What Are You Willing To Do About It?

Swimmer and four times Olympic champion John Nabor says; “One of my biggest sayings I got off a soda bottle: no deposit, no return. To me that means you’ll get out of life about what you’re willing to put in. All champions have made great sacrifices to win their victories. So when someone talks to me about their goals and dreams, I ask them one question: “What are you willing to do about it?”

Know When To Stop

Sometimes things don't work out the way you expect. To know when to pull the plug and exit is a tough decision to make. To walk away from a project, investment or situation gone bad is one of the hardest things to do. Let me suggest that if something didn't work out, try to understand why, but don't throw good money after bad. Just stop!

Create Uninterrupted Time

At times we need serious, uninterrupted time for concentrated work. If we get interrupted and lose our concentration the lead time to get back into the task at hand can be surprisingly long, up to even fifteen or twenty minutes. The trick is to book these meetings, involving only yourself and the task to be solved, into your calendar. Close the door behind you or book a conference room and get the job done.

Success One Day At A Time

Successful people focus their full attention on the day at hand. Prepare for the day and focus only on what you can influence. You can influence what you get done during your working hours, and the attitudes and thoughts you choose to dwell on, as well as your daily sleeping pattern. Make your priorities clear and write them down. If you are in sales, for example, focus on customer contacts.

Cost Of Opportunity

There is always a hidden opportunity cost in every deal. What if I did not spend my time, energy or money on this particular opportunity, would the alternative use of my resources yield a better return? The opportunity cost is not so easily captured in a profit and loss statement, never the less don't forget to include it in the calculation before you make the investment.

Couple Optimism With Confidence

Optimism means expecting the best while confidence means knowing how to handle the worst. Before you take action make sure you have both bases covered. Optimism is what makes you believe you will succeed and confidence provides you with the backbone to handle any crisis when the going gets rough. Couple your optimism with confidence.

The Paradox Of Leadership

The art of leadership is a balancing act on a tightrope where the leader has to find balance between various opposing personal traits. The skillful leader must be strong but not rude, be kind but not weak. Be bold without being a bully, humble without being timid and humorous without being silly. It takes personal maturity to become a seasoned leader.