Tuesday, 31 December 2019

How You THINK, You Are

While some people possess certain skills, abilities, attributes, and an aptitude, which might be beneficial, and give them, a, so - called, leg - up, on the rest of us, in the vast number of instances, and situations, it's our quality of thinking, which creates, either, a positive, can - do, attitude, or an abundance of weakness, and self - doubt. Those, with self - confidence, and a positive, self - image, generally, start off, with a significant advantage, over those who think, they can't. While your thinking, and thought - processes, are significant, the most essential component, is when one begins with the concept and idea, he will be successful, and begins to behave and act, as a success, does, his potential is exponentially, enhanced! As the adage goes, As you THINK, you are! With that in mind, this article will attempt to briefly examine, review, consider, and discuss, using the mnemonic approach, why this concept is one of the most important, to one's ability to perform, to his potential.
1. Trust; temptation; timely; traction; thoughts: Our thoughts, often, control our actions, and thus, our performance. The more, we trust ourselves, the less likely, one is, to let the temptation, to accept, a short - cut, rather than the best approach. While most procrastinate, because of lack of, optimum, self - confidence, etc, the most successful individuals, proceed, with well - considered, timely action, When one refuses to remain within the limitations of his personal, comfort zone, and expands it, and proceeds, proactively, he begins to gain the necessary traction, to become the best, he can be!
2. Head/ heart; hear: When you have those, intimate, self - conversations, what do you tell yourself, and, precisely, what do you hear, and why? Will you be able to effectively utilize your emotional and logical components, with a head/ heart balance?
3. Inspire; imagine; image; ideas; integrity: While many claim to, few actually, proceed, with the utmost degree of personal integrity! WIll your thoughts inspire you, or be a hindrance? What image do you visualize, and what do you imagine, you can achieve? WIll you use these qualities, to perceive and conceive of, create, develop, and implement, quality actions, based on your ideas?
4. Needs; never: Will you commit, to, never - say - never? Will you identify, and prioritize, your personal goals, and address your needs, in a proactive manner?
5. Knowledge; know: Are you focused - enough, to make knowledge, your friend and ally, so you know, your options and alternatives, and proceed, with the finest judgment, and hopefully, wisdom?
How you THINK, you are! What do you think?
Richard has owned businesses, been a COO, CEO, Director of Development, consultant, professionally run events, consulted to thousands of leaders, and conducted personal development seminars, for 4 decades. Rich has written three books and thousands of articles. His company, PLAN2LEAD, LLC has an informative website http://plan2lead.net and Plan2lead can also be followed on Facebook http://facebook.com/Plan2lead


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9913352

Sunday, 29 December 2019

Opportunity Is Always Under Your Feet

Has it ever crossed your mind why some people always make it in life regardless of their status or background or even beliefs? The reason is that they have mastered the LIFE PRINCIPLE which says that, wherever you are there is something prepared for you. Move away from trying to think that good things or better things are never found where you are but rather somewhere else.
Right there where you are you have an opportunity to do great things and to be a better person. You do not need to look for those good things from other people or from other families or communities. Take time to dig around yourself and where you are. This world is structured in such a way that if you truly believe in your dreams and work hard on those dreams, you are going to be a success, regardless of where you are. So opportunity is everywhere.
This world we live in is a place where the bold and courageous ones make it. Be bold in your field of expertise. Be the best in what you do and where you are now, you will make extraordinary milestones. Maybe you are a writer, be the best in your writing. Do not be afraid that most things have been written, the world is waiting to hear your voice concerning a certain philosophy or concept.
Right now the opportunity is there, where you are sitting, working or studying. Look round about and see, the land is full of gold and diamonds for you to pick. I am reminded of a book by; Dr Russell. H Conwell: Acres of Diamonds:
In the book there is a story about a certain farmer who was content because he was happy. One day a certain wise man came and asked him if he knew that finding a diamond the size of his thumb would make him own a city.
The farmer became discontent and unhappy such that he decided to sell off his land to go and look for diamond. He went around the world looking for the diamond and found none. He actually died while searching. On the other hand the new farm owner while watering the camels in the farm found a sparkling stone.
The wise man came back looking for the original farm owner, couldn't find him. The new farm owner showed the wise man the stone and the wise man was amazed because it was DIAMOND.
Meaning the original farm owner was sitting on acres of diamonds yet he knew it not.
Moral of the story
  • opportunity is always under our feet. We do not have to go anywhere. All we need to do is recognize it.
"Your big opportunity maybe right where you are now"~ Napoleon Hill
"Life is a gift, and it offers us the privilege, opportunity, and responsibility to give something back by becoming more."~ Tony Robbins
So opportunity is always knocking at your door, but it takes that kind of eye and a right attitude to realize the great opportunities that lie in your life. You were planted for a purpose where you are right now and you do not need to be someone or somewhere to be significant or influential in this life.
Do not wait to be given an opportunity by anyone, you already have the opportunity under your feet.
HAVE A RIGHT ATTITUDE AND YOU WILL DEFINITELY SEE OPPORTUNITIES WHERE YOU ARE


