Showing posts with label motivation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label motivation. Show all posts

Saturday, October 17, 2009

33 Ways to Get and Keep Yourself Motivated

1. Ignore The Unimportant

Learning to ignore is a fantastic lesson. Much more rewarding that you think. There must be an art of ignoring and they should teach it in universities. Spanning your focus in so many areas will only weaken you. Ignoring what's unimportant will free up energy and help you stay focused and productive.

2. Understand What Makes You Bored

And avoid it. Boredom is a nasty place to be. But as any other state of your being can be understood and you can identify the triggers. Once you understand that, you can safely go away from the gray zone. Takes some time but it really worth the effort.

3. Laugh More Often

Watch comedies, read comics. Throw away that ugly seriousness form your face. Laughing is a safety valve for your stress relief mechanism. It actually let it out from your body in bursts. And while you're laughing you can still learn new stuff, like personal development lessons from Dumbo.

4. Keep A Log Of Your Breakthroughs

Do you remember when you had the first major success of your life? I thought so. We tend to overlook this simple habit of writing down our feelings every time we have a major breakthrough in our lives. Keep a log of your successes. And get inspired by it.

5. Exercise

This is one the easiest and simplest way to get motivated. Just walk out from the office, start doing some pushups or just go for a short run around the house. It will instantly declutter your physical body. Every time you exercise, you produce endorphins. Endorphins are good.

6. Create A Custom Environment

You can't be motivated if you work in an environment which does not represent you. Make changes, adjust, improve. Doesn't matter if it's about your job office or your home. Whatever the space you work in, make it yours somehow, that will lower your unconscious adaptation efforts and you'll have more time dedicated to the actual tasks.

7. Read Success Stories

Like in other people success stories. Get inspired. Admire them (with caution, but do admire them). Reading about success will make it more available to you and will fuel your efforts towards its achievement. And of course, you can learn how to be successful too.

8. Switch Tasks

You will get bored if you work on the same projects for too long. Boredom kills motivation. Try having several small projects that you can land on whenever you feel you're on the verge of a burn out. Not to mention that switching tasks will instantly create fresh perspectives, helping you solve problems faster.

9. Assess Your Progress

If you work constantly you will make some progress, that's a rule. You may have the impression that you're not going anywhere but that's because you're skipping all those little milestones you go through every day. Watching back with satisfaction at what you created will surely boost your energy.

10. Talk About Your Projects

With your friends or family. Let the people know you're doing stuff. That will often make yourself aware of the fact that you're actually doing stuff and enjoy doing it. It will also create a certain level of accountability that will most likely push you forward.

11. Avoid Energy Vampires

Naysayers, pessimists, braggers they all are sucking up your energy. Don't get caught in such power games, avoid at all costs those energy leaks. Even if that means you'll isolate more often. It's better to do work in your own secluded realm than to try to resist to a diminisihing environment.

12. Write Clear Goals

Most of the time that translates to actually write down your goals, you already have them clear in your mind. But take them out of your mind, put them in a trusted system and move on. Your mind works better when it knows what it has to do not when it spends time figuring what it has to do.

13. Exercise Satisfaction

Once you finished some task, reward yourself. Give yourself a prize. No need to be a huge one, but just enough to create the habit. Look forward to it while you're working, wait for it, praise for it. In time you'll become addicted to this fulfillment satisfaction and you won't stop until you reach it.

14. Accept Failure

As part of the game. Failure, like success, is just a result of your actions, nothing more. One of the biggest motivation enemies is fear of failure. Fear that your outcome will turn bad. Accept it. It may turn bad, but that doesn't mean you have to stop doing what you're doing. Give your best and hope for the best.

15. Use Affirmations

Like writing down your intentions, your goals, your current status. Affirmations are a very powerful tool, hugely underrated. People find it awkward to write self-directed messages and read them out loud. News flash: you're doing this all the time, unconsciously. So why not doing it consciously? Start with a morning phrase.

16. Play Games

Impersonate people. Imitate animals. Pretend you're Sindbad the Sailor. Playing challenging games will relax your mind and at the same time will gather more resources from secret sources. A good motivation is always blended with joy. You can start with a simple game like how to get from a to b in 5 random steps.

17. Say "No"

Say "no" to distractions, to trolls, to depression. Exercising "no"'s is liberating. Too often too many commitments are making your life a continuous chore. Limit your promises and only get into things you really want to finish. Once you do that, go to a mirror, smile and start to politely exercise your "no"'s.

18. Look For Positive People

Sadness, whining and complaining doesn't play well with motivation. On the contrary. But positive, optimistic, energetic people will always shift your vibration in the right direction. Search them, find them and become their friend. Sometimes all you need to get motivated is to be surrounded by shiny happy people.

19. Difficulty Is Part Of The Game

Learn to work under pressure. Some things are more difficult than other. Accept that fact and focus on doing what you have to do not on your feelings of dissatisfaction. Difficulty is often what makes things worth doing. No sweat, no glory. Whenever I feel something is going to be tough, I'm usually more motivated to do it. The reward will be higher.

20. Create Personal Challenges

Personal challenges are short term goals, usually from 15 to 90 days. Like starting to exercise, or creating a habit from scratch in 15 days. Using personal challenges strengthen your inner power the same way exercising is strengthening your muscles. The more you do, the more motivated you feel to do even more.

21. Chose Positive Motivation

Whenever you lock in your motivation, do your best to keep it on the positive side, which is rooted in service. As opposed to the negative motivation, which is basically rooted in fear. Negative motivation works just the same, only it lasts significantly less than positive motivation.

22. Release Your Guardians

You do have guardians and some of them are pretty nasty. They won't let you do your stuff. The bad thing about your guardians is that most of the time they're working at the unconscious level, really difficult to interact with. Just accept, acknowledge and let them go. You will be much better off.

23. Enforce Your Personal Mission

You gotta have a personal mission. If you don't, go find one fast. Reinforcing your personal mission at certain intervals is surely one of the greatest motivators of all. It's like looking on a map and seeing at any moment where you are, how much do you have to go and which path you have to chose.

