Everyday Success Tips

Achieve Your Goals Immediately

2010-06-05T17:29:00.002+01:00

Some people may think that goals have a definite timeline to accomplish. In part, this is true, but there are certainly ways on how you can hasten the process. You can achieve more great things by focusing on the current job and getting it done, without any compromise. Here are some guidelines from the experts that you can use yourself.

Step One: Forming a Team

Things can be accomplished more quickly if you rely on other people and assign tasks accordingly. When forming a team, it is important that you choose individuals whom you can trust and are truly competent in the fields you assign them to. Teams need to be supervised to ensure that you get the results you want. You can also create a hierarchy or create pairs so that one can look out for the other, thereby saving you time when reviewing work.

Forming a team gives you the benefit of practicing your leadership skills. You will find that later on, you also get to finish tasks more quickly alone, since you've already created an effective system that will provide a smoother flow of various jobs. Make sure you also get the appropriate number of people for the job, or else you risk having too many to watch over, wasting precious time in the process.

Step Two: Finding Shortcuts

Some goals actually have shortcuts that you can use to reach more quickly. These are not quick fixes, but can help the entire system respond in a more conducive manner, thereby boosting the process. For example, there are no short cuts to permanent weight loss, but you can do some techniques that will hasten the fat loss. Some of the approaches include using HIIT or high intensity interval training, instead of the traditional cardiovascular exercise. HIIT is done only in 20 minutes tops, and burns more fat and raises your metabolism higher and for longer periods of time. Your body will respond to the exercise faster.

To know about the shortcuts, always stay updated with changes and developments in technology and professional programs. Stay connected in a network of people related to your goals. Joining forums and online seminars are ideal. You can also talk to experts, so you can compare processes and determine if a certain approach is truly effective.

Step Three: Extra Hours

Consistency, discipline and dedication always give you faster and better results. If you want to finish things faster, you may have to put in extra hours and work longer than the usual. The more important thing is that you keep stress levels down afterwards by relaxing and giving yourself enough time to rest. This way, you can move on to the next goals to be achieved. Overtime should also be well-planned. You cannot expect to work effectively beyond your usual time if you're still tired the night before or do not have enough equipment to work with.

Prepare and strategize by coming up with small objectives and actions steps to be done in sequence. Having information prior to your overtime can help greatly and save you lots of idle time. You may also ask someone to work with you during overtime to accomplish more. Try to incorporate all the three steps above and see for yourself how much more you can boost the process.

Mentally Better: Your Brain should Get Exercise Too

2010-05-05T17:27:00.000+01:00

Common in our society today are the brain exercises designed to give our mental faculties the boost they need. There are games, activities and all other cranial calisthenics that claim to be helpful in maintaining our brains functioning superbly. You should know that these things are not just for those who have mental problems, these activities and exercises are also good for everyone – everyone who seeks to keep your minds healthy; to better your brains. From senior citizens to the younger generations, these activities should be helpful enough to keep them all mentally fit.

Although some scientists may not fully believe in the benefits of brain exercises, a lot of researchers and professionals hold on to the numerous studies showing that the brain really does need an exercise just like the body does. Studies have showed that people who have tried to perform brain exercises regularly have improved memory as well as focus. See, with simple brain exercises the functioning of both hemispheres of the brain are made better; your brain becomes healthier.

Cross Crawls

Cross crawls is a type of exercise that is based on the principle that our nervous system works homolaterally. This means that the left portion of our brain controls the movement of the right portion of our body, and so on for the other half. The principles of kinesiology are also applied in this exercise wherein rhythmic movements are suggested so that the brain’s lateralization can be improved further. You can do this simply by touching your right hand or elbow to your left knee. Do this for several times, and after one side, you may proceed with the other side, doing the same steps.

This exercise, when performed by babies, are believed to realign the brain circuits in order for the left half of the brain to be able to connect with the left part of the body, and vice versa. For the adults, on the other hand, when this exercise is done there is an integration of the different functions and tasks of the brain. This is the reason why this exercise is mostly recommended for people suffering from dyslexia. Aside from this, this exercise is also good for strengthening your immune system’s responses.

Lazy Eights

Another exercise which can benefit both the left and right hemispheres of the brain is the “lazy eights.” This is done by drawing the number “8” on a piece of paper using your right hand for two minutes. After the right hand, you may proceed to draw the same sign using your left hand. This should be done daily, and the result is that you will have better concentration and your hand-and-eye coordination will improve. Aside from these, another benefit is that you would feel a reduction of stress and an enhancement of your mood.

You may also do the “Rhythmic Eights” wherein instead of using paper and pencil, you can just create an imaginary eight in the air with your hands. This should be sufficient to coordinate the two sides of your brain as well.

Try Different Exercises for A Change

Since there are already a lot of exercises designed to improve your mental functioning, it would be a better idea if you would alter your exercises so that your brain will not get used to just one routine. By varying your brain work out, you are also able to exercise as many parts of your brain as possible. There are puzzles, crosswords and other brain games available; you just have to look for those which best fits you. Exercise your brain, better your brain’s performance.

Search Amazon.com for brain training

Bring Happiness to Your Life With Four Simple Steps

2009-07-25T21:17:00.002+01:00

How much better do you feel when you are happy, compared to when you feel deflated and jaded? When happy you feel invincible, capable of achieving great things and tackling all tasks in front of you. When feeling down you can't be bothered to even start those tasks, and find any excuse to put things off.

By adopting the four traits below you can eliminate those tired, lazy days, and bring happiness and self satisfaction to your world.

Gratitude

Adopt a feeling of gratitude into your life and appreciate everything that you have done and experienced. Every day, whether be first thing in the morning, last thing at night or at some point in between, take the time to think about what you can be grateful for that day.

You have children, a job, and have good health - be grateful. You have good friends and nice work colleagues - be grateful. You had time and the ingredients to prepare your spouse's favourite meal - be grateful.

By adopting gratitude you will begin to appreciate what you do have, rather than be upset that you are missing something.

Praise

What good things have you done today, unnoticed by others, that would benefit from praise. You helped the lady struggling with her boxes through the door; you took time to listen to the receptionists idea and encouraged her as you arrived for work; you collated that report for your boss when he was late into a meeting. All little things that help others, and they deserve your own praise.

By praising yourself, inwardly at least, you are building your own self esteem. So think about what you have achieved and give yourself a mental pat on the back. That will help you feel better and thus increase your happiness.

And spread the word - praise others that have helped you, or a third party, and feel the warmth they give back to you.

Energy

When you have moments of high energy and prolonged action, take time out to think about what has caused this action.

When you have tired days, days where you just want to sit around and not get interested in anything, think about what caused these feelings.

Try to re-create more of those first feelings, and when you feel the bad feelings coming, banish them from your day. Live your life in high energy as much as you can, and you will achieve more, and increase your happiness through that sense of achievement.

Action

Take action every waking hour of every day by adopting these points and increasing your happiness. By thinking about gratitude, praise and energy, and taking action to make them an active part of your every day life, you will increase you feeling if well-being and happiness.

It won't happen straight away, habits take several weeks to be ingrained into your life, but by actioning the three key factors at every possibility you will feel energized and looking forward to each and every day, filling them with worthwhile accomplishments.

Be grateful, praise both yourself and others, live your life with high levels of energy, and take action, and soon you will live a happier and more fulfilling life.

Stephen Covey Quote

2009-06-08T13:43:00.000+01:00

Live out of your imagination, not your history.

Stephen Covey

Helen Keller quote

2009-06-02T11:53:00.002+01:00

Alone we can do so little;
together we can do so much.

Helen Keller

When Creativity And Innovation Needs A Boost

2009-06-01T12:52:00.003+01:00

I don’t know if you are like me, but I quite often come up with my best ideas in the middle of the night and my mind just starts working hard on an idea. Come the daytime, sometimes my creativity seems at a low, and I cannot get the same creative juices flowing.

Are you the same? Do you struggle to be creative when you most want to be? If so, here are some suggestions that may assist you in solving a problem, or to try a fresh approach at a particular issue.

Get the blood flowing with exercise

Any sort of exercise such as jogging or working with weights will start blood flowing through your veins. This will ensure that your brain receives a fresh flow of blood which it thrives on. It doesn’t have to be strenuous, in fact better that it doesn’t drain you physically, just pick some form of exercise that will rejuvenate you and get your heart pumping.

Be precise about your thinking

Make sure you give your brain precise instructions on what you are thinking about, and the outcome you would like to achieve. That way you are more likely to come up with the correct procedure to reach your solution. Rather than think you’ve got to save money this month, think how you are going to save £100 into your savings account before the next pay day. Your brain will work better when you ask it how to lose 6 pounds this month rather than just losing weight in general. By giving precise instructions you are setting parameters and becoming focussed.

Think outside the box

A much used phrase, but what does it really mean? Write down any crazy idea to a problem, and see if your brain will come up with a solution linked to that idea.

An example may be how to increase customers to a fashion shop. Simple ideas will include adverts in newspapers or money off vouchers. But now think outside the box and what do you come up with?

For some reason your brain tells you to use a mime artist. How can someone that doesn’t speak attract customers? Well, why not have a window display with live models and a dj instead to attract passers by?

Maybe you can’t persuade a super model to endorse your clothes, but how about a catwalk show in your local mall?

Thinking outside the box may not lead you to a solution immediately, but it may well come up with a connected idea that will be different from your competition and will catch the awareness of new customers.

It’s important not to try too many things at once. Take on your best idea, try it, see the results, tweak it, and see what effects the changes make. Give it a chance to come to fruition. If it works then great, continue acting upon it. If not, then take your next best idea and see if that provides the solution you were aiming for

Be Competent and Confident

2009-05-01T21:32:00.003+01:00

People tend to believe what they see. So if our tendency is to appear less than confident, there's a good chance others will question our competence - an important commodity in today's competitive workplace. Here are some suggestions to help ensure that the image you project is a true reflection of your abilities.

Eliminate communication patterns that suggest self-doubt or lack of control.

Avoid disclaimers such as, "I'm probably miles off with this suggestion, but…." and wishy-washy phrases such as, "We'll, I'll try…" Weed out overly emotional language as well; I'm so upset because this project is falling apart".

Honestly acknowledge shortcomings

But avoid being excessively apologetic. Instead, be concise, positive and action-orientated (i.e. "The project isn't going as well as I expected, here are my plans to turn it around.")

Watch your body language

Stand up straight, maintain steady eye contact and offer a firm handshake. Avoid nervous, fidgety mannerisms that suggest anxiety or self-doubt.