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9893656

Friday, 27 December 2019

3 Psychological Blocks Holding You Back and How To Overcome Them

A lot of people are yet to achieve their dreams and goals. When you talk to them, they give a lot of reasons as to why they are yet to attain their true potential.
These reasons might seem okay at first glance. They might seem valid as a lot of people have them, but they are no more than what they truly are. Excuses.
If these things are examined critically, you will see that no one should have any of these as an excuse.
First Barrier: I am very busy
A lot of people say that they have no time. If you think that a huge chunk of time will magically appear for you to do that thing you've been postponing for some time, you are wrong.
There might never be enough time. No one has more than 24 hours in a day. You have to find the time and do what you want to do.
There are so many unnecessary things that we do today that take a whole lot of our time. These things are not compulsory, and they add nothing to our lives. Yet, we do them repeatedly and think that time will magically appear from nowhere.
Cut off those TV shows. Stop spending a lot of time on social media. Turn off distracting notifications on your smartphones.
Those things do you no good, and yet you spend a lot of time on them. Cut them out, and you will see that you have a lot of time for the most important things.
Stop waiting for the day or week when you will have a lot of time. Stop waiting for a vacation or a magical break. Create that time now.
Start with a simple time allocation. Then you can increase the time allocated as time goes on.
Second Barrier: I don't know enough
A lot of times we think that what we know is insufficient. We think that we need to take our time in learning everything about something before we start.
We think that we need to spend more time analyzing, researching, learning the ropes, evaluating samples etc.
Yes, it is good to learn the basics before jumping into something new. But there must be a limit to this. You can spend all the time learning and learning. You need to take a step forward.
A lot of people overdo the learning process. They never stop learning. They take too much time without ever starting.
To solve this, give yourself a definitive time frame. Give yourself an exact amount of time that you must use to learn something and spend just that time.
Do not spend more than the allocated time. Once that time is up, stop learning and start whatever you want to start.
Third Barrier: I need this or that to start
Sometimes we think that we need to have everything before we start something.
We think that we need to have a completely furnished office with a secretary before we start a business.
We think that we need the latest camera or the latest photo editing software before we start photography.
We think that we need the latest oven and kitchen equipment before we start our catering service.
We think that we need to get some special clothing, a smartwatch or a home gym before we start exercising.
If you don't start with what you have, you may never start at all. No one started with everything. They started little and added more to what they had gradually.
Google started in a garage. Amazon started in a small office. A lot of big enterprises that you see started as very small businesses that expanded regularly.
You attaining greatness is dependent on you and not on your equipment or gadget. The equipment that you use doesn't matter. It is what you do with what you have that matters.
Conclusion
If you can get rid of these mental barriers, you are on your way to the top. You don't need to know everything or have everything you need. You don't need to be in the mood or have enough time. Get rid of these mental barriers and act now!
Hitesh Sahni is a freelance marketing consultant, writer, and life coach helping people and businesses grow and succeed. Read more articles like this on [http://edusumo.com], or check out his collection of the best links on the web - [http://tagworth.com].