24. Spend Time Outside

If you can do something creative, like gardening or landscaping, even better. But it's ok even if you don't. Spending time outside of your box will clear the air inside. When you get back, everything will be fresher and shinier. And something fresher is always a nice motivator.

25. Keep A Clean Inbox

That's one of the few GTD concepts I still use and it proves to be a great motivator. A clean inbox helps a smooth thoughts flow. A smooth thoughts flow let me be in the moment without any hidden burdens. Being in the moment is usually all I need to actually start doing things.

26. Don't Aim For Perfection

It will soon drain you out. Aiming to be better is the real game. Perfection is a dead end, nothing really happens after you reached to it. Accepting that you can be better instead of perfect leaves some room for growth. And that means you have a reason to do more. And that's what we usually call motivation, right?

27. Do One Thing At A Time

Multitasking is a myth. Even computers processors aren't really doing multi-tasking, that's what we perceive. Instead they have a single frequency and several parallel buses managing information, faking a multi-tasking activity. Multitasking is creating internal conflicts, both in humans and in computers. You end up spending more time solving those conflicts than actually working.

28. Keep A Source Of Inspiring Readings

You're not always completely down, most of the time you're just averagish, just one sentence away from your best shape. Be sure to keep around a list of inspiring readings. Quotes, blog posts, ebooks, whatever works for you. You can start with 100 ways to live a better life, for instance.

29. Put On Some Good Music

Just let it there, floating around, don't turn the volume knob. Just enough to recreate a pleasant atmosphere. Music speaks to areas you can't control with logical tools, yet is so powerful that can completely shift your mood in a second. The only thing better than silence is good music.

30. Don't Fall Into The Productivity Trap

It's not how much you do, but how much of it really matters. Doing stuff just for filling up notebooks with tasks won't make you feel motivated. On the other side, whenever you're doing something that matters, your planing and organizing activities will just flow.

31. Keep Your Life Lenses Clean

Your camera objective may be blurred but you don't know. This is why you get the same picture again and again, this is why feel stuck and can't seem to see any progress. Sometimes all you have to do is to clean up your lenses. It takes a little bit of courage but it's worth the trouble.

32. Clean Up Your House

I know you need motivation for that too, but believe me, it's a fantastic way to clean up your internal garbage. Cleaning up your house is not a chore, it's a necessity. Your action paths may be clogged the same way your floor is sticky. And most of the time unsticking the floor will open your mind again.

33. Stop Reading This And Get To Work

It was fun reading it, I'm sure. But it won't get things done in your place. Inspiration is a good motivator, but don't abuse it. Now, that you are all energized, it's time for you to get back to work. Of course, you can bookmark this post for future motivation sessions, but for now, just go back to work.

I am a citizen of the world, known by the name Dragos Roua. I'm on a never-ending trip in which I discover, experience, share, seek and create many wonderful worlds. You wanna join me?
Learn how I completely changed my thoughts and created my own millionaire mindset.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dragos_Roua

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Motivation and Reasons to Escape the Rat Race

I have saved and invested and run web sites for years. I work at night for a company for the benefits. I have been with this company for almost ten years.

The person who trained me at my night job was recently removed from the site for trivial offenses. Now he has a new site with the same company.

THIS GUY NOW WORKS 2 GRAVEYARDS, 2 SWINGSHIFTS, AND 1 DAY SHIFT!!!

Is that a screwed up schedule or what? To give a company ten good years and then get the shaft like that.
And he will not complain to the state about any of it.

Don't let this happen to you! Save money, learn to build a business, invest, LBYM, and be mindful of punks in the workplace.

Take a look at www.financialindependenceuniversity.com and make a plan for YOUR financial future. I guess we can't count on "reputable companies" anymore. Seniority is gone. Common sense and personal ethics are gone.

Abandon the "I'm not good enough" attitude and take charge of your life. I have had real good feedback from my site. While it obviously will not solve everyone's problems all the time, I suggest a look.

List your reasons for wanting to escape the rat race. BE COMPLETELY HONEST WITH YOURSELF, PLEASE!! Let the negative and the positive reasons drive you.

Best of luck.

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Serious Motivation

If you want something bad enough, you can likely have it. But how do you get motivated enough to really take focused and consistent action?

First, write down your goal and list as many reasons as possible why you want to achieve it. Be brutally honest with yourself. If you are sick and tired of the status quo, write down the reasons why. Remind yourself of why you want to achieve this goal. This goal could be to get out of debt, to lose weight, to quit a bad habit, or to finish your degree. The philosopher, Nietzsche, said that a person can achieve any “how” if they have enough “why”. This is largely true.

Second, write down all the positive reasons why you will be happier after this goal is achieved. Keep these two lists and read them every day. Visualize life after your goal has been reached, and really feel the emotions associated with your goal, and the sights and sounds that go with it. Visualize people talking to you about your achievement.

You must be certain there are no inner conflicts in your mind about achieving your goal. You must decide to completely cut off negative influences and thoughts that can hold you back, like negative friends, etc.

Third, create a plan to achieve this goal. List items such as: what will you have to learn to achieve your goal, what obstacles do you face, when your goal must be reached by; concisely restate your current status as it pertains to your goal, who will help, and list the steps to achieve your goal.

Fourth, take action every day on your goal. Do as much as you can to help you with your goal each day, including: reviewing your reasons why you want your achievement, visualizing, seeking proper help, maintaining positive self talk, doing the work you need to do, engaging in intense workouts, and being wary of slipping back into debt, bad habits, etc. A good councilor could be a great help.

Fifth, associate with good and positive people with similar goals, beliefs, or people who have done what you intend to do. If you are serious about your goal, getting around the right people will be a boon to your success.

www.independentwealth.us will help you do what you need to do to escape the rat race.

I truely hope you succeed!

Monday, August 25, 2008

Desire and Motivation

"Humans have the remarkable ability to get exactly what they must have. But there is a difference between a "must" and a "want."

