That One Big Break!

Are you wondering whether or not you should look into a crystal ball or shake some dice in Vegas? Are you comparing yourself to others and thinking why can't I have what they have? Are you sitting on your porch swing waiting for someone to come to your door step to tell you it is your time to be a star? If you said yes to any of these, you might want to splash some cold water on your face to refresh yourself.

Your lucky break does not have to come from shaking a pair of dice or learning about your future. The reason you do not have what someone else has is because what was achieved was meant for them in their way and not yours. However, if you admire what another has, you should be inspired to know that you can aspire to have great things in your life too. Little do you know, this overnight success you have been comparing yourself to has been a work in progress for some time now. Their consistent efforts and persistent attitude helped them get to where they are today. Learn from them. Study them. Get to know them as a person. Ask them about how they got started. You might be surprised. Your new connection could also lead you to others you must meet. As the saying goes, you shouldn't wait for success to come to you, "you need to swim out to meet it."

Create your big break! Increase Your Odds of Success...

1. Tell everyone you know about your dreams, ambitions, and goals.

2. Ask them if they know someone you should meet in their network and request a virtual introduction. There are on average about 250 people in each person's network.

3. Connect with the person you were introduced to with a 15 minute phone call. Remember people do business with people they know, like, and trust. Be real.

4. Be specific. People naturally want to help people but they cannot help you if you do not ask or if you do not know what to ask for.

5. Think about how you can help others by connecting them with your network or circle of influence.

Make big plans for yourself by setting goals and breaking them down into manageable pieces. They are the "breaks" that make the difference. Take action with each piece. Each action helps you take another action step. Before you know if, your goal will be attained.
What "big break" have you been waiting for? What is it that you can do today to help someone with their "big break"?

“Cherish the journey; the destination is where it all comes together.”

– Debra Kasowski

Quitting Is Not An Option Honey!

Achieving your goals and realizing your ultimate potential are the greatest gifts of personal fulfillment. When challenges arise, many people quit their pursuits because they appear too difficult. Challenges are meant to define us. You may have heard the saying that some people quit, not realizing that they are only minutes away from achieving success. If you knew the exact moment that your success would arrive, would you work as hard to achieve it? Would you put forth the same effort, determination, and commitment or would it become an expectation?  Some people may work with anticipation and others may kick back waiting for success to come to them. The ones who work diligently with persistent effort will prevail. There may be times of frustration when you may question yourself, "At what point, do I quit pursuing what I want?" The answer is easy. Quitting is never an option.

What does quitting achieve? Quitting is a self-defeating act unless you are quitting something that is unhealthy like smoking, gambling, or another form of addiction. Making changes achieves more. Quitting is to stop whereas change creates momentum. Do not see changing your journey as quitting but as a decision to do something different that helps you maximize your potential and live your life with passion and zest.

How will you know when it is time to change? When you are clear on what it is you to want to achieve, you will have a burning desire to continue until you achieve what you set out to get. When you have lost your passion and desire to go after your dream or goal, it is time to reflect and decide if what you are doing is serving you or even helping you live to your full potential.

Changing your direction with clarity and conviction will change the course of your life. You will start to see a path lit for you. When obstacles occur, they do so to challenge your desires. Quitting does not serve you or others but changing your direction to one of passion and fulfillment will. People will want to share in your passion and help you achieve your goals. Quitting is not an option nor is it a solution.

"Success seems to be connected with action. Successful people keep moving. They make mistakes, but they don't quit."

 - Conrad Hilton

Track Your Way

Every successful person followed a path. Each path may vary in length and smoothness. Some paths may be hilly, some may have a slight bend in the road, and some may even be straight. The beauty of each path is that even if two people are heading to the same destination, their path will vary in lessons learned and length of time to get there. Yet they both can get to the same destination and succeed.

One of our family goals is to be more active than we currently are. I decided to get each of us a pedometer. We are going to keep track of all the steps we take in one day and set our own personal goals. We will strive to reach our personal bests. The kids were quite excited. "How cool! Look at how many steps I  have!" as they ran in one spot or dash up and down the stairs. Instant althletes!

Tracking your way to success can be exhilarating!  Watching your progress creates momentum and awareness of the efforts required to reach your goals. Set a goal. Have a clear intention of what you want your end result to look like. Break your goal into smaller steps - daily, weekly, and monthly. At the end of each day, review the steps you have taken and track your progress by writing down what you have accomplished. Celebrate your victories! Plan your next day and realign or tweak any changes you need to. How can you improve if you do not reflect on what you do? Each day is a fresh start to great things!

If your goal is to declutter a room, stay in the room until you finish it. Do not beat yourself up if you have completed 90% of the room and you still have 10% left at the end of the day. Marvel at the beauty of what you have accomplished. Just think - it is way better than it was and there is so little left to complete that you will get it done quickly the next day and move on. Aah! Feels great doesn't it. Feel the weight off your shoulders as you can now relax in your decluttered room, closet, or garage. It is welcoming and now you look forward to spending time in that space.

