Management Lesson

Former President of India APJ Abdul Kalam : 'A Leader Should Know How to Manage Failure'

India Knowledge@Wharton:

Could you give an example, from your own experience, of how leaders should manage failure?

Kalam: Let me tell you about my experience. In 1973 I became the project director of India's satellite launch vehicle program, commonly called the SLV-3. Our goal was to put India's "Rohini" satellite into orbit by 1980. I was given funds and human resources -- but was told clearly that by 1980 we had to launch the satellite into space. Thousands of people worked together in scientific and technical teams towards that goal.

By 1979 -- I think the month was August -- we thought we were ready. As the project director, I went to the control center for the launch. At four minutes before the satellite launch, the computer began to go through the checklist of items that needed to be checked. One minute later, the computer program put the launch on hold; the display showed that some control components were not in order. My experts -- I had four or five of them with me -- told me not to worry; they had done their calculations and there was enough reserve fuel. So I bypassed the computer, switched to manual mode, and launched the rocket. In the first stage, everything worked fine. In the second stage, a problem developed. Instead of the satellite going into orbit, the whole rocket system plunged into the Bay of Bengal. It was a big failure. 

That day, the chairman of the Indian Space Research Organization, Prof. Satish Dhawan, had called a press conference. The launch was at 7:00 am, and the press conference -- where journalists from around the world were present -- was at 7:45 am at ISRO's satellite launch range in Sriharikota [in Andhra Pradesh in southern India]. Prof. Dhawan, the leader of the organization, conducted the press conference himself. He took responsibility for the failure -- he said that the team had worked very hard, but that it needed more technological support. He assured the media that in another year, the team would definitely succeed. Now, I was the project director, and it was my failure, but instead, he took responsibility for the failure as chairman of the organization.

The next year, in July 1980, we tried again to launch the satellite -- and this time we succeeded. The whole nation was jubilant. Again, there was a press conference. Prof. Dhawan called me aside and told me, "You conduct the press conference today."

I learned a very important lesson that day.When failure occurred, the leader of the organization owned that failure. When success came, he gave it to his team. The best management lesson I have learned did not come to me from reading a book; it came from that experience.

Help Your Employees Do More in Less Time

Because of thunder storms in Atlanta, the flight from Dallas to Atlanta had been delayed twice. On the third attempt, we were boarding and I felt hopeful of actually getting off the ground. My hopes faded fast when the tired-looking flight attendant came down the aisle quietly announcing that if we were not permitted to take off in the next 15 minutes, the crew would have exceeded their 16-hour work day and we would have to taxi back to the terminal and await another flight.

We were not given permission to take off, the crew's time expired and as we taxied back to the terminal I felt mixed emotions. I kept thinking, "But we were right there ready to take off. How could 1-1/2 more hours matter?"

Just as airlines are concerned about overworked pilots and flight attendants, employers should be concerned about overworked employees. Why? Errors, accidents, and low productivity for a start.

My mixed emotions as we taxied back to the terminal are similar to the signals our culture sends today about long work hours. In one breath we agree with employees having a pity party about how hard they work and with the other breath, we award employees a "red badge of courage" for having the guts to go the extra mile.

A study by the Families and Work Institute concludes that overworked employees should be taken seriously. Employees who are overworked are more 

likely to exhibit anxiety, make mistakes at work, harbor angry feelings about their employer for expecting them to be on the job for long hours and resent coworkers who don't pull their share of the load. The study documents that nearly half of employees who feel overworked report that their health is poor and 8 percent of employees who are not overworked experience symptoms of clinical depression compared with 21 percent of those who are highly overworked.

Helping Employees Feel Less Overwhelmed:

What can the organization do to help employees feel less overworked while still finishing their tasks in a given day? Using time efficiently at work is an individual and an organizational issue. On the organizational side, managers can help employees reduce the feeling of being overwhelmed by:

·  Training employees in time management principles

·  Discouraging the practice of eating at the desk and working through lunch

·  Insisting employees taking vacation time

·  Permitting flexible work hours when appropriate

·  Encouraging non-interrupt zones in the day when workers can focus on their tasks

·  Assigning tasks well in advance of the drop dead date

·   Helping Employees Be More Effective 

A tried and true principle states that to be efficient, you must first be effective. For instance, the maker of buggy whips might be highly efficient in manufacturing techniques, but if no one buys the buggy whips, the process is not effective.

To encourage efficiency and effectiveness, managers can:

·  Have clearly stated goals with built in deadlines

·  Insist employees make a daily "to do" list

·  Make certain equipment works properly

·  Supply the necessary materials for job completion

·  Train employees on software packages that enable more efficient work

Ensuring the above items are taken care of is essential to help employees leverage their time while in the office and be more productive. 

Realizing a Productivity Culture Change:

Managers should make a concerted effort to grease the wheels of productivity, and not be the stick that gets caught in the tire spokes, catapulting the rider from the trail. By attending to these issues, managers can help workers feel less overwhelmed and enable them do more in less time. You'll like the results. 

- By Karla Brandau

Develop A Clear Vision

The one quality that all leaders have in common is that they have a clear and exciting vision for the future. This is something that only the leader can do. Only the leader can think about the future and plan for the future each day.

Take the Time to Think :

Excellent leaders take the time to think through and develop a clear picture of where they want the organization to be in one, three and five years. Leaders have the ability to communicate this vision in such a way that others "buy in" and eventually see the vision as belonging to them.

Motivate People to Give of Their Best :

It is the vision of the future possibilities, of what can be, that arouses emotion and motivates people to give of their best. The most powerful vision is always qualitative, aimed at and described in terms of values and mission rather than quantitative, which is described in terms of money and numbers.

Money is Important :

Of course, money is important, but the decision and commitment to "be the best in the business" is far more exciting.

Keep Your Cool :

Another key to leadership success is for you to "keep your cool." A study at Stanford Business School examined the qualities that companies look for in promoting young managers toward senior executive positions, especially the position of Chief Executive Officer. The study concluded that the two most important qualities required for great success were, first, the ability to put together and function as part of a team. Since all work is ultimately done by teams, and the managers' output is the output of the team, the ability to select team members, set objectives, delegate responsibility and finally, get the job done, was central to success in management.

Practice is Everything :

The second quality required for rapid promotion was found to be the ability to function well under pressure, and especially in a crisis. Keeping your cool in a crisis means to practice patience and self-control under difficult or disappointing circumstances.

People Are Watching :

The character and quality of a leader is often demonstrated in these critical moments under fire, when everyone is watching, observing and privately taking notes. As Rudyard Kipling once said, "If you can keep your head when all around you are losing theirs and blaming it on you, then the world is yours and all that's in it".

