Archive for the ‘Lifestyle’ Category

I am a big fan of Scott Stratten of UnMarketing.  Although we have never met, what I am a big fan of, is Scott’s realness in the way he teaches and promotes his message.  I came across this post from him and it brought me to tears.  Scott’s story is one that many can relate to – the super ambitious, black berry junkies and people on the go all should take a moment and review this video and take another moment to “stop” and reflect on your own life.

Share your thoughts in the comment section.

Working from home is a dream come true for most.  Thoughts of simpler times and easier work – life balance, conference calls in your pajamas and uninterrupted focus on your work.  Well, think again.  Before you know it the lines between work and life begin to get blurred as you start to be pulled in multiple directions and are faced with choices such as “should I put in a load of laundry before I start this proposal”, or “Should I plan dinner before inputting my business expenses”.  These are real world examples of what happens in home based businesses and before you know it, there are unforeseen distractions, lack of balanced time and sometimes, a lost identity since many relate who they are with want they do.  But don’t give up just yet; her e are 10 tips to keep you on track and to be more productive in your home business. Read the rest of this entry »

Aim High, Use Powerful Resolve, and Stand Firm

As we enter a new year and commit to our professional and personal resolutions there is one word that comes to mind: Dedication. Dedication is focusing your energy and all of your efforts on a task or to a particular course of action until they are complete. No exceptions and no matter what challenges or obstacles we must overcome.

When you think of professional athletes, mega stars or business icons; you naturally think of success and achievement. What most people don’t realize is the journey that all of those folks had to take to get to where they are today included obstacles, challenges and hard times. All of them started exactly where you are now and did not get to where they are simply because of skill, talent or luck but with a combination of those things led by fierce determination and a commitment to making things happen. Read the rest of this entry »

Each year many of us set out with the greatest of intentions as we proclaim our New Year’s Resolutions, but in order for us to know what we want to change, we must conduct a complete analysis of our lives and assess what we like, what we don’t, and more importantly what we want to change.  If you were asked to reflect on your life would you find that you have been living in your life every day in complete control of it?  Or would you be settling for the status quo only hoping something would change?  Here are five ways to be completely in charge of your life and loving it!

1. Find role models

Our circle of influence is very important to how we view our lives.  There are three types of people that you can choose to surround yourself with.  Those that build you up and create a positive energy that motivates you every day to propel forward or those that drain you and create a negative energy that deflates you every day and holds you back from reaching your goals and those that are neutral and do not do anything for you nor take anything from you.  Find role models that inspire you when you are with them and surround yourself with people who encourage you to succeed and who you feel you can inspire yourself.

2. Trust your inner voice – look within

Chances are that you already know your life purpose.  You already know the path that you need to be on but do not act upon it.  Some call it that “little voice” that lives inside.  When you are on your true path, you will be energized, happy and focused.  Most times, we know what will make us happy but are just afraid to take the necessary steps to make change in our lives.  Trust you inner voice and it will lead you to your true destiny.

3.Be strategic about your choices

Our lives are a result of the choices that we make every day. When you are presented with choices, be strategic and think about what it is you want to achieve in life and determine if that particular choice fits into your grand plan.  Most of us go through life either on autopilot on doing what is expected of us rather than thinking about what we really want and building the path to get there.  Think of every decision, every choice strategically and how the result will move you closer to the life of your dreams.

4. Act Courageously and take risks

Life is about not being afraid to take risks and trying something new.  It is about being opened to opportunities and having many experiences in life.  Act courageously and try something new every day.  Something that will expand your world and create lasting memories.  Do not settle for the status quo and do not follow the flock.  Expand your horizon, experience new things and take risks.

5. Love, Laugh and Live!

The last tip is to love, laugh and live.  Simply open yourself to experience love; to experience laughter and to experience life.   Don’t be too serious that you forget to find the humor in things and live life to its fullest every day.  Be playful and be happy.   There are many opportunities for you to not only enjoy humor but to create humor.  Be sure to be light hearted and share your joy.

The word “integrity” is the most overused and misunderstood word in business. Many claim to have the upmost highest level of integrity when it comes to serving their customers, respecting their service partners and treatment of their employees but very few really know what the word means. By definition, integrity means “a steadfast adherence to a strict moral or ethical code” so the question that comes to mind is whose moral or ethical code? Yours? Your parents? Society? Your religion? Your friends? The list could go on and on.

Having integrity is doing what you believe to be true and moral based upon the ethical code you have chosen to adopt in your life. All of the experiences you have had and all of the influences you have met, how you were raised and the religion you follow are all part of the composition of your ethical code. Integrity is the developed by making the right choices that support your ethical code consistently and without waiver. Integrity is something you have even when others are not looking.

Many successful people are successful because they have integrity. It is through integrity that you develop trusting relationships. And it is because of trusting relationships that good business is formed. Integrity is one of the easiest qualities to detect, or to detect the lack of in people you meet. Once you become familiar with a person’s actions and the choices they make, you will begin to anticipate their integrity level. When you act with integrity on a consistent basis, your actions become more predictable and your behaviors can be anticipated by others.

Integrity is one of the most sought after qualities by customers, business partners and employers so what can you do to ensure your actions are communicating a high level of integrity?

1.   Know Your Beliefs
Understand what makes you tick. What beliefs do you hold as true and as right? Before you can act with integrity, you must first understand your limits and your beliefs and the actions that you would take when those beliefs are challenged.

2.  Be Consistent to Your Beliefs
Integrity is about consistency and holding true to you not matter what the risk. It is about creating predictable behavior that not only you but others will begin to rely upon and depend. Don’t waiver in your actions and hold true to your beliefs each and every time.

3.  Don’t Lie or Exaggerate
Integrity is about creating trust and lying is always associated with lack of integrity, even if you feel the lie is justified. When you are honest and true, your integrity will shine and draw others to you.

4.  Stay True to Your Values
Sometimes we are easily influenced by others and our beliefs are challenged. We often find ourselves on the edge with a choice to go right or go left. To have integrity means to stay true to your values and your beliefs.

In order to succeed, you must not only have drive and ambition, but you must also act with integrity at all times. In the words of President Eisenhower “The supreme quality for leadership is unquestionable integrity. Without it, no real success is possible, no matter whether it is on a section gang, a football field, in an army on in an office”.