Emotions, like happiness or joy, have great power to get us from the bottom to the absolute top. But, what about feelings like anger or disappointment? How do these affect us? I am not going to lie to you, there were times when negativity got the best of me because I was hurt and in pain. Going on the defense immediately, without considering the consequences, seemed like the most profound decision ever. One day it clicked. After too many embarrassing emotional outbursts or moments of fear which prevented me from making reasonable decisions, it was obvious, my own feelings were screwing me up. As a pain-oriented achiever with a history of repeated mistakes, I was pushed to reconsider my old patterns, find the root of the problem and make changes immediately. That’s when I learned a few simple, yet powerful actions I could focus on which helped me clean up my emotional mess and take control of my decisions and actions. Here are 3 ways you can manage your negative feelings effectively:1. Your words and body movementImagine your typical day. You wake up in the morning, appreciating the sunshine and the fact that yesterday you conquered 100 push-ups. When you were about to begin working on your daily goals, you received some disappointing news that took you by surprise. The excitement and determination you felt prior is gone within minutes. The first emotional reaction that follows right after is crucial because it often defines how well you can handle the situation. Let’s say you start cursing or raising your voice, yet by doing that, you are supporting the emotional state you are in. There is a difference between saying “I am very angry” or “I feel a bit annoyed.” Less dramatic words will keep you calmer. The second thing which controls your feelings is your body movement. If you are moving fast, walking from one corner of the room to another, or feeling pissed off, you are increasing the intensity of your negative emotional state. However, if you slow down and breathe, you will decrease your disempowering emotional state and have more space to simply chill out. Here is a little exercise which can help you in stressful situations. Find a quiet place, close your eyes and take three deep breaths. Each time you inhale say “in” and when you exhale, say “out.” That’s it. These few seconds of downtime will give you the opportunity to reflect and take better control of the moment.
2. QuestionsI bet you already know that experiencing betrayal from someone you love or lacking results in your business may certainly challenge your perspective on life. It makes you trust less, lowers your excitement, and makes you doubt what you wholeheartedly believe in. It is because of these moments emotionally challenging you that you must simply acknowledge them and change them. You want to nourish the idea that life is great and people are good in their hearts. This perspective shouldn’t change based on someone’s inability to prove it. Here is the simplest way you can look at it. Bad feelings cause bad vibrations and attract more of what you feel – awful results or people. That’s where the power of questions comes into play. There was nothing more powerful during my emotional transformation than proper questions. You want to choose logic over angry feelings. These are only blinding you from seeing the situation in a better light. Here are a few examples of questions I use on a regular basis:
3. Don’t make major decisionsOnce you adopt this rule, you will thank yourself for the rest of your life. Here is an affirmation you’ll want to use when you feel that you want to make a decision while in the negative emotional state. “I will never, under any circumstances, make decisions while in a negative or disempowering emotional state no matter how confident I feel about them in a given moment.” Here is the truth: When you are in pain, you want to do something. You want to act right away because it hurts. However, decisions made under the pressure of negativity aren’t accurate since they are based on helplessness. Find your go-to person, someone you trust and ask for help if you feel that it’s too overwhelming to do it alone.
ConclusionEmbracing emotions and listening to them at all costs is the key to transforming your life. Your feelings are real and they matter as much as you do. Nonetheless, learning how to take better control over your actions while feeling pain will make a major difference in your life. You will feel more in control and more certainty about your decisions and you won’t tolerate poor behaviors of other people. You are always in control and you decide how you face the situation. By adopting these rules I shared with you, you will be on your way to master the most complex part of your life and that’s how you respond to negativity. How do you manage your negative emotions? Do you have any tips for us? Let us know in the comments below!from https://addicted2success.com/life/3-ways-you-can-manage-your-negative-feelings-effectively/
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Christopher Columbus was an Italian explorer and navigator. From a young age, he began traveling at sea which helped him become mainly self-educated in geography, astronomy, and history. In 1492, he set out to find a new route to India, but instead landed in the Americas. He would make a total of four voyages to the Americas and explore places such as Cuba, Trinidad, and Haiti. Columbus’s legacy rests on the fact that his expeditions opening up the Western world to European colonization. Below are 16 of Christopher Columbus’s most interesting and powerful quotes:1. “By prevailing over all obstacles and distractions, one may unfailingly arrive at his chosen goal or destination.” – Christopher Columbus 2. “Following the light of the sun, we left the Old World.” – Christopher Columbus 3. “Riches don’t make a man rich, they only make him busier.” – Christopher Columbus 4. “Tomorrow morning before we depart, I intend to land and see what can be found in the neighborhood.” – Christopher Columbus