Your job as a leader is to have a clear vision of where you want to go and then to keep your cool when things go wrong, as they surely will.

- By Brian Tracy

True Peace

True peace can be experienced only when we stop giving and taking sorrow. In order not to give sorrow we need a clear heart that has no ill feelings and for not taking sorrow we need a big heart that can tolerate and help other souls to get over their weaknesses.

- Unknown

The mistake many make in meditation is one of subtle pride (ego). It's as if we say, "Look at me, I've got the best seat on the train. Look at me I made it to my peace. Didn't I do well?" This of course is one of those old-fashioned self-centred thoughts. As soon as you create it you go against the very essence (nature) of your true self, your peace. To go with the essence (nature) of truth about peace is to realise your peace is not just for you, it is for the world. It is for giving, for radiating, for transmitting, for sharing.

It is a subtle recognition that your peace can only be sustained (nourished) and increased when you give it to those who are peaceless around you. When you realise this, you will also recognise how the vibration of your peacefulness radiates outwards. When you consciously release your peace to others and to the world, that's when you will feel its power.

- Brahma Kumaris, Mt. Abu

Journey Of Life

Life is a Journey and we travel for a destination,

We aspire to reach It but it’s only a fascination.

Our journey begins since the time we are born

Until we breathe our last the journey continues to go on.

Journey sees drizzles, on the way, off and of finds heavy showers.

But the sun too accompanies the journey and so does a host of flowers.

Journey comes across many things, many phases of life it passes through,

New experiences it gathers and discovers the earlier was not true.

Life has no respiration if no journey in it,

The moment journey stops, the end of life you shall meet.

It’s continuation, a long walk along the roads of life.

Let it not stop or no point in being just alive.

- Author Unknown

Ramadhan - Lessons From The Son...

One day a father of a very wealthy family took his son on a trip to the country with the firm purpose of showing his son how poor people can be.

They spent a couple of days and nights on the farm of what would be considered a very poor family.

On their return from their trip, the father asked his son, "How was the trip?" "It was great, Dad." "Did you see how poor people can be?" the father asked. "Oh Yeah" said the son.

"So what did you learn from the trip?" asked the father.

The son answered, "I saw that we have one dog and they had four.

We have a pool that reaches to the middle of our garden and they have a creek that has no end.

We have imported lanterns in our garden and they have the stars at night.

Our patio reaches to the front yard and they have the whole horizon.

We have a small piece of land to live on and they have fields that go beyond our sight.

We have servants who serve us, but they serve others.

We buy our food, but they grow theirs.

We have walls around our property to protect us, they have friends to protect them. "

With this the boy's father was speechless.

Then his son added, "Thanks dad for showing me how ungrateful we truly are"

You can't buy any of these things. You can have all the material possessions you can imagine, provisions for the future, etc., but if you are poor of spirit, you have nothing!

Too many times we forget what we have and concentrate on what we don't have.

- Author Unknown

In A Different Way

In A Different Way
Live each single moment,
As if it were your last.
Look forward to the future,
Forget about the past.

Taking time to value,
Exactly what you’ve got.
Appreciate the now,
Use what you’ve been taught.

To further your enjoyment,
Of each new passing day.
Try learning something new,
In a different way.

Expanding your horizons,
By trying something new.
Makes life seem much larger,
You’ll know just what to do.

When you have a problem,
You can not seem to mend,
Somehow try it different,
Mind and thoughts must bend.

To learn to live life better,
In a different way.
Be open to suggestions,
Every single day.

- Author Unknown

If At First You Don’t Succeed.

Failure doesn’t mean - “You are a failure,”

It means - You have not succeeded.

Failure doesn’t mean - “You accomplished nothing,”

It means - You have learned something.

Failure doesn’t mean - “You have been a fool,”

It means - You had a lot of faith.

Failure doesn’t mean - “You don’t have it,”

It means - You were willing to try.

Failure doesn’t mean - “You are inferior,”

It means - You are not perfect.

Failure doesn’t mean - “You’ve wasted your life,”

It means - You have a reason to start afresh.

Failure doesn’t mean - “You should give up,”

It means - “You must try harder.

Failure doesn’t mean - “You’ll never make it,”

It means - It will take a little longer.

Failure doesn’t mean - “God has abandoned you,”

It means - God has a better way for you.

What Is Life?

Life is a challenge, Meet it
Life is a gift, Accept it
Life is an adventure, Dare it
Life is a sorrow, Face it
Life is a duty, Perform it
Life is a mystery, Unfold it
Life is a game, Play it
Life is a song, Sing it
Life is an opportunity, Take it
Life is a journey, Complete it
Life is a promise, Fulfill it
Life is a love, Love it
Life is a beauty, Praise it
Life is a spirit, Realize it
Life is a struggle, Fight it
Life is a puzzle, Solve it
Life is a goal, Achieve it

- Unknown

Top 10 Tips for Managing Down

Management looks really easy, doesn't it? You're awarded a title, and, if you are lucky, an office, and away you go. You bark some orders here and there and then you sit back until it's time to give another directive. Of course, everyone does exactly what you ask of them, because you are the person in charge. If this were really the case, everyone would want to be a manager!

Here are ten tips to help you become the type of manager that everyone wants to work with.

1. Be Credible

It is difficult, if not impossible to get others to follow you if you aren't perceived as being credible. Credibility is not something you earn overnight, although it is certainly something you can destroy in one day. Be mindful of how your words and actions have a direct impact on how others perceive you on a daily basis.

2. Lead by Example 

Behave, as you would want your employees to behave, but also understand that your role is different from that of your employees.

3. Surround Yourself With The Right People

Hire for fit, train for skill and if the opportunity presents itself, hire people who are better than you. Prepare for the arrival of new hires so they immediately feel connected to the organization.

4. Build On Strengths

Weaknesses may be more visible, but strengths are where you will receive a greater return. Find one or two strengths in each of your people and help them become the type of employees you know they can be.

5. Cut Your Losses Early

Mismatches happen, no matter how good you are at interviewing. Take action quickly to avoid having the rest of the team distracted by a poor hire.

6. Cultivate The Success Of Others

To succeed as a manager, you will need to shift your focus from "me" to "we." Going forward, your success will no longer be measured by your individual contribution. Instead, you will be evaluated on your ability to create and maintain a highly engaged team that is willing to give it their all.

7. Manage Performance

People want and need feedback in order to improve their performance. Don't be the manager everyone complains about. Give your people continuous feedback and provide them with timely performance reviews.

8. Be Respectful

One of the quickest ways to lose credibility and trust is by being disrespectful. Regardless of the situation at hand, treat your people the way you would like to be treated.

9. Master The Art of Influencing

As the boss, many times you will be asking people to do things on your behalf. Be specific in your request and let them know why it's in their best interest to comply, and you will be well on your way to getting what you need.

