Pursuing Your Passion

We all have talents and gifts. Some people's are apparent, such as Beethoven, Michael Jordan, or Winston Churchill. Others live out their personal and professional lives in less conspicuous ways but no less valuable ways.

Only you can define your passion. The fact that your mother wants you to be a doctor, your father wants you to conquer Wall Street, your spouse wants you to be an architect, or the coach wants you to play first base really doesn't matter.

Your passion is, quite simply, nothing more or less than your passion. It is, very simply, that thing in this world about which you are passionate. It does not have to be justified nor quantified to anyone's satisfaction other than yours.

Consider the following:

1. What activities cause you to be excited and energized?
2. What activities tend to make you tired and worn out?
3. What passions in your life are you proud to share with others?
4. What do you want to be known for?
5. If you had to pursue one course to make a difference in the world, what would it be?

Once you have identified your passion, it is important to find the best way to turn your passion into your profession. The late, great George Burns once told me that "If you love your job, you never work a day in your life." George Burns was passionate about his career as an entertainer, and he pursued that passion joyously for almost a century.

Recently, I've had the true privilege of getting to know 97- year-old Coach John Wooden who has, by far, more NCAA National Basketball Championships than anyone ever.

Coach Wooden considers himself a teacher. Had he not been a basketball coach, he feels he would have taught English. He sees very little difference between training seven-foot super athletes and instructing college freshmen in the basic rudiments of the English language.

Coach Wooden understands the key principle. His passion is the act of teaching, but it can be implemented in many ways.

I have a good friend who was a struggling night club comedian. Comedy was his passion, but he had reached a point where he could no longer survive financially. Then he made what some people would consider a drastic career move and became a humorist, speaking at corporate events.

Now he makes an amazing living and still pursues his passion. My friend understands that his passion is the comedy, whether it's in a smoky nightclub or a corporate convention setting.

As you go through your day today, look for more and unique ways to pursue your passion.

Today's the day!

[Source: jimstovall.com, by Jim Stovall]

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How You Start Your Day Counts

Whether or not we choose to believe it, for the most part you and I have a clean slate with each new sun rise. Whatever happened yesterday, good or bad is now rooted in the past.

In the moment in which we now find ourselves, we have the ability to focus in on and do the things which will serve us for the better, or we can give our attention to those things which will re-ignite whatever thoughts were causing us to remain stuck.

We have a choice, and fortunately, it isn't all that difficult to set the tone early on in your day. Does that mean you're guaranteed not to meet with a challenge early on that will knock you off course or throw you for a loop? Of course not, but in the event that something (or someone) shows up with such an agenda you'll find yourself a lot more prepared to deal with it and be able to adjust course accordingly.

Here are some simple, but effective ideas you can use to start your day out on a positive note.

Upon waking up, name at least ten people you're thankful for - recount those in your life who've had a positive impact on you. Think of those who have in some way helped to make you the unique person you are.

Don't sell yourself short here. No matter what place you may find yourself in now, you're still an amazing person, with unique gifts and talents. You don't have to believe it, but it's still the absolute truth!

Practicing gratitude is a powerful thing that helps to reconnect us with our inner power, and the abilities which make up who we are.

Give thanks for your talents and skills - each of us has been blessed with special skills and talents. You may not feel as though you've completely developed all of yours up to this point in your life, but that doesn't change the fact that you've got them.

Think through those things that others compliment you on, those are talents. Don't underestimate all the amazing bits and pieces that go into making you the person you are. As you identify and give thanks for the talents that were bestowed upon you commit to develop them and become more proficient in their use.

Write down your days most important action steps the night before - The simple act of writing down the following days most important tasks will give you a plan to move on the next day. Keep in mind that you can get the most productive mileage if you'll put your "super tasks" at the top, where you'll complete them first.

For the purpose of this article consider Super Tasks as those things which upon their completion will give you the absolute most bang for your buck. Consider the difference between a "super task" and say one of lesser importance. A super task might be: calling on a prospective client, while one that doesn't quite hold such importance in the grand scheme of things might be: cut the grass.

While both are important, and you may very well want to get both done, the simple fact is the first example is going to lead towards a greater reward then the latter. You see, it's more a matter of separating items which fall into the category of "busy work" versus those which can move us forward at a maximum pace. Another such "super task" might be to spend time studying your industry or chosen profession.

Review the actions steps you wrote down the night before - As you are looking over the items you wrote down, close your eyes and see yourself completing them and experiencing the wonderful sense of accomplishment for having done so.

After you have visualized yourself finishing the items on your daily action list take a deep breath and begin your day working on and completing them.

Keep in mind that each new day is just that -- an opportunity to turn the page, and implement daily actions that can steer your life in the direction you wish it to go.

You can sail your ship, or choose to remain mired in inaction and float aimlessly, dependent upon whatever life may throw your way. My sincere hope for you is that you will choose the first option.

It's your life, LIVE BIG!

[Source: JoshHinds.com, by Josh Hinds]

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Borrow Someone Else's Brain!