The best motivation is self-motivation. The guy says, "I wish someone would come by and turn me on." What if they don't show up? You've got to have a better plan for your life.

When you know what you want, and you want it bad enough, you will find a way to get it.

Motivation alone is not enough. If you have an idiot and you motivate him, now you have a motivated idiot.

Without a sense of urgency, desire loses its value." -- Jim Rohn

Sunday, August 3, 2008

The Key to Motivation

Your Real Goal

Your goal is to become a transformational leader, the kind of person that motivates and inspires people to perform at levels far beyond anything that they had previously thought possible.

Keep People In the Know

Transformational leaders empower others by keeping them "in the know," by keeping them fully informed on everything that effects their jobs. People want and need to feel that they are "insiders," that they are aware of everything that is going on. There is nothing so demoralizing to a staff member than to be kept in the dark about their work and what is going on in the company.

Give Regular Feedback

One empowering behavior practiced by transformational leaders is regular feedback on performance and results. People need to know how they're doing so they can improve if performance is below standards and so that they can be proud of their successes. The more feedback you give to people, the better it is, as long as the feedback is objective and not critical. My friend, Ken Blanchard, says that, "Positive feedback is the breakfast of champions."

Be Generous With Praise

Be generous with your praise and encouragement. Remember, people are the only asset that can be made to appreciate in value by giving them warmth, respect, approval and by creating a climate of positive expectations.

Create An Exciting Future

What companies and countries and institutions need today are courageous visionary leaders who are committed to creating an exciting future for themselves and others. You have within yourself the ability to evolve and grow as a leader and to make a real difference in the world around you. And the one thing you can know for sure about yourself is that, no matter what you've accomplished up to now, there is far more that you can do. As you practice the behaviors of effective leaders, you will grow more and more toward the realization of your full potential. It's completely up to you.

Action Exercises

Here are two things you can do immediately to put these ideas into action in your work.

First, hold regular meetings with your staff and tell them everything that is going on. Invite their comments, questions and concerns. Make everybody feel as if he or she was an insider in the organization.

Second, continually look for opportunities to give positive feedback, praise and encouragement. People need praise and encouragement like roses need rain and sunshine. Take every opportunity to make people feel better about themselves and their work.

www.briantracy.com

Monday, June 16, 2008

What to do When You've Lost Your Motivation

Sometimes goals take so long to achieve that we start to lose the initial enthusiasm that sparked us to take our first baby steps toward that goal. You may find yourself questioning whether the goal was realistic. You may be feeling unmotivated to take the steps you know you need to take to continue making progress. All of a sudden, you find yourself distracted by other things that have nothing to do with your goal.
It is hard to motivate yourself. And in the short run, it is much easier to just give up. But you can't! Giving up only turns your goal into just another dream you've wanted to accomplish, and can increase your stress, frustration, and unhappiness with your life over the long term. If you've been dreaming about this goal for a long time, then it's too valuable to just give up on so easily.
So how do you find that motivation to keep going? Well, one thing you can do is go back to the source of your initial motivation.
What made you passionate/excited/interested in this goal in the first place? When did you first think about it? Why did you decide to take steps toward achieving this goal? How did you go about taking the initial steps toward your goal?
Take a moment to write in a journal about the beginnings of your goal. Where did it all begin and where did the motivation come from in the first place? This journal can be referred back to whenever you need a motivational boost.
Another idea is to go back through your initial drafts/business plans/ideas. Look over old notes and materials that you first came up with. Take yourself back in time to when everything was fresh and new and you could envision your future with excitement. That future still exists for you. Some of those old notes and materials may hold nuggets of brilliance that you haven't let shine yet.
Finally, another idea is to find a "motivation partner." It's very difficult to achieve your goals on your own. All successful people had someone to bounce their ideas off to keep them on track towards their goal. Enlist the help of a friend, mentor, or coach to help you stay motivated, keep your ideas fresh, and maintain your focus on the creation of your dream. Having someone you can turn to when you start to lose energy on the way to achieving your goal can be invaluable.
It's very common to lose steam on the way to achieving your goal. We give all our energy to it in the beginning and then reality sets in. This is when we need our energy the most. Try some of these ideas. Success is a more exciting journey when you're not alone.
I have been helping people reach their personal and professional goals for the past 14 years. There's nothing more satisfying than helping someone reach their potential for success. I would like the opportunity to help you reach your goals. I am a Professional Coach with a Ph.D. in Psychology and a specialty in Goal Achievement and Transitions. Check out my website to learn more about me then call me for a free consultation.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sandra_Thebaud

Monday, June 2, 2008

How to Stay Motivated Around Negative People

The world is filled with a great deal of negativity at times. Negative people are those who see no hope for themselves and because they see none for themselves want to try to take hope from others by discouraging them. Negative people don't want to see you succeed because they haven't succeeded. Some negative people want to keep you where they are themselves: in the pit of self-pity and negativity; others are the loved ones that fear for you and don't believe you can succeed and they don't want to see you hurt, so they try to dissuade you from trying anything new.
Negative people are practically the most difficult kind of people to be around, especially when things are not going so well. Negative people complain about this or that and see problems or imperfections in almost everything. Negative people are the ones who are rude to the cashier or push their way through the line. They are the ones who don't have anything good to say about life, even when life has been good to them.
When things are going well, we can generally fend off negativity from within and without fairly easily. But when we hit a problem in life, negative people have a way of making things look worse. Their insight and advice generally make things appear to be worse than they actually are. The statements of negative people are frequently pointed at "you" , as in, " I told you you couldn't do it." The problem is that if you hear statements similar to this often enough you can actually start internalizing it, or believing it.
A really good way to stay motivated despite all the negativity in the world is to take responsibility for your life and your actions. When we take responsibility for our own lives and move forward toward our goals regardless of what others might think, especially those negative others, you can be positive. This movement forward generates motivation. A sense of pride in yourself will follow.
Another way to stay motivated when negative people are trying to discourage you is to know what you want out of life. This is related to taking responsibility for your life. If you really know what you want then no-one can discourage you from accomplishing it. Knowing what you want means knowing who are.
What happens sometimes is the negative person sees you moving forward, but rather than encourage you they will attempt to discourage you. When this happens it has to do with the negative person's jealousy. If this should be the case you need to separate yourself from that negative person. Don't listen to their negativity.
Belief is another weapon against the negativity of anyone around you. If you believe in yourself you can accomplish anything you put your mind to, regardless of what other people think. There are always going to be people who will attempt to steer you away from your goals by saying you don't have what it takes. However, when you reflect upon the belief of yourself you will find the motivation you need to push forward.
Goal setting is another way to overcome negative people and motivate yourself. When we set goals we set markers for ourselves. As we hit each marker we acquire a sense of accomplishment. This fuels our motivation. Negative people can steal your motivation away, if you let them. The key is not to let them do that, by utilizing strategies that keep your motivation intact. We can't avoid all the negative people in the world, but we can do things for ourselves to maintain our motivation.
Peter Murphy is a peak performance expert. He recently produced a very popular free report that reveals how to crush procrastination and sustain lasting motivation. Apply now because it is available for a limited time only at: http://www.getmotivatedstaymotivated.com/blog
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Peter_Murphy