Success comes in all shapes and sizes. What are you trying to accomplish? Track your way and you will see what makes you the success you are! Now I have to go so I can get my steps in!

Stepping Out of Comfort into Glory

On vacation a couple weeks ago, I watched a movie called "Morning Glory" with Harrison Ford, Diane Keaton, and Rachel McAdams. The morning show was at risk of being cut from prime time viewing and to be replaced with game shows and soap operas. The new executive producer was at risk of losing her job when she realized it was time to do something different. All of the people were doing the same thing that they had been doing for years. Not only did she have to step out of her comfort zone, she had to get others to do the same in order to save the show. Roller coaster rides, jumping out of planes, and even getting sprayed by a skunk were just a few of the adventures that started to make the rating rise. Stepping out into Glory!

How are you increasing your ratings in life and business? Are you stepping out of you comfort zone and trying new things? I am not saying you need to jump out of a plane or ride a rollercoaster. Just try something you really want to do. Try something new - be innovative. The "something" may be something you get nervous or excited about, like you did when you were a child. Fresh ideas awaken the world! Weigh the risks and take action! The thrill after you do will be amazing and just think of all the opportunities that may follow.

Action takers are unique and they are the ones who stand out from the crowd. Why? Because they are go-getters! Go-Getters are those people who not only set goals; they make plans to get things done. Are you the person people come to because of your ratings? Do you get things done? What are doing today to step out of your comfort and into glory?

Never Too Late

Adding Sunshine to Blue Monday

The radio stations in Edmonton have been broadcasting that today is "Blue Monday". The third Monday of January is deemed to be the most depressing day of the year.  I believe it works out to be January 24. Apparently, psychologist Cliff Arnall came up with a formula:

Weather plus (+) Debt minus (-) Salary 

Times (x) time since Christmas to time to fail in fulfilling New Year's Resolutions

Divide (/) by Motivation to Take Action

This is also the time of year in which many people suffer from seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Symptoms of seasonal affective disorder may include irritability, moodiness, weight gain, decreased energy, increase in anxiety and despair, fatigue, and avoidance of social situations. For some people, this disorder can be debilitating and for the rest referred to as the "winter blues". Do not despair. There are many things you can to add some sunshine to your world on "Blue Monday".

Change Your Environment. You cannot change the weather but you can change your environment. Apply a new coat of paint to your office walls, hang new pictures, add a plant, or move the furniture around. Make your environment more inviting. Start spring cleaning early. Put a spring picture on your computer as a screen saver.

Chunk Down Your Debts. Create a debt reduction plan. Call your credit card company and ask for a reduction on your interest rate. The same process may be used with your internet, telephone, and television providers when reducing some of your charges. I do not guarantee these solutions for you but I know from personal experience they do work. Use what you have in your pantry for food staples, plan your meals, buy groceries with a list, and cook your own style of gourmet meal...pull out the fancy china for you. Why? You are worth it.

Increase Your Salary. Get a second job or spend less. Use your skills and talents to help you generate income doing things like typing/proofreading, walking a dog, babysitting, even snow shovelling (if you have snow).

Make Your Resolutions Stick. Write down your goals. Create action steps to achieve them. Make sure they are realistic. Ask for help or delegate to get things done. Resolutions stick when you are focussed. Let others know what you want to achieve so they can remind you of your commitment to yourself. Perhaps you can remind them of theirs.

Motivation. Surround yourself with like minded individuals. If weight loss is your goal, join a group who wants to lose weight or hire a personal trainer to help you with your goal. Keep a diary of your food intake and activity. Track your progress.Celebrate your milestones. Create your own exercise playlist of songs which pump you up and make you feel energized and alive.

Take action. Most importantly, take action steps toward your goals. Keep the momentum going. You want sustainability not an overnight set up and take down. Your determination and perserverance with carry you through any obstacles in your way. Many experts say it takes 21 days to break or make a new habit, I challenge you to go for 30 days instead and create a fire in your belly to succeed and persist because you really want what you are focus on.

Finally, add sunshine to your life with laughter and surrounding yourself with family and friends. Go for a walk. Go to an art gallery or a movie. Make a snow angel or have a snowball fight. Sing in the shower. Recite your dreams aloud. Tell a joke. Smile with your eyes.

For this is one day, which will not repeat itself, so live it up!

"Nothing is worth more than this day." ~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Tomorrow is a new day - Tuesday!

What Are You Waiting for?

Do you ever feel that you are waiting for something big to happen? Are you waiting for a big break that will skyrocket your career or business? Are you waiting for a knight in shining armor to come and sweep you off your feet? What would happen, instead of waiting around, you stepped into taking action and met your miracle or unexpected surprise?

You may have heard the joke about the man who kept praying to God to win the lottery. After several times, he heard the voice of God say, "Can you please buy a ticket?" You cannot win the lottery without a ticket. You cannot skyrocket in your career or business looking at a computer screen or daydreaming. You cannot meet the man of your dreams sitting on the couch at home and watching television. Perhaps you are waiting for someone to do something for you. If so, do they know you are waiting and for what? You could be waitng a long time.