6. “Gold is a treasure and he who possesses it does all he wishes to in this world.”– Christopher Columbus 7. “The sea will grant each man new hope, and sleep will bring dreams of home.” – Christopher Columbus 8. “No one should fear to undertake any task.”– Christopher Columbus 9. “It is easy to discover what another has discovered before.”– Christopher Columbus
11. “Gold is a treasure, and he who possesses it does all he wishes to in this world, and succeeds in helping souls into paradise.”– Christopher Columbus 12. “Nothing that results in human progress is achieved with unanimous consent. Those that are enlightened before the others are condemned to pursue that light in spite of the others.”– Christopher Columbus 13. “Goals are simply tools to focus your energy in positive directions, these can be changed as your priorities change, new one added, and others dropped.” – Christopher Columbus 14. “Thus the eternal God, our Lord, gives victory to those who follow His way over apparent impossibilities.” – Christopher Columbus
Which one of these quotes resonates most with you?from https://addicted2success.com/quotes/15-fantastic-christopher-columbus-quotes/ Leadership is like philosophy – it was first a way of life, fully connected with action-taking and now it became an epitome of “talking, not doing.” I learned most of them the hard way but then, I reflected on that experience and read books from the world’s best leaders. Below are 3 leadership laws that will propel you to success:1. Lead by exampleIn 1956, while Martin Luther King was on his way to becoming the leader of the civil rights movement in the U.S., his house was brutally attacked. A bomb blew up on his front porch, destroying a part of it and breaking all the windows of the house. Dr. King was in the house with his wife, Corretta and his newborn child Yolanda. An angry, African-American mob appeared in front of the house and an all White police force was also there trying to calm the situation down. The situation slowly started to escalate between the mob and the police and Dr. King saw where it was leading. It was in that specific moment of danger, just surviving a bombing in front of his house, he went outside and addressed both groups: “If you have weapons, take them home. If not, don’t seek them here. We can’t solve this problem with violence. We must meet violence with nonviolence.” The crowd calmed down and dispersed after that speech. He believed non-violence to be the way forward and he was willing to lead by example, showing people that it can hurt you only if ruins your character. Leadership is all about showing the way, not telling people the way. We learn from behaviors and we copy what other people do, especially when those people are in higher hierarchical positions than us. That’s why children become like their parents, why employees start behaving like their CEO’s, and why you take the outermost fork on the table when you have a formal dinner. Leadership is about leading by example because people follow actions, not words.
2. Simple things radically followedLeadership is about looking beneath that ugly, hideous stone, uncovering the harsh truth underneath it and then having the courage to deal with it. That’s exactly what happened at Alcoa, an aluminum company, while under the leadership of Paul O’Neill. O’Neill managed to turn around Alcoa from a devastating failure into one of the most successful companies in the U.S. and snagged multiple rewards for his leadership style and effectiveness. Much of that was focused on simple things radically followed. The most important of them was security at work. In case of any security problem at work, it was supposed to be reported to the main office in Pittsburgh within 24 hours. A minor security incident happened at one of the Alcoa plants in Mexico and O’Neill learned about that from a nun who asked about the sick people at the plant – something O’Neill didn’t know about. After an investigation, it was discovered that there was a minor incident with the fumes inside the Alcoa plant that the manager solved within 2 days. But the problem was that it wasn’t reported to the Pittsburgh headquarters, which prevented them from fixing that specific problem at every other plant in the world. This was a cardinal sin and the manager, Bob Barton, was fired within 2 days of O’Neill finding out. Barton was in the company for decades and was a great manager. Everyone outside the company was shocked at this decision, but inside the company, people made the comment which shows why you need to radically follow simple things “Barton fired himself when he didn’t report the accident. There wasn’t even a choice there.” Tough decisions are tough but if you have a decision making system in place (almost everyone does), then these decisions become clear. If you want to be a successful leader, you need to radically follow through with the value system that was put in place. If you can do this, it will propel you to success. 3. Live in the present but live for the futureYou need the undying faith that, in the end, you will prevail but at the same time, you need to face the brutal facts of current reality. This is known as the Stockdale Paradox. It tells us about General Stockdale who was imprisoned in a POW camp in Vietnam. He survived because he believed, without a doubt, that he would emerge victorious from the camp to see his wife and be free again. At the same time, he faced the brutal facts of the current situation which meant living day in and day out in the camp, never knowing when his freedom would come. With this paradox, you live in the present moment, dealing with the problems that “attack” you today but you never lose faith that you can be victorious in the future.
