What do you attract?

Good fortune shies away from gloom. Keep your spirits up. Good things will come to you and you will come to good things. ~Terri Guillemets

You attract what you are. Negative begets negativity.  Even if you are  the most optimistic person there will be times when negativity will find a path into your soul.  When those around you are infected it's hard to stay healthy.  You have to find a way stay mindful and practice positivity even when you don't feel like it.  When you are leading - be honest when times are tough and show your team how to turn around an attitude.   Lift the fog for them with the truth and with the possibilities.  Be a role model - if you hang your head then others will, too.  If you lift your head to the sun, then others will, too.

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 am positive, to attract good fortunes.

No Excuses

One of the most important tasks of a manager is to eliminate his people's excuses for failure. ~ Robert Townsend ~

The difference between explanations and excuses is credibility.  How do you gain credibility?  By focusing on what you can do as opposed to what you can't do.  Never point fingers.  Loose the blame game.  Take ownership.  Always renegotiate.  Find a new path.  Ask questions.  Trust.  Try.  Coach. Turn frustrations into motivation.  Stay positive.  Don't complain.  Find humor. Make commitments instead of promises. Read the definition of credibility and live up to it, so you can teach others how to do the same.

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 build credibility in myself and others.

Work-Life Rhythm

Perpetual devotion to what a man calls his business, is only to be sustained by perpetual neglect of many other things. ~ Robert Louis Stevenson, Virginibus puerisque, 1881 ~

Being singularly minded will help you gather success…but only, in that one place.  Well-rounded success means that you tend to all areas of your life.  Success in business can be a lonely road if you do not fill it with other interests besides your business.  It can make you off kilter.  Keep in mind, though, finding balance may never happen.  It's like multi-tasking in that it assumes you can do many things at the same time but, it's impossible to hold more than one thought in your mind at a time. 

In the pursuit of balance, it is also, not always possible to be at work, at play, with family or taking care of yourself all at the same time.  It's impossible to give everything equal time.  Instead of beating yourself up trying to find balance, which can be stressful and unhealthy.   Look to find a rhythm, instead.  Some time is better than no time.  As a leader you should set  the example of success and health.  Which can be accomplished by devoting regular time away from your business and toward other meaningful pursuits.

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  pursue and devote time to non-business activities."

Manipulate Your Own Mind

The mind is its own place, and in itself can make a Heaven of Hell, a Hell of Heaven. ~ John Milton ~

You can be your worst enemy when it comes to your mind!  Try, instead, to be an ally to yourself.  Take the time to manipulate your own head.  Decide now if you want to enjoy being a leader or if it is a burden.  It's all up to you and how you want to think about it.  If you are not happy with your chosen path, take a moment to reflect. If you have decided that it will be awful, then you will find every reason to make yourself right. However, if you don't want to live in negativity, can you simply make it better by thinking it?  Perhaps - but only if you believe you can and only if you want to do it.  As a leader, it's up to you to set the tone for others.  They are watching you for cues.  What you do they do, so set a great example.  You have the ability.

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 decide right now to find enjoyment in my journey as a leader."

Don't Be a Hypocrite

Patience is something you admire in the driver behind you and scorn in the one ahead. ~Mac McCleary~

Are you full of contradictions? Do you get impatient and unforgiving for people who are late, yet you want patience and understanding for when you are late?  Leaders need to be role models and must demonstrate the behaviors they want to see.  Think about how you feel when you see a direct report yell at another co-worker or their own direct report.  You would tell them that this kind of behavior is unacceptable.  Yet, how many of you have lost your temper at your direct reports AND in front of others?  Your followers watch you for the correct behavior.   You loose credibility when you say one thing and then do another.  Practice kindness and forgiveness when you expect others to do the same.  Otherwise, you just seem like a hypocrite.  Last time I checked, hypocrisy was not listed a desired trait of a leader.

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 be sincere in my actions and demonstrate the behaviors I want to see in others.