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9913754

Sunday, 22 December 2019

A Proper Mindset Can Bring Success!

Success begins with attitude. Various attitudes provide different end results. A weak state of mind results in adverse outcomes. A favourable state of mind causes success. While your experience, education, learning, and abilities can matter a great deal, your frame of mind can make all the distinction.
Thankfully, any individual can establish an attitude for success. It's absolutely less complicated and doesn't take as long as grasping a complicated technique!
Produce a way of thinking that develops success! Consider these parts in your attitude:
  1. Thankfulness, aka gratitude. Be happy with what you have. Enjoy the success of others. If you cannot rejoice for others when they succeed, your very own success will undoubtedly be restricted.
  2. Assessment of danger is an incentive. Competent individuals are masters at reviewing risk as well as benefit. Not so successful individuals either refuse to assess any kind of hazards or handle ways to mitigate the threat for the prospective incentive. Neither is an effective method to move towards a positive, successful life.
  3. Concentrate on psychological, [and also] physical health and wellness. Compromising your health and wellness for success isn't a real success. What do you truly obtain if you accomplish your objectives yet compromise your physical or psychological health and wellness at the same time? Know the risks before going after success.
  4. Wealth. How much you are worth is not a viable goal in a 'success' mindset. Just look around at people with plenty of money and lots of things, and you'll find most of them worry about losing it, acquiring it, how to hoard it and get more. Wealth is about nurturing contentment in relationships while doing the greater good. It's not taking, it's giving!
  5. Embrace your failings! Actually, that's the momentum test of life. Failing is ensured to take place; count on it. Gain and be nurtured in your errors, mistakes, and blunders. Treat them as opportunities for yourself and others around you. Whatever you do, don't play the blame game. If you do that, you've just lost the momentum test in this situation. In weakness, you become stronger.
  6. Development. A successful mindset is a healthy appreciation for self-learning; being teachable is a great way to pick up new skills. You cannot attain new ideas without expanding on an old thought in a unique situation. It could come from your abilities, perspective, self-control, or guts that sees that opportunity to develop. If you are presently stuck in a rut, relish it and feel confident; you are feeling the teachable growing pains zone.
  7. Determine to be uneasy. Being in a comfort zone is definitely not your friend. Development isn't pleasurable. There will undoubtedly be some pain as you create your own paths, fall short, as well as making errors. Also, success can be unpleasant. Exactly how uneasy are you going to be to come to be effective? The fear of being uneasy is the restricting success aspect for the majority of people.
  8. A favourable perspective. I call this a positive mental attitude, but before you can acquire that, you need to be relaxed and smart. So, how you approach the tasks of your day and the mundane things determines your success. If you're grumpy, bored, and aggravated, well, your day is going to be miserable. The other choice is to look at your day as a grand adventure. Each task and its function becomes a nugget of opportunity to be polished and nourished, providing an unimaginable wealth of greater good.
  9. Preparation. Success for every individual is a specific objective. You're not likely to strike it on the first go-around or for that matter, several go-arounds. Without a particular plan in mind, preparation, and continually tweaking as you're arriving, you are counting way too much on good luck to sensibly anticipate success.
  10. Be your own coach. The prevailing thought is to hire an advisor that has actually accomplished the success you want. There lies the rub. You have a unique idea; it can't be fitted into someone else's application. I cannot imagine the tech founders of the computer era having a coach; I think the computer would have been delayed by decades. Frankly, virtue is in the eye of the beholder. Embrace the challenge, be skillful, decisive, and don't stop nurturing forward.
Consider your existing attitude contrasted to the present outcomes you're experiencing in your life. Can you see an endless loop, or do you see a seamless link?
If you really feel that you have the abilities to be effective, yet still lose, it could be time to have a look at your state of mind. Each individual has a choice in their way of thinking. There are no conditions for having a pleasant state of consciousness; you can simply choose. Put your faith in yourself by choosing to be successful!
Do you want to curiously and bravely face the unknown? We invite you to take the first step by taking a challenge "Can You be Kind to Yourself on a Rough Day?" Just click the link: Having a Rough Day?, and be on your way to being kinder to yourself!
To find out about CONFIDENCE, SELF-ESTEEM & LOLLIPOPS, visit our website at LATHAM MEDIA SERVICES. Or, email me Tim Latham: tlatham@lathammediaservices.com.
God bless you and your family.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/10205659