This grounds you in the present but leaves enough space for you to envision a future where things fall into place. People follow visions of the better future but they don’t follow people who only live in the clouds. You need to merge both and you will become a successful leader. In your opinion, what is the best quality a leader can have? Let us know in the comments below!from https://addicted2success.com/success-advice/3-leadership-laws-that-will-propel-you-to-success/ Working as an entrepreneur means being your own boss. You get to make your business plan, hire the right team for your vision, and set your own hours. It also means that you are fully responsible for your successes and failures. While the benefits are incredibly tempting, not everyone is cut out to be an entrepreneur. Your success relies hugely on your ability to stay accountable to yourself and your customers. How do you succeed as an entrepreneur? By setting a strict schedule and respecting it, day in and day out. You need to show up for yourself consistently, otherwise, you’re not going to be able to handle the daily pressures of running your own business. Here are 3 ways to set a schedule that will inspire and re-energize you:1. Set aside a space for workThis might not be an initial high priority, but if you’re working from home, you absolutely need a separate office space. It might be tempting to just set up shop at your kitchen table or couch to save some time. The Wall Street Journal reports that 80% of young professionals work from their beds most of the time. This, however, will result in compromised productivity. When you do this, your bedroom stops being a place of rest and becomes a place of work. This will ruin both the quality of your work and the quality of your sleep, which is crucial for wellbeing. Dedicate a space that’s solely for work, even if it’s just a simple desk. Entrepreneurs suffer from high levels of stress, and organization is key to getting your small business off the ground. If your living space is just too small, get out of the house! Sure, you could hit up the traditional coffee shop or even your local library, but maybe you’re looking for something with some more structure. Consider a coworking space. A recent study shows that people in coworking spaces reported high levels of work satisfaction, much higher than those working in a traditional office space. Utilizing a coworking space will let you interact with others, get out of your house, and dedicate a space to work. Even better, you’ll be able to leave your work at the “office” and enjoy your home.
2. Try out a few different schedulesYou’ve got a lot of freedom as an entrepreneur, but you need to leverage it to your best advantage. The good news is that you can use your peak hours of productivity. It doesn’t matter if you’re an early riser or a night owl, whenever you’re feeling the most inspired is when you can crank out your ideas and content. You can’t forget entirely about normal business hours; you’ll need to reach contacts and schedule meetings during the 9 to 5 grind. Arrange your day around those non-negotiable meetings, and use the time you have left over to get your work done. Fortunately, you can use off hours to get errands done, since most everyone else will be at the office. This freedom helps you streamline the rest of your life and keeps your work life at peak productivity. 3. Set time for breaksEntrepreneurs are fiercely independent by nature. You have your vision, your business, and your ever growing to-do list. It can feel impossible to put work down, but constantly focusing will hurt you more in the long run. If you want to be on your grind, you absolutely need to take breaks. This is not optional. If you aren’t pacing yourself, you’re going to burnout, hard. This is as simple as getting up every half hour to stretch. Since you’re on your own timeline, you can schedule in time to do this and more. Get your eyes off the screen. A great way to take a break is to hit the gym since it will banish stress, boost creativity, and help you reach mental and physical goals.
By making sure you have time set aside for breaks, you are investing in your current and future wellbeing, and as an extension of that, your business. You’ll be better rested and more calm, which will lead to improved confidence. Your peers and customers will notice if you’re overworking yourself, and will be concerned or disinterested rather than impressed. Living by a strict schedule will ensure that you work smarter, not harder. You need to find a rhythm for your workflow, a separate place to get your work done, and take time for yourself. If you do this, your work life balance and quality of life will vastly improve, allowing you to reach peak productivity. Which one of these 3 ways of setting a schedule do you like best for you? Let us know in the comments below!from https://addicted2success.com/entrepreneur-profile/3-ways-to-set-a-productive-schedule-as-an-entrepreneur/ There are only two fundamental measures when it comes to achieving your goals, and they are governed by the lead and lag measures. A lag measure is a measure of the end result. For most people, they set their goals as a lag measure. For example:
The above are the examples of lag measures. The problem is that the majority of people tend to set their goals according to the lag measures. Lag measures are the targets that they cannot act on or influence. The lead measure, on the other hand, is totally different. Lead measure is something that you can act on. Something that you can influence and actually do. Here are some examples:
Lead measures are the things that are actionable. And when you act on them, you directly move the lag measure. For instance, if your goal is to lose 10 pounds by year end, you are focusing on the lag measure. In order to achieve this goal, you must shift your focus from the lag measure to the lead measure. You should focus on the number of exercise sessions you can take each week if you want to reach your weight loss target. If you exercise every day for 30 minutes, eventually, you will lose weight, and you will reach your goal. The exercise session is something that you can control and something you can do. This is why you should focus on the lead measures of your goals and not the goals themselves. If you want to influence the results you get, you must work on a predictive indicator. For example, if you want to boost your sales, focusing on the numbers will only make you lost. Instead, you should focus on things that you can act on, such as the number of calls you can make to your prospects. The more calls you make, the more sales you will get.