Sing your own praises

Mention your achievements in a matter-of-fact manner, where appropriate. Don't wait to bring them up in anger because no one has recognized what you've accomplished. But a warning here, don't go overboard, people will get fed up if you spend your working day blowing your own trumpet. As with most things in life it is a question of getting the balance just right.

Increase your word power

Using obscure words to impress others tends to frazzle, not dazzle, them. However, a good command of the English language, including a well-rounded vocabulary and proper grammar, can enhance your overall credibility.

Fake it 'til you make it

Probably the most controversial piece of advice, but you probably won't feel 100% confident every day, but you can still act the part anyway.

Treat Customers With The Personal Touch

2009-04-03T10:35:00.001+01:00

Remember, customers respond to the personal touch - when you remember their likes and dislikes, their idiosyncrasies and details of their history with your company. Here are some helpful pointers to keep at hand:
Personality traits

You'll more easily match your manner with a customer's mood when you note personality traits. Is the customer usually amiable or aggressive, predictable or volatile?

Contact dates

Keep track of the dates you speak to clients. You then can reference them in conversations: "When we spoke three weeks ago, we talked about…."

Business history

Besides noting the date of each customer contact, add a brief synopsis of what transpired. If you note problems and their solutions, you'll be able to comment: "I trust that you've had no more problems since…" Leaving such details also may aid in solving future problems.

Personal details

Show that you - and your company - care by recording and asking about family, hobbies and other non-intrusive personal and job-related data. Friendly inquiries such as, "How's your golf game?" or "How do you like your new office?" go a long way toward cementing firm business ties.

Do You Want Something? - Will You Pay The Price?

2009-04-02T14:25:00.000+01:00

The great sin - Gossip.
The great crippler - Fear.
The greatest mistake - Giving up.
The most satisfying experience - Doing your duty first.
The best action - Keep the mind clear and judgment good.
The greatest blessing - Good health.
The biggest fool - The man who lies to himself.
The great gamble - Substituting hope for facts.
The most certain thing in life - Change.
The greatest joy - Being needed.
The cleverest man - The one who does what he thinks is right.
The most potent force - Positive thinking.
The greatest opportunity - The next one.
The greatest thought - God.
The greatest victory - Victory over self.
The best play - Successful work.
The greatest handicap - Egotism.
The most expensive indulgence - Hate.
The most dangerous man - The liar.
The most ridiculous trait - False pride.
The greatest loss - Loss of self confidence.
The greatest need - Common sense.

By Jack Yianitsas, Laws Of Success.

10 Tips to Better Productivity

2009-03-18T13:41:00.005Z

Follow these 10 tips and boost your productivity.

1. Get organised - spend less time each day hunting for files or information
2. Delegate work - if possible delegate work that could be done by someone else quicker, in exchange for something you do better
3. Strict Deadlines - make use of a timer to finish a report or project, without interruptions. Make use of voicemail and ignore e-mail during this time.
4. Manage your energy - try to complete an important task in one sitting rather than having it hang over you and wasting energy thinking about it
5. Start work early - arriving early means you can get a vast amount of work done before people come in and interrupt you
6. Productivity window - we all have times when we work best during the day. Observe and notice when yours is, and do your most important work at this point
7. Automate and outsource - if you have the ability to automate routine tasks, or outsource to others at little cost, this will save you time for more profitable business practices
8. Learn to say no - it is not possible for one person to take on all the work. Saying no is not weak, just shows that you are busy at present
9. 80/20 rule - 80% of your results come from 20% of your efforts. Find out what these are and target them
10. Don't be a perfectionist - it may not be necessary to make every report look fantastic, if only 1 other person reads it. Concentrate your time on the facts within rather than the look

The Magic of Thinking Big - How To Think and Dream Creatively

2008-07-28T13:20:00.006+01:00

In order to achieve big things, you need to be able to think and dream creatively.

Eliminate words such as "won't work", "impossible" and "no use trying". These are just negative - to be able to achieve big things you need to be more positive in your thoughts. Believe that things can be done and your mind will find a solution.

If you have a task to complete but are not sure how to do it, try a new angle and experiment. Allow new ideas and processes to tackle the issue.

There are two questions you can ask yourself every day which will push you to stand out from the crowd - "How can I do better?" and "How can I do more?". Ask yourself these questions and you will find the answers to enable you to do more quality work.

Finally, mix with different people, listen to how they approach issues, and your mind will take their experiences to find a solution to your challenges.

Quote About Attitude

2008-07-14T13:14:00.001+01:00

I love this quote from Charles Swindoll. "Attitude is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than what people do or say. It is more important than appearance, giftedness, or skill."

The Magic of Thinking Big - How To Think Big

2008-07-10T12:46:00.003+01:00

When it comes down to important jobs, people are not solely judged on education or background, but on how they think. If you think big, the your accomplishments will be big. Keep this in mind and see how thinking big will bring you great success.
Start to sue big words - I don't mean long words or difficult to understand words, but words that are big, cheerful, optimistic words. Don't say problem, say challenge; swap investments for expense; not task but opportunity.

Whenever possible, under promise but over deliver on value. The more you can raise the value of something, the more appreciative the recipient will be. For example, if your manager wants a report from you on this year's sales for a presentation, not only give him this year's sales, but how about a comparison against last year's. Include graphs to visualise the differences. Add a brief couple of lines of mitigating reasons for the differences, and you will soon become someone to be relied upon.

Which brings us nicely to the next point - see the bigger view of your job. You may feel you are in a mundane position, but other people rely on you. Make your job seem as important as you feel theirs is, and soon you will be recognised as someone ready for promotion. By adding value to others, and giving that extra in your own role, you will stand out from the crowd.

The Magic of Thinking Big - Build Confidence

2008-07-07T08:14:00.006+01:00

Continuing our look at The Magic of Thinking Big by David J. Schwarz, I'm going to pass on his suggestions to help build your confidence levels. Once you have mastered your fears, this is the next step in your route to a successful life.

When attending meetings or seminars, don't automatically hide away at the back. Sit at or near the front, and play an active part to become truly involved. If you are going to spend your valuable time there, you may as well speak up and be part of the meeting. This will help build your knowledge of the subject matter, and hence build confidence. Don't be afraid to ask questions. Chances are, someone more shy will be wondering the same thing, and in their eyes you will be a positive person.

Always try to make eye contact with people when speaking to them. People that avoid eye contact either look as if they are avoiding teh truth, or that they feel inferior or scared. Make eye contact and show the other person that you are confident and trustworthy.

You can tell a lot about a person's level of confidence by their walk. Next time you have a spare fifteen minutes, observe people walking in town. People who are fed up with life tend to shuffle along; and average paced walk shows that people are settled with what they have in life; the super-confident walk faster, with their head held high. Try putting a spring in your step, shoulders back, head up, and see how confident you feel and look as you stride out to that next appointment.

Finally, but maybe the most important point, smile a big smile. It is almost impossible to not feel confident when you wear a big smile. And it's difficult for someone to feel annoyed with you if wear a big smile and are genuine and sincere.

Use these four tips regularly, and soon you will be boosting your confidence levels further than you ever thought possible.

The Magic of Thinking Big - Destroy Fear

2008-07-04T08:46:00.005+01:00

As mentioned yesterday, I am going to give you an outline of The Magic of Thinking Big, by David J. Schwarz. It's an old classic book that helps bid your life into something great.

We all know the effects of the power of positive thinking can have on your life, but Schwartz starts by looking at the opposite of that - fear.

Fear may start as a simple worry, but by not acting against worries they can grow through anxiety and stress into fear. Tackle your worries early and destroy them before they turn into fear.

Many people fear situations where they have to meet powerful people. Whilst it can be daunting, remember they too are only human beings, so be confident, factual and understanding in these situations.

Always do what your conscience tells you is the right thing to do. That way you won't feel guilty, which can have a poisonous effect on your life.

Next, I will look at ways Schwartz suggests to build your confidence. If you have read The Magic of Thinking Big, I'd love to hear what you think of the book. Please leave a comment to let me know.

The Magic of Thinking Big by David J. Schwartz

2008-07-03T08:40:00.003+01:00

I recently came across this book in a charity shop, and having heard someone mention it before, thought it was a book that I should read. And I’m pretty glad I have now, as there are some very interesting suggestions to help you get ahead in life.

Although written almost 50 years ago (1959), and hence you have to take things such as salary values in context, there are some great examples of how people have thought big and changed their life.
Within the preface Schwartz sets the scene for the book, describing a sales conference where an average guy became a salesman earning five times the average salary of those around him. And how did he achieve this? Simply by thinking five times bigger, and thus using systems to make five times the sales of the rest of the salesmen.

Most people tend to think little thoughts rather than big thoughts, and so their actions are based around little things. By thinking big, you can action processes that will accomplish so much more in your life.

The start of the book concentrates on belief, and how improving your belief can improve the quality of your life. Banish excuses for various reasons for poor growth, overcome fear, and act confident. One action to help you act confident is to feel and look important – look like high achievers and you will start to act like them too.

A good attitude and enthusing about all you do will assist your growth – we all know people who are successful. The majority of successful people are enthusiastic about their actions – whether it be work related or in their private life. They accomplish more at work, and therefore have more finances available to achieve great things in their spare time as well.

My next few posts will help explain sections of the book in more detail. I hope you enjoy, and that something will inspire you to Think Big.

5 Ways To Give Negative Feedback

2008-07-02T12:08:00.003+01:00

It's not nice having to tell someone that they need to improve, but it is possible to do so in a kind and helpful way.Bean Jones describes here how to go about this tricky process and how to get the most out of people through negative feedback.

Rethinking Time Management

2008-06-10T13:42:00.003+01:00

If you find that traditional time-management strategies don't work for you, a book called, Time Management For The Unmanageable by business consultant Ann McGee-Cooper (Bantam Books) may be just what you need.

The book points out that there are two different ways of looking at time. One is called monochromic, and the other is polychromic.

McGee-Cooper says, "Monochromic time refers to linear time - time that is measured by the clock and typically decided in advance." Because most of the business world runs on monochromic time, business people must follow this schedule. We all know that being punctual is a top priority in most offices.

Polychromic time, according to McGee-Cooper, "is related to decisions made intuitively at the moment, as events are played out. The more you deal directly with people, the more polychromic you must become.

For example, you know about how long it will take you to type the quarterly report or prepare the minutes of the weekly meeting. But can you predict how long it will take to handle a customer complaint or conduct a performance appraisal? Obviously, we must be more flexible in managing our time when we are dealing with people.

Another key is choosing a time-management system that will work for you knows what kind of thinker you are. In other words, do you have a right or left-brained thinking preference? Keep in mind that one type of thinking is not superior to the other, just different.

Left-brained dominant people are well organized and routine-orientated. They find conventional time management tools, such as "to do" lists and planners helpful. On the other hand, right-brained people like spontaneity and flexibility. They don't find traditional time-management systems "user friendly."

