Success principles
October

Success principles October

 
 

‘Successful people understand
that you don’t need to make things complicated.’

Anne McKevitt

 
 
 
 
 

#274

Look people in the eye
Eye contact is an important aspect of communication. It makes you come across as more engaged, friendly, and confident. Also, it provides you with a lot of non-verbal information about what the other person is thinking and feeling. Another benefit is that making eye contact forces you to put your mental energy into focusing on other people, which means you have less left over to get stuck in your head and think insecure thoughts.

 

#275

Focus on what is working
And do more of it. Are you trying to do everything and be everywhere at once? And how’s that working for you? Here’s the reality. You don’t need to do everything that everyone tells you to do and you don’t need to be everywhere at once. Step back, look at what things you are doing successfully and then make those things better. 80-95% of your success comes from 5-20% of the things you do. Think about that for a second. If you can pinpoint what it is that you are doing well in relation to your goals, then chances are that just a very small part of what you are currently doing is really working for you. Focus on these things and do more of them.

 

#276

Keep secrets
Keeping a secret can be difficult, and when it is a juicy secret it might be near impossible. It takes a great deal of willpower and determination, not to want to tell someone what you just heard. If you feel that you do not have the willpower necessary, then do not put yourself in the position of even hearing a secret. If you don’t keep a secret it can hurt you in the long run. If it is a secret that you have created yourself and don’t want anybody to know then don’t ever even bring it up.

 

#277

Always accept an outstretched hand
While it may sound simple enough, accepting help is something that is extremely challenging for all of us at one time or another. It can be especially hard for those of us that believe that seeking help undermines our independence and our ability to cope. However the truth is that by refusing to accept help we ignore the fact that we are social beings who need to co-operate with one another in order to ensure that we all thrive.

 

#278

Be brave
Bravery is not the absence of fear, but the will to overcome it. You’re brave if you create something, anything, and send it out into the world. You’re brave if you don’t back down, even when there are tons of people giving you reasons as to why you should. Being brave is all about living form your heart and challenging yourself with new experiences. Overcome your fear and embrace bravery. Have confidence in yourself.

 

#279

Avoid sarcastic remarks
Think before you speak. Because what you are about to say should be ALL of the following: true, kind and necessary. Otherwise, say nothing.Try to imagine how you would respond if someone made sarcastic remarks to you.Sarcasm is often a way of communicating hurt feelings or disapproval without actually coming out and saying what is on your mind. This is not an effective way to communicate. Just say what you mean.

 

#280

Make it a habit to do nice things
‘No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted!’ ~Aesop
Make it a habit to do random acts of kindness daily. Smile, hold doors open or let people go out first. Donate blood, buy someone lunch, lend your shoulder to cry on or mow your neighbors lawn. The best random acts of kindness are those for people who will never find out.

 

#281

Loosen up
Relax. Except for rare life-and-death matters, nothing is as important as it first seems. When anything happens to you that causes you to panic, stop, take a deep breath and think ‘How will this event affect me a week/month/year from now?’ Most likely, it really isn’t that important. So, don’t stress out over it. We tend to make the most mistakes when we are stressed and our hearts are racing. It is not that you shouldn’t take life seriously, just don’t sweat the small stuff. You will probably find yourself happier.

 

#282

Be a good looser
Everyone loses at something in some point in their lives. Be a good loser so that you don’t get mad and make people think you have anger issues. Try not to think too much about it. The more you think about what you have just lost the worse you will feel. Just go over the event once in your mind and figure out how you could have done it better. And learn to do it better. The main thing is to move on. Don’t look back except to learn from it.

 

#283

Be a good winner
Good winners are generous. They look up, wide-eyed at what they have accomplished, but they know that the win happened only because of many others who have contributed. Good winners have gratitude. Good winners are humble. They get an appropriate boost of confidence from the win, but they know enough not to get cocky. And good winners celebrate. Celebration is more than a party. It is a way to give thanks, and to affirm hope for the future.

