If You Try

If You Try

Saturday, January 30, 2010

Narrow Your Focus to Achieve Maximum Results

Many people try to be a jack of all trades. The problem with this is that when you are good at several things, it is impossible to be great at any one of them. It is tempting to try to do everything yourself, perhaps you feel more productive when you juggle multiple projects at one time. But your results will be minimal if this pattern persists. To achieve maximum results you must narrow your focus, zero in on your present project, and lock in to what is necessary to do it well. It is better to complete one tasks well and then move onto your other interests once it is complete. Now if you are one of the unfortunate souls, like me, who are not in the position or have the luxury to just concentrate on one task at a time, what you can do is budget your time for the different tasks you are working on. The time that you budget to each task is only for that particular task, you don't concentrate on any other ones during that period. Using this method may cause you to take a little longer in finishing your work, but you will produce better work, which is what your goal is right?

Thursday, January 14, 2010

Empower Others and Increase Your Influence.

The best leaders are those that empower those that follow to become leaders themselves. True leaders want those that follow them to become independent so that the leader is no longer needed by them. Not that the main leader loses his/her value, but they have raised their followers to fly on their own and to teach others to do the same. That is the mark of great leadership. Leadership is not about hoarding power or making others submit to you. It is about casting vision, leading by example, and producing lasting results. A position or title does not make you or I a leader,influence does. Influence must be earned by demonstrating skill,integrity, reliability, and strength in your day to day activities. You must first be granted permission to influence those you seek to influence (even if you've been given a position over them).

Monday, December 28, 2009

Gain Momentum for 2010 Today

Most people set new year resolutions at the beginning of each year but fail to follow through with them. Why is this? Most of the time it is because we don't see quick results and we lose interest. It's as if something magical is supposed to happen just because we make the resolution. The truth is, these new goals that we set require hard and continuous work and we may not even see the fruit of our efforts in the year we have set the goal. If you want to be a better business person, athlete, husband, wife, and overall person, you must sacrifice the time, energy, finances, brain power, and self to do so. Your labor will be rewarded, but maybe not in the time you would like it to be. Be diligent and lock onto your future rather than your bleak today. And don't wait until the clock strikes 12 and the ball drops for 2010 either. Start today. Map out your plan for how you are going to achieve greatness in the areas you are seeking it in. Include trusted friends and family in your plans so they can hold you accountable and encourage you. I personally am looking forward to becoming stronger and wiser; spiritually, physically, relationally, financially, and mentally and I started on this journey about a week ago. I encourage you my friends, get busy living today!!!

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Adapt to Change Quicker to Become More Powerful

There is no way around it, change is inevitable. Rather than try to resist this insurmountable force, the wise learn to embrace it and use it to their advantage. People that get locked into routine and who are unwilling to change are close to the graveyard, while those that adapt to their surroundings and circumstances end up flourishing. Nothing was ever meant to remain the same, except the Almighty, and those who understand this run circles around those who don't. If you become dogmatic in your outlook on life, you won't be able to survive the bad changes that come your way, nor benefit from the good ones. If you let it, change helps you become more agile, wiser, quicker, and stronger. Treat life as a judo master does his opponent, use its own momentum against it rather than exerting your own force against it. As you prepare to embrace change, be sure to keep your values and priorities in front of you (life may change, but these don't have to and if they do, perhaps you weren't that committed in the first place). Know where you want to go and have a plan for how you will get there, but be flexible enough to adjust your plan if a change occurs (it most certainly will). Don't fall in love with the plan, fall in love with the destination, and even still, allow room for a mental shift of thinking if the destination presents itself as unattainable given your current circumstances (then make plans to help create better circumstances that will help you reach that destination another way).

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Humility Before Honor

Yes, you are gifted, talented, and brilliant! Yet for the greatness inside of you to shine at its fullest potential, you have to go through the process of humility. What separates the talented from the great is character. You earn character by working hard, experiencing hardships while maintaining proper perspective, and being willing to follow (even when you don't like the leadership). The process of humility is not supposed to feel good (just as lifting more weights at the gym does not), but you will find that those that allow themselves to go through it have a much more balanced and healthy perspective(along with more mental fortitude). People tend to develop big heads naturally when they garner success (no way around this), yet the big head can be tempered by humility. Humility will help you make correct choices and prove a valuable asset when you reach greater heights. Humility gives you boundaries that keep you safe and it helps you to remain on those heights without falling. Honor will come (just continue to work hard), but for it to last, it must be coupled with humility.

Thursday, November 26, 2009

Use Doubters To Your Advantage

People that doubt your abilities can cause you to do one of two things, either make you quit or push yourself to success. Chances are that you prefer the latter to occur. Doubters help you to create positive momentum if you channel your energy the proper way. I am not suggesting that your sole purpose becomes proving your doubters wrong, but rather using them to help you focus even more on what you are already pursuing. No other human being should have the power to control your destiny, but you can utilize their energy to propel you to it. Proving doubters wrong should never be your main objective, only the cherry on top of the cake at best. Your main objective is to realize all of your potential before you leave this earth, doubters are stepping stones that help you climb to that realization. Doubters keep you on your toes, keep you humble, and help you to continue to work hard. I personally love them because they present me with a challenge to conquer. If I prove to others that I am able to accomplish something, that further solidifies that knowledge that I already believed about myself beforehand, which makes me even more confident to pursue my goals. Don't become vengeful when using doubters to your advantage, think of the process as a game and have fun with it so you maintain a healthy perspective.

Sunday, November 22, 2009

Plan For The Best, Prepare For The Worst

Life is a complex phenomena. Even the best strategist cannot see every variation that it will present. The successful are those who put a plan in place to get to their final destination as well as calculate how to get there, watch for possible detours and obstructions, and develop exit plans. People who just let life happen to them will never be successful in their endeavors. They will wake up one morning and their reality will hit them like a ton of bricks. They have created a mountain of negative momentum that will be very hard to get past (though it is possible). Make up your mind today to set specific goals on who you want to become in the future and be honest about what it will take to accomplish that. Cushion the blow of devastating setbacks by preparing in advance for them. Those who have a plan for their life and know where they are heading have more power over life than those who do not have such a plan and no direction.