productive
Keeping Your Focus On The Journey
In life, in business, in everything, there comes a time when you need to start setting goals, and the journey to those goals must be started; remember the first step is always the hardest. Most people who are striving for success in their lives choose to focus on the goal instead of the journey towards that goal but in doing so, they truly miss out on the myriad lessons to be recognized along the way and are missing out on the joy that comes along with their growth.
When you begin a journey toward a goal, there is always a period of excitement, of renewal, of momentum and motivation. And when you accomplish the end goal, there is a feeling of satisfaction and fulfillment. The starting point and the ending point are to be celebrated, but so is the journey in between!
To ensure that YOU don’t miss out on the many lessons along the path from start to end, here is a helpful little technique for you to use:
Depending on the goal you have set, whether it be weight loss, business-related, better relationships…it really doesn’t matter…keep a journal of the process you are going through.
Keeping a written journal of some kind (this may be paper and pen, or online) can really help you identify thought and behavior patterns, positive and negative habits, and can help you discover things about your thinking and the actions you take. Some of these things will be obvious to you – no surprise there. But you may learn some things about yourself that will come as a complete surprise, and herein lies those valuable lessons.
By learning what works, what doesn’t work, how you tend to react to when things go well and when they do not, you begin to learn to adjust your course based on where you are at that moment. And being “in the moment” is a life lesson that can’t be underestimated!
When you really take the time to sit down and analyze the how and why of your journey, you can learn some incredibly valuable lessons about your action and reaction. And once you have learned these lessons, they can be used in all areas of your life to help you create and achieve even higher, stronger, more important goals. Once you have identified your strengths and weaknesses, you can use that knowledge to your advantage and ensure that you always try to play to your strengths and avoid your weaknesses. This will skyrocket your chances of success now and in the future!
But, the thing is, if you are blissfully unaware of the intricacies of your journey, you will never know this as you will be missing these incredibly valuable insights and lessons.
So, if you can keep your eye on the goal while you are on your journey, this will help you to reach those successes that you are after much quicker! So, go and set your goals, and keep one eye on the journey and enjoy the process!
Cultivating a Positive Environment
One of the most important steps that you can do in the goal setting process is to give your mind a positivity makeover. You know that being positive is important right? So doesn’t it make sense to create an environment of positive thougth and feelings that surrounds you every single day to move you forward and also make you feel great?
But this can be easier said than done and how exactly can you surround yourself with positivity? Well, I have some good news for you; it isn’t really all that difficult at all! If you just follow a few simple steps you will boost your feelings of posititvity and this will support you on your journey towards your goals. Here are just a few of the steps you can use!
Remove Any Obvious Negativity Immediately
What do I mean by this; well the answer is twofold. It could be the things you surround yourself with but it could also be the people you surround yourself with. They are both equally important to the larger journey you’re on. If you have things around you that instantly conjure up negative emotions, get rid of them, or at least get them out of your immediate surroundings.
If you are surrounded by negative people, it can be very difficult to break free from that mold and live a positive life. This takes some deep introspection, and you must be willing to remove these people as much as possible from your immediate surroundings. Now, I do understand that this can be incredibly difficult, especially if some of these people are your close friends. But be honest with yourself and ask “what are they really bringing to my life; do they enrich or impoverish it?” You need to find the courage to remove these negative influences fast and, believe me, the reward you will immediately gain will be very obvious once you’ve accomplished it.
Ban Clutter
Clutter stresses most people out, and the last thing you need when trying to cultivate a life of positivity is negative stress. So get rid of the clutter!
Clean off and organize all “horizontal surfaces” – tabletops, desks, counters, windowsills. These are generally problem areas in the battle against clutter.
But how do I decide what gets thrown away? Easy! Hold the object. Does it evoke a joyful feeling, a happy memory? If it does, great but if it doesn’t it is time to get rid of it. Your life is far too short to hold onto things simply because you feel you “should”, or because someone bought it for you and you feel obligated to keep it.
Those areas that typically house a lot of “stuff” should be organized, with a place for everything, and everything in its place. Your desktop is a perfect example – it’s much easier to sit down and work when you have a clear, positive space in which to do so!
Stack The Positivity!
The final part is to start adding in positive things to your environment. Art, music, living plants, or maybe even a small, calming aquarium! By adding things to your surroundings that you love and enjoy, you’ll have a much more positive experience when in those surroundings. Your productivity will increase, and you’ll be well on your way to those end goals!
5 Ways To A More Balanced Life
We all know that it can be difficult to have a good work-life balance. It isn’t always easy to strike a balance between a happy boss and a happy family, but there are some simple things that you can do both at home and work to enable you to find that balance.
Because this is so important, it has been covered by groups like Mental Health America, Web M.D., Forbes, and Business News Daily. Now you could Google all this information yourself but this article will condense all this information into 5 quick and simple tips that will enable you to create a more balanced life.
1. The Power Of Routine
One of the first things you should do every day is produce a to-do list and order things in priority. Doing this allows you to focus more of your energy on the most important tasks for the day and by using a simple checklist that you can refer to, you can quickly see what you have managed to accomplish druing that particular day. Having a daily routine can ne a quick way to reduce work-based stress and you will accomplish more so your boss will be happy too; a win-win situation.
You can also use the power of routines at home as they are a quick way to let everyone know what’s going on and when. But don’t forget that you need time to unwind and relax, so don’t be afraid to give yourself and your family some valuable downtime just to chill out and unwind from the stresses of the day. And this downtime is the perfect time to come together as a family and bond, so you will all feel even closer, so pleasae don’t neglect adding this to your routine; it is critical for your family relationships and will bring you all closer together.
