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Bears do it.

Koi fish do it.

So do frogs, squirrels, and several other animals. So why should you allow yourself to feel bad when you feel it’s effects? What I’m talking about here is hibernation.

Of course, humans don’t hibernate fully, but when the cold and short days of winter come around, many of us feel a physical change. We may want to sleep more. We may want to eat more. We may want to be less active and leave our home less frequently. I had a revelation about this recently. Since this is totally normal and most everyone experiences it, then there is absolutely no reason to feel bad about it!

The way to transform your winter blues is simple. Reconsider these winter changes from a new perspective. Here’s how:

Change the labels you put on the physical changes that you feel. Instead of calling these changes the “Winter Blues,” call them what they are: the “Hibernation Effect.” It’s not bad or good. It just is. Just like your hair color. It’s not bad or good. It just is. You decide what label to put on it. You decide how to perceive it.

If you want the “Hibernation Effect” to work for you all you have to do is decide to take a few simple steps, most of which are wrapping your mind around the situation differently.

Making the Hibernation Effect Work to Your Advantage

1. Stop Judging Yourself. If you’ve ever called yourself a loser for not wanting to get out of bed in the morning on a cold day, you can stop right now. Yes, that’s right. You have full permission to stop being critical of yourself. It’s not you! It’s the weather! And everyone else feels the same way you do! The same goes for all the other things you’re feeling. Instead begin to revel in the cozy rejuvenating aspects of the Hibernation Effect. You have the power to make these winter changes work to your advantage!

2. Get More Sleep. Yes, Yes, Yes! I know that many people in today’s frenzied world are looking for ways to do more on less sleep. “How to Sleep Less” type articles are very very popular. Here’s the deal, though. If you are getting less sleep than YOUR body needs, then you will not only be grumpy and tired everyday, you’re also likely to gain weight and die younger than if you got enough sleep. How much is enough? The most recent health guidelines say 7-9 hours per night. Listen to your body to find out what is right for you. If you’re tired every morning, go to sleep a little earlier.

3. Wake Up Slowly. We keep our home on the cooler side at night and I’m rarely excited about putting my feet down on the cold floor in the morning. The way to make it a little easier is to set your alarm so that you have about 15 minutes to wake up slowly. Establish a routine that works for you. Here are some ideas:

• Drink a warm cup of tea in bed. (Keep a hot pot in your room to make the tea in the morning.)
• Read the morning headlines on your cell phone.
• Sit up and write out your plan for the day or journal your waking thoughts.
• Sit up and daydream.
• Sit up and meditate for 10 minutes focusing on a positive mantra for the day.
• Do some deep breathing to bring some fresh air into your lungs and energize you.
• Stretch: up to the ceiling, child’s pose, sun salutations, twists, whatever feels good.

4. Enjoy Indoor Activities. If you don’t feel like leaving your house on a particular day, then don’t. And don’t feel guilty about it or else you may as well go out. Give yourself some “free days” to stay inside when it’s really cold. (I think taking the odd sick day to rejuvenate your mind and soul is a healthy choice probably resulting in less actual sick days.) Enjoy those things you don’t always get around to doing such as watching a movie, reading, practicing music, doing some art or a creative project. Give thanks to the Hibernation Effect as you enjoy a fully deserved lazy day.

5. Getting Out of the House. On the days that you’re feeling some cabin fever, by all means, get out of the house. Bundle up and go for a walk. You will feel so good! Here are some other ways to help get you out of the house:

• Take a class in something fun, interesting or that involves body movement, such as belly dancing!
• Join a gym with a friend. Make dates to meet at the gym and you’ll be more likely to stick with it. Focus on how you’ll feel afterwards for motivation.
• Go for a walk in the mall on cold days.
• Go see a movie, a show, an art gallery opening, etc.
• Reward yourself for getting out.

6. Eating Right. Enjoy a little comfort food each day whether it’s a couple cookies, a muffin, a slice of pizza, or whatever you are craving. Try to save it for the end of the day after eating lots of fruits and veggies during the day. The reason to save it for the end of the day is that if you eat highly nutritional food early on in the day you won’t have such a big craving for bad foods. At any given point during the day, try to make healthy choices. If you do this 80-90% of the day, you’ll be golden and won’t have to worry about gaining weight.

7. How to Handle a Grumpy Day. If you wake up on a particular day and you feel tired and aggravated right from the start and you can’t afford to take a day off, then do the next best thing. Take it slow. Plan your day with lots of transition time and buffer time. Be kind to yourself, to others and take lots of breaks during the day. Take 5-10 minutes to close your eyes, breathe deeply and remind yourself to take things slow today. The world can wait. In most cases the rest of the work can get done tomorrow when you have more energy. Avoid or decrease your intake of caffeine so you can reduce agitation and so you can get to sleep a little earlier tonight.

8. People Power. Be with people. Talk to people. Seek out your good fun friends. Make a call. Send an email. Set a laughing lunch date. (What is that? I don’t know, but it sounds good, right?) We lift each other up. It’s like magic. Go grab some for yourself. Be on a mission to lift someone else up too. If this is hard for you to do, set up electronic reminders via Gmail or Outlook or whatever calendar program you use to get in touch with friends on some periodic basis.

9. Moving & Grooving. You may be feeling more sluggish given all the layers of clothes we need to wear in the winter, but at the very least, ease yourself into some activities at least every other day. Be sure to give yourself credit for things like shoveling, stacking wood, and other winter work. The best way to enjoy exercise is to do it to some music or make it a social activity or both! If you don’t want to go outside to exercise, get yourself a rebounder which is a mini-trampoline. Minute for minute, it’s about the equivalent of jogging although it is easier on the knees. For those icy and snowy days it’s a great replacement for people who normally walk or jog. And they are cheap compared to most exercise equipment.

10. Awaken Your Joy. Check out this very cool course on developing true deep rooted happiness called Awakening Joy. Here is my review of the Awakening Joy course. I highly recommend it!

The Bottom Line

Remember that it is natural, normal, and ok to feel a little different in the winter. Don’t criticize yourself for this. Find ways to enjoy it and make it work for you.

Of course, if you feel like you have a little more than the winter Hibernation Effect going on, check with your doctor for other treatments that may be helpful for you whether it’s talk therapy, light therapy, or medication. This is also nothing to judge yourself about. It just is. Getting some help through it can lead you to finding the silver lining.

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How do keep your spirits up when winter gets you down? All comments big and small are very welcomed!

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Easily Transform Your Winter Blues into Winter Joy!

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We have a new president in America! His name is Barack Obama. Life Learning Today is not a political blog, but I think with the election completed we have 2 opportunities before us. One is to study Obama’s example of success and implement what we learn to reach our personal dreams. The second opportunity is, regardless of party affiliation or even nationality, to be a part of making our world a better place along with and under Obama’s leadership.

Whether you supported him or not, I believe that most of us can agree that Barack Obama shines as an example of how anyone can achieve success by combining a positive vision, smart planning, and hard work.

How does this relate to you and improving your life?

First, when pursuing your personal goals, incorporate the same elements President-Elect Barack Obama used to achieve his success. Secondly, when you contribute your energy towards making the world a better place, everyone benefits!

Barack Obama’s Success Elements

1. Have a Clear Vision. Know where you want to go. Ask yourself “what do I REALLY want?”

2. Know Your Motivation. Write down your goals and your motivations so when you hit rough patches you can reconnect with the energy to keep going.

3. Have a Strategic Plan. Get your plan in writing. Keep it simple. Only fill in as much detail as you need today. As you move along in your plan keep updating your action steps as needed.

4. Enlist the Help of Others. Don’t go it alone in motivation, strategy, or implementation of your plan. Find mentors. Seek out people who have done what you want to do. Contact them even if you don’t know them. It doesn’t hurt to try. Outsource things you’re not good at. Make it win-win and watch how people line up to help you.

5. Don’t Get Bogged Down. Keep moving past setbacks. Ignore detractors. Let the unimportant things slide. Plan to get your most important action steps done each day.

6. Enjoy the Journey. Smiles, laughter, and enjoyment will give you the energy needed to carry you through a long journey.

7. Be Confident Enough to Rise Above Your Fears. Don’t be afraid to tackle new challenges. Just do it! You can do it!

8. Be Humble Enough to Learn. Always assume that you have more to learn. Ask yourself “What did I learn today?” especially when things go wrong.

9. Take the High Ground. Be a positive person. Find the good in others. Look for common ground with your opponents. Seek creative solutions when faced with frustrating circumstances.

10. Never Give Up. When things get tough, keep moving forward. When you are tired, rest. Always believe in yourself. If you must, “fake it ’til you make it!” Remember “Yes, You Can!”

The Opportunity to Make Our World a Better Place

There is a challenge before all of us now that Barack Obama has won the presidency. This includes Obama supporters, McCain supporters and everyone else. By working to make our world a better place we all benefit and so will our children and future generations.

For Obama Supporters

Now is the time to keep the momentum going. We need to continue to do volunteer work on projects that will make our country and our world a better place. What issue is most important to you? How will you get involved?

I believe it is also time to reach out in peace and kindness to our friends, co-workers and neighbors who may have supported McCain and find common ground that we can work on together towards making our country better. Who could you reach out to? How would you do it? How can we be inclusive of others’ ideas especially on difficult issues?

For McCain Supporters

I believe that whenever there is disappointment in our lives that there is one of two paths can be taken: bitterness or positive action. A dream we all share in America and throughout the world is to create a better world, a better life for ourselves and our families.

If we focus on our common goals instead of disappointment and differences, then we have a starting place upon which to build. What issues are important to you? How can you get involved in those issues to make a difference in moving our country forward? How can we find common ground on tough issues?

If we ask the right questions, we’ll get productive answers. (Example: How can we make this work?) If we ask negative questions we forfeit progress. (Example: Why did this happen? How can we derail the other party?)

God Bless America and Our World

My goal here is to inspire all of us to come together, to have compassion for each other, and to work together on improving our world. Let us all be kind and patient with each other instead of divisive and judgmental.

Let us all seek common ground and compromise for the greater good. Staunch idealism helps no one. Let’s be flexible in order to make progress. Small amounts of progress daily add up to great improvements over time! Yes, we can!

Wishing everyone a peace-filled life, inspiration to do great things, and the resources and love to accomplish your goals!

Barack Obama Resources

• Official Barack Obama Website
• The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream (Vintage)
• Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance

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Yes We Can! Yes You Can!

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This is a guest post written by Andrew of How to Stop Emotional Eating.

Emotional eating is when you consume food to deal with tough emotions rather than to satisfy actual physical hunger. Emotional eating is where the phrase “comfort foods” comes from. Comfort food is usually junk food or fast food. It’s food that you probably wouldn’t consume on a daily basis because of it’s high fat or sugar content. Often we eat comfort foods to soothe tough or negative emotions.

Have you ever came home from a long stressful day at work and skipped your planned workout? Instead, you just head straight for the fridge and before you knew it were eating your favorite comfort food? Maybe it was ice-cream, pizza, cookies or potato chips. Afterwards, you probably felt lazy, and relaxed the whole night, probably watching tv or surfing the net. You probably woke up the next day feeling guilty about sabotaging your weight loss efforts the previous night. You maybe even promised yourself that from now on you will never do this again. However, deep down you know that when you engage in emotional eating you lose control. If you were honest with yourself you might even admit that sometimes you are powerless over your junk food cravings.