How to Identify Your Lead MeasuresLead measures may not be easily identifiable and sometimes, they can be too simple to catch your attention. Take losing weight as an example, the number of hours you put into exercise and your calorie intake per day are the two main lead measures, but most people don’t track or focus on them because they sound too simplistic. When you are trying to identify your lead measure, ask yourself this question, “What is the one thing that I can do that will influence my results(goals)?” You want to find out the action that you can act on so that you will get the results you want. Which lead measures give you the most impactThe next step you can take is to rank your lead measure according to their impact. We have only so many hours in a day and thus, it is impossible for you to focus your energy on everything. This is why you should focus on the lead measure that gives you the most impact. If you want to grow your blog, there are a number of lead measures you can focus on. Here are some examples:
After you have brainstormed with all the possible lead measures, rank them according to their impact and the ease to act on them. You want to focus and work on only one or two in the beginning. You don’t want to spread yourself too thin by focusing on too many things. Just one or two as a start can quickly boost your results and get you to your goals. Work on your lead measureOnce you have identified your lead measure, work on it. Focus and put in most of your effort there. When you work on it, you will get the results, which will eventually move you to your lag measure.
Should You Neglect Your Lag Measure?In short, the answer is no. Although the lag measure is a measure that you cannot predict and influence, having it is equally important. The reason is simple, if you act only on the lead indicator without a lag measure, it can make you feel good about being busy with a lot of work to do, but it will not provide you the answer if your business or what you do is getting you the results you want. Therefore, you need both lead and lag measures to make things balance. A lag measure excites and drives you, such as setting a goal to lose 10 pounds, to look fit, or to build a successful online business. At the same time, you need to act on your lead measure in order to achieve your lag measure. Most people set their goals in terms of lag measures. They want to have better ROI, they want to increase revenue, or they want to have 6-pack abs. The problem with these goals is that they are lag measures. Because of this, if you want to achieve them, you must work on the lead measures, not the lag. Act on the indicators that will directly influence the results you want. What steps do you take to reach a goal? Let us know your process in the comments below!from https://addicted2success.com/life/read-this-if-youre-looking-for-a-guaranteed-way-to-reach-your-goals/ This is a simple read to make you remember the beautiful truth about life. A quick “Pick me up” when your day is flat, or things have gone sour. Remember these beautiful truths about life before you give up. 1. You get one shotThere’s no restart button. You can’t undo the past. All you can do is keep trying because the one single shot you get at life doesn’t last forever. This is why you shouldn’t worry when you get rejected or fail. All of us are only getting one shot at this life so we may as well try something different. The moment you realize that life doesn’t last forever, you’ll quit feeling sorry for yourself and get on with the show. 2. The answers are right in front of you.Most of the time people fall for the delusion that they’re missing some knowledge or some hack or some strategy. You’re not.
The solutions are sitting stored away in your head and until you do some deep reflection, take a break and chill out, the answers won’t come to you. Rest assured you do have the answers inside of you already whether you’ve begun to realize that or not. 3. Video is not the answer. Words are.Words can be spoken, written or said in front of a live audience. The medium doesn’t matter — only the words you deliver do. Words can do most of the talking for you. What you achieve, who you fall in love with and the company you work for are all results that come from your words. Respect words. Most of all, don’t underestimate the written word. 4. Your career doesn’t define you.We’re more than our careers. Anyone who judges you solely because of the work you do is missing the point.
It’s tempting to judge someone because of the work they do or how much money they make. When you’re dead, no one remembers that. Peopleremember who you are and how you make them feel. 5. We can all become our favorite hero.Please don’t spend your whole life worshipping heroes. Whatever your favorite hero did, you can do as well. There’s nothing you’re missing that will stop you from achieving anything. Most of your heroes have come from the darkest places and endured the toughest of challenges — that’s probably why they’re your hero! 6. One single person (like you) can change the world.Change always starts with a single person. You have a voice and that’s all you need to start change. Change takes times though. If you bunker down and dedicate yourself to change for a few years, you too can change the world. It took me around three years to start making an impact and it happened a lot quicker than I expected.
Seek out change and use your voice. 7. There’s no one else like you.That’s why you can quit comparing yourself to everyone else. You’re uniquely you and that’s what we all love about you.