Thursday, April 24, 2008

How to Motivate Yourself and Mean It

Self-motivation is the act of giving one’s own person incentive or encouragement to do something. In other words, it’s the way you get yourself up and moving, as well as to keep going when the going gets tough. Different people motivate themselves in different ways. I have found that before you can motivate yourself, you have to know what drives you. Effects of Motives Are you the kind of person that thinks about the long-term effects a certain action will have? If so, you can motivate yourself to get either the positive result or to avoid the negative one. For example, if you must report into work by a certain time, one the negative effects of getting there late would be some kind of disciplinary action. By the same token, a positive effect of being on time would be you continue to receive a paycheck. Whichever one of these motivates you more depends on which compels you more, the positive or the negative effect. Visualization Perhaps you are a visual kind of person. The best motivation would be to literally visualize your goals or dreams. I would go as far as to advise you to find a physical image of your goal or dream and put it up somewhere you will see it everyday. If you want to live in a big, fancy house, then find a picture of a big, fancy house. Cut it out and hang it up over your desk, on the refrigerator, or anywhere it will be a constant, visual reminder of your goals and dreams. Then write down everything you want to have in that house. Hang that up next to the picture. The more detailed you are the more real it becomes, until that house goes from being a dream to a "one day soon" reality. Healthy Competition Well, if you are not one of the above-mentioned types of people, than you are probably one that likes a little healthy competition. This can also be a very effective way to motivate you. For example, if you are going to be running a race you would probably push yourself harder in order to win. You would workout more, and practice harder and longer in order to be faster, stronger, and smarter than your competition. When you are motivated to win you will do whatever it takes to achieve that. Planning In order to motivate yourself, and keep yourself motivated, you need to determine what your personality is and what your goals are. Then you have to come up with a plan to reach those goals. At initial stages, it is important that you should judge your capabilities impartially. Once you are able to judge your abilities, set realistic goals. Chalk out your strategy to achieve these goals. Often "Yes I can do it!" approach do wonders. Believe in yourself, in your own abilities. Have optimistic approach towards every aspects of life, strive hard to achieve the success, reach your targets and you will come to know the magic of self-belief. Ultimately, if you believe in yourself, you can motivate yourself to do anything!
By Shashi RaiPublished: 9/28/2007 www.buzzle.com

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Is Your Personal Comfort Zone Holding You Back?

Recently a start-up social marketing Silicon Valley executive was quoted as saying "If you are comfortable when you launch your site you waited too late."
In other words, if one felt comfortable then this secure, comfortable feeling was an indication that one had fallen behind the innovation curve, a detriment to success. The implication was that innovation is inherently a tenuous and uncertain thing and that making it into a 'comfort' thing is very bad strategy.
Theodore Roosevelt called the comfort zone the "the Gray Twilight" and those that dwelt there "poor spirits". They neither enjoyed much nor suffered much and in fact in his opinion they didn't really live very much either.
If we look back to the origins of social psychology and evolutionary psychology we quickly learn that never were our ancestors in a so-called comfort zone. Life was tough and a daily struggle for survival. That doesn't mean there was never time to relax and enjoy...just not much time.
The most recent human evolution theories speculate that human gene mutations occurred 50,000 and a million years ago. These mutations were important because they increased the size of the brain and cranial capacity.
The 'purpose' of these mutations was to give our human team the survival edge; being able to think has distinct evolutionary advantages.
The ability to think gave both the individual and the tribe the edge. When things got difficult the thinking brain could figure out ways to find a solution.
Our noble cousins the apes and chimpanzees could not do that or at least do it on our level. That's why our monkey-looking ancestors are called hominid and those "other animals" are called apes.
The net result is one species is in the zoo and the other on the outside looking in.
The hard truth is we are not wired for comfort. We are wired for challenge and contrast. Maybe feeling "comfortable in one's own skin" is not how we are wired. Can our very own self-certainty be holding us back?
Are we mistaking self-confidence for a free and inquiring mind? Is a free and inquiring mind, arguably our evolutionary advantage, inherently uncomfortable?
Can routine achievement and success leave one in a comfort zone that dampens both potential and true innovation? Are free, inquiring and open minds threatened by social norms and conformity? Do the comfort zones of achievement and success actually prevent further achievement and success?
Does the establishment of our comfort zone make us averse to any risk that threatens our hard earned comfort zone? Is that the real reason so many of us are resistant to fundamental change?
The concept can be expanded from individuals to tribes, communities and societies.
Do societies eventually become self-certain and comfortable bringing about their decline? Do societies get tired or just lazy?
Is the concept of "resting on our laurels" simply another way of saying the comfort zone has been reached and "that's all folks?"
Certainly Silicon Valley has proven that those living within their own comfort zones create very little and cannot compete successfully with those that do. Without the driving edge of curiosity and an inherent disdain for the status quo comfort zone little innovation takes place.
What if Michelangelo or Thomas Edison had stayed in their respective comfort zones?
Interestingly a few realize this psychological nightmare and artificially construct challenges that will get them out of their comfort zone; the implication being that if they are comfortable and do nothing they will accomplish little.
On the lower end, motivation for change occurs when one slips from the comfort zone to areas of pain, anxiety and frustration. No motivation or change occurs until the pain threshold is passed and unfortunately the human capacity for absorbing anxiety and frustration is very high.
Then there are others that feed on challenge, exploration and the thrill of the new. The biggest risk they view in their lives is settling into their comfort zone 'black hole' and never being able to get out. When they start feeling comfortable they know something is wrong. Terribly wrong.
After a while those in their long term comfort zones have little say, learn little new and may in fact be the victims of negative brain plasticity. Anecdotally we can see this in our everyday lives; those that camp out in their comfort zones have little thinking capacity, few ideas and not much of interest to say.
This leads us to the distressing conclusion there is no cure for stupid. Potential is only realized when the individual moves out of their comfort zone.
In the end, each of us determines if there is anything good to say about being in one's own "comfort zone". But the evidence clearly points to "comfort" as an obstacle to success.
Jack Deal is the owner of JD Deal Promotional Marketing, Santa Cruz and Monterey, CA. Related articles may be found at http://www.jddeal.com/blog/personal_development and http://www.freeandinquiringmind.typepad.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jack_Deal

