Stay Cool, Be Flexible

Things are changing around us in such a rapid pace that the ability to adjust and "ad lib" nowadays is becoming a key competitive advantage. "Don't lose your head when those about you are losing theirs and blaming it on you", Kippling once wrote. Keep your calm particularly in times of turbulence. I had a boss who gave me this piece of great advice: "Stay cool, be flexible".

Think On Paper

I had a creative and productive boss many years ago. He taught me the art of "thinking on paper". Always, regardless of subject, he would take a clean sheet of paper and start to write and draw as we discussed the topic. I've used this technique ever since. Next time you are facing an issue take out a paper and start to write down you thoughts in a list or using a mind-mapping technique.

Spend Less Than You Earn

The first rule of money management says; spend less than you earn and save the difference. If you have not already, create a budget for yourself and for your business and stick to it. Be sure to put aside part of your income every month. This is the beginning of accumulation of wealth. The sooner you start the sooner you will have your first million.

No Such Thing As Failure, Only Feedback

There are no failures, only opportunities to learn and improve by the feedback generated by our mistakes. Thomas Edison, the inventor with more than 1,000 patents to his name, did over four thousand experiments with the light bulb before he could make it work. He said: "Now I know another way in which it can't be done." Remember, there is no such thing as failure, only feedback!

Prepare, Be There, Do Your Best

Since so much in life is outside your control, I mean external events and other people with their whims and wishes, all you can really do to move ahead is to prepare, be there and do your best! If you want to advance your career, win the loved one of your heart, raise happy children or assist in bringing about world peace, it is that simple: prepare yourself well, show up and do your best.

Feared Things First

Do your "FTF" - Feared things first! Make the dentist appointment, call that angry customer or deal with the ugly mess you have been putting off for a long time. Once you cleared the feared thing out of your mind you will have more energy to focus on the important stuff, like relationships and results.

Promptly And Profitably

Become a person known for dependability and speed. Do things swiftly when assigned a task. Develop a reputation for getting things done quickly and with quality. You generate value through action. The faster you act the more value you create. When you do things promptly, both you and the world will profit.

Not Always At My Desk

Do people have an expectation that you are sitting at your desk patiently waiting to respond immediately to every e-mail they send? Why not add a sentence to your signature in Microsoft Outlook or Lotus Notes. It could say something like: “I am not always at my desk and only check my email 2-3 times per day. If your matter requires my urgent attention, please contact me or send me a SMS.”

Think Happy Thoughts

I heard such a beautiful quote on the radio the other day. A girl mentioned about Peter Pan, that when he was thinking happy thoughts he could fly. It is so true! We are responsible for our own thinking. No-one else can do it for us. We decide the direction of our life by the thoughts we choose to dwell on. When we think happy thoughts the flying will take care of itself.

Face Your Fears

Most people would rather be dead than speak in public or being interviewed on TV or starting their own company. Your best strategy is simply to face your fears. If you don't do it you will never accomplish greatness. It is time to get out of your "comfort zone"! When you start doing what you don't know how to do, you will start to grow, so face your fears today!

First Things First

One of the secrets to success is to be able to figure out what is the most important thing to do right now. Success is first and foremost a question not of doing things right, but doing the right things. Make a decision to always work on the top priorities in your life and stick to them. Make a habit to put First Things First!