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 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? (more…)
Does positive thinking and motivational talk turn you on? Does it activate your mind to imagine the possibilities? Unfortunately, motivation alone does not bring success. You will only progress in life if you take action. Learn to take action even when you feel bored. 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. (more…)
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 I did it. (more…)
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 point, my life was in shambles. There were riots in my mind and heart. I needed to quell the uprising within me. The only way to drive out the negative demons was to invite positive angels. It is not easy to change one’s life but I did it; through the grace of God, the power of positive thinking, and the support of friends. (more…)
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? (more…)
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 I used up my 3 seconds yet? (more…)
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. (more…)
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. (more…)
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. (more…)
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. (more…)
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. (more…)
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 brim. Health insurance is one of the must have insurance policies for the upwardly mobile, and for good reason. (more…)
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! (more…)
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, wake up and cry”. Do you sleep like a baby? (more…)
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. (more…)
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. (more…)
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. (more…)
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, and certain forms of cancer, asthma, alcoholism, depression, and allergies. (more…)
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. (more…)
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 for me by being there and supporting the blog. Thank you to all those who have invited their friends to the site, posted comments, sent me encouraging messages and phone calls. Thank you so much. (more…)
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. (more…)
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. (more…)
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? (more…)
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…)
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. (more…)
Concentration means intense mental effort directed at a specific objective. It also refers to great and constant diligence and attention. It is very difficult to succeed without concentration. A mind that concentrates is a beautiful mind. It is a mind that will get results and give you power to overcome challenges. (more…)
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. (more…)
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. (more…)
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 mood. (more…)
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? (more…)
