BRICK WALLS ARE THERE TO STOP THE OTHER PEOPLE

“We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the game.” —Dr. Randy Pausch

There is a line in the song, “Do You Believe In Magic” that goes, “The magic is in the music, and the music is in me.” For many people, that’s where their music remains, inside bottled up. They take their music to the grave having never sung their song and never experiencing the magic.

Dr. Randy Pausch was not such a man. He died July 25, 2008, at the age of 48. He was a professor at Carnegie Mellon University located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. That same year, US News named Carnegie Mellon one of the America’s Best Colleges. The following thoughts aren’t about one of the best colleges in America; they are about one of the great men of our times, Randy Pausch.

Randy died before his time. He would say he died at his appointed time.  Pausch, who was a computer science professor and virtual reality pioneer, died of complications from pancreatic cancer. His fame is the result of his “Last Lecture.” This lecture was part of a long-standing academic tradition at Carnegie Mellon.  After agreeing to give the speech but, a month before delivering it, Pausch’s doctor told him that he was in the early stages of the terminal disease.

The book, “The Last Lecture,” based on Pausch’s last lecture became a No. 1 bestseller with over 8-million copies in print in 29 languages. More than 6 million people have viewed highlights or the entirety of the 76-minute talk on how to make the most of life.

On achieving goals, Dr. Pausch said, “It’s not about how to achieve your dreams; it’s about how to live your life. If you live your life the right way, the karma will take care of itself; the dreams will come to you.”

Two of Pausch’s thoughts stand out. First, “Life is not complicated, and it is not fair.” Ancient Greek philosopher, Epictetus said, “See things for what they are. Things and people are not what we wish them to be or what they seem to be. They are what they are. When something happens, the only thing within your power is your attitude toward it; you can either accept it or resent it.” 

The second insight deals with the brick walls we encounter the motivation for this article. “The brick walls are not there to keep us out,” Pausch said, “The brick walls are there to give us a chance to show how badly we want something. 

Brick walls, roadblocks, obstacles, however, you describe adversity is the thing that stands between you and success.  Dr. Norman Vincent Peal described obstacles as, “What you see when you take your eyes off your goals.” Everyone at sometimes takes his or her eyes off their targets and hits a brick wall. It is not that you encounter obstacles but how you respond to them that determines failure or success.

It is easy to respond by blaming circumstances or other people for our inability to penetrate the brick walls. Individuals who react in this way we described as "victims. Things happen to them. They usually have a love for the familiar. Status quo is their watchword. They accept the way things are, even if they are bad. For these people, the familiar is better than the unknown.  These people are the OTHER people of which Pausch spoke.

But the Pausch's of the world welcome brick walls and relish the challenge of moving around, over, under or through them. They know the goal they seek is on the other side of the wall and nothing will keep them from achieving it.

If today was your last day, would people be left with the impression that you are a Victim (you kept the music within) or, would they know you sang your song?

EIGHTEEN ACTION STEPS FOR SUCCESS

Producing positive results and growing in personal relationships

 “The toughest thing about success is that you’ve got to keep on being a success.” —Irving Berlin

Success is an easy word to pronounce; it is often difficult to define. What defines success by one person may be viewed as a failure by someone else. Success and the “good” life are not synonyms. Many successful people — by which I mean those that have worldly wealth, power, and prestige — are not necessarily the most satisfied people.

I suppose it won’t happen, but I think the world would be a far better place if everyone in it defined success as producing positive results in their field of endeavor and growing their personal relationships.

A couple of years ago, I wrote a book—“The Mentor In The Mirror”—about my thoughts on personal success that I accumulated over my 52-year work career. One strategy was to encourage people to read. An education doesn’t end with graduation. So far, the book I wrote for people who don’t read has proven to be just that, an unread book. Maybe 196 pages are too lengthy.

Every author has a vision of their book appearing on The N.Y. Times Best Seller List. The verdict on my book? If you don’t care to know, I don’t care to share my abysmal sales result.