10. Get Respect

As human beings, we have a natural tendency to want to be loved. But what happens when your desire to be loved interferes with your ability to lead? Effective leaders recognize it is more important to be respected by their people than adored. They make the tough decisions that are needed to secure the future of those around them, including their direct reports.

- By Roberta Matuson

Success lies in Aspiration

The Path of Most Persistence

There will always be those who will tell you it can't be done, but throughout history, progress has always come from those who said it could be done.

The people who accomplish the most do so not because they never run into problems, but because they believe there is a solution for every one.

The great men and women of history are remembered not because they never failed, but because they didn't let their failures stop them. They kept on until they succeeded.

When Thomas Edison invented the light bulb, he tried over 2,000 experiments before he got it to work. A young reporter asked him how it felt to fail so many times. He said, 

“I never failed once. I invented the light bulb. It just happened to be a 2,000-step process.”

Often GENIUS is just another way of spelling perseverance. 

- Author Unknown

Seven Keys to High-Energy Living

Energy is a key luck factor. For you to be at the top of your form, to be action oriented, fast moving, and extremely productive, you have to have  high levels of physical and mental energy. 

For you to be able to take advantage of all the possibilities around you, and to have the continuous enthusiasm that keeps you and others motivated and moving ahead, you have to organize your life so that you feel terrific about yourself most of the time.

1. Eat the Right Foods :

The first key to high energy is a proper diet. To perform at your best, you must eat the right foods, in the right balance, and in the right combination. Your diet has an inordinate impact on the amount of energy you have, how well you sleep, your levels of health and fitness, and your performance throughout the day and into the evening.

2. Watch your Weight :

The second key to high energy is proper weight. Proper weight is essential for health, happiness, and long life. Being slightly under your ideal weight is best. As they say, you can never be too rich or too thin. If you are not happy with your current level of physical health, you need to set specific goals for yourself for the weeks and months ahead.

3. Exercise is Essential :

The third key to high energy is proper exercise. The best activity for high energy and physical fitness is aerobic exercise. This type of exercise requires that you get your heart rate up into what is called the training zone three times per week. This training zone is about 120 to 160 beats per minute, depending on your age. You then keep it there for at least 20 minutes or more each session.

4. Get Lots of Rest and Recreation :

The fourth key to high energy is proper rest. You need an average of seven to eight hours of sleep each night to be fully rested. You need to take off at least one full day each week during which you don't work at all. You should take regular mini-holidays of two or three days each, every couple of months. You should take one and two week vacations each year when you relax completely and get your mind totally off your work.

5. Develop a Positive Mental Attitude :

The sixth key to high energy is the elimination of negative emotions. This can be the most important thing you do to assure a long and happy life. Your ability to keep your mind on what you want and off of what you don't want will determine your levels of health and happiness more than any other decision you make.

6. Start a Personal Mental Fitness Program :

The seventh key to high energy is for you to go on a 21-daypositive mental attitude diet, one day at a time. Resolve that, for the next 21 day, you are going to keep your mind on what you want and keep it off the things you don't want. You are going to think and talk positively and optimistically about your goals, other people, and everything that is going on in your life.

7. Become a Personal Powerhouse :

The more you practice the health habits we have talked about, the more energy and vitality you will have. The more you keep your conversation focused on your goals and on the things you want, the greater the amount of strength and power you will feel. You will be more alert and aware. You will feel more positive and action oriented in every situation.

- By Brian Tracy

Friends Forever & Always

Friendship is a feeling
That never will grow old
Warm and loving it will stay
When other things grow cold.

It's a special kind of love
That cannot be denied
Because I know for sure my friend
You're always by my side.

Friends come and friends go
In this game that we play
A true friend no matter what
In my heart will always stay.

So glad I found you in my life
A bond we weave together
Our friendship will keep growing
And stay with us forever.

- Ginny Bryant

Inspiring Quotes

Be Simple.

To get your ideas across
use small words,
big ideas,
and short sentences

The Definition of Courage.

Courage is not defined by those
who fought and did not fall,
but by those who fought,
fell and rose again.

Change

If you don't like something,
change it, if you can't change it,
change the way you think about it.

- Unknown

Your Intentions Prompt You into Action

The Law of Attraction works primarily through our needs and the things we want. This mystical law brings into our lives our heart’s desire, which is what we experience when we align our needs and wants. Without the alignment, what we don’t want or what we dislike heads in our direction.

It is our intention that motivates, and we must exact our preferences if we hope to prosper employing this law. It is our mind working with our body and that produces results. Our mind alone cannot establish outcomes, but merely guide us to take action. For instance, we can notice the need to do something, like fill a bowl of water for our pet.

Unless we intend to do this, by actually thinking or saying that, we will do it our body remains inactive. Unless we tell ourselves what we intend to accomplish, and this directs our body to do so. Simply thinking that the dog needs water will not get the job done. We must want to fill the bowl and this is when the need matches, what you want, causing a heart’s desire.

The aforementioned example is a simple one that shows how the intellect and body work together. We repeatedly notice things that need doing or think we should do something. The trouble is that we think about doing and lack the motivation. Thinking about what we want, is merely a part of the process. We must then be open to what needs doing and take action. This is the reason that goal setting is effective!

Our subconscious mind works in such a way that just saying we want something, sets the goal. We must then be open to opportunities to fulfill our goal; we must match our needs and wants. Our body is co-dependent on our mind. Likewise, our mind is co-dependent with our bodies.

They work together to reach our heart’s desire! Think about what you want, and then consider your needs, developing an intention that will motivate you to take action. Your five senses (body) bring what needs doing to your attention. Your mind must then acknowledge that you want to do it before your body will follow through with the task.

We cannot hope to use the Law of Attraction to our advantage, unless we fully understand ourselves. Things happen by accident each day, or so we imagine, but do they? Have you ever heard yourself think that you want a new car and then thought you should test-drive one? Just wanting a new vehicle does not deliver it. You must have the intention to receive one, and chances are you will have to purchase it yourself.

Your body will work at extra jobs or hours for the money if you intend to buy the car. The Law of Attraction will provide you the opportunity. You must be willing to do take action, because the magical law functions in mysterious ways! One rule of thumb is – “opportunities are disguised as work ninety percent of the time.” How many times have you thought that you should have or could have done something and recognized a missed opportunity?

This was the Law of Attraction at work in your life; a chance to get what you wanted by providing you with what you need! Match what you want with what you need and your heart’s desire will form your intention to achieve your goals. Align your body and mind and your life will fulfill itself, creating the joy of living, as you create positive momentum!

- By Sandra Hendricks

A Friend Is Like...

