Morning Motivator - Are You Fired Up Enough?

"Every memorable act in the history of the world is a triumph of enthusiasm. Nothing great was ever achieved without it because it gives any challenge or any occupation, no matter how frightening or difficult, a new meaning. Without enthusiasm you are doomed to a life of mediocrity but with it you can accomplish miracles."
-Og Mandino

Ask someone what the keys to SUCCESS are and you will receive a myriad of responses – most of which are nothing more than an individuals VALIDATION of their own actions.

How does one ACHIEVE real success? What are the steps for getting there? What are the key ATTRIBUTES to making a real DIFFERENCE in your future?

I assure you, I am not the person with the SPECIFIC answers, nor do I believe there is a "success checklist" in the world. What I DO believe is that PASSION and ENTHUSIASM are critical drivers to accomplishing your defined success. Consider this... Have you ever met someone that is very ACCOMPLISHED that works, loves, or lives WITHOUT passion and enthusiasm? How is your passion and enthusiasm affecting YOUR success?

2 DEGREE SUCCESS STEP:
Success is a PROGRESSIVE series of small accomplishments that provide you a SENSE of purpose and pleasure.

By working with a PASSIONATE ENTHUSIASM towards a goal you define as having purpose and validation - you will find that your results are of a much higher QUALITY, EFFECTIVENESS and EFFICIENCY. By pursuing actions that are driven by enthusiasm, you WILL shorten your success time lines and begin achieving more quickly.

With that said... WHAT ARE YOU PASSIONATE ABOUT?

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 – Listen Up…

"A good listener tries to understand thoroughly what the other person is saying. In the end he may disagree sharply, but before he disagrees, he wants to know exactly what it is he is disagreeing with."
-Kenneth A. Wells, Guide to Good Leadership

Last night, I was able to enjoy 2 experiences I found to be very different and yet very IMPACTFUL upon my thought process. First, I was invited to sit in on a Board meeting for an emerging leadership program and asked to provide INSIGHT into the recruitment and marketing aspect of the groups DEVELOPMENT. Secondly, I was invited to join a good friend, Sarah Rochford, at a CHARITABLE dinner benefitting a local foundation that support literacy and education for youth.

From the Board perspective, I was not REQUIRED to participate and frankly, did even have to show up. I was not obligated nor am I even assigned to any area, HOWEVER, this is a program that I went through two years ago and ENJOYED very much. As I sat with the group of most recent alumni (the new Board of Directors), they discussed back and forth the VALUES of the group and the NEEDS for success in the future. Amazingly, what I did see was a FUNCTIONAL group of excellent LISTENERS. Each person listened, digested and retorted directly on the subject at hand. There was no side discussion, nor WASTED effort on subject that don't matter. Very impressive.

As for my charitable efforts, I was able to enjoy a nice dinner with friends and SUPPORT someone that has always supported me in my efforts. As dinner ended, after many enjoyable discussions, Sarah and I continued to chat outside for a few minutes. Again, I found myself in the presence of someone that LISTENS so effectively, I found myself in AWE. I wondered then, how well do I LISTEN? Am I EFFECTIVE in the ways I communicate through UNDERSTANDING what others are saying or asking? Am I as collectively effective as the Board or as individually impressive as Sarah? And most critically… What could I ACHIEVE if I were able to master that trait?

2 DEGREE SUCCESS STEP:
Great listening is not a trait I would be inclined to give advice on, so I will yield in this sense to a resource I have discovered from Tom D. Lewis and Gerald Graham at findarticles.com; the 7 Tips for Effective Listening.

1. Concentrate on what others are saying
2. Send the non verbal messages that you are listening
3. Avoid early evaluations
4. Avoid getting defensive
5. Practice paraphrasing
6. Listen (and observe) for feelings
7. Ask Questions

Now the REAL lesson – next time someone is speaking with you, don't wait for YOUR TURN to talk… listen, think and then (if appropriate and poignant) speak. (and yes, I am looking in the mirror when I say this).

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 – Living A Life of Sacrifice

"You must be willing to do the things today others don't do in order to have the things tomorrow others won't have."
-Les Brown, Live Your Dreams

Are you living a life of SACRIFICE? Not the Aztec warrior kind, as you likely go to jail for that, rather the sacrifice that provides you with the FULFILLMENT of your dreams and goals in the future. Are you making the DECISION to put in the labor of STUDY, HARD WORK and DEVELOPMENT in order to have your "happy life" in the next 3 years?

Often I hear people say, "I am not worried much about the future. I just want to enjoy today. You HAVE to stop and smell the roses." I agree with that statement to a degree. What I wonder is - how many of those people are saying that to hide the fact that they are not doing the SUCCESS ACTIVITIES they know (or may be ignorant to) they should be executing? How many people use this phrase to VALIDATE their lack of personal SACRIFICE for future success. I think this similar to someone who loses all the time telling me, "it is not whether you win or loss… blah blah blah."