If you don’t read books, I can save you time and the $5.99 cost of the book on Amazon by listing 18 key action success steps from my non-bestseller.

1. Accept yourself for who you are. Be comfortable with yourself but never complacent.  

2. Daily bring out the best in others.

3. Because you choose your attitude, choose wisely.

4. Be a Problem Solver.

5. Never get mad at someone for being more successful than you, it’s not his or her fault.

6. Expect to excel and assume the responsibility for your success.

7. Keep your eyes and ears open and learn from others. Everyone has something unique to offer.

8. Keep your knowledge current and your skills marketable.

9. Concentrate on giving and not getting; it puts you in the best position to achieve success.

10. Always look for ways to change, to improve every single thing you do.

11. Never lose sight of the goal.

12. Devour books. Read every day. “If you spend one extra hour each day in the study of your chosen field…you’ll be a national expert in five years or less.” —Earl Nightingale

13. Listen for what isn’t said. As management guru, Peter Drucker wrote, “The most important thing in communication is to hear what isn’t being said.”

14. Be a person of action. Focus on the task at hand and don’t get distracted by tasks with fringe benefits.

15. Believe you can do it, plan to do it, and do it! In the end, it is always belief, planning, and execution that determines success.

16. Celebrate your uniqueness. Like fingerprints and snowflakes, you are one of a kind.

17. Uncover and understand what you’re here to do.  Then pursue that purpose with passion and enthusiasm. If you don’t know your purpose read, “The Seed” by Jon Gordon.

18. Don't settle for mediocrity, commit to being the best you can be.

 I believe the failure of my book to sell is people don’t read today like they once did. Unfortunately, like so many communications today, the idea has to be said in 140 characters or less. So now I'm ending this article with a 91 character suggestion: Having read this far, look back at the 18 ideas listed above and find one idea you can use.

THE FIRST ACTIVITY OF THE DAY

“The first step towards getting somewhere is to decide that you are not going to say where you are.” —Chauncey Depew

The first dedicated time of the morning is the most important time of the day. What we engage in first, determines how our day will end. The best thing about this outcome is that we determine it.

After brushing my teeth, I have breakfast: one sweet roll, a slice of cranberry-walnut bread covered with peanut butter and black coffee. Same breakfast, most mornings, for three years, same results I feel good. I embrace the smell, taste, and touch of the roll, the toast, and coffee. I don’t get distracted by checking emails, reading a newspaper, listening to the radio or viewing the TV. I concentrate on the roll, the bread, and the coffee. This triple delight ignites all of my taste buds. I live in the moment. The hot coffee awakens me; the sweet role stimulates me, and the peanut butter toast provides a “filling” or rounding out role.

The outside world is still outside because I have not allowed it to invade my inside moment.  Yes, intrusions will happen but not just now. I live in the moment and the present moment doesn’t include external communication noise.

You may start the day with a shower—hot or cold—to invigorate you. The sound and feel of the water “raining” on your body, and the isolation of the shower maybe your FIRST ACTIVITY OF THE DAY.

Some people’s FIRST ACTIVITY OF THE DAY includes a devotional time of Bible study and prayer. They meditate on the things they are thankful for and lift up other people through intercessory prayer.

For some of the most productivity people, THE FIRST ACTIVITY OF THE DAY is some form of exercise, including jogging or walking. These events can lead to optimizing and maximizing the remainder of the day. The isolation of running or walking provide a sense of being one with nature. We are a small part of the world, but an important part. Once we exit the exercise activity, we are better prepared to engage the opportunities of the day.

You can name many other activities that make up THE FIRST ACTIVITY OF THE DAY. Everyone has a FIRST ACTIVITY OF THE DAY. The important thing is not that we all start our day with some activity, but that the event sets the stage for a happy and prosperous day. 

