Too many people die at 20 and are buried at 80. Too many people coast through life, never manifesting their potential and using only a fraction of their personal talents. According to the latest scientific research, the average person uses only 1/100th of 1% of their brain power over the course of the lives while respected researcher Ivan Yefremov has confirmed that "we could, without difficulty, learn 40 languages, memorize a set of encyclopedias from A to Z and complete the required courses of dozens of colleges." And yet most people become creatures of complacency, doing the same things, in the same way, with the same people, every day.
Here are 9 powerful lessons to consider for getting the best from yourself and manifesting the fullness of the potential for excellence that lies within you:
1. Define a Higher Reality
The most successful people in business are "possibilitarians". They make the impossible probable by thinking better thoughts than others and constantly visualizing a larger future. Make the time to think creatively and dream of ways to grow your business and enrich your personal life. Go to educational seminars, expose yourself to richer information and stay open to new ideas.
2. Surround Yourself with the Best
You are a product of your environment. The Principle of Association says that who you will be 5 years from now comes down to two primary influences: the people you associate with and the books you read. Make sure both are first rate. Surround yourself with people who are moving forward, men and woman who are excited and passionate about the changing business world we live within. Form a mastermind alliance of other salespeople who are creative and successful and meet weekly over the new year to brainstorm new ways to multiply your business victories. Also, read the biographies of the people you admire and learn from their lives. You can get deeply into the minds of the world's greatest thinkers simply by walking into a library.
3. Live in Day Tight Compartments
In the seminars that I deliver for companies across the country, I urge people to bring a greater sense of urgency to their days. Too many people squander their time worrying about past failures or future challenges. Yet, all to often, the fears of the future never materialize. As Mark Twain observed: "I've had a lot of trouble in my life, some of which actually happened." Live every day fully. The past is history and the future is but a dream. This day is all you have. Try new things, take more chances, think bigger thoughts. The results will speak for themselves.
4. Raise Your Standards
Eye doctors use the term "Amblyopia" to describe the phenomenon that occurs when the healthy eye of a young child, after being covered by a patch, loses its ability to see. People who spend their days working within a small zone of comfort also suffer from their own form of Amblyopia. By living their lives with blinders on, they have lost their natural ability to see the boundless opportunities presented by this Age of Knowledge. They have lost their vision and grow content with mediocrity. Unfortunately, the only path to a satisfying life is through excellence and initiative. Raise your standards for the year ahead. Demand more of yourself and push yourself to try things you may have thought you could never do. The best way to conquer fear is to meet it head on.
5. Go the Extra Mile
One of the best strategies for business success is to "under promise and over deliver." This simple philosophy will create a core of "True Believers" within your customer base who will generate tremendous word of mouth advertising for your business. Ask your customers what they expect from you in terms of service and then exceed their expectations. And do the same in your personal life. Read for 30 minutes a day, no matter how busy you are since new ideas are the commodity of success in these information-crazed times. Also work hard since industry always delivers its rewards. And constantly be improving your self since leadership always begins within.
6. Focus Your Energy
The great sage Confucius said: "man who chases two rabbits catches neither." One of the timeless principles of success is also one of the simplest: focus your energies on the things that count. As I teach in my time management seminars: "The person who tries to do everything ends up doing nothing. The real secret to getting things done lies in knowing what needs to be left undone." Concentrate your time on only those high-leverage activities that will lead you to your stated goals. If an activity is not linked to one of your strategic objectives, have the self-discipline to "just say no." Your productivity and achievement levels will soar.
7. Be a Motivational Leader
Peak performers are people-centered. They understand that by helping people get what they want, they will help you get what you want. Tirelessly ask those in your network of contacts: "How can I help you reach your goals?" Be of constant service to your customers, to your friends and to your community. Inspire others by your example and keep the promises you make. You might be surprised by the endless opportunities that are certain to come your way.
