July 2006

MARK'S DAILY THOUGHTS: July 2006

2006-07-01 - Learn to Take Risks
Nothing great was ever accomplished without taking some risks. Learn to take risks and always look to cover the downsides in order to drive your success at a faster pace. If you get into the habit of taking well thought out risks, you will begin to be more comfortable taking more of them in the future.

2006-07-02 - Increase your Expectations
If you want a better life, then increase your expectations. We tend to get what we expect, and many times we are setting our expectations way too low. We are all capable of accomplishing much more than we do, so why not set your expectations higher from this week and accomplish more of what you are capable of.

2006-07-03 - Survival, Success or Significance
What's your goal for your life? Too many people set their goal only on survival. That's a goal, but not a very motivating one. Others set it on success. They achieve it, but sometimes do not feel fulfilled. Lastly, there are those people who set a goal of significance. They want to make an impact on other people's lives. What's your goal?

2006-07-04 - Never Argue from Extremes
It is important when arguing a point with others to never take an extreme position or provide an extreme example. People who make points from extremes do not really argue from a position of power, as anyone can find an extreme point in their favour in any argument. Remember, never argue from extremes or take an extreme position.

2006-07-05 - ROE - Return on Energy
A good way to decide our focus areas and key activities is to think in terms of the ROE - Return on Energy. It's where we apply our energy that's important, and we need to constantly review that we are applying our energy in the right places. Where are you putting your energy today?

2006-07-06 - Make sure what's Inside gets Outside
You see it so many times, especially with quiet and intelligent people. You know these people are very capable and can do much more. However, their personality is not "outgoing" and they don't share their ideas with others. They are outwardly showing only a fraction of the capabilities that are inside them. It is important for these people to stretch their comfort zones and be a little more outgoing and engage others in a more pro-active way. Basically, making sure what's "Inside" gets "Outside".

2006-07-07 - Failure is part of the Process of Success
Successful people have experienced some type of failure during their life. For them, failure was just part of the process towards their success. Yes, they took a step back, but they learned from what happened and then took action to move forward again. Failure is never final. Treat it as another learning and get "back into action" quickly.

2006-07-08 - Content and Context
Content and Context are two important words to remember when we see two people react in different ways to the same event. The content is what both people observe, but the context each person makes is based on their life experiences (which may be quite different). They will each apply a different meaning to the same event. Keep this in mind when you see others react to the same event in different ways.

2006-07-09 - Think Ahead and Manage Time in Small Segments
Top CEOs get a great deal done, and that's why they have risen to the top. There are two habits that have helped them tremendously. One, they think ahead and plan their week (and days) in advance. Second, they manage their time in small segments and push themselves to be as productive as they can in all those small time segments throughout the day.

2006-07-10 - Focused People have fewer Thoughts
It sounds a little crazy, but very focused and successful people really have fewer thoughts each day, They know what they want and focus all their thoughts on achieving it. They don't let their mind wander off thinking about all kinds of other things. Thus, they have fewer thoughts, but the thoughts they have are highly focused on what they want to accomplish. How focused are your thoughts?

2006-07-11 - Be Prepared when the Breaks come your way
It is always unsuccessful people who complain that they never receive the "breaks" others receive. Successful people take a different attitude. They expect breaks to come their way, but also understand that they need to be prepared to take advantage of those breaks when they arrive. If you have not prepared when the breaks come your way, you will never be in the position to take advantage of them.

2006-07-12 - Expertise and Sustained Effort
If you think about it, you can accomplish anything in life if you have two things. 1) Have the expertise and 2) Keep a sustained effort using that expertise to get what you want. The key is in keeping the sustained effort, and this is where many who really have the expertise fail. Keep that sustained effort on what you have the expertise on and you will get what you want in life and more.

2006-07-13 - Role Model the Good Behaviours of Others
A very fast way to speed your development is to role model the good behaviour of others. No one can advance quickly by learning and developing themselves on their own. Therefore, look for people with great behaviours that you would like to have, and try to role model them each week.

2006-07-14 - What am I Becoming?
A good question to ask yourself is "What am I becoming?" To get more out of life, you need to become more (i.e. grow to enable yourself to take on greater challenges). Ask yourself today, "What am I becoming?" If the answer is not what you really want, then set some growth goals today and take some action on them right away.

2006-07-15 - The Self Sabotage Principle
One of the most dangerous obstacles we put in our own way is the idea that we don't deserve success. We often evaluate our own abilities in a negative way towards others, and when opportunities come our way; we act as if we are not good enough to take advantage of them. Don't self sabotage your success and believe in your own abilities.