Here are 5 Tips to End your Emotional Eating:

1. Become Aware of Your Emotional State. You need to start becoming more aware of your emotions throughout the day. It’s not a good idea to let stress, worry, disappointment or any other negative emotion build up. Otherwise that emotion will take over you and you will engage in emotional eating. A technique you can use is asking “how do I feel?” at different random times during the day. This will help you catch yourself when you are starting to feel stressed out. Becoming aware will help you pause before you reach for food to deal with tough emotions.

2. Identify your Trigger Emotions & Events. You need to identify your emotional eating triggers. To find your emotional eating triggers think of the last time you engaged in emotional eating. You know the time you weren’t really hungry but ate anyway? Or the last time you ate lots of junk food and ruined your diet? How were you feeling that day? Were there any stressful events that occurred? Any tough emotions or circumstances you experienced? Become aware of your emotional eating triggers, so that next time they come up, you wont automatically engage in emotional eating.

3. Journal. Journaling will help you become more aware of your emotions and stress levels. I recommend carrying a pocket sized pad and a pen with you throughout the day. And at random intervals, start writing down your thoughts, emotions, worries, anxieties in your journal. This will help you point out the reoccurring events in your life that cause you repeated stress. Lets say you find out that your job is a big source of stress then you need to ask “what can I do about it?” You might talk to your boss about making some changes or just decide to look for a new job.

4. Come up With Alternative Relaxing Activities. Often we engage in emotional eating to relax and comfort ourselves. To stop emotional eating you need to make a list of other relaxing activities you can do. Some common ones are going for a long walk, going for a bike ride, taking a nice warm shower, taking a nap, calling a friend and sharing details about your day, listening to your favorite music, or watching your favorite movie. Keep this list in a visible spot, preferably on your fridge. This way when you are about to reach for comfort foods, you are reminded of your alternative relaxing activities.

5. Forgive Yourself. To stop emotional eating you will need to forgive yourself. You will need to go easy on yourself. It probably took you years to build unhealthy emotional eating habits. As a result aim for slow gradual progress rather than perfection. There will be times where you consume food for comfort, accept that and forgive yourself when you do it. At the same time, work on becoming more aware of your emotional eating. Also work on eliminating the events that trigger emotional eating in your life. You will gradually see progress and be able to finally lose that extra weight.

Andrew Bolis writes on the subject of binge eating at How To Stop Eating You can subscribe to his Free tips newsletter on how to end your emotional eating.

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Bounce! An Interview with Barry Moltz

Have you ever failed at something? Did you ever have a failure in business or your career? How did you handle it? What about success? What is the best way to define, create, and handle success?

I recently had the great pleasure of reading an exceptional business book called Bounce! by Barry Moltz.

Bounce! is a “book about finding success as it comes to you” using the rubber band ball as a metaphor for the cycles of business. Barry Moltz walks his talk when it comes to his “10 Business Bands for True Business Confidence” by sharing his failures as well as his successes. He does this without shame or excuses. He also teaches about:

• Creating Your Own Brand of Success
• The Art of More Effective Risk-Taking
• How Process Trumps Outcome

I loved many things about this book, but I think the reason why I loved this book so much was that he is one of very few authors who address the big elephants in the business room: Failure and it’s cousin Fear. The other reason I loved this book is that it not only applies to business, but also to life in general.

Please enjoy this interview with the author of Bounce!, Barry Moltz!

1. Who was the audience you had in mind when you wrote this book? Who do you think can benefit most from your 10 Building Bands?

I always start from a business audience place since that is my background…especially those of us who own small businesses or who are entrepreneurs. But as I wrote the book, I realized it is applicable for everyone’s life. We all have good times and bad times and we need to figure out how to navigate through them. Bouncing helps! If we can let go of what ever the last result was, success or failure, and bounce! – take another action, it will get us ready for our next success.

The people who can benefit the most from the 10 building bands are those who understand that there are not 5 linear steps to success. The building bands are guideposts that we can learn from in our journey. Like a rubber band ball, we build our lives without a lot of symmetry. We layer our experiences on top of each other like forming this ball. If we can recognize these ten bands then we can get déjà vu on our journey and move through each of the challenges more quickly.

2. Why focus on failure so much? Isn’t that negative?

I am trying to get people not to focus on failure! As The Secret’s Rhonda Byrne and Earl Nightengale say, we become what we think about. My calling out failure, by admitting that it visits all of us, we can let go of the awkwardness and shame that come with it. By stating that there isn’t always something to learn from failure, that sometimes it just sucks will free us. This allows us to let go of failure and bounce, take an action which will get us closer to another success. We need to find different words to describe failure and realize that like success, it is just part of the business cycle.

3. What is the best way to re-group when failure strikes and the pain is still fresh? How about if the failure leaves you financially strapped?

I think it is good to wallow in your failure and grief for awhile. You deserve it! Have a pity party for 24 hours but then let it go, learn what you can if anything and move on. Letting go of failure is actually difficult because we are taught that quitters never win and winners never quit. Nonsense. Winners know when to quit.

If you are left financially devastated after a failure, think about the small, patient interim goals you can set that do not require a lot of money so you can move forward to a different place then where you are. Take action! Downsize your dreams! Come up with a new brand of success that is about something in addition to money- Money plus goals. If you strive for minimal achievement, you can focus on one small thing, increase your power for action and conserve financial resources.

4. What advice do you have for someone who wants to start a small business, but they are afraid of failure? Is it possible to lower the risk of failure if they use careful planning?

It alright to be afraid. We all are. I think it is silly when people say not be afraid or that failuire is not an option. We are all afraid and in fact, failure is a likely outcome. I think that even if we are afraid and we can deal with the outcome, we should go ahead and do it anyways. Learn to make those fear butterflies in your stomach “fly in formation”. The best way out is always through.

We can lower the risk by setting patient interim goals. Forget about taking a giant step. Forget about getting a foothold toward your goal. Get a toehold. Take one small step or action forward and test the result. Based on that outcome, take another step and so on. It will be slow progress and a zigzag path, but it is a more sure footed way to get there. It will also reduce the fear since you can check your progress at each step along the way.

5. I love your saying, “Skip the logo, take a step.” What is a quick and dirty litmus test to know which things you need to do before taking action?

We spend far too much time planning in business. It is out of our own fear of failure. We need to outlaw premeditated business. The best litmus test is to ask a customer- “Will you buy my product?” The customer will tell you what they need before you complete the sale to them. This feedback is the most important test. In fact, I tell salespeople there job is to get the prospect to say no. Most prospects just say maybe and it prevents us from moving forward to find other prospects that can say yes! If you find prospects that are in pain and the money to solve that pain, they will buy from you. All other tests become irrelevant.

6. Since seeing is believing, Can you give us some examples of some well-known people that you think naturally live the 10 Business Building Bands?

I think you will find many people that you know in your lives do. No, not the celebrities because there is too much hype or artificialness in their lives. But, most importantly, we need to stop looking at anyone else. We need to look at ourselves and how can we utilize the ten bands. We should not to look at other people as our guide. Comparing ourselves to others is a loser’s game. There is always someone who is richer, smarter or better looking than you. We are our own guide and we need to only measure ourselves against the goal we have set for ourselves. Sometimes, this does not come naturally to any of us since we have been conditioned all our lives another way. We are conditioned by our environment to expect success, and fear failure. We need to let go of both of these.

7. Can you share some of what your own personal measurement system is for success?

Our goal should be how to be happily successful. My measurement system is- can I financially support my family by doing something I have passion for and enjoy? Through my speaking, writing and family business consulting, I am fortunate that I am able to achieve success. There is no better demonstration of success than after a speaking engagement, a person from the audience comes up to me and says, “What you said just changed my life. Thank you.” This is as good as it gets!

Thank you, Barry! What fantastic insights! Wishing you much continued success!

If you are thinking of starting a new business and you are afraid of failure, you should read Bounce! If you’re thinking of starting a business and you’re not afraid of failure, you should also read Bounce!

Bounce! will soon be a business classic. I highly recommend picking up a copy so you can start bouncing too!

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Bounce! Ignore the Fear and Go from Failure to Success!

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The media has been having a field day with Britney Spears for the last few years and most especially over the last year. I’m not here to add to the gossip. I wish Britney all the best. What Britney is going through, under the media microscope, many of us also experience. We live through similar situations in our lives where we feel lost, can’t find our compass, and don’t know where to turn. When that happens there can be a lot of frantic frenzy like a puppy who’s just been let out of his crate. The puppy runs around and around, running into things, jumping up on people, and acting pretty crazy. Until he gets all his energy out. Only then is the puppy ready to listen to the guiding voice of his owner.

This happened to me a little bit in my early 20′s when, upon entering the real world, I needed to figure out where I was going. Being scared, I clung onto people, some of whom did not have my best interests at heart. I had some anxiety attacks and thought my world was caving in, when in reality, my body was trying to tell me to get some help. Over time I sought out the help of people who always loved me, my family. I learned about anxiety attacks and how harmless they really are and how easy they are to overcome.

So for Britney Spears and anyone else who feels lost, here are the things that helped me get back on track.

1. Slow Down and Stop Running Away. Trying to bury your problems underneath the pursuit of pleasure will not make them go away. Yes, you’ll feel good in the moment when you dive into chemicals, wild experiences, watching endless TV, new relationships, and sex, but every time the pleasure ends you will be right back where you started. The problems will still be there, still unresolved, and you’ll be looking for the next hedonistic experience to drown it out.

2. Let Go of Fear. If you are afraid to get off the vicious cycle described above, know that you can do it. You can handle it. Know that there is more than enough strength inside you. For many people, turning over their fear to God, a Higher Power, or to the Universe is a very powerful way to let go of fear. Another way is to imagine you are a child in your mother’s arms trusting her to take care of anything that comes along. Feel what that is like to release fear and to trust completely. Now do the same thing, but imagine being cradled by yourself. Feel and trust in your strength to handle anything in your life.

3. Let Go of the Notion That a Stormy Life is Romantic. Life is already stormy enough. You’ll have plenty of things in your life to keep it interesting. What you don’t want is factors that add unnecessary volatility to your life. Otherwise you’ll find yourself on the never ending cycle of chasing a high to heal your lows. See if you can identify what those factors are so you can begin to eliminate them one by one.

4. Return to the People Who Love You. These are the people you might be afraid will say “I told you so.” They might and they might not. Don’t worry about that. If there is any sense that someone has an agenda to exploit you then that is not the right person to go to. You want to go to the people who would be by your side when all the chips are down, when you are sick, and when you are penniless. Let your pride go and feel the relief of doing that. Go be loved. This means people who will listen to you, be with you, and support you.

5. Ask for Help. Don’t think you are burdening people. Don’t worry about people telling you “I told you so.” Don’t think you have to do work things out all on your own. Ask the people who love and support you for help. And don’t be afraid to ask a lot. Don’t worry. Pretty soon, once you’re feeling strong again, you won’t need to ask for as much help. But the good thing is you will have developed a very important habit of not being afraid to ask for help when you really need it.