8. Be the Change
We are swimming in a sea of change. There has been more new information developed over the past 30 years than in the previous 5000. Technology is changing at a breakneck pace, the sociopolitical world has been transformed and even our workplaces and work styles are far different than they were just a few years ago. So what can we do to not only survive in this new information economy but thrive? My answer is to "Be the change". One day Mahatma Gandhi was asked by one of his followers how to change the attitudes of others. Gandhi thought for a while and then replied with a knowing smile: "Be the change." Embrace change as a business tool. Let go of that "bunker mentality" and be a part of the changing world around you. Master technology, surf the Net, take courses and start to see change for what it really is: an opportunity to take your business and your life to a whole new level of effectiveness.
9. Master The Action Habit
"Knowing is not enough, we must apply. Willing is not enough, we must do," wrote the German philosopher Goethe. Top performers understand that lasting success is a numbers game: the more action you take, the more results you reap. Take cold calling for example. The salesperson who makes one hundred calls a day is certain to close more deals that the one who only makes 50. Get good at taking action. If you learn a new marketing strategy or a new stress reduction tactic at a seminar, apply it immediately before "The Law of Diminishing Intent" takes hold and your desire starts to fade. If most people effectively implemented even half of the ideas that have graced their minds over the years, they would be successful beyond their dreams. The problem is that most people simply do not act on what they know. Don't let that happen to you.
Sustainable Living Articles @ http://www.articlegarden.com
Showing posts with label workday. Show all posts
Showing posts with label workday. Show all posts
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
13 small things to simplify your workday
I love to read articles and blog posts on how to simplify my life and be more effecient during work or at home with my kids. I came across a site that I love and refer back to regularly and thought I would share one of the blog posts with you. I find it great when I am able to get a few things out of editorial content and share it with my friends.
13 small things to simplify your workday
Work simply and with focus.
“Do the difficult things while they are easy and do the great things while they are small. A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.” ~Lao Tzu
Post written by Leo Babauta.
One of the best things I did when I decided to simplify my life was to simplify my workday — first at my day job and later, by quitting my day job, in the work I do now as a writer and entrepreneur.
I’ve eliminated most of the routine, boring, administrative tasks with a few simple principles.
These days, I have eliminated the non-essentials, and can focus on what I truly love: creating.
Not everyone can make such drastic steps toward simplicity, but if you have some control over your workday, you can do a few small things that will simplify things greatly.
If you don’t have control, or if you find yourself thinking, “I can’t do these things”, I’d start to ask why not? Is it possible to change things, if not today then over the long term? I found that often I thought something wasn’t possible (working from home, for example), but in the long run they were.
You don’t need to do all of these things — pick just one, and try it. Then try another and see if it works. Experiment to find what works for you.
And enjoy the simple work life.
Start early. Going into work early was one of my favorite tricks — it was quiet, before the phones and chatter and meetings started, and I could get a lot of work done in peace. By the time everyone else was getting started, I’d gotten two or three big tasks checked off.
Limit your hours. It’s ironic, because so many people work long hours and think they’re getting more done and being more productive. But they’re throwing brute hours at the problem. Instead, cut back on your hours and set a limit — say 6 or 7 hours a day — and get your most essential work done within that limit. If you know you’re only working 6 hours today, you’ll be sure to get the important tasks done first and waste less time. Limits force you to be effective.
Make a short list. Make a long list of all the tasks you need to do … then make a short list of 1-3 things you really want to get done. Choose so that, if you got only these tasks done, you’d be proud of what you did today. Start with the most important task, before checking email or reading online.
Batch distractions. What are your common distractions? Perhaps things like email, reading blogs, Twitter or another social network? Set a time for these, preferably later in the day: say, from 3-4 p.m. Don’t do the distractions before then. By grouping them all into one time period, you allow yourself to do other work first, but still get in your distraction time. Another approach might be to do them for 10 minutes at the end of each hour — but stick to that 10-minute limit!
