Give Yourself the Green Light for Success

One of the challenges of moving forward is predicated by our natural inclination to seek approval. Our rearing and professional experiences have taught us to request permission with decision making. Think back to when you were growing up. There was always someone “in charge”.  Whatever you wanted to do, you first had to ask. Likewise, most of our assignments in the workplace are based on the directives of a manager or higher ranked business associate. But when it comes to pursuing your personal desires and dreams there’s only one person who can give you the “green light” to go ahead and that is you. Research proves employees who have an interest in personal growth are not only healthier, but contribute to the well being of an organization/business.

So what holds you back from giving yourself permission? There are four common reasons individuals apply the brakes on fulfilling their dreams.

(1)  You need validation. It is comforting to have someone agree with your plans and goals but this is your dream. It has to start with you.  A successful journey requires courage and confidence. Once you’ve decided to step out build a team of support for encouragement.

(2)  You need to know it’s the right thing. It may or may not be the right thing to do at this time but allow yourself to try. In order to discover new lands, you must be willing to lose sight of the shore. If you succeed you’ll reap the reward. If you fail you’ll gain knowledge for the next attempt. Give yourself permission to go beyond self imposed limits.

(3)  You are afraid. Until your confidence is greater than your fears you will always idle at the red light. The best way to overcome fear is through action. Accelerate past the fear of doubt and failure to arrive at achievement. As Brene Brown expressed, “You can choose courage and you can choose comfort but you can’t have both”.  Don’t allow the discomfort associated with change prevent you from moving forward.

You get from life what you have the courage to ask for. ~ Oprah Winfrey

(4)  You don’t have time. You must commit to your goals. Clearly stated goals will serve as ammunition, shooting down obstacles that don’t line up with your vision. Plan time in your schedule to dedicate to your dream. It is a step by step process. It simply comes down to ‘how bad do you want it’. You’ll be amazed at what you’ve accomplished when you assess your progress.

In the book, “The Blessing of Adversity”, Barry C. Black, (a two star Navy admiral and the first person of color in the nation’s history to serve as Chaplin of the US Senate) provides an action plan to help with the pressure:

ü  Remain independent of your circumstance

ü  Expect pressure

ü  Face challenges with courage

ü  Claim your victory

ü  Endure to the end

ü  Maintain a proper perspective

Don’t be discouraged about what others might say, at first they’ll ask WHY you’re doing it but later they’ll ask HOW you did it. Give yourself the green light! MOVE FORWARD and accomplish your goals!

'Tis the Season to Declutter Your Spaces

This month O magazine published an article called “Tis the Season to De-Clutter –An Easy Holiday Plan”. That’s much easier said than done. Most people will admit that de-cluttering is a challenge. I have the opposite problem. I throw away everything then spend days searching for it until I am reminded that I discarded it months ago. I don’t know which is worst but this is the season to release. De-clutter your physical and mental spaces.

When you pull out the sweaters, jackets and other winter garments, get rid of anything you haven't worn in the past 2 years. Stop telling yourself you will wear it because you won’t. Let them go and make room for a new sweater and other gifts to come into your life. On the other hand, don't put away anything that you haven't used or worn for the past two seasons. It's highly unlikely that the third time will be a charm. Take control. Use ten minutes of each day to get started.

Likewise, it’s important that your mental "storehouse" is de-cluttered as well to take advantage of the opportunities a new season brings. Get rid of “stinkin thinkin”. Let go of I can’t and add I will. Feed your brain healthy thoughts to silence the negative noise. Don’t worry about what can go wrong - get excited about what can go right.

Here are two things to remember if you get stuck in the process:

• You can do ANYTHING but not everything! Take on only what you can manage.
• Someday is NOT a day of the week! Set a date and make the time to accomplish tasks. Don’t leave it up to chance.

Free yourself! ‘Tis the season to de-clutter. Something new is waiting for you!

5 FACTS for More Happiness!

 

The fact is everyone is seeking happiness  and peace in life! More time, energy and money are spent on the pursuit of happiness than anything else. If you seek more happiness in your life, here are the FACTS:

Forgive Others! It’s often said that forgiveness is the gift you give to yourself. The people you are holding hostage in your mind don’t even know they’re in prison. The only person in captivity is you. Free yourself by letting go of the thoughts that are holding you back.

Accept your mistakes! If you’re not making mistakes you’re not trying hard enough. Keep growing and keep going!

Cry! Big girls and big boys do cry. When you cry the body moves from a state of high arousal or stress to one more associated with relaxation. Your breathing and heart rate slows and you’re more relaxed longer after you’ve cried. Let it out and let in peace.

Thank God for Everything! Thank Him for waking you, breaking you, making you and forgiving you. Gratitude is a key factor for happiness and success.

Smile! Smiling has been shown to increase productivity while performing tasks. There’s real truth to the “whistle while we work” mentality. When you’re able to accomplish more you feel better.

 Keep it simple! Face the F.A.C.T.S. for more happiness in your life!

 

3 HABITS for SUCCESS

 

 

Whether you define success in terms of money, happiness, fame or family, achieving success takes effort. There’s no secret formula but there are things successful people do to reach their goals.

