convince them. Simply put: when your customer talks, you sell; when you talk, you lose.- You talk about features, not benefits. You are crazy about all those neat bells and whistles your product offers, but you do not let the buyer know how they will directly benefit him.- You do not understand their needs. In the world of sales, one size rarely fits all. Find out your prospect's special needs and concerns, and show how your product or service can help. Again: listen and he will tell you.- Buyers do not like you. You have heard it a million times: people buy from people they like. If your prospect doesn't like you, he's not going to spend time getting to know your product or service. Investing some time in your rapport-building skills will pay big dividends.- They do not know you, and have never heard of your company. All things being equal, who do you think your prospect is going to buy from: the company he has known for years, or you, the new kid on the block? Allay his fears by providing him with current customer lists (including contact names and numbers for some of your accounts), testimonial letters on your customers' letterhead, documented case histories, and press coverage. A referral from someone he knows and respects will swing doors wide open.- Make your buyers heroes. Even in a business-to-business sale, you need to show your prospects what's in it for them personally. How do they personally gain? Will they look good to their boss? Will they save time and effort? Will they make their customers or employees happy? There's an important difference between, "Your company will save over $50,000 a year with our product" and "You will save your company over $50,000 a year with our product." People want to be heroes. Make it so. It's the little things that make a difference in the sale. Pay attention to these ten factors, and make more sales.
Vibrational Being
We are all Vibrational Beings. You're like a receiving mechanism that when you set your tuner to the station, you're going to hear what's playing. Whatever you are focused upon is the way you set your tuner, and when you focus there for as little as 17 seconds, you activate that vibration within you. Once you activate a vibration within you, Law of Attraction begins responding to that vibration, and you're off and running -- whether it's something wanted or unwanted
service/customer
SERVICE/CUSTOMER SERVICE
"Know how to serve in terms of the customer. They don't care what your situation is -- they only care about their situation, their problem. Are you serving them in terms of them or you?" -- Jeffrey Gitomer
"Your customer is anyone who depends on you, or who you depend on for success." -- Brian Tracy
"The only certain means is to render more and better service than is expected of you, no matter what your task may be." -- Og Mandino
"Make your career a life of service to others and all the good things you desire will come to you." -- Tom Hopkins
SKILLS
"A winner is someone who recognizes his God-given talents, works his tail off to develop them into skills, and uses these skills to accomplish his goals." -- Larry Bird
"Develop the art of being exceptional." -- Patricia Fripp
"It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change." -- Charles Darwin
"Some painters transform the sun into a yellow spot; others transform a yellow spot into the sun." -- Pablo Picasso
SLIGHT EDGE
"We must not, in trying to think about how we can make a big difference, ignore the small daily differences we can make which, over time, add up to big differences that we often cannot foresee." -- Marian Wright Edelman
"Plan your progress carefully; hour-by hour, day-by-day, month-by-month. Organized activity and maintained enthusiasm are the wellsprings of your power." -- Paul J. Meyer
"A single day is enough to make us a little larger or, another time, a little smaller." -- Paul Klee
"Good work done little by little becomes great work. Your house of success will be built brick by brick." -- Max Steingart
"Know how to serve in terms of the customer. They don't care what your situation is -- they only care about their situation, their problem. Are you serving them in terms of them or you?" -- Jeffrey Gitomer
"Your customer is anyone who depends on you, or who you depend on for success." -- Brian Tracy
"The only certain means is to render more and better service than is expected of you, no matter what your task may be." -- Og Mandino
"Make your career a life of service to others and all the good things you desire will come to you." -- Tom Hopkins
SKILLS
"A winner is someone who recognizes his God-given talents, works his tail off to develop them into skills, and uses these skills to accomplish his goals." -- Larry Bird
"Develop the art of being exceptional." -- Patricia Fripp
"It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change." -- Charles Darwin
"Some painters transform the sun into a yellow spot; others transform a yellow spot into the sun." -- Pablo Picasso
SLIGHT EDGE
"We must not, in trying to think about how we can make a big difference, ignore the small daily differences we can make which, over time, add up to big differences that we often cannot foresee." -- Marian Wright Edelman
"Plan your progress carefully; hour-by hour, day-by-day, month-by-month. Organized activity and maintained enthusiasm are the wellsprings of your power." -- Paul J. Meyer
"A single day is enough to make us a little larger or, another time, a little smaller." -- Paul Klee
"Good work done little by little becomes great work. Your house of success will be built brick by brick." -- Max Steingart
The quality of a skilful leadership
The Qualities of Skilful Leadership
by Jim Rohn
If you want to be a leader who attracts quality people, the key is to become a person of quality yourself. Leadership is the ability to attract someone to the gifts, skills, and opportunities you offer as an owner, as a manger, as a parent. I call leadership the great challenge of life. What's important in leadership is refining your skills. All great leaders keep working on themselves until they become effective. Here are some specifics:
1) Learn to be strong but not rude. It is an extra step you must take to become a powerful, capable leader with a wide range of reach. Some people mistake rudeness for strength. It's not even a good substitute.
2) Learn to be kind but not weak. We must not mistake kindness for weakness. Kindness isn't weak. Kindness is a certain type of strength. We must be kind enough to tell somebody the truth. We must be kind enough and considerate enough to lay it on the line. We must be kind enough to tell it like it is and not deal in delusion.
3) Learn to be bold but not a bully. It takes boldness to win the day. To build your influence, you've got to walk in front of your group. You've got to be willing to take the first arrow, tackle the first problem, discover the first sign of trouble.
4) You've got to learn to be humble, but not timid. You can't get to the high life by being timid. Some people mistake timidity for humility. Humility is almost a Godlike word. A sense of awe. A sense of wonder. An awareness of the human soul and spirit. An understanding that there is something unique about the human drama versus the rest of life. Humility is a grasp of the distance between us and the stars, yet having the feeling that we're part of the stars. So humility is a virtue; but timidity is a disease. Timidity is an affliction. It can be cured, but it is a problem.
5) Be proud but not arrogant. It takes pride to win the day. It takes pride to build your ambition. It takes pride in community. It takes pride in cause, in accomplishment. But the key to becoming a good leader is being proud without being arrogant. In fact I believe the worst kind of arrogance is arrogance from ignorance. It's when you don't know that you don't know. Now that kind of arrogance is intolerable. If someone is smart and arrogant, we can tolerate that. But if someone is ignorant and arrogant, that's just too much to take.
6) Develop humor without folly. That's important for a leader. In leadership, we learn that it's okay to be witty, but not silly. It's okay to be fun, but not foolish.