Life is about living on your own terms. Maybe it takes you seven tries to get that job. These are all decisions you get to make and that’s the fun part. When you realize everything is your choice, you see a beauty about life that has been previously hidden from you. 8. There’s nothing wrong with simple.Sometimes the simple life is looked down upon. Having simplicity in your life means that you can find meaning a lot easier. The options are less. The focus is laser sharp. The difference is nothing but effort and a simple meaning gives you the motivation. Don’t underestimate the simple life. Complexity brings problems. Simplicity brings clarity. 9. Today’s a celebration.You woke up. Not everyone did — some people died overnight. You can breathe, walk and hug your partner. You’re healthy and not sitting in a hospital dying of a terminal illness like cancer. Life isn’t that bad. Celebrate life otherwise you’ll take it for granted. 10. The answer is usually sorry.Most big problems start out when one side refuses to admit they were wrong or messed up. It harms your ego when you say sorry but it allows you to overcome problems that require this one word to be solved. You can either live with problems, or you can learn to say sorry. Choose sorry. 11. A simple text matters.We’re all living with problems that most of us know nothing about. A text message to someone you know or love could be the difference. A tiny amount of kindness can stop someone who is having the darkest of days from doing something they’ll regret. 12. You can always start again.If things don’t work out, it’s okay. You always get a second chance. There’s always more time. There’s no need to get hung up on a failure. Start again, learn the lesson andtry to do 1% better than you did last time. If you follow that process enough times, you’ll eventually achieve your goal. False starts are a sign you’re making progress.
<<<>>> If you want to increase your productivity and learn some more valuable life hacks, then join my private mailing list on timdenning.netfrom https://addicted2success.com/life/12-beautiful-truths-about-life/ We all have goals in life, but very few of us ever learn to consciously set, work on and see our goals through. In our naturalness bias, we marvel at those who have set and reached their goals thinking they have some esoteric abilities that we don’t. We overlook that the final product is the result of a series of mistake-ridden, unrecorded pains. What if we could learn from the process, the habits and rituals of the high achievers? Below are the seven core habits that high achievers went through to reach mastery: 1. They made a decisionIt is arguably one of the most important components of goal-setting: Making a conscious, deliberate decision to set and see your goal through. This is a singular moment, when you say; “That’s it! I have had it! I can’t take it anymore.” You decide that the pain of staying the same outweighs the pain of changing. Those who have successfully reached their goals have all had those awakening moments. Steve Jobs made the decision that he was going to make a dent in the universe after he knew he was adopted. Muhammad Ali made a decision that he was going to be a great boxer after his bike was stolen. They made a decision! Reading, watching motivational videos or even reading articles like this mean nothing without a deliberate decision to change. 2. They built on past successesWe are naturally inclined to focus on our flaws, we know everything that is bad about ourselves. We are experts at proving the “negatives.” The people who are deemed high achievers are the ones who know that they have flaws and that they also have unique talents. How many times have you found yourself saying things like; “there is nothing good about me, I screw everything up, I always have and I always will.” Those words limit your world. No one can consistently screw up everything, there is undoubtedly a time when you have succeeded at something. Find that moment, and use it as a foundation to build momentum.
3. They practiced KaizenThose who reached their goals know that constant improvement is the norm not the exception. They have made the Kaizen or “continuous improvement” their life philosophy. There is no room for complacency. They know in our neophiliac nature, one way to remain motivated is to learn new things that relate to our goals. Don’t compare yourself to others. In this instance, I am reminded of Steve Job’s words: “life is too short to spend it living someone else’s life.” Comparing yourself to others can be as delusional as being complacent. High achievers know the value of mentors and role-models, but they also know that real success is how they bring their uniqueness to what they do. Have the courage to be yourself. Fail, learn and improve. This is the virtuous cycle that will guide your self-improvement journey. 4. They have a great people only groupPeople who succeed know the importance of social circles. They associate themselves with great people only. These are the people who they could rely on when the going gets tough. They are energy givers, they listen to you and they boost your spirit. As a matter of fact, a myriad of studies has shown that people whom you associate with can have great impacts on your overall wellbeing. Plato, at the peak of the Greek Empire noted, “what is honored in a country will be cultivated there.” Psychologist Emma Seppälä, PhD noted “we are wired for empathy.” Our behavior, attitudes and actions are a direct reflection of whom we spend time with. Starting today, build a social village with people who share your vision. 5. They had a bias for actionIt’s been a month since you said you were going to start working out. To motivate yourself, you even acquired a treadmill. Everything is set, the first day you are excited, but suddenly a friend calls, it’s urgent you have to be there. You say: “well, I will have time tomorrow.” It’s been six months now since you’ve been saying “I am going tomorrow.” Sound familiar? Taking action can be the most daunting aspect of goal-setting. Fear of failure, procrastination and fear of embarrassment, among many others, stop us from taking action. The people who made it knew the value of taking action, they got their hands dirty. Take action! Think of a goal you have been putting off, write your next action. Don’t continue until you’ve written it down. Don’t just think it, ink it! 6. They were flexible“Where attention goes, energy flows” is a popular saying to help us focus on our goals. However, well-intentioned it may be, some of us seem to misunderstand it. We single-mindedly focus on a goal as if it’s a must-have, that attitude may create tunnel vision that can be detrimental to our goal in the first place. The path to effective goal-setting is more ambiguous than we may think. Some of us are fortunate to find a goal early in life, while some of us don’t. For those of us who don’t, we need to navigate different paths before we ultimately settle down on a single goal. It’s best to have both a deliberate and an emergent strategy. While we deliberately choose a life purpose, we should keep our aperture open to opportunities. Be strategic in your goal-setting endeavor. How do you know when to change strategy? Listen to your heart.
