Identify Your Constraints

There are usually a couple limiting steps that would make a tremendous difference in our life if we could overcome them. What are the obstacles that are holding you back? Figure out a way and learn to overcome them. "If I only got better in dealing with people or keeping my emotions under control, what a difference it would make to my life and career." Make a decision to shore up your limiting constraints today and device a plan to overcome them.

Define Your Competence

In which area of life do you really excel? Find your "area of excellence" and define your "unique selling proposition". When are you at your best? Move into the direction where you can do more of those things you are best at. You will be of more value and render greater service to others and have more fun while doing it. Define your competence and do what you are best at.

Strive For Clarity

With clarity of purpose comes the energy and the focus that help you concentrate to get done, what you need to get done. It is valuable to determine your goals in every area of your life. Take time with yourself and think through the various areas of your life. What do you want? Envision it in detail. Why do you want it? Describe your underlying reasons. Set a deadline, when you want it by and give some thoughts as to how you will get there. Strive for clarity.

Drive For Closure

Always drive to get closure on your most important tasks. It drains your energy to have lots of lose ends of unfinished business all around. Create a schedule, set firm deadlines and discipline yourself to follow through to completion. Finish what you start.

Failure And Success

Successful people have usually failed more often than ordinary people! And do you know why? It is because usually they have tried more often than others. They tried and tried and tried until they figured it out. They didn't give up. They were not discouraged. They continued and pressed on until they succeeded. Failures mean nothing at all if success comes eventually. Don't give up, keep trying!

Put On A Smile

Smile, even if you may not feel like it. Soon enough you will. Action seems to follow feeling, but in reality action and feeling go together; and by regulating the action, which is more under direct control of the will, we can indirectly regulate the feeling, which is not. A happy smile goes a long way, and can even be "heard" over the telephone too.

Lead The Field!

Do you want to be a leader in you field? Then keep learning! Subscribe to the best magazines. Go to the seminars. Become among the best informed. Henry Ford said it well: "Anyone who stops learning is old - whether twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays young. The greatest thing in life is to keep your mind young."