Lastly, deal in realities. Deal in truth. Save yourself the agony. Just accept life like it is. Life is unique. Some people call it tragic, but I'd like to think it's unique. The whole drama of life is unique. It's fascinating. And I've found that the skills that work well for one leader may not work at all for another. But the fundamental skills of leadership can be adapted to work well for just about everyone: at work, in the community, and at home.
by Jim Rohn
If you want to be a leader who attracts quality people, the key is to become a person of quality yourself. Leadership is the ability to attract someone to the gifts, skills, and opportunities you offer as an owner, as a manger, as a parent. I call leadership the great challenge of life. What's important in leadership is refining your skills. All great leaders keep working on themselves until they become effective. Here are some specifics:
1) Learn to be strong but not rude. It is an extra step you must take to become a powerful, capable leader with a wide range of reach. Some people mistake rudeness for strength. It's not even a good substitute.
2) Learn to be kind but not weak. We must not mistake kindness for weakness. Kindness isn't weak. Kindness is a certain type of strength. We must be kind enough to tell somebody the truth. We must be kind enough and considerate enough to lay it on the line. We must be kind enough to tell it like it is and not deal in delusion.
3) Learn to be bold but not a bully. It takes boldness to win the day. To build your influence, you've got to walk in front of your group. You've got to be willing to take the first arrow, tackle the first problem, discover the first sign of trouble.
4) You've got to learn to be humble, but not timid. You can't get to the high life by being timid. Some people mistake timidity for humility. Humility is almost a Godlike word. A sense of awe. A sense of wonder. An awareness of the human soul and spirit. An understanding that there is something unique about the human drama versus the rest of life. Humility is a grasp of the distance between us and the stars, yet having the feeling that we're part of the stars. So humility is a virtue; but timidity is a disease. Timidity is an affliction. It can be cured, but it is a problem.
5) Be proud but not arrogant. It takes pride to win the day. It takes pride to build your ambition. It takes pride in community. It takes pride in cause, in accomplishment. But the key to becoming a good leader is being proud without being arrogant. In fact I believe the worst kind of arrogance is arrogance from ignorance. It's when you don't know that you don't know. Now that kind of arrogance is intolerable. If someone is smart and arrogant, we can tolerate that. But if someone is ignorant and arrogant, that's just too much to take.
6) Develop humor without folly. That's important for a leader. In leadership, we learn that it's okay to be witty, but not silly. It's okay to be fun, but not foolish.
Lastly, deal in realities. Deal in truth. Save yourself the agony. Just accept life like it is. Life is unique. Some people call it tragic, but I'd like to think it's unique. The whole drama of life is unique. It's fascinating. And I've found that the skills that work well for one leader may not work at all for another. But the fundamental skills of leadership can be adapted to work well for just about everyone: at work, in the community, and at home.
Winning: Defining It! Achieving It!
by Chris Widener
If you ask most people whether they would like to be considered a winner or a loser in life, they would most assuredly reply that they would like to be a winner. But this begs the question, "What does it mean to win at life?" In some things it's easy to define a clear winner. In a basketball game, whoever has the most points at the end of the game is the winner. In a game of hearts, my favorite card game, whoever has the least amount of points when one of the players reaches 100 points is the winner.
But it isn't quite as easy to decide what it means to win in the game of life, is it? And that is because people define winning in different ways. For many, winning is through the accumulation of money or material possessions. "He's a success, a real winner," they say. Others think winning means living the longest. Still others say that it is to have their body in tip-top shape. Some say it is to have a happy family. Some say it is to regularly enjoy their hobbies.
All of these are fine, in and of themselves. But...
I would like to encourage us to think about winning or success in a different way. Generally, people think of winning as the over-achievement in a particular, chosen area. I like to believe, however, that to truly win at life is not to overachieve in one area but to succeed in maintaining balanced achievement in numerous areas.
Let me repeat that: To truly win; to be a success, is not to overachieve in one area, but to maintain balanced achievement in all areas of our lives.
For instance, is a person of success if they earn millions of dollars but lose their family? Is a person a success if they garner national fame but have no friends? Of course not. In fact, they may live the most pitiful of all lives.
First, DefineSo the first thing we must do is define what we will consider "winning in life." As you ponder this for yourself, I would like to recommend that you focus in on three overarching areas: Body, Soul, and Spirit.
The body is that which has actual connection with the physical world and would encompass physical health, financial health, family, work, and relationships.
How is your health? How are your finances? Are your relationships, both with your family and others all that they could be? Is work fulfilling? How would you define winning in these areas?
The next area, the soul, is that which deals with the emotions, will, and intellect. It is our thoughts, ideas, and attitudes.
How are you emotionally? Are you able to exercise your will? Are you growing intellectually? Have you done an attitude check lately? How would you define winning in these areas?
And the spirit is the part of us that transcends this life, the part of us that communes with God. Zig Ziglar said, "Money will buy me a house, but not a home, a bed, but not a good night's sleep." So true. Inner peace comes from something much deeper.
Have you thought about going back to your spiritual roots? Are you able to spend time in quiet, solitude, and prayer from time to time? This is an extremely important area and all too often neglected. What would you like to achieve in this area? How would you define winning in these areas?
As we experience balance in these areas, we will find ourselves much more at peace with ourselves than if we were to experience tremendous success in one area but loss or failure in the other areas. We were designed to work as congruent, balanced people. This is how we get to the end of our lives and say, "I won."
Second, PrioritizeOnce you have defined what it is that you would like to achieve in each of these areas, you have to prioritize them, and let other, non-important areas drop off the chart. Commit to developing a plan to succeed in a balance of areas. Exercise your will. Choose. Dwight D. Eisenhower said that "The history of free men is written not by chance, but by choice - their choice."
When we manage our time and schedule, we are simply making choices in regard to our priorities. For most, their priority is to take action on whatever is screaming the loudest at the moment. For those who become winners, they reflect on what they desire to achieve, make a plan and decide to eliminate the rest.
Last, Do itOkay, you have defined winning. You have prioritized your life. Now, the hard part: Doing it. This is where we are all alone. We all make this step on our own, but having a written plan is as good a preparation as you can get. Rather than saying that you are going to do this for the rest of your life, take the next week to implement your new balance of winning. If a week sounds too long, just focus on today. Spend some time, be it ever so small, enhancing your life in these areas. Exercise a little. Read for a while to challenge your mind. Deal with your emotions. Spend time in silent contemplation to renew your spirit. Give some time to your spouse and children. Will Rogers said, "Even if you're on the right track, you won't get anywhere if you're standing still." There has got to be action.
As we do this over time, and balance our lives out, we will begin to finally feel like we are winning at life. That will be exciting, as will the process!
by Chris Widener
If you ask most people whether they would like to be considered a winner or a loser in life, they would most assuredly reply that they would like to be a winner. But this begs the question, "What does it mean to win at life?" In some things it's easy to define a clear winner. In a basketball game, whoever has the most points at the end of the game is the winner. In a game of hearts, my favorite card game, whoever has the least amount of points when one of the players reaches 100 points is the winner.