Develop your own color coding system.

Draw colored boxes around activities or tasks scheduled on your calendar, or used colored dots to call attention to them. For example, hot pink for intensive projects, red for deadlines, etc.

Build in flexibility by using self-stick notes.

Jot tasks that can be done anytime during the week on these notes and place them on your calendar. Then, if you want to reschedule the task, simply move the note to the new date.

Success Is Not Only What You Do, But Who You Are

2008-06-05T13:05:00.000+01:00

Ok, you are a success!

Your job is great, you get promotion after promotion, you win all those (insert sport here) tournaments, you get recognised as a success.

Fantastic! Congratulations!

Well done. No one succeeds without lots of hard work, commitment and focus.

But (I hate that word...)

Do you still have time for the important people in your life?
Do you get to see your friends as much as you like?
Are you as 100% focused in conversations when with them?
Do you get time to smile and relax?
Do you treat people as you should be?

Whilst it's great to be a success, don't forget to take time out to remember what is important to you and those closest to you.

Manage Your Time and Your Life

2008-06-04T21:10:00.003+01:00

Ask yourself why it's important to manage time more efficiently and you'll probably give one of two answers:

We never have enough time to do what needs to be done, or
We want to be more productive.

But according to author Hyrum W. Smith, what most people are looking for is control of their lives and ultimately to be more productive.

Smith suggests that people must determine their beliefs and then set intermediate and long-range goals on those values. Smith recommends that you strive to achieve consistency between your values and your daily activities. To help you get in touch with your governing values, ask yourself the following questions:

What do I really want?

Smith says that as you review your life and your work, you'll have to accept some discomfort as you sift through the "should-haves" and the "ought-tos".

What has worked for me in the past?

Look for - and repeat - those patterns in your life that resulted in successful outcomes.

When you're given a new project, Smith advises taking a few moments to do some planning - something most people don't do. Then ask yourself the following questions:

What is the long-range priority of this project?

Is this project more important than another? Must you put something to one side?

Is it possible to delegate any of this project to someone, freeing up your time to achieve your targets?

Finally, when your daily activities are true to your beliefs, you will feel harmony and achieve more.

Parkinson's Law - Decrease Your Working Hours

2008-04-15T12:39:00.003+01:00

There is a strange law which can affect you every day. Parkinson's law states that work expands to fill the time available.

I'm sure we can all remember times when we are about to go on holiday, and with that immovable deadline, we seem to get so much more work processed and completed. We have a device within us that tells us not to get distracted, and to press on with our work quickly - we've got to get home to pack!

Yet normally we can get distracted, check e-mails more often, quickly surf the internet, have an extra long chat at the water cooler. But how do we make ourselve's work more efficiently?

It may be a stange idea, but cut back on the hours that you work. Put a note in your calendar that you are going to leave 30 minutes earlier than usual, and stick to it. Right, that's 30 minutes less time to waste - so therefore you will work more efficiently, knowing that you have to get the same workload completed as usual.

If this works, and you are in a position to do this, then how about trying a further 30 minutes next week or month? I realise there will be a limit to the length of time you can take off your day, but you will know when it is just right.

And what to do with all that extra time? A side business, new fitness campaign, or perhaps just improved relations with your loved ones at home. The choice is yours.

How To Use Your Business Card As A Marketing Tool

2008-04-14T13:13:00.002+01:00

Your business card is a simple inexpensive way to make a good first impression on your customers. Consider these tips for the most effective use of your business card:

Include a brief description of the nature of your business beneath the company name. This will remind and educate people about what you do.

Use different business cards to describe your business or to print helpful information. You might for example list useful telephone numbers or interesting telephone numbers like The White House or The Senate - this is sure to grab people's attention.

Take a good supply of business cards everywhere you go. Hand them out generously at meetings and other gatherings.

Place a small photo of yourself on your business card. This connects the card with you instantly.

Include your business card when paying your bills. You never know when the recipient might need your services.

Think about the size and design of your business card. Oversized, folded and vertical business cards have certain advantages because they stand out from the crowd. However, they may be more difficult to sort and read so be a little careful.

As ever if you would like help and advice on designing or updating your business cards, then give your printer or designer a call.

Raise Morale With Praise

2007-11-28T12:28:00.000Z

Do you make a special effort to give praise when a colleague's performance shines? Or do you avoid it - either because it's not in your nature, not in your job description, or because you're afraid that you might seem insincere?

Praise that is genuinely felt and delivered can go a long way to build morale, foster teamwork and make an organization a better place to work. Here are some praiseworthy tips:

Sensitize yourself to the good in others. All too often, we focus on people's shortcomings and take the positive qualities for granted.

Always be specific when praising. Instead of leaving it at "Good job!" focus on the details: "That proposal you wrote was very professionally done and reflects well on our company."

Be careful not to go overboard when praising someone with shaky self-esteem. He or she is likely to feel self-conscious and may reject the praise as overly exaggerated.

Put it in writing. Penned praise is sometimes easier to accept, since we can bask in the glory without distraction - or embarrassment. For an especially outstanding performance, a copy to the "praisee's" supervisor is in order. Be sure to describe the situation, the action taken and the results.

Use second-hand praise. If you hear a compliment about someone, pass it on to that person. Unfortunately, good things are more often said about people than to them, and opportunities to have a positive impact through praise are lost.

Learning from Books - Dorling Kindersley

2007-11-21T12:16:00.000Z

My last couple of posts have been about Lifelong Learning, and how I like to use the power of books for learning new subjects, or even topping up my existing knowledge.

I remember from my childhood there appeared some new books in my local bookshops. I'm not sure they were new, it might have been just a sales push, or perhaps even my initial awareness of them. Anyway, whatever the reason, these books jumped out at me.

They were colourful, and explained in an easy to understand language on all sorts of different topics. Whilst I didn't own many, times were hard for my family, I did use the local library as a reference, and sought out these books when I could find them.

I was checking their website earlier today, and was amazed at the vast array of subjects that were covered - not only for children's books, but there is a huge amount for adults. I was also impressed with the ease of use of the website - the different topic matters are listed down the side, so it is easy to find what you are looking for.

If you are looking for an interesting read, that is explained well, perhaps to increase your knowledge on a subject, I'd recommend taking a look at Dorling Kindersley's website.

Methods of Lifelong Learning

2007-11-12T21:04:00.000Z

I spoke the other day about lifelong learning, but let's look a little closer at the subject.

I guess it depends on what level you want to take this, and what you are aiming for long term. There are thousands of people in full time employment that are looking to improve there career, such as people training to become solicitors and doctors, just to name two possibilities. These people are dedicated to becoming the best they can so that they can further their careers.

However, there are also thousand of people who are doing adult education classes, learning new subjects for the enjoyment of learning, rather than furthering their career. They may well then go on to change their career, having gained an interest in something new, but that is not their initial aim.

Even reading books on subjects that you are not familiar with will increase your knowledge and keep your mind expanding. This is one of my favourite ways of learning - I can get engrossed in a book and learn a little about a subject new to me. If I find that I am intrigued about the subject then I can always read other books on it, and if not then I have not committed too much time and money. For this reason I would always recommend being a member of your local library.

Of course there is always the vast amount of information that you can find on any subject from the Internet. I guess one of the best ways to use the Internet to learn is to use a reputable search engine and type in the subject matter and phrases that you come across on the subject. When you keep coming across the same names then go and see there sites, and see who else they recommend. You'll also find that many of the people you read about will also have written books, which you may also find cover more on a certain aspect of their subject.

No matter which method you choose, or why you want to keep learning, it is important that you keep doing so. You may find that you wish to change direction halfway through - if so never mind, it's your life and as long as you are not standing still then you are moving forward.

Lifelong learning

2007-11-12T20:56:00.000Z

I previously passed on a quote from Eli Cohen, which was quite worrying in it's honesty about your capabilities if you decide not to embrace lifelong learning.

Taken literally, if you never learn anything else in the rest of your life, you will never be in a position to do anything greater than you do now. In reality, you will in fact move backwards in your capabilities, as life changes each and every day, with improving technologies pushing possibilities forward at an immense rate of knots.

In reality, it would be impossible not to learn anything new. Every day we are surrounded by news, whether it be in newspapers, on the radio or television, or even just people around us talking. At work new procedures and systems are introduced, sometimes with amazing speed. If we do not keep up with these then we face an unsure future, and will be prime candidates for redundancy.

So, if you are faced with new things each and every day, why not embrace change, and accept lifelong learning as the way to improve your life. You may not want a change in career or you may be happy with your job, but even if this is the case if you accept lifelong learning you will still be able to make your job more comfortable, and may be in a position to offer more to your customers and clients. This could very well make your job easier, and so take out some stress form your everyday lives.

You may want to further yourself - and let's face facts, most people want something better than they currently have. So, embrace lifelong learning, and see what it can do to improve you life.

Inspirational Pictures and Words

2007-11-07T13:06:00.000Z

I've always liked the inspirational pictures that you get, quite often with words that will push the message even further. Also those calendars that have little sayings at the bottom of each page.

Whilst the pictures not only look good - they are quite often of stunning sunsets or scenery - the words added to them make you stop what you are doing and just think about endless possibilities.

They don't necessarily even have to say much on them, maybe as little as one word, but we all know the power of pictures - as people often say, a picture tells a thousand words.

If you have any examples I'd love to hear them. In the meantime, check out Allposters to see if there is a picture that may inspire you.

Tighter Teamwork

2007-10-25T12:29:00.000+01:00

The concept of ‘togetherness’ is an effective morale boosting tool, especially in smaller companies and in the present climate.

More and more organizations are using teamwork as a means of finding better ways of doing things, resolving problems and getting the job done. A team can function more effectively than individuals working independently, because of the variety of knowledge and exchange of ideas that exist in a group.

Consider these ideas for effective team performance; whether you are one department operating as a team, or a group of individuals from different departments working towards a common goal:

Develop diversity

A team is most powerful when its members have different areas of expertise.

Think small

Teams of more than 10 or 15 are hard to manage. Also in a large group a close ‘team feeling’ never really sets in. The most effective teams are small, with just enough members to complete the task.

Encourage equal participation

Teams are no place for wallflowers or bullies. Either way valuable contributions are being lost.

Share the leadership

Teams work best when the responsibility for leadership changes hands, according to tasks and expertise.

Insist on commitment

Team members should see team success as their primary responsibility. The overriding objective of all members must be to achieve the team goal.

Communicate

Working effectively as a team means continuous communication and feedback. Use informal meetings, memos, emails and phone calls to keep shared learning up to date.