Friday, 20 December 2019

Move Into the New Year With a Positive Mindset

How has this year been for you? If it's been a tough year now can be a good time to reflect on what you've been through, what you've hopefully learned as a consequence, and then start to feel ready to focus on ways to move forward with a positive mindset.
You may be feeling a little cautious, cynical or hurt but, perhaps with the benefit of some support, you're now able to appreciate how much you've gained from the experiences, who your friends are, who you can trust and how strong and resilient you've become. You're a survivor and you've grown through being challenged in unexpected ways. Now you're ready to move into the new year with a positive outlook.
- Continue to let people help. Advice, therapy, or even occasionally bending the ears of friends or family can be an important contributor to a positive mindset. Don't let yourself be coerced though, and before making decisions be sure to step back and double-check that they're right for you. Allow your team to be part of your support network.
- Be receptive to unexpected opportunities. When things don't work out as you'd hoped stand firm and assess potential detours, invitations and requests. Even if something's not quite to your taste and you'd never again repeat the experience, give yourself credit for keeping moving and being positive.
- Be prepared to consider other doors that often open after setbacks and failure. Few things are a total loss! Think flexibly about any new suggestions or directions that may present themselves, and start the new year with energy and optimism.
- Saying 'yes' to new things doesn't have to entail upheaval or great expense and inconvenience. Something as 'simple' as trying a different class at the gym, ordering something new for lunch or inviting someone out for a coffee can bring positive shifts in your mindset.
- Recall how proud you are when you do something you've previously avoided, perhaps made a difficult phone call or done a job that's typically unnerved you. Be sure to give yourself credit when you step outside your comfort zone and, whatever the eventual outcome, feel good about having a more receptive approach.
Risk takes courage and at stressful times your comfort zone may be an important place to remain for a while, but staying there too long can cause frustration and resentment. Treat tough times as stepping-stones on your journey and appreciate that even small steps have the potential to take you somewhere new, exciting and result in bringing a sense of pride and positivity into your life. Have a happy new year!
Susan Leigh, counsellor, hypnotherapist, relationship counsellor, writer & media contributor offers help with relationship issues, stress management, assertiveness and confidence. She works with individual clients, couples and provides corporate workshops and support.
She's author of 3 books, 'Dealing with Stress, Managing its Impact', '101 Days of Inspiration #tipoftheday' and 'Dealing with Death, Coping with the Pain', all on Amazon & with easy to read sections, tips and ideas to help you feel more positive about your life.
To order a copy or for more information, help and free articles visit http://www.lifestyletherapy.net