But it isn't quite as easy to decide what it means to win in the game of life, is it? And that is because people define winning in different ways. For many, winning is through the accumulation of money or material possessions. "He's a success, a real winner," they say. Others think winning means living the longest. Still others say that it is to have their body in tip-top shape. Some say it is to have a happy family. Some say it is to regularly enjoy their hobbies.
All of these are fine, in and of themselves. But...
I would like to encourage us to think about winning or success in a different way. Generally, people think of winning as the over-achievement in a particular, chosen area. I like to believe, however, that to truly win at life is not to overachieve in one area but to succeed in maintaining balanced achievement in numerous areas.
Let me repeat that: To truly win; to be a success, is not to overachieve in one area, but to maintain balanced achievement in all areas of our lives.
For instance, is a person of success if they earn millions of dollars but lose their family? Is a person a success if they garner national fame but have no friends? Of course not. In fact, they may live the most pitiful of all lives.
First, DefineSo the first thing we must do is define what we will consider "winning in life." As you ponder this for yourself, I would like to recommend that you focus in on three overarching areas: Body, Soul, and Spirit.
The body is that which has actual connection with the physical world and would encompass physical health, financial health, family, work, and relationships.
How is your health? How are your finances? Are your relationships, both with your family and others all that they could be? Is work fulfilling? How would you define winning in these areas?
The next area, the soul, is that which deals with the emotions, will, and intellect. It is our thoughts, ideas, and attitudes.
How are you emotionally? Are you able to exercise your will? Are you growing intellectually? Have you done an attitude check lately? How would you define winning in these areas?
And the spirit is the part of us that transcends this life, the part of us that communes with God. Zig Ziglar said, "Money will buy me a house, but not a home, a bed, but not a good night's sleep." So true. Inner peace comes from something much deeper.
Have you thought about going back to your spiritual roots? Are you able to spend time in quiet, solitude, and prayer from time to time? This is an extremely important area and all too often neglected. What would you like to achieve in this area? How would you define winning in these areas?
As we experience balance in these areas, we will find ourselves much more at peace with ourselves than if we were to experience tremendous success in one area but loss or failure in the other areas. We were designed to work as congruent, balanced people. This is how we get to the end of our lives and say, "I won."
Second, PrioritizeOnce you have defined what it is that you would like to achieve in each of these areas, you have to prioritize them, and let other, non-important areas drop off the chart. Commit to developing a plan to succeed in a balance of areas. Exercise your will. Choose. Dwight D. Eisenhower said that "The history of free men is written not by chance, but by choice - their choice."
When we manage our time and schedule, we are simply making choices in regard to our priorities. For most, their priority is to take action on whatever is screaming the loudest at the moment. For those who become winners, they reflect on what they desire to achieve, make a plan and decide to eliminate the rest.
Last, Do itOkay, you have defined winning. You have prioritized your life. Now, the hard part: Doing it. This is where we are all alone. We all make this step on our own, but having a written plan is as good a preparation as you can get. Rather than saying that you are going to do this for the rest of your life, take the next week to implement your new balance of winning. If a week sounds too long, just focus on today. Spend some time, be it ever so small, enhancing your life in these areas. Exercise a little. Read for a while to challenge your mind. Deal with your emotions. Spend time in silent contemplation to renew your spirit. Give some time to your spouse and children. Will Rogers said, "Even if you're on the right track, you won't get anywhere if you're standing still." There has got to be action.
As we do this over time, and balance our lives out, we will begin to finally feel like we are winning at life. That will be exciting, as will the process!
Spring Clean Your Mind
Spring Clean Your Mind of Stinking Thinking
by Colette Carlson
Isn't it interesting how much time and energy people will spend organizing closets, washing windows and throwing out surplus items from their garage when Spring fever hits, yet never stop to take the time to clear out negative thoughts or limiting thinking? Those self-sabotaging subtleties that prevent them from living a life filled with clarity, purpose and joy. As the seasons change and the birds begin to sing, the weather warms and the trees bloom, it's the perfect time for you to purge your mind of stinking thinking.
Where to begin? The first step in the quest for a mental un-cluttering is Awareness.
Recognizing and realizing when your inner critic shows up, invites himself in and starts chirping about your abilities. "You can't do that!" "You're too old to change careers." "You're not smart enough to start your own business." All LIES (Limiting Ideas Eliminate Success) to strip your confidence and cause you to take a step back, do nothing, and play it safe. Lies that get you to quit before you begin. Lies covertly protecting you from harm when in truth they are causing you continuing unnecessary pain.
Play a game with yourself and notice how many times the liar pops up on a daily basis to make you feel guilty ("I yelled at my kids, I'm a horrible parent"), to make you doubt yourself ("I better not ask for a raise, it's not a good time"), or to make you play small ("Even though my company pays for university classes, I can't handle the homework").
Pay careful attention to the distinction between the fact and the falsity. The truth is you raised your voice at your children, but it doesn't necessarily make you a bad parent – that's the lie. The truth is you may have to adjust your schedule, ask for help, or be tutored to manage college homework, but that you can't handle it – there's the lie. The truth is you've managed everything that has shown up in your life thus far. Why couldn't you deal with this one too?
Becoming aware of how these LIES control your decisions is critical to making positive change. However, awareness is not enough to silence those destructive, derailing thoughts. Cleaning your mind to reflect the real you also requires Asking.
Ask yourself where you're "at", between the "a" of being afraid and the "t" of trusting. The only way you are going to squelch the lies is to honestly answer the question "What are you afraid of?" or "Why don't you trust yourself on this one?"
Chances are you will come up with two or three of the same reasons every time. And typically, they are related to approval (somebody else's) or appearances (what will people think), accuracy (what if you're wrong), or alienation (it's lonely at the top).
Ask yourself, "Why don't I give myself the kudos I seek from others?" What makes you think others notice anyway? What´s worse? Being wrong or not trying? News flash: You're not alone. Everybody has doubts and fears. Everybody has stuff they need to clean up and work through despite how outwardly organized they appear. Most people keep shoving their true feelings back into their psychological closet instead of acknowledging the reality of their circumstance. Discarding the limiting thinking opens up and releases space for clear and positive reasoning. It's this release that allows you to breathe life and energy back into your spirit.
There's no time like the present to get real. Dust off your Authenticity and genuinely acknowledge your fears – "face the truth, embrace the excuse". Allow your humanness. The process is similar to getting rid of old clothes that no longer fit, no longer represent your style or never really felt comfortable. Once you've tackled the task of separating the actual from the sentimental, you're already feeling better about your potential. Letting go of thoughts that never appropriately served you frees up space and energy to go after what you now know you want.
But hold on! Just because you've come clean doesn't mean you're done. Like garages needing constant maintenance to stay orderly and neat, your mind requires continuing Accountability to discern and decipher your LIES. Consider making daily deposits into your emotional bank account. Why? If you're like most people, you're probably emotionally bankrupt when it comes to giving yourself the approval and support you deserve. Every time your inner critic starts chirping a restrictive or negative comment, stop the withdrawal and start the rationale.