There really is strength in numbers. When team members are able to pool their expertise, the total outcome of their combined contribution will equal much more than the sum of everyone’s individual efforts

Protecting yourself from interruptions

2007-09-26T12:39:00.000+01:00

Quick - without thinking about it for more than a few seconds, name your biggest time-management problem.

Let me guess: Could it be continual interruptions? If so, you have lots of company. To assist you with this ongoing challenge, here are several techniques for controlling interruptions at work.

Telephone

Immediately after greeting a caller, ask, "What can I do for you?" (Not "How are you?")

After caller states his/her purpose, silently set a limit for the conversation and write this on a note you can see as you're talking.

If a call you are making is answered by a machine, leave your entire message instead of only a request for a callback.

Get callers used to specific callback hours with a message such as "Please call me back between 4 and 5.30 p.m. any day of the week?

Office visits

Close your door part way. This is a very effective visit-deterrent that still communicates, "I'm available if needed."

Before visitors sit down, stand up (to shake their hand, adjust blinds, etc), and then remain standing while you chat.

Have a clock clearly visible.

If practical, institute a closed-door policy for a maximum of two hours a day, preferably during your prime productivity period.

Subordinate/Support staff

Ask subordinates who often interrupt to make lists of questions. When they have five or more, suggest that they leave them in your in-tray or on voice mail.

Always give clear and complete instructions, together with this request: "I'd prefer you to take notes, because I find it cuts down on any questions later."

Communicate positive expectations by saying things such as, "I know I can count on you to figure out how to do this with a minimum of direction from me."

When subordinates go through a day or a project without interrupting you, comment appreciatively.

General

When someone asks (in person or on the phone), "Got a minute?" You answer, "Just about that," or "I can give you five now or twenty later this afternoon." That way, you alert your interrupter at the start that you're on a tight schedule.

Have your top goals for the week and month in plain view every day, to help you remember that indulging interrupters steals time from moving towards your goals.

Create a reputation as someone who highly values time management and productivity. When people know you're time-conscious, they'll interrupt less.

Ask for co-operation in keeping calls and meetings short.

Don't be a frequent interrupter yourself. Many people will treat you the way you treat them.

Shortlist to Success

2007-09-12T13:37:00.000+01:00

Decide what you really want.

Take one step at a time. Each accomplishment builds confidence, enthusiasm, and power.

Expect good things to happen.

Enjoy life! You are free and your potential is unlimited.

Release your hidden talents. Create the person you conceive yourself to be.

Your new self-image acts like a magnet, attracting opportunities, resources and people you need.

Intensify desire to grow, expand, mature and achieve. Imagine, plan, act.

The power of enthusiasm has no limits.

Delays and frustrations are natural. Be proud of your achievements. Have faith in your destiny.

Believe in yourself so strongly that nothing can shake your inner self. You are a unique individual in a remarkable universe.

Comfort Eating

2007-08-30T21:06:00.000+01:00

So many of us use comfort food as a means of cheering us up when we are feeling down. Before long it becomes a habit to reach for that bag of crisps or tin of biscuits to give us a little lift.

I expect we all know people who are constantly trying the latest diet or workout in an effort to keep up with the celebrities that appear in our newspapers and on TV each and every day. But after a short time the diet has failed and been ditched, only for another to take it's place a few weeks later.

If you are serious about losing weight you must do it for your own self, image and health. Stop the comfort eating - it only makes you feel good whilst you eat, and then sends you further into sadness as you worry about the guilt.

Try joining a group such as Slimming World, where you will be guided by someone who has been through your journey before you, and you will have lots of support from new friends with the same goals as you. Also, try to go with a friend - some weeks you will need that bond to push you on toward that target.

So put down that cake, pick up something healthy, and eat yourself to feeling better about yourself.

The value of encouraging complaints!

2007-08-14T12:29:00.001+01:00

Many companies ignore complaints, because they see them as embarrassments. The good companies, though, not only accept complaints from customers, but also encourage them. They know that if you don't listen to and solicit complaints, then the customers, not the problems, will go away.

There are seven solid reasons for taking this approach. As these companies see it, complaints are golden opportunities to:

Give the company a better opportunity to service customers.
Build a better reputation for being customer orientated.
Retain loyal customers.
Learn about the current problems.
Spot trends that need to be addressed to avoid future problems.
Clear up misunderstandings instead of allowing customers to remain angry.
Hear about problems customers have that might generate ideas for new ideas or services.

These companies know that things are not always perfect, that improvements can always be made and that the only way they will be able to succeed is to make sure that they hear about complaints and take appropriate action.

Companies which actively solicit complaints and resolve them to customers' satisfaction are amply rewarded through repeat business from customers that would otherwise have been lost.

In fact, research conducted by a consulting firm found that company complaint handling departments can be significant profit centers. Some of these departments earn in excess of 100% return on investments (profits attributable to complaint handling divided by the cost of handling complaints).

Research conducted by this company shows that:

Of every 100 customers who have complaints, 40 will make them known. (The other 60 may simply stop patronizing the business).
Of the 40 who complain, 16 will remain customers as long as the company simply listens to their complaints.
Of the 40 who complain, another 16 will remain customers as long as the company resolves their problems.
Of the 40 who complain, only 8 have no intention at all of remaining customers.
Message:

The more effort you put into encouraging customers to complain, the more customers you will retain over the long run!

Overcome Mental Obstacles

2007-08-09T12:32:00.001+01:00

When it comes to solving problems, many times we create our own biggest obstacles. Whether we know it or not, we tend to put up more barriers that stand in the way of logical or creative solutions. If we define problems narrowly and cling to long-held beliefs through force of habit, our creativity becomes stifled and we become frustrated. The following information may prevent this happening:

Remember that you are smarter than you think. For instance, negative perceptions like “I have never been good at maths” will just encourage you to avoid any maths-related problems whenever they come up. Instead, face problems head-on. In high pressure situation, people often surprise themselves with their newfound abilities to problem-solve, or look at things from a different perspective and realise they can achieve something different.

Fight the fear of risk-taking. Realise that the world will not come to an end if you try something different. Be willing to take a chance. Ask yourself what the worst possible consequences of your actions would be. It’s almost never as bad as you imagine.

Break problems down. Dividing your problems and concerns into smaller pieces makes them more manageable. Doing this will also keep you from feeling overwhelmed or defeated. Solve each part of the problem separately. Move onto the next part only after the first is conquered.

Think in reverse. Start with the end of a process. For example, if you are having trouble explaining or understanding a situation or proposal, think it through from the end to the beginning to see clearly how the whole thing fits together.

Don’t reinvent the wheel. Ask questions. Find out what others who have faced the same problems have done to improve their situation or to solve it. Consider whether the same approaches could work for you.

Put your ideas on paper. Diagrams, charts and other conceptual devices often help you see the bigger picture.

Using questions skilfully

2007-08-08T12:45:00.003+01:00

Following on from my last post about asking yourself questions to get answers to your problems, please read the following with regards to asking questions to others.

Effective questioning begins with active listening - listening for the feelings behind the words. It is listening that puts the speaker's feelings, concerns and thoughts first.

Few things are harder than active listening. Not only must you first process information, then remember it, interpret it, evaluate it and respond to it; you must also not ask anything back for yourself - no changes to 'have your own say' or 'get your two cents in'.

So why bother with such a demanding listening skill? Because you can't truly be an effective manager, supervisor or co-worker unless you do! Once you master the skills of active listening, you'll 'get' as much as you 'give' in terms of increased productivity, morale, motivation, sense of teamwork, etc.

Questions can sometimes be detrimental to the active listening process. However, if asked correctly, they can be extremely helpful. It all depends on the kind of questions you ask and the way you ask them.

Active listeners consciously avoid using questions that would threaten or challenge the speaker. ("What do you mean by that?" or "Why did you say that?").

Instead, they use questions to clarify, elaborate and understand. ("How did you come to feel that way?" and "What do you think is the biggest stumbling block right now?").

To get a better handle on the questioning, let's first take a look at some questioning 'do's'.

Do use open questions

'Open questions' are questions that call for more than a simple 'yes' or 'no' answer or similar short reply. Open questions make it possible for a person to respond with what's on his or her mind.

Open questions often begin with words such as "how", "what, and "where".

For example:

"How did that make you feel?"
"What happened next?"
"Where do you see this leading?"

Do use expanding questions

This type of question may encourage the speaker to elaborate or clarify something she/he has said before. These questions are especially effective when you sense that the speaker is hesitating to say something she/he may wish to communicate, but is afraid to say for some reason. Examples of 'expanding' questions are:

"Can you tell me more about that?"
"I'm still a little hazy on that last point. Could you be a little more specific?"

Solve problems by asking the right questions

2007-08-02T12:30:00.000+01:00

Problem solving is all about asking the right questions to the situation that you are trying to resolve.

Instead of asking questions such as : What's wrong with me? What's the point in trying anymore? Who's to blame?, take some time to think about which questions you could pose yourself to get the answers to help you in your success.

Here are some suggested questions to ask yourself instead, and hopefully these will assist you overcome your challenges better.

What exactly is the problem?
What is the down side of this problem?
How can I make this situation work for me?
What am I ready to do now to improve things?
What do I have to change about my thinking and behaviour to solve this issue?

By getting into the habit of asking yourself the right questions about your situation, you can start to deal with them and overcome your challenges. And when you've overcome one or two challenges you will feel empowered to face up to the others with renewed enthusiasm.

Utilising Feedback to Boost Your Success

2007-07-20T12:15:00.000+01:00

Most of us are fearful of receiving feedback about what you are doing, but this can be a great tool in your battle to be more successful at whatever you are trying to achieve.

First of all it is important to remember that when receiving feedback that you actively listen, take in what is said, and then apply the lessons learned to further yourself.

Unfortunately, the majority of us receive feedback and just take it as criticism, then get all defensive. What we should be doing is encouraging that feedback, not hiding from it.

It is important also to relate the feedback to what is said and who is saying it. If your manager gives you constructive criticism on certain aspects of your job, then that is positive feedback. Whereas if a colleague tells you that the work you do is rubbish, that may well be out of jealousy or to belittle you. The difference here is that the manager has been specific, whereas your colleague has been vague, at the best.

I like Jack Canfield's How to Get from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be: The 25 Principles of Success he gives an example of using feedback in his seminars. He stands a person in a room, then asks that person to guide Jack to him. Jack purposely steps off the straight line, and the feedback he receives is "Stop, left a little" Jack keeps doing this until he reaches his volunteer. You can see that Jack has used the feedback he has received to reach his goal - the volunteer.

So next time that you are working on your goals, why not look for feedback from someone you trust? Who knows, it may just be the guide that you've been needing.