7. They were persistentHaving a clear, compelling goal does not guarantee a smooth ride nor does it exempt you from failing. The high achievers knew that great talents, inordinate amount of time and effort do not bulletproof them from temporary defeats. In order words, they knew that failure is part of the journey. Failure is definitely an option, giving in is not. There will be times when there seems to be no way out, those moments are meant to strengthen you. Be persistent. Failure is neither pervasive nor permanent as our minds have us believe, but temporary setbacks to make us shine brighter. High achievers ensure that every action taken is in alignment with their overarching goals. Contradictory actions will distract you from your reaching your goal. Make every day count and every single action meaningful. Keep your eyes on the prize! There is no one-size-fits-all answer. How much I succeed in writing this article depends on your willingness to be creative, flexible and bold. from https://addicted2success.com/success-advice/the-7-secrets-of-high-achievers-revealed/ I remember back in grade school after mastering the intricacies of addition and subtraction, I finally made it to the advanced mathematical concept of multiplication! I was so excited, raised my hand and told the teacher that it looks like multiplication is addition on steroids! When I began to study more advanced concepts in mathematics, especially that of exponentiation, I realized that an exponent is multiplication on steroids. It looks to me as if exponential growth has one purpose: to keep growing. So how can we use this concept of exponential growth to heighten and further our business and leadership career? The answer comes in what I like to call our exponential potential. Let me give you a personal example. Many years ago, when the bulk of my leadership training was face-to-face, I found myself in a traditional sales cycle of having to cold call on various companies to generate interest. This can be a very time-consuming process, and in January and February in Northeast Pennsylvania the term “cold call” can take on a whole new meaning. I had to figure out a way of getting a group of prospects together to show them what I could do. I started by joining a local Chamber of Commerce, however I told the executive director that I would join only if they allowed me to do a monthly lunch and learn. I would donate my time and offer a raffle at the end of the session. The chamber charged $10 each month and between noon and 1:30, once a month, I would have anywhere between 15 and 30 people, representing anywhere between 5 and 25 companies. I would spend the better part of an hour talking about a subject such as goal setting and personal leadership, team-building, or how to develop congruency between your vision and daily activities. At the end of the session, I would ask everybody to pull out a business card for the raffle of the CD and right a YES on the back of their card if they were interested in learning more about what my company could do for them, or NO on the back of the business card if they simply weren’t interested. That 90 minute chamber activity brought in anywhere between 6-18 leads per month. However, I didn’t stop there because I joined a dozen chambers and did this consistently across a wide swath of what I consider to be my territory. Within the span of several months, my cold calling activity had basically stopped. That is what I consider the exponential potential. Multiplication of activities. I think we all have that ability in our business and personal lives. The challenge is finding where those leverage points are so that we can begin to have greater output with the same level of activity. Here are four practical behaviors that you can use to explore your own personal exponential potential:1. Look for aggregatesThey do exist but you need to find them. In every business or personal endeavor there are ways to multiply your efforts. Business lunches are a great example, because you take care of the biological necessity of eating while discussing business. Perhaps you can meet clients at the gym or for a bike ride also. Are there processes at work that can be made more efficient by moving individual’s physical space or by allowing individuals to work remotely? What can you delegate to free up more of your valuable cognitive resources?
2. Batch goals togetherIf you are upwardly mobile, you probably have some very stringent business goals. You may also have some physical goals to keep your body in shape. Lastly, if you are a family person, you may also want to spend time with your significant other and children. Can you see how these goals conflict? Consequently, we may be achieving one goal but feeling guilty because the other two are not being worked on. This causes us to think irrationally and may open us up to harbor resentment. Try this: does the possibility exist of telling your family that if you can have 90 minutes of quiet time to work on a report after dinner, you can all go for a walk together and talk about whatever comes up in conversation? Think about it, you have taken care of your business goal of working quietly for 90 minutes, the physical goal of going for a walk, and the family goal of going for the walk together. 3. PerseveranceThere is no greater multiplier of successes than an attitude of, “I will not be denied!” The difference between success and failure is quite simply, “try one more time.” Perseverance can be made into a game by asking yourself questions such as, “Why did this particular thing happen that made me miss (or hit) my goal?” Following this, analyze your answer in a playful and curious way so that that information may be hardcoded into your personal success database.