One of the things I hear most from people, and that I notice about myself, is that when you get an idea about going after some cool goal, often it's dismissed in a millisecond because you can't imagine taking the steps necessary to reach it.

Imagining something that doesn't exist yet is a skill that very few people have...

But it just may be the single most important factor or skill in living a happy, contented, and productive life.

Usually, we don't get the outcomes we want simply because we can't imagine it. We aren't able to imagine saying the right thing or being confident no matter how much we prepared.

We don't feel creative or successful, so that part of our mind stays hidden behind a brick wall. It's there, but we don't "let" it out. We "can't imagine it..."

Microwave ovens, disposable diapers, fax machines and email grew out of someone's mind. Forks had to be invented, too. All from the mind of a person. In fact, simply learning anything old requires imagination.

What you may not realize is that in just a few minutes a day, you can use your imagination for some other very interesting things... useful things. And if your ability to make real something that doesn't exist today is lacking, I have a new and simple tool for you. I'm amazed every time I do it.

It's literally a "no-brainer."

If you want to learn something or do something you've never done or done well, try this.

You can do this for absolutely anything, but let's say you're trying out for a play. Ask yourself who's done this before? Who's good at this? The simplest answer is to think of an actor you admire for their talent and range.

My stepdaughter is going through this right now. So she chose Sarah Michelle Gellar, one of her favorite actresses.

What you do is this: When you need to perform at your best or if you need to get great ideas, replace your own head (or mind), figuratively speaking, with theirs. You imagine their head is put in the place of yours. Got the picture?

Once you've done that, ask yourself what they would do now.

• How would they stand?
• What would they think about their chances? What is their confidence level?
• What kind of look would they have on their face?
• How would they walk?
• What kind of pictures would they see in their mind's eye?
• What would they be imagining?
• What would they do? And after that, what? And on and on...

Sit down, close your eyes and imagine it. Have a piece of paper and a pencil next to you. Give yourself 5 minutes. Have all the questions above and more in your mind.

Become that person...

Studies have been done on this phenomenon and frequently found that at the exact moment the imagining exercise was being done by a person, others observed that person to be actually doing, saying or acting in the manner that they were imagining!

School children who've never been good students have been transformed into 'A' students literally in minutes, just by imagining themselves as top students.

It's simple. You don't need training. But the more often you take these 5-10 minute "breaks," the faster you'll get the answers you want, the better you'll do your job or the better your grades will be.

Use it to improve your work performance and get that promotion and raise.

But if you're a gotta-have-it-now person, keep in mind that this will work and work quickly. But if you think that next week you'll be getting a raise, based on your great performance of the week before, success still demands that you continue to perform daily. Long-term rewards come in the long term.

So pack this one in your arsenal and pull it out whenever you need to effortlessly overachieve or when you're stuck. And if no one is there to pat you on the back, do it yourself. Or imagine someone you respect doing it.

Do this. It only takes 5 minutes. You just may get an idea that will revolutionize your entire life; and maybe everyone else's too!

Keep in mind that success is seldom complex. Just because this "seems" too simple to be effective, don't dismiss it. If your success and happiness are important to you, choose an area of life where you want to perform well and do this exercise.

5 minutes. How about right now?

[Source: thinkrightnow.com, by Mike Brescia]

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Words Without Actions

Not long ago, I was interviewing two people applying for the same position. When the first candidate was asked what her goals were, Becky replied that continuous learning was her goal. When asked what steps she had taken to accomplish her goal, Becky said that she was going to sign up for a course in the fall.

The next candidate had a similar goal, but, in this case, Rebecca had actually taken several courses to help her achieve what she wanted. This action showed not only did Rebecca have a goal; she had been implementing an action plan to achieve here desired results.

"Words without actions are the assassins of idealism." -- Herbert Hoover

In the end Rebecca had created stress for herself in using "words without action". When you find yourself in stressful situations, rather than using words to reduce your stress, take action to create less stress in your life.

A great way to take action is to set goals for your life. Setting goals and taking action can result in less stress in your life. It prepares you for other opportunities. It gives you a focus on the future rather than being stuck where you are.

So often people are stressed but do little to reduce their stress. Setting goals for yourself is the first step in changing your life. But more importantly, taking action towards achieving these goals will actually create less stress in your life, as you will see yourself progressing towards "a goal that you want".

[Source: stresslesscountry.com, by Catherine Pulsifer]

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Setbacks are Lessons

"Slow and steady wins the race." It's not glamorous, but it's true. The tragedy is that most people never even get in the race, and many of those who do hope that success comes easily and swiftly.

When it doesn't, they're out of the race, before it really begins. What they don't realize is that the decision to be unstoppable is never made just once. It is made moment by moment, again and again.

Setbacks are inevitable. In fact, they're evidence that we're doing something. The more mistakes we make, the greater our chance of success. Failures indicate a willingness to experiment and take risks.

Unstoppable women and men have learned that each failure brings wisdom and insight that will take them one step closer to achieving their dreams. When we focus on one unstoppable moment at a time and stay the course, the end result will take care of itself.