For example, your supervisor sends an email asking you to deliver a short presentation to the entire team on the new computer software.
Your inner critic immediately goes into overdraft: "You are a horrible speaker. You don't know the new system that well; you're going to look like a loser in front of everyone!" Immediately cancel that transaction and speak your truth: "I am capable and responsible." "I have delivered effective presentations before." Remind yourself of the time you taught a couple of colleagues how to work the new phone system. "I am knowledgeable." You do know more about the computer software than others in your office. Why make three deposits? One to balance the withdrawal you just made, and two more to account for the years of withdrawals and debits.
To stop going through the motions and the e-motions of stinking thinking, you're going to have to develop a new LIAR (Let's Inspire Another Response) approach. Anchor your intentions and attract your desired results with positive language. Affirmation is attitude expressed. Rather than say "I should exercise" or "I'll try to be more assertive at work," substitute choose, will or want. "I will exercise." "I choose to speak up at work." "I want to make this change." These deliberative, action-oriented words state a positive intention that unfreezes the emotional bank account and creates movement in the direction of accomplishing your goals.
The next time you are overlooked for an assignment you desired, rather than say, "There's nothing I can do about it," invoke the LIAR approach. Rephrase your self-talk to "I have choices and I accept that things happen for the best." Repeat. "I have choices and I accept that things happen for the best." These words empower rather than disable. Will you choose to have a professional conversation with your supervisor? Will you choose to enroll in a class to update your skills and increase your opportunities?
Remember, our minds can only hold one thought at a time. You have the Authority to select any thought at any given moment and the ability to control where it leads. You decide what to keep and what to toss, whether it will focus on your gifts and incredible talents. Grab the Windex, wipe off the mirrors of your mind and see clearly how bright and brilliant you are meant to be.
-- Colette Carlson
by Colette Carlson
Isn't it interesting how much time and energy people will spend organizing closets, washing windows and throwing out surplus items from their garage when Spring fever hits, yet never stop to take the time to clear out negative thoughts or limiting thinking? Those self-sabotaging subtleties that prevent them from living a life filled with clarity, purpose and joy. As the seasons change and the birds begin to sing, the weather warms and the trees bloom, it's the perfect time for you to purge your mind of stinking thinking.
Where to begin? The first step in the quest for a mental un-cluttering is Awareness.
Recognizing and realizing when your inner critic shows up, invites himself in and starts chirping about your abilities. "You can't do that!" "You're too old to change careers." "You're not smart enough to start your own business." All LIES (Limiting Ideas Eliminate Success) to strip your confidence and cause you to take a step back, do nothing, and play it safe. Lies that get you to quit before you begin. Lies covertly protecting you from harm when in truth they are causing you continuing unnecessary pain.
Play a game with yourself and notice how many times the liar pops up on a daily basis to make you feel guilty ("I yelled at my kids, I'm a horrible parent"), to make you doubt yourself ("I better not ask for a raise, it's not a good time"), or to make you play small ("Even though my company pays for university classes, I can't handle the homework").
Pay careful attention to the distinction between the fact and the falsity. The truth is you raised your voice at your children, but it doesn't necessarily make you a bad parent – that's the lie. The truth is you may have to adjust your schedule, ask for help, or be tutored to manage college homework, but that you can't handle it – there's the lie. The truth is you've managed everything that has shown up in your life thus far. Why couldn't you deal with this one too?
Becoming aware of how these LIES control your decisions is critical to making positive change. However, awareness is not enough to silence those destructive, derailing thoughts. Cleaning your mind to reflect the real you also requires Asking.
Ask yourself where you're "at", between the "a" of being afraid and the "t" of trusting. The only way you are going to squelch the lies is to honestly answer the question "What are you afraid of?" or "Why don't you trust yourself on this one?"
Chances are you will come up with two or three of the same reasons every time. And typically, they are related to approval (somebody else's) or appearances (what will people think), accuracy (what if you're wrong), or alienation (it's lonely at the top).
Ask yourself, "Why don't I give myself the kudos I seek from others?" What makes you think others notice anyway? What´s worse? Being wrong or not trying? News flash: You're not alone. Everybody has doubts and fears. Everybody has stuff they need to clean up and work through despite how outwardly organized they appear. Most people keep shoving their true feelings back into their psychological closet instead of acknowledging the reality of their circumstance. Discarding the limiting thinking opens up and releases space for clear and positive reasoning. It's this release that allows you to breathe life and energy back into your spirit.
There's no time like the present to get real. Dust off your Authenticity and genuinely acknowledge your fears – "face the truth, embrace the excuse". Allow your humanness. The process is similar to getting rid of old clothes that no longer fit, no longer represent your style or never really felt comfortable. Once you've tackled the task of separating the actual from the sentimental, you're already feeling better about your potential. Letting go of thoughts that never appropriately served you frees up space and energy to go after what you now know you want.
But hold on! Just because you've come clean doesn't mean you're done. Like garages needing constant maintenance to stay orderly and neat, your mind requires continuing Accountability to discern and decipher your LIES. Consider making daily deposits into your emotional bank account. Why? If you're like most people, you're probably emotionally bankrupt when it comes to giving yourself the approval and support you deserve. Every time your inner critic starts chirping a restrictive or negative comment, stop the withdrawal and start the rationale.
For example, your supervisor sends an email asking you to deliver a short presentation to the entire team on the new computer software.
Your inner critic immediately goes into overdraft: "You are a horrible speaker. You don't know the new system that well; you're going to look like a loser in front of everyone!" Immediately cancel that transaction and speak your truth: "I am capable and responsible." "I have delivered effective presentations before." Remind yourself of the time you taught a couple of colleagues how to work the new phone system. "I am knowledgeable." You do know more about the computer software than others in your office. Why make three deposits? One to balance the withdrawal you just made, and two more to account for the years of withdrawals and debits.
To stop going through the motions and the e-motions of stinking thinking, you're going to have to develop a new LIAR (Let's Inspire Another Response) approach. Anchor your intentions and attract your desired results with positive language. Affirmation is attitude expressed. Rather than say "I should exercise" or "I'll try to be more assertive at work," substitute choose, will or want. "I will exercise." "I choose to speak up at work." "I want to make this change." These deliberative, action-oriented words state a positive intention that unfreezes the emotional bank account and creates movement in the direction of accomplishing your goals.
The next time you are overlooked for an assignment you desired, rather than say, "There's nothing I can do about it," invoke the LIAR approach. Rephrase your self-talk to "I have choices and I accept that things happen for the best." Repeat. "I have choices and I accept that things happen for the best." These words empower rather than disable. Will you choose to have a professional conversation with your supervisor? Will you choose to enroll in a class to update your skills and increase your opportunities?
Remember, our minds can only hold one thought at a time. You have the Authority to select any thought at any given moment and the ability to control where it leads. You decide what to keep and what to toss, whether it will focus on your gifts and incredible talents. Grab the Windex, wipe off the mirrors of your mind and see clearly how bright and brilliant you are meant to be.