Micro Habits

2007-07-13T13:09:00.000+01:00

I've just read a blog post from Kevin Eikenberry about Micro Habits. Briefly, a Micro Habit is one that you mean to carry on with, but give up after a short while. Kevin explains in greater detail.

I'm sure we can all think of examples from our own lives of Micro Habits - starting an exercise regime that is quickly forgotten, eating healthily until the cakes come out at work, and so on. I expect we all have Micro Habits most January!

Danny Wallace - Yes Man

2007-07-12T13:07:00.000+01:00

I've written an article about lessons to be learnt from Danny Wallace's Yes Man. I'd appreciate if you'd take a look and post a comment here to let me know what you think. Thanks

Continuous development

2007-07-11T13:01:00.000+01:00

I want to pass on a quote today from Eli Cohen, which when you read, hits you straight between the eyes.

Without continuous personal development you are now all that you will ever become.

What a frightening thought.

Time to think

2007-07-03T08:27:00.001+01:00

Hi, I'm back from my break in Wales. I had a great time, despite the weather, and to be honest, it was better than the forecasts. And if I felt like moaning then I just stopped and reminded myself that whilst I was relaxing, thousands of people in Yorkshire were being flooded out of their homes - makes you stop and think.

Which brings me to todays topic about taking time to think. I hope you enjoy.

Everything moves so fast these days. Our expectations - and those of our customers - seem to follow suit. For instance, instead of days in the mail, or even minutes on the phone, a response to a customer can be emailed in a matter of seconds. The information flies around so quickly sometimes, you barely have time to think. Here is the point where some caution needs to be exercised.

Granted, we are all expected to be “quick on our feet” and people who are able to make fast, decisive judgements, under stressful conditions, become valuable assets to any company. But we can’t let technology to a point where we can no longer take time to think - think critically, towards the future, about solutions, about our purpose. Technology should enhance our thinking time, not eliminate it.

That's why I always try and advocate not replying to e-mails immediately. If you reply without thinking through your words, and how they read rather than how you think they read, then you may possibly write something that you would be best not to. And if you are upset then there is every chance you could enflame the situation if you hit send too quickly.

What's happening in my life

2007-06-22T08:31:00.000+01:00

Well, I'm off away for a few days, so won't be blogging for 10 days or so. Everyone needs a change from their everyday life, so I am off to Wales for some rest and recuperation with my family.

I'm looking forward to some nice walks in the countryside, with picnics, and maybe a pub lunch or two. We have plans to visit the seaside, and get plenty of fresh air. And also catch up on some reading time in the evenings.

Talking of reading time, I recently read Danny Wallace's Yes Man. Along with Tony Hawks, he's probably my favourite comedy writer at present. If you haven't read Yes Man, why not buy it and see what the lesson is for self improvement - yes, there's always a hidden message somewhere.

Take care, and I'll be back all to soon. Thanks for reading.

The Science of Success

2007-06-20T12:42:00.000+01:00

I've just come across a report from Gary Vurnum, one of the world's most informative people on personal success. I haven't yet had teh chance to read it all, but I know that as it is written by Gary it will almost certainly be well worth reading.

The report is entitled The Science of Success, and you can check it out Here!. I'd recommend most of what Gary writes, but why not check it out yourself? With a 60 day money back guarantee, you've not got much to lose.

Motivate yourself - a 7 point plan

2007-06-20T12:31:00.000+01:00

Everyone’s motivation droops now and then, which can affect our productivity and outlook on life. Fortunately, no one motivates us quite as effectively as we motivate ourselves and we have the power to reverse these downward spirals. Consider the following:

1. Recognise that you’re feeling blue - before your outlook turns black. Then, find an activity that will recharge your energies. Asking for a new challenge may be in order. Or, take some time off for a rejuvenating break.

2. Shift your focus outward. Think about how your efforts held others and benefit your organisation. Make a conscious effort to make a positive impact on your customers and co-workers.

3. Savour your victories. Keep complimentary voice mail messages, letters and memos and review them when you’re feeling down. When you finish a task or project, take the time to step back, enjoy and appreciate your feeling of accomplishment.

4. Evaluate your habits. Whether it’s lack of sleep, procrastination or negative self-talk, work to rid you of the habits that are holding you down and replace them with a more productive, healthier attitude.

5. Associate with positive people. Identify go-getters in and outside your company and spend as much time with them as possible.

6. Clarify your direction. Drowning in uncertainty dampens the spark of motivation. Set and keep in front of you both short and long term goals. Make sure they are challenging and meaningful, while at the same time attainable and realistic.

7. Reach out. If your slump persists, it may be time to seek professional help to determine what the motivational block might be and how to break through it.

Follow these 7 suggestions and see your motivation soar again!

Taking responsibility

2007-06-14T12:31:00.000+01:00

Every choice you have made, every action you have taken, has resulted in where you are in your life now.

If you are not happy, or are striving for more, then you have to look back to your choices and actions to see what you could have done differently. And if you feel that there is something that you could have done differently, the next time that opportunity or a similar one arises, take a different action that will be more successful.

You are responsible for where you are in life. No-one is going to give you a new job, a bigger house, luxury holidays - if these are what you want, then you are the only person responsible for this.

I think that once people accept that they are responsible for there own life, that is when they truly become mature. That realisation may take some longer than others, but without accepting responsibility for your own life, you will just be living and waiting for someone to give you what you want. It will not happen - you have to go out and find a way to get what you want.

When you see people living on the street, yes, they may have had some major downturn in their life, but ultimately it is up to them to get out of that. They can choose to live better, and apply themselves to attaining somewhere to live. It may take ages, but it is an upwards journey.

Similarly, drug users have made that initial choice to take drugs once, and if they continue because they are hooked, that is their choice. If they want to wean themselves off, they must take responsibility to find a programme that will help them.

Have you taken responsibility for your life? If not, this could be the single biggest thing that you could do that will push you forward to what you want. Nobody is going to hand you something on a plate, you must decide what you want and find it yourself.

How to Rise Above Disappointment

2007-06-07T13:46:00.001+01:00

We’ve all experienced that sinking feeling - whether it was the promotion that went to someone else, the coveted award we didn’t get, or the project that didn’t receive the hoped-for acclaim. Invariably, in both our professional and personal lives, there are times when our highest hopes are dashed on the rocks of hard reality. Here are some words of encouragement to help you through those difficult times:

Seek support, but be sure to choose poitive friends. Talk to people who believe in you, but avoid “complainers” who will only encourage you to feel further victimized and disempowered.

Don’t give up. Although you may lose something in the short-term, learn from this and come out stronger and more determined. You may need to hone your skills, approach the situation from another angle, or change direction entirely. Regardless, devise another strategy and give it another shot. Most successful people have been knocked down plenty of times before realizing their dreams - Walt Disney was sacked by a newspaper editor for “lack of ideas”.

Have faith, both in yourself and the growth process. Remember, everyone experiences setbacks, so don’t let the situation get the better of you. In fact, many successful people look back on their past disappointments as blessings - knowing that they learned a lot from them - and that something better was waiting down the line. When one door closes, another will open, especially if you remain positive and persistent.

It may not always seem like it at the time, but you can learn from setbacks, and looking back you will remember that moment and realise things do turn out better.

Procrastination - A BIg and Dirty Word

2007-06-07T13:45:00.001+01:00

Procrastination

It’s a big word, but one we all understand from firsthand experience. In business, procrastination costs time, money and sometimes the goodwill of a customer or fellow worker.

So how can we stop putting off what we need to do? Sometimes a task or project seems mind boggling. Plot it out on paper to make it more manageable. Break the project into smaller chunks. Decide on a deadline to complete each task and block in time on your calendar to do it.

As you jot down your project schedule, figure out your most productive work hours. Set aside at least a couple of hours at your best time of day to grab the project by its horns.

If you work in an office, you’re probably interrupted an average of every six to nine minutes. So, put a note on your door saying “quiet time” and ask your staff not to interrupt.

Keep these tips in mind but don’t just plan; start NOW. Do something – anything – to get the project going. Work for at least ten minutes, and chances are, you will get involved and keep working. You might finish sooner than you think.

For a more detailed look at procrastination, please take the opportunity to look at Habit Busting Secrets: How to Break Any Habit in 21 Days

from Martin Brock.

What makes work fun?

2007-06-06T16:11:00.000+01:00

What makes work fun?

In a recent survey of professionals, here are the top five responses to the above question in order of priority:

1. Solving problems, working on challenges. This includes the ability to be creative, undertake large and/or new projects, and solve problems for clients and others.

2. The people I work with. Words such as “rapport,” “camaraderie,” and “interaction” came up, including working with clients and others.

3. A sense of accomplishment. This included completing numerous tasks or projects, plus reaching goals with successful results.

4. Variety. People enjoy different challenges and the sense of newness/excitement they bring.

5. The work itself. This response referred to specific aspects, such as working on certain projects, the line of business and using computer technology.

Renewing interest in your job

2007-05-31T13:19:00.000+01:00

How many of us work in jobs which we don’t enjoy? I would imagine it’s a fairly high percentage. Now imagine what fun your life would be if you had a job that you do enjoy. You spend so many hours at work, you may as well do something that you find worthwhile.

It may be that you have to work in your job because it pays well. But, and this could be quite drastic, would you be happier if you were working in a job that you had passion for? If so, would you be prepared to downsize on your house, on your lifestyle, in order to be happier? Quite a question.

If not, then you are going to have to find a way to enjoy your current job more. To do this, keep asking yourself questions: -

How can we do it better or more efficiently?
What's interesting about this?
What can we do now that will make this job less boring?

If you can come up with answers for these questions this may well just kick-start your motivation and interest in your current job. And that may spur you on to strive harder and propel your career forwards.

Although, if you answer these questions and are still disillusioned, maybe it’s time to ask your heart what you would have passion for, and follow those dreams.

Random Quote of the Day

2007-05-30T12:33:00.000+01:00

I've added a Random Quote of the Day section at the bottom of the blog. I hope this is of use to you, my readers.

I like quotes. Whilst there are lots which I don't get or understand, I believe that if you read a good quote it can inspire you to do something special that day. And if you keep doing something special each day, then your life will soon become so much better and full of great experiences.

I'm going to monitor the quotes on here, but if I find they are not as good as I hoped, then will remove the item. Let me know what you think.

Go ahead, Show those Pearly Whites

2007-05-22T12:42:00.000+01:00

A few weeks back I talked about the power of a smile, and I thought I would share the following article from Josh Hinds that explains my sentiments better.

Go Ahead, Show those Pearly Whites

Your smile can brighten the world around you. That's right, one of our most valuable assets is our smile. Think about it for a moment... I mean really think about it, your smile is the first opportunity you have to make a difference in the lives of those around you.