It's important to remind ourselves that failure is an event, not a person. If you don't achieve your 30-day goal, does that make you a failure? If you don't get a promotion at work, does that make you a failure? If you get married and then divorced, does that make you a failure? Of course not!

Failure doesn't characterize who you are. It is simply an event that happens to you. And when you continue to move forward, despite difficult experiences, you have already won!

Action: Find the gift in the setback

The next time the outcome you had hoped for doesn't transpire, look for the gift. Ask yourself the following questions:

1. What can I learn from what happened?
2. What am I grateful for about this experience?
3. What are the potential benefits of this experience?
4. What is the best way for me to move forward?

Commit to finding the gift in any setback. And in advance, tell yourself that you will never, never, never quit. If you don't give up, you simply cannot fail. Not only will you achieve your dreams, but the combination of your commitment, courage, and faith will rise as the greatest triumph of all.

[Source: yoursuccessstore.com, by Cynthia Kersey]

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How to Improve Productivity: All Tasks Are Not Created Equal

If there's one thing you must grasp if you wish to experience an increase in productivity and a strong sense of achievement day to day it's the concept that not every task is created equal.

This is especially true when it comes to those things which when completed will lead to a greater sense of accomplishment & feeling of success and achievement.

Far too many people look at having completed the items on their To Do lists as a sure sign that they're achieving at a great level.

The problem with this line of thinking is that in many cases the items which make it onto our lists are little more than busy work -- items which do require attention, but in the grand scheme of things having completed them doesn't serve us in a greater capacity with respect to our larger, more important goals -- the big things that when completed actually move us closer to our grand vision -- the one we hold for our lives, whether personal or professional.

The challenge is that while you may feel like you're making progress, because after all, you are checking items off during the day -- if you're not taking a careful inventory and ensuring that the things you are working on in the first place will yield your greatest R.O.I.O.T (return on investment of time) then it's likely that you will end up feeling as though the larger life plans you hold for yourself aren't making any headway.

Which by the way you would be correct, they aren't, not because you aren't working, but because you're not working and putting forth the necessary effort into the specific task needed to yield the exact true result you are after.

That's why I say, all tasks aren't created equal. Commit this to memory -- and always be asking the question "If I work on this task, when completed will it yield the greatest overall result and sense of accomplishment for me.

Will having achieved it move me closer to my larger plan?" If the answer you get back is anything but a resounding yes then you need to reschedule what it is you're planning to work on and replace it with a task that will yield you the greatest return on investment of time (R.O.I.O.T). It's that simple.

You and I have a choice as to what we give our time to. We don't have a choice as to how much time we have. No matter how hard we try we're not going to be able to squeeze anymore than 24 hours out of our day. The good news is you don't even have to try IF you'll grasp and put into practice the ongoing habit of asking the question mentioned above, and working on those items which when completed will yield the greatest results.

To clarify here's a make believe To Do list item -- I've made reference to an example which will serve you the best and one which might be more in line with "busy work", which may make you feel good to get them done, but in the grand scheme of things won't serve you had you instead chosen to spend your time on other things.

Example item that might appear on your To Do list...

* Vacuuming the house - while this can certainly be a worthwhile undertaking, is it really as important say if you're larger goal was to "increase your sales for the month"?

No of course it isn't.

A far more effective use of your time would be to schedule this as a lower priority item, or find a way to have someone else do it for you if that's a possibility. While it may feel nice to complete this task, it's not going to yield the same result if you were to replace this task with one such as "give a follow-up call to the people I met at the seminar I attended who showed an interest in my product or service".

As you can see the latter is going to move you closer to what you've identified as your most important goals. Plus, once you've completed the tasks which will have the greatest return on your investment of time then you can go ahead and knock out the other things.

The key thing to remember is that you've got to be vigilant in working on and first completing those items which will give you the greatest return on your time spent.

[Source: JoshHinds.com, by Josh Hinds]

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The Secret to Winning

Jacksonville Jaguars Head Coach Jack Del Rio shocked the sports world by announcing that they were releasing Byron Leftwich, their starting quarterback, and replacing him with David Garrard.

Coach Del Rio stated that he not only thought Garrard was the better quarterback but that he also brought more positive energy to the position and team -- and "positive energy is something we covet."

Del Rio, like all great leaders and coaches knows an important secret. If you want to win, ironically, you don't focus on winning. You focus on the positive energy and attitude and development of your people and team.

John Wooden, the legendary UCLA Basketball Coach ironically never focused on winning. He focused on developing his players. He focused on improving their fundamentals, skills, character and team work. He focused on people instead of outcomes and as a result he won... a lot.

Of course all successful people and teams have a goal to win. But winning is just a goal and not the focus. Winning is the byproduct of great effort, leadership, coaching, teamwork and positive energy. And just as you can win in sports you can win at work and life by knowing and living this secret.

My friend Skip Tague told me a story about coaching his daughter's basketball team. In the beginning of the year they were like the bad news bears of basketball. They were blown out each game and the girls were dejected.