-- Colette Carlson
Great enemy of creativity - Fear
"The great enemy of creativity is fear. When we're fearful, we freeze up… Creativity has a lot to do with a willingness to take risks. Think about how children play. They run around the playground without thinking about where they're going. They trip, they fall down, and then they get back up again and run some more. They have a wonderful belief: that everything will be all right. They feel capable; they let go; they play…Not matter how many facts and figures you have, you can't predict the future. There will always be surprises… Creativity helps us realize that we don't have to understand everything. We can enjoy something - feel it and use it - without ever fully comprehending it."
Faith Ringgold
Faith Ringgold
Guide to turning Motivated
An Organization's Guide to Turning Professionals and Technical Experts into Motivated and Successful Sales ProfessionalsAn arborist expresses her frustration to a co-worker:
"I'm in this business to save trees and the environment, not to be a salesperson.".A carpenter sighs as he hangs up his tool belt to go to yet another sales appointment.An accountant puts off the task of marketing her services.A landscaper quits his job because there's too much selling - he didn't want it to be like this.Do any of these scenarios sound familiar? In all types of companies, both large and small, there are-more often than not-highly skilled employees, or 'experts', who believe that selling and making money are in direct opposition to doing what they love. All too often, the greatest challenge is helping these experts to not only see themselves as sales people but to be proud about selling as their profession.
Failure to recognize and help experts overcome this dilemma will significantly impact a company's growth and bottom-line results. We believe that being passionate about what you do and making money are not mutually exclusive. Professional and technical experts can indeed be hugely successful in sales-all the while maintaining the respect of loyal clients, avoiding 80-hour weeks, and continuing to do the job they love.
How can you create that reality for your sales people and for you? Here are five steps that move you closer to this reality.
Step One: Sales leadership needs to evaluate their beliefs about selling as well as the company's culture to ensure that it fosters and reinforces the belief that selling, making money and doing what one loves are compatible and desirous.
Whether conscious or unconscious, subtle messages, behaviors and organizational practices may reinforce beliefs that negatively impact SALES success. Sales leadership must adopt sales-empowering beliefs and strategies to ensure that the culture and all its practices support and reinforce these beliefs.
Failure to recognize and continually revisit this first step can sabotage all other efforts.
Step Two: Sales people need to evaluate their beliefs about selling. There are several categories of beliefs that sabotage selling success. A few include beliefs about being a sales person; making money; asking about and for money, how and 'why' people buy, and what prospects and clients expect from them. Each of these areas and others need to be explored before new empowering beliefs can be developed and encouraged.
Step Three: The organization needs to define their sales process and then train experts to follow it. Most professional and technical experts thrive when given a clearly defined set of steps to follow. They feel most comfortable with order, structure, and a process in place. An organization that has experts selling must define the sales process so that it can be taught, practiced, and followed by these individuals. Having a clearly defined sales process makes the job of training, managing and coaching sales people easier.
Step Four: Identify and provide training on specific selling skills that experts need to be successful. Our experience suggests that the following skills are typically lacking in professional and technically trained sales people: Rapport building, questioning, active listening, influencing and prospecting skills. Too often, experts willingly share their knowledge by giving free technical advice, thus creating a situation where the prospect doesn't need to buy the services being sold. Likewise, experts are use to 'giving' solutions rather than helping buyers discover the potential benefits of buying from them. An unskilled salesperson has a higher potential for selling the wrong product or service, walking away from potential deals and losing opportunities while utilizing and expending the company's resources. Additionally we have found that many experts are not skilled in building relationships because their academic studies have overemphasized technical knowledge rather than people skills. Everyone knows so very well that customers buy from people they like, which is why rapport-building skills are so essential to sales success.
Step Five: Reinforce and reward the new selling habits and beliefs that support sales success. Supportive beliefs, coupled with a strong sales process and cutting-edge selling skills, allow the expert to develop effective habits that reinforce and result in selling success. Habits are built over time through repetition and reinforcement, as well as through honest, open, and consistent feedback from the sales manager. A well developed and clearly defined behavior plan-one that outlines those behaviors that, through experience, support selling success-needs to be embraced, referred to frequently by sales managers and practiced consistently by sales people. There's always a choice to continue doing what you've always done, but there is no choice if you want to win -- today's competitive marketplace demands highly skilled sales people capable of keeping up with the every changing needs and wants of buyers. Professional and Technical experts, who must sell for a living, will only survive if they embrace the belief that selling and doing what you love are the first two ingredients for true selling success.
"I'm in this business to save trees and the environment, not to be a salesperson.".A carpenter sighs as he hangs up his tool belt to go to yet another sales appointment.An accountant puts off the task of marketing her services.A landscaper quits his job because there's too much selling - he didn't want it to be like this.Do any of these scenarios sound familiar? In all types of companies, both large and small, there are-more often than not-highly skilled employees, or 'experts', who believe that selling and making money are in direct opposition to doing what they love. All too often, the greatest challenge is helping these experts to not only see themselves as sales people but to be proud about selling as their profession.
Failure to recognize and help experts overcome this dilemma will significantly impact a company's growth and bottom-line results. We believe that being passionate about what you do and making money are not mutually exclusive. Professional and technical experts can indeed be hugely successful in sales-all the while maintaining the respect of loyal clients, avoiding 80-hour weeks, and continuing to do the job they love.
How can you create that reality for your sales people and for you? Here are five steps that move you closer to this reality.
Step One: Sales leadership needs to evaluate their beliefs about selling as well as the company's culture to ensure that it fosters and reinforces the belief that selling, making money and doing what one loves are compatible and desirous.
Whether conscious or unconscious, subtle messages, behaviors and organizational practices may reinforce beliefs that negatively impact SALES success. Sales leadership must adopt sales-empowering beliefs and strategies to ensure that the culture and all its practices support and reinforce these beliefs.
Failure to recognize and continually revisit this first step can sabotage all other efforts.
Step Two: Sales people need to evaluate their beliefs about selling. There are several categories of beliefs that sabotage selling success. A few include beliefs about being a sales person; making money; asking about and for money, how and 'why' people buy, and what prospects and clients expect from them. Each of these areas and others need to be explored before new empowering beliefs can be developed and encouraged.
Step Three: The organization needs to define their sales process and then train experts to follow it. Most professional and technical experts thrive when given a clearly defined set of steps to follow. They feel most comfortable with order, structure, and a process in place. An organization that has experts selling must define the sales process so that it can be taught, practiced, and followed by these individuals. Having a clearly defined sales process makes the job of training, managing and coaching sales people easier.
