Success has as much to do with how we conduct our lives as it does with material rewards. Most people we admire have qualities that connect them to us in their humanity.
In 2010 strive to rise above petty grievances, be kinder to each other and create a personal standard that you and those you love will be proud of. Here are some of the best ways I can recommend to achieve that.
1) Believe in yourself: All too often a person can get stuck in the notion that he is only capable of certain things and no more. These beliefs are self limiting and can cause one to sabotage his own success. On a deeper level he feels unworthy. This idea generally comes from many years of exposure to negative influences and thinking. Studies have shown that we are subjected to far more negative than positive references throughout our lives. Our challenge then is to learn to believe that we are capable of greater accomplishments.
2) Get rid of bad influences: Many of us know people who seem to consistently make poor decisions, create unnecessary drama or are typically negative minded. He may be a family member or friend and you may have tried helping him in the past. Even trying to help often seems futile.Too much exposure to this type of person will tend to drain your energy and contribute to you losing momentum. If you cannot end this relationship then try limiting your exposure to it in 2010.
3) Have an abundance of integrity: Strive to be someone who people can rely on and trust. Do what you say and say what you mean. Be honest and real with others and yourself. Whether it is with a customer, client or a friend you will rise to greater heights and accomplish far more in 2010 by being completely authentic.
4) Do something for others: Contribute time or money to a cause or charity you believe in. Make a positive difference in someone’s life and you will likely feel better. A study done at the University of Louisville in Kentucky found that the more people participated in meaningful activities, the happier they were and the more purposeful their lives felt.
5) Know your talents: What are your natural skills? What do you enjoy doing most? What gives you a sense of personal satisfaction? Think about this very carefully because all of us have certain tendencies to do some things better than we do other things. The things we do better are generally things we enjoy more. Identify, nurture and use your talents to the fullest level because that is the path of least resistance to success.
6) Be open-minded: Learning to be open about new or different ways to accomplish things is essential to maximizing your potential and achieving success. Creative people have inquisitive minds and a willingness to be flexible in their thinking. You can acquire this skill even if you do not think of yourself as creative. (See Creative Thinking).
7) Create a clear vision with a long view: What do you want to achieve? What is your vision? I am not just talking about in 2010 but even beyond this year. Think of a long view as your picture of the future you want to create.
The most successful people have a clear vision of what they want their lives to be like. That vision or long view drives them. It creates meaning and purpose for their actions and is a powerful force. Creating such meaning in your life will drive you much farther than just simply having measurable goals.
8) Create a clear plan with clear goals and objectives: You have a clear purpose and know your long view, now what is your plan? Your plan should consist of what you want to achieve during the course of 2010 (and even beyond). It should include your goals (see Goal Setting) and objectives. Goals are terminal points or end games, they are what you are ultimately hoping to achieve. Objectives are targets you hit along the way. Hitting those targets creates momentum and excitement. Recognize the difference between them and develop objectives that are very narrow or specific. Goals should be Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time sensitive. (SMART).
Write your plan down in as much detail as possible. Having a plan will give structure to your every thought as your subconscious mind responds to the vision that you have created. Tapping into the powerful force of your subconscious mind adds immeasurably to your potential.
9) Committ to action: No plan for success is worth anything without sustained and consistent action. This takes true grit, backbone or firmness of character. It is what separates the person who really wants to achieve something from the person who only says he wants it. It doesn’t matter that targets are not always hit or that you sometimes fall short of achieving your goal, what matters is your commitment, perseverance and willingness to go the distance. Life is a marathon, not a sprint.
10) Patience, Patience, Patience: Don’t let restlessness or intolerance to the journey stop you from achieving success! Be patient, be steady and be aware that there will always be distractions and annoyances that you must deal with. Learn from your mistakes and keep building by taking one step at a time. The old proverb that says that “patience is a virtue” is particularly true when applied to the pursuit of success.
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