THE FIRST ACTIVITY OF THE DAY is not a preparation step; it is a state of enjoyment and happiness. In this first exercise, you simply enjoy your activity of the moment. Your singular focus is to relax, filter out fear, and ignore worry, anxiety. You own the moment and this moment has no parameters—you aren’t searching for a Eureka or an aha moment. You aren’t searching for anything. You have found it in the simple enjoyment of the moment.

Ritual, In the Moment, Enjoy and Anticipate, Positive Activity. These are the main elements of the FIRST ACTIVITY OF THE DAY—the principles that can help us create a successful day.

1.    It’s a ritual. You do it every morning at the same time. If we empty ourselves first, plan second, and execute. Third, we develop a habit of success and happiness.

2.    Live at the moment. Isolate your thinking to the present moment. Don’t focus on yesterday or tomorrow—just enjoy the now. You can’t change yesterday, and you can’t create tomorrow but, you can change and create your today.

3.    Enjoy and anticipate. Look forward to and enjoy the coffee, the jog, the meditation, the shower or, whatever you define as your FIRST ACTIVITY OF THE DAY. You're in your “zone”, own it.

4.    It’s a positive activity that increases the sense of personal responsibility. In these first few minutes of the day, you set the stage for the remainder of your day. As you live in the moment—free of distractions, negativity, and anxiety— you create energy and enthusiasm for the next eight to ten hours.

Only after you have completed THE FIRST ACTIVITY OF THE DAY do you consider how you want the day to end—what will success look like? Then, from that success point, look back to the present and determine what you must do to achieve your goal.

In our lifetime, we will have good mornings and some bad mornings. The trouble with leaving the mornings to chance is we may get more bad mornings than we want, or deserve. This simple plan is designed to provide you with more good mornings and days.

The possibilities are unlimited when you start the day your way!  I know a cup of black coffee, a sweet roll, and a slice of cranberry-walnut bread topped with peanut butter provide me with more good mornings and productive days than I deserve.

WHY MANAGEMENT FAILS TO TAP THE INNOVATIVE MINDS OF THEIR EMPLOYEES

“Many organizations are so busy operating that they fail to think their way to success.”

There seems to be nothing that organizations won’t do to be successful except discovering the abundant opportunities that lie in the minds of the people on their payroll.

In a marketplace that is always rapidly changing, it is incumbent on an organization, if they are to succeed, to be increasingly innovative. New products, new services, new technologies, and new competitors enter the market every day. As an example, Forbes magazine estimates more than 250,000 new products are launched per year globally. No organization can thrive today without a constant emphasis on innovation.

Many businesses are constantly searching for new and better ways to get the job done. They look far-and-wide, search their archives, and attempt to anticipate the future, study competitors, and non-competitors. No outside source is beyond scrutiny. They are blind to the gold mines that lie within the organization. Every person—no exception—that receives a company paycheck should be considered a source of innovative ideas.

Despite the importance of creative thinking, it is one of the most challenging objectives to achieve in an organization. A fundamental change in the attitude of management is essential. It is management, especially the top man or woman; that creates the climate where creative thinking and innovative problem solving thrives.

Every manager and supervisor should be required to read, “Acres Of Diamonds,” by Russell H. Conwell. This short (71 page) book is the script of a lecture which Conwell delivered more than 6,000 times. It earned him speaking fees amounting to more than eight million dollars.—over $112,000 per page. Once read, each manager should write a one-page report to his/her supervisor detailing how they plan to implement Conwell’s story line: “Your diamonds are no in far distant mountains or yonder seas; they are in your back yard if you but dig for them.

Once there is evidence of support at the top this support must spread to include management support and participation at all levels. Creative ideas can come from anywhere in the organization; the CEO’s office, the advertising department, the merchandising department, the purchasing department, Information system department, the mail room. The smart manager treats everyone as a source of creative input and strives to create an environment that both encourages and rewards innovative thinking.

Innovative organizations seek to tap the unused creative potential of their employees and members. They establish and maintain a climate where employees are encouraged, recognized and reward for developing new ideas and taking risks. These organization also provide the necessary leadership to see that innovation becomes usable on a daily basis.