Step Four: Identify and provide training on specific selling skills that experts need to be successful. Our experience suggests that the following skills are typically lacking in professional and technically trained sales people: Rapport building, questioning, active listening, influencing and prospecting skills. Too often, experts willingly share their knowledge by giving free technical advice, thus creating a situation where the prospect doesn't need to buy the services being sold. Likewise, experts are use to 'giving' solutions rather than helping buyers discover the potential benefits of buying from them. An unskilled salesperson has a higher potential for selling the wrong product or service, walking away from potential deals and losing opportunities while utilizing and expending the company's resources. Additionally we have found that many experts are not skilled in building relationships because their academic studies have overemphasized technical knowledge rather than people skills. Everyone knows so very well that customers buy from people they like, which is why rapport-building skills are so essential to sales success.
Step Five: Reinforce and reward the new selling habits and beliefs that support sales success. Supportive beliefs, coupled with a strong sales process and cutting-edge selling skills, allow the expert to develop effective habits that reinforce and result in selling success. Habits are built over time through repetition and reinforcement, as well as through honest, open, and consistent feedback from the sales manager. A well developed and clearly defined behavior plan-one that outlines those behaviors that, through experience, support selling success-needs to be embraced, referred to frequently by sales managers and practiced consistently by sales people. There's always a choice to continue doing what you've always done, but there is no choice if you want to win -- today's competitive marketplace demands highly skilled sales people capable of keeping up with the every changing needs and wants of buyers. Professional and Technical experts, who must sell for a living, will only survive if they embrace the belief that selling and doing what you love are the first two ingredients for true selling success.
10 biggest lies
The 10 Biggest Lies that Stop People from Getting What They Want
by Cynthia Kersey
They say that "everybody's a critic," and that never seems truer than when you're pursuing a dream. There will always be well-meaning people who want to "protect" you from your "unrealistic fantasies." Critics tried to discourage the people profiled in Unstoppable. Everyone ignored the negative input and achieved their goals. Follow their lead and you, too, will be UNSTOPPABLE!
1. The timing is all wrong. In 1987, prior to accepting Paramount's offer to host a late-night talk show, Arsenio Hall was told by everyone: "It's too hard to crack into the late-night ratings. Television isn't ready for a black talk show host. This is America, and you can forget it."
2. Why don't you get a real job? Not understanding his desire to become Mr. Universe, Arnold Schwarzenegger's family pleaded with him, saying: "How long will you go on training all day in a gymnasium and living in a dream world?"
3. It'll never work, you'll lose everything. Weeks before she opened her first store, cosmetic tycoon Mary Kay Ash's attorney said: "Liquidate the business right now and recoup whatever cash you can. If you don't, you'll end up penniless."
4. Don't rock the boat. In response to Muriel SiebertÃs application to be the first woman to buy a seat on the New York Stock Exchange, officials responded: "The language on the floor is too rough and there's no ladies' room." She bought a seat anyway and remained the only woman there for nine years.
5. It's never been done before. Upon applying for a job after graduation from Columbia University, announcers for NBC Radio responded to Sally Jessy Raphael: "You have the perfect voice for broadcasting, but you should get a job as a secretary. We're not using women."
6. You don't have enough talent. Responding to his desire to become a recording artist, Ray Charles' teachers said: "You can't play the piano, and God knows you can't sing. You'd better learn how to weave chairs so you can support yourself."
7. Don't even try, you'll just be disappointed. When auditioning for a part in a high school musical, a teacher rejected Diana Ross saying: "You have a nice voice, but it's nothing special."
8. You don't fit the mold OR you're not the right "type." Trying to convince her she didn't have the right look, fashion photographer Richard Avedon told Cher: "You will never make the cover of Vogue because you don't have blond hair or blue eyes." When she did make the cover, Vogue sold more copies than it had ever sold before.
9. Don't give up your day job. Commenting on the first manuscript of an unpublished author, a New York publisher told James Michener: "You're a good editor with a promising future in the business. Why would you want to throw it all away to try to be a writer? I read your book. Frankly, it's not really that good." Michener's first book, Tales of the South Pacific, later won a Pulitzer Prize and was adapted for stage and screen as South Pacific.
10. There's no market for it. When hearing his plans to launch Perrier in the United States, several consulting firms advised Gustave Leven: "You're foolish to try to sell sparkling water in the land of Coca-Cola drinkers."
The only opinion about your dream that really counts is yours. The negative comments of others merely reflect their limitations --- not yours. There is nothing unrealistic about a dream that aligns with your purpose, ignites your passion, and inspires you to plan and persevere until you attain it. On the contrary, it's unrealistic to expect a person with such drive and commitment not to succeed.
Choose to be unstoppable!
Cynthia Kersey
by Cynthia Kersey
They say that "everybody's a critic," and that never seems truer than when you're pursuing a dream. There will always be well-meaning people who want to "protect" you from your "unrealistic fantasies." Critics tried to discourage the people profiled in Unstoppable. Everyone ignored the negative input and achieved their goals. Follow their lead and you, too, will be UNSTOPPABLE!
1. The timing is all wrong. In 1987, prior to accepting Paramount's offer to host a late-night talk show, Arsenio Hall was told by everyone: "It's too hard to crack into the late-night ratings. Television isn't ready for a black talk show host. This is America, and you can forget it."
2. Why don't you get a real job? Not understanding his desire to become Mr. Universe, Arnold Schwarzenegger's family pleaded with him, saying: "How long will you go on training all day in a gymnasium and living in a dream world?"
3. It'll never work, you'll lose everything. Weeks before she opened her first store, cosmetic tycoon Mary Kay Ash's attorney said: "Liquidate the business right now and recoup whatever cash you can. If you don't, you'll end up penniless."
4. Don't rock the boat. In response to Muriel SiebertÃs application to be the first woman to buy a seat on the New York Stock Exchange, officials responded: "The language on the floor is too rough and there's no ladies' room." She bought a seat anyway and remained the only woman there for nine years.
5. It's never been done before. Upon applying for a job after graduation from Columbia University, announcers for NBC Radio responded to Sally Jessy Raphael: "You have the perfect voice for broadcasting, but you should get a job as a secretary. We're not using women."
6. You don't have enough talent. Responding to his desire to become a recording artist, Ray Charles' teachers said: "You can't play the piano, and God knows you can't sing. You'd better learn how to weave chairs so you can support yourself."
7. Don't even try, you'll just be disappointed. When auditioning for a part in a high school musical, a teacher rejected Diana Ross saying: "You have a nice voice, but it's nothing special."
8. You don't fit the mold OR you're not the right "type." Trying to convince her she didn't have the right look, fashion photographer Richard Avedon told Cher: "You will never make the cover of Vogue because you don't have blond hair or blue eyes." When she did make the cover, Vogue sold more copies than it had ever sold before.
9. Don't give up your day job. Commenting on the first manuscript of an unpublished author, a New York publisher told James Michener: "You're a good editor with a promising future in the business. Why would you want to throw it all away to try to be a writer? I read your book. Frankly, it's not really that good." Michener's first book, Tales of the South Pacific, later won a Pulitzer Prize and was adapted for stage and screen as South Pacific.