Wednesday, April 9, 2008

7 High Powered Motivation Tips

(I wrote my own motivation article. Take a look at the other articles in past posts that are good too.)
So you have lofty goals but you don’t quite have enough motivation. I have seven high powered ideas that are guaranteed to help.

Read a few inspirational stories. Nothing will get you moving like reading a rags to riches success story. Try Mark Cuban’s blog or Tony Robbins’ own account of his rise to the top.

This next idea really works too. Fill up a sheet of paper with your greatest accomplishments. Go as far back as you need to, but fill up a sheet of paper with your greatest accomplishments. Review this paper before you begin your day and you will be pumped and ready to move on to new successes.

The next tip is something you hear a lot, but people never do it: MAKE A PLAN.
Make a business plan, a plan for the completion of your degree, or a plan for your life. Write and rewrite your plans until they are highly workable and detailed. Write down your goal, your deadline, the people who will help, obstacles you will have to overcome, the knowledge you will have to acquire, and the things you have to do to reach your goal.
Practice back from the future thinking. Imagine you achieved your goal, then work your way back to where you are now. Motivational speaker Brian Tracy is huge on back to the future thinking.

Next, take action. Take massive, consistent action as Tony Robbins always says. Do the most important thing you can do to move you toward your goal.

You will hit roadblocks. So what do you do? You need more motivation and some help. I have two more ideas. First, meet with your mastermind and ask for help. Your mastermind should get you absolutely on fire. Second, visualize achieving your goal. Visualize your goals in detail and be sure to feel the emotions you likely will feel when your goal is reached.
The last idea is to create a customized subliminal CD or MP3. Tailor your affirmations to your specific goals and challenges. Be creative and be sure to look at the sample affirmations at my web site.

Sunday, April 6, 2008

A Story You Have to Hear

A few posts ago, I gave you the link to Mark Cuban's blog, where Mark tells us the story of how he went from rags to riches. That was really good and if you have not read the blog, go back and read it. But if you want to hear a rags to riches story that is just as good, look at the CD pictured at www.financialindependenceuniversity.com You will love this affordable CD!

Saturday, April 5, 2008

Preparation

Many people watch opportunities pass them by throughout their lives. Opportunities to grow wealth, to get better jobs, to flourish and so on. Do you know why opportunities pass people by? Preparation. The lack of it to be more exact. It was Abraham Lincoln who said, "give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe." That is the spirit of one who prepares. More time should be spent preparing for the opportunity.
Most people spend their lifetime imagining the opportunity coming their way, however they spend little or no time preparing for the opportunity. Here is a principle: Opportunity needs a docking station. That docking station is preparation.
If you are going through life without any plans for the future, then chances are you are not preparing. If you have a dream and you are not taking any actions towards that dream, you are not preparing. Preparation is the process that keeps athletes on the ball courts long after everyone else has left. Preparation is what wakes successful leaders two or more hours before the average person, to work on their goals.
What are some actions that an average person can take that can be considered preparation? Take education for example. If you have a high school diploma, then you should be working on an undergraduate degree. If you have an undergraduate degree, then you should be working on a graduate degree. Perhaps formal schooling would not benefit you. Perhaps your goal is to be a singer or a speaker. Then spend time learning how to sing or speak. Do not rely on your natural talents only. Thank God for those talents, but spend time sharpening yourself. Listen to experts in the fields you want to get into. Read books. Turn your car into a learning institution. Listen to books on CD's. All of these are examples of preparation. It is any action you are taking towards you being ready for when that time comes.
So you work full time. If you work for a company that has a tuition reimbursement plan, take advantage of it. Whatever the amount of the tuition is, it is 'more' money that the company is willing to give you to better you! I always count my annual salary, plus my bonuses and my tuition reimbursement to get a more accurate picture of what the company paid me. Tuition reimbursement is a good incentive for you to increase your marketability.
Hopefully you are working in an area that you enjoy and would like to remain in that field. If that is the case, take courses in that field. Your job is already providing you with the experience. So just add your "paper qualifications" to it. In fact, this is typically the stipulation for tuition reimbursements; It has to be job related.
When you are done with the degree or certification, you have made yourself more marketable. You have spent extra hours of your days going to school or taking courses. Now when opportunities for promotion within or outside the company comes, you will be able to confidently step up.
Mark A. SinghLeading In Life
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mark_A._Singh