Write shorter emails. If email takes up a lot of your day, the simple change of limiting yourself to 3-4 sentences per email will make a big difference. First, it’ll drastically shorten the time it takes to write or respond to emails. And second, it’ll shorten responses to your emails, which means you’ll spend less time reading email.
Limit meetings. The fewer the better. Some top Google executives just do 5-minute meetings — anyone who attends these meetings had better be prepared, and concise. If you can get out of meetings and just get the notes, or find an alternative way to communicate, it could save you hours per week.
Automate. The fewer repetitive and routine tasks you have to do, the more time you’ll free up for creating and important work. So automate wherever possible: have people fill things out electronically, or get info from your website instead of emailing or calling you, or use a service that automatically processes payments or ships your product, and so on.
Eliminate paperwork. I used to deal with a lot of paperwork, and even then I knew it was a waste of my time. If businesses and organizations could have paperwork filled out electronically, it would save a lot of paper, copying, filing, and duplicate effort. Whenever possible, eliminate paperwork in favor of digital. This might be more of a long-term move.
Clear your desk. This can be done in a few minutes. Clear everything off the top of your desk. Only put back a few essential items. Everything else should be: filed, given to the appropriate person, given a permanent spot in a drawer, or trashed/recycled. Make quick decisions and then get back to work.
Get away. If you can get out of your office, you can find a peaceful spot where you can focus on important work. Find a spot where you can work, turn off the Internet and do your work, and then turn the Internet back on so you can email or upload it to the appropriate spot. Working from home is a good option here. The more you can do this (it might be once a week, or an hour a day, or half of every workday), the better.
Take breathing breaks. Every 15-20 minutes, get up from your desk, and take a breathing break. It could be simply walking around the office, saying hi to someone, or even better, getting outside to get some fresh air. Walk around, get your blood circulating, perhaps massage your neck and shoulders if you feel tension. Do some pushups if you want to get fitter. When you get back to work, remind yourself what you want to be working on, and clear away all distractions.
Practice a focus ritual. Every hour or two, do a refocus ritual. This only takes a minute or two. You might start it by closing down your browser and maybe other open applications, and maybe even take a walk for a couple of minutes to clear your head and get your blood circulating. Then return to your list of Most Important Tasks and figure out what you need to accomplish next. Before you check email again or go back online, work on that important task for as long as you can. Repeat this refocus ritual throughout the day, to bring yourself back. It’s also nice to take some nice deep breaths to focus yourself back on the present. More focus rituals.
Schedule big blocks of creative time. Not everyone can do this, but when possible, put a big block of 3-4 hours in your schedule for creating or doing other important work. Make this time inviolate, and don’t allow meetings or other things to be scheduled during this time. Be ruthless about clearing distractions and doing the work you love during these blocks, taking breathing breaks as necessary.
Hope you were able to get some good information on of Leo's blog post. Would love to hear your comments on this or any other post we have at SNEWoman.
Best,
Pat
13 small things to simplify your workday
Work simply and with focus.
“Do the difficult things while they are easy and do the great things while they are small. A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.” ~Lao Tzu
Post written by Leo Babauta.
One of the best things I did when I decided to simplify my life was to simplify my workday — first at my day job and later, by quitting my day job, in the work I do now as a writer and entrepreneur.
I’ve eliminated most of the routine, boring, administrative tasks with a few simple principles.
These days, I have eliminated the non-essentials, and can focus on what I truly love: creating.
Not everyone can make such drastic steps toward simplicity, but if you have some control over your workday, you can do a few small things that will simplify things greatly.
If you don’t have control, or if you find yourself thinking, “I can’t do these things”, I’d start to ask why not? Is it possible to change things, if not today then over the long term? I found that often I thought something wasn’t possible (working from home, for example), but in the long run they were.
You don’t need to do all of these things — pick just one, and try it. Then try another and see if it works. Experiment to find what works for you.
And enjoy the simple work life.
Start early. Going into work early was one of my favorite tricks — it was quiet, before the phones and chatter and meetings started, and I could get a lot of work done in peace. By the time everyone else was getting started, I’d gotten two or three big tasks checked off.