With one flash of your pearly whites you can cause a mini- chain reaction from that person, to the next person they come into contact with and so forth. While you may not change the world with one friendly gesture to a passerby, you will have a positive impact on them just the same -- and everything has to start somewhere doesn't it?

So with that said, I hope you'll make the conscious effort not to let this wonderful opportunity pass you by. Sure at times people might look at you a bit funny. However, all and all you'll be amazed at the effect that sharing your smile will bring about.

Best of all as I touched on before, you'll be making a positive impact on another person, who in turn is likely to do the same with the next person they come into contact with. It really can kick off a bit of a snowball effect.

In the end there's no way of knowing just how big an impact your simple act of kindness can have. Who knows... it might even make its way all the way back to you. Now that's exciting stuff, but it all starts with your decision to share that smile of yours -- so don't be stingy with it!

Put your smile to work, starting right now by setting out with the knowing that you have inside you the ability to positively impact those around you.

If you would like to sign up for Josh's ezine, Get Motivation, then click here. I receive this, and it is always a great read, which just gives me a gentle pointer or reminder.

Successful Sports Stars Do Lose, But They Learn From Their Defeats

2007-05-17T14:08:00.001+01:00

In order to become a great sportsman or woman, you must be able to handle defeats well.

It’s not possible to win every game or competition that you play in, but it is possible to accept defeat well, and try to learn from those losses so that they become less frequent.

For every Ed Moses or Michael Johnson, there are thousands of athletes who finish second, third, fourth, or even last. And despite Moses’ and Johnson’s domination of their events, they had to go through years of training, accepting initial losses, before they turned their careers round to become the legends they are.

An example of a sportswoman who took years to reach her pinnacle is Kelly Holmes. I’m lucky enough to live in a neighbouring town to Kelly, and often passed her out training. (I hasten to add that I was in a car going to work in the opposite direction – there was no other way for me to overtake her!). Kelly spent years of hard work, many in the shadow of that other great athlete, Maria Mutola. But she learnt, even going to train with Mutola in Africa. Who will ever forget those great scenes when Kelly not only won Olympic Gold in the 800 metres, but also followed that up with success in the 1500 metres just a few days later? She fully deserved that success, and it was all down to accepting earlier defeats and learning from them.

In my own sport of bowls I come across players who struggle to handle defeat. They moan about the state of the green, the opposition’s good luck, but it is rare that they come off and say that the better team beat them on the day.

In my opinion, rather than belittling the victors, it would be better to shake hands, wish them well for the next game, and then analyse what you can change in your own game if a similar situation was to arise.

I’ll leave you with a quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson – Shallow men believe in luck; Wise and strong men in cause and effect.

If you would like to read more about Kelly Holmes and her life story, I'd recommend reading her autobiography - Kelly's Autobiography

Sports Success - setting targets, and changing as time goes on

2007-05-09T12:24:00.000+01:00

I told you yesterday about my life in sport, and more importantly my life in bowls. Today I would like to look at sporting success for a season, and how it matches up to your hopes and expectations.

The indoor bowls season starts in October and runs till the end of April. Last year I looked at the season ahead, and made some targets.

I wanted to remain part of a successful Kent team in the Liberty Trophy. I was dropped after one game, and Kent lost to Somerset in the quarter final – a result which Somerset deserved but must be classed as a poor one for Kent.

I wanted to reach the National Finals for the third year in a row, and thought that a quarter final place was a real possibility. I lost all my Nationals early on, not even reaching an area semi final.

So far not a good season. But it ended well.

As mentioned yesterday, I managed to win a County title – the triples. Our County Fours team lost in the semi final, and whilst this was a disappointing result, we managed to win a County Badge for one of our players, which we had always stated would be a success.

And I defended my club singles title, beating the best player in Kent for the first time in singles, coming from 9-2 down to win 21-9 – something I never thought would happen.

So I guess all in all not a bad season, and one that many players would have given their right arm for. So was it a success? Yes, despite not achieving my aims for the season, I did achieve a lot.

I have aims again for next season – regain my Liberty Trophy place, reach the final stages of the National competitions, and winning another County title. Will I reach them all? Maybe, maybe not, but I will certainly be trying my hardest.

I’m sure Manchester United a few weeks ago had a target of winning the Champions League. They were in the semi finals, and also just topping the Premier League in England. But having been knocked out by AC Milan, they bounced straight back and clinched the Premier League title with games to spare. They still have the FA Cup to look forward to in a couple of weeks. I’m sure at the start of the season they would have looked at winning the Premier League, a semi final of the Champions League and a FA Cup final place a huge success, even if they had high hopes of another historic Treble just recently.

Another example of a sports success has just come to light. Who would have thought that Mark Selby, a 22 year old qualifier, would reach the final of the World Snooker Championship? And who would have given him good odds of winning when he trailed former champion John Higgins 12-4 at the end of the first day? But he stuck to his game, and fought back to 12-10. Whilst he could not quite complete the fairy tale story, I’m sure Selby would have laughed at the start of the season had you suggested that he would lose in the final of the World Championship. It may have been his dream of playing in a Crucible final, but who would have thought he’d come from nowhere to achieve it this year?

It’s important to set targets in sport, and in life, and continually reassess how you are doing. You will have setbacks like I had this season, but you will have other successes that you hadn’t considered, and that will make you look at your life slightly differently.

Sporting Success – My Story

2007-05-09T12:11:00.000+01:00

I’ve always been mad keen on sports. When I was young I dreamt of being a footballer like my hero, Kenny Dalglish. Or an athlete, like Sebastian Coe. As a teenager I would spend most of my spare time playing sport in the fields around my home.

I played local football for teams from the age of 11, finally giving up when I turned 30. In my late teens I also ran fun runs, half marathons, and even completed the London Marathon shortly before my 21st birthday. But neither of these was as a successful sportsman. I enjoyed them, but I wasn’t particularly good. I could knock a ball round a court, but it was merely for fun.

I started playing bowls when I was 19, and apart from a 2 year gap when I moved towns, continued throughout. It’s a great sport that can be played by anyone – young or old, men or women, able bodied or disabled.

I showed potential in the early years, and although the break set me back, I soon became a reasonable club player. I didn’t make the top teams for quite a while – it wasn’t till I realised that if I gave up football my body wouldn’t ache so much, and I could deliver each bowl more consistently.

I first won our club singles in 1996. I had a great group of friends that played competitively, but I was just on the edge of their teams – for a few years I was fifth man in a team of four.

The first big aim of many bowlers is to win their County badge. In some Counties that means playing in three friendly matches, but in Kent, where I play, you have to reach the semi finals of a County competition. This is a pretty tough task, but one I achieved in 2000 when our team won the County Fours competition. In the same year I was runner up in the Area Final of the National singles. My own success followed on from this.

I managed to play in Kent’s top team of 24 players in the County knockout tournament, the Liberty Trophy, from the following season. I was lucky enough to be part of a team of four within that larger team that went 15 matches unbeaten, before illness forced us apart. Up until this season just completed I was a member of Kent’s team that won the title once, was runner up twice, and lost in the quarter finals twice.

I’ve gone on to win the club singles 5 times in all, losing 3 finals also. This year I was proud to have won my second County title when our team won the County Triples. My partners in that team followed this up less than a week later with the National Pairs title – a truly remarkable feat.

I’ve been lucky enough to have played some of Britain’s best bowlers in either team events or singles, especially when I have played in the Professional Bowls Association events, attempting to reach the televised finals. I consider myself a good singles player, and have had success against 2 World Champions, a Scottish Champion, and some of the internationals from the British Isles.

Yes, bowls has given me the success that I craved as a youngster, and whilst I will never be as famous as Messrs Dalglish or Coe, it has also made me known to a few, and looked upon as a reasonable player.

But bowls has given me far more than this – and is tantamount to much of the success I have had in life.

It has given me confidence, and pride. It helped me come out of my shell – I was always a very shy youngster, and although I am still shy, I am quite happy to meet new people and approach different situations with optimism.

Bowls has taught me to mix with all sorts of other people – while most players are near or have reached retirement, there are an awful lot of youngsters coming into the game.

It’s taught me humility – there’s nothing liked being dropped from your County team to remind you that no matter how good you think you are, there are always better players.

And bowls has taught me that success isn’t everything – there are many players who just play for the social side. They may be divorced or widowed, and without the sport of bowls they would not get out of the house.

It’s also taught me tolerance of others and their views – with such a vast range of possible players it’s not surprising that there are so many differing views on all matters, whether they be bowls related or otherwise.

Whilst I would still have liked to have been a famous footballer or athlete, I’m not sure that I would be the same person had I been successful in those dreams. But bowls has taught me so much more about life, and for this I am grateful.

I’d love to hear your stories about what sport has given you – how it has shaped your life, and how it has helped you make decisions about your life that you feel may be different had you not been playing that sport.

If you would like to see what bowls can offer you, check the England Indoor Bowls Association website for your nearest club.

Relaxation - in small steps

2007-05-01T12:15:00.000+01:00

We all know how important it is to relax. With our ever increasing workloads and more and more things to do outside of work also, it is imperative that we learn how to let off steam and relax.

It may not be possible to find the time, or the money, to set off for a weekend at a spa retreat, or whatever works for you. So it is important to be able to fit in small things into your everyday life to assist you coping with those stressful times.

I travel by train to work, and I walk to the station, and from the station to work. My morning walk wakes me up, and this is when I use a lot of my thinking time. But it is usually thoughts that I want to either bounce round my head, or to get rid off by finding a solution to something that's nagging me.

When I'm on the train, I like to read. It's either a book that will teach me something - or a book to help me relax. At present I'm reading Are You Dave Gorman? It's not taxing my brain, but it helps me to unwind and laugh. Books similar to this, that do not tax my brain, but make me chuckle inside (sometimes out loud, but I tend to get strange looks), just allow me to switch off from life's everyday problems.

Another small thing I do on my journey to work - I walk through back streets to the office. I work in a town just outside London, and teh main roads are busy. But by walking through a couple of alleyways I get to see lots of wildlife and some beautiful houses and gardens, rather than lorries, buses and cars, which pollute my walk. And it's just as quick.

So these aren't great big things, but they all co-exist to just let me relax a little. What things in your life could you make a minor change to, which would help alleviate the tiniest amount of stress, and make your day a more relaxing one?

I'd love to hear what things you do that help you, so please leave a comment below.

The London Marathon - from an unsuccessful entrant

2007-04-25T13:48:00.000+01:00

So what happens when you've set yourself a momentous goal, then receive an enormous setback? Well, you take a look at the goal, and work out another way of achieving that goal via a different route.