SIGNS OF A CREATIVE ENVIRONMENT

• The organization commits to creativity and innovation.

• Leadership encourages people to imagine, innovate, and experiment with ideas.

• There is good communication within and between units.

• People receive recognition and rewards for creative performance.

Though opportunities are everywhere, they are most easily found in the organization’s greatest asset: its people. While easy to find, they must be searched out.

Today, purchase “Acres of Diamonds,” read it, summarize it, and implement Mr. Conwell’s golden rule of finding golden opportunities. If you know, an opportunity is in here and not out there, where do you spend your creative time?

Ten Success Thoughts for January 2015

TEN SUCCESS THOUGHTS for January 2015

Focus thoughts and actions on the things that lead to success. Do the important and let the unimportant go.

• Self-development is preceded by self-discovery. You need to know the WHO before you can do the HOW.

• Success formula: V + A = R. “V” (values), “A” (action), “R” (results). Don’t like your results? Look at your V and A.

• For the next seven days, pour your creative energy and commitment into everything you do.

• What is your personal learning method for staying current in your field? What should it be?

Success is a life-long learning process.

• A body at rest stays at rest until a force acts on it. What will it take to get you moving? Do you know your motivation button?

• Self-development is preceded by self-discovery. You need to know the WHO before you can do the HOW.

• To improve the odds of goal achievement, reframe the goal in terms of “Why?” When you know why, you can discover the how.

• Every day prepare yourself for your special mission and when that opportunity comes, seize it!

• Ah ha moments involves putting two or more known ideas together in a new or novel way. Engage in idea cross-pollination.

• There is a visual clue to success: 2 ears and 1 mouth. Successful people have learned to listen twice as much as the talk.

BOOK REMINDER: My personal success and motivational ideas book, Mentor In The Mirror, is available on Amazon, iBooks and Barnes & Noble. Go to: www.waynenalls.com or www.mentorinthemirror.com for additional information and a free review of the book.

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Don’t Fear Tomorrow. Be Fearful That You Will Miss Today

I believe that one of the greatest crimes committed by most people is their failure to live today because of their fear of tomorrow.

We are taught in school that all of us are born with a very limited number of instinctive fears—of falling, of loud noise, of the dark. Basically these are there to help us survive. What we aren’t taught is that there is another fear that has the power to stagnate our lives, our careers, our relationships, and our success. That fear is the fear of the future, more specifically the fear of tomorrow.

The reason we fear tomorrow is that tomorrow is unknown. We don’t understand what may happen and being human most people will think the worst. But this fear of tomorrow exists only in our mind. We have little or no evidence of what tomorrow may bring. Certainly we have no guarantee of tomorrow. The way you overcome fear of tomorrow is to become so involved in today that you forget to be afraid. 

In truth, the only reality is the present and it will soon be the past just as what you thought was the future becomes the present. It doesn't matter whether you or rich or poor or in-between, you can only live in the moment and these moments are quickly recorded as past successes or past failures. You think about the future and that moment becomes the reality of the now.

Time is relevant. It is relevant to the present. You can’t change the past or relive it. Though there are some people who try to rewrite it. You can’t predict the future, but you can always find someone willing to play the role of a prophet for a fee or promise of notoriety.

Thomas Edison did not worry about the failures of yesterday, nor did he leave his success to the future. He daily applied himself to the task at hand. And after 10,000 failed attempts to develop the electric light bulb, his success came on the day the light bulb glowed. Today, the world would be poorer and different had Edison lived his life based on regret and hope. People have a brighter today because Edison lived in the present.

I think Rodin's sculpture, The Thinker is an excellent picture of someone who is deeply worried about the future and meanwhile stuck in the present. While we contemplate the future, the present is changing. What was tomorrow is now today. The reality of life confirms Greek Philosopher Heraclitus' statement: "The only constant is change." Therefore, if you want to be a success don't worry about tomorrow, deal with today and before you know it, the dread of tomorrow becomes the opportunity of today.