A friend is like a forest,
Or a lovely, calm blue sea,
A refuge from life’s problems,
As only a friend can be.

A friend is like a song,
Soothing to the brain,
Distracting us from trouble,
Neutralizing pain.

A friend is like some ice cream
On a sweltering summer day,
Making life delicious,
In a friend’s own special way.

A friend is like a blanket,
Bringing peace and rest,
A cocoon of warmth and pleasure;
When we are tired or stressed.

A friend is a bit of everything
That makes life good and sweet,
And you, my friend, are all that;
You make my life complete!

- Unknown

Inspiring Message

* In life, there are moments when you miss someone so much that you feel like you could only fulfill your dreams by holding that person tight in your arms.

* When the door of happiness is closed, another opens; but many of us continue only to look at the closed door. 

As a result, we often fail to see the new door with its new opportunities.

* Do not trust appearances; they are often false.

Do not interest yourself only in wealth; it may disappear.

* Seek someone who communicates with you in laughter, for laughter can turn a sad day into a joyful one.

* Dream whatever you desire to dream.

Go wherever you wish.

Seek whatever you desire.

Because life is unique and is dependent on how you shape it.

* The lucky ones do not always have the best.

Often, they seek simply the best of what they see on their journey.

* Your future happiness may well depend on your ability to leave the past behind.

Powerful Inspiring Message

Forget about the Days when you've been Lonely.
But don't forget the Friendly Smiles you've seen.

Forget about the Days when it has been Cloudy.
But don't forget Your Hour in the Sun.

Forget about the Time when you've been Defeated
But don't forget the Victories you've won.

Forget about the Misfortunes which you Encountered.
But don't forget the Times your Luck has turned.

Forget about the Mistakes that you can't Change.
But don't forget the Lesson that you've learnt.

Have a Nice Day !!

- Author Unknown

Life Is A Gift

Life is a gift given by the God to us.
Life is like a diamond which makes us beautiful
and feel how much precious we are.

So fill your life with full of colors.
Don’t waste it or spoil it.
Because God will never give you a second chance.

- Unknown

How to Identify Your Goals

Here are seven goal-setting questions for you to ask and answer over and over again. I suggest that you take a pad of paper and write out your responses. 

Question Number One:

What are your five most important values in life?

This question is intended to help you clarify what is really important to you, and by extension, what is less important, or unimportant. Once you have identified the five most important values in life for you, organize them in order of priority, from number one, the most important, through number five. 

Question Number Two:

What are your three most important goals in life, right now?

This is called the "quick list" method. When you only have thirty seconds to write down your three most important goals, your subconscious mind sorts out your many goals quickly. Your top three will just pop into your conscious mind. With only thirty seconds, you will be as accurate as if you had thirty minutes. 

Question Number Three:

What would you do, how would you spend your time, if you learned today that you only had six months to live? This is another value questions to help you clarify what is really important to you. When your time is limited, even if only in your imagination, you become aware of who and what you really care about. 

Question Number Four:

What would you do if you won a million dollars cash, tax free, in the lottery tomorrow?

How would you change your life? What would you buy? What would you start doing, or stop doing? This is really a question to help you decide what you'd do if you had all the time and money you need, and if you had virtually no fear of failure at all. 

Question Number Five:

What have you always wanted to do, but been afraid to attempt?

This question helps you see more clearly where your fears could be blocking you from doing what you really want to do. 

Question Number Six:

What do you most enjoy doing? What gives you your greatest feeling of self-esteem and personal satisfaction? 

This is another values question that may indicate where you should explore to find your "heart's desire." You will always be most happy doing what you most love to do, and what you most love to do is invariably the activity that makes you feel the most alive and fulfilled. The most successful men and women in America are invariably doing what they really enjoy, most of the time. 

Question Number Seven:

What one great thing would you dare to dream if you knew you would not fail?

Imagine that a genie appears and grants you one wish. The genie guarantees that you will be absolutely, completely successful in any one thing that you attempt to do, big or small, short or long-term. If you were absolutely guaranteed success in any one thing, what one exciting goal would you set for yourself?

- By Brian Tracy 

Never Quit

If you follow the right plan and procedure you are sure to Successed

BUT

May be there times when things can go wrong

NEVER

Loose Hope and keep on trying.

Remember that

Losers Quit ! when they tired
Champions Quit ! whe they hold Gold.

- Unknown

To be Successful

Everyone Has A Chance To Be Successful
People often handle life as they do bad weather.
They while away the time waiting for it to stop.
Yet the tide of opportunity comes to everyone.
Opportunity knocks all the time,
But you've got to be ready for it.

When your chance comes,
You must have the equipment to take advantage of it.
The race is not to the swift
Or the battle to the strong,
For time and chance happen to everyone.

Take a second look at what appears
To be someone's "good luck."
You'll find not luck but preparation,
Planning and success-producing thinking.

When you're prepared for opportunity
Your chance for success is sure to come.
The season of failure is the best time
For sowing the seeds of success.

- Unknown

The Principle of The Objective

Learn from the Lessons of History :

The concepts of military strategy have been studied and written about for more than 4,000 years, going back to the early works of General Sun-Tzu in China more than 2,000 years BC. These principles of strategy that have been developed and perfected over the centuries have direct applications and implications for strategic thinking, both personally and corporately.

Decide In Advance What You Want :

The most important military principle is the Principle of the Objective. This principle requires that you decide in advance exactly what it is that you are trying to accomplish. What exactly is your objective? In my experience, fully 80% of all problems in personal and corporate life come from a lack of clarity with regard to objectives and goals.

Clarity Is Critical :

Clarity of objective precedes all other elements in strategic thinking. Here are some questions that you can use over and over again to focus and clarify your objectives. The first question is, "What am I trying to do?" The second question is, "How am I trying to do it?" The third question is, "What are my assumptions?" And the fourth question is, "What if my assumptions were wrong?"

Question Your Assumptions :

Having the courage to ask these questions, and to question your assumptions, both spoken and unspoken, is a key mark of the superior person. 

Sometimes individuals avoid questioning their assumptions for fear that they will have to change their minds or do something other than what they started out to do. However, false assumptions lie at the root of almost every failure. The only way that you can root out these wrong assumptions is by carefully analyzing them and discussing them, and then by demanding proof or evidence that these assumptions are still valid.

Project Forward In Your Mind :

Another method for clarifying your objectives is for you to project forward and look backward. In other words, imagine that you have already achieved the objective that you are working toward. Project yourself forward in your mind and then look back to the present day, to the present moment. What do you see? What changes could you make looking back from this imaginary perspective of hindsight? This is a key peak performance thinking technique.

Determine Why You Want It :

The final part of clarifying your objectives revolves around your identifying the reasons why you want to achieve this objective in the first place. 