So instead of having the girls focus on the points on the scoreboard Skip devised a different point system. He gave the girls points every time they took a shot, or made a great pass, or got a rebound or played good defense.

The girls grew more and more excited about this and over time focused more on how many points they could generate individually and collectively with the new point system rather than the scoreboard. "And then a funny thing happened," Skip said.

The girls started to dramatically improve because they were focused on improving their skills rather than the scoreboard -- and they even won their last game. But the best part is that the following year Skip's team was the best in the league.

Whether its football, basketball, work or life, winning doesn't happen by focusing on the points on the scoreboard. It happens when we focus on the people, skills, positive energy and teamwork that generate the points.

Let us focus on these things, create a new scoring system and winning will come easy.
[Source: JonGordon.com, by Jon Gordon]

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Good Things Come to Those Who Ask

Asking for what you need is probably the most underutilized tool for people. And yet, amazing requests have been granted to people simply because they've asked for it!

Whether its money, information, support, assistance, or time, most people are afraid to ask for what they need in order to make their dreams come true.

They might be afraid of looking needy, ignorant, helpless, or even greedy. More than likely, though, it is the fear of rejection that is holding them back. Even though they are afraid to hear the word no, they're already saying it to themselves by not asking!

Do you ask for what you want? Are you afraid of rejection?

Consider this: Rejection is just a concept. There is really no such thing as rejection! You're not any worse off by hearing no than you were before you asked. You didn't have what you asked for before you asked and you still don't, so what did you lose?

Being rejected doesn't hold you back from anything. Only YOU hold yourself back. If you are told no, ask for what you'd have to do to get it, or ask again at another time when the circumstances have changed.

Ask if they know someone else who might say yes. When you realize that there's no merit to rejection, you'll feel more comfortable asking for things. But you may need a bit of help learning how to ask for what you want.

First, ask as though you expect to get it. Be confident in your request coming from a perspective that there's no reason why you wouldn't get it. Or they say no, you can ask them why, or what you would need to do to get a yes. You might need to form a better business plan before you will get a loan.

You might need to take a course in computers before you will get a promotion. You might need to spend more quality time with your family before you will get the loving support you need. By getting this feedback you are able to make adjustments and ask again with better chances of getting a yes.

Second, assume you can get what you want if you only ask for it. You want a window seat? Assume all you have to do is ask for it. You want an ocean view? Cheaper tickets? A scholarship? A better deal? Just ask for it as if that's all you have to do to get it.

And finally, be specific about what you want or need. Do you want to make $5,000 more a year? Then don't just ask for a raise. Ask for $5,000 more a year. Vague request produce vague results. Don't just ask for more time with your spouse, ask for a date on Friday night. Don't ask for help on a project, ask for what you want that person to take care of.

Getting a good perspective on rejection and learning how to ask will make a world of difference for you as you work toward your goals. Practice asking and you'll get very good at it! You'll even speed your progress by getting what you need, or improving yourself in order to get it later.

Make a list of what you need to ask for in all areas of your life, then start asking!

[Source: www.JackCanfield.com, by Jack Canfield]

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The Dangers of Being Off Balance

It's easy to get out of balance during particularly hectic times such as the current holidays. Being off balance can be exhilarating if it's just for a few moments such as when you're falling in love, receiving an honor or recognition or simply enjoying a real roller coaster or carnival ride.

Being off balance longer than that, however, can be dangerous to our relationships, our physical beings or our careers. The best way to gain and retain a sense of balance is by setting goals and sticking to your plan.

Having a set of goals to refer to regularly will help keep your feet planted on the ground and give your mind a focal point to bring you back to earth when something sidetracks you (either something good or something bad).

A well-lived life is a balancing act. If you're out of balance, it will show in your demeanor. You won't handle personal or business situations as best you can and that will eventually have a negative affect on your bottom line and the level of enjoyment you have in your everyday life.

Don't risk the detriment of being out of balance long term. Take a few moments each day to consider what might be pulling you off the course you've set for yourself. Then, schedule (and take) the actions necessary to even things out.

[Source: tomhopkins.com, Tom Hopkins International]

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Synergy Creates Energy

Living by comparison is fatal vision, for always there will be those who appear better off and worse off than ourselves at any given moment in time.

In truth, there is no such distinction as superior and subordinate. We all have unique talents that will blossom and flourish when nurtured.

In past decades, there was a more "look out for number one" and "don't bring in people who might want your job" style of leadership. You generally would hire those people who would do as they were told and who wouldn't challenge your ideas or authority. This type of thinking led to bulging bureaucracies and mediocre middle management that accomplished little.

This mind-set also created a scarcity mentality that there wasn't enough to go around: so don't share ideas, don't brainstorm with others who might steal your concepts, and above all, don't help your coworkers or employees succeed. We have seen that this approach clearly will not work in the global marketplace of the knowledge age.

Today the challenge is to establish networks, strategic alliances, synergistic relationships, and ad hoc teams to solve problems and help everyone accomplish their goals. You now look for those people who are not satisfied with the status quo, who are striving for excellence and have talents and abilities that you don't.