Realize something IMPORTANT – where you are TODAY is a result of your DECISIONS and ACTIONS from many years ago. You have CHOSEN your life position. Now, you have the ability to CHOOSE your future success – travel, finances, love, etc. By making a COMMITMENT to taking the ACTIONS necessary to achieve down the road. This may entail you giving up (or sacrificing) some SIMPLE pleasures in order to enjoy more dynamic ones. What is worth your sacrifice? That IS the question you must answer…

2 DEGREE SUCCESS STEP:

In order to ACHIEVE in a traditional sense (time and financial independence), you MUST take certain action steps to accomplish. Here is a quick guideline of where to start:

1. Written Goals
2. Defined Action Steps with Time Deadlines
3. Implementation of Action Steps
4. Commitment to Execution (you may have to stay home Friday night to read, as opposed to going out)
5. Incremental Rewards (helps to keep motivated as you make sacrifices)
6. Reflection and Re-Analysis (revisit and make sure you are still on track with your dreams)

Albeit this is a SIMPLIFIED version of the process for SUCCESS management, you will find that these principles are fairly well established and utilized. By taking the time and energy (ie making the sacrifice) to get these items in place and engaged – you are ENSURING your future happiness and success.

So what are you waiting for?

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 - The Best Advice

"I owe my success to having listened respectfully to the very best advice, and then going away and doing the exact opposite."
- G. K. Chesterton

Each and every day someone has "GREAT" advice for ways to improve your life and increase your business. Each is an EXPERT in how your life should be managed and what SUCCESS should be for you. It is this advice that we choose to IMPLEMENT or DISREGARD as we move forward making actions - positive and negative.

I, seemingly, am one of those people giving YOU advice. My intent is always to provide INSIGHT rather than PREACH about the ways you should run your life. My hope is that you offer the same STYLE of support to your colleagues, friends and family members when INTERJECTING your values and ideals upon them.

It is simple reality that we ARE influenced by others thoughts and options. It is their VISION of us that shapes our self worth, self confidence and overall self image. The TRUE test of your character is your capability to accept, diffuse and utilize the best aspects of the advice you are given over time. By increasing your awareness to dissect and analyze what people are SUGGESTING, you will be granted an ADVANTAGE over most others that simply take thoughts as "face value." Learn to LISTEN to what people really have to say and don't be afraid to ask for a clarification of GOOD ADVICE.

2 DEGREE SUCCESS STEP:
What makes for GOOD advice? First, it must be given with no intent of personal self gain. Secondly, you must provide some LOGIC behind the suggestive comment in order to create a level of legitimacy with that person. Finally, you MUST provide a first ACTION STEP so that the person is able to immediately implement the POSITIVE change in their daily life. As a note, YOU, as the provider of wisdom, must NOT become upset if the person chooses a different path than you have advised. It is NOT your life to live... and you don't know what all is influencing those decisions.

That's the best advice I have... now go do what YOU WANNA DO!

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 - How Sharpie Achieves Goals

"The difference between a goal and a dream is the written word."
-Gene Donohue

What is the ONE thing you are MOST intrigued by? Aliens is a good answer, but for me, I am MOST intrigued by the psychology of ACHIEVEMENT. I am mesmerized at how some people are able to ACHIEVE so simply and others STRUGGLE time and time again. There are some common traits amongst TOP ACHIEVERS though...

Personally, I have IDENTIFIED two very COMMON traits amongst top producers - Continuing Education and Written Goals. Continuing education is pretty SIMPLE to understand - read more, learn more, apply more and do more. Once you commit to a lifestyle of GROWTH through personal education, you will find that opportunities begin to uncover themselves for you.

As for the second trait, written goals, I find that this is a seemingly more DIFFICULT concept for may to harness. People will many times say, "I have a list of what I NEED to do and I ACHIEVE from that." Interesting... that has NOTHING to do with your GOALS. Those may be tasks or action steps to achieving goals, but are NOT goals. The process of WRITING down your short and long-term commitments to GROWTH, SUCCESS and PERSONAL DREAM FULFILLMENT is what brings the GOAL (or DREAM) into a REALITY. It gives a tangible element to a THOUGHT or vision. Have you ever written down you goals? How many did you NOT achieve?

2 DEGREE SUCCESS STEP:
Goal setting and management are HUGE undertakings and many people/companies spend hours, days, weeks or more ESTABLISHING goals for the upcoming years, etc. The time spent to develop these MOTIVATIONAL measurements of success is invaluable and cannot be recaptured once spent. So why is that so often the goals that are SET, never are achieved? Say it again. Louder this time. Ok, you have go it!

They NEVER WROTE THEM DOWN. By failing to WRITE down your goals, you fail to keep a measurable and manageable record of your achievement. How will you know when you got to the goal if you have forgotten it or it is not CLEARLY defined?

If you have not written down any goals recently, try this. Work backwards from LIFE goals to weekly goals. Don't worry about any details to start, just brainstorm and then once you have them in place, start detailing with specific details and time measurements to achieve them. Continue to work down until you reach the actions you need to take next week to help SUPPORT your bigger goals... now you are rolling!

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.