6. Know Why You’re Trying to Change. Think of all the bad things in your life right now: the anxiety, the hangovers, the worry, the emotional turbulence and so on. Imagine how great life will be with all these difficulties eliminated from your life. “But,” you say, “I like the partying. I like chasing new relationships. I like the fast pace.” Changing your life doesn’t mean it will be without pleasure. It just means that you will be seeking a life that is more stable and less volatile. When you find purpose in your life and start taking care of yourself, you will have much more pleasure than you have today. You’ll still be able to laugh wildly, to do exciting things, to have fun, to have special romantic relationships, and so on. But it will all be in a way that supports a stable life. Stay focused on moving towards a better life and away from your current stormy life.

7. Find a Life Coach to Guide Your Life Planning. Purchase Anthony Robbins “Get the Edge” CD’s or Andrew Matthews tapes (my favorite self-help author) and start the fun activity of daydreaming what you want to do in your life. What is important to you? Start some life goal planning either on your own if you can or find someone who can walk you through the process. Planning your goals is fun. Go for it!

8. Take Baby Steps. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself. Change takes work and time. Go super slow. Be kind to yourself. Whenever you feel frustration emerging, remember the mantra “Go Slow.” Think about what is really important. Don’t worry about small things. Just take care of yourself. This will help break your knee-jerk reaction of diving into things that aren’t good for you whenever you are feeling low.

9. Exercise Daily. Get outside and either walk or jog everyday. Alternate listening to music and listening to your own thoughts. Use that time to enjoy nature and let go of your problems. It’s also a good time to plan solutions for your goals. Exercise makes people happier. It helps relieve anxiety. It makes you feel strong, which you are! Exercise is a great way to tap into your inner strength that is always available whenever you choose to plug into it!

10. Get Involved in Something Outside Yourself. When I was having anxiety in college, my campus job making sandwiches made me feel so good. I was too busy to worry about anything. It got my blood flowing and it stopped my brain from re-treading those worry paths over and over again. So find something to do that will keep you very busy for a period of time everyday or every other day. You could try volunteer work, a new hobby, a book club or some other social group. Just pick one and do it. And remember #5, ask for help if you need a jump getting started.

Wishing you, Britney, and all those who are going through a tough transition, much peace and success on your journey!

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Were you ever lost? How helped you the most to get back on track? All comments big and small are very welcomed!

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Top 10 Tips for Britney Spears and Anyone Who Is Feeling Lost in Life

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You’ve got the New Year’s Resolutions. Now how are you going to elevate and maintain your motivation to stick with them for the long haul? Here are some solid tips to help you do just that.

Check out the article over at Dumb Little Man:

How to Kick Your Motivation into High Gear

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What’s your New Year’s Resolution? How do you plan to stick with it? All comments big and small are very welcomed!

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How to Kick Your Motivation into High Gear

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Whether it is a short-term or a long-term rut, the solution is the same. Head on over to this quick-read article at Dumb Little Man for a guide on how to turn the tables and make room for a winning streak!

How to Crush a Losing Streak

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Tell us what you think about losing streaks. All comments big and small are very welcomed!

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How to Crush a Losing Streak

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Do you keep going back to the same well for creative inspiration? Could you use a new muse to spark your creativity anew?

If so, then please check out this guest article at Dumb Little Man today:

50 Creativity Muses to Court for Fresh Ideas

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What’s your favorite muse for creative inspiration? All comments big and small are very welcomed!

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50 Creativity Muses to Court for Fresh Ideas

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1. Planning. Establish a routine of planning your week and your day. This will allow you to have your most productive week all the time. Start your day an extra 15 minutes early to do this planning everyday. Write down the top 1-3 important things you must do that day. And most importantly, set and reach your Goals! Use the power of intention to get there! (This is what adds jazz to your life! And focusing on your future helps you get through challenging times.)
2. Power Question. Keep a question like this at your desk to help you stay focused: “Am I making the most of my time right now?” or “Is this the most productive use of my time?”
3. Accept That You’ll Never Finish Your Task List. For perfectionists and overachievers this is as frustrating as a greyhound forever chasing the mechanical bunny around the track. Get off that track. Just make sure you work on your most important stuff first. Let the fluff slide, not your priorities.
4. Turn off Your Computer. “What?!” you say. “Everything is done on my computer!” Well is it really? What percentage truly is? Plan to have your computer on only for that amount of time each day. Plan out blocks of time for different computer tasks and work from a checklist to keep you focused. Giving your eyes a rest from the screen will give you more energy for creating. Even if you just close your eyes as you think of a response to an email can help too.
5. Don’t Check Email First Thing. Unless this is required in your job, then let it go until after you’ve completed your top priority of the day. And then process email in batches, say two or three times a day.
6. Take Breaks. It’s a fact that taking breaks will increase productivity. It’s been proven in studies. If you need to, find someone to help ensure you take a morning and afternoon break.
7. Make the Most of Your Commute. How do you spend your commute? Make it positive time. Use it for reading, writing, creative thinking, creative projects, listen to audio books, or, heck, write your own book! If you enjoy your commute, that happiness will spill over into how you feel at work.
8. Drop Unimportant Tasks. Delegate or delete the non-essential items from your to-do list. The best way to do this is to always do your most important things first. Somehow, miraculously, extraneous things will fall away.
9. Transitions. Make sure you plan in enough time between activities and appointments, and find ways to fail proof being on time.
10. Choose Happiness, Humor, Enthusiasm, Gratitude, Kindness, and a Positive Outlook. Being productive and competitive in business doesn’t mean that you have to be serious all the time. Smiling doesn’t mean you’re not working hard. Enthusiasm doesn’t mean you’re not competitive. Being positive doesn’t mean you’re blind to challenges. Choose to enjoy your time at work. Find others who are like this and spread good cheer. It’s contagious and it grows. Try to avoid gossip and negative chat. It can be tempting, but it doesn’t serve anyone well, including yourself.
11. Cultivate Compassion for Negative Coworkers. People who are negative are that way for a reason. They may have difficulties you don’t know about. Try to be compassionate and non-judging. If you’re a manager, people still need to meet benchmarks, but you don’t have to dislike them if they are not cutting it. When you encounter a negative person, you have the choice to either be affected by the negativity or to be the one who influences the other person. It’s a decision. Choose to stay positive. Instead of saying (in your head or out loud) “Oh, that Suzy-Q! Her negativity always ruins my day,” try thinking “Poor Suzy-Q. She must have some difficulties. I wish her peace. In spite of her negativity I will try to be a positive influence around her.”
12. Pace Yourself, Especially on Bad Days. Go slow. Don’t be in a hurry. Just take one thing at a time and keep moving forward. If you’re having a really low day, you might even want to take care of yourself by playing hooky !
13. Take Everything in Stride. Deadlines, tough bosses, rude clients, slow computers. Don’t make them into large dramas. Don’t lament the challenges of the world. Simply accept that they are there, and just keep moving forward.
14. Conflicts with Others. Let your goal be “to make progress.” Don’t get caught up in trying to “be right” or to “win” the argument. That will just slow you down. In your mind ask yourself, “what will move this conflict forward right now?” And then get busy doing that.
15. Take Your Vacation Time. Try doing something different. If you always go on a trip, try taking a more local vacation, and really get some good rest time. Or if you always stay local, try visiting a new place. Variety is one of the keys to happiness.
16. Pick Your Battles. Cliche, but true. It’s kind of like “The Boy Who Cried Wolf.” When you complain or fight on everything, then your power to ask for things is diminished. Save it up for when you really need it.
17. Share Your Results. This is not about bragging, but about ensuring that you get credit for the hard work you do. Don’t keep quiet thinking that the right people know what you are doing. Speak up and find ways to let the right people know how you are contributing to the success of the company.
18. Ask for Help. Don’t be afraid to collaborate with others. Don’t wait for your company to tell you what to do. Think creatively about how you can work with others to generate a greater result than if you had each worked on this alone.
19. Face the Tough Stuff Head On. If there is something difficult that you must do, just bite the bullet and do it. Don’t put it off. Do it first thing in the day. It’s like jumping into a cold pool. Just count to three and do it!
20. Ask for More Time. If you are asked a question that stumps you or surprises you, never feel like you have to answer it right away. (unless you absolutely must) Seek more time to think about or research your answer. Simple as this, “I’ll have to get back to you with an answer later.” This will save you from giveing an answer you will regret.
21. Breaking Negative Habits. For one day, observe yourself. Where do you face difficulties? With people? Certain people? Certain circumstances? Take notice and then later on during some quiet time, think about one or two things you would like to work on. Set up some kind of reminder system to fail proof it, such as a simple yellow sticky note next to your computer.
22. Learn from Criticism. Don’t immediately reject critiques from others, even if you don’t like or respect them. Sometimes people you don’t like may be giving you more honest feedback than you can get from others. Don’t take it personally. Even if it is personal, who cares? Listen, process, and then decide what positive action you might want to take.
23. Adapt. Adaptation is the number one survival skill of living organisms. Those that don’t adapt, become extinct. In the work world, the same is true for companies, whole groups, and for individuals. Be open to change. Give it a chance. Adapt to new things while using your experience to guide you, and you will have great success.
24. Learning and Improving. Always be on the lookout for opportunities to learn and improve your skills. Look for good seminars and training. Then ask work if you can attend and will they pay for your admission. If your company pays for education, use it! Borrow books from your local library, the company library, or even from your boss. Borrow some motivational audio tapes from your local library. Keep learning to continually renew your enthusiasm.
25. Creative Thinking. Is your job boring? If so, take some responsibility in changing that. How can you make it more fun, more creative, more varied, etc.? What can you do that no one has done before? How could you grow enthusiasm at work? What is a new way that you could do old things? What processes could you alter to save time, work and money?

Please Share!

What makes you more productive and happy at work? All comments big and small are very welcomed!

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25 Tips to Become More Productive and Happy at Work

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The article is for anyone who is frustrated with their rate of progress on their business goals. It can also apply to many other types of goals.
The suggested solution may seem counter-intuitive, but I’ve found it has worked well for me.

Check it out. Think about it for a few days to let it sink in, and then determine if it might work for you.

DumbLittleMan.com: Slow Cook Your Business Goals for Success

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What goals are you struggling with right now? All comments big and small are very welcomed!

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Slow Cook Your Business Goals for Success

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In A Rush?

Do you ever feel like your life is a constant rush from one activity to the next? Want to get rid of that stressed out feeling? Well, you can! You just have to make a commitment to slowing down.

Will this mean less success? No. But you’ll probably begin to redefine what success really is. We need to stop being busy long enough to realize what success means to us. For me it has meant posting fewer times per week on my blog so that I can enjoy some family time. I was really burning the candle on both ends, so this summer I have been writing about 3-5 blog posts per week as opposed the 7 per week I was writing last spring.

Just like our homes, our calendars can become cluttered too. We schedule every minute of our time leaving no time for transitions or relaxation. Slowing Down doesn’t mean stopping. It doesn’t mean lazy. It means a pace that is healthy for our body and soul, as well as for our need to achieve.