Friday, April 4, 2008

Becoming the Best

People, who become the best at anything, typically begin their journeys by emulating the attitudes and habits of other successful people. Here are a few of the main characteristics shared in common by those who become the best. Visit mariosalvi.com for more information.
Optimism: People who reach the top always believe things can get better, or that there's a better way to do something.
Vision: Successful people can see their futures. They know what the end results will look like when they reach their goals. Although they live in the present, they don't let themselves become stuck in the here and now. They take action everyday for the better future they envision.
Hunger for Personal Growth: No matter how successful they become, top achievers never stop moving to the next level. They hunger to be the best in every area of their lives. They constantly place themselves in situations where they can grow.
Leadership: Successful men and women expect leadership from themselves. They know they're not average followers. They always equip themselves with the skills they need to lead, and they lead others to achieve success. They make a difference in everything they do.
Legacy: Successful leaders don't merely achieve goals for themselves-although they surely enjoy the rewards of their achievements. They achieve to benefit others: family, friends, charities and their community. They choose to leave a legacy that will make the world a better place.
Helpfulness: Leaders help other people achieve their goals and dreams. When leaders help others, they understand that they're also helping themselves-that the good they put out into the world will come back to them and help them achieve what they want. They know that success does not come to someone who stands alone.
No Excuses: Even the best often fail along the way. When they do fail, they don't make excuses. They take responsibility for their actions and move on. They get back up and focus on doing it right the next time. They know that it's the actions they take repeatedly that will determine their character. They make no excuses- they just expect results.
Making failure an Ally: The best never see failure as an enemy. If they do, they'll lose the battle before it even begins. Instead, they make failure their ally. They consider failure a learning experience, and recognize that every failure brings them a step closer to success. After a failure, they use the knowledge they've gained to move forward with more energy and focus.
While others live by default, settling for a mediocre life in which they see themselves as victims of their circumstances-the best envision a better life and take the necessary action to achieve their dreams. They take risks and stare their fear of failure right in the face. The best hold onto their vision of success, and never entertain the alternative. That is how they achieve victory.
About: Author and success coach, Mario Anthony Salvi has been studying self-mastery philosophies, techniques, and concepts for over 25 years. He is an active member of the Florida Speakers Association (FSA), and the International Coaching Federation (ICF), including earning a coaching certification through Bob Proctor's (of The Secret) LifeSuccess program. He believes that we're all born with infinite potential, and is widely known as being an empowering and highly effective coach specializing in coaching individuals in making positive changes in their 'Success Blueprint' resulting in increasing potential toward greater achievements and success. Visit http://www.mariosalvi.com and empower your world to Success.
© 2007 SuccessPlus International, Inc., All Rights Reserved
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mario_Salvi

10 Ways to Get Unstuck

Here is how to get your life, work or personal goals out of that rut...right now!
1. Clarify matters that remain unclear.
Are you stuck because you are in a mental fog? How can you possibly move forward with confidence if you don't know where you are headed? What exactly are you doing and what end result are you seeking? Resolve these issues!
2. Collaborate with someone.
Don't hesitate to reach out to people who can help you complete tasks, brainstorm or solve problems. Swallow your pride if you must; delegate what you can't do on your own and pay to receive this help if necessary! Whatever you do...get the help you need to get unstuck and make progress.
3. Ask for a deadline extension.
If you are working on other people's projects, ask for a deadline extension so you can "get yourself together!" Don't stress yourself unnecessarily because the project is due and you are experiencing "brain freeze." Ask for more time if you need it!
4. Fight the overwhelm factor.
Break down the task into bite-sized pieces and schedule specific days or periods of time to work on specific parts of the task. This will eliminate overwhelm, get you unstuck and make your work more enjoyable and manageable.
5. Conquer your personal fears and "just do it!"
Think about it...whatever happens after you deal with "your fear" is going to be much better than being paralyzed with fear and doing absolutely nothing with your life or about your work! So, why not take the worthwhile risk and go for what you really want?
6. Gather information about your area of focus.
Find out how others have successfully resolved the issues you are now facing and apply those principles to your situation. Knowledge liberates!
7. Know thyself and especially thy limits.
For example: if you feel that you have "bitten more than you can chew" be open and honest about it. If you feel that you have miscalculated the magnitude of the work involved in a project... inform the person who has assigned the task. They may offer a solution or ask you to work only on the specific areas you can handle.
8. Get some rest!
Are you stuck because you are tired and can't think straight? How many mistakes or miscalculations have you made as a result of fatigue? How many tasks seem insurmountable to a fatigued mind? Get some sleep and return to the task with fresh vigor!
9. Stop the struggle and get in the flow.
Sometimes it's important to be "stuck" and let life play out. It's important to learn and grow from the experience of what's happening and why it's happening at that moment. Who are you becoming as a result of being "stuck?" The life lessons are priceless!
10. Abandon ship.
As a last resort, if you are feeling miserable because you are "stuck" doing something you don't like, experiencing excessive stress over something you truly believe you can't do or make progress on...be kind to yourself and "dump" it!
Caroline Jalango is a life strategist and motivational coach for women who want to do better for themselves. She is the author of "Settle for Less No More" and "You Deserve to Feel Good" motivational books for women who want to succeed. For more topics like this, visit http://www.motivationzone.com to gain the momentum to do better for yourself and get the results you want!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Caroline_Jalango