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/10219607

Wednesday, 18 December 2019

A New Year and a Positive New You

Certain times of the year can prompt us to review our lives. It may be a new year, an anniversary, a significant birthday that motivates us to pause awhile and reflect on where we are, on what we've done with our lives and what we'd like our next steps to be.
For some this could be a pleasurable few moments of reflection. We've achieved much of what we aimed for, have good relationships, lovely children, a successful career, good quality of life and we can smile, feeling proud and content.
But for others this reflection can result in an, 'is this it?' response, followed by perhaps feeling stuck in a rut, trapped by circumstances and unsure what next steps might be available. A variety of constraints and limitations, fear of rocking the boat and the potential impact of changes may immediately stop further thoughts. Daily life often means we have too much on with work, balancing our finances, the responsibilities of children and family as well as maybe religious concerns to prompt further investigation.
Postponing any changes for several years may seem to be the only possible course of action, but dedicating time to thoroughly considering our situation may raise other possibilities, rather than simply becoming resigned to saying, 'I'll wait till the children are older', or suchlike.
A new year can bring a new you who assesses life by not only acknowledging what's happening as well as what's not happening and then reviews ways to improve the situation. Taking ownership, exploring possible steps, how to move on, where to start can be a valuable outcome from a break or retreat.
Everyday life rarely allows enough time to devote to serious 'meaning of life' considerations. There's scarcely time to breathe, let alone explore different options, decide it's time to leave an unsatisfactory relationship, walk away from a well-paying job or move to the countryside and become self-sufficient! Any musings will frequently be interrupted because the laundry basket needs attention, it's time to log onto the laptop or go and collect the children.
So creating an opportunity and booking a few days away for a weekend break or retreat can be an important commitment to yourself. Setting aside time to grieve, recover from a breakup, heal after a change in circumstances or have some space after a hectic time or period of illness provides an interlude for reflection. Are we at a crossroads, what direction should we now head in? Finding answers to these questions can be a valuable investment of a few days on a retreat.
Simply providing yourself with an opportunity for reflection on possible changes and adjustments can help to improve your perspective and doesn't automatically necessitate major upheaval. Afterwards you may find you return to your day-to-day life with a calmer, healthier attitude, feeling settled and in a better place. A retreat can offer space for you to positively readjust your viewpoint and become more flexible and tolerant. Gaining insights helps you feel better able to introduce minor changes that make life more pleasant for everyone.
An individual retreat often gives you time to dedicate to your physical and mental health and wellbeing, to focus on specific issues and concerns, perhaps through individual sessions which address nutrition, health and wellbeing. Personalised yoga, massage, fitness classes as well as counselling, hypnotherapy and coaching are all available.
A group retreat dedicates time to discussions and workshops, exploring with others ways to handle wider-reaching concerns, like stress, post-divorce, assertiveness, as each attendee is invited to share their coping strategies. It can be a positive start to discover that other people have similar problems in their lives.
Taking that first step is often the most significant decision of all. Determining that something needs to change and finding ways to implement some or even all can be a wonderful start to a great new year and a positive new you.
Susan Leigh, counsellor, hypnotherapist, relationship counsellor, writer & media contributor offers help with relationship issues, stress management, assertiveness and confidence. She works with individual clients, couples and provides corporate workshops and support as well as retreats at Ayuda House Retreat Centre
She's author of 3 books, 'Dealing with Stress, Managing its Impact', '101 Days of Inspiration #tipoftheday' and 'Dealing with Death, Coping with the Pain', all on Amazon & with easy to read sections, tips and ideas to help you feel more positive about your life.
To order a copy or for more information, help and free articles visit http://www.lifestyletherapy.net