How to Slow Down

1. Adopt a “Slow Down Mindset.” Decide that you will not be rushed by life and that you will take steps to consciously go slower.

2. Daily Planinng. Leave open ample time between activities and appointments. Schedule in “slow time” for thinking, reading, walking, conversation, playing, etc.

3. Arrive Early. When you’re late, stress hormones course through your body and for many people it’s effect can be felt well after your late arrival as you internally berate yourself, fume about living in a rushed world, and/or worry about what others think of your tardiness. So do yourself a HUGE favor and plan to arrive early from now on. Here’s how:

• Leave 20-30 minutes earlier than you think you need to leave.
• Have everything you will need ready 1 hour before you need to leave.
• Bring reading or writing materials with you.
• When you arrive early, use that early time to relax, close your eyes, rest, think, write, draw, or even make a phone call if the place is appropriate.
• Bask the relaxing feeling of being early!

4. Don’t Be in a Rush. In general, try not to always be rushing. Pay attention and be aware of your pace. If you are already late, here’s how to handle it:

• Call ahead if needed and give a realistic ETA.
• Take a deep breath.
• Accept that you’re late and that you can’t change it.
• Don’t get mad at traffic or other people. It’s not their fault, and it will only drain your energy.
• Go Slow.
• When you arrive, apologize and then move forward.

5. Eat Slow. We eat like we live: fast. And look what it does to us. Many of us are overweight. One great way to combat this is to slow down your eating. Here’s how:

• Before you begin to eat, close your eyes and say to yourself: “I will eat slowly and enjoy this food.”
• Take a nice deep slow breath to slow down your pace.
• Leave work and worries behind while you eat.
• Eat slowly.
• Really taste your food.
• Enjoy.

6. Audit Your Schedule. How are you spending your time? What does your average day, week, month look like for you? Write down a rough outline of it. Now, what can you cut out? Appointments, mindless TV time, what else? Keep the things that line up with your values, that you really enjoy. We can’t do it all, so why not just do those things that you really love? Less is more. Be at peace with this, knowing that you’re spending your time thoughtfully instead of frantically.

7. Caffeine? Does caffeine serve you well? For some, it does. For me, it doesn’t, and it took me a while to accept that. So now, I only have caffeine as a special treat occasionally. How does it affect you? Does it increase your tendency to rush? Does it make you agitated? If so, you might want to consider cutting back or eliminating it. Try cutting back for a day and see how it feels. I just drink decaf now if I want coffee or tea, both of which I love.

8. Here & Now. Learning from the past is important, and so is planning for the future. The problem is we don’t spend much conscious time in the present. The present is the place where we find the true joy of life. Children and pets live in the present moment. They notice little things, they wonder about their world, and they delight in whatever they are currently experiencing. If they get hurt, they move on pretty quickly whether it is a wounded knee or a wounded pride. Let’s take a lesson from them and aspire to discover this magic daily.

Resource
SlowDownNow Blog – I was recently inspired by this blog which has many great stories that will inspire you to slow down.

Please Share!

Please share your “Slow Down” story with us. All comments big and small are very welcomed!

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Slow Down for Peace of Mind AND Success

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I have a guest post over at DumbLittleMan.com this week that is great if you are having a bad day or had a bad day yesterday.

This article will give you all the tips you need to bounce back from a bad day.

Please check it out today and if you like it, please Digg or Stumble it if you can! Thank you!

DumbLittleMan.com: 9 Ways to Have a Better Day than Yesterday

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What do you do to cheer up after a bad day? All comments big and small are very welcomed!

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9 Ways to Have a Better Day than Yesterday

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Set Yourself Up for Diet Success

I read a great diet tip lately over at Advice and Rants. The basic idea is to make sure that you have healthy food at hand and ready to eat so that when hunger comes chugging around the bend, that you won’t get derailed by eating junk food. I thought, “Yes, of course, that’s right. That makes a lot of sense.” And then I thought, “Wow. You know that really is a big key to diet success.” Anytime I’ve tried to watch what I eat, I always do best when I am prepared.

So I decided to highlight this tip and provide a few suggestions of snacks that are easy to prepare, are healthy, and (mostly) low in calories. When you can eat every 3-4 hours during the day, you’ll keep yourself from getting so hungry that you won’t overeat.

Healthy Snacks

All of these are also great snacks for kids! Get them started on healthy foods for a lifetime of healthy eating. Anything with peanut butter, limit to 1-2 Tablespoons to keep the calories down. Watch out for items that are high in sugar or corn syrup. Look at the labels for no sugar added or where it is not in the top 5 ingredients listed.

• Apple slices with peanut butter
• Banana slices with peanut butter
• Whole almonds or other nuts
• Grapes
• Raisins and other dried fruits
• Smoothies!
• Lowfat yogurt (best for you: plain mixed with teaspoon honey & fresh or frozen berries)
• Lowfat yogurt with granola
• Avacado and Wasa crackers
• Watermelon cubes
• Berries! Strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, etc are so good for you and frozen is just as good as fresh.
• Celery sticks plain or with lowfat ranch dressing (1 Tbspn or less)
• Carrot sticks or baby cut carrots
• Pears, apples, oranges, bananas
• Broccoli or cauliflower florets with low-fat ranch dressing (1 Tbspn)
• Low fat/low sugar energy/protein/breakfast bars
• 100% fruit juice popsicles
• Wasa crackers with peanut butter and banana or apple
• Sunflower or pumpkin seeds (try with garlic powder on pumpkin seeds if you’re making your own!)
• Airpopped popcorn (or low-fat) topped with garlic, onion, chili pepper, or other spices. (Experiment!)
• Low-fat pretzels
• Kashi cookies
• Kashi cereal
• Pita or bagel chips (look for the highest fiber ones)
• Cinnamin on toast, apples, yogurt, cereal
• Low-fat cottage cheese
• Low-fat mozerella cheese
• Long-Life cocktail (7/8ths water, 1/8th pure cranberry juice, 1 T ground flax seed) – from Louise Gittleman’s book,Fat Flush“
• “Green Drinkâ€? called Green Vibrance which is a nutritional supplement drink that has many immune, energy and digestive benefits.

Please Share!

What are your favorite quick healthy snacks? All comments big and small are very welcomed!

If you found this post valuable, perhaps you’ll be kind enough to vote for this with a Stumble or Delicious bookmark. Votes are always appreciated!

If you want to Support Life Learning Today, you can visit one of my sponsors, make a donation, or make a purchase at Amazon through one of my links. Thank you!

Technorati Tags: Diet, Dieting Tips, Food, Goals, Health, Snacks, Success

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Set Yourself Up for Diet Success

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Do you find it difficult to get ready and out of the house in the morning? Are you frequently late to appointments? Do you have difficulty making choices?Are you in awe of people who manage to get things done seemingly without much effort or anxiety? Do you keep lots of things out in the open so you won’t forget them? Have you been frustrated because you can’t seem to fix these problems? Well there’s good news. It’s not entirely your fault, and there are things you can do to improve!

The root problem is the failure to transition from one activity to another. This article will offer practical solutions to help you to manage your time better. If this doesn’t describe you, then chances are you know someone who could use this help.

Which Type of Person Are You?

There are two types of people in this world, monochrones and polychrones. Determining which one you are will explain a lot about yourself.

• Monochrones see time in absolutes, are usually on time, and prefer to work on one project at a time.
• Polychrones, on the other hand, see time as fluid, are committed to people not to time appointments, change plans often, and are usually working on more than one project at a time.

People who are polychrones have difficulty managing time not because they are lazy or inconsiderate, but because they are wired differently. It’s not good or bad. It just is. The key is for Polychrones to leverage their strengths and to learn skills that will help them overcome the challenges.

Leveraging Strengths

The strengths of Polychrones are their ability to work on more than one project at a time and their strong long term relationships. How can you leverage these? Seek out roles at work and elsewhere in your life that require these abilities. Try to stay clear of roles where you may get bored with only one or limited projects or lack of variety. You may want to find roles in which building long term relationships is important and avoid roles where you don’t have the opportunity to work with people over long periods of time, as this might be a source of frustration for you.

Solutions to Challenges

The main challenge for Polychrones in modern life is the ability to transition from one activity to the next. Polychrones are a perfect demonstration of Newton’s First Law of Motion: a body in motion will remain in motion unless acted upon by an outside force. If you’re a Polychrone, you’ve experienced this. You immersed in your work when the phone rings. This interruption causes you to “wake up” from your work and, looking at your watch, you panic as you realize you’re going to be late for a meeting. Argh! Is there any way to keep this from happening all the time? Yes and it’s all about learning how to stop, how to disengage. Here’s how:

1. Become Aware of Your Nature. By reading this article, you’ve probably had a light bulb turn on and you’re nodding your head saying, “Oh my, I had no idea!” Ok. Now you know why these things happen.

2. Decide You Want to Change How You Manage Time. If how you manage time doesn’t cause major problems in your life and you’re not motivated to change, then you may not need to. However if you want to stop: being late, letting people down, feeling anxiety when switching gears, and going into panic mode because you’re late again, then make a commitment mentally and read on.

3. Accept Transition Discomfort. For Polychrones there is mental discomfort when switching from one activity to the next and it can be as strong as a child reaching for his mother as she leaves him with a babysitter. Accept that this discomfort will be short lived if you allow yourself to become engaged in the next activity. Also the following steps will help minimize the transition discomfort as well.

4. Accept That Time Moves Faster Than You Realize. Yes, this is something you need to do. For people with many interests and for whom stopping is difficult, this is an important step. Accept that you can’t do everything you want in one day. You need to choose the things that are most important and then…go to Step #5.

5. Plan Your Day with Ultra Realistic Timeframes. Instead of simply jumping into your day, have a pen and paper near your bed. Plan out exactly what you will do today and next to each write down the realistic time it will take. This will help keep you from becoming distracted. Set leaving times 15-30 minutes ahead of when you think you need to leave. Carry your list around with you in the morning before you leave the house. Check things off as you go, and keep moving. Keep distractions at bay. Don’t watch TV or listen to the radio. Wait until you are commuting. You can listen to the radio or if on a train, read the paper then.

6. Nip Distractions in the Bud! As you are moving through your day and something grabs hold of your interest, ask yourself:

• Do I have time for this now?
• Is this important to me?

If it is important and you can’t fit it into 2 minutes, then WRITE IT DOWN and schedule it for later. Carry a capture notebook with you at all times. A PocketMod is a great tool for this because it is so small. Then each morning or evening when you plan your next day, you can schedule in those distractions for when you have time. And you may find that some of those things will not be important anymore. That’s OK.

7. Plan Your Transitions. Stopping is the problem. The solution is setting a plan in writing and in your mind where you can visualize how you will stop one activity before moving onto the next. This may sound very “kindegarten” to you, but it works!

Here’s an example: Here’s your a portion of your day:

• 10am until 12 noon – Work on Project X.
• 12 noon – Lunch Date .

Time estimates:

• 15 minutes to walk from your office to where your lunch appointment is.
• 15 minutes to pack your briefcase, check your notes and use the bathroom before leaving.
• 10 minutes to wind down your work on Project X for noting where you left off and what your next actions will be when you work on this again.
• Total Time Needed before your lunch appointment: 40 minutes.