Thursday, April 3, 2008

Why Seeing The "Finish Line" Is Critical To Your Success

One thing I reinforce, time and time again with my clients, is to have a written list of goals for everything that they want in their lives. It may be their health goal, such as to lose weight or to stop smoking; a communication / relationship objective, such as better dialogue and more quality time with their spouse and children, or mending a broken relationship; or a humanitarian purpose such as helping and teaching others. In fact, in my Success System: The Power Of Thought - How To Get What You Want, When You Want It, I teach this success strategy of how to develop your clearly defined goals, step by step.
You see, ninety percent of the population has no ideas or plans for what they want out of life! Without grabbing hold of a solid plan these "drifters" will not have direction or the peace of mind to maximize their lives.
When you have no central purpose in your life, you fall an easy prey to petty worries, fears, troubles, and self pity. All of these are indications of a lack of strength in your life, which leads to failure, unhappiness, and loss. Without strength, you can not persevere.
The scientist, Louis Pasteur said, "Let me tell you the secret that has led me to my goal. My strength lies solely in my tenacity."
How does one develop more tenacity, or determination?
One way is: before starting out to work on any of your goals; you must look ahead and know where the finish line is. You must select a road that will lead to somewhere, rather than nowhere.
I used to work in an office with a woman who made a banner and attached it to the wall of her cubicle. "There is NO finish line!" the sign screamed in four-inch-high, bold letters. As I would pass by her desk, I thought "what a peculiar mantra to live and do business by". What "There is NO finish line!" meant to me was; "No finish line, means no clearly defined written goal, means the road leads to nowhere, and no way to get to a result...".
Needless to say, the project she worked on failed miserably.
When you keep your goals clearly defined and SEE them happening you will be more determined and will persevere under any circumstances. Every action you take in life, needs to have a starting line AND a finish line. You will increase your chances of success manifold and get what you want, when you want it.
Copyright 2008 by Keith A. Shaw and Mind Body Spirit Central.com.
Keith A. Shaw, President of http://www.MindBodySpiritCentral.com Headquartered in Mount Laurel, New Jersey, Keith is an authority on motivation, success, self improvement, health and wellness.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Keith_A._Shaw

Monday, March 24, 2008

Bertil Hjert on Motivation

Motivation is a kind of driving force that encourages an individual to get going. It is a kind of boost to the self confidence, faith and inner conscience of a person. All of us look for some kind of motivation in life. It is almost impossible to face a competition, achieve success of accomplish a goal without motivation.
Motivation is provided to an individual from several forces. Different people are motivated by different actions. A child may be motivated by a simple pat on the back or a new toy. An adult gets motivated when his work gets adulation. Some are motivated by success and others look for big awards and fame as motivational drive.
When it comes to success, there are several things that come in role play to achieve it. Intelligence, study skills, time management skills and knowledge base are very important for the achievement of success. However, without the right kind of motivation, nothing is going to work. It is like this. You purchase your favorite car, fill the tank with fuel, get great set of tires, awesome CD system and amazing exterior. Now you sit inside the car and expect it to take you to places. Will it work? Hey, no doubt. It will not work at all. You need to take the drivers place and put the key in the ignition to drive it. Yes, this is motivation.
To sum up, if you want to achieve something, the key is motivation.
Now the question is, "how to get motivation?" There are several ways you can get that motivational force required to achieve all that you want in your life.
Here are some great tips to build your motivation:
a) Be clear about what you want and why?
The ultimate goal of undertaking a particular task should be clear in your mind. You should know what you want. It is also equally important to know why you want a particular thing. Spend some time and decide about what you want. Thereafter, write down some points on reasons you would like to wish for a certain thing.
b) Plan and make short goals
Once you are clear about what you want, you must write down your goal and break your ultimate goal in to smaller chunks or short steps that would take you forward. Once you start achieving your short goals, you would be motivated to go further. Remember, nothing works better than success to motivate.
c) Follow optimism
You need to be positive about achieving your dreams. You may fear for the first time you start something new. Its O.K. fear is just a way your mind tells you that you are stepping out of your comfort zone. Don't lose hope. Believe you can and you will!
d) Choose confidants carefully
People are often critical and negative. You should not let these people spoil your dreams or kill your zest. You must talk to people who are interested in your plans and encourage you to go a lead with your plans.
For more Articles, News, Information, Advice, and Resources about Motivation and Self Help please visit GET AND STAY MOTIVATED and MOTIVATION TIPS and MEDITATION ADVICE
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bertil_Hjert

Sunday, March 23, 2008

Blueprint for Achievement

Blueprint for Achievement:

BELIEVE while others are doubting.
PLAN while others are playing.
DECIDE while others are delaying.
PREPARE while others are daydreaming.
BEGIN while others are procrastinating.
WORK while others are wishing.
SAVE while others are wasting.
LISTEN while others are talking.
SMILE when others are frowning.
COMMEND while others are criticizing.
PERSIST while others are quitting.

--William Arthur Ward
You find a lot of excellent quotes at www.financialindependenceuniveristy.com

Saturday, March 22, 2008

How to Stop Procrastinating

Everyone, including you, has a tendency to procrastinate. So what exactly is procrastination? Simply put, it is when you put off something that can be done now because of laziness or carelessness. Procrastination is putting off things for another day, when it is just as easy to do them today. Many people have a tendency to put off things and then end up doing them at the very last minute or not doing them at all.
Procrastination is extremely common in students who need to complete a research project, complete a term paper or even study for an upcoming test. This is generally when the term "cram" comes into play. In order to get a good grade on the test, the student must "cram" for the exam in a short period of time, versus studying and planning for the test all along.
So why Procrastinate?
Almost everyone, at one time or another in their life, deals with procrastination. For some people, they make it a way of life or a bad habit. For others, they may only allow procrastination to affect certain areas of their life, but not their daily events. For whatever reason, people often put off things they don't want to deal with at the time.
Some reasons you procrastinate are:
One of the most common reasons people procrastinate is because they are afraid. Although no one likes to admit they are afraid of something, fear often hinders people from attempting to do things, therefore, they put them off. Whether you are afraid of succeeding or afraid of failing, it is all fear.
Another reason for procrastination is because you may not feel like it is important enough. If your task is not given a high enough priority in the beginning, then you will have a tendency to put it off. You may very well know that the task needs completed, but you simply put it off because you find other things that are more important.
You don't have the means to complete the task. In some instances, you may not have everything on hand to complete the task; therefore, you put it off. This may be the result of your inability to do all of the research and collect the needed data or you just don't feel like putting the time needed to finish the task.
Some other reasons people procrastinate are: you have not completely committed yourself to the project, you are extremely busy, you are lazy or you simply don't want to do it.
How to change the behavior:
Now that you have a better understanding of why you tend to procrastinate or did you procrastinate and decide to read that section later? You cannot expect that you will quit procrastinating if you do not have an understanding why you do it in the first place. Therefore, it is important to take a good look at why you put things off. This is the first step in learning how you can change this behavior.
Below are a few strategies that can help you to stop procrastinating. Not everyone will benefit from every tip. Therefore, be sure to try a variety of different steps until you find one that works well for you.
Create a list. If you create a list of all the reason you procrastinate and how you procrastinate, then you will be able to see that you are definitely putting things off. By creating a list of clues, you can then pinpoint your behavior and get a better grip on it.
Eliminate procrastination myths. "I work well under pressure." Once you begin to believe that you work best under pressure, then you are simply giving yourself permission to indeed procrastinate. "I cannot do this unless it is perfect." Keep in mind that achieving perfection is nearly impossible.
Break down the job. If you have a large job to do, you may believe you will never get it accomplished. Therefore, why even begin on the project? In order to overcome this mindset, you must break the jobs into smaller, more manageable tasks that you can accomplish.
Change your attitude. If you have a negative attitude, you are more likely to tell yourself that a task is disgusting, extremely difficult or you simply will not like doing it. It is simple mind over matter. If you believe that you can do something, then you truly can.
Ask for help. Many people believe that asking for help is a true sign of weakness. In reality, asking for help is a sign of strength. Knowing that you need help and obtaining the correct help, with make getting the job done a lot easier.
Some other tips include: Keep things that need to be done or accomplished in your line of vision. Keep to a strict schedule. Eliminate any distractions.
It is human nature to procrastinate. We all want to avoid things that are unpleasant, while seeking out things that leave us feeling good. Making a conscious effort to determine why you procrastinate will help you to change the behavior. Don't expect miracles though. Change will take time. Begin by taking baby steps and eventually, you will see dramatic results.
Kevin Sinclair is the publisher and editor of Be Successful News, a site that provides information and articles on how to succeed in your own home or small business.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kevin_Sinclair