2. Make Use Of Technology
Technology is so smart these days, so if you are sick, your children are sick, or the commute will be extra-long due to weather or outside circumstances, then make use of it to work remotely from home. Use Skype for conference and video calls, and this way you can still provide your employer with what they need while giving you some breathing room.
3. Learn to Say No
Most people are just downright uncomfortable with saying no at work but the problem with this is that it results in you taking on too many tasks, working overtime, and becoming increasingly stressed about not being able to get it all done. If there’s a job you know that you won’t be able to get done on time or that you are not suited for, be prepared to say no. You may be surprised at how well this is received by your employer.
You also need to be able to say no to social and home life events that could end up being too taxing as well. Do you have social obligations that are just too draining? Perhaps they don’t allow you to spend enough time with your family in the evenings. Cutting back on these social engagements will help you to have more family time and restore balance.
4. Learn Your Employer’s Policies And Know Your Rights
Learning leave, vacation, sick, and disability policies are paramount. Also, learn what telecommunication systems your company has in place. If there aren’t any, you may need to ask. This will alleviate any stress if you need to use vacation or sick days or if you need to telecommute.
If you have children, it may be beneficial to learn their school’s policies too. Knowing the procedure for turning in sick notes, calling out for the day, or showing up late can save a lot of headache for all of you!
5. Communicate
Let your employer know what’s going on. Let them know where you’re at on individual projects, if you’re going to be on time, ahead of deadline or behind on schedule. Communicating these vital elements to your employer will help you both as they know where you are and can allocate assistance if required and this can reduce stress for you too; just be honest.
Communication at home is probably even more critical than at work, especially if you are married with kids! Make sure you that everyone knows what is going on with you. And conversely, it is good to know what is going on with everyone else.
Why not have a family meeting once a week to discuss upcoming events, anything that is causing stress or friction, things that may need planning and other elements of life that could cause stress if not well planned? This simple act alone may help you to find that balance between work and home.
OK, so there you have it;these five simple steps can really help you find some balance in your busy life. Do you have your own ways that you use to strike work-life balance that weren’t on the list? If so, good for you and keep to them if they are working for you and your family.
Mark Cuban The Hustler
Mark Cuban is one of the most successful businessmen of our time. This self-made entrepreneur, investor and business man is now one of the most influential people in the United States and across the world. Although he is well known as the owner of the Dallas Mavericks NBA basketball team, Mark Cuban is also one of the biggest hustlers of all time.
Why He Is a Hustler
Although now a billionaire, Mark Cuban was born to a middle class family as the eldest of three boys. His father and uncle owned a furniture shop while his mother was a housewife. Growing up, he probably had the same opportunities and faced the same challenges his brothers and any other kid his age had. However, this did not stop him from working is way up to be the successful business man and billionaire he is today. He hustled his way through many business startups and jobs before building his own empire
He Started Hustling at a Young Age
While other kids his age were busy playing and having fun, Mark Cuban was already in business. At 12 years of age, he began his first business selling garbage bags from door to door. His second business was buying stamps at 50 cents and reselling them at $5 when he was only sixteen years old. This kid was already going places!
He is Resilient
“Every no gets me closer to a yes.” Mark Cuban
Mark Cuban is the ultimate hustler. He simply does not give up and he believes that persistence pays off in the end. Throughout his life, this man has started many businesses and although not all of them became success stories, he never gave up.
From starting a bar in college that saw him barred from applying to the college’s graduate program, creating a company to sell powdered milk which flopped in the end to being fired, Mark Cuban has had his fair share of failure. Unlike many people though, this man chose to get up, learn from the experience and move on to the next thing.
He is a Hard Worker
“Sweat equity is the most valuable equity there is. Know your business and industry better than anyone else in the world. Love what you do or don’t do it.” Mark Cuban
Mark Cuban knew that in order to succeed, he had to be willing to work harder than everyone else and outdo his competitors. He is an avid reader and he admits that when any new technology came, he read everything he could get his hands on in order to be the best in the field.
Why Hustling is Important
The way business is done today is very different from how it was conducted in the past decade. Methods that worked then will not necessarily work in today’s business world because times have changed and people have changed too. For instance, most companies used to advertise their products and brands through television and other traditional methods.
Today’s consumers are tech savvy people who rely on the internet for virtually any kind of information. Because of this, modern entrepreneurs have had to change the game as past approaches are no longer effective. Marketers must hustle in order to get a part of the market share. If you do not hustle, you may find yourself losing out to your competitors. So why is hustling important?
Everyone Has an Opportunity to Succeed
Technology is a blessing. The internet era has come with so many opportunities that just await anyone who is willing to hustle. There are so many online jobs and that provide opportunities to make money now than ever before. Many smart hustlers have taken up these opportunities to make money and even develop online careers. Not only does it require very little investment, you get to make money doing something you enjoy.
Hustling Increases Your Potential
Hustling enables people to see their true potential. There is so much more out there that needs to be done. When you hustle and it pays off, you get to know that you are only limited by ignorance and your inability to work hard. The truth is that people who hustle and work hard seem to be luckier and more successful than people who don’t.
You Achieve Financial Freedom
Many people live in debt or work just to make ends meet. Some of these people have resigned themselves to live this way and others seem to be stuck in a rut. Hustling is really important as it gives everyone the opportunity to work hard, make more money and achieve financial freedom. Hustlers do not limit themselves to their circumstances and have an innate need to get out of financial struggle. They work very hard and give more than a hundred percent of their focus and efforts to get out of the rut.
Hustling Motivates People
The more you hustle, the more money you get. People who hustle live by this principle and they get the motivation to work harder and do their very best because they know that this pays off in the end. People who work 9 to 5 jobs wait on a paycheck and are more likely to stay content with the little they get and because of this; they fail to take risks and opportunities that come their way.
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