We tend to think of habits as bad. We want to break them or overcome them. That's what New Year's Resolutions are all about, usually.
Yet, habits can be good. In fact, most successful people have turned their skills into habits. They repeatedly do the things that will make them more productive and more profitable.
We can all develop positive habits. Here are just a few:
It is time to shake things up?
I was talking to my wife about her job, and she mentioned she was considering making some changes. She wasn't sure of all of the pros and cons of the changes, but she was giving it some thought. Then she said something that really caught my attention: "I think I'm in a rut and want to shake things up."
I got to thinking, we can fall into ruts all too easily. Someone once said a rut is nothing but a grave with both ends kicked out.
Ruts lead to all kinds of problems. We lose strength and speed, ideas, momentum, motivation, initiative. Before we know it, we're not just coasting, we're declining.
"If I've got a swing, I've got a shot." That's Bubba Watson's philosophy on the golf course and something we can all apply to business and life. Watch this interview for more insights.
With the start of baseball, it's good to remember that what is considered superstar status in the big leagues is actually failing more than succeeding.
A player who bats .300 or higher is considered an all-star. Yep, a batter who gets a hit fewer than once every three times up to the plate is a success. More typical is a player who gets a hit in just one of every four times at bat.
Attitude is one of the keys to a successful life. And yet, we all face those times when our attitude is not the best. The challenge becomes, what can we do to improve our attitude? There are actually several things.
I've thought of just a few. Here are eight ideas.
1. Take a walk. Get some fresh air and sunshine.
2. Move to a new setting or get a fresh perspective. If you've been in the office, move to a conference room. If you've been working from home, head to a local coffee shop.
We're often persuaded to accept the "truth" of an argument based on the credibility of a speaker or the organization he or she represents. We tend to believe or disbelieve politicians on this basis.
Yet, just because someone says it doesn't make it true.
Just because we want to believe it doesn't make it true.
Just because someone is sincere doesn't make it true.
The start of a new quarter is often a realization that the grand vision with which we began the year hasn't turned out exactly as planned. You may not have accomplished everything you had hoped up to this point.
That's normal. Yet, there are any number of reasons that might be holding you back, preventing you from moving forward. Tackle them now, and your second quarter can be highly productive. Here are just a few.
Here are the most viewed Open Mic blog posts during the month of March. Not all of these were written during March. If you haven't yet read them, please do, and then
let me know what you think.
The Power of DeadlinesThe Power of the Boomerang EffectWhat's True for You That's Stopping YouObjective over ObstacleLeadership is EncouragementFollow me on
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There are certain things in life we can count on like the changing of the seasons. There are bull markets and bear markets, rising gasoline prices and...even higher prices!
What we never want to accept are those "inevitable" factors in life that have no basis in fact. It's not inevitable that you will be more successful next year than you are today just because. Nor, is it inevitable that you will be passed over for the next promotion because that's what has always happened.
One of the building blocks of our future economy is expertise. We cannot move ahead, much less keep our jobs, without some level of expertise. Doesn't mean you have to be best in the world. But you have to be able to do more than park cars and make coffee.
Let's face it, employers pay for people who produce results. Very often, that's someone who has a unique skill or talent that goes beyond what "most people" would offer.
In other words, you can be the best team player there is, but if you don't have expertise, you're not that valuable. If you're not that valuable, you may very well find yourself looking for another job.
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