Friday, March 21, 2008

How to Get Motivated and Stay Motivated

How many times does it happen that we wish to achieve something, start to take steps in that direction, only to give up after sometime? Don't we wish we could stay motivated enough to reach the end and achieve our goal? Moreover, how does one get motivated and stay motivated with things that one really doesn't like?
Here's my list:
1. Find out a real "reason" which motivates you to keep moving towards your goal.
If the reason doesn't inspire you, it doesn't get you excited to start working on your goal, then; probably it's not the right reason. You will have to dig deeper to find a reason that motivates you.
You will probably have to do this exercise for quite some time to get the right one.
2. Find out the real "cost" of failing this goal. A cost which would motivate you to run away from failure and push you to towards your goal.
Pain is a great motivator. There has been so many times where a powerful tomorrow doesn't inspire enough to move ahead. But just a reminder of how painful things could get is enough to start running towards the goal.
3. Keep reminders for both of them - The reason and the cost.
Have a photo of what you want somewhere, write it down in a book, put it on a post it and stick it in your cabinet, create a screen saver.... you can be quite creative here.
4. Share with your family and friends what you plan to do; especially with those who will hold you into account.
Sharing your goal, your reason and your cost, your entire analysis helps a lot. By doing so, you would be creating powerful reminders and support for yourself. If and when you go down and feel like giving up or cheating a bit, they will act as your biggest strength and remind you of the reason why you started with this in the first place. They will not let you fall back.
5. Break up your goal in small do-able tasks.
A huge goal, a tough goal or a goal which requires lot of time can appear quite over whelming and de-motivating. Breaking it up in small do-able tasks makes it look manageable. Moreover, since this requires thinking things over, it might just help in creating a detailed plan.
6. Set landmarks. Acknowledge yourself and celebrate whenever you cross a landmark.
Create landmarks for yourself; Landmarks which represent you finishing part of your goal, or reaching somewhere in your entire series of small tasks. Don't keep celebration out till you complete your entire goal. Celebration of crossing landmarks acts like boosters to keep moving towards the goal.
7. Chart your progress numerically.
There is something very powerful about numbers. They cannot lie. If it is possible, chart out your progress numerically. The better your numbers are the better you will feel.
8. Don't forget to have fun.
Whatever you do, don't forget to have fun. Keep things interesting. Introduce variety in all ways possible. These keep tasks from getting mundane or boring. They help in keeping the zest to reach goals alive.
9. Find a community related to your goals.
It's great to know you are not alone. Find out people, find out communities with goals similar to yours. Connect with them. Form new friends. Exchange ideas. Progress together. Have a healthy competition with each other. Share your learning on the way and grow and achieve your goals.
10. Find a guru.
Find a guru - a mentor for yourself. Find people who have been there and done that. Find people who have the knowledge and expertise required to reach your goals. They can provide you with tips, they can share their trials and they are living examples that someone has already done this. And so can you.
11. Don't beat yourself up.
If you get sidelined or distracted, if you catch yourself starting to give up, if you slip-up, don't beat yourself. It happens. Just pull yourself together and start working on your goal again.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Avani_Mehta

Saturday, February 23, 2008

Getting Pumped and Motivated

If you need to get fired up before a big event or even just to finish up the week, I know of a few methods to get yourself motivated. First, fill up a sheet of paper with every one of your major accomplishments. Put down things like awards, raises, promotions, personal bests, like your biggest commissions, or something great you did in sports. Type up any and all of your greatest accomplishments. What do you do with this paper? Read it before you take on your challenge. It might sound silly, but this exercise primes your mind for more achievement.

Another idea is using a subliminal CD or mp3. Think of some good motivational affirmations and record and mix them. Making your own subliminal CDs is very easy (see www.independentwealth.us for details). Play the CD on your way to work. Need some good affirmations? No problem. How about: "I am motivated to ______. I create my future. My decisions dictate my destiny. My willpower is phenomenal. I follow through. I am in a peak state." Get the idea?

Hypnosis can work too, but you have to take the time to relax for 20 - 30 minutes. ProHypnosis.com offers good hypnosis cds.

"The Instant Millionaire" is a read that will get you fired up and ready to take action too.

I have found taking time to review http://www.financialindependenceuniversity.com/ will get me more focused and motivated too.

A quick meeting of your mastermind alliance should motivate you and the rest of your group.