This is exactly what my friend Gordon did when he set himself the challenge of running the London Marathon, to celebrate a landmark birthday. Late last year he received a major setback when he was unsuccessful in his enty. Undeterred, he set about achieving his goal anyway.

Read more about his amazing story here.

Incidentally, Gordon has also created a way of making money from sports, and you can read about that here. With so many people playing or watching sport, you may find this interesting.

If not, why not take time to peruse Gordon's blog - he is quite an entertaining man!

What are your beliefs? Are they holding you back, or pushing you forward?

2007-04-25T12:51:00.000+01:00

We all have long held beliefs about ourselves and our lives. It’s these beliefs that shape our lives, and our expectations of our life.

If you are unhappy with part of your life, and you are looking for change in that part, then you need to assess what beliefs you have that have put you where you are now. In order to change that part of your life, you must change your belief that has shaped it.

Many of these beliefs will have been with us for a long time. I’m sure we can all look back to our childhood, where a friend, teacher or parent, has told us that we cannot do something, such as run fast, write well or even aspire to your dreams. And do we still have those beliefs? I’m sure there may be one or two of these in most of us.

In order to change your beliefs, it is important to recognise them. Write down your beliefs on paper in two lists – one for positive or empowering beliefs, and the other for negative or disempowering ones. Now take the most negative belief from your list, and really accept that you want to change this. By taking responsibility that you, and only you, can make that change, then you are well on the way.

Remember that belief? Well now turn it on its head. You’ve accepted that you really want to change it, and you’ve taken the responsibility that you are going to turn it round.

If you’re struggling to push forward with this, go back to your list of positive beliefs. Now take a look at the most powerful one. How has this affected your life in a positive manner? Now you will be able to see what positive change to your life will follow, once you’ve taken action to turn your negative beliefs into positive ones.

Take a look at your beliefs, and just by changing a few long standing negative beliefs, push your life forward towards one that you deserve.

The basis of this post came from this great book written by Fiona Harrold, one of Britain's best life coaches. You can check out more information about Fiona and her work at her website.

Lifehacker

2007-04-20T12:19:00.000+01:00

I've just stumbled across Lifehacker and the matching book via a note from Darren Rowse at Problogger. I haven't looked too closely yet, but felt that anyone who wants to become more efficient in their life will find several things that they can use here.

Why not take a look and see what you can find to help you and your individual circumstances.

Lifehacker: 88 Life-changing Geek Tips to Simplify Your Life

Derek

2007-04-19T12:32:00.001+01:00

I’ve been a bit quiet this week, mainly because I wanted to get this post just right.

Derek was a true gentleman that worked in my office. In fact, for the last year, when I moved departments, I sat next to Derek, and worked closely with him. Unfortunately he lost his battle with cancer recently, and on Monday we all attended his funeral.

The service was wonderful. His longest friend, from his childhood days, spoke at great length of his life growing up with Derek. Over the last few months Derek had told me about this chap, but hearing him talk was an insight into Derek’s life.

It was great to hear anecdotes from Derek’s life, little stories about him that you could listen to and say yes, I can see him doing that. It was great also to see his son, Ian, who helped nurse him over the last year of his life.

Afterwards we went to Derek’s local golf club. He was a keen golfer, although not a great player. There were laid out many photographs from Derek’s life, from the days when he was a teenage footballer, through his table tennis days when he played at a high level, and then family photos. It was great to see the smile on his face in all of these, none more so than those with his granddaughter.

You may ask what has this to do with my blog about Success Tips. Maybe nothing. But as I stood listening to these anecdotes, and looked around me, I could not help but feel that Derek was loved by all who knew him. He never had a bad word to say about anyone, and he went out of his way to help others before his own needs.

There were many tears on Monday, and not many dry eyes at all, in the crematorium. With people standing at the back and down both sides, you could see how many people Derek had touched in his life.

I stood there and made a decision. This is how I want to be remembered. Ok, I hope I don’t pass away soon, but when I do I want to be remembered with fondness. And to do that, I must live my life better. I must help more people. I must make time to spend my life with my friends, sharing joyful times. It’s so easy to get cocooned in your own little world, but at the end of the day, is it all worth it?

I hope that I am some way along this road. But I know that I can do better. I don’t want to die yet, but when I do, I want people to stand there and think, yes, Paul wasn’t a bad lad, he was a good friend. And for that to happen, I know that I can do more to improve not only my life, but also the lives of those that I know.

Derek was only 63. He was a good guy, and we are all asking ourselves why it’s always the good guys that die young. I wish I had got to know Derek better, but time beat me. But I have learnt from him that I can do more with my life, and share life’s experiences with friends.

How do you end a post like this? I don’t know. But all I can say is that I’m sure we all know a Derek, someone who has passed away too quickly, who has enriched your time on this planet.

Why not follow me and try and become a little like Derek, and make this world a better place for all whose paths cross ours.

Hilda Carroll's blog

2007-04-13T08:40:00.000+01:00

After yesterday's post I read through some old messages I'd had and realised that Hilda has a blog also, so here's the link to the appropriate smiling page.

Smile and spread a little joy

2007-04-12T12:23:00.001+01:00

The power of a smile is a great thing. What happens when you smile and acknowledge someone - you instantly feel that little bit better.

I know when I'm trudging in to work, feeling slightly down, whether because it's early morning, it's raining or I just got out the wrong side of the bed, and I pass someone who gives me a smile, then I feel lifted. It's a great start to the day, and something we could all do more to spread a little cheer and happiness.

Two people whose work I like to read regularly have been talking about smiles this week. Hilda Carroll has given this subject her attention for her Thought of the Week column, and has provided some great quotes that nay inspire you.

Meanwhile Martin Avis gives a slight variation to this subject when he talks about an inner smile (see his Inspirational Thought). I would certainly recommend checking this out, as Martin uses his own style to look at things slightly differently.

So next time you catch someone's eye, give a little smile in acknowledgement, and just maybe you will cheer them up, and they will go on to have a fantastic day. And if we all do this once in a while, then in no time at all someone will give you the lift to make your day so much better.

The Fred Factor - a quick summary

2007-04-10T12:38:00.006+01:00

Having described the four principles of what constitutes a Fred, Sanborn continues on to explain each one further, and then how to develop others into Freds or teams of Freds.

It would be superb if everyone who reads The Fred Factor would adapt their own work habits to become a Fred. But just imagine the possibilities if their colleagues were inspired by the difference it made, and then followed suit to also commit to that change. This would give their company such an edge in the marketplace, as customers would certainly spend their money with teams that gave such excellent service.

It isn’t easy to change your work habits, especially if you’ve been in a rut, maybe for years. But part of the potential enjoyment that you could have, by making others happy, is to re-invent yourself and your job. How can you change what you currently do to give more value, and thus give you more satisfaction?

You may have read this series and thought that it only applies to customer facing roles, particularly salesmen. But if you are in a job that deals with other departments, this works just as well and is just as important.

Take time to find out how other departments work. What information do you currently provide, and how do they use it? When you find out what is important, and what else you could provide just as easily that would make their job easier, you will be looked upon as a valued colleague. If you keep providing value to other colleagues then this will be noticed and you may be asked to participate in interesting projects.

What must always be remembered though is that the reward for adapting your work habits to the benefit of others is the satisfaction that it gives you in doing the best job that you can. If other benefits follow, then that is all well and good, but that is not the aim of the practice.

Fred Factor Principle 1 - Everyone Makes A Difference
Fred Factor Principle 2 - Success Is Built On Relationships
Fred Factor Principle 3 - You Must Continually Create Value For Others
Fred Factor Principle 4 - You Can Re-Invent Yourself Regularly
Fred Factor - Quick Summary

For UK readers

For USA readers

If you would like to read more about Fred, click here
If you would like to read more about Mark Sanborn, click here

[The Fred Factor]

The Fred Factor - Principle 4, You Can Re-invent Yourself Regularly

2007-04-05T13:08:00.003+01:00

Fred proved to us that it is possible to bring life to the most mundane of jobs.

We all have days when we struggle in to work, feeling lethargic and unmotivated. At times like this we should stop and remember Fred, and use his example to give ourselves a push into action.

As you know, adopting the right attitude to your life and work will enhance your enjoyment. Why not copy Fred’s example and motivate yourself to use your creativity, thus providing value and making a difference to your customers.

If a US postal worker walking the streets posting mail can do it, what is stopping you?

Fred Factor Principle 1 - Everyone Makes A Difference
Fred Factor Principle 2 - Success Is Built On Relationships
Fred Factor Principle 3 - You Must Continually Create Value For Others
Fred Factor Principle 4 - You Can Re-Invent Yourself Regularly
Fred Factor - Quick Summary

For UK readers

For USA readers

If you would like to read more about Fred, click here
If you would like to read more about Mark Sanborn, click here

The Fred Factor - Principle 3, You Must Continually Create Value For Others, And It Doesn't Have To Cost A Penny

2007-04-04T12:41:00.002+01:00

Most people moan that they don’t have the resources in their jobs to make a difference, such as money, training or the right opportunities. How can you create value without these?

To create value you must copy Fred, and use your imagination to think of ways to give value to your customers without these resources. Fred gave excellent customer service and value by thinking about how he could improve the normal postal service. He did not need to spend any money on this, he used his own creativity.

By learning to foster your own creativity and imagination, you can think of ways to create value for your customers. By doing this you will enhance your own feelings of happiness, knowing that you have done a good job and given good value. And if you give good value, you will surely reap the benefits from your customer of increased sales and recommendations.

So try and increase your creativity by 1% each day, and within weeks the value given to your customers will have soared, without splashing large amounts of money.

Fred Factor Principle 1 - Everyone Makes A Difference
Fred Factor Principle 2 - Success Is Built On Relationships
Fred Factor Principle 3 - You Must Continually Create Value For Others
Fred Factor Principle 4 - You Can Re-Invent Yourself Regularly
Fred Factor - Quick Summary

For UK readers

For USA readers

If you would like to read more about Fred, click here
If you would like to read more about Mark Sanborn, click here

The Fred Factor - Principle 2, Success Is Built On Relationships

2007-04-02T12:50:00.002+01:00

Fred gave such excellent service to the people on his round quite simply because he took time to know their needs – in other words, he built a relationship.

If you, as a customer, were looking to buy goods and had a choice of two shops that stocked the items at similar prices, which would you choose? Shop A, whose staff congregate together, laughing and joking, and not seeing if you required help? Or Shop B, where the staff were attentive and assisted with any questions you may have?

It doesn’t take a genius to see that if you provide a service, taking time to understand your customer’s requirements and servicing their needs, this will go a long way to building a successful relationship.

Next time you are speaking with a customer, vow to take an extra two minutes to ask questions and listen to the answers in an effort to strengthen that relationship.

