"Busy" Doesn't Always Cut It

Don't mistake activity with achievement. ~ John Wooden ~

Treading water is certainly a form of swimming but it'll never win you a gold medal in a relay race.  You work hard.  It's true.  But just because you are busy at work, it doesn't mean you are accomplishing anything.  First, are you working on the things that matter?  Second, are you easily distracted when working on important tasks? Finally, is it more important to check off a to-do list or more important to have solved an critical problem? 

Ask yourself at the end of each day.  "What have I accomplished?"  Don't think in terms of tasks completed but rather what propelled you forward in the achievement of goals.  As a leader, never get fooled by your "busy" workers.  Ask them the same question.  "What did you accomplish today?"  Then: "How did that help us move toward our desired results?"

1. Close your eyes
2. Breathe
3. Empty your mind
4. As thoughts come in, acknowledge and whisk them away
5. Focus on your breathing
6. Think about the affirmation:

"I'm busy on the tasks that will help me succeed."

Lose Worry; Be Inspirational

If you keep on saying things are going to be bad, you have a good chance of becoming a prophet. ~Isaac Bashevis Singer ~

Worry is something that will wear others down.  You will begin to make them take on this unnecessary emotion and they will become unmotivated to try to attain goals.  Emotions will have a huge impact on whether you achieve and if people don't think you will succeed then they won't even bother trying. When you are a leader, it is up to you to allay fears.  You are to be the calm person of reason.  You should be the visionary hopeful.  Not in a naive way, but instead, become more of someone who promotes things in a positive and possible way.  Practicing mindfulness will help you visualize achievement! People will want to follow you if they think you can attain success.  It is up to you to have the vision and it’s up to you to inspire others to drive for the end results.  It is then much easier to triumph.

1. Close your eyes
2. Breathe
3. Empty your mind
4. As thoughts come in, acknowledge and whisk them away
5. Focus on your breathing
6. Think about the affirmation:

“I inspire others to believe in success.” 

 

Money is Not Holding You Back

"I don't dream at night, I dream all day; I dream for a living." ~ Steven Spielberg ~

Dreaming is the easy part.  It's the belief that you can't make your dreams happen that is the hard obstacle to overcome.  You may claim that you don't dream and that you stay grounded in reality.  But everyone plays the game, "What would you do if you won the mega lotto?!"  Try it now.  If you aren't already living the life you think you want to live - then what is holding you back?  Money?  Really? Most likely it's your belief systems.  Let go of external attribution and review your own self-defeating thoughts.  Your own mind holds you back. Start with the belief that you can achieve.  Dream and then decide that there are no other options but to attain.

1. Close your eyes
2. Breathe
3. Empty your mind
4. As thoughts come in, acknowledge and whisk them away
5. Focus on your breathing
6. Think about the affirmation:


I believe that I can achieve my dreams.

Limitations Spur Creativity

“Never limit yourself to what you can't do, but to what you have the power to do with what you have.” ~ Nadège Richards ~

How often do you use external limitations as a excuse?  You say or think things like: "There's not enough resources." "There's no money." "I need more people to get this done."  Change your focus in your mind and think of what you can do instead.  The biggest limitations are what you create in your head.  Leaders achieve when they have the will to do so.  Don't you admire those that achieve despite the odds?  If things come easy there is no growth.  Embrace limitations as a catalyst to creativity and innovation.

1. Close your eyes
2. Breathe
3. Empty your mind
4. As thoughts come in, acknowledge and whisk them away
5. Focus on your breathing
6. Think about the affirmation:

I will use limitations to spur my creativity.

Trust in Trusting

“The best way to find out if you can trust somebody is to trust them.”
~ Ernest Hemingway ~

Just because someone is secretive or private, it doesn't mean you can't trust them and just because someone is willing to share, doesn't mean that they will share everything.  Regardless, you have to begin somewhere to find out.  You just have to be willing.   Some of you trust quickly and some of you trust slowly.  Whether quickly or slowly, you will have to trust at some point because the only way to discover is to begin to trust.  Both speeds of trust are valid but not for every situation.  Choose according to your goals.  Sometimes slow is good and sometime fast is better.  Better awareness will help you choose.  Mindful leaders have the confidence to trust and will pick the right speed for the right circumstances.

1. Close your eyes
2. Breathe
3. Empty your mind
4. As thoughts come in, acknowledge and whisk them away
5. Focus on your breathing
6. Think about the affirmation:

I will trust others at the right speed.

Keep Moving

“Be not afraid of growing slowly. Be only afraid of standing still.” ~ Chinese Proverb ~

Patience for what we truly desire is one of the greatest tests. Things just don't always happen overnight, however, as long as you are moving in the right direction things will happen for you.  Take steps daily to achieve.  It is when you stop that you run the risk of never attaining or worse retreating.  It is true that from time to time you need to take a break and assess your journey - but that is not the same as standing still.  You are still moving toward success, just more slowly.

1. Close your eyes
2. Breathe
3. Empty your mind
4. As thoughts come in, acknowledge and whisk them away
5. Focus on your breathing
6. Think about the affirmation:

I will move mentally and physically toward my goals.