 

#284

Be modest
A lot was accomplished before you were born. We all think we’re God’s gift to civilization, but before you ever made something of yourself, someone else did it first. Maybe it wasn’t the exact same thing as you but there were a lot of great people that did a lot of great things. In fact, a lot of the time the only reason that you were able to do great things was because of the advances that were made before you were even born.

 

#285

Keep it simple, sweetheart
Wish your life could run more smoothly? Simplify it! Like a roller coaster, life has its ups and downs. And while life may never be hassle free, it can be simplified. Identify what’s most important to you and eliminate, or downsize everything else. Automate, eliminate, delegate, or hire help. Start with creating a simplicity statement. What do you want your simple life to look like? Write it out!

 

#286

Be bold and courageous
Even when you feel shy and reserved, you should pretend to be bold and courageous. Look well dressed and concentrate on your posture. Stand straight and erect. Be bold. If you fear failure you can never taste success. Be courageous,. Have an open mind and do everything with positive energy. You will be amazed by the results. When you look back on life, you’ll regret the things you didn’t do more than the ones you did.

 

#287

Do only what inspires you
How are you? Feeling a little stuck? Uninspired? Overworked? Underpaid? Overwhelmed? Unfulfilled? Do you tend to complain or worry often? The world would be a better place if more people were doing what they love. Choose to say and do only that which inspires you. Focus your efforts on what uplifts and motivates you. You and the people around you. You are be happier if you follow your passion. Life is more interesting if you open your heart and mind to possibility. And magic might just happen if you follow your dream. The choice is yours!

 

#288

Do it together
Think big, dream loud, be courageous and inspired. Be all that you can be for the enhancement of yourself and all of mankind. By being the unique you in this world, you are able to add value to others lives and contribute to a better world to live in. We all have been given the wonderful opportunity to share our life with all those around us. Who can you acknowledge today and thank for helping you on this journey through life? No one makes it alone. Have a grateful heart and be quick to acknowledge those who helped you.

 

#289

Take charge of your attitude
Your attitude determines the size of your dreams and it influences your determination when you are faced with challenges. No other person has dominion over your attitude. People can affect your attitude with their poor thinking habits. They can provide you with negative sources of influence. They put your attitude to the test. But no one can control your attitude unless you voluntarily surrender that control. Don’t let someone else choose for you.

 

#290

Step outside yourself
We all observe ourselves. Mostly from the perspective of the critical judge. That critical inner voice [usually sounding as our mom] providing us with the all comments on our lives. Our own worst enemy, judging us and shaming us – calling us stupid or loser or fool. It is very important to take power away from that critical voice. To start learning how to be our own best friend instead of our own worst enemy. Step outside yourself and develop your compassionate ‘observer’. Watch yourself as if you were an alien species you are studying so that you can see yourself and say, “Oh isn’t that interesting. Now why did I react that way?” instead of “How can I be so stupid?”

 

#291

Don’t compromise yourself
‘Don’t compromise yourself. You are all you’ve got.’ ~Janis Joplin
You are all that there is! You are the most important person there is. Why? No one else can think for you, and you cannot think for anyone else. Therefore you are the most important person there is right now! Being true to yourself is the core foundation of success. Your personal integrity and authenticity. What are your core values? Are you using them to your advantage? Be proud of who you are and of the positive changes you are making in the world!

 

#292

Count your blessings
instead of sheep… Before you fall asleep, reflect on the day and identify 5 things you are grateful for. Scientist have found that grateful people show higher levels of positive emotions, life satisfaction, vitality, and optimism. They experience lower levels of depression and stress. They have more capacity for compassion and, last but not least, they are more likely to make progress towards important personal goals. It’s simple: gratitude makes you happier and more successful!

 

#293

Keep a notebook and pencil
Keep a notebook. Travel with it, eat with it, sleep with it. Slap into it every stray thought that flutters up into your brain. Cheap paper is less perishable than gray matter, and lead pencil markings endure longer than memory.