4. Enjoy the journeyIn other words, be happy! Whenever you are searching for the multipliers in your life you may encounter setbacks, frustrations, and downright failures. Learn to perceive the setbacks as signposts, and opportunities to change direction. In other words, be happy with the frustrations that you meet because they are assisting you in finding the correct path for your journey. I truly hope that you find the four behaviors listed above useful! I have used them over and over again and have spoken to clients about them many times all with excellent results. These behaviors are about you. Remember that. Which one of these practical behaviors could you use more in your daily life? Let us know in the comments below!from https://addicted2success.com/success-advice/4-practical-behaviors-to-amplify-your-leadership-skills/ To become a successful leader, confidence is required. It is a quality that can help you to build strong relationships with others, get things done from employees, and carry on your business effectively. However, sometimes leaders can go overboard, and their confidence can become arrogance as there’s a fine line between these two personality traits. Confident leaders believe in themselves, listen to others and accept other’s point of view. They can build great teams, motivate others and influence a positive company culture. Arrogance, on the other hand, can be defined as a lack of appreciation. It is about being full of yourself and feeling you are always right. To be a good leader, you must walk that fine line between confidence and arrogance. Successful leaders are down-to-earth, considerate and humble in their relationships with their employees. Leaders can cause harm to themselves and their organizations if they exhibit arrogance instead of confidence. They can drain employee motivation and lead to high turnover rates. So, how can leaders know when their confidence is nearing arrogance? Read the 8 signs below:1. They believe they are the smartestArrogant leaders have a belief that they are the smartest in the organization. When anyone goes against their opinion, they completely ignore that. They make arguments to prove themselves right. Pompous leaders belittle those who disagree with them. They don’t like being challenged or questioned.This makes the subordinates and peers accept the decision even when the leader is wrong, thus hindering innovation in the organization. Confident leaders ask for honest feedback from co-workers, customers and others whom they work with. They have the self-assurance to take what they hear and then use it positively. 2. Unwillingness to learnLeaders who are arrogant not only consider themselves smarter than others but are also unwilling to learn from people. They think they know everything and are capable of managing the business successfully. However, they can’t take the inputs of others, thus they are stagnant. Confident leaders keep a learning attitude so that they can continuously improve in all the areas of their lives. They actively seek new information and believe in gaining wisdom from others.
3. Not admitting mistakesArrogant leaders don’t accept their mistakes and are quick in pointing out faults of others. They blame others when things go wrong, not taking accountability for their actions and mistakes. They don’t believe in apologizing. Confident leaders are humble, readily admit their mistakes, learn from them and ensure they don’t reoccur. They never see their mistakes as a sign of weakness. They understand that they aren’t perfect and can get things wrong. Because of this, they tend to be role models for others in their organization. 4. Lack of listening skillsArrogant leaders lack listening skills and are not empathetic. They are busy doing their own things instead of listening to the concerns of others, demonstrating they have more important issues to attend to than their employees. Confident leaders are good listeners. They make their subordinates feel comfortable and at ease due to the patience, compassion, and empathy they show. 5. Self-centrednessPompous leaders put themselves and their personal agendas ahead of organizational goals and the common good. They don’t make decisions that are beneficial to all. Confident leaders give priority to their subordinates, supporting and inspiring them to achieve business goals. They help in the development of others, teaching them the best of what they know and motivating them to work effectively. 6. Use of condescending wordsArrogant leaders don’t mind putting others down with phrases like “that’s stupid.” Their arrogance is reflected in their communication, both verbal and non-verbal. They raise their voice when conversing with people to prove their point and they don’t mind humiliating their subordinates in front of others. This type of arrogance leaders display turns people off, and they lose the loyalty of their team members. Confident leaders respect others and communicate politely. 7. InsecuritiesLeaders who are arrogant have insecurities. They need external validations, so they try hard to convince themselves that they are the best. This leads them to be highly critical of others and find faults in them. They also compare themselves to the people around them and get satisfaction from their failures. Confident leaders don’t look for external validations and seldom make comparisons to feel they are good enough.