Why is it important? Is it still as important as when you started off? Is this objective more important than any other objective that you could be working on? It is essential that you be clear about the answers to these questions.

By: Brian Tracy

What is Confidence, Trust & Hope ?

CONFIDENCE:
Once all village people
decided to pray for rain. On
the day of prayer all people
gathered and only one boy came
with an umbrella...... that's
Confidence...

TRUST: 
Trust should be like the
feeling of a one year old baby
when you throw him in the air;
he laughs.....because he knows
you will catch him........ That's Trust............

HOPE: 
Every night we go to bed, we
have no assurance to get up
alive in the next morning but
still we have plans for the
coming day..........that's Hope..........

KEEP CONFIDENCE!
TRUST OTHERS!
NEVER LOSE HOPE!
Keep Smiling....

How to Build Trust & Develop Relationships with Clients and Employees That Last a Lifetime

When it comes to customer loyalty, nothing is more important than the trust you develop with your customers. Research from Texas A & M University says if customers see you as being trustworthy and reliable and if customers see you fulfilling your promises then they will become enthusiastic customers for life.

The same is true with your co-workers. If your employees see you telling the truth, even when it's not easy or comfortable to do so then you'll build an incredible bond of trust with them. And with that bond of trust will come more cooperation and motivation. 

The lesson is clear. If you want your customers to remain loyal, you must earn and keep their trust. If you want a stronger team at work, you have to build a foundation of trust. 

So trust is your ultimate competitive advantage. 

Now, how do you build or re-build trust? 

4 Ways to Build Trust, Gain Loyalty & Retain Employees and Customers for Life :

1. Assume The Best About Your Employees And Customers :

When something goes wrong, or when the other person disappoints you, start by assuming the best. Don't immediately jump into the fray, pound your desk, froth at the mouth, and demand to know why your employees or customers did something so stupid.

Instead, honor the other person. Rather than focus on WHO's to blame for what went wrong, focus on WHAT can be done about it. That takes the focus off the past and off the other person. It puts the focus onto the future where the two of you can work together.

Besides, if you jump in too quickly, blaming someone for what happened, you'll often embarrass yourself. You may find out that you're really the one to blame for the problem that occurred. 

2. Stick Up For Your Customers Or Employees When They're In The Right :

You build trust when you speak out on someone's behalf, especially when it's not politically popular or interpersonally comfortable. Martin Luther King, Jr. said, "In the end we will not remember the words of our enemies but the silence of our friends."

I'll never forget the time I chaired the task force of a charitable organization. Over a period of time, it came to my attention that the organization had misused funds on several occasions. My task force members urged me to confront the Board and document my findings. They would be there to back me up. 

I did that, but not one of the task force members backed me up when the top leaders lashed out in defense and aggression. If nothing else, I learned that Dr. King was right. It was the silence of my "friends" that I remember the most today.

3. Refuse To Gossip :

There's something very alluring, and maybe even a little satisfying, about sharing a negative tidbit. It may make you feel a bit superior, but you've got to fight the urge to add to the gossip and the people bashing that may go on in the company cafeteria or behind a customer's back. You just can't do it.

The reason is simple. 

Negative gossip almost always gets back to the person you are discussing. That's just the nature of juicy, negative, sensationalized news. And to make matters worse, the version that gets back to the person you discussed is almost always worse than the version you shared. 

4. Keep Your Promises :

Nothing destroys trust faster than failing to keep your promises. 

Think about it. No one ever forgets a promise. You tell your child you'll take her to the amusement park, and she'll remind you fifteen times that "you promised." 

You tell a colleague that you'll get back to him, and he sees it as a promise. You tell a client, that an assignment will be finished by tomorrow and she sees it as a promise. And it doesn't work to go back to them and say you forgot or you got busy. In their minds, you broke your promise, and the trust between the two of you is damaged.

So, if you want to build trust, the solution is simple. Keep your promises.

A Final Thought :

Don't get discouraged, if you're in the process of building or re-building trust in a relationship. Trust takes time. 

Just as it takes more than one block to build a fortress, it takes more than one action to build trust. It takes a lot of blocks, put down … over time … to get the results you want. It works the same way when you're building trust. 

Go ahead and use the four trust building blocks I've just given you and you will: 

- Become a better leader and manager

- Retain your employees – (Don't forget high employee turn-over = higher costs)

- Keep your customers who want to buy from you over and over again for life

- Achieve more than you ever thought possible 

And, it's all because trust is the "ultimate competitive advantage."

- By Alan Zimmerman

Anything Is Possible

Believe in Yourself,
and Remember that
Anything Is Possible

Believe in what makes you feel good.
Believe in what makes you happy.
Believe in the dreams you've always wanted to come true,
and give them every chance to.

Life holds no promises
as to what will come your way.
You must search for your own ideals
and work towards reaching them.

Life makes no guarantees as to what you'll have.
It just gives you time to make choices
and to take chances
and to discover whatever secrets might come your way.

If you are willing to take the opportunities you are given
and utilize the abilities you have,
you will constantly fill your life
with special moments and unforgettable times.

No one knows the mysteries of life or its ultimate meaning,
but for those who are willing
to believe in their dreams and in themselves,
life is a precious gift in which anything is possible.

- Dena DiIaconi

Motivational Story - Pray, Aim High and Stay Focused!!!

There once was a man who had nothing for his family to eat. He had an old rifle and three bullets. So, he decided that he would go out hunting and kill some wild game for dinner.As he went down the road, he saw a rabbit. He shot at the rabbit and missed it. The rabbit ran away.Then he saw a squirrel and fired a shot at the squirrel and missed it. The squirrel disappeared into a hole in a cottonwood tree.

As he went further, he saw a large wild “Tom” turkey in the tree, but he had only one bullet remaining. A voice spoke to him and said, “Pray first, aim high and stay focused.”

However, at the same time, he saw a deer which was a better kill. He brought the gun down and aimed at the deer. But, then he saw a rattlesnake between his legs about to bite him, so he naturally brought the gun down further to shoot the rattlesnake. Still, the voice said again to him, “I said ‘Pray, Aim high and Stay focused.” So, the man decided to listen to God’s voice.

He prayed, then aimed the gun high up in the tree and shot the wild turkey. The bullet bounced off the turkey and killed the deer. The handle fell off the gun and hit the snake in the head and killed it. And, when the gun had gone off, it knocked him into a pond. When he stood up to look around, he had fish in all his pockets, a dead deer and a turkey to eat for his family.

The snake (Satan) was dead simply because the man listened to God.

Moral of the story:

Pray first before you do anything, Aim and shoot high in your goals, and stay focused on God.

Never let others discourage you concerning your past. The past is exactly that, “the past.”