Limit your hours. It’s ironic, because so many people work long hours and think they’re getting more done and being more productive. But they’re throwing brute hours at the problem. Instead, cut back on your hours and set a limit — say 6 or 7 hours a day — and get your most essential work done within that limit. If you know you’re only working 6 hours today, you’ll be sure to get the important tasks done first and waste less time. Limits force you to be effective.
Make a short list. Make a long list of all the tasks you need to do … then make a short list of 1-3 things you really want to get done. Choose so that, if you got only these tasks done, you’d be proud of what you did today. Start with the most important task, before checking email or reading online.
Batch distractions. What are your common distractions? Perhaps things like email, reading blogs, Twitter or another social network? Set a time for these, preferably later in the day: say, from 3-4 p.m. Don’t do the distractions before then. By grouping them all into one time period, you allow yourself to do other work first, but still get in your distraction time. Another approach might be to do them for 10 minutes at the end of each hour — but stick to that 10-minute limit!
Write shorter emails. If email takes up a lot of your day, the simple change of limiting yourself to 3-4 sentences per email will make a big difference. First, it’ll drastically shorten the time it takes to write or respond to emails. And second, it’ll shorten responses to your emails, which means you’ll spend less time reading email.
Limit meetings. The fewer the better. Some top Google executives just do 5-minute meetings — anyone who attends these meetings had better be prepared, and concise. If you can get out of meetings and just get the notes, or find an alternative way to communicate, it could save you hours per week.
Automate. The fewer repetitive and routine tasks you have to do, the more time you’ll free up for creating and important work. So automate wherever possible: have people fill things out electronically, or get info from your website instead of emailing or calling you, or use a service that automatically processes payments or ships your product, and so on.
Eliminate paperwork. I used to deal with a lot of paperwork, and even then I knew it was a waste of my time. If businesses and organizations could have paperwork filled out electronically, it would save a lot of paper, copying, filing, and duplicate effort. Whenever possible, eliminate paperwork in favor of digital. This might be more of a long-term move.
Clear your desk. This can be done in a few minutes. Clear everything off the top of your desk. Only put back a few essential items. Everything else should be: filed, given to the appropriate person, given a permanent spot in a drawer, or trashed/recycled. Make quick decisions and then get back to work.
Get away. If you can get out of your office, you can find a peaceful spot where you can focus on important work. Find a spot where you can work, turn off the Internet and do your work, and then turn the Internet back on so you can email or upload it to the appropriate spot. Working from home is a good option here. The more you can do this (it might be once a week, or an hour a day, or half of every workday), the better.
Take breathing breaks. Every 15-20 minutes, get up from your desk, and take a breathing break. It could be simply walking around the office, saying hi to someone, or even better, getting outside to get some fresh air. Walk around, get your blood circulating, perhaps massage your neck and shoulders if you feel tension. Do some pushups if you want to get fitter. When you get back to work, remind yourself what you want to be working on, and clear away all distractions.
Practice a focus ritual. Every hour or two, do a refocus ritual. This only takes a minute or two. You might start it by closing down your browser and maybe other open applications, and maybe even take a walk for a couple of minutes to clear your head and get your blood circulating. Then return to your list of Most Important Tasks and figure out what you need to accomplish next. Before you check email again or go back online, work on that important task for as long as you can. Repeat this refocus ritual throughout the day, to bring yourself back. It’s also nice to take some nice deep breaths to focus yourself back on the present. More focus rituals.
Schedule big blocks of creative time. Not everyone can do this, but when possible, put a big block of 3-4 hours in your schedule for creating or doing other important work. Make this time inviolate, and don’t allow meetings or other things to be scheduled during this time. Be ruthless about clearing distractions and doing the work you love during these blocks, taking breathing breaks as necessary.
Hope you were able to get some good information on of Leo's blog post. Would love to hear your comments on this or any other post we have at SNEWoman.
Best,
Pat
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