Focus On The Cause

One way to work on your odds and stack them to your favor is to constantly focus on the cause instead of the effect. Focusing on the causes of success instead of the results means you continue to do those things that will bring success to you. In sales, focus on customer need instead of your commission. In love, focus on the girl instead of on yourself. When you focus on the causes your odds of succeeding vastly improve.

Misunderstandings

In any communication exchange there are so many things that can go wrong. For starters, first we need to speak the same language and dialect. Then, once we understand the words we need to interpret the meaning and articulate an appropriate response back (upon which the process starts all over again). Given the complexity of human communication we should not be surprised that misunderstandings occur, but rather that we sometimes do understand each other.

Take Responsibility Over Your Own Stress

There are many things you can do to take more control over your own stress level. You can not control the environment around you as such but you can control your reactions to what happens. Make sure you have a plan for recreation, exercise and relaxation. I found out many years ago I need at least half an hour on my own every day to reflect and relax. How about you?

Repetition Improves Learning

Sayings such as "Practice makes perfect" illustrate the fact that repetition improves learning. When we are learning a new topic, repetition as a tool to help memorize and store away the information in our long term memory for later retrieval is important. Retention of information improves as a function of the number of times the information has been studied. Repeat and review your study materials, the book, the notes, or the tapes at least three times. Practice makes perfect!

Primary And Secondary Consequences

It is easy to think about the direct consequence of our actions. "If I eat this, it will taste good and I will enjoy it!" Instant gratification! We like it! "It felt so great to tell him/her what I was really thinking!" However, it takes a truly wise person to consider the more important and longer lasting secondary consequences of their actions. "If I eat this I will gain weight" and "I wonder how what I just said will impact our relationship." Start to think more often about the secondary consequences of your actions!

The Likability Factor

People enjoy and like to be around friendly, courteous individuals. Work on to further improve your likability factor. The more people like you the better they will support you and work with you and help you. The likability factor is probably one of the most important factors for getting along with others. People relate to and do business with people they like. Make sure they like you!

The Frame Game

The ability of the human mind to interpret and reframe what happens to us is an incredible asset. From this follows that we can choose our own frame of mind. Failure is an attitude, not an outcome. That's why you never hear successful people admit defeat. They reframe setbacks and call them learning opportunities and things like that. I recently heard a sports coach say; "We didn't loose the game, we simply ran out of time!"