This requires that you "check your ego at the door" and that you don't get intimidated by others who may have different talents or strengths than you do. This is what synergy is all about. As we value the differences and look at truly working together, one plus one really can equal three or even more.

This week, focus on "working with others" rather than "competing against others."

[Source: www.jimrohn.com, by Denis Waitley]

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What Traders Can Learn From Women

One fascinating realization I have come across during my years as a private trading coach and instructor is how different female and male traders can approach, analyze and trade the markets. Without offering outrageous generalizations, it has been my experience that women possess a particularly logical mindset that can give them a substantial advantage in market speculating. Simply, the trading method I developed and use quantifies the supply/demand and human behavior relationship that ultimately determines price in any market. It is based on a very objective and mechanical set of criteria. In other words, the goal is to learn the method and then simply follow the rules. The female mind has a much easier time doing this than the male mind. Here is an example of how this works.

I recommended a trading idea to buy AMD at a certain price based on anticipatory analysis. One of my female students took the trade and did well with it, while a male client saw the trade but did not enter it. I had discussions with the two of them, and the conversations were truly fascinating - how could two human set of eyes look at the exact same chart, be told exactly what to do, and yet, treat the trading opportunity so very differently? For privacy purposes, we'll call them Lucy Logic and Eddy Emotion. So, here's the scenario: AMD had been declining to an area of support (demand) from where it had recently rallied. Eddy quickly asked me what I thought of the opportunity, and Lucy did not. Eddy then asked if I thought the support (demand) level would hold and produce a reversal, or would prices decline through it? Lucy would never consider asking that question with any trading opportunity because she knows it's a waste of time trying to predict the future. Eddy doesn't feel the same way. But let's face it - No one on earth knows for sure if the support will hold. All we can do is properly assess the odds and risk. If the odds are stacked in our favor and the risk is acceptable, we take the trade. When the trade was nearing our entry level, Eddy abandoned objective thought and gave into emotions that still control his decision-making process today. Lucy remained logical and objective. Instead of worrying about what may or may not happen at support (over which no one has control), she explained to me why a high-odds/low-risk trading opportunity was at hand. She said that sellers were now selling after a multi-day decline and into an area of support (demand), exactly where the consistently profitable trader would be buying, not selling. When her entry price was reached, she took the trade with a low-risk stop in place and an objective target identified. She ended up profiting nicely on the trade. Eddy never entered.

How can we all benefit from this information? It is clear to me that females in general don't worry all that much about things that are not in their control, and this allows them to naturally focus on the objective information, which is key in successful trading. In trading, it is the objective and logical mindset that gets paid from the subjective emotional mindset. I have found that the difference between mindsets is most evident at a specific time. When a trading opportunity arises and it is time to take action, the female mindset tends naturally to execute the trade that has been planned out. At the same precise time, the male mindset tends to drift to subjective and emotional thought, which can lead to trouble. It appears that, again generally, the female mind has the naturally logical mindset needed to understand the material quickly, whereas the male mindset has difficulty keeping things simple, naturally trying to complicate the process. An example would be to constantly add subjective indicators and oscillators that can lead to trouble for any trader. What validated my thoughts on this topic are what my female clients and other successful male traders out there have in common. Each of them share two common traits. First, they realize the power of human emotion and that a trading plan absolutely must be followed. Second, the successful male clients I have worked with have the ability to not let subjective information enter into their brains. It is almost as if they have a special filtering process going on when they read trading books, take seminars and courses. In other words, successful male traders succeed with tools a female brain naturally possesses.

From my experience, men tend to be focused on trying to predict the future whereas a woman uses simple logic to consistently make the correct choice. They have the natural ability to keep things objective, simple and logical. The man tends to have trouble in these areas, which can make trading for him more difficult than it has to be. This is no different than how men and women make choices in other parts of life outside of trading. Though trading is still a career dominated by men, I would expect this to change in the near future for a few reasons. First, the barrier to entry is not what it was years ago. Second, from my experience, the female mindset is likely to last longer in a trading career than a male mindset, as a woman's mindset is much more suited for the challenging task of consistently profitable trading.

[Source: Online Trading Academy, by Sam Seiden]

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Experience the Power of Serendipity

I recently attended an executive retreat that included a few of the world's most brilliant communicators. Personally, I was there to discover, explore, and confirm my intuitive beliefs about how business should be done in this post-modern era. However, I experienced serendipity when I bumped into three executives from my previous employer.

For more than two days we shared very openly and honestly about the state of the world, business, politics and life. They asked me tough questions. We debated the content of each presentation we heard, and each person's opinion was respected.

What meant the most to me was that they affirmed me. At that particular time, I just needed to know that someone believed in what I am doing. This encounter with these three individuals came at the exact moment I most needed to hear what they had to say. It was the epitome of serendipity.

The best way to explain this five-syllable word is "happy accidents" or as Joe Jaworski describes in his book Synchronicity: The Inner Path of Leadership, "Serendipity is when you go to a place, a setting, or a meeting expecting a certain outcome and discover something entirely different because you are open and are present to the moment."

