Execute, Execute, Execute!

Success doesn't necessarily come from breakthrough innovation but from flawless execution. A great strategy alone won't win a game or a battle; the win comes from basic blocking and tackling.

Naveen Jain

10 Steps to Achieve Goals

1) Be specific about what you want to achieve


Most people, don't know what they want to do with their life, and even after thinking hard, they don't come up with something they really want to do. This is one of the main reasons that in spite of so many books on success, most people live an average life.

2) Draw up a plan of action


Devote as much time as you need to find a goal or goals, even minor goals are okay. Not everyone really desires great success and is willing to completely change his/her life. Not everyone desires to be a millionaire, or possesses the talent to make money.

After finding a goal that you really desire to achieve, draw up a plan, being as practical as possible.

3) Make a list of steps


List the steps you need to take, such as signing up for a course, studying, reading, developing the required skills, looking for a job, etc, and other steps you need to implement that will take you closer to achieving your goal.

4) Act, do not be passive


Take action and follow the steps on your list. Don't just wait for things to happen.

5) Read and listen to advice


Read books or articles about what you want to achieve. Meet people who can help you and listen to their advice, but use your common sense and reason before accepting anything.

6) Alternative plans


If a certain plan doesn't work, look for an alternative one.

7) Examine your goals periodically


Some goals aren't worth achieving. Circumstances and people change. Some goals lose their importance. It is a good idea to re-examine your goals regularly and weed out the worthless ones.

8) Repeat affirmations


Affirm with faith and feelings that your goal has already been achieved. If you don't undo your affirmations with doubts and lack of belief, they will be accepted by your subconscious mind, which will then provide you with more desire and motivation.

9) Visualize your goal


Visualization will also affect your subconscious mind, which will keep you motivated, focused on your goal, and more aware of ideas and opportunities.

10) Take action


Don't just affirm and visualize and do nothing. Take any action required to bring your goal into fruition. Follow your intuition, new ideas and opportunities that present themselves, and accept help from other people.

(Source:  http://www.successconsciousness.com/steps-to-achieve-goals.htm)

Engineering Intentional Living

"Every journey begins with the first step of articulating the intention, and then becoming the intention."

Everyone’s intentional living is a bit different.  Below are some steps to moving toward an intentional life.

1.    Write out your priorities.

2.    Write out what you are passionate about.

3.    Get out of debt.

4.    Keep learning.

Want to know how to live intentionally? Click on the video to find out.

(Source http://lovingsimpleliving.com/2011/11/10-steps-for-intentional-living)

"Can Do" Confidence

Often you cannot do anything about circumstances, such as the loss of a job or the end of a relationship. It can knock us off balance, but it is how you react that really determines how long you stay down. You always have a choice. And you can choose to see the positive side to everything.

Additional tips for “Can Do” Confidence:

1.  Look the part. Or, as the saying goes, "fake it 'til you make it." If you know that you look like a confident, capable person, eventually you'll start to feel it, too. You should dress how you feel best -- not what you think confident is. Try these tricks: Devote a little time each day to personal hygiene and making sure you're presenting yourself well. Shower daily, brush and floss your teeth, and groom your skin and hair.  Dress for confidence. You don't have to buy a whole new wardrobe to feel better in your clothes. As long as you're clean, comfortable, and feel good, you're set up for confidence. After all, you wouldn't wear a three-piece suit on a pizza delivery. If you think you look good, odds are you probably do. Be careful that you don't overdo it (e.g. putting on tons of make up or wearing too revealing clothes). Dressing appropriately for situations gives you one less thing to worry about.
2. Smile. Keep your grin in easy reach -- you'd be surprised how even the smallest of smiles can disarm many a social situation and make everyone feel more comfortable. Can you imagine approaching someone who's scowling? No thank you.  If you're worried your smile is fake, keep it small. A fake smile can be spotted from a mile away. On the other hand, if you're genuinely happy to see them -- or just happy for the chance to practice your new confidence skills -- flash those pearly whites!
3. Think of the obstacles that stand in the way of your confidence. Take a piece of paper and write all the things that you think are keeping you from becoming confident, e.g., bad grades, introversion, not many friends, etc. Now ask yourself this: Is that valid or logical? Or are these just assumptions on my part? FYI, the answers are "no" and "yes," respectively. How in the world does it make sense that one thing determines your self-worth? It doesn't! Here's an example: You didn't get good grades on your last math test, so as a result you're not confident when it comes to your next test. But ask yourself this: If you studied really hard, worked with the teacher, and prepared for the test, would you do better?! YES. That was just one event and has nothing to do with you. You have absolutely ZERO reason not to be confident.
4. See confidence as a process, not a singular achievement. Having confidence isn't a finish line you cross once, and the process won't always move forward — there will be days when you feel like you're starting from square one. Take a deep breath, remember the self-confidence hurdles you've already cleared, and resolve to keep going. In the toughest of times, it is good to make it your duty to pat yourself on the back even if you didn't do anything. Odds are you won't really realize you're confident until you already are. Was there a day you realized you were smart, funny, resourceful, or punctual? Probably not. So if you don't see immediate changes, know that it's just because you're too close to the painting. Can't see the forest through the trees, type of thing. You get it.
5.  Get out of your head. A lack of confidence has nothing to do with the external world, so you have to get out of your head. If you catch yourself having an inner dialogue, just stop. The world is swirling around you -- swirl with it. The only moment that exists is now. Don't you want to be a part of it? So much of the world exists outside your head (if we're going with the assumption that reality is as it seems). Constantly thinking about what you feel or look like takes you out of the moment. Practice not thinking about the past or the future. Concentrate on what's in front of you -- there's probably something exciting about it.
6.  Embrace your interests. If there's a sport or hobby you've always wanted to be good at, now's the time! Improving your skills will reinforce that you are talented, and subsequently boost your confidence. Learn a musical instrument or a foreign language, take up an art form like painting, start building projects — whatever it is that catches your interest. Don't get discouraged if you're not immediately awesome. Remember that learning is a process, and you're in it for the small victories and the relaxing recreation time, not to be the best ever. Take up a hobby you can do with a group. Finding like-minded people who share your interests can be an easy way to make friends and build confidence. Look around your community for groups you can join, or find kinship with fellow hobbyists.
7. Accept compliments gracefully. Don't just roll your eyes and shrug it off — own it! You deserved it! Make eye contact, smile, and say "thank you." Being nice about it when someone else wants to compliment you doesn't compromise your humility; it shows that you're polite and have a secure sense of self-worth. Pay a compliment in return. If you're still uncomfortable taking compliments, try giving one back after you've accepted. This can help you feel like the score is "even" and you haven't been too prideful.
8. Build your confidence by helping others. Take time to pay someone else a compliment, or do an unannounced good deed. You'll brighten their day, and you'll feel better about yourself. When you become a source for positivity, others will seek to be around you, bolstering the good vibes. Lots of people aren't good at receiving compliments. Odds are if you give someone one they'll respond with one in turn. Just make sure you mean it or they might respond skeptically -- "Hey, I really like that shirt you're wearing. Was it made in China?" might not get the best response.
9. Drop those who bring you down. It's hard to be confident in a group of people that you feel are constantly judging you. You could naturally be the most extroverted, loud, self-assured person, but with these people, you turn into a puppy dog that hasn't been cared for well enough. Those people need to be dropped like a bad habit. And now. It's important that you surround yourself with others who you feel make you feel like you're the best version of you there could possibly be. It's only around these people that you'll be able to make the growth you want to (and can!) make.
10. Take risks. Sometimes the only way out is through. In order to get good at life, you've gotta encounter experiences that force you to learn. You can't be awesome at it right off the bat. If you keep doing what you've always done, you'll never get better at...anything. You gotta take chances to grow. Failure is inevitable. It always happens. And it doesn't matter. The only part that matters is that you get back up. Everyone experiences set backs, but not everyone gets back up. It's the getting back up that builds confidence, and you've got to fail in the first place to do so.

(Source: www.wikiHow.com/be-confident)

Be sure to tune in this spring as we engage in other creative opportunities to inspire and empower others - you don’t want to miss it!

Until next time, BE INSPIRED!

Dr. Inspiration

Keeping Hope to Thrive in 2014

Dr. Christian Snyder, author of The Psychology of Hope, breaks down the three mental components of hope are goals, willpower, and waypower.

He states that goals are objects, experiences, and outcomes that we imagine and desire.

“Willpower is the driving force in hopeful thinking.” It is the determination and commitment one has to get an individual from point A to point B.

Lastly, waypower is the strategy, the road map that guides hopeful thought. “Waypower is a mental capacity we can call on to find one or more effective ways to reach our goals.”

Simply put: Hope = Mental Willpower + Waypower for Goals

None of these would work without the other which explains why people get stuck in the achieving process, and experience hopelessness.

