“The winds and waves are always on the side of the ablest navigator.”
Edward Gibbons
Doesn’t it seem that some people have all the luck and that no matter what happens, they always seem to come out on top? How do we catch all the breaks so that we can be happy and successful? The truth is everyone has challenges and obstacles in life but great leaders and successful people have a way of turning bad things to good. Below are some ideas of how we can ensure that the winds and waves are always on our side.
#1 Attitude
If attitude isn’t everything it must be close. Our attitude determines so much of our success. When things go bad, do we lose hope? Or do we think we can’t? If we can realign our thoughts and maintain a positive attitude then good things will happen. When we maintain an attitude of perseverance and we believe we can overcome anything that comes are way, we eventually will come out on top.
#2 Remain Calm
Unexpected things are going to happen in life and what may seem like a mountain today, will soon appear as a mole hill tomorrow. When the winds and waves of life change directions, we need to remain calm. And before we wave the white flag or even worse, abandon ship, we need to relax and put things into perspective. Too often we are too quick to throw everything away when something doesn’t go quite as we expected. But if we can remain calm and think before we react, we will find success.
#3 Focus on the Positive
Bad things happen all the time, it is part of life. But even when bad things happen, often times good can come of it if we look for it. Next time something bad happens, rather than dwelling on the negative, look for the positive that may come. Search for the silver lining no matter how difficult it may be. In almost all of life experiences, we can find something positive that will come of it.
#4 Take Ownership
There is nothing more empowering than believing that we control our destiny. Sure we can’t control the winds and the waves in life but we can control how we react to them. And when we react to them positively it will nearly always cause them to push us in the right direction. So much of our success and/or failure in life is due to our own reactions to life. If we take full responsibility for our actions and results at all times, then we will be an able navigator in life.
By striving to follow the four steps above, we can become one of those who seemingly get all the breaks or has all the lucky as we find success in this oft times stormy life.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Find Yourself!
“Strength isn’t something you have, it is something you find, usually one day at a time.”
Author Unknown
We often hear phrases such as “he’s a natural,” “she was born that way,” and “he’s just lucky” when referring to successful people. Many times we make the false assumption that people are just naturally talented or are naturally given something that we simply don’t have. Though I believe we all have different talents, interests, and abilities, I also believe that each of us has the capacity to be great.
The quote at the top of the blog illustrates something interesting. First, strength, or intelligence, or wisdom, or success, or courage, or really anything is not something automatically given to us but rather it is something we find through our actions day in and day out. We ultimately decide what we are!
For example, we wouldn’t say someone has strength unless we were aware of some things the person did that demonstrated strength. Or we wouldn’t call Michael Jordan a great basketball player if he had never picked up a ball. It was only after he practiced, played, worked-hard, and eventually proved himself to be worthy to be called a great basketball player that everyone recognized him as such.
Likewise, people are not given success, or strength, or courage, or wisdom rather they earn it by their actions. We don’t know we are a strong person until we overcome something that is difficult and prove it. Hence, we find our talents or good qualities as we practice them, usually one day at a time. Sure strength or courage may be a gift of ours that comes easier than other things, but if we do not exercise that gift, than are we really courageous or strong? We find our gifts and we find who we are in the “doing”.
For this reason each day is meaningful because it is a new challenge and a new opportunity for us to develop into the person we want to become. We aren’t necessarily automatically given who we are but we have the ability to create and find who we are. We can find strength, courage, success, or just about anything through our daily actions. Good traits are not automatic, we have to work at them and use them before we know we have them. And if we are not currently the person we want to be, or think we are, we have the power to change by altering our actions.
So what will you find today? Will you find strength, confidence, or success? Really, it is up to you. We have the power to shape our lives and become who we want to be! Because ___________________(fill in the blank) is not something we have, but _________________(fill in the blank) is something we find, usually one day at a time.
Author Unknown
We often hear phrases such as “he’s a natural,” “she was born that way,” and “he’s just lucky” when referring to successful people. Many times we make the false assumption that people are just naturally talented or are naturally given something that we simply don’t have. Though I believe we all have different talents, interests, and abilities, I also believe that each of us has the capacity to be great.
The quote at the top of the blog illustrates something interesting. First, strength, or intelligence, or wisdom, or success, or courage, or really anything is not something automatically given to us but rather it is something we find through our actions day in and day out. We ultimately decide what we are!