That means you can only work on Project X until 11:20am.
Set a reminder that you will hear and respond to! Suggestions:

• Actual alarm clock.
• Electronic calendar reminders
• Here is a link to a free online countdown stopwatch.
• Or setup a free phone call reminder with TelePixie.
• Or if you are really bad, enlist help from others to “interrupt” you to help you stop.

Plan how you will stop for all major transitions of your day. Watch how much of a difference this will make!

8. Trick Yourself with Pre-Planned Interruptions. These are interruptions you can’t ignore. It might be having a friend come by your office or home. It might be a phone call with your friend. It could be you put your child or spouse in charge of the alarm clock. When it goes off have your child or spouse tell you it’s quitting time. Make sure you listen to them and thank them so that they will help you in the future. Set the interruption time for 5 minutes before you need to start the next activity. Let your interrupter know ahead of time that you will be taking 5 minutes or less to close up shop after they tag you. To be best prepared for this, when you start the activity, think about the steps you’ll need to take to stop. Even write them down if that helps. Over time, try to make it a goal to close up shop before they get there!

9. Discover the Benefits of Being Early. For many people who are chronically late, in addition to having trouble transitioning, there is the dislike of being early. If you share this feeling, then here is a simple solution. Always carry with you something you can do when you arrive early. This could be a notebook, a book, magazine, knitting, your web-enabled phone or whatever you can do in small amounts of time. Or carry nothing extra, and make a habit of taking a mini meditation nap while waiting.

10. Celebrate Success. You can chart your success or just start noting mentally each time you are early or on time for an appointment. Smile for each successful transition you complete. Reward yourself with fun time where you can daydream, waste time at will and browse all the interesting things of life. Just remember to plan how you’ll stop!

Resources:

For more information on this see Martha Beck’s article called Transition Anxiety in O, The Oprah Magazine.

Test to see if you are Monochrone or Polychrone over at O Magazine.

Getting Things Done by David Allen is a great system for anyone including Polychrones.

Getting Things Done Daily Guide in PocketMod format.

Please Share!

Please share a recent decision an how you made it! All comments big and small are very welcomed!

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Technorati Tags: Getting Things Done, GTD, Motivation, Personal Development, Productivity

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Failure to Transition

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I’ve condensed my greatest sales learnings from 17 years of sales experience and combined it with the very best tips from the best sales books all into this one article. I’m a big fan of reading books and I reference several of them at the end of this article. At the same time I’m a bigger fan of absorbing some quick basic information and then immediately applying it in real life.

Sales Concepts for Success

1. Be Organized. This is very important. Planning is absolutely crucial to success:

• Establish your Yearly Goals (free guide) and break them down into quarterly, monthly, weekly and daily goals so that you know what you need to be working on. Post your Goals in plain view so you see them all the time, especially your daily goals.
• Be sure to do a Weekly Review of your Sales Funnel. Check to see that your results are matching up with your goals. If they’re not, then it’s time to recalibrate your strategy.
• Plan your day everyday for maximum productivity and success.
• Very Smart Practice: On a yearly basis (and quarterly basis too if you can), analyze what activities or clients brought you the most business? What activities were the least effective? Adjust your plan to do more of the high revenue producing activities and spend more time with clients and prospects who bring you the most business. Eliminate the less effective practices. Work smarter, not harder. Reviewing your results and adapting your strategy over time brings the sales process full circle.

2. Planning is Good, But Remember to Be Action Oriented. Makes your calls. Set appointments. Meet with clients. Have lunch with power networkers with whom you can learn and work for mutual success. Inspire prospects to take the next action. Be bold. There is no failure, just learning experiences. Balance your planning time with action time. Your plan doesn’t have to be A+ perfect. You can hone it over time. Plan and then get moving!

3. Uncover Needs. This is your most important task. If you don’t understand your prospect’s needs, you’ll never sell anything except by accident. So much could be written on this one point alone. But here is what you need to know in a nutshell:

• Start with more open-ended questions where the prospect can talk a lot.
• Make sure you keep quiet while the prospect is talking!
• As your meeting is closing down ask more closed-ended questions which will be answered with one word such as yes or no questions. Be creative with uncovering needs.
• Be direct when you can and be indirect when you sense resistance.
• Don’t hold back because you think you’re prying. Remember you’re here to help. You can only do this if you understand your prospect’s needs.

4. You’re Here to Help: Meeting Your Clients’ Needs. The reason sales people get a bad rap is because of the ones who try to force feed their clients. That is not selling. That is bullying. Your true role as a sales professional is “Needs Consultant,” helping your clients meet their needs, solve their problems, ease their pain, and bring them joy. Sometimes you need to help clients become aware of what their true needs are. Many people go through life thinking they want X. Sometimes you need to help them turn on the light to illuminate their real needs which may be better served by product/service Y. Always confirm that you understand a need. Then match it with a benefit from your product or service that solves your client’s need.

5. Match needs with benefits. How do you do this? Complete this exercise so that benefits roll off your tongue easily when talking with actual prospects. Here’s what you do:

• Title a sheet of paper horizontally or use a spread sheet with the columns: “Features” “Benefits” “Needs” “Benefit statement.”
• Write down all the features of your products/services. Next to each feature, write down the answer to this questions “So What?” The answer to that will be your benefit. (You’ve heard about doing this before, but have you really done it? Don’t rely just on what the company puts out either. Be creative and come up with lots of benefits.) Example: Feature: Web access on your phone. So What?! => Benefit: You can access any information from anywhere.
• Next take tiny yellow stickies and write down all the different problems, pains, desires, your clients and prospects have.
• Under each problem write down what the need is. Example: Problem: Getting lost finding addresses when showing clients real estate. Need: Instant direction information.
• Next take all your clients problems and match them to the appropriate benefit.
• Write in the needs in the “Needs” column.
• Last, write out a Benefit Statement for each feature that you can practice. Example: “You’ll never get lost again with the XYZ phone because it allows you to get information anywhere anytime.”

This exercise takes some time but it is one of the most powerful things you can do to prepare yourself for success. The best salespeople I know do preparations similar to this.

6. Tap into Feelings. Many people will start with a rational approach to making a decision, but in the end, how a person feels in their gut will often determine their final choice. Make sure you find out how they feel in addition to their rational needs. And it is important to use the language of feelings and to demonstrate that you understand. Examples: “How does it make you feel that your current advisor never calls you?” or “What was your feeling about that house we just toured?” A handy phrase is “I know how you Feel. I’ve Felt that way too. And what I’ve Found is..(insert helpful advice here)…” I call this the 3F’s.

7. Get a Read on Your Prospect. Here’s where you need to listen to your intuition a bit.

• It’s helpful to assess the level of desire a client has for meeting their need. Where do they fall on the spectrum from desperate (will buy anything) to confident (their awareness and feeling of need is not high enough to spur action)? Use this analysis to decide how much time to spend with them. Don’t knock your head against a brick wall trying to convert someone who feels no pain. But if you see a need that they don’t, then be sure to follow up with them in the future. Be there when they start to feel the pain of their need. Example: Prospect who is looking at new cars, but is very emotionally tied to his old clunker. You can see that he needs a new car, but he can’t see it as clearly as you yet because of his satisfaction with his current car. Be in touch with him so you can be there when his beloved car bites the dust.
• The other thing you want to read is your prospect’s personality and style. You will do well to somewhat mirror that style so that he or she will feel comfortable with you. Be too bold with a conservative person and you’ll lose them. Be too “soft-pedal” with a type-A person and they’ll be gone before you can blink. Be yourself, but be aware of how your prospect likes to interact and accommodate them.

8. Know What Your Goal is with Each Sales Interaction. This is important so that you will know when your interaction is finished. In sales you need to be efficient for both your sake and your clients’ sake. This will keep you from wasting time. The best way to do this is to actually write down your goals ahead of the meeting.

Example: I want to:

• confirm my client’s top 5 “must haves” in a home.
• get their 10-scale rating on each home I show them today.
• know their favorite and least favorite thing about each home we see.
• schedule our next meeting.
• If there is a home they love, I want to establish next steps to keep the momentum moving forward.
• ask if I met all their needs for this meeting.

9. Asking for the Sale and Closing. Closing is not just about asking for the sale, but continually moving towards that point. An example is asking for the next appointment and setting mutually agreed upon next steps for both you and the prospect.

Closing, of course, also means asking for the sale. It is amazing how many sales people climb the sales mountain and then fail to take this last crucial step. Don’t be one of them! Ask for the sale! What have you got to lose?

When should you ask for the sale? Once you’ve confirmed that you correctly understand a client’s needs and you’ve explained how the benefits of your product or service meet their needs, then ask for the sale. There are many ways to do this. This is where the art of sales comes in. Read your prospect and ask in the way that will get you a yes. This takes practice. So go ahead and practice, practice! Consult with other top sellers to learn how they speak and then use what will feel natural to you.

If you get a “no,” find out why. Are you dealing with a misunderstanding, an objection, a concern, or perhaps indifference? Explore the root reason for saying no. If the client still has a need and wants to meet it, and if you have a product/service that meets this need, then continue on. If one or more of these elements is found to be missing then it is time to move on to the next prospect. But at least you tried!

10. Follow-up and Service. Follow-up is your continued communication with prospects. Service is your continued relationship with clients.

• Follow-Up: Unless there is no need to meet or unless the prospect tells you to not contact them anymore, make sure you find a way to follow-up that not only keeps you in contact, but also provides value, whether via phone, email, newsletter, etc.. This is almost like your audition to show how you will provide service once they become a client.
• Service: Once you’ve made the sale, the relationship is just beginning. Make sure that your client gets the best service. Set reminders for staying in touch. It’s easier to make a new sale to an existing client than a prospect. And with a happy clients, you’ll be more likely to earn a referral.

11. Ask for Referrals. The 80/20 rule applies here. 20% of your clients will provide 80% of your referrals. Find those 20% and cultivate them. There are certain people in this world who really LIKE to help others with referrals. You can ask every satisfied client for a referral, but usually it will only be a handful that actually refer you business. That’s ok. And don’t be afraid to be specific about the types of referrals you are looking for. Treat these clients like gold and watch the referrals stream in. There are many ways to ask for a referral. Here are some ideas:

• Actually ask for a referral upon completion of a meeting.
• Offer an incentive for referrals. Put this on your website and all your marketing materials.
• Send out a survey to clients asking their opinion of your service and would they refer someone, “if so please fill in name or call me. If not, how can service be improved? What would make you want to refer business to us?”
• Host a seminar for clients (make sure it is valuable and serve food!) and request, encourage, or invite them to bring a friend.
• Offer an affiliate program.

12. Perseverance. Sales is a numbers game: SW³ = “Some Will. Some Won’t. So What!” You won’t win them all, and that’s ok. We all know the baseball analogy of how even the best batters miss the ball about 70% of the time. So don’t sweat the individual sales loss. Just move on to the next. With that said you do want to analyze your result patterns over time and adjust your strategy when you want different results. The idea here is to stay disciplined especially on bad days, stay focused on meeting needs, and keep evolving your strategy, tactics and skills. Slow and steady wins the race. Stay upbeat and when you’re down get rest and/or seek out positive people to help lift your spirits.