What do you do when your hope is weaning?  Increase it with willpower and waypower!  The willpower to think about possible solutions to your problems, and the "waypower," which means picking a path or action to reach one of those solutions.

Tips for keeping hope to thrive:

•   Faith and belief in a better future.  No matter what we go through keeping hope that our future will be bright allows us to persist and persevere. When we keep faithful and optimistic it allows us to stay motivated and driven to finish what we started. When unexpected tragedy occurs we must acknowledge that stress and grief does not last forever.
• Appreciating what you have.   Even when life feels out of control and we can’t imagine ever reaching our goals there is much to be grateful for. There is always someone in a worse circumstance that is willing to live with joy and grace. Be willing to acknowledge what you do have and what you appreciate about yourself, relationships, and community.
• Discovering the hidden side of self and new frontiers of life.  Some of the most profound self-knowledge comes from the most difficult moments. When we are confronted with the reality of who we are and how we are living it broadens the horizon for how life can be and what is most important. We learn what we are truly capable of, and the inner strength we possess during arduous times.
• Commitment to growth.   Every experience is a learning opportunity. No matter how difficult or painful a situation may be, we are able to use the experience to expand and grow our awareness and understanding. This commitment is how we become a stronger, wiser, and more gracious person. Allow pain to mold and shape your character honorably.

Be sure to tune in this spring as we engage in other creative opportunities to inspire and empower others - you don’t want to miss it!

Until next time, BE INSPIRED!

Dr. Inspiration

Capturing Your Calling

According to a Gallup study 70% of U.S. workers are disengaged in job or careers that mean little to them. Do you know the difference between:

· a job,
· career,
· and a vocation?

A job allows for a set amount of pay for a specific amount of time. Jobs are the easiest to find; they are the least stressful and they provide an adequate allowance of extracurricular time to discover your passion. A career is a long term and consistent job. Ideally, your career is one that you choose. 

We are all familiar with the concepts of “job” and “career,” but “vocation” is a much misunderstood term. The word comes from the Latin vocare, or voice – meaning to follow the voice of God, or to do what we are called to do. A vocation is a calling that merges our mission in life with God’s mission on earth. As Frederick Buechner puts it in a well-known passage from Wishful Thinking: A Seeker’s ABC, “The place God calls you is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.” That intersecting point is your calling, your vocation. Your calling is your passion project, something you genuinely care about and of which you will never grow tired. When you are consumed with your calling, time and money do not apply. So the many hours that you “work” on creating money to pay for your lifestyle will not suck. Because this is your happiness.

Strategies for capturing your calling:

1. Find Your Desire and Your Passion:  What is it that gets you fired up?

2. Identify Your Skills and Abilities: You have been given certain talents and skills that come naturally.

3. Know Your Personality Tendencies: How do you relate to other people? In what kind of environments are you most comfortable? Are you analytic, logical and detailed or expressive and visionary?

4. Awareness of Your Values, Dreams, and Passions: What do you enjoy doing? If money were not an issue, how would you spend your time? What things do you keep gravitating to? What activities/ideas did you enjoy doing as a child but were told not to do them?

Be sure to tune in this spring as we engage in other creative opportunities to inspire and empower others - you don’t want to miss it!

Until next time, BE INSPIRED!

Dr. Inspiration

Reflecting Forward: Looking Backwards to Go into the Future

When we take the time to reflect and celebrate, we now position ourselves for the next phase of the journey. It’s what national championship coach, Nik Sabin, calls the 24 hour rule - his players have 24 hours to reflect back and bask in the glory of a win or the agony of defeat. After 24 hours the team has become focused on the next goal at hand trying to get another victory.

So here are a couple of tips on reflecting forward:

1. Get into the right state and environment

To be effective with self-reflection it is good to get into a suitable mental state and environment. First it is helpful to have all of our attention at the process, so don’t be distracted by maybe having the TV turned on, etc. It is best if you don’t have anything else on your mind. You don’t want to get interrupted either.

2. Ask the right questions

I usually start by asking myself the question that is on my mind, the question that expresses an inner conflict. It is something that has a continuing influence on me, where I am not satisfied with and want to change.

By asking a good question you give your brain something to work on. It will try to find a good explanation to it, starting the process of self-reflection. So it is crucial to ask the right question here, the one that expresses your topic. Good questions are always the ones that bring your topic to the point by asking “How can I …”. Usually questions starting with “Why …” are not very effective. By asking “why” questions, you will get answers why it is that way. But you want to improve here, that’s why a “how” question is more solution-oriented and therefore usually much more empowering.