10. There's no market for it. When hearing his plans to launch Perrier in the United States, several consulting firms advised Gustave Leven: "You're foolish to try to sell sparkling water in the land of Coca-Cola drinkers."
The only opinion about your dream that really counts is yours. The negative comments of others merely reflect their limitations --- not yours. There is nothing unrealistic about a dream that aligns with your purpose, ignites your passion, and inspires you to plan and persevere until you attain it. On the contrary, it's unrealistic to expect a person with such drive and commitment not to succeed.
Choose to be unstoppable!
Cynthia Kersey
RISK-TAKING
"If you are never scared, embarrassed or hurt, it means you never take chances." -- Julia Soul
"Discoveries are often made by not following instructions, but by going off the main road; by trying the untried." -- Frank Tyger
"You must break out of your current comfort zone and become comfortable with the unfamiliar and the unknown." -- Denis Waitley
"There is always a risk to follow your bliss, a price to pursue your passion." -- James A. Ray
SALES/SELLING
"Dedicate yourself to building and maintaining high quality selling relationships with every prospect and customer." -- Brian Tracy
"In sales there are going to be times when you can't make everyone happy. Don't expect to. Just do your best for each client in each situation as it arises. Then, learn from each situation how to do it better the next time." -- Tom Hopkins
"Don't celebrate closing a sale, celebrate opening a relationship." -- Patricia Fripp
"Now, if you want to get rich, you have only to produce a product or service that will give people greater use value than the price you charge for it. How rich you get will be determined by the number of people to whom you can sell the product or service." -- Earl Nightingale
SAVING/INVESTING
"Businesses must invest in products and people in order to create new wealth." -- John Hoeven
"If you depend on your company to take care of your retirement, your future income will be divided by five. Take care of it yourself, and you can multiply your future income by five." -- Jim Rohn
"Investigate carefully before you invest. Spend as much time researching the investment as you spend earning the money." -- Brian Tracy
"Investing is simple, but not easy." -- Warren Buffet
"If you are never scared, embarrassed or hurt, it means you never take chances." -- Julia Soul
"Discoveries are often made by not following instructions, but by going off the main road; by trying the untried." -- Frank Tyger
"You must break out of your current comfort zone and become comfortable with the unfamiliar and the unknown." -- Denis Waitley
"There is always a risk to follow your bliss, a price to pursue your passion." -- James A. Ray
SALES/SELLING
"Dedicate yourself to building and maintaining high quality selling relationships with every prospect and customer." -- Brian Tracy
"In sales there are going to be times when you can't make everyone happy. Don't expect to. Just do your best for each client in each situation as it arises. Then, learn from each situation how to do it better the next time." -- Tom Hopkins
"Don't celebrate closing a sale, celebrate opening a relationship." -- Patricia Fripp
"Now, if you want to get rich, you have only to produce a product or service that will give people greater use value than the price you charge for it. How rich you get will be determined by the number of people to whom you can sell the product or service." -- Earl Nightingale
SAVING/INVESTING
"Businesses must invest in products and people in order to create new wealth." -- John Hoeven
"If you depend on your company to take care of your retirement, your future income will be divided by five. Take care of it yourself, and you can multiply your future income by five." -- Jim Rohn
"Investigate carefully before you invest. Spend as much time researching the investment as you spend earning the money." -- Brian Tracy
"Investing is simple, but not easy." -- Warren Buffet
Mahatma Gandhi
Mahatma Gandhi "You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty."
1. Change Yourself.
"YOU MUST BE THE CHANGE YOU WANT TO SEE IN THE WORLD."
If you change yourself you will change your world. If you change how you think then you will change how you feel and what actions you take. And so the world around you will change. And the problem with changing your outer world without changing yourself is that you will still be you when you reach that change you have strived for. You will still have your flaws, anger, negativity, self-sabotaging tendencies – in short, your ego. Since your ego loves to divide things, to find enemies and to create separation it may start to try to create even more problems and conflicts in your life and world.
2. You Are In Control.
"NOBODY CAN HURT ME WITHOUT MY PERMISSION."
What you feel and how you react to something is always up to you. You can choose your own thoughts, reactions and emotions to pretty much everything. You don't have to freak out, overreact of even react in a negative way. And as you realize that no-one outside of yourself can actually control how you feel you can start to incorporate this thinking into your daily life and develop it as a thought habit. A habit that you can grow stronger and stronger over time. Doing this makes life a whole lot easier and more pleasurable.
3. Forgive And Let It Go.
"THE WEAK CAN NEVER FORGIVE. FORGIVENESS IS THE ATTRIBUTE OF THE STRONG."
"An eye for eye only ends up making the whole world blind." Fighting evil with evil won't help anyone. Forgiving and letting go of the past will do you and the people in your world a great service. If you don't forgive then you let the past and another person to control how you feel. By forgiving you release yourself from those bonds. And then you can focus totally on, for instance, the next point.
4. Without Action You Aren't Going Anywhere.
"AN OUNCE OF PRACTICE IS WORTH MORE THAN TONS OF PREACHING."
Taking action is hard and difficult. Preaching or reading or studying endlessly gives you the feeling of moving forward. To really get where you want to go and to really understand yourself and your world you need to practice. Books can mostly just bring you knowledge. You have to take action and translate that knowledge into results and understanding. 5. Take Care Of This Moment.
"I DO NOT WANT TO FORESEE THE FUTURE. I AM CONCERNED WITH TAKING CARE OF THE PRESENT. GOD HAS GIVEN ME NO CONTROL OVER THE MOMENT FOLLOWING."
Why? Well, when you are in the present moment you don't worry about the next moment that you can't control anyway. And the resistance to action that comes from you imagining negative future consequences - or reflecting on past failures - of your actions loses its power. And so it becomes easier to both take action and to keep your focus on this moment and perform better.
6. Everyone Is Human.
"I CLAIM TO BE A SIMPLE INDIVIDUAL LIABLE TO ERR LIKE ANY OTHER FELLOW MORTAL. I OWN, HOWEVER, THAT I HAVE HUMILITY ENOUGH TO CONFESS MY ERRORS AND TO RETRACE MY STEPS."
"It is unwise to be too sure of one's own wisdom. It is healthy to be reminded that the strongest might weaken and the wisest might err." When you start to make myths out of people – even though they may have produced extraordinary results – you run the risk of becoming disconnected from them. You can start to feel like you could never achieve similar things that they did because they are so very different. So it's important to keep in mind that everyone is just a human being no matter who they are. It's important to remember that we are all human and prone to make mistakes. Be able to see with clarity where you went wrong and what you can learn from your mistake.
7. Persist.
"FIRST THEY IGNORE YOU, THEN THEY LAUGH AT YOU, THEN THEY FIGHT YOU, THEN YOU WIN."