Live every day one day at a time and remember that only God knows our future and that he will not put you through any more than you can bear. 

Do not look to man for your blessings, but look to the doors that only He has prepared in advance for you in your favor.

Wait, be still and patient: keep God first and everything else will follow.

- Author Unknown

Quick Tips to Improve Self Confidence

Here are some quick tips to improve your Self Confidence. If we are committed to have a healthy self confidence there are many things you can do every day to boost your self confidence, each small steps that will help you to reach your goal. The good news is that self-esteem is not fixed and can be improved, try some of the steps below to boost your confidence and self-esteem.

1) Identify your successes. Everyone is good at something, so discover the things at which you excel, then focus on your talents. Give yourself permission to take pride in them. Give yourself credit for your successes. Inferiority is a state of mind in which you've declared yourself a victim. Do not allow yourself to be victimized.

2) Look in the mirror and smile. Studies surrounding what's called the "facial feedback theory" suggest that the expressions on your face can actually encourage your brain to register certain emotions. So by looking in the mirror and smiling every day, you might feel happier with yourself and more confident in the long run.

3) Exercise and eat healthy. Exercise raises adrenaline and makes one feel happier and healthier. It is certainly an easy and effective way to boost your self-confidence.

4) Turn feelings of envy or jealousy into a desire to achieve. Stop wanting what others have just because they have it; seek things simply because you want them, whether anybody else has them or not.

5) When you're feeling superbly insecure, write down a list of things that are good about you. Then read the list back. You'd be surprised at what you can come up with.

6) Don't be afraid to push yourself a bit - a little bit of pressure can actually show just how good you are!

7) You can try taking a martial arts or fitness class/course (or both). This will help build confidence and strength.

8) Invest in some new clothing and donate some of your old clothing to send a message to yourself that you both look sharp and feel sharp.

9) Try to make yourself talk positively at all times. When you hear yourself saying you can't do something, stop and say you can. Unless you try, you will never know whether you are able to or not.

10) Don't get wrapped up in your mistakes and dwell on bad points; they can contrast your good points or even give you something to improve. There's no feeling like being good at something you were really bad at.

11) Don't confuse what you have with who you are. People degrade their self worth when comparing possessions.

12) Surround yourself with nurturing friends, not overly critical individuals who make you feel inadequate or insecure. This could do great harm and damage to your self confidence.

The Four P's of Persuasion

Perception Is Everything :

There are four "Ps" that will enhance your ability to persuade others in both your work and personal life. They are power, positioning, performance, and politeness. And they are all based on perception.

Develop Personal Power :

The first "P" is power. The more power and influence that a person perceives that you have, whether real or not, the more likely it is that that person will be persuaded by you to do the things you want them to do. For example, if you appear to be a senior executive, or a wealthy person, people will be much more likely to help you and serve you than they would be if you were perceived to be a lower level employee.

Shape Their Thinking About You :

The second "P" is positioning. This refers to the way that other people think about you and talk about you when you are not there. Your positioning in the mind and heart of other people largely determines how open they are to being influenced by you.

In everything you do involving other people, you are shaping and influencing their perceptions of you and your positioning in their minds. Think about how you could change the things you say and do so that people think about you in such a way that they are more open to your requests and to helping you achieve your goals.

Be Good At What You Do :

The third "P" is performance. This refers to your level of competence and expertise in your area. A person who is highly respected for his or her ability to get results is far more persuasive and influential than a person who only does an average job.

Commit to Excellence :

The perception that people have of your performance capabilities exerts an inordinate influence on how they think and feel about you. You should commit yourself to being the very best in your field. Sometimes, a reputation for being excellent at what you do can be so powerful that it alone can make you an extremely persuasive individual in all of your interactions with the people around you. They will accept your advice, be open to your influence and agree with your requests.

Treat People Politely :

The fourth "P" of persuasion power is politeness. People do things for two reasons, because they want to and because they have to. When you treat people with kindness, courtesy and respect, you make them want to do things for you. They are motivated to go out of their way to help you solve your problems and accomplish your goals.

Being nice to other people satisfies one of the deepest of all subconscious needs, the need to feel important and respected. Whenever you convey this to another person in your conversation, your attitude and your treatment of that person, he or she will be wide open to being persuaded and influenced by you in almost anything you need.

Perception Is Reality :

Again, perception is everything. The perception of an individual is his or her reality. People act on the basis of their perceptions of you. If you change their perceptions, you change the way they think and feel about you, and you change the things that they will do for you.

- By: Brian Tracy

10 Tips to Get Organized & Energized

Organize Life & Feel Great

Change life by taking action to get organized and energized! Inaction leads to anxiety. Action gets things done. The sooner you take action, the faster you feel great. Overwhelm is common. It does not make you any less of a person. It is all in how you deal with it that counts. 

Follow these 10 tips to get organized and energized, then begin!

1 - Get your ‘to do’ list out of your head and into a system - Your brain is more efficient with less clutter just like a computer. Go through the areas of your home and jot down what needs to be done in each area.

2 - Set your priorities - What needs to be handled first? What is draining your energy more than anything else? What is most important? Mark your priorities. When it comes to clutter clearing off a countertop, table top, or the floor can be very motivating once you see the difference. It energizes you to continue forward.

3 - Begin with one small space you know you can do - Overwhelm causes paralysis so shift thoughts to a place that supports you to take action. Instead of focusing on the ‘can’t’ focus on the ‘can’. Choose one small area that you know you can do.

4 - Everything has a home - Give every item a home. Choose a home that is convenient, saves you time, and makes sense. Hardware with hardware. School supplies with school supplies. The hammer is not in a living room drawer (unless, of course, it makes sense).

5 - Some tasks are easier than you think - If you watch tv in the evening pull out a drawer or grab a pile. Sort through it as quickly as possible, clean it, and put it back nice and neat. Just like that!

6 - Get your head in the game - Focus on what it will look like at completion. Thinking of the task itself may bring up negative thoughts and feelings whereas seeing the space as you want it can work as a magnet to pull you in action towards that ideal end result.

7 - Move through clutter quickly - Sort into piles and have boxes/ bags handy for: trash, donations, give aways, recycling, things to sell, things going to another space, etc. Avoid the temptation to reminisce long on what you find. It can steal your time.

8 - Rejuvenate and reward yourself - Take breaks every 90 minutes to rejuvenate. Reward yourself along the way. Take time to feel good about what you are accomplishing. Remember how great it feels and allow that to motivate you in days to come.

9 - Put systems in place to maintain - When you create a home for something inform other family members. When you add new shoes, clothing item, kitchen item, toy, etc. to a cabinet or closet get rid of something.

10 -Begin! Begin! Begin!