This is why it is so important to take action and responsibility for the things we want in our lives. I believe miracles and wonderful things happen in our lives everyday if we stop and pay attention to them. I also believe your efforts are rewarded. There is a turning point which occurs in everyone's lives where they are pleasantly surprised at one time or another. Meet your dreams at the door.

BELIEVE

Believe. Believe, your dreams and goals to be real, tangible, and achieveable.

Envision. Envision achieving your dream or goal daily.

Live. Live your life looking for unexpected pleasant surprises.

Impact. Think about the impact achieving your dream or goal will have in your life and in the lives of others.

Empower. Empower yourself by listening to audiobooks, reading, or surrounding yourself with like-minded people.

Value. Value yourself and others. Give value to others and they will support you.

Energize. Get excited about your life and look forward to what awaits you.

Waiting lets your mind play tricks on you. You may start worrying about the "hows" or doubting in your abilities. What I do know is - everything happens at the right time. The right people will come into your life and the hows will be solved. We do not always understand the timing but it happens when God or the Universe believes it to be in alignment.  Step out and take action! Take an extra course, go out with your girlfriends, and buy your lottery ticket. You do not have to wait...the world is waiting for you!

Has waiting costed you an opportunity? Share your experiences with us!

Achieve Goals Without Trying

I was walking briskly by the magazine rack at the gym and one of the headlines on a magazine caught my eye. The title read, "Lose weight without trying." I began to wonder how was that done. A magic pill, the cure all for cellulite. Perhaps, positive thinking will melt away the pounds of Christmas sweets and baking. I am afraid not. I did not open the magazine to read the article but it got me thinking. Can you achieve your goals without trying too?

Goal setting is an exercise of your mind. You must get clear on what it is you want so you can start moving toward achieving it. Keeping track of your goals in your mind is not very effective. You must write them down, hence the phrase, "Think it and ink it." By doing this, you make your goals more tangible and real. You also bring your goals to a greater awareness; they are not something you tuck in the back of your mind and only retrieve when the time feels right. If you want something bad enough, the time should be right now. If not, when?

Goals have parameters that need to be considered when writing them out. You need to be specific with what it is you wish to achieve. Maybe you do want to lose weight. If so, much? Once you are sure on what it is you want to achieve, what will demonstrate to you that you have achieved it? For weight loss, it could be the scale, how you feel in your clothes, or the measurements you read as you use a tape measure on different circumferences of your body.

"A goal is a dream with a deadline." - Napoleon Hill

You need to be able to measure your results. In what time frame do you wish to achieve your goal? Now with that being said, goal setting is specific to individuals. Your goal is set and completed by you, no one else can achieve your goal for you as it is your vision for vision for yourself. You have to be invested in yourself. Are the goals you have set achieveable and realistic for you and the time frame you set to accomplish ? Setting a goal to lose 20 pounds in one week is not realistic nor healthy for you. Do you see what I mean? How does someone achieve a goal without trying?

A person needs to take action steps to create a momentum toward achieving their goals. Goal setting is the "magic pill" of achievement. Consistent action and cultivation of healthy goal setting or habits will take a lot further than "without trying". As Dr. Phil would say, "How is that working for you?"

Are You Ready to Get Your Head in the Game?

How Great Is Your Will?

“Do or do not... there is no try.” - Yoda

The road to successful living comes with many choices and the willingness to participate in your life. Being a bystander in your life, does not allow you to share your light and energy with others. Those who choose to be a victim in their lives get left behind, while others who actively participate enjoy the journey to success and happiness because they are in control of where they want to go. According to Brainy Quote, willingness is "the quality or state of being willing; free choice or consent of the will; freedom from reluctance; readiness of the mind to do or forbear." Other will related definitions are: do, being, choice, will, and freedom. Do you use these words when you speak? Do you have a choice and the will for freedom?

Here are 10 questions to ask yourself on your journey to success:

1. 
   
   Am I willing to give first and expect nothing in return?
2. 
   
   Am I willing to ask for what I want?
3. 
   
   Am I willing to set goals and plan ways to get what I want?
4. 
   
   Am I willing to give up complaining, making excuses, and blaming others for not getting what I want and take 100% responsibility for my actions?
5. 
   
   Am I willing to say "no" to an opportunity based on my priorities knowing that bigger and better opportunities may come my way?
6. 
   
   Am I willing to step out of my comfort zone to experience all life has to offer me?
7. 
   
   Am I willing to fail in order to learn and move forward?
8. 
   
   Am I willing to persevere when the going gets tough?
9. 
   
   Am I willing to embrace change?
10. 
    
    Am I willing to take action?

When you are willing to go after what you want with conviction, you will inevitably get where you want to go and achieve what you want to achieve. You must be willing to do what it takes. How badly do you want what you say you want? What are some other questions you ask yourself about your "willingness" to participate in this exciting world called life?

"Courage is simply the willingness to be afraid and act anyway. "

Robert Anthony