Morning Motivator - Learning to Learn

"I am sorry. I do not know what I do not know."
- Anonymous MM writer

Education is CRITICAL to anyones success. Learning more, understanding to a greater extent and being able to leverage your knowledge is what separates superstars from the rest of the pack.

Does that mean you need a Ph.D. to be a winner? No way. Do you even need a college degree? Not at all, but it does help. What you DO need is a thirst for learning, for new experiences, for greater depths of understanding.

Mostly, you have to learn to learn. You have to begin to understand HOW to ask the right questions. You must understand the manners in which to leverage the information you attain. Becoming the expert, by asking the questions, then using the answers to better your situation... THAT IS REAL LEARNING.

2 DEGREE SUCCESS STEP: Learning comes in many different ways. Whether that be through seminars, training, reading business and self help books, or even just by asking questions through casual conversations.

The "trick" is to learn how to extract specific information you are seeking from individuals in a manner that makes them WANT to give it to you. You want them to be excited about helping you learn and gain an advantage!

Sound difficult? There is an easy way to master it... START LEARNING! Ask questions, read books, do it all! Absorb as much info as possible to ensure that you are able to gain MAXIMUM advantage!!

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 - Measuring a Positive Decision

"A real decision is measured by the fact that you've taken a new action. If there's no action, then you haven't truly decided."
- Unknown

These next days are some of the most EXHILARATING and emotionally EXHAUSTING. We will spend this week MEASURING our short falls, concerned about our ability to ACHIEVE the "goals" we set out for ourselves. We will make EMPTY promises to refocus ourselves and "finally" take care of _________ (you fill in the blank).

I am not absolved from this type of MENTALITY. I have "missed the mark" on some of the goals I set – lose 25 lbs, launch an education website for business entrepreneurs, take my GRE exam for post graduate studies. I have "failed to achieve" many of my "GOALS." I have also ACHIEVED many others that I set out to do and that should NOT be overlooked.

The most important QUESTION to ask about the missed goals is "WHY?" Why did I choose these goals? Why are they so IMPORTANT, and yet gone unachieved? Why did I fail to attain the goals I SET out?

2 DEGREE SUCCESS STEP: The WHY seems straightforward…

Q: Why did I choose these goals? A: There were (or are still) part of my personal path of success and an identified area of IMPROVEMENT.

Q: Why are they so IMPORTANT, and yet gone unachieved? A: I KNEW they were needed to attain the development I am seeking, yet I did NOT understand HOW TO achieve them most effectively.

Q: Why did I fail to attain the goals I SET out? A: Simple. I FAILED to take action – any action!

Often, we set ARBITRARY goals with the hopes that if we write them down, somehow they will magically be completed by December 31st. We failed to plan the ACTION STEPS and the "HOW's" of our goals. Without an ACTION plan –we are simply wasting our time is "setting goals."

We must APPRECIATE that even steps in the wrong direction towards a goal, are MUCH BETTER, than standing still waiting to figure out the full path.

SET GOALS AND TAKE ACTION… you WILL find your way to them!

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 - Hybrid Theory

"I don't care what you put in my way, I'm not giving up!"
- Matt Damon as David Norris

If you have not seen, The Adjustment Bureau starring Matt Damon, I highly recommend a viewing. The idea is interesting, with overtones of guardian angels and the debate between free will or pre destination.

Without giving the film away, the core issue relates to our ability to make choices and determine our own success path. Some people believe that we make our own path, choosing our outcomes, deciding our own limits. Others believe that you are placed into a position in the world and that your path was selected long before you came about.

What do you believe? Me, I believe that we are predestined to meet with opportunities. Day in and day out, we are given multiple chances to accept or deny a route. It is our awareness of these opportunities and then our subsequent choices that determine our success. Lets call it a "hybrid theory."

2 DEGREE SUCCESS STEP: If you believe that everything is set forth for you, then why try? You have no choice over your successes or failures. You have not ability to better or worsen your situation. Everything that happens - good or bad - was meant to be. Game over.

However, if you believe you have choices and can influence your end game, then you have a motivation to do more, try harder and continually seek opportunities to improve. You, while possibly not in total control, are able to affect the outcomes of your decisions.

Do you believe hard work can create better results? Do you believe that education increases success rates? Do you have faith that if you do the right things, good things will happen to you?

If not, good luck. If so, stay focused. Everyday may not be an epic victory, yet, if you are able to choose your actions, you will have additional opportunities to be successful...right?

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 - Outsmart Yourself

"Try and fail, but do not fail to try." - Stephen Kaggwa

If you knew you would never fail, how much harder would you try? If you knew that you would never feel pain or angst, how many additional sales calls would you make? If you were guaranteed a 100% close rate from 8am-8pm, when would you start and when would you finish?

These are all fair questions. They point out a human dynamic associated with our psychology. They pin point the fact that FEAR is the most common deterrent to success over lack of skill, knowledge or work ethic. Bluntly, these questions show you how afraid you are to try!

Why? Why so afraid of failure? Pain? Embarrassment? What is it that causes us to have such a weak reflection of self that we allow someone hanging up on us to cause us pain the rest of the day?

2 DEGREE SUCCESS STEP: While powerful and dynamic, human beings are weak creatures. We do not have body armor to protect us like an armadillo, we are not hyper intelligent for our size like a dolphin, and we do not possess super strength like an ant.

We are emotional, driven and rationalizing creatures. We are exceptional in groups, although sometimes lacking as individuals. We are irrational by nature. We KNOW this!

Since we know it, lets use it! Understand that OTHERS are also irrational, emotional, illogical. Why does that matter? Simple, if everyone else is just like you, then the ONLY separation is those who DO and those who DO NOT. Effort is the key variable.

Try new things. Make additional efforts. Be willing to lose to win. While others rationalize how to protect their feelings...you rationalize how to master yours! You know your fear is irrational and emotionally based, so out smart yourself...and find success on the other side.

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.