12 QUESTIONS FOR THE YEAR PAST AND THE YEAR AHEAD

The Year Past:   

 1) What went well? Identify the goals you accomplished or advanced towards; and note anything else that went well and is worth highlighting.

 2) In what ways did you grow and evolve in the ‘evolution of you’?  How were you tested or challenged and how did you grow as a result? What new skills, knowledge, ideas and insights (life, work, other) have made you better or different from the beginning of the year?  

 3) What were your favorite moments of 2012? Savoring positive experiences has been proven to be a success strategy for building optimism, resilience and mojo – all essential ingredients to personal and professional wellbeing!
 

4) What do you need to clean-out or let go of right now from the year past to be ready to start fresh in 2013? Consider both your physical space (your office, your home) as well as your emotional and mental mindsets.

5) What and who are you most grateful for right now? Consider the people in your life; the circumstances; the gifts; make this a juicy list!

6) If there was a theme for 2012 for you personally, what would it be? i.e. “This was the year of ____.”

The Year Ahead:   

7) What are your goals for 2013? Consider professional goals as well as personal goals. Consider small, medium and BHAG goals (big hair audacious goals).

8) What of your strengths and assets will you deliberately use more of in the year ahead to realize your goals? Consider your personal strengths but also your assets such as your network, knowledge, experience and more. Make a plan.

9) In what ways will you take care of your personal wellbeing to maintain or boost your “Mojo” – resilience, energy, inspiration and sense of wellbeing? Take time to reflect on your physical wellbeing as well as your mental and emotional wellbeing. If you were at your peak – what would that look like? What needs to happen to bridge the gap from where you are today to where you want to be? Make a plan.

10) In what ways will you take care of your professional wellbeing to boost or maintain your work-life aspirations and career mojo?  What new skills will you acquire or deepen? How will you foster/grow your network? What new challenges will you take on? And what support might you call on to help you achieve your professional goals?

11) In what ways will you contribute something to the ‘greater good’ of _____ (choose a community or communities of choice)?

12) If the year ahead is to have a personal theme for you, what would that be? i.e. “This will be the year of ____” 

I want to close this post by a quote from Johann Wolfgang von Goethe who said: “Never by reflection, but only by doing is self-knowledge possible to one.” While this first seems like a contradiction to the process of self-reflection, it is not. The reason to do self-reflection is to be more effective in the doing.

As you strive for a better year next year- remember: believe and succeed or doubt and do without!

Be sure to tune in next year as we will be engaged in other creative opportunities to inspire and empower others - you don’t want to miss it!

Until next time, BE INSPIRED!

Dr. Inspiration

Starting Your Engine to Reach Your Goals and Dreams

Goal setting is the fuel that flames your onward progress.  It enables you to achieve your dreams and achieve your resolutions.  Don't let your goals and resolutions fall by the wayside. Chances are that to accomplish your dreams and live a life you love, those goals and resolutions are crucial.  Goal setting and goal achievement are easier if you follow these 12 steps for effective and successful goal setting and resolution accomplishment.

1. Having a positive attitude about the future. A general sense of optimism about the future helps to believe you will achieve your goals.

2.  Formulate affirmative, long-term objectives.  “To stroke motivation and ambition, focus…on the road ahead.”

3.  Don’t set goals and objectives that conflict with each other or your world view.  The more congruent your goals and objectives are, the more likely you are to achieve them.

4.  Make specific goals on a monthly plan. If a delay arises one day, your plan is still intact.

5.  Focus on just one large goal at a time.  

6.  Precommit to success and don’t give yourself alternatives.  Speak into existence before it manifests itself.

7.  Use David Allen’s Getting Things Done system.  

8.  Work on your goal every day.  The daily habit of working towards a goal produces dependable, positive, long-term results.

9.  Set your goals publicly.  If other people know about it, it’s harder to dismiss.

10.  Help others.  

11.  Monitor your actions daily.  Keep track of your progress using a smartphone app, write a sentence or two in your journal, or update your progress on Twitter.  Be sure to review your entries so you can see how well you have progressed toward your goal.

12.  Give yourself relevant rewards for achieved milestones.  Set up milestones throughout the process and award yourself when you meet these milestones.

Goal setting is the foundation for personal and business success.  I am not someone who achieves every goal he sets; I struggle and procrastinate too.  But I have improved over the past few months.  I have realized that just thinking about a goal doesn't help you achieve it.  If you utilize the tips above, you will be on your way to both successfully setting goals and achieving them.

Until next time, BE INSPIRED!

Dr. Inspiration