Organize life one step at a time. You can do it! Take action to create the environment you get excited to come home to…Starting Now!

- By Beth Tabak

Never Let Go Of Hope

One day you will see that it all has finally come together.

What you have always wished for has finally come to be.

You will look back and laugh at what has passed and you will ask yourself,

"How did I get through all of that?"

Just never let go of hope.

Just never quit dreaming.

And never let love depart from your life.

- Jancarl Campi

Take the Time…..

Take time to Love… 

It is the secret of eternal youth! 

Take time to laugh… 

It is the music of the heart! 

Take time to cry… 

It is the sign of a large heart! 

Take time to read… 

It is the source of knowledge! 

Take the time to hear… !

It is the power of Intelligence

Take time to think… 

It is the key of success! 

Take time to play…

It is the freshness of childhood! 

Take time to dream… 

It is the breath of happiness! 

Take time TO LIVE… Because time passes… QUICKLY And NEVER returns! 

Happy road to life my friends

- Unknown

Seven Formulas For Business Success

Visualize Your Goals :

There are seven formulas for business success. Number one, set a specific goal and visualize it as a reality. Play the picture of your goal as already realized on the screen of your mind over and over again. Number two, look for a problem you can solve with a product or service that is high quality and good value. All successful businesses are based on products or services that are high quality and good value. Number three, start small and learn your business thoroughly. Be patient. Invest time rather than a lot of mo ney.

Bootstrap Your Way To Success :

One of the best ways to build a business is to start off on a bootstrap. This means that you start off with very little mo ney and you grow your business with the mo ney that you ear n in the business, rather than outside financing, borr owing, l oans from friends and so on.

Test, Test, Test :

Number four, test every major move before you invest in it. Test, test, test. Don't plunge into a business. Move ahead carefully, one step at a time. Number five, expand on the basis of your successes, out of your profits, as you move along. In other words, only expand your business on mo ney that you've earned in the business, not on borrowed capital.

Pick Your People Carefully :

Number six, carefully select the people to help you expand and grow. The biggest mistakes you'll ever make will be in picking the wrong people to work with, so be very, very careful in picking the people you're going to work with in your business.

Use Financial Leverage :

And number seven, use fin ancial leverage. Fin ancial leverage is business borr owing, lines of cre dit from the bank, which are based on the cas h flow from your successful business. The whole aim of starting a business is to develop a consistent, predictable source of cas h flow in excess of cost and expenses and then to hold to the mo ney. Banks will lend you all the mo ney that you can service as deb t with your cas h flow.

Start Off Part Time :

One final thing that you can do, and I've recommended that many people do this over the years, is if you're starting off with no mo ney, go to work part-time for a business in a field that interests you. It's a great form of on-the-job training. Work evenings or work week ends. Or work on your holidays if you like. 

Sometimes a business that looks big from the outside will look terrible once you start working for it. But sometimes when you start working for a business, you start to get a great understanding of how it works and you get insights on how you can improve it.

Learn What You Need To Learn :

Remember this, though, most businesses fail because of manager incompetence. So take the time to learn what you need to know to succeed. Be patient. The time you invest before you start will pay off over and over again in the months and years ahead.

By: Brian Tracy

Believe In Yourself

When you Really want something,
sometimes you have to swim a little deeper....
You can't give up just because things don't come easy....
You have to overcome the obstacles and face your fears....
But in the end, it's all worth while! Life is full of ups and downs,
but if you believe in yourself you will always come through with
flying color....Value friendship, love and faith....
Never underestimate yourself.
Believe in yourself.....!

Have a Good Life!!!

Pickup in the Rain

One night, at 11:30 PM, an older African American woman was standing on the side of an Alabama highway trying to endure a lashing rain storm. Her car had broken down and she desperately needed a ride. Soaking wet, she decided to flag down the next car. A young white man stopped to help her - generally unheard of in those conflict-filled 1960s. The man took her to safety, helped her get assistance and put her into a taxi cab. She seemed to be in a big hurry! She wrote down his address, thanked him and drove away.

Seven days went by and a knock came on the man's door. To his surprise, a giant console color TV was delivered to his home. A special note was attached. It read: "Thank you so much for assisting me on the highway the other night. The rain drenched not only my clothes but my spirits. Then you came along. Because of you, I was able to make it to my dying husband's bedside just before he passed away. God bless you for helping me and unselfishly serving others."

Lessons:

* Offer help to anyone who needs it

* Thank others for helping you.

* If you help someone. Someone will help you.

If everyone does just these, the whole world will live in happiness.

- Author Unknown

Leadership Lessons from Everyday Life

"Leadership is a capability that each of us has within us. It is formed as we take on the opportunities and challenges of everyday life, and it is measured by our successes and failures. It is my belief and experience that the leadership lessons we learn in our everyday lives can and should be carried with us into our work environments, and that they can help us become better leaders of our people. As I have reflected on leadership over the years based on my own experiences across several countries and continents, I have been inspired by people everywhere, irrespective of their country or their socioeconomic status, who exemplify the true qualities of leadership. And they do so by the strength of their character and their authenticity -- by the way they live their lives every day." 

- By Vinita Bali

The Law of Ambition

Leaders have an intense desire to lead; they have a clear vision of a better future, which they are determined to realize. Vision is the one common quality that separates leaders from non-leaders. Leaders have a clear picture of the kind of future they want to create, and they have the ability to communicate this vision to others in an exciting and inspiring way. 

Key Responsibility of Leadership :

People may work steadily for a paycheck, but they perform at high levels only when they are inspired by a vision of some kind. The development and articulation of this vision is a key responsibility of leadership. 

Leaders Visualize :

Leaders have the ability to visualize, to see the big picture and then to inspire others to work together to make it a reality. The true leader sees leadership as a tool he or she can use to bring about a result that is bigger and more important than any single individual. 

Become a Leader : 

You become a leader when you set a goal, make a plan, and then throw your whole heart into making it a reality. You become a leader when you develop an inspiring vision for yourself and others. You become a leader when you know exactly where you want to go, why you want to get there, and what you have to do to achieve your vision. 

Leaders Explain :

Leaders can explain clearly to other people what it is they are trying to accomplish, why they are trying to accomplish it, and how they are going to bring it about. They are eager to get results and they are impatient with delays. They are excited about what they are doing, and as a result, they get other people excited as well. Leaders have goals, plans, and strategies that they are working to implement every day. They are in a hurry. They have a lot to do and they feel that they have too little time. 

Clarity :

Perhaps the most important part of ambition is clarity on the part of the leader. The leader has a clear vision, clear values, a clear vision, and clear, written goals, plans, and strategies for his or her department or organization. Most of all, leaders want to lead, to be in charge, to be responsible, to make things happen. They are willing to endure the risks and the sacrifices that are required to make a real difference in their worlds.