8. Praising themselvesArrogant leaders brag about themselves and their achievements. They love to talk about their goals and dreams. They don’t like to praise and give recognition when others do great work or are successful and they also can’t take it or believe others are worthy of appreciation. Confident leaders recognize great contributions by inspiring confidence in others. They praise in public and talk to subordinates as equals. Being confident without becoming arrogant is a challenge that leaders have to keep on their agenda at all times. In order to make sure you are confident and not pompous in the long run, you need to continuously check on yourself. The best way a leader can demonstrate confidence is through humility. Humble leaders have high self-esteem and self-awareness and are motivated to do better. Treat yourself kindly, acknowledge your weaknesses, hold accountability for your mistakes, learn to get your own acceptance, and avoid comparing yourself with others to not appear arrogant. In your opinion, what qualities make a great leader? Let us know your thoughts below!from https://addicted2success.com/success-advice/arrogance-vs-confidence-the-difference-can-make-or-break-your-leadership/ As entrepreneurs, we are under a lot of stress as the world is continuously moving at a faster and faster pace. Instead of slowing it down, entrepreneurs like us strive daily to outpace it. The entrepreneurs and influencers we admire seem like they have it all together, and so we try to repress our own emotions to be more like them. We believe we’ll take a breather once we’ve made it. STOP! Unless you’re a psychopath, emotions are not only necessary, they’re your secret weapon. I’m going to walk you through five mindset shifts that will help you become the master of your emotions and harness their power to make tough decisions . . . like samurais. See the 5 mindset shifts below:1. Life will almost never be as bad as whatever “worst case scenario” you’ve imagined“Negative Visualization” is a technique beloved by stoics and samurais alike. To conquer their fear of failure, samurais force themselves to imagine the worst-case scenario a lot. No, it’s not pessimistic, it’s a reality check. Negative Visualization puts you back in control. Rather than being at the mercy of a random universe, you now know the worst that could happen. Due to this, you’ll probably discover that it wasn’t all that bad after all. Mindset shift: “When I’m dealing with a stressful decision, I will imagine the absolute worst-case scenario. Then, I will realize that a) this is very unlikely to happen, and b) even if it does, I’m now in control and prepared.”
2. Nobody actually knows what they’re doing and that’s okayEverybody’s winging it. When we’re in the pit of self-doubt, facing a decision that feels impossible, we feel inadequate. We wonder if we deserve to be where we are or if we are an imposter. The truth is, nobody knows what they’re doing—not really. Sure, they can put up an impressive front on social media, but inside, even the most successful people in the world have doubts. Mindset shift: “It’s normal to feel lost. Everybody does—especially when facing important decisions. Instead of fighting those emotions off, I’ll embrace them for what they are: a completely normal part of the entrepreneurial life.” 3. You make irrational decisions when your emotions are out of controlWild emotions lead to irrational decisions. This may sound obvious, but so many entrepreneurs interpret it as “bury your emotions” rather than “address them.” Burying emotions flat-out doesn’t work, so stop trying. Phrases such as “Suck it up,” “It’s not that bad,” “Everybody else can handle this better than me,” are negative self-talk which flusters and burns more of your limited cognitive energy. Instead, accept your emotional state as it is and try this Navy SEAL technique: intentional breathing. Mindset shift: The next time I’m making an overwhelming decision, I’ll take five minutes to breathe like a SEAL:
4. Acting “tough” doesn’t help anyoneMany of us became entrepreneurs in the first place because we want to change the world for the better. However, if you aren’t taking care of yourself, there is no way you’re going to be able to help others effectively. If your basic needs aren’t met, you can’t support your friends, family, and clients in the way you’d like to. Because of this you must always take care of yourself. Mindset shift: “I won’t sacrifice my wellbeing to appease others. My decision will prioritize my ability to eat right, sleep well, take breaks, meditate, have fun, work out, and check in with my emotions.”
5. Sometimes, you need to be tough enough to ask for helpWhen samurais are young, masters teach them Kendo (“the way of the sword”), Zen Buddhism, the samurai moral code, and how to live according to Bushido (“the way of the warrior”). Three-fourths of those deal directly with the inner workings of the mind. And yet, so many of us entrepreneurs today are hesitant to seek help for the problems in our own minds. If you’re happy and well-rested, you’re more likely to have a productive, positive meeting. Mindset shift: “I accept that unclouding my mind will lead to better decision-making. To achieve that, I’ll probably need outside help: a nutritionist, a confidant, a therapist, or a trainer. Getting help doesn’t make me weak—it shows I’m willing to do whatever it takes to achieve my goals.” Samurais don’t reject their emotions or fears, they lean into them to find the strongest way forward. So whether you are selecting your next entrepreneurial venture, deciding who to hire or fire, or determining the most productive way to spend your morning, elevate your judgment by staying grounded in reality and focusing on what you can actually control. Only then can you become a true decision-making samurai. Which one of these mindset shifts resonates most with you at the moment? Let us know which one and why in the comments below!Image courtesy of Twenty20.com from https://addicted2success.com/success-advice/5-mindset-shifts-that-will-help-you-become-a-decision-making-samurai/ |
ABOUT USHi I am Stacy Klein. I like swimming and i enjoy being organized and strive to become more efficient every day. Archives
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