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/10219613

Monday, 16 December 2019

Steps to Building a Strong Financial Foundation

Are you the master of your wealth? You should be!
In order to build a stable structure, you must begin with a heavy-duty financial foundation that will take care of you now while reinforcing your future goals. What do you need to do to put that structure in place? It is amazingly clear-cut. The tactics below will help to boost your monetary self-confidence and set yourself up for financial success.
Get Organized
Before you can proceed, you must be clear on where you stand financially right now. You can begin by developing a personal balance sheet. Make a list of each of your assets (what you own) and liabilities (what you owe). When you have gathered all your statistics this will give you a sense of your net worth.
Next, figure out your monthly cash flow and take a check of your credit. You can use a budgeting template like this one to help simplify the process.
Grow Your Net Worth
- Analyze your take home pay
- Make sure you are spending less than you earn. Keep track of your personal finances with a tool like Moneydesktop, which can empower you to take control of your finance and simplify your life.
- Manage your debt responsibly by making your payments on time and pay extra on all your consumer debt.
- Save money for your long-term goals. Open an employer sponsored 401(k) and make sure you take advantage of any employer matching programs.
Protect Yourself
Now that you are organized and following a growth plan you need to make sure you are financially safe. Try implementing these options.
- Build an emergency fund because life happens. It's a must have to keep you financially viable - opposed to plunging into debt when you face an unexpected cost or other financial crisis.
- Check your insurance coverages. These types of policies will help to limit your out-of-pocket expenses when unexpected costs arise.
- Make sure you establish or update your estate plan. This may include updating your will, creating a living trust and instituting a power of attorney and a healthcare directive.
Prioritize Your Debt Reduction
Be conscious of over-extending by paying excessive interest on money you have borrowed. This can keep you from putting money toward your other financial goals. Debt repayment is a perfect way to start building your financial foundation. If you are interested in implementing a fast-tracked debt repayment strategy try the debt snowball method or another financial strategy to reduce your interest rates.
Define your financial goals
Now that you have put all the pieces together for your financial foundation it's time to ask yourself what you want for both short and long term. Remember, your goals should be SMART: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time-bound. Below are a few concepts to help you get started.
- Save for a down payment for a home
- Build retirement fund
- Save for children's college
- Set up an emergency fund
- Save for bucket list vacations
- Become financially free
Now Let's Make it Happen
- Be disciplined: Stick to the plan
- Maintain a balanced budget. You can't be financially healthy if you are spending more than you earn.
- Automate your finances (regular money transfers from checking to savings, and online bill pay)
As you can see, constructing a financial foundation takes immense focus and determination. If you follow your step-by-step process you can't help but see results. Most importantly you will begin to gain confidence in your capacity to create and stick to your new healthy financial life.
Comprehensive money management starts with organization - knowing where your hard-earned dollars are going. If you follow the steps summarized above, you may well be on the road to building a strong financial foundation. Part of the DNA of allU.S. Credit Union (www. https://alluscu.com ) is to improve the financial lives of their members and increasing financial literacy. This is what separates allU.S. from other financial institutions; we are for people not for profit.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/10185886

Saturday, 14 December 2019

How to Set Personal Life Goals for Growth


Change is said to be the only constant in life. Who you were five years ago is not the person you are today. However, you might be feeling like you are just drifting through like aimlessly without any target for where you want to be.
If that feels like you, then you probably have not set any life goals for yourself. Life goals are important because they give guide you, give you focus and a yardstick to know when you are headed in the right direction.
What are life goals?
When most people think of personal development, finances come to mind. However, personal development entails continuous expansion of various facets of your life including spiritual, social, mental and physical.
If any one of these facets of your life isn't in order, then all the others might crumble. Self-development, therefore, is multi-faceted and a continuous process that seeks to achieve self-actualization. It therefore never stops.
How to Set Personal Life Goals
You probably have heard that goals should be SMART. This means that they should be specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and time-bound. When your goals are SMART, you are able to visualize them and set up a plan on how to achieve them in the decided time-frame.
Before you jump into writing down SMART goals, you must visualize your life in five or ten years to come. What do you want to achieve by then?
Take the large goals and the big picture and break it down into smaller goals that you should achieve progressively starting today. The smaller you break down your goals, the easier it becomes to achieve them. As you achieve smaller goals, you get motivated because the bigger picture becomes that much closer every day.
Categories you Might Set Life Goals In
As stated earlier, personal development is multi-faceted. It involves all aspects of your life including the following: career, financial, education, family, health, attitude, physical, pleasure, social, love, relationships and spiritual.
It is essential that you focus on all aspects of your life and aim to get better every day.
Take Action
Setting goals and having a plan is one thing; but without action, it all becomes wishful thinking. It is important, therefore, that you start today to work on your goals. As started earlier, it becomes easy to achieve the bigger goals when they are broken down into smaller ones.
Do something daily or weekly that works towards your long term goal without thinking of how long you have to do it. This will prevent you from feeling overwhelmed by how much you have to achieve.
Conduct Progress Reviews
You will not know how far you have come unless you are able to measure your progress. A progress review helps you know whether you are still on track or you have derailed off what you should have been doing.
You can choose when to do the progress reviews based on the goals you need to achieve. You can do it annually, semi-annually or even quarterly.
Go on and use this guide to set smart personal life goals that will see you achieve you dreams in all the facets of your life.
Mathenge Kabui Is an expert author on matters to do with personal development. You can contact him to give you quality content for your website by following the link below: https://www.kenyawriters.com/customorders/