13. Look for Opportunity. Always be analyzing situations. Is there a local event you can leverage? Watch the news. Always ask yourself, “Is there a need for my business in this that could help me reach my goals? Can I fit it into my schedule? Will it be more or less effective than other activities I have planned?” Look for opportunity, analyze it’s potential, and if it is worthwhile then strike while the iron is hot! If you observe yourself shying away from a high potential idea because it’s something you’ve never tried before, challenge yourself to do it! Seek out helpers or partners! Go ahead, amaze yourself!

14. Become a Networking King. They say eating lunch alone is wasted time. Depending on your field, you should set a goal for 1-10 networking lunches per month. You should attend at least three networking functions per quarter. They don’t have to be obvious things. It might be going to a golf tournament. It might be going to an art gallery opening. Go to where your prospects and industry colleagues hang out. Include networking goals in your overall goals. Like any of these elements networking takes time to build so take it slow and build upon your successes. And by all means, have fun with it!

15. People Buy from Positive People. Be enthusiastic in your own way. Be authentic. Take responsibility if things go wrong. Watch how you speak in front of clients. Don’t blame others. Don’t complain. Don’t trash the competition. Life is Good! Life is challening, and that’s what makes it fun! Let your passion show! And, of course, on the inside, believe in yourself. You can do it!

16. Be Driven. Tap into what motivates you and connect to that everyday. Is it helping people? Is it helping your family? Is it a lifestyle you desire? A home, a car? Find ways to to get your energy flowing. The best way to do that is to move your body. Do some jumping jacks, do some stretching up to the sky, do some crazy facial exercises, and then laugh. Now you’re ready to tackle your cold calling block, or your seminar, your meeting, whatever.

17. Be Your Own Toughest Critic. Be brutally honest with yourself. Are you making real progress? In sales, the numbers don’t lie. Of course at first you need to build, but make sure you’re getting some wins. If you’re not, then don’t get sad or mad, just figure out a new way. The best sales people I know are always tweaking their strategy. Don’t let yourself get comfortable. The only thing that should stay the same is that you constantly seek better ways to improve your results.

18. Seek Guidance from Top Dogs in Your Field. This is one of the most important items. Leapfrog your knowledge by learning from those who’ve already made some mistakes. Offer to take them out to lunch. Ask to “ride-along” on their sales meetings so you can observe firsthand their magic. Ask them the secrets to their success. And offer to help them out in some way to repay their guidance.

19. If I Trust You, I Will Buy from You. Honesty, Integrity, Credibility. Build this with your actions. Do what you say you’re going to do. Answer the phone promptly. Return calls ASAP even if to say, “I got your call and I will be free to talk at this specific time.” Write down questions you don’t have the answers to and then get back to them promptly. Saying “I don’t have the answer to that right now” is not a sign of weakness. It’s a sign of honesty. Following up on that question later is a demonstration of reliability. Use these opportunities well.

20. What is Your Unique Selling Proposition? What is your “elevator speech?” This is the 1-2 minute answer to “What do you do? And, why should I do business with you?” Be outrageously creative. Be memorable. Be concise. Continue to work on this over time to get it just right. And have fun with it!

21. Use the Simplest Method Possible for Tracking Your Sales Funnel. You will have Unqualified Prospects, Qualified Prospects, Best Few Prospects, and Closed Sales. Most likely your company will have a system for this. But if they don’t or if you have your own business, find the simplest system that will do what you need. There are two major players ACT! (software based) and Salesforce (online). And now there’s a new online player from 37 Signals called HighRise. It is free for 250 contacts or less. Above that there is a monthly fee. Make sure you’re constantly feeding your sales funnel and that prospects are moving along through to closing. Analyze what is working and what is missing in your approach.

22. Stay on Top of Your Field. People like to buy things that are shiny, new, and sparkly. If your product or service isn’t new, make sure it is “sparkly” in your clients’ eyes. How? Simple. Make sure that you are meeting their most current needs. Your product or service doesn’t need to be new, but it does need to keep up with customers’ ever evolving needs.

23. It’s Not About Price, It’s About Value and Relationship. People want to solve their problems and fulfill their desires and they want to feel good about how they accomplished that. That’s value. Value is also giving extras to your clients with no extra cost and no expectations. There’s value in a relationship too. People like to be comfortable and trust the person they do business with. Show them how your product or service will meet their needs and give them something to brag about with their friends. Bragging Example: “I bought my new car at ‘Medium Priced Cars R Us.’ Anytime my car needs servicing, I get a free loaner car. And this dealership has been ranked 5-Stars by it’s clients consistently for the last 5 years. The sales person was helpful and patient with us insisting that we take our time. And when it came time to negotiate, they were very fair. And since we’ve bought the car, our sales person has called us to see how things were going with the new car.”

24. Please, Don’t Be Afraid. Really! If you feel the fear or hesitancy inside you, break through it! You have nothing to lose! Remember you are here to help. If someone doesn’t want your help, if someone is rude to you, no problem. Just move onto the next prospect. There’s billions of fish in the sea! Don’t be afraid to fail either. Learn from your experiences. Analyze them. How can you do things better next time? Sales is a big puzzle. You don’t fall apart when two puzzle pieces don’t match, right? Neither should you with sales that don’t pan out. Sales is fun! Enjoy the ride!

25. Celebrate Success and Cultivate Balance. (Balance? What’s that?) No really. Take care of your body, spirit, and personal relationships too. This can be difficult for real ‘Type-A’ personalities, which many sales people are. Make this part of your plan. Schedule it in. If this is hard for you, then enlist the help of people you know are good at this. They’ll love it and it will help you.

Getting It All Done

How do you accomplish all these elements? To quote Ghandhi, “Go slow to go fast.” This means focus on a few concepts at a time. Once those are firmly entrenched habits, then move onto the next few. Work on those until they are habits, and so on. And keep this reference handy. Refer back to it often and brush up on the ones you think could give your sales results the boost they need.

Resources:

Recommended Courses:

• The Quantum Cookbook – As a salesperson, just like a pilot, knowing where you want to go is the surest way to get there. Having a plan and taking action every day consistently is key. This course keeps your mind focused on your goals, using the power of intention to ensure you always follow through. And it has a 200% money back guarantee. (Yup, that means they’ll refund you twice your purchase price if you don’t find value in the course! You risk nothing!)

Online:

• HighRise – Brand New!! Free Contact Management System from 37 Signals. Service plans for over 250 contacts has a monthly fee. The free program includes tasks with categoires and contacts with tags. There’s more and you should definitely check it out!!

• BackPack – basic account is free. This is a to-do list program with multiple pages (each with multiple lists), calendar, reminders and whiteboards that are a group-type project application. There are so many uses for BackPack it’s pretty much limitless. For a sales person you could have a page for Networking Ideas, Marketing Ideas, Goals page, Funnel Summary page and so on. You’re only limited by your creativity.

• ACT! - software based (CRM) customer relationship management application for tracking your sales leads and client relationships.

• Should You Start Your Own Work at Home Business? Article on the pros and cons of a home-based business that will help you decide if this is the right path for you. Includes several resource links for business planning.

Books:

• The Little Red Book of Selling by Jeffrey Gitomer (Kung-Pow! In your face, tell it like it is, kick you in the pants, Sales advice)
• You Can’t Teach a Kid to Ride a Bike at a Seminar by David Sandler with John Hayes (Full of great examples and instruction on how and what to say. Very practical advice. All about results!)
• The New Strategic Selling by Stephen Heiman & Diane Sanchez (a must have for long cycle business sales)
• The New Conceptual Selling by Stephen Heiman & Diane Sanchez (a must have for long cycle business sales)
• How to Master the Art of Selling by Tom Hopkins (Great for Real Estate sales and much more)
• Advanced Selling Strategies by Brian Tracy (Great overall sales book.)
• Zig Ziglar’s Secrets of Closing the Sale by Zig Ziglar (Sales with Zig’s inspirational positive focus.)
• The 25 Sales Habits of Highly Successful Salespeople by Stephan Schiffman (Slim concise volume of super useful sales advice.)

Please Share!

What are your best sales tips? What are you selling? Leave a link! All comments big and small are very welcomed!

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How to Be a Great Salesperson

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Hit the Shuffle Button

I have a new post over at Lifehack.org today.

Do you find yourself living the same routines over and over? Need some variety? Well head on over to this article for some different ideas on how to expand your mind, opportunities, and horizons starting today.

Lifehack.org: Hit the Shuffle Button

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Hit the Shuffle Button

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Here are some great quotes that give me motivation, direction, and inspiration.

1. “Do, or do not. There is no try.” This quote by Yoda, from Star Wars, always plays in my mind when I say “I’ll try.” It reminds me to ask myself if I am committed to doing something or not. If I’m not, then I shouldn’t say I’ll try. If it is something I want to do, then I should commit all the way and say “I will do that” not “I’ll try.”

2. “And the Greatest of These is Love” – St. Paul. When crises in life arise, what is truly important in life quickly boils down to the love of family and friends. The hardest part of life is trying to remember this during the good times, when we spend all our energy adding complexity to our lives. Sometimes God or the Universe sends us a challenge in life to remind us of this.

3. “Dost thou love life? Then do not squander time, for that is the stuff life is made of.” -Benjamin Franklin. This quote reminds me to make the most of my time. I’m constantly trying to sweep away the excess distractions that creep into my life daily, and stay focused on the main things I want to do with my life. It’s not easy, but by staying focused on this, I live a more purposeful life than if I didn’t.

4. “Know Thyself.” - Socrates. I find that when I analyze my challenges through reflection, writing, or discussing with friends, I come to an understanding that allows me to work on my weaknesses and blind spots. The personal growth that stems from this helps me keep from making the same mistakes as often. And hopefully it allows me to have a more positive impact on those around me.

5. “Imagination Rules the World” – Einstein. I love creativity. I love art of all kinds. Creation is difficult work, and at the same time it is one of the most rewarding kinds of work. I like this quote because it reminds me that life is not only about the practical. Life is also about the daydream. Our imagination fuels our dreams and our dreams fuel what our life becomes. I need to remember this more.

6. “You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You must do the thing which you think you cannot do.” – Eleanor Roosevelt. Every time I do something that I am afraid to do, I have grown in my confidence. Most often my fear is unfounded. When I’m planning my projects and goals, I will ask myself “What could I do to make this more successful, beyond what I originally thought? Why haven’t I thought of this before? Is there something I’m afraid to do? Why?’ What are you afraid to do right now? What’s holding you back from trying?

7. “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.â€? – Maya Angelou. This one says it all. I need to pay attention that when I’m with my son, family, or friends that I really give them my full attention and not allow my distracted mind to be thinking of work.

8. “Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.” -Thomas Edison. In my experience, hard work leads to happiness. Of course it must be balanced by play, quiet time, and celebration too. When you’re not engaged in work you love, there’s a tendency to feel lethargic, bored, unfulfilled, etc. If you feel this way, for a long term solution consider finding work you really love. For a short term solution to lethargy, consider doing some physical work. Nothing feels better than after doing some hard physical work.