For example, we wouldn’t say someone has strength unless we were aware of some things the person did that demonstrated strength. Or we wouldn’t call Michael Jordan a great basketball player if he had never picked up a ball. It was only after he practiced, played, worked-hard, and eventually proved himself to be worthy to be called a great basketball player that everyone recognized him as such.
Likewise, people are not given success, or strength, or courage, or wisdom rather they earn it by their actions. We don’t know we are a strong person until we overcome something that is difficult and prove it. Hence, we find our talents or good qualities as we practice them, usually one day at a time. Sure strength or courage may be a gift of ours that comes easier than other things, but if we do not exercise that gift, than are we really courageous or strong? We find our gifts and we find who we are in the “doing”.
For this reason each day is meaningful because it is a new challenge and a new opportunity for us to develop into the person we want to become. We aren’t necessarily automatically given who we are but we have the ability to create and find who we are. We can find strength, courage, success, or just about anything through our daily actions. Good traits are not automatic, we have to work at them and use them before we know we have them. And if we are not currently the person we want to be, or think we are, we have the power to change by altering our actions.
So what will you find today? Will you find strength, confidence, or success? Really, it is up to you. We have the power to shape our lives and become who we want to be! Because ___________________(fill in the blank) is not something we have, but _________________(fill in the blank) is something we find, usually one day at a time.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Yesterday, Tomorrow, and Today
This story was sent to me by AsAManThinketh.net. I believe it carries a good message and reminds us to focus on what we can control. I hope you enjoy it.
“There are two days in every week about which we should not worry.
Two days which should be kept free from fear and apprehension.
One of these days is yesterday with its mistakes and cares,
Its faults and blunders, Its aches and pains.
Yesterday has passed forever beyond our control.
All the money in the world cannot bring back yesterday.
We cannot undo a single act we performed.
We cannot erase a single word we said. Yesterday is gone.
The other day we should not worry about is tomorrow.
With its possible adversities, Its burdens,
Its large promise and poor performance.
Tomorrow is also beyond our immediate control.
Tomorrow's Sun will rise, either in splendor or behind a mask of clouds,
but it will rise.
Until it does, we have no stake in tomorrow, for it is yet unborn.
This just leaves only one day . . . Today.
Any person can fight the battles of just one day.
It is only when you and I add the burdens of those two awful eternity's -
yesterday and tomorrow that we break down.
It is not the experience of today that drives people mad.
It is the remorse or bitterness for something which happened yesterday
and the dread of what tomorrow may bring.
Let us therefore live but one day at a time."
Author Unknown
(To view a similar blog on the same subject on Burntham.com go to ‘The Most Important Day’ published 7/10/08.)
“There are two days in every week about which we should not worry.
Two days which should be kept free from fear and apprehension.
One of these days is yesterday with its mistakes and cares,
Its faults and blunders, Its aches and pains.
Yesterday has passed forever beyond our control.
All the money in the world cannot bring back yesterday.
We cannot undo a single act we performed.
We cannot erase a single word we said. Yesterday is gone.
The other day we should not worry about is tomorrow.
With its possible adversities, Its burdens,
Its large promise and poor performance.
Tomorrow is also beyond our immediate control.
Tomorrow's Sun will rise, either in splendor or behind a mask of clouds,
but it will rise.
Until it does, we have no stake in tomorrow, for it is yet unborn.
This just leaves only one day . . . Today.
Any person can fight the battles of just one day.
It is only when you and I add the burdens of those two awful eternity's -
yesterday and tomorrow that we break down.
It is not the experience of today that drives people mad.
It is the remorse or bitterness for something which happened yesterday
and the dread of what tomorrow may bring.
Let us therefore live but one day at a time."
Author Unknown
(To view a similar blog on the same subject on Burntham.com go to ‘The Most Important Day’ published 7/10/08.)
Thursday, October 7, 2010
5 Reasons Why You Should Be Great
“Greatness is not a function of circumstance. Greatness is largely a matter of conscious choice.” Jim Collins
I recently finished reading (again) the book Good to Great by Jim Collins. In the book the author provides insights based on extensive research on what makes successful companies great rather than simply good or average. Using ideas from the book, I’d like to provide reasons why we should not settle for average or simply good but rather why we should strive to be great in life.