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/10196134

Friday, 13 December 2019

TONY ROBBINS | 30 Minutes for the NEXT 30 Years of Your LIFE

Scarcity Vs. Prosperity: How to Get More of What You Want in Your Life


Scarcity and prosperity are two terms I had not heard of until I entered the coaching world. At first, I felt they were worldly concepts of the common pursuit of wealth and possessions... connected with the overused term: Abundance. Soon I learned about the truth found in these concepts and saw the huge impact our perspectives of them have on our life, events, people, money, and everything.
First of all, Scarcity vs. Prosperity is talking about your perspective on the world. Scarcity focuses on what you don't have and cannot do. It is negative and dwells on how you are limited, held back or unable to move forward as you would like. It shows up like this:
* Business owner: I can't do any mailings because it costs too much.
* Mom: I can't get out of the house because there is no one to watch the kids.
* Unhappy professional: I can't change jobs because I need the stable income.
* Executive: I can't hire more people; sales are down.
Prosperity is the flip side of scarcity. It is looking at what you DO have. It is positive, upbeat and solution-focused. Prosperity finds what IS good and what IS possible. It asks "What CAN I do?" I might sound like this:
* Business owner: Mailings are expensive, but I have a small list of 100 names from the chamber that I CAN do a series of target mailings and test their effectiveness.
* Mom: I can get out of the house and take the kids to the park. My spouse is home Friday nights and I can plan to do errands then.
* Unhappy professional: I need a stable income and CAN take a few classes to explore other interests while working at my current job.
* Executive: Sales are down, but I CAN hire short term contract help to pull through this slump. I can also come and work on the floor for 5 hours a week to support the team.
Your view on scarcity or prosperity is very important because:
1) It impacts how you see the world. As explained above, each side promotes either positive or negative thinking. People are naturally more negatively wired (They are. There is some statistic about 75% of all adult conversations are naturally negative - just listen the next time you are out.) Positive people live longer, are less stressed and enjoy life more. So, if you desire less stress and a long and enjoyable life, start thinking through the eyes of prosperity.
2) It impacts what you receive. Some are skeptical about this, but it is the law of nature. When you live in scarcity and cling on to everything, afraid of loss, you get little and things seem to run out. You attract scarcity. Others who don't have. People who don't have money (i.e. clients who can't pay). People who also are stuck or unable to do. It is uncanny how this works, but it really happens. People get attached and cling to money, time, possessions, and for whatever reason, it is not something that can be held on to. The harder you fight for YOURS and cling to it, the quicker it dissipates. When you live in and give from prosperity, on the other hand, it is incredible what comes into your life. I choose to see it as blessings from God. It is amazing. When you let go of your agenda and serve others, you are served. When you stop worrying about money and are responsible yet generous, you have plenty. When you volunteer freely of your time and energy you are uplifted and blessed. There are many old adages about this: "Givers Gain", the Golden Rule, etc. When you can stop and look at what is good, what is right and allow yourself to live in the blessings you have been given, appreciate them and give back, the process continues to flow. When you get caught in fear, negativity, and pessimism, life gets tough, fast.
Once you are in the scarcity mode, it can be a challenge to get out. You can get out, though. You just need to be intentional about listening to the tape that is running in your head. Listen to yourself talk and hear what you are saying. Are you saying CAN'T, WON'T, NEVER, ALWAYS, DON'T, etc.? These are signs you are looking at life from scarcity. Stop and ask yourself, "What CAN I do?" "What is true?" "What is possible?" Then do what you can. If you continue to always do what you can, you will start to embrace prosperity thinking and living.
Don't believe me? Try it. It is amazing.