When you are having a down day, you think of yesterday as being much better than it was. In your despondence you may envision an idyllic tomorrow, but in reality you only have today. You can squander today or you can invest in it. The choice of one precludes the choice of the other. The odds say you're going to have 24 hours, so make all 1,440 minutes count.

People need to prioritize their life like they prioritize their projects and then spend today working on their highest priorities. The reason most major goals are not achieved is that we spend our time reminiscing about the past or daydreaming of the future. What Oliver Wendell Holmes wrote is true, “what lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.”

By prioritizing our activities we clearly see that neither yesterday nor tomorrow produces results today. Only actions today produces the result we achieve today. Our priority should be to work on our top priority— today!

For the employer, the challenge is to find good, smart, work-in-the present people. People that when assigned a task get started on achieving the goal. These "now" people understand the mantra:  If it is to be, it is up to me.

By far the most effective way to motivate these in-the-present people is with short term rewards that recognize that the job must be accomplished quickly and correctly. Finding the correct timing and reward for these get-it-done employees is a daunting leadership challenge. But that is what leadership is about.

Employment experts tell us that the key to hiring is to hire the best and brightest. I would add to that, hire people who work in the present. When hiring, ask the candidate about what he or she is currently doing to enhance their job skills. What projects they are currently working on. What do they expect to happen today?

Look for people who are disappointed that there are only 24 hours in the day; not just for work but for living.

Successful people take control of their lives. Their actions are focused on achieving their goals. They spend each 24-hour cycle appreciating and being thankful that they are alive. They spend their present not longing for yesterday or dreading tomorrow. Successful people know the greatest present they have been given is the moment— the Present.

If I had to pick one thing that failures have in common, my choice is the fear of tomorrow, the dread of the unknown, the mysterious. Don't fear tomorrow; be fearful that you will miss today.

Three Point Success Summation

Success Thought: I find it interesting that many people faced with today's challenges choose to hide in yesterday's memories or tomorrow’s uncertainty. We must look for ways to be active in the present and forget the past and not waste time day fearing tomorrow. Will you take charge and get the job done today so when "tomorrow" becomes today you will be ready to seize success? Regret and Fear are obstacles to success. Action eliminates the regret of yesterday and the fear of tomorrow.

Success Quote: “If you’ve got one foot in yesterday and one foot in tomorrow, you’re missing today!” — Liza Minnelli

Success Action: Do something today that makes today worth living.

My book, "Mentor In The Mirror" is available on Amazon and the Apple Store or go to: www.mentorinthemirror.com

 

 

A Gift of Personal Success

This Holiday Season give—a friend, an associate, a client, a prospect, a student— the exciting new e-Book on professional and personal success, Mentor In The Mirror.  It is available from Amazon (Kindle), Barnes & Noble (Nook) and Apple (iPad).

 

Learning doesn’t end with graduation. The ancient Greek philosopher Socrates was right when he said “Employ your time in improving yourself by other men’s writing so that you shall come easily by what others have labored hard for.”

Learning is a continuous journey toward excellence. Mentor In The Mirror is the guide to personal achievement and goal-attainment.  From attitudes to actions; planning to perseverance; ideas to implementation; values to behavior; status quo to success, it all begins within. This book reveals it is also within reach.

Since many adults have not read a book since graduating, reading Mentor In The Mirror positions the reader for professional and personal success.

Order now or go to www.waynenalls.com for additional information and reviews.

 

2012 Action Steps For Success #81 121711

Successful people are ordinary people with a success orientation. — Wayne Nalls

I was looking at a calendar on the wall of my office and realized that in 14 days I would be saying goodbye to 2011 and hello to 2012. Wow! Time flies. It was only three and one-half years ago that I penned the first Hawblawg and now here is article No. 81.