"Perceptions of Serendipity" was an article published in the Journal of Counseling Psychology. It states, "Career analysts find that 83% of midcareer professionals believe chance (serendipity) played a significant role in their ultimate career path and that they highly value staying open for unexpected opportunities."

I invite you to be open and aware of serendipitous moments as you release your brilliance.

[Source: www.simontbailey.com, by Simon T. Bailey]

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The Great Leadership Challenge

If you want to be a leader who attracts quality people, the key is to become a person of quality yourself. Leadership is the ability to attract someone to the gifts, skills, and opportunities you offer as an owner, as a manager, as a parent.

What's important in leadership is refining your skills. All great leaders keep working on themselves until they become effective. Here are some specifics:

Learn to be strong but not impolite. It is an extra step you must take to become a powerful, capable leader with a wide range of reach. Some people mistake rudeness for strength. It's not even a good substitute.

Next, learn to be kind but not weak. We must not mistake weakness for kindness. Kindness isn't weak. Kindness is a certain type of strength. We must be kind enough to tell someone the truth. We must be kind enough and considerate enough to lay it on the line. We must be kind enough to tell it like it is and not deal in delusion.

Next, learn to be bold but not a bully. It takes boldness to win the day. To build your influence, you've got to walk in front of your group. You've got to be willing to take the first arrow, tackle the first problem, discover the first sign of trouble. Like the farmer, if you want any rewards at harvest time, you have got to be bold and face the weeds and the rain and the bugs straight on. You've got to seize the moment.

Here's the next step. You've got to learn to be humble but not timid. You can't get to the high life by being timid. Some people mistake timidity for humility. But humility is a virtue; timidity is a disease. It's an affliction. It can be cured, but it is a problem.

Humility is almost a God-like word. A sense of awe. A sense of wonder. An awareness of the human soul and spirit. An understanding that there is something unique about the human drama versus the rest of life. Humility is a grasp of the distance between us and the stars, yet having the feeling that we're part of the stars.

Here's a good tip: Learn to be proud but not arrogant. It takes pride to build your ambitions. It takes pride in your community. It takes pride in a cause, in accomplishment. But the key to becoming a good leader is to be proud without being arrogant.

Do you know the worst kind of arrogance? Arrogance from ignorance. It's intolerable. If someone is smart and arrogant, we can tolerate that. But if someone is ignorant and arrogant, that's just too much to take.

The next step is learning to develop humor without folly. In leadership, we learn that it's okay to be witty but not silly; fun but not foolish.

Next, deal in realities. Deal in truth. Save yourself the agony of delusion. Just accept life as it is. Life is unique. The whole drama of life is unique. It's fascinating.

Life is unique. Leadership is unique. The skills that work well for one leader may not work at all for another. However, the fundamental skills of leadership can be adopted to work well for just about everyone: at work, in the community, and at home.

[Source: www.jimrohn.com, by Jim Rohn]

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Sell Like a Superstar

The successful sales professionals of today and the superstars of tomorrow embrace selling philosophies and attitudes that can be translated into 12 strategies.
These can help anyone who is in sales perform better, turn prospects into customers and keep them coming back for more.

1 Know yourself
What are the opinions, prejudices, judgments, attitudes, values and beliefs, philosophies and old baggage that may be sabotaging your sales success? Do you know who you really are?
A thourough, honest self-appraisal and a subsequent modification of incorrect attitudes and behaviour are critical for autonomy and success in selling in the new business climate.

2 Know your fundamental mission
Ask yourself why you are selling. Is it to make money? Have fun? Serve your clients? Grow your company? Contribute to society? Provide for your families' current and future needs?
Your reasons - more than your goals for staying in this demanding, challenging and rewarding career - will determine the peace, balance and fulfilment in your sales career.

3 Build strong relationships
What type of people do you like to be around? How do you like to spend your time? What else is important to you in your life besides your career? Are your companions satisfied with your current selling position or circumstances?
Selling today is about building successful, positive on-going relationships.
Your overall success will be greatly impacted by your willingness and ability to establish and maintain positive relationships with everyone who is directly and indirectly connected with your sales success.

4 Devote time to personal growth
It is important that you regularly read good books, listen to great CDs, attend seminars and network with people who can help you.

5 Look ahead
Solving your prospect's or client's problems is no longer an effective sales strategy.
The successful sales staff in the marketplaces of today and tomorrow are creative problem-solvers. They think far ahead of their clients, not just along with them.

6 Build trust
People buy from people they trust, not people they simply like. The key to building trust is simple. Promise a lot and deliver more.
I am a trainer, speaker and consultant but I do not actively sell myself as any of these. I do, however, sell myself as a client resource.
Think about what you can offer your client other than your products or services.

7 Don't sell on price
Successful sales staff sell value. The price will always seem high if value is perceived as low. When you focus on price either because of poor product knowledge, poor client knowledge or poor sales skills, you will always lose in the long run. Clients want the best value for their dollar.

