Make Things Happen

“It had long since come to my attention that people of accomplishment rarely sat back and let things happen to them. They went out and happened to things.” ~ Leonardo da Vinci ~

If you think instant success is really instant you need to start interviewing people.  Talk to those who have seemingly overnight success and ask them about their journey.  You might hear about struggles and failures or they might tell you that it was easy when they were following the right path.   The one thing in common is they will tell you that you have to do the work.  No one will hand you everything you need to be successful.  Some will have advantage but in the end it's the work that gets the accomplishment.  Great leaders do something everyday to get to their success.  Never mind about your starting point - Just Do It!

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 work towards my success everyday.

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.

Take a Chance

Thrivers constantly re-invent themselves, they are mentally agile and willing to risk. ~ David McNally ~

You are just going to have to put yourself out there.  Turtles don't get anywhere until they stick their heads and legs out of their shell.  Get moving, get to it, get out there!  You will not truly grow until you have taken a chance on yourself and your ideas.  Never fear that an idea doesn't work, as you can always find another one.  All great leaders have taken a risk on more than one occasion! They adjust and try again. It starts with being mindful and having confidence in you own abilities.  If you don't get out there and try, then the world will never benefit from your gifts.  Be willing to risk.

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 take chance in order to thrive.

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.

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."

Make Fear Give You The Edge

Turn your face to the sun and the shadows fall behind you. ~Maori Proverb ~

For many of you there are very real and valid reasons to worry.  Fear keeps you alert and warns of danger.  It is a necessary part of your emotions.  Worry and fear will never go away for anyone.  The difference maker is how you deal with fear and worry.  You can let it eat at you and occupy important areas of the brain - where you need to think.  Use the alertness that fear provides to get focused.  Some leaders feed on danger and risk because it can be very exciting.    As a leader, know that risk means that you have the opportunity to grow and flourish.  With risk comes fear but with fear, can come bravery.  Trust that you will prevail and overcome.  Instead of fear ruling you - use it's energy to create success.

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 fear to my advantage - with it, I will be more alert and focused."

Embrace Your "To-Do" List

The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones. ~ Confucius ~

How many things have you been putting off?  What kind of excuses are you using?  "I'm too busy."  "I'm to tired."  "It's too hard."  "I'm overwhelmed." "I don't like it."  If you look at all the things you have to do as a negative then it will harder to get done.  If you are overwhelmed break things down into smaller chunks.  If you don't like a certain aspect, figure out a reward or do it first before doing the things you like.  A wise man once said, "When you sit down to eat.  Eat the food you detest first then you can enjoy the rest of your meal without having to agonize." If something is too hard. Get help.  Leaders look at their to-do lists as necessary to success.  Even those things that seem unrelated to your goal are important.  They create learning opportunities.  As a leader, your tasks and responsibilities are not obstacles but stones in the path of your journey.  Some stones will be more appealing than others and some will be heavier but you will need to place them all.

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 embrace, with contentment, all that I have to do...as it is part of my journey."

Be Willing to Let Go

We must be willing to get rid of the life we've planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us. ~Joseph Campbell~

When do your dreams become the obstacles to success?  It's when you are unable to see a new path that might be better than the one you think you should be taking.   If you are too ridge in your vision then you may come up with disappointment.  Take the time today to be flexible in your ideas.   Take in the clues around you. Are you missing something that is right in front of you?  Are you too focused on the moment and task at hand that you cannot see down the road?  Does it really have to be done that way?  Great leaders have specific visions and ideas however, they know that there other influences - ones that they cannot see that can make the difference in success.   It's good to take a take step back from action and control to see where life might take you.

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 let go of rigidity to open myself up to new possibilities."

See the Possibilities in Every Obstacle

Become a possibilitarian. No matter how dark things seem to be

or actually are, raise your sights and see possibilities

 - always see them, for they're always there. ~Norman Vincent Peale

Stress and negativity are a part of success.  You will always encounter obstacles.  If something seems easy it is because you have already overcome the obstacles it took to arrive at that moment.  Remember when you were very young and you were learning to ride a bike without the training wheels.  If you did not think it ever possible that you were going to ride that bike without training wheels, then you were never going to do it.  However, you could see the possibilities.  You didn't allow falling down a few times to deter you from your goal.  Leadership is the same.  You must hold on to a vision of success despite the struggle.  At some point, it will become easier as long as you think it is possible to achieve.  Likewise, as a leader, you need to help others see the possibility of their success.

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 look for and see the possibilities of success

in every obstacle!"

 

 

Release Anger for Success

You will not be punished for your anger, you will be punished by your anger. ~Buddha

When was the last time you were, as we Texans say, spittin' mad?  Last week, yesterday, or five minutes ago?  How do you feel?  Do you feel refreshed and energized? Or are you drained and unable to think of anything else?  If it was last week, are you still thinking about it?  It's OK to be angry.  It is what you do with that anger that will keep you from success.  Strong admirable leaders do not live in an anger state.  You cannot think about positive thoughts if your brain is full of painful resentment.  You can't think two things at the same time.  It's time to stop thinking about that which makes you angry and instead focus on that which makes you strive. 

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 release any anger I have, so that I can

lead with positive strength."

 

 

Lead With a Better Perspective

You can avoid having ulcers by adapting to the situation:

If you fall in the mud puddle, check your pockets for fish. ~Author Unknown

Leadership is perspective.  How you look at things will be the difference between failure and success.  If you always view problems and issues, then that is all you will ever see.   Remember, when bad things happen to you there is always a lesson.  There is always a value to take away.    Look at things in a more opportunistic way and you will find opportunity.

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 find success with a more positive outlook."