If you missed any of the previous postings, you can quickly and easily find them at: www.thehawgblawg.blogspot.com

During the past three and one-half years I have been pleasantly surprised to see the communication reach of this blog. In that time frame we have hits from 52 International counties representing 95 international cities. In addition we recorded 209 cities and towns in 40 states in the US.

We live in an increasingly globalized market. The universal law of success is that people everywhere realize that they must continually invest in themselves or be left behind.

In this last posting for 2011, I made a decision to dispense with a topical approach for the article and instead provide a list of what I consider 22 salient self-improvement doables—one for each workday in January. These are presented for your consideration.

On January 31st, you will have an overview of what it takes to be a success. I don't expect you to master or even highly value each of the doables. But, among the list is at least one idea that you can use for the rest of your life to change the rest of your life.

Week One
1. Daily bring out the best in others.
2. Because you choose your attitude, choose wisely.
3. Be a Problem Solver.
4. Accept yourself for who you are. Be comfortable with yourself but never complacent. Everyone has room for growth.
5. Think! Think! Think! Everything we do begins with a thought.

Week Two
6. Never get mad at someone for being more successful than you, it’s not his fault.
7. Expect to excel and assume the responsibility for your own success.
8. Keep your eyes and ears open and learn from others. Everyone has something unique
to offer.
9. Keep your knowledge current and your skills marketable.
10. Concentrate on giving and not getting, it puts you in the best position to achieve success.

Week Three
11. Always look for ways to change, to improve every single thing you do.
12. Never lose sight of the goal.
13. Devour books. Read every day. “If you spend one extra hour each day in the study of your chosen field…you’ll be a national expert in five years or less.”—Earl Nightingale
14. Render a greater service than your competitor.
15. First you have to conquer the day before you conquer the week, the month, the year.

Week Four
16. Listen for what isn’t being said. As management guru Peter Drucker wrote, “The
most important thing in communication is to hear what isn’t being said.”
17. Be a person of action. Focus on the task at hand and don’t get distracted by tasks with fringe benefits.
18. Believe you can do it, plan to do it, and do it! In the end, it is always belief, planning, and execution that determine success.
19. Celebrate your uniqueness. For the next 30 days let your first thought each morning be one of thankfulness for who you are. Like fingerprints and snowflakes, you are one of a kind.
20. Uncover and understand what you’re here to do. Then pursue that purpose with passion and enthusiasm. If you don’t know your purpose read, The Seed by Jon Gordon.

Week Five
21. Don't settle for mediocrity, commit to being the best you can be.
22. Live in the moment. Focus your energy on the present.

Of the above 22 success action steps, which one is a priority for you for the New Year?

As we exit 2011, I end this article with this candid thought: The achievement is not in winning. It is in the struggle that we achieve. And like all successful people before us, we must hold on until we succeed.

I wish you personal growth and success—as defined by you— in 2012.

Wayne Nalls
wn-Tampa@att.net

When You Win, Everyone Wins #79 090511

The full benefit of a self-improvement program is that everyone around you benefits. Improving yourself, improves those around you. You cannot become a winner without promoting the winning spirit in others. There is no solo success. Your achievement is a challenge for others to achieve.

Here are twelve steps for improving yourself and those around you.

1. Define Specifically What You Want to Achieve

The first step to success is to clearly define what you want to achieve. Successful people are those who are doing what they really want to do and are doing it on purpose with a minimum effort. Your goals should be few and all realistic (some should have a stretch in them to challenge).
Keep in mind, goals should be consistent with your core values.

2. Know "Why" You Want to Achieve the Goal
Identifying the true purpose for achieving a goal may require you to enter a new paradigm and move out of your comfort zone. Having a big "Why" acts as a driving force to achieve the "What"—the goal. "Why" is the inflective force needed to move people out of their comfort zone.