 

We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence is not an act, but a habit. ~ Aristotle

Adopt these habits for professional and personal growth.

(1)  CONSISTENTCY! It’s the small efforts repeated day in and day out that will lead you to your goals. Understand that consistency is essential, not optional. Nothing is achieved without it. Consistency leads to loyalty, devotion and motivates individuals. Be consistent in your approach, your attitude, communications and actions.

(2)  COMMITMENT! Be passionate about the goals you are pursuing and the life you are living. You must be a self motivator and self generator. You can’t sit around and wait for someone to give you an opportunity. You must be committed to generating opportunities for yourself. This involves meeting new people, being open to new ideas and contributing to the well being of others.

(3)   CONFIDENCE! It is the foundation for success and achievement. You must first believe you can and you will. Having faith in your abilities will take you further than anything else. Confidence will encourage you to keep going through uncertainly and failure. It is the driving force for action.

The path to success has many road blocks. Be consistent, committed and confident to navigate the journey.

 

Don't Give Up! Quick Tips for Pursuing Your Goals!

Good things come to those that believe, better things comes to those that are patient, the best things come to those that don't give up!

Before Cathy Hughes became the owner of the multimillion dollar media company, Radio One, she faced tremendous obstacles on her journey. For 18 months she and her son slept on the floor of the radio station. Cathy was rejected 32 times for a business loan. It wasn’t until the 33rd pitch to a female bank officer that Cathy's loan request was granted which enabled her to get the business going. What would have happened if she gave up on her 32nd try and quit?

In his first screen test, the director of MGM told Fred Astaire, “You can't act, can't sing. Slightly bald, can dance a little." Fred Astaire was bold, confident and daring. He kept pushing forward until he got a yes. Fred Astaire became an incredibly successful actor, singer and dancer. But what if Fred Astaire would have quit after that first no?

Whatever you’re going through, creating or trying to achieve these stories inspire us to keep moving forward. Here's some advice to keep in mind while your pursuing goals:

• Be of good cheer! Operate in a spirit of expectation. Your actions follow your thoughts. If you expect things will work out in your favor your activities will follow that direction.
• Learn as much as you can! Gather information, master your craft and connect with others for skill building and encouragement
• Resist fear! Believe in yourself. Don't be dismayed by the time it may take to reach your goals. Stay focused and positive. 
• Don't be afraid to fail! Failure is simply an opportunity to do things over with better knowledge.

Most people are surprised to learn that basketball legend Michael Jordan was cut from his high school basketball team. He is quoted as saying, "I have missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I have lost almost 300 games. On 26 occasions I have been entrusted to take the game winning shot, and I missed. I have failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed."

DON'T GIVE UP! You could be one step away from your break through, one yes away from that loan approval, once interview away from a new job, one class away from earning that degree, one encounter away from meeting your soul mate.

5 Ways to Reduce Stress Quickly!

In the 1970's there was an infamous commercial featuring a distressed-looking woman standing in front of a screen with annoying images circulating in the background. The images were of noisy traffic, an overbearing boss, a crying baby and a barking dog. In the midst of the chaos she screams, "That's it! Calgon® - Take me away"! We all have “Calgon” moments when we wish we could just escape into a warm relaxing bath.

Whether it's in us or around us we often deal with stressful situations. It's just a fact of life. The good news is that you can relieve stress quickly. Here are five simple ways to get out of the stress and get back into great living:

(1) Think good thoughts! Redirect your thoughts to calm visions or things that excite you. Picture yourself on a relaxing vacation. Or visualize yourself accomplishing a future goal. Better yet, if you're like me, imagine you are the leading lady in a block buster movie and Denzel Washington is your co-star. Then focus on the things you can do to change the situation or emotion and build a plan to help you succeed.

(2) Kiss your stress away! Kissing reduces stress by helping your brain to release endorphins, better known as "the warm and fuzzies". Research shows that people who kiss more are less stressed and depressed. Pucker up and keep pushing forward!

(3) Take a breath! Deep breathing is one of the best ways to lower stress in the body. When you breathe deeply it sends a message to your brain to calm down and relax. The brain then sends this message to your body which can lower your heart rate and decrease your blood pressure. Jordan Shakeshaft shares 6 breathing exercises to relax you within 10 minutes. It's simple - better breathing better health.

(4) Laugh! It’s true laughter is the best medicine. Laughter diminishes pain, provides energy, increases memory and learning and improves alertness and creativity. Care 2 lists 7 laughing exercises to get your started on the laugh path.

(5) Keep good company! Have a chat with someone who inspires you. We don’t need science to tell us how a smile or conversation with a good friend or family member can turn your frown around. Jim Rohn shared that you are the sum of the 5 people you spend the most time with. Surround yourself with people who encourage, uplift and enlighten you.

Don't let the stresses of life weigh you down. Live successfully by applying these methods to help you to KEEP GOING!

Coaching Seminar "Get Out of the Way!"

We capped off the summer with the "Get Out of the Way" coaching seminar highlighting Seven Proven Strategies for Success. More than 40 entrepreneurs, community leaders and business professionals gathered for networking, information and inspiration to encourage SUCCESSFUL LIVING! Look for details of the next event...coming soon!