Succeed by Building Others Up
Regardless of what success means to you, you can attain it faster by building others up instead of bringing them down. Success is sweeter when you help someone else up. It is all too easy to be tempted to criticize others to “show them how things are supposed to be”. But instead of criticizing others, why not try and see the good in them and play it up?
The Power of Discipline
Positive thinking and motivational writing turns you on. It activates your mind to imagine the possibilities. But you will only progress in life if you start taking action. Learn to take action even when you feel bored or not motivated. Utilize the power of discipline to get more out of life. Discipline means doing the right thing, at the right place, at the right time, for the right purpose, to achieve the desired goals. It means following through with your commitments regardless of your emotional state.
What I Learned Through Blogging in 2009 – Part One
In January 2009, I set out on a public self improvement journey on this blog. Through blogging, I was able to re-connect with old friends and make new friends. I was able to meet many of my goals and establish my path to success. Was it easy? No it was not. But I am glad [...]
Thanks a Million 2009
Very soon writing New Year’s resolutions will be back in vogue. Before I jump on that wagon too, I would like to take a moment to reflect on 2009.
In January 2009, I set out on a journey of self improvement. I purposed it in my heart to change the trajectory of my life. At that [...]
10+ Reasons to Beef Up Your Personal Brand
When I first came to Australia, my shopping trolley was always overflowing with gold. My salt was Black and Gold, my sugar was Black and Gold, my whole shopping trolley was Black and Gold. I always wondered why anybody would buy anything other than Black and Gold.
Black and Gold is a value for money generic brand for hundreds of essential items on supermarket shelves in Australia. Yet few affluent people will be caught with black and gold products on their shopping baskets. It makes me ask myself, why is it that people world over are willing to pay a premium for beefed up brands. How can you beef up your personal brand? Why should you?
3 Seconds First Impression
You don’t need a second chance to make a first impression. In fact you only have 3 seconds to make a first impression. Changing that first impression is harder than learning a new language. If you absolutely must make a lasting impression, you need to pack the best of you in those 3 seconds. Have [...]
The Agony of an Own Goal in Sports and Life
A gun man approached Andrés Escobar outside a bar in a Colombian suburb and shot him. The gun man shouted “Gooooooooooooool!”, then shot him again, and then shouted again. He shot him 12 times in what was seen as punishment for scoring an own goal in the 1994 FIFA World Cup causing Colombia to be eliminated in the first round. That criminal act sent chills to players who feared accidentally scoring an own goal, especially in crucial matches. No player wants to score an own goal. It negates all the good done on the pitch. It makes fans and team mates go mad. Scoring an own goal for football players is a cause of shame and is not easily forgotten.
Today we kick off the sports series. We look at what we must really avoid; scoring an own goal.
The Quickest Path to Happiness
For the last couple of months I have been writing on various aspects of success and how to attain it. Today’s post is different. We look at a more direct way of being happy. The previous blog posts have been seeking happiness through determination, effort and hard work.
Since we are dealing with the mind in this series, I think it would be prudent of me to share with you what I have recently learned about happiness and how it is connected with the mind.
Happiness is a state of well-being characterized by emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy. The quickest way of being happy is to decide to be happy. Tell your mind to be happy. Do not put conditions to your being happy. Just resolve to be happy today, not in future.
Love and the Appreciation Factor
According to the late Mother Teresa “There is more hunger for love and appreciation in this world than for bread”. The greatest human need is the need to be appreciated. Showing love and appreciation to others implies abundance on your part. When you have an abundant mindset, you attract love and success to your life.
Live Courageously – Put Fear in its Place
Fear is an emotion experienced in anticipation of some specific pain or danger (usually accompanied by a desire to flee or fight). Fear is a powerful force, but a beautiful mind does not let fear become its chief guiding force.
Fear prevents action and modifies behavior in ways that slow down your journey to victory. Fear has its good side; it just needs to be put in its right place.
Emotions and Success
Welcome to the Emotional Series. In this series we shall look at how positive and negative emotions affect our success. Many people, especially men shy away from talking about emotions. Yet emotions influence our energy levels and success. I will be exploring this subject for the first time in my life and would love you to join me in this journey.
Health Insurance for the Upwardly Mobile
Ministry of Health warning for the upwardly mobile; cover your backside! It is possible to be advancing in economic and social standing one day and to be sinking in medical bills in the next day. With the escalating costs of health care and uncertain global economic times, it is prudent to be insured to the [...]
Good Health & Mind Connection
I recently attended a church service where the guest preacher was paralyzed from waist down. He told a story of how he was once depressed and stayed up one night trying to come up with a list of things that were wrong in his life. I cannot recall the exact wrongs that he found, but I do remember that he defined them with the letters of the alphabet. Let us say he was “Ailing, Bruised, Crying, Depressed, Emotional, Fearful, Gloomy etc”. He then fell asleep and when he woke up the next morning, he told his wife what he had been doing the previous night. He had a small problem though; when he got to the letter Q he could not think of a word that started with Q that was wrong with him. His wife told him, “Have you forgotten that you are a Quadriplegic?” Ouch!