#1 It’s Not Harder!
Being great rather than just average sounds like a lot of work. And if you are like me, you already feel you are overwhelmed and stretched to your limits so how could you possibly do more. Well, being great is not necessarily about doing more but about doing things differently. It is not about working harder but working smarter. In fact, being great often results in less suffering and sometimes even less work than being mediocre.
Have you ever worked for a mediocre organization or played on a mediocre team where it seemed like every day, every minute, every decision was a struggle because at any minute you could lose! Striving for greatness eases tension, stress, and guilt that almost always comes with mediocrity and allows us to increase our effectiveness. Though being great does take a lot of work, it does not require anymore work than being mediocre.
#2 It Increases Self-Esteem
Striving to be great boosts our self-esteem. A natural consequence of attempting to be great is better results in life. And when we have better results, our self-esteem is given a boost. Many suffer from poor self-esteem because they too easily settle for mediocrity. If we can push through and find ways to be great, our self-esteem will improve.
#3 It Boosts Energy
Working toward greatness boosts our energy. As we build momentum and see improvements and success, we are naturally energized. Being great takes a lot of energy but that energy is often recycled and put right back whereas settling for mediocre drains our energy and leads to discouragement and dissatisfaction.
#4 It’s Fun
Everyone wants to be successful and wants to feel they’ve accomplished something. Thus, striving to be great is fun. Though it does take time, energy, and effort, the process is very rewarding.
#5 It Supplies Meaning
Finally, reaching to be great provides meaning in our lives. At the end of the day, each of us is looking for purpose and meaning. When we find something that is meaningful to us, the question is no longer why should I be great but how can I be great. It is impossible to be great unless doing it means something to us and is time well spent.
Hopefully, after reading this blog, the question is no longer why but how. Pursing greatness does not require harder work and it does increase our self-esteem, boosts our energy, is fun, and supplies purpose and meaning to our lives. Besides all of this though, the most important reason as to why we should strive to be great is because each of us can.
(For more ideas on how to strive for greatness, please refer to blog on 9/30/10)
I recently finished reading (again) the book Good to Great by Jim Collins. In the book the author provides insights based on extensive research on what makes successful companies great rather than simply good or average. Using ideas from the book, I’d like to provide reasons why we should not settle for average or simply good but rather why we should strive to be great in life.
#1 It’s Not Harder!
Being great rather than just average sounds like a lot of work. And if you are like me, you already feel you are overwhelmed and stretched to your limits so how could you possibly do more. Well, being great is not necessarily about doing more but about doing things differently. It is not about working harder but working smarter. In fact, being great often results in less suffering and sometimes even less work than being mediocre.
Have you ever worked for a mediocre organization or played on a mediocre team where it seemed like every day, every minute, every decision was a struggle because at any minute you could lose! Striving for greatness eases tension, stress, and guilt that almost always comes with mediocrity and allows us to increase our effectiveness. Though being great does take a lot of work, it does not require anymore work than being mediocre.
#2 It Increases Self-Esteem
Striving to be great boosts our self-esteem. A natural consequence of attempting to be great is better results in life. And when we have better results, our self-esteem is given a boost. Many suffer from poor self-esteem because they too easily settle for mediocrity. If we can push through and find ways to be great, our self-esteem will improve.
#3 It Boosts Energy
Working toward greatness boosts our energy. As we build momentum and see improvements and success, we are naturally energized. Being great takes a lot of energy but that energy is often recycled and put right back whereas settling for mediocre drains our energy and leads to discouragement and dissatisfaction.
#4 It’s Fun
Everyone wants to be successful and wants to feel they’ve accomplished something. Thus, striving to be great is fun. Though it does take time, energy, and effort, the process is very rewarding.
#5 It Supplies Meaning
Finally, reaching to be great provides meaning in our lives. At the end of the day, each of us is looking for purpose and meaning. When we find something that is meaningful to us, the question is no longer why should I be great but how can I be great. It is impossible to be great unless doing it means something to us and is time well spent.
Hopefully, after reading this blog, the question is no longer why but how. Pursing greatness does not require harder work and it does increase our self-esteem, boosts our energy, is fun, and supplies purpose and meaning to our lives. Besides all of this though, the most important reason as to why we should strive to be great is because each of us can.
(For more ideas on how to strive for greatness, please refer to blog on 9/30/10)
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