Things Are Never What They Seem

One representative from the Obama administration relayed the president's advice to him as he started out his service at the foreign office: "Learn to listen to people. Things are never as good as they sound, and things are never as bad as they sound either." This is an excellent piece of advice when you are trying to understand a person's perspective in any situation. Listen intently.

Fear Of Pain

The fear of pain is often greater than the pain itself. If you are afraid that something will be difficult and complicated the fear is usually worse than the task you have to do. That's why you should always challenge your fears and not let them limit your options unnecessarily. Remember that the fear of pain is often greater than the pain itself.

Don't Try Too Much

We are busier than ever and often try to do too much all at once. You can't load an elephant into a Volkswagen, even though many people try. The secret is to be selective and learn to say no. Don't let the image of success fool you into chasing after the perfect life. Instead concentrate on your key activities and the results will come automatically.

Nextopia - Your Next Achievement

When I grew up (in the 1900-hundreds) I learned that you are only as good as your last achievement (in hitting your sales quota or scoring in soccer). Today all this has changed. Things are moving so fast that nowadays you are only as good as your next achievement. We are constantly looking at the future value of things in terms of its net present value. Not only in the stock market where they have always forward priced the value of companies but also in the products and services we buy.

Who Knows You?

Start a personal branding campaign and be prepared to work hard. Register your name brand online. As in classical advertising it takes at least five to ten impressions to generate a buying response. Show up where people in your marketplace meet. Learn to socialize and mingle. Become an expert in your field. Make a personal marketing plan and execute it with fervor. It's not who you know, it's who knows you in a favorable light.

Principle-Centered Planning

There are different approaches to planning. The first is the non-planning alternative. Next, there is panic planning in the case of emergency. Then there is the more mechanical, scientific method that often ends up abandoned in the end. And finally there is principle-centered planning which is the key to effectiveness, and an artistic leadership approach. Principle-centered planning recognizes that life in general (and people in particular) can't be graphed on a chart, but sees that planning still remains essential.

Creativity And Discipline

One of my clients said to me recently; "You are very creative AND well organized too!" I took that as the compliment for which it was intended. It is the combination of creativity and discipline that generate success. You need to allow and brainstorm for crazy ideas and be flexible in your thinking and yet be firm and adhere to process, focus of thought and disciplined in its application (getting it done).