8 Prospect for information
Effective prospecting is the most important sales skill you need to master. It is more important than good closing techniques, impressive sales presentations or the ability to handle client resistance.
The most important element of the sales process for successful sales staff is not the giving of information, but the getting of information.
They do not just plan their sales presentations but have a presentation strategy.

9 Have a conversation
An effective sales presentation is not a presentation but a two-way conversation. Many sales staff have been trained to deliver their sales message. This message is often a programmed discussion of the various features and benefits of their product or service.
Every prospect buys for his own reasons, not those of the salesman or the company.
When you deliver you standard approach or presentation, you are assuming that each prospect buys for the same reasons, at the same time and in the same way in the buying cycle.

10 You cannot sell to everyone
Sales resistance from the client or prospect gives you valuable insight into his thinking. Successful sales staff do not try to manoeuvre around this resistance but get it into the open as soon as possible.
The myth is that you should be able to sell to everyone, sooner or later.
I wish this were true. It would make selling so much easier.
But the reality is, not everyone in the marketplace is a good prospect for you, now or in the future.
They may be a prospect, but not the best one for the time, energy and resources you have available at the present time.
Timing is critical in successful sales.

11 Closing is not a fluke
Closing the sale is not a matter of tricking or manipulating the customer.
It is not using fear, guilt or hard-sell tactics.
Closing the sale on a well-qualified prospect is the natural conclusion to everything you have done in the sales process that is correct and effective.

12 Follow up
After-sales service is the glue that keeps clients loyal, makes them buy more and be willing to give you referrals and positive references.
Re-examine your selling philosophies in the light of current market and consumer trends.
You may need to re-focus some of your attitudes and approaches if you are going to excel in the sales profession in the years ahead.

[Source:
The Straits Times, CATS Recruit - Thu, Sept 27, 2007
by Tim Connor, a US-based management trainer and author of Soft Sell, a best-selling book on sales]

For complete content, please check this book below out!
Soft Sell, 4E (Soft Sell: Use the New Art of Selling to Create Opportunities & Close More Sales)

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Fear NOT, Take the Plunge!

Being your own boss can be exciting and challenging, but you also have to be prepared for some sacrifices and a lot of changes

Your job may be interesting, but you may occassionally wonder whether you should look at alternatives.
Perhaps you would like to join another company or become an entrepreneur and do something on your own.
You may have thought about it before, but something always held you back.
Having spent over a decade working for large companies, you probably hesitated at the thought of getting out of your comfort zone.
Running your own business is like sailing into uncharted waters. In the end, you shelved the idea because the security of a job outweighed the risks of entrepreneurship.

Making the transition from a traditional job to working from home or starting your own business can be scary. Not all of us can become entrepreneurs.
Deciding to make the transition from being an employee to becoming your own boss can be one of the toughest things you will face.
A million questions will keep popping into your mind. What should I do? How will I start? Where will I raise the capital? What if things don't work? What will be the impact on my family? Is this the right time?
When you are self-employed, you have nobody to handle all the office tasks that someone in some department used to handle - bill payments, stock counts, maintenance, software installation, advertising, and so on.
These tasks are now your responsibility. You have to be a multitasker.
Suddenly, you are the receptionist, book-keeper, store manager, marketing executive and cleaner. And most importantly, you're the salesman - you have to get customers!

As an employee, you take instructions on tasks and assignments, but as an entrepreneur you have to be a self-starter. You have to motivate yourself to get things done.
The fear of unknown and the fear of failure are two phobias that grip many people when they think of a career change from employee to entrepreneur.
Change is often frightening and uncomfortable. Most people prefer to maintain status quo until events and circumstances force them to change tracks.
An entrepreneur's life is not easy. As in life, nothing you do can completely prepare you for the daunting task of being the owner and president of your own company.
While there may be support, you are ultimately on your own. Your money, time and energy are on the line.
The decision to be or not be an entrepreneur is an intensely personal one. It is one that needs to be discussed and debated with family and friends. It depends on each person's appetite for risk.
There is never a right or wrong answer, just as there is never a right or wrong time. The fundamental decision has to come from within.
Once you have decided to leave the world of employment and move to the world of entrepreneurship, you must let go of the former completely.
If you know that there is always the option of going back to the safety and security of the other world, it will be much harder making the entrepreneurial option work.
In a sense, as you close one door, other doors will open. But you have to close the door first. You have to fight knowing that there is no going back.

A start-up is exciting because the pace is so quick. For example, in the technology industry, products and players change rapidly, so quick decision-making, quick assessment, prompt resolution and immediate follow-through on ideas are essential.
You must understand the market, the competition, and, above all, define and reinforce your unique selling proposition.
A clear statement of purpose provides you with focus as you develop your business plan. Going back to it frequently will keep you from veering off course.
When you talk with clients, bankers, investors, and vendors, it will enable them to easily grasp what your aims and goals are.

No matter which option you choose, you will most likely be making a sacrifice of some sort - and taking a chance. Plan smart, believe in yourself, and resolve to do whatever it takes to make your dreams come true.