Insomnia & Sleeping Habits
Senator John McCain may have lost the 2008 US presidential campaign, but he did not lose his sense of humor. Shortly after the elections results he went to the The Tonight Show and told Jay Leno “I have been sleeping like a baby – I sleep two hours, wake up and cry. Sleep two hours, [...]
Managing Stress for Success
How much would you have in your piggy bank if everyone who says they are stressed gave you a dollar? I was stressed just before many of my exams in school. I get stressed many times when I have to step out of my comfort zone. I was stressed out just before I started writing this article, wondering how I was going to explain stress. Ok, that is four dollars for your piggy bank (just from me!). Stress is all around us yet so few of us understand it or have developed coping strategies. I hope to inspire you to better cope with stress in your life.
The Harsh Reality of Depression
On the 16th of January 2006, the people of the state of Western Australia were shocked by the news that Premier Dr Geoff Gallop had resigned to aid his recovery from depression. Very few saw that coming; Dr Gallop had always presented himself as a man with a steady demeanor and a keen professionalism. He said that his decision to quit was extremely difficult to make but he admitted that he needed expert help to deal with “debilitating” depression.
What is the True Cost of Alcohol?
Like all good things in life, alcohol has an evil twin sister. It helps us feel good yet burns our liver. It helps people meet and at times makes them part in less than pleasant ways. I love my beer and am not immune to other forms of alcohol. I am not talking to you as a preacher would, but as a fellow social drinker. Ok that is now out of the way. Let us now talk about the true cost of alcohol.
Daily Exercise for Success
To maintain top notch physical health and wellness, one has to exercise daily. Physical exercise is any bodily activity that raises the heart rate above its resting level and enhances or maintains physical fitness and overall health. Exercise helps protect us from diseases of the affluent such as type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, obesity, [...]
You are what you Eat: Really?
The food you eat determines your state of mind and health. A healthy body that is well nourished equips you with energy to take on challenges in life. What you eat will often determine your emotional state, energy level and body image. If you eat the right kind of foods, you will protect yourself from disease and get an edge in life. You are what you eat.
50 Blog Posts Milestone!
It is now about two months since I launched this blog. I am humbled by the support that my friends and dear readers have given me. Your comments and messages have been my inspiration to continue writing even when I felt tired. It has not been an easy road but you have made it easier [...]
Mind Series Summary – It is all in the Mind
Success or failure is all in the mind. We have it in us to control how we feel and how far we go in life. Investing in developing your mind is the best investment you can make. You can have a beautiful mind by feeding, nurturing and training your mind.
Speed Reading For Prosperity
We have to consume increasing amounts of information to gain an edge. In this final piece of the mind series, I would like to look at how we can prosper by becoming better at reading and comprehending copious amounts of information. Those who can read quickly and accurately excel more in their studies and careers.
The Amazing Power of “Why”
A beautiful mind asks why things happen. A beautiful mind questions instead of accepting whatever it is told. Do you have a beautiful mind? What kind of questions do you ask yourself? What kind of questions do you ask others?
The Value of Specialized Knowledge
Getting specialized knowledge and skills will give you an edge over people with only general knowledge. Time and effort spent in gaining specialized knowledge pays handsome dividends. A mind that knows something special is a beautiful mind. [More...]
General knowledge is wonderful and very impressive. Knowing the names of all countries in the world is general knowledge. Knowing the names of leading brands of mobile phones is general knowledge. General knowledge may set a good foundation for your success, it will get you through the door, but you only get real results by acquiring and applying specialized knowledge.
The Joy of a Winning Mindset
A winning mindset will bring joy to your life. If you think and behave like a winner, you will win and succeed beyond your wildest dreams. There are many fine athletes that could win championships are intimidated by opponents with a winning attitude. Have a winning attitude and you will enjoy success.
Concentration Precedes Success
Concentration means focusing on a single idea or action with intensity. Concentration helps you solve problems and come up with the fastest path to attain your goals.
Avoid the fallacy of multitasking by completing one task before embarking on another. Be aware that information overload can be a drain on productivity.
We all have different levels of concentration. Concentration can be improved through practice and avoiding distractions. How will you improve your concentration today?
A Beautiful Mind – (Not the Movie)
The mind is the faculty of reason. The mind helps control ourselves, our emotions, our desires and our actions. A beautiful mind is sharp, brilliant and better able to help us navigate through the challenges of life.
Meet Invisible People
Have you ever been discriminated against? I have. Have you ever been treated like you are not there? I have. Have you ever been made to feel insignificant? I have. Have you ever been made to feel like you were invisible? I have.
I know the feeling. I know how it feels to be treated like I was imperceptible to the naked eye. We all have people we do not notice. Not because we do not like them, not because we do not value them, but because they are not in our area of focus. It is a good idea to tune your mind to notice the previously invisible people.
A Magic Word Called Empathy
Given a long enough time line, people do not remember what you say to them. They only remember how you made them feel. Be careful how you make people feel. Be sensitive about people’s emotional states. Take the time to be more attuned to emotions and adjust our words to suit the occasion or prevailing [...]
Show Me Your Friends
Show me your friends and I will tell you what kind of person you are. The company you keep reflects on you. Birds of a feather flock together. People assume you are just like the people you hang out with. Have you ever done an audit of the kind of people you allow into your space?