Be persistent. In time the opposition around you will fade and fall away. And your inner resistance and self-sabotaging tendencies that want to hold you back and keep you like you have always been will grow weaker. Find what you really like to do. Then you'll find the inner motivation to keep going, going and going.
8. See The Good In People And Help Them.
"I LOOK ONLY TO THE GOOD QUALITIES OF MEN. NOT BEING FAULTLESS MYSELF, I WON'T PRESUME TO PROBE INTO THE FAULTS OF OTHERS."
Leadership means getting along with people." There is pretty much always something good in people. And things that may not be so good. But you can choose what things to focus on. And when you see the good in people it becomes easier to motivate yourself to be of service to them. By being of service to other people, by giving them value you not only make their lives better. Over time you tend to get what you give. So you, create an upward spiral of positive change that grows and becomes stronger.
9. Be Congruent, Be Authentic, Be Your True Self.
"HAPPINESS IS WHEN WHAT YOU THINK, WHAT YOU SAY, AND WHAT YOU DO ARE IN HARMONY."
"Always aim at complete harmony of thought and word and deed. Always aim at purifying your thoughts and everything will be well." I think that one of the best tips for improving your social skills is to behave in a congruent manner and communicate in an authentic way. People seem to really like authentic communication. And there is much inner enjoyment to be found when your thoughts, words and actions are aligned. You feel powerful and good about yourself.
10. Continue To Grow And Evolve.
"CONSTANT DEVELOPMENT IS THE LAW OF LIFE, AND A MAN WHO ALWAYS TRIES TO MAINTAIN HIS DOGMAS IN ORDER TO APPEAR CONSISTENT DRIVES HIMSELF INTO A FALSE POSITION."
You can pretty much always improve your skills, habits or re-evaluate your evaluations. You can gain deeper understanding of yourself and the world.
1. Change Yourself.
"YOU MUST BE THE CHANGE YOU WANT TO SEE IN THE WORLD."
If you change yourself you will change your world. If you change how you think then you will change how you feel and what actions you take. And so the world around you will change. And the problem with changing your outer world without changing yourself is that you will still be you when you reach that change you have strived for. You will still have your flaws, anger, negativity, self-sabotaging tendencies – in short, your ego. Since your ego loves to divide things, to find enemies and to create separation it may start to try to create even more problems and conflicts in your life and world.
2. You Are In Control.
"NOBODY CAN HURT ME WITHOUT MY PERMISSION."
What you feel and how you react to something is always up to you. You can choose your own thoughts, reactions and emotions to pretty much everything. You don't have to freak out, overreact of even react in a negative way. And as you realize that no-one outside of yourself can actually control how you feel you can start to incorporate this thinking into your daily life and develop it as a thought habit. A habit that you can grow stronger and stronger over time. Doing this makes life a whole lot easier and more pleasurable.
3. Forgive And Let It Go.
"THE WEAK CAN NEVER FORGIVE. FORGIVENESS IS THE ATTRIBUTE OF THE STRONG."
"An eye for eye only ends up making the whole world blind." Fighting evil with evil won't help anyone. Forgiving and letting go of the past will do you and the people in your world a great service. If you don't forgive then you let the past and another person to control how you feel. By forgiving you release yourself from those bonds. And then you can focus totally on, for instance, the next point.
4. Without Action You Aren't Going Anywhere.
"AN OUNCE OF PRACTICE IS WORTH MORE THAN TONS OF PREACHING."
Taking action is hard and difficult. Preaching or reading or studying endlessly gives you the feeling of moving forward. To really get where you want to go and to really understand yourself and your world you need to practice. Books can mostly just bring you knowledge. You have to take action and translate that knowledge into results and understanding. 5. Take Care Of This Moment.
"I DO NOT WANT TO FORESEE THE FUTURE. I AM CONCERNED WITH TAKING CARE OF THE PRESENT. GOD HAS GIVEN ME NO CONTROL OVER THE MOMENT FOLLOWING."
Why? Well, when you are in the present moment you don't worry about the next moment that you can't control anyway. And the resistance to action that comes from you imagining negative future consequences - or reflecting on past failures - of your actions loses its power. And so it becomes easier to both take action and to keep your focus on this moment and perform better.
6. Everyone Is Human.
"I CLAIM TO BE A SIMPLE INDIVIDUAL LIABLE TO ERR LIKE ANY OTHER FELLOW MORTAL. I OWN, HOWEVER, THAT I HAVE HUMILITY ENOUGH TO CONFESS MY ERRORS AND TO RETRACE MY STEPS."
"It is unwise to be too sure of one's own wisdom. It is healthy to be reminded that the strongest might weaken and the wisest might err." When you start to make myths out of people – even though they may have produced extraordinary results – you run the risk of becoming disconnected from them. You can start to feel like you could never achieve similar things that they did because they are so very different. So it's important to keep in mind that everyone is just a human being no matter who they are. It's important to remember that we are all human and prone to make mistakes. Be able to see with clarity where you went wrong and what you can learn from your mistake.
7. Persist.
"FIRST THEY IGNORE YOU, THEN THEY LAUGH AT YOU, THEN THEY FIGHT YOU, THEN YOU WIN."
Be persistent. In time the opposition around you will fade and fall away. And your inner resistance and self-sabotaging tendencies that want to hold you back and keep you like you have always been will grow weaker. Find what you really like to do. Then you'll find the inner motivation to keep going, going and going.
8. See The Good In People And Help Them.
"I LOOK ONLY TO THE GOOD QUALITIES OF MEN. NOT BEING FAULTLESS MYSELF, I WON'T PRESUME TO PROBE INTO THE FAULTS OF OTHERS."
Leadership means getting along with people." There is pretty much always something good in people. And things that may not be so good. But you can choose what things to focus on. And when you see the good in people it becomes easier to motivate yourself to be of service to them. By being of service to other people, by giving them value you not only make their lives better. Over time you tend to get what you give. So you, create an upward spiral of positive change that grows and becomes stronger.
9. Be Congruent, Be Authentic, Be Your True Self.
"HAPPINESS IS WHEN WHAT YOU THINK, WHAT YOU SAY, AND WHAT YOU DO ARE IN HARMONY."
"Always aim at complete harmony of thought and word and deed. Always aim at purifying your thoughts and everything will be well." I think that one of the best tips for improving your social skills is to behave in a congruent manner and communicate in an authentic way. People seem to really like authentic communication. And there is much inner enjoyment to be found when your thoughts, words and actions are aligned. You feel powerful and good about yourself.
10. Continue To Grow And Evolve.
"CONSTANT DEVELOPMENT IS THE LAW OF LIFE, AND A MAN WHO ALWAYS TRIES TO MAINTAIN HIS DOGMAS IN ORDER TO APPEAR CONSISTENT DRIVES HIMSELF INTO A FALSE POSITION."
You can pretty much always improve your skills, habits or re-evaluate your evaluations. You can gain deeper understanding of yourself and the world.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