Maximize Your Time: 10 Tips for Extreme Productivity



1) Know your work style and use the tools and systems that match. If you work well with technology, use your computer, phone, and apps for your scheduling and organization. If you are a visual person, consider using a paper calendar and a written to-do list. If you are a people person, develop a team around you to complement your strengths. If you work alone, find time to focus and remain distraction-free. If you are a morning person, attack the most important tasks early in the day.
2) Use ONE calendar. Sometimes people will have several calendars: one for family, one for work, one for personal appointments. Keep ONE calendar for everything. Use different colors or type styles to differentiate categories. Personally, I am very visual and remember things better when I write them down, therefore I have a paper calendar for my appointments, but due to the need for dynamic communication I have a Google calendar to support my scheduling, which might appear like two calendars, however, this calendar is a mirror of the paper one and has everything on it. While it is extra work to have both, it is one calendar (paper or digital) with all the information.
3) Make a to-do list at the end of each day. Your mind naturally begins to work on the list as you sleep. When you awake, you are ready to work, are very productive and organized. Estimate how much time each task will take you and only put on your next day to-do list what is reasonable to get done.
4) "Eat your frog first." A Brian Tracy concept*: Do the hardest thing you have to do all day first before you do anything else. Doing this will provide you with the feeling of success in having a "burden" off your back and the momentum to accomplish the remaining tasks.
5) Have a clear goal; write it down and read it daily. When you have a goal you know what to focus on and work toward. If you do not have this at the front of your mind, it is easy to get caught up with the urgent things of the day or trapped in reacting to e-mail, phone calls, interruptions, and other people's emergencies.
6) Have a "power hour." Designate one hour each day to close the door, shut down e-mail, turn off the ringer on the phone and guard yourself from interruptions. Have a pre-picked project that you will work on during this time only. Make sure to go to the bathroom, get a drink, and do whatever else you need to in order to ensure you do not leave once this hour starts. Give yourself 30 minutes after this hour to return calls, e-mails, and care for people with whom you need to follow up that you missed during the POWER HOUR.
7) Touch it once. This means e-mail, mail, papers, etc. Touch it and make a decision. File it, toss it, or put it in a place for action. Sorting bins are helpful for this. Sorting bins often have labels like: read, file, do this week, urgent, bills, etc. Also, if your subject lines in e-mails are accurate, it is easy for both you and the recipient to find the e-mail. Paper, soft copy (computer), and e-mail folders should have matching labels.
8) Have daily habits. After you develop a routine of things that are simple but important, your body will naturally do them. This is important because we can get distracted by our regular routines and use them as vices to interrupt, procrastinate, and prolong important things that really need to get done. If you start your day right, you will be ready to do those urgent and important tasks, increasing your everyday productivity.
9) Pre-prep. Have you ever been amazed on cooking shows how they make a complicated dish in 10 minutes? OK, part is edited TV time, but they also have everything pre-prepped for quick assembly. Why not do the same? Prepare your information packets and new client folders, turn common documents into a template, set up e-mail group/ distribution lists for teams, etc.
10) Maximize car systems. Listen to a book on audio to maximize your windshield time and learn. Have a bin to put important things in, rather than having them all over the car. Have a trash bag to catch the liter. Always have a bottle of water in the car with you; dehydration causes fatigue, memory loss, and low concentration. Make sure your contacts are portable (e.g, phone, planner, business card file book) so you can keep people and numbers at your fingertips (so that you can call if you're running late, caught in traffic, etc.). Enjoy relaxing, breathing, and taking in the day while driving (rather than cleaning, talking on the phone, etc.)
When you implement a few simple productivity strategies and develop them as time-saving habits, you will quickly enjoy the benefit of more time and energy and overall increased productivity.
*Tracy, Brian. Eat that Frog! 21 Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less Time. San Francisco: Berrett-Koehler, 2001