2006-07-16 - Enable your People to Feel Empowered
One of the most important goals of a leader is to enable their people to feel empowered. Empowered people know their goals and commitments, take action on their own initiative, and are willing to take risks. Big steps forward can be achieved when everyone on the organisation feel empowered to take risks and make things happen.

2006-07-17 - Shape the world the way you want it
People don't often realise that it's their goals that are really shaping the world around them. If you don't have goals, your world is being shaped by others and what they want. If you want to shape your world the way you want it, then get some goals today, and make them "big" goals too.

2006-07-18 - Watch your Language
Many times we get under stress with a few problems to address and we begin to say everything in a negative way. We are letting our problems affect everything we say and do, even in areas where everything is ok. What your language and communications during these times. Yes, you have problems, but when you keep your talk in a positive way, solutions come faster.

2006-07-19 - Design a Life - Not Make a Living
If you really want to be the best you can be, you need to think about designing a life and not just making a living. Just making a living doesn't have enough power to drive you to be the best you can be. So, start today and design the life you want first, and then begin taking action to become the person who will then get it.

2006-07-20 - Live your Life with Discipline
If there is one trait that all successful people possess, then it is discipline. The discipline to do "what's necessary" helps people with just average abilities succeed where others fail. How would you rate your ability to discipline yourself to do "what's necessary"? If you rate yourself low, then this is where your self-development should start.

2006-07-21 - Don't Wish it was Easier, Wish You were Better
Too often we all wish things were easier for ourselves (i.e. work wasn't so challenging, family issues not as difficult, etc). However, instead of wishing things were easier, why don't we wish we were better. If we are constantly working on our own growth, we will find more things easier for us. What are your personal growth goals to become better?

2006-07-22 - There's never a straight line to your goals
In whatever you do in life, there is never a perfect path (a straight line) to your goals. There are always some adjustments you will need to make and it is the adjustments that help you grow. Expect the adjustments (it's normal), and just stay focused on your goals.

2006-07-23 - Take Responsibility for your own Attitude
Ever hear people say, "I will be happy when....". They are waiting for external events before making an internal decision (deciding their own attitude). Our attitude is our responsibility and it is our own decision whether we will have a happy or unhappy one. Make the decision to have a happy attitude today.

2006-07-24 - Your Reasons for "not doing" are not valid
Whenever you see yourself procrastinating on something, why not take a look at the reasons why you are delaying action. Those reasons are probably not valid, and by looking at those reasons, it will drive you towards taking the action you have been avoiding.

2006-07-25 - Listening - One of the most Important Skills for a Leader
Listening can be one of the most important skills for a successful leader. Listening helps a leader to understand their people and what they are thinking more clearly. This better understanding helps to know how best to influence and motivate the people, and then see much more clearly the right actions to take.

2006-07-26 - Pain of Self-Discipline or Pain of Regret
Many things in life are attainable if only we had the self-discipline to take the necessary actions. Successful people would rather have the pain of self-discipline (taking those necessary actions) than the pain of regret (I could have, but ...). Which pain do you prefer?

2006-07-27 - Never Save your People from Thinking
Leaders are always busy, and when their people come to them with problems; they sometimes just simply give them the answer. What those leaders have done is saved their people from thinking. It is better to ask questions in such a way that their people see the answers.

2006-07-28 - You Get What You Expect
In life, everything seems to happen according to your expectations. You get what you expect. Therefore, raise your expectations and you will get a better life. What you expect and visualise is really feeding your sub-conscious mind to help you point out opportunities that will help you achieve it. A good saying to remember is to "Expect the best and forget the rest."

2006-07-29 - Adjustments are Necessary for your Growth
Life never happens in a straight line. There are always adjustments we need to make, and they are necessary for both our success and our personal growth. Every time we need to adjust our course of action towards our goals, we grow. Therefore, look at these adjustments as opportunities versus problems.

2006-07-30 - Picture it in your Mind
Your world starts by what you are thinking and picturing in your mind. Actually, your thinking is like the fuel that drives the engine of your life. Therefore, the quality of your life is in direct proportion to the quality of your thinking and what you are picturing your life to be. Why not set a little time aside each day to do more quality thinking and picturing of the life you really want.

2006-07-31 - Emotion is created by Motion
You have probably heard the expression "Act your way to a new feeling." Emotion and energy on a subject is usually triggered by starting something in motion (i.e. taking action). If you feel yourself not being excited as you should be, why not put something in motion (take an action on it).

June 2006 « » August 2006

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