Morning Motivator - Failure Takes Commitment

"You build on failure. You use it as a stepping stone. Close the door on the past. You don't try to forget the mistakes, but you don't dwell on it. You don't let it have any of your energy, or any of your time, or any of your space."
-Johnny Cash

Typically, I pride myself on the consistency by which I EXECUTE my days. I focus on keeping commitments, over communicating and always doing the right thing even when it feels bad. Occasionally, we all FAIL.

Yesterday, I was committed to running a triathlon with one of my best friends. He TRAINED hard and was very much prepared for the event. I FAILED ever really commit to training or mental to any preparation. He was super EXCITED to push himself and test his FOCUS in this new event. I was weighed down by the FEAR of failure and injury from ill preparedness.

I, admittedly, am not a PERFECT person and do FAIL. Yesterday, I FAILED to compete. I allowed FEAR and EMBARRASSMENT to overtake myself. I did not run, I did not attempt to compete and I failed my friend that I had committed to participating with.

2 DEGREE SUCCESS STEP:
I SHARE this today to help YOU understand that FAILURE starts when you do not COMMIT yourself to the actions you plan for. FAILURE is not a moment in time, it's a culmination of decisions you made over days, weeks, months or even years. In this case, my FAILURE began the day after I signed up for the event and did not begin training.

The KEY to overcoming these failures is to COMMIT to excellence, SCHEDULE time for development and MEASURE your progress. When you are able to see the fruits of your labor, you will KEEP motivation and find the ease of SUCCESS!

Cheers,
Zach

*To enjoy past editions of the Morning Motivator go to – http://grow-learn-lead.blogspot.com

The Morning Motivator is a copyrighted publication. The use of this article is open for print or publication with proper citations.

Morning Motivator - I am a Promise Keeper

"As a leader, your word is only as good as your last promise kept…or broken."
- Barbara "BJ" Gallagher

I have often heard people say that INEGRITY is a key element to your character. Your CHARACTER is a make up of your values, beliefs and actions. It is your CHARACTER that people use to evaluate your worth as a person and professional.

So what DRIVES the formulation of character? Primarily - your words followed by your ACTIONS. When you make a comment of belief (I.e. I think all people need to vote), it is the subsequent actions that shape your worth in the eyes of others (I.e. You better get your a** out and vote!)

When we FAIL to take action on our declarations, we create a REPUTATION of being lazy, disorganized or generally unreliable. The FOLLOW THROUGH and IMPLEMENTATION of your action statements and beliefs IS the most difficult action item (as it is the work), yet IS the DEFINING elements of the value of your character.

2 DEGREE SUCCESS STEP:
Here is a word to the wise from a recovering "OVER TALKER/UNDER DOER"... Speak slowly- Act quickly.

When you take the extra 30 seconds to CONSIDER what you are saying and what you are CAPABLE of fulfilling, you may find that your personal resources are often limited.

Rather than be GOOD at everything, be GREAT at one or two things... People respect ACHIEVEMENT more than "how busy you are."

Have a GREAT weekend and say thanks to your military friends for their dedication to making our lives better!

Cheers,
Zach

*To enjoy past editions of the Morning Motivator go to – http://grow-learn-lead.blogspot.com

The Morning Motivator is a copyrighted publication. The use of this article is open for print or publication with proper citations.

Morning Motivator – Help Me, Help You

"It is literally true that you can succeed best and quickest by helping others to succeed."
-- Napoleon Hill

I love the movie Jerry Maguire. I think it's a great representation of the QUALITY people have when they begin to FOCUS on quality life experience and not just SUPERFICIAL success.

I especially enjoy the part in the film where Jerry Maguire (Tom Cruise) says to Rod Tidwell (Cuba Gooding Jr.), "Help Me, Help You." This scene is very PROFOUND when you consider what the underlying theme is. It is here that we see the INTERACTION of HELP and SUCCESS. We often OVERLOOK the fact that SUCCESS is a MEASUREMENT of action and fulfillment. SUCCESS is not an end goal, much like HAPPINESS, rather it is a momentary STATE of accomplishment that lasts on BRIEFLY prior to the next task needing attention.

You may say, "Someone like Tiger Woods is SUCCESSFUL and he doesn't have to do another thing in his life." True, however consider that for Tiger to be "SUCCESSFUL" in his definition, he must continually accomplish, achieve and dominate his craft. He is not someone that makes money from playing golf – he is someone that plays golf so PASSIONATELY and with such FOCUS that people pay him!

2 DEGREE SUCCESS STEP:
In order to best find the EFFICIENT path to SUCCESS (as you define it), I suggest working around these principles:
- Share with others what success means to YOU
- Ask others what success means to THEM
- Help them fill the needs they have to FOCUS on success
- Confidently ask for their help in return

There are only a limited number of NEGATIVE people in this world that do not want to HELP you SUCCEED… all the rest of us are INSPIRED, MOTIVATED and JOYFUL when we are able to help someone else find their SUCCESS DREAM. Help others find theirs, then ask someone to help you find yours!

Cheers,
Zach

*To enjoy past editions of the Morning Motivator go to – http://grow-learn-lead.blogspot.com

The Morning Motivator is a copyrighted publication. The use of this article is open for print or publication with proper citations.

Morning Motivator - Accepting and Rising Above

"To succeed, it is necessary to accept the world as it is and rise above it."
- Michael Korda

This past weekend, at our Nashville Area Junior Chamber of Commerce retreat, I shared my INSECURITIES about personal progress and acceptance of my limitations in growth with a trusted associate. After sharing, I wondered how many other people are prone to having challenges ACCEPTING their situations and surroundings.

Being a CONTROL FREAK, I am often FRUSTRATED with my ability to move something forward or get beyond the past. I seek for everything to be PERFECT - business offerings, personal relationships and organizational planning. I am often GUILTY of punishing groups, people or opportunities for past actions or activities.

Why do some people have CHALLENGES accepting their place in the world, ADAPTING and RISING ABOVE?

2 DEGREE SUCCESS STEP:

As a LEADER, it is our DUTY to separate our concerns, paranoias, and prejudices emotionally from what is IMPORTANT and VALUABLE. We must be able to ACCEPT past actions and decisions, IDENTIFY best steps moving forward and RISE ABOVE any challenges to take ACTION!

By OWNING your situation, UNDERSTANDING your feelings and PLANNING a path to overcome - your SUCCESS will be both mental and physical.

Cheers,
Zach

*To enjoy past editions of the Morning Motivator go to – http://grow-learn-lead.blogspot.com

The Morning Motivator is a copyrighted publication. The use of this article is open for print or publication with proper citations.