9. “Carpe diem! Rejoice while you are alive; enjoy the day; live life to the fullest; make the most of what you have. It is later than you think.”-Horace. Life does move fast. The point is not to dwell on the speed of life, but rather to live in this moment right now. It’s all we really have. Enjoy today!

10. What is your favorite inspirational quote?

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Technorati Tags: Creativity, Goals, GTD, Life Is Good, Love, Positive Thinking, Quotes, Success, Quotations

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Life Is Good: Motivational Quotes

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Have you ever noticed that most of us are constantly on a chase? We chase after many things, usually seeking the high that comes from a new object, a new feeling, a new emotion. If it’s shiny and new, we want it whether it’s a new gadget, a new buzz, a new love interest, or a new discovery. Ok, so what’s wrong with seeking out new things? Isn’t that fun? Shouldn’t we be able to have a little fun? Yes, of course. The problem is when you seek out new things compulsively in ways that actually keep you from living the life you really want.

The Chase – Good and Bad

Desiring “The Chase” is a good thing that naturally drives us forward in life. It compels us towards our goals, meeting a spouse, having a family, starting a business, creating things, and more. It becomes detrimental when we don’t apply forethought to our actions. Examples are overspending on things we don’t need, getting involved in affairs, abusing drugs, and wasting time seeking out new and complex methods or tools when we already have ones that are simple and that work. On the last example, I think it is important to explore new ideas, but we must constantly check ourselves to keep this in balance. “Am I procrastinating, or do am I truly in need of a new idea, method, tool?”

How to Free Yourself from Compulsive Chasing and Live Your Dream Life

Compulsive chasing can often be a result of not knowing what to do next. Our goals are unclear, unprioritized. Our life is full of physical and mental clutter so we try to escape this chaos through chasing the shiny and new. To stop this cycle I’ve put together a process to get you on track to clear out the clutter and obtain focus. To do this, I suggest taking 1-2 days off to organize your life. You may be thinking,”I can’t do that!!” Ah, but you can! Think back to times when you’ve been sick and couldn’t perform home and work duties. The world goes on without us. So take some time for yourself now. You work hard and deserve to clear out mental and physical clutter so you can live the life of your dreams!

The “Organize Your Life” Process
The goal of this process is to declutter your world and mind, and then organize things, ideas, and goals so that you can live a purposeful life, one in which you are not just merely “busy” but engaged, excited, and living out your dreams. This process is meant to be modified by you so that it works best for you. These are just guidelines.

1. Prework: Read Getting Things Done by David Allen. Here is a Pocket Mod GTD cheatsheet to use as a guide. Another great place to learn a similar approach is Zen To Done over at ZenHabits.net.

2. Tools you may need: Files, Filing Drawer/Container, In-Basket, Notebook, Calendar, and Tickler/Reminder File/Tool. You probably have most of these already. Don’t feel like you need to get fancy. Simple is best when it comes to tools. These tools can be physical and/or electronic. Whatever system is easiest and most intuitive for you, use that.

3. First plan the Big Things you want to accomplish during your time. Examples might be:

• Clear out clutter in office (2 hours)
• Create places to put things to be donated, sold, or trashed (10 minutes)
• Organize papers, files, and reference items (2 hours)
• Create plan to declutter whole house over next 6 six weeks (15 minutes)
• Work on Goal Setting and Goal Implementation Planning and/or Goal Simplification (1-2 hours)
• Take action on first steps of my top 1-3 goals ( 2 hours)
• Plan my next steps -schedule it into calendar, tickler file or to-do reminder system(5 minutes)
• Plan when I will do my weekly review (5 minutes)

4. I suggest De-Clutter as a first physical action step. Here is a guide on how to De-Clutter. When in doubt throw it out. But don’t get too carried away and throw out things that you really might need especially if they are expensive. Simply find a “home” for those things. Don’t aim for perfection, just aim for Big Progress. Don’t let the little things bog you down. If you get stuck making a decision on an item, put it into your “review in 6 months pile” and move on to the next thing. Keep moving to make the most of your time.

5. Put stuff into piles:

• Trash
• To be sold (schedule in how/when you will sell this stuff so you ensure you’ll do it. If you don’t have a lot of time for this, then either delegate that task to a local ebay seller or donate it)
• To be Donated (load this stuff right into your car, or put near the front door if you’re having it picked up)
• To be Reviewed in 6 months (for things you can’t decide on)

6. Organize your papers, files, books, things, and other reference materials. If items are associated with actions, write it down in your capture notebook and put the item in it’s place or trash if not needed. If items are reference, then file them or put them in their “home.” If you need to be reminded of a reference item, put that on your capture list too and put the item away.

7. Process your In-Box of papers and your Capture list. Assign tasks to projects, your next-action list (I still call it a To-Do List), and into reminder tools like calendar, reminder programs, or tickler files.

8. Goal Setting, Goal Planning, and Goal Simplifying. This will get you focused onto how to live out your dream life. Check out these three guides for Goal Management. I suggest doing them in this order. If time is short, just do #2.

1. Ultimate Goal Setting Guide + Free Download
2. Wrestling with Your Goals? (Goal Planning & Management)
3. Simplifying Your Goals

This exercise will take anywhere from 30 minutes to a couple hours depending on how detailed you want to get. It will give you direction and focus. You’ll know what to do next. The clutter in your mind will be gone. You’ll no longer be “busy” chasing new things for the sake of chasing, but rather you’ll be journeying towards your dreams. This journey is the most useful way to channel the primal desire to chase. And eventually I would suggest cultivating a shift in your perception from “chasing dreams” to “living my dreams.”

9. Take action on at least one step you’ve identified in your goal planning to get the ball rolling. And plan the next few as well. This will make you feel great!

10. Commit to daily and weekly planning and periodic De-Cluttering.

• Daily planning: Plan your day realistically by assigning the amount of time it takes to complete a task. Then work your way down from hardest task to easiest!
• Weekly Planning: Capture ideas onto paper, Process In-Box, Review Goals, project lists, to-do lists, upcoming calendar, previous calendar week for missed items, and generally tidy up desk and other major areas.
• Periodic De-Cluttering. Choose a frequency that works for you and set reminders into your calendar. And then do it!

Please Share!

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Technorati Tags: Getting Things Done, Goal Setting, Goals, GTD, guide, Happiness, Progress, Success, Dream Life

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How to Stop Being “Busy” and Live Your Dream Life

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Intrigued?

Check out my guest post today at Lifehack.org. If you like it please consider voting for it on Delicious, Stumble, or Digg. Thank you!

The article has a dose of inspiration for those of us who have hit the wall.

Lifehack.org: The Two F-Words You Should Love

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Please share your comments on how you handle hitting the wall. All comments big and small are very welcomed!

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The Two F-Words You Should Love

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Have you ever felt stuck, like you’ve hit a wall in terms of reaching a particular goal? This frustration can be your friend or your foe depending on how you use it. If you let the frustration get you down, you’re likely to procrastinate or even quit. There’s no need for this to happen. In fact, frustration should be celebrated. Why? Because it means a breakthrough is right around the corner…if you look for it.

Using the Power of Frustration

Frustration occurs when your energy to move forward is blocked. That blockage could be another person, a ineffective strategy, a change in circumstances, constraints on time, or any number of other hurdles to achieving your goal. This bottleneck of energy needs a place to go. The power behind frustration is strong. All it takes to redirect this power to your advantage is to dedicate some time to analyzing and identifying the root problem.

Identify the Real Problem

So, what is truly blocking you? Like most people, you may need to take some time drilling down to find the true root cause. To find this nugget of truth you simply keep asking WHY until you get to the root problem. Once you discover the real root problem, you can plan to overcome it.

Example of The Process

Let’s say that your goal is to exercise everyday. You write down your goal, you sign up for the monthly challenge at Zen Habits, you establish a place to track your progress, and still you’re not making any headway on your goal. So you start by asking “Why am I not taking action on my goal?”

Your first answer might be something like, “I have no discipline. I have no motivation. I’m a loser.” Now, are those good reasons? No, we all struggle with discipline and motivation. What we all need is a compelling plan to ensure success. So, once you get those negative answers out of the way you will need to dig deeper.

So you ask “Why am I really not taking action?” Your answer, “Well, I wake up too tired because I go to bed too late.” Ok, now you’re getting somewhere but you must keep going. “Why am I staying up so late?” So you analyze further and determine that there’s 2 reasons. One is that you are spending time on unproductive things like TV or aimless web surfing. The other reason is that you are working on a side project. Aha! Now you’ve really hit on something.

You can now see that you are spending time on another goal and leisure activities that are stealing time from the mornings when you planned to exercise. What to do? Now is the time to evaluate your goals and your planning. You review your goals and realize that you weren’t acknowledging the priority of your side project and you were dedicating more time to leisure than you need. Your root cause is a matter of priorities and time management. So, you come up with a new evening schedule that includes a set time for your project, less time on leisure, and a target bedtime so that you will have the energy to get up in the morning for exercising.

Set a Course of Action

Once you’ve identified the root blockage, it’s time to re-evaluate your goals and their order of priority. Be realistic about the amount of time you can dedicate to each one. Map out that time. If you find that you are not sticking to your schedule then you probably are not being honest with yourself about the priority order of your goals.

Know Your Motivations

It may be that you need more motivation to make one of your goals a higher priority. If that’s the case, focus on the benefits you’ll receive from working on that goal. So if your goal is exercise, focus on how good you’ll feel and look. If your goal is writing a book, then you might focus on how the extra income from that book will help you. Ask yourself why you have this goal so you can focus on that for motivation.

The Power of One

Keep in mind you may need to put some of your goals on hold. It’s really OK to do this. See my post over at ZenHabits on “The Power of One” in goal setting. It’s better to succeed in little bits over time, than to fail because you tried to take on too many goals at once.

Breakthroughs

By redirecting the energy behind your frustration into a more effective course of action, you will be able to reach your goals. This is called a breakthrough! And this is why you should welcome frustration. Out of frustration will emerge your biggest leaps in success if you recognize what is happening, analyze the real problem, and then take action on a new strategy for reaching your goal!

Please Share

Please share your Breakthrough experiences that started with Frustration. All comments big and small are very welcomed!

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Technorati Tags: Frustatration, Goal Setting, Goals, Goals, Goals, Motivation, Motivation, Progress, Success, Success, Success, Success, Priorities

Post from: Life Learning Today

What’s Getting in Your Way?

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Life is not easy. But life is beautiful, even when it is difficult. The beauty comes from giving your best. You may have seen these before, but take a look at them anew today. Print them out and put them where you will see them everyday. Wishing you a great day with lots of love and gratitude!

The Paradoxical Commandments

by Dr. Kent M. Keith

1. People are illogical, unreasonable, and self-centered.
    Love them anyway.

2. If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives.
    Do good anyway.

3. If you are successful, you win false friends and true enemies.
    Succeed anyway.

4. The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow.
    Do good anyway.

5. Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable.
    Be honest and frank anyway.

6. The biggest men and women with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest men and women with the smallest minds.
    Think big anyway.