[Source:
The Straits Times, CATS Recruit - Mon, Sept 24, 2007
by David Wee, www.davidwee.com]

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Take Temporary Positions Seriously

Doing a first-rate job as a temp is a worthwhile investment of your time. Here are some tips:

You may be looking for a temporary job because you are still waiting for the right job to come along. Perhaps you wish to supplement your family income, earn some money while studying part-time or, simply, be gainfully employed.
To truly make the best of your time, treat the company, yourselft and your resume as seriously as if it were a permanent job.
If you are a great temp with an outstanding attitude, people will sit up and take notice of you, and this is always good for networking or creating new prospects for yourself.

Temporary job
Don't feel that temporary jobs are demeaning and unimportant. The fact that the employer is willing to spend money to hire someone shows that he takes the position seriously and believes that the temporary staff can add value to his business.
Do take your application seriously and show that you are the right person for the job. Your resume should be concise, organised and well presented in a widely acceptable format such as a Word or PDF document.
While you do not have to include everything you have ever done, you need to be explicit and highlight the knowledge and experience that is relevant to the job you are applying for. For instance, if you are applying for a temporary accounts position, be very specific about the accounting functions that you used to be in charge of.
Similarly, if you are a fresh graduate applying for a temporary creative position, make reference to any relevant experience acquired during your industrial attachment or school projects, and provide a portfolio showcasing your best work.
A resume that is untidy, lacking in information and obviously unrelated to the requirements of the position only shows that you do not take pride in your own resume and you do not know or care what you are applying for - and hence you are wasting the recruiter's time.

The interview
Don't arrive at the interview late, tell the company that you are not really interested in the job after all, or that you have already committed to another job offer. Be considerate to your interviewer and call to cancel the interview in advance, since he has set aside valuable time to see you personally.
Do find out a little more about the company and the nature of the work so that you know how best to highlight your professional qualities and abilities during interview. Dress appropriately as a courtesy to the interviewer and so that he will see that you are always professional in your outlook.
Be truthful about your experience, the timeframe that you can commit to and your career aspirations. Your employer will appreciate your honesty, and you will not be forced to come clean when they offer you a permanent position that you really do not care for after your temporary stint.

On the job
Don't contribute in any way to the office gossip or comment on the management style of the company, no matter how tempting it may be. You may be leaving in matter of days or weeks, but what you say will be remembered and it will reflect badly on you if your negative remarks were quoted by anyone else.
If you are asked for comments, say something diplomatic but true, or politely decline by saying that you do not know enough about the situation to make a fair judgement. It is certainly better to be silent or, at least, maintain a neutral stand than to be considered to witty for your own good.
Display the same good attitude and commitment you would if you were a permanent staff member. Arrive on time and do an excellent job even when you think no one is looking, so that when the big boss asks who the new face is, your immediate supervisor will be able make mention of you and the good work that you are doing.
If people at the workplace do not take your contribution seriously, it is only because they fail to recognise that you are actually saving them from shouldering the extra responsibilities themselves, over and above their existing workload.
Be sensitive and respect the way things are done - at least for the time being. This is not to say that you have to remain silent and do everything. You can make polite and constructive comments - when you are very certain of the facts.
Keep in mind that there may be reasons for certain procedures and policies that your supervisor or colleagues may not feel at liberty to reveal to you, as they do not foresee that you will stay long.

Exit Strategy
Don't go missing in action suddenly when you want to quit. Instead, give due notice to your supervisor according to the company's expectations.
Thank your supervisor and send a thank-you e-mail message to the interviewer or recruiter at the end of your assignment.
If you found your stint enjoyable and a good learning experience, say so. If you were unhappy, it is in good taste to exit peacefully and amicably anyway. As far as possible, do not give anyone a reason to fault you on your attitude and behaviour.

[Source:
The Straits Times, CATS Recruit - Thu, June 28, 2007
by Anna Chan, former recruitment consultant, now teacher]

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Rich Dad Poor Dad book Review

Read this book and take action advised if you want to become financially freedom.

The Big Idea
E B
S I
The letters in each quadrant represent the Employee, Self-Employed, Business Owner, and
Investor. Discover how to move from the left side to the B and I Quadrants, where you work less,
earn more, pay less taxes and have more free time to spend with your loved ones!

It helps to take some courses to gain financial literacy; rich dad stresses the importance of learning -

• Accounting. It pays to know how to read financial statements. When acquiring businesses or assets you need to quickly see the financial standing of the company you are acquiring. Many grown adults do not know how to balance a balance sheet. In the long term, this knowledge will pay off for you and your business.
• Investment Strategy. This skill will sharpen with experience. Talk to investors and observe how they play the game. Kiyosaki and Mike spent many boyhood hours sitting in on Rich Dad's meetings with brokers, accountants, and attorneys.
• Market Behavior . Know the laws of Supply and Demand. No business owner can do without understanding these basic principles of the market. Bill Gates saw what people needed. Open your eyes to opportunities. Look at what sells and who buys.
• Law Kiyosaki recommends doing everything you can to grow your business within legal boundaries. Know your corporate, state, and accounting laws.

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