3. Determine The Action Steps Needed to Achieve The Goal

Whereas in step two, you determined "why?" you want to achieve a specific goal, now you layout the "what" and the "how" you are going to achieve your goal. Successful people constantly think in terms of actions priorities. Be resolute. Refuse to waste a single minute on any activity that doesn't move you toward your goal.

Once you have the actions steps, execute. Execution is the link between goal and achievement, between dream and reality. Do what needs to be done, when it needs to be done. Execute!

4. Set A time Line For Achieving The Goal
Start you plan today. The time you have now is the only time you have. There is no extra time at some unspecified future date. There is an old Chinese Proverb that says, "The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago. The second best time is today." Action leads to success; inaction results in failure. Set a time line that includes a deadline—the ultimate motivation tool.

5. Choose To Be Positive

Contrary to what some people believe, you can always choose to have a good day, even if the events of the day seem insurmountable. By choosing to have a positive attitude it is amazing how circumstances bend to accommodate you. Think positive. A positive attitude serves as a powerful driver of actions. It makes you attempt even more. Be positive, upbeat, and enthusiastic today and every day.

6. Expose yourself to Something New today In Each of the 4-E's
People are a product of their: Education, Experiences, Entourage and Environment. Successful people use each day to learn something new, try something new, meet someone new, and visit new places, outside their comfort zone. Are you growing in each of the 4-E's?

7. Enjoy Today As If It Were Your Last
See today for what it is: the present and the present is all you are guaranteed. Ask yourself, "Is what I am doing today going to help me achieve my goal? If the answer is "yes", then keep doing it. If the answer is "no", then redirect your activities to tasks that are better aligned with your goal. Life is too precious to moor in the harbor. Set sail.

8. Make Good Decisions
Gather all the pertinent facts. Unless you have at least two choices, there is really no decision to be made. Know what the decision has to accomplish. When you are in doubt, go with the choice that brings you closer to goal achievement. Never be afraid to choose. Remember, choosing not to choose is making a decision. Risk avoiders and successful people are not family.

9. Define the End Of The Day In the Beginning Of The Day
Spend a minimum of 15 magic minutes first thing each morning planning your day. The goal is to control your day and not let it control you. At the beginning of the session ask yourself, "Will doing these things help me end the day the way I planned it?" If you answer "yes", good. If you answered "no" develop another course of action. Always look for actions that bring you closer to your goal.

The start-of-the-day plan helps you prioritize important projects and prioritize valuable time. Work on what matters and don't get off track.

10. INVEST IN YOURSELF
The purpose for investing in yourself is to make yourself more valuable. Investing in self keeps you growing and contributing . As you become more valuable, you achieve a reputation as a professional and create a broader area of influence to do good. The great motivational expert, Earl Nightingale said it this way, "If you spend one extra hour each day in the study of your chosen field...you'll be a national expert in five years or less."

Set aside some prime time for investing in yourself on a regular basis.

11. Execute And Be Effective

Execution is the most basic key to success and bridges the gap between plans and results delivered. Be a doer. In doing, you gain momentum and momentum is a game changer and the most powerful force in winning.

Be effective, get the right things done. People see you as an effective performer, an insurer of your success and a contributor to the success of your organization. Effectiveness is like the Equator dividing the successful from the failures. Don't confuse effectiveness with effort. Focus on results, not activity.

12. Have Fun And Celebrate Successes
Be passionate—truly care about what you do— and have fun at the same time. Don't be afraid to celebrate. Big achievements call for immediate celebration. Celebrating immediately reinforces achievement and leads to further achievement.
Celebrate achievement, not activity.

Three Point Success Summation

SUCCESS THOUGHT: In the final analysis, personal success is within and it is within reach. As you improve yourself, you improve those around you. Share the 12 Steps for Improving Yourself with an associate, friend or family member and discuss how the steps helped you jumpstart your life and career.

SUCCESS QUOTE: "Treasure today, it is the only time you have. Make it your masterpiece."—Wayne Nalls

SUCCESS ACTION: Define specifically what you want to accomplish and do it!