 

#294

Become someone’s hero [No cape required!]
We see heroes, people who achieve amazing things, as something special, something that deserves great respect and reverence. But true heroes aren’t just those who take first place, nor do they have a specific appearance. True heroes live among us. They are the talented, quiet and decisive people who show up each day, committed to being their best, doing their best and bringing their best to their world. They don’t do what they do for applause or fame. How to become a [someone's] hero? Always be your best self. Be there for others, honestly, without expectations and add value to everything you touch.

 

#295

Care for the environment
A clean environment is essential for healthy living. Care for the environment and you care not only for yourself but for the entire Universe and all that is a part of it. Your great-great and great-great-great grandchildren will appreciate it.

 

#296

Care for those you love
Do something nice for the ones you love. Leave a sticky note with loving words. Give genuine compliments. Say ‘Thank you’. Say ‘Thank you’ while giving a hug or kiss on the cheek. Gratitude makes a bigger impact with the power of touch. Show how much you appreciate them. And be the first to apologize when you have a fight. Do you want to be right or do you want to be happy?

 

#297

Push the comfort zone
Your comfort zone is the space where your activities and behaviors fit a routine that minimizes stress and risk. It provides a state of mental security. In order to maximize performance, however, we need a state of relative anxiety. A space where our stress levels are slightly higher than normal. That place where your mental productivity and performance reach their peak. That place is just outside our comfort zone. Anyone who’s ever pushed themselves to get to the next level knows that when you really challenge yourself, you can turn up amazing results.

 

#298

Identify your strengths
What are your biggest strengths. What gets you excited? When you engage in activities you are truly good at, your excitement is visible. You feel alive and motivated. Notice what you do differently than everyone else. In a situation where you are truly using your strengths, you will stand out from a crowd. Once you’ve identified you strengths, make sure you use those strengths in your profession. If you do, it’s likely you have found your passion. Your strengths are ultimately the keys to your success.

 

#299

Show generosity
New studies show generosity and cooperation are both natural and intelligent. Ever since Darwin biologists have been puzzled about why there is so much cooperation, generosity and altruism in nature. The old notion of ‘survival of the fittest’ in evolution, has now been shown to be wrong. Evidence shows that cooperation, empathy, generosity, reciprocity and mutual aid are natural, and common in nature. And in human nature. True generosity is giving freely and out of pure love. No strings attached. No expectations.

 

#300

Listen to mentors
It might be tempting to use your mentoring sessions to impress your mentor. But most mentors are put off by protégés who do more self-promoting than learning. Listen to your mentor and make it clear that you take the counsel seriously. When you get feedback, don’t respond with, ‘Yes, I already knew that.’ Restate the advice in your own words to make sure you’ve got it right. Ask questions to clarify. Mentors will often test you by gauging how you respond to feedback. The better you are at receiving it, the more of it you will get.

 

#301

Write to achieve
Write down your dreams and the goals you want to achieve. Getting clear about your dreams for the future helps you to crystallize your goals. Prioritize the things that are really most important to you. Putting everything in writing will force you to clarify what you want. It will motivate you to take action. It will help you overcome resistance. And above all: it will enable you to see [and celebrate!] your progress.

 

#302

Say ‘Thank You’ a lot
It’s what your parents always reminded you to say. When we say thank you, it shows appreciation, respect, and love. But be sincere. The most important part of saying thank you is being sincere. The person you are thanking should understand that you mean what you say 100%. Show that you are truly grateful for what the person has done.

 

#303

Say ‘Please’ a lot
When we say please, it shows respect and consideration for the other person’s thoughts and feelings. Please is a ‘social lubricant’. It oils the wheels of our interactions by showing a measure of respect for the other person. A little respect can go a long way!

 

#304

Be the first to say ‘Hello’
The way to build great and lasting relationships and even friendships is simply being willing to say ‘hello’ first. Whether you find yourself in line at the grocery store or at a professional networking event, think about saying hello to the person next to you. It’s a tiny gesture. It doesn’t take much energy. But it could make your life a heck of a lot richer.

 
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