7. People favor underdogs but follow only top dogs.
    Fight for a few underdogs anyway.

8. What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight.
    Build anyway.

9. People really need help but may attack you if you do help them.
    Help people anyway.

10. Give the world the best you have and you’ll get kicked in the teeth.
     Give the world the best you have anyway.

© 1968, 2001 Kent M. Keith

“The Paradoxical Commandments” were written by Kent M. Keith in 1968 as part of a booklet for student leaders.

 

Do It AnyWay

Mother Theresa Version
This version was reportedly found written on the wall in Mother Teresa’s home for children in Calcutta:

1. People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered.  Forgive them anyway.

2. If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives.  Be kind anyway.

3. If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies.  Succeed anyway.

4. If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you.  Be honest and sincere anyway.

5. What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight.  Create anyway.

6. If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous.  Be happy anyway.

7. The good you do today, will often be forgotten.  Do good anyway.

8. Give the best you have, and it will never be enough.  Give your best anyway.

9. In the final analysis, it is between you and God.  It was never between you and them anyway.

Please Share Your Inspiration!

Please share your testimonial for “Do It Anyway.” All comments big and small are very welcomed!

If you found this post valuable, please SHARE THIS below with a Digg, Stumble or Delicious bookmark. Votes are always noticed and always appreciated!

If you want to Support Life Learning Today, you can visit one of my sponsors, make a donation, or visit Amazon through my “Books� page at the top of this page. Thank you!

Technorati Tags: Good, Love, Manifesting, Motivation, Spiritual, Peace

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Do It Anyway!

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I have written a guest post at Lifehack.org today.

If you are frustrated with a difficult boss, I think you will find real value in this article.

This article has 9 actionable steps for taking back some control of your situation. No matter what your situation you have the power to succeed! 

Please check out this article to find out how:

Lifehack.org: How to Deal with a Nightmare Boss

If you like this article, please consider sharing it with others via Email, Digg, Delicious, or StumbleUpon. Thank you!

Please let me know if your ideas and comments regarding acheiving success despite a having a difficult boss!

And if you like this blog, please Subscribe Today!

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How to Deal with a Nightmare Boss

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The Original Self Improvement Gurus
Dale Carnegie  and Norman Vincent Peale were two of the original self improvement leaders and their lessons are still valid and useful today. I present to you here today a summary of their guidance from 2 of Carnegie’s many best selling books and one of Peale’s. I highly recommend taking the Dale Carnegie course. It is not just a public speaking course. It is a course in how to live your best life possible. And it applicable for all people.   

The Power of Positive Thinking by Norman Vincent Peale 
Summary

1. Believe in Yourself – Make a list of the factors that are “For You” not “against you.”
2. A Peaceful Mind Generates Power – Immerse your mind with peaceful thoughts, memories, words and ideas.
3. How to Have Constant Energy – Be in tune with The Infinite, with God. Get enthralled with something, pour yourself into it and your energy will never lag.
4. Try Prayer Power - “Prayerize, Picturize, Actualize.”
5. How to Create Your Own Happiness – Every morning you have two choices, to be happy or not be happy. Choose to be happy.
6. Expect the Best and Get It -Affirm daily: “I expect the best and with God’s help, I will get it.” Repeat 10 times daily.
7. I Don’t Believe in Defeat - Persevere until you have success. Problems? Go over, around, under or if you must “plow right through them.”
8. How to Break the Worry Habit – Worry is a learned habit. Replace it with better ones such as being with positive people, putting your faith in God to carry you through, and helping others with their worry habits.
9. Power to Solve Personal Problems -Take God as your partner in all that you do.
10. When Vitality Sags, Try This Health Formula – Release any grudges you are holding for an increase in health.
11. How to Get People to Like You -Find ways to genuinely like others, demonstrate your appreciation of them, and they will like you.
12. Prescription for Heartache – Be physically active. Live Life. Don’t avoid “sad places” if grieving. Find solace in the belief that there is no real death and that you will see your loved one again.
13. How to Draw Upon That Higher Power – Believe that God gives us power and yield to that power, let it flow into you. Approach life with confidence in a relaxed and easy manner.

Click on these links for purchasing: the condensed version of this book or here for the full length book.

How to Stop Worrying and Start Living by Dale Carnegie
Summary

Fundamental Principles for Overcoming Worry

• Live in Day-Tight Compartments: Just live in the moment. Only allow your mind to focus on your immediate task/situation.
• Face Troubles: Ask What’s the worst that can happen, be prepared for it and see how you can improve on that scenario.
• Remember the high health price of worrying, so “just say no” to worry.

Basic Techniques in Analyzing Worry

• Gather the Facts.
• Define the problem and solutions.
• Make a Decision and take Action!

Break the Worry Habit Before it Breaks You

• Keep Busy.
• Don’t worry about small stuff.
• Accept the inevitable.
• Don’t worry about the past.

Cultivate a Mental Attitude that Will Bring You Peace and Happiness

• Fill your mind with thoughts of peace, courage, health and hope.
• Never try to get even with your enemies.
• Expect ungratefulness.
• Count your blessings, not your problems.
• Don’t imitate others.
• Try to profit from your losses.
• Bring Happiness to others.

The Perfect Way to Conquer Worry

• Prayer.

Don’t Worry About Criticism

• Unjust criticism is simply a disguised compliment.
• Do your best.
• Review your mistakes and critique yourself.

Prevent Fatique and Worry and Keep Your Energy and Spirits High

• Rest before getting tired.
• Learn to relax at work and at home.
• Good working habits: clear desk, organization, no procrastination of decisions, delegation, supervision.
• Be enthusiastic about your work.
• Don’t be concerned with insomnia.

Click here for a link to purchasing this book.

How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
Summary

Become a Friendlier Person

• No criticizing, condemning or complaining
• Smile
• Give honest sincere appreciation
• Be genuinely interested in other people
• Remember a person’s name – the sweetest sound to their ears.
• Listen well. Encourage others to tell you about themselves
• Talk in terms of the other person’s interests.
• Make the other person feel important – with sincerity

Win People to Your Way of Thinking

• Avoid arguments.
• Respect others’ opinions.
• Admit when you’re wrong – quickly.
• Begin in a friendly way.
• Get the other person saying yes.
• Let the other person do a lot of the talking.
• Let the other person feel that the idea is theirs.
• Try to sincerely see the other person’s point of view.
• Appeal to their more noble motives.
• Make your ideas come to life.
• Suggest a challenge.

Be a Leader

• Praise and honest appreciation.
• Only refer to others’ mistakes indirectly.
• Talk about your own mistakes first.
• Ask questions instead of direct orders.
• Let the other person save face.
• Praise even the smallest improvements and be hearty in your praise.
• Give the other person a great reputation to live up to.
• Make faults seem easy to correct.
• Make the other person happy about doing things you ask.

Click here for a link to purchasing this book.

Please share your comments, experiences, and tips on Dale Carnegie or Norman Vincent Peale. All comments big and small are very welcomed!

If you found this post valuable, please SHARE THIS below with a Digg, Stumble or Delicious bookmark. Votes are always noticed and always appreciated!

If you want to Support Life Learning Today, you can visit one of my sponsors, make a donation, or visit Amazon through my “Books� page at the top of this page. Thank you!

Technorati Tags: Dale Carnegie, Goals, Personal Development, Success, Positive Thinking

Post from: Life Learning Today

The Original Self Improvement Gurus

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The Four Most Powerful Words:

You Can Do It!

My Personal Story

When I was in high school I joined the track team. We were 125 girls strong. I was the slowest runner so I was put in the 2 mile race. That first year, I came in last every race. But I felt good about it. Why? Because we had the best coach on the planet. He focused each of us on beating our personal best everyday. And I did that. You see, I wasn’t focused on coming in last every race. I was psyched every time I finished because of the major success of beating my personal best every race! I was over the moon!

At the end of the season, I asked my coach if he thought I could be a good runner. Coach liked anyone who worked hard and he said to me “Sully if you keep plugging away over the summer you can make it into the A-Team next fall.” This was the group of girls on the team who had the most demanding workouts, the ones who scored in meets. I don’t know why he said that to me considering I was his worst runner, but I think it’s because he is such a big believer in the power of, well, “If You Believe It, You Can Achieve It.”

So I ran everyday that summer in the heat with my dad. My dad is a fast runner so it was torture every morning. I remember at the end of each run, I’d be falling behind, pulling on his shirt to slow down just a little. But I never gave up. I ran my guts out almost every morning for about 3-4 miles. And you know what happened in the fall? Yep, you guessed it! I was running with the A-Team! It was amazing. And it wasn’t just me. I saw him transfer his unwavering belief onto many others who were also poor runners, only to see them blossom into their own personal best and even some of the team’s top scorers.

That power has remained a powerful force in my life. It is behind many of the great things I have accomplished such as landing great jobs, winning tough sales, getting promotions, coaching employees to their personal best, buying a home, and now making my blog the most useful place so people will love coming here.

How To Use this Power

1. Pick Your Goal and Don’t Be Afraid to Dream BIG!

2. Believe You Can! If you have to pretend to believe in the beginning, that’s fine. Your belief will grow with your successes.

3. Find a Mentor Who Has Done What You Want to Do. I’ve sought out “coaches” in each major goal I’ve tried to accomplish. Sometimes this meant contacting someone who I didn’t know who was much “higher” than me. Whenever I’ve done this, I was always a little nervous, but when you approach someone saying “I want to learn from your success” you’ll be amazed at the reception you’ll get. “Ask and Ye Shall Receive,” it’s true. And what do you have to lose anyway? If they don’t have time for you, find someone else. Simple! I currently have a few mentors with blogging. I think they know who they are. And I say thank you!

4. Always Strive For Your Personal Best Each Day.

5. Be Persistent. Shake Off Doubts. Be unwavering in your belief no matter how small the gains seem on any given day. 1% improvement a day means 365% improvement over a year and that’s not even calculating in compounding effects.

6. Celebrate Your Smallest Successes Everyday with Friends and Family. Find anyone who will listen and tell them. Heck, start a blog and tell the world!

7. Pass It On. Pass on this belief to others. When you find people who are working toward a goal, tell them unequivocally “You Can Do It!” Your words can have a positive impact on someone’s life that is bigger than anything you could ever imagine. The words of my coach back in high school have been ringing in my head ever since he said them. And they still carry me.

Please share your comments, experiences, and tips on “YOU CAN DO IT!” All comments big and small are very welcomed!

If you found this post valuable, please SHARE THIS below with a Digg, Stumble or Delicious bookmark. Votes are always noticed and always appreciated!

If you want to Support Life Learning Today, you can visit one of my sponsors, make a donation, or visit Amazon through my “Books� page at the top of this page. Thank you!

Technorati Tags: Belief, Goals, Goals, Goals, Personal Development, Success, Success, Success, Success, Motivation

Post from: Life Learning Today

The Four Most Powerful Words

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I have a guest post at Zenhabits.net today which is very exciting.

It its about hacking your goals.  I believe you will find this article very useful in accomplishing your goals.

Please check it out:

ZenHabits.net: The Amazing Power of One.

 

Please let me know if you think the strategy will be helpful for reaching your goals!

Post from: Life Learning Today

The Amazing Power of One

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