- By Brian Tracy 

Awakening...

Awakening, dawn's chorus
Welcoming,
The day new, untouched
Waiting to be filled....

And will we paint a rainbow
With all its promise
Or dull the canvas
Sadly seen?

Each day brings its own colours
To be chosen, mixed,
Pigments of joy,
Happy moments,
Smiles and laughter....

And which will you choose?
For 'Life' is choice,
We are all painters
In our own way,
All needing to create
Something of worth,
Of lasting beauty,
Marking our journey....

Footprints in the sand....

The sky today is azure,
The sun warm and golden
A filigree of light and shadow-play
Through the gently swaying trees.

I clean my brushes,
Choose my palette
Of vibrant, living colours,
And begin to fill
Today's blank canvas

- By John McLeod

Always Grab The First Opportunity.

A young man wished to marry the farmer's beautiful daughter. He went to the farmer to ask his permission. The farmer looked him over and said,

"Son, go stand out in that field. I'm going to release three bulls, one at a time. If you can catch the tail of any one of the three bulls, you can marry my daughter."

The young man stood in the pasture awaiting the first bull.

The barn door opened and out ran the biggest, meanest-looking bull he had ever seen. He decided that one of the next bulls had to be a better choice than this one, so he ran over to the side and let the bull pass through the pasture out the back gate.

The barn door opened again. Unbelievable. He had never seen anything so big and fierce in his life. It stood pawing the ground, grunting, slinging slobber as it eyed him. Whatever the next bull was like, it had to be a better choice than this one. He ran to the fence and let the bull pass through the pasture, out the back gate.

The door opened a third time. A smile came across his face. This was the weakest, scrawniest little bull he had ever seen. This one was his bull. As the bull came running by, he positioned himself just right and jumped at just the exact moment. He grabbed... but the bull had no tail!

Life is full of opportunities. Some will be easy to take advantage of, some will be difficult. But once we let them pass (often in hopes of something better), those opportunities may never again be available. 

So always grab the first opportunity.

- Author Unknown

Most Valuable Asset

Your attitude can be your most valuable asset. For it is with your attitude that you make use of all the other assets. If you have a well-developed skill but don't take the initiative to use it, you might as well not even have that skill. If you have great opportunities and fail to take advantage of them, they won't be of any value to you. 

In fact, you do have more than enough intelligence and skill to reach any goal you set for yourself. You do have ways to access the resources necessary to achieve anything that you're fully committed to achieving. 

The defining factor is your attitude. Because your attitude determines what you do with each moment, and those moments, all added together, form the substance of your life. 

And your attitude is yours to choose. It ultimately depends not on any outside factors, but on what you decide to make it. 

You have a whole world full of good things going for you. Adopt an attitude that enables you to always make the best of what you have. 

What Motivates You to Take Action?

What prompts you to take action? Many of us seem to delay taking action until forced by outside circumstance. The natural outcome of procrastination is a hardship. I think we learn to postpone when we are growing up. Our parents literally have to force us to accomplish things that we do not want to do. Actions like cleaning our room, brushing our teeth, or sharing our toys are good examples. Of course, we need to learn to do these things, but we may forget or wait until the parent controls the action. The parent may even have to impose consequences in order to motivate us in the right direction.

By relying on the parent to force us to accomplish, we develop the habit of hesitance and rely on natural concerns before we take action. As adults, we no longer have the parent to enforce and govern responsibility. We must learn from our mistakes, and be spurred to take action. With the habit of relying on our parents to drive us (outside stimulus), we can end up being forced through life. We may delay on a project until an adverse effect comes along. We know that if we do not take action something will happen, but somehow we still delay until the incident. We seem to have a habit of delaying the inevitable, and using it as a motivational quality.

For example, say that you know that your roof is in need of repair, and you do not want to repair it or put out the money. Do you wait until your roof leaks before you fix it? How many times have you heard yourself think, “I knew that would happen”? How did you determine, and did you somehow wait or desire for it to happen? Did you understand the obligation, and refuse to be accountable, by taking the necessary steps to prevent it? When you finally came up with the adversity because of delaying, did you feel eased of making the decision? Did you in the end take the required steps because of the outside stimulus (the hardship) and how did you feel by utilizing this force?

We Do Have a Choice :

Many of us at least on occasion utilize outside factors to provoke ourselves by perceiving what we want to avoid. We may delay until the actual event occurs, (and now I have no choice). We discern natural consequences (what will happen if) and prompt ourselves with this process. This is effective motivation and it is internal. Is it healthy to arouse a feeling force to take action?

We may have to feel guilty, unequal, or pushed (place stress on ourselves) in order to force ourselves. Is this the best method to taking action toward what we want to avoid? If we feel forced, by working ourselves up, we can experience a touch of resentment. Just because we eventually take action using this method and avoid disaster this cannot promise a sense of achievement. We can think about what we don’t want differently, accepting that we always have options and that ultimately we choose.

Switch Your Outlook :

Any time we focus on what we want to avoid, we are going to have to force ourselves to succeed. If we change our focus, we generate a true inner-motivation to excel. Maybe we cannot eliminate thinking about what we want to avoid and this is a relevant thing. By understanding clearly what we prefer, we can think about what we do want to happen and utilize the “what will happen if, path” effectively. “I don’t want my roof to leak,” becomes “I would like my roof to be in good condition.” This changes the thought process and the “what will happen if” transforms with it. What will happen if I decide to fix the roof today? How will I feel if I take affirmative action now, with a willing attitude?

Emotionally driven pertains to what we do not want and to what we do want, and the link works. Whether we feel forced, or we strictly wait until we have few alternatives, we fulfill the need. There is a difference in these two leading factors. With one, we are affirming ourselves toward a clear, feel-good result. On the other angle, we make an effort to avoid harmful results. Using positive thinking and arousing a sense of security, we can more easily see our options, because at this point we feel we have a choice.

Tips to Overcome Feeling Forced :

* Pay close attention to your thoughts, and the avenue you are taking to motivate yourself.

* Recognize the way your thoughts are affecting how you feel.

* Try to rephrase your contemplations about what you don’t want. Break down the word “don’t” into “Do NOT” and remove the word NOT.

* Realize that you always have a choice and the various options that come with it.

* Think about what will happen if you think positive. Consider how you will feel by changing your outlook and inner-dialog.

* Understand that even though you may be unmotivated to do something, you can achieve without forcing yourself. You can let go of negative thinking and visualizing – you do have a choice.

* Think about how you developed the habit of procrastination. Take steps to change the habit into an avenue of positive fulfillment.

* Realize that stress and pressure cause resentment, guilt and overall low self-esteem.

- By Sandra Hendricks