Fred Factor Principle 1 - Everyone Makes A Difference
Fred Factor Principle 2 - Success Is Built On Relationships
Fred Factor Principle 3 - You Must Continually Create Value For Others
Fred Factor Principle 4 - You Can Re-Invent Yourself Regularly
Fred Factor - Quick Summary

For UK readers

For USA readers

If you would like to read more about Fred, click here
If you would like to read more about Mark Sanborn, click here

The Fred Factor - Principle 1, Everyone Makes A Difference

2007-03-29T12:22:00.002+01:00

The first principle to be learnt from The Fred Factor is that everyone makes a difference.

No matter how good or bad your company is, if you choose to be exceptional then you really can make a difference to your customers.

We should all strive to give the best day’s work that we can, each and every day. By doing this, going that extra mile, we can turn the most mundane of jobs into one that not only gives us personal satisfaction, but also makes a difference in those that we come into contact with.

I spoke previously about attitude, and adopting the attitude to give that extra effort to make a difference will go a long way to pushing your career forward and achieving great results.

So whatever job you have now, and no matter how boring you think it is, why not think about how you could improve your working day by improving what you put in, and make that difference.

Fred Factor Principle 1 - Everyone Makes A Difference
Fred Factor Principle 2 - Success Is Built On Relationships
Fred Factor Principle 3 - You Must Continually Create Value For Others
Fred Factor Principle 4 - You Can Re-Invent Yourself Regularly
Fred Factor - Quick Summary

For UK readers

For USA readers

If you would like to read more about Fred, click here
If you would like to read more about Mark Sanborn, click here

The Fred Factor - how passion in your work and life can turn the ordinary into the extraordinary

2007-03-28T12:40:00.002+01:00

In this fascinating tale Mark Sanborn tells the story of Fred Shea, A US postal worker, who goes out of his way to provide the best possible service to his customers.

You would think that delivering mail is a boring job, with little motivation, but Fred Shea is an exceptional man. Sanborn describes how when he moved into his new house he met Fred, and how Fred went out of his way to not only deliver the mail, but also to take an interest in his customers, deliver wrongly delivered items from courier services, and to deter burglars!

Sanborn also describes further examples of workers who have gone past the limits of their job descriptions to ensure that they provide the best possible service to their clients. These examples prove to the reader that doing the minimum required of your tasks gives little job satisfaction, and how going that step further can increase the feel good factor in your customers and yourself.

Sanborn is a motivational speaker, and recounts the story of Fred, and others, in his speeches, in an attempt to spur his clients into giving better service to their customers.

Over my next few posts I will describe what Sanborn feels are the key principles in becoming a Fred.

Fred Factor Principle 1 - Everyone Makes A Difference
Fred Factor Principle 2 - Success Is Built On Relationships
Fred Factor Principle 3 - You Must Continually Create Value For Others
Fred Factor Principle 4 - You Can Re-Invent Yourself Regularly
Fred Factor - Quick Summary

For UK readers

For USA readers

If you would like to read more about Fred, click here
If you would like to read more about Mark Sanborn, click here

Reverse Engineering

2007-03-16T13:31:00.000Z

An innovative method of attaining your dreams is to utilise reverse engineering to look at the end of goal, and then analyse the steps required and time it would take to reach that goal.

Quite often in the world of engineering when a company brings out some new equipment a competitor will buy that product and dismantle it to find out how it is made and discover the technological innovations to design it.

Take one of your goals that you would like to achieve. Imagine that you have completed that goal, and feel the benefits of having achieved it. Now smile as you think how much better your life is since you have completed this goal.

Now look back from this success and ask yourself what steps did you have to take to complete that goal? List them out, working backwards as much as possible. This will give you a good guide as to what must be completed to give you the success you desire.

Now let’s look at the timescale. At what point in the future do you want to have completed your goal? If it is 3 months you will have to slot in the tasks above quicker than if it is a year. Looking ahead, is this a realistic timeframe? What distractions do you already have, such as holidays or family gatherings to plan? Is the time frame realistic?

If you find that you need to amend the timeframe, or that there are certain tasks required that will not be worth the effort, is there a way to amend these to your benefit? Remember that it is just as important to enjoy the journey as it is to reach the destination.

Reverse engineering can be a very effective method of achieving your dreams, but you must be able to visualize the outcome from the start, and imagine how good you will feel to put in the effort required for the planning process. When you have succeeded with this method once I can imagine that you will use it time and time again to improve your life beyond your current expectations.

Achieving Success

2007-03-07T08:06:00.000Z

You can do whatever you set your mind to, you can achieve great success in any field you wish.

This is a powerful statement, and many would scoff at the idea, but it is possible using focus and determination to use your brain and it’s power to succeed when others would fail.

In 1999 Dr Alan Beggs and Graham Williams developed the concept of Learned Powerfulness. This concept looked into the following three aspects that peak performers use to reach the top, whether they be sportsmen, business people or adventurers.

Focus – without focus you can be busy, but if there is no end goal or there are too many competing objects of your attention, you will not succeed. You need to change your focus, and hence energy, towards the end results that you desire. Regular checks on progress will ensure that you keep on the right road to success.

Authenticity – ensure that your goals are true to what you believe in. If your own personal values are compromised by the actions to attain your goal, you will not be motivated enough to succeed to the best of your abilities. This can be tough not to compromise what you believe in.

Resilience – peak performers have the resilience, or mental toughness, to keep on towards their goal, even when then face setback after setback. They do nit give up in the face of adversity, but struggle to overcome any challenges that are thrown up against them.

By applying these three aspects to your goals, you can really achieve whatever you wish to apply yourself to. So do not aim low, but instead raise those aims to something that will truly make you happy.

Setting Goals

2007-02-22T12:12:00.000Z

Goal setting is the base of any true success. You may have overcome procrastination, attack every day with the right attitude, be full of action, but if you have no goals you will just be busy doing lots of unconnected things with no real outcome at the end of the day.

Setting goals therefore is the key. But what is a goal? A goal is something you desire, that is attainable, and fits in with your lifestyle. It’s no good setting a goal of running a marathon in under 3 hours if you have done no exercise in the past 5 years – it simply won’t happen.

You may want to lose 3 stones in weight before a summer wedding, or save £500 for that skiing trip you’d promised your friend you you’d go on. These are both good examples of goals, as they are measurable, and also have specific time frames. They can be further broken down into weekly or monthly goals too, which will help keep you on target for success.

Once you have set a realistic goal you will need to plan how to achieve it. If you’ve got 6 months to lose the weight before the wedding, that’s half a stone a month, or about 2 pounds a week. That doesn’t sound half as daunting as losing 3 stone. And therefore introducing healthier eating and regular exercise into your daily life should see your goal met with flying colours.

It’s important to set goals in your personal life and also your work life. If you concentrate on your work life you could be the most successful person in your company, but with little time for yourself to reap the benefits.

Finally, remember to reward yourself with a bonus or prize not only at the end, but also at points along the way when you have achieved success. Coming back to the wedding scenario, perhaps with each half a stone lost you could treat yourself to a facial, a massage, or a haircut, which will all go towards making the journey as happy as reaching the goal itself.

Adopting a Positive Attitude

2007-02-19T12:23:00.000Z

Your own attitude is one of the most important things in your success. Have the right attitude, and you can achieve so much more than if you don't.

In almost every situation that at first looks daunting, possibly something has gone wrong for you at work, it is how you deal with it that will then prove how successful you will be. Take each bad scenario, and apply a positive attitude towards it. Twist it round, and look for the opportunity that may be hidden from plain view. Rather than dwell on the bad experience, use a positive attitude that you can benefit, learn from the situation, and turn it to your advantage.

As a real-life example, my firm was affected by a GM issue last year. Whilst most companies were running round trying to assure customers they would do all they could to help, we managed to do the same, but also to supply an alternative product, much quicker than our competitiors. Our sales were actually up from what was expected that month, and in the background we did what we could to sort out the issues caused by the GM issue.

So why not wake up each day, and whilst you get ready for work, decide that today is going to be a positive attitude day. Train delayed - more time for reading that book, making notes on the presentation you are working upon, or researching your side business. Didn't get the business you had worked hard on - find out why the opposition got the business, then tweak any small part of the presentation so that it is better.

With a positive attitude you really can twist most scenarios round to your benefit. It may not show immediate results, but long term you will benefit in ways that you weren't aware of at the time.

Click here for a report on Positive attitude Click Here!

End Procrastination To Become A Success

2006-08-09T12:43:00.000+01:00

How can you end procrastination? It's not an easy thing to do, is it? I mean, you have a hard day at work, you get home, cook dinner, and all you want to do is to sit in front of the TV. Maybe not every day, but I'm sure that's a common occurrence around the world.

Perhaps you're at work, have been working hard on a project, you feel you need a break. You realise that important project has a deadline coming up - you leave it one more day. And then the same thing happens tomorrow.

To be a success you need to get into better habits. And one of those habits is to tackle the jobs you keep putting off. But not all jobs - just the important ones that will help you move forward.

In his book entitled Get Everything Done and Still Have Time To Play, Mark Forster http://www.markforster.net/ explains how you should tackle the jobs that you are showing resistance to - or in other words, those that you are putting off. By viewing your to do list and seeing which jobs you keep putting off, you will be able to remove these recurring items off your list and complete more.

Mike Litman takes it one step further by breaking this down into three points as follows:

Decide the one thing that you could be doing which would enhance your life
Think about how you will benefit from doing this
Focus on the reward of completing it, and not the process of doing it.

Now take action, and see those benefits come flying to you. If you can keep doing this so that it becomes a habit, your life will become so much richer.

Paul

If you have any thoughts about this, or would like to add your experiences, please leave a comment

For an in depth report on procrastination Click Here!

Hello

2006-08-08T12:43:00.000+01:00

Hello, my name is Paul. I work for a food importers in Kent, England, and enjoy my job, but have big dreams of being rich and famous. Well, maybe not, but we could all do with a little more in life, couldn't we?

I like to read and listen to books and CD's that may help me on my way to being more successful - whether it be at work, in my sport, or at home with my lovely wife and daughter. Success at home? Yes, I mean by having a nice relaxing home where you can share those special moments.

I hope to share some of the things I have read and learnt with you, some of which I use and others that I found did not find work with you, but the theory sounded good - just because they did not work for me does not mean they wouldn't work for you.

I love to share the little things I have done with others, and see if I can get them thinking how to do something different to achieve a better result.

Please feel free to pass on your comments as we progress along - the more we can share our ideas the more we all improve our lives.

Well, that's all for now, but I'll be back soon to start spreading what I know, and I look forward to speaking with you soon.