February 2007

MARK'S DAILY THOUGHTS: February 2007

2007-02-01 - The People You Want to Attract
The people you associate with will often determine that the level of success you will achieve. For the success you desire, what type of people do you want to associate with, to attract? The more specific you are in whom you want to attract, the faster you will take the actions to attract those people.

2007-02-02 - Be a Realistic Optimist
You often hear motivational speakers talk about being positive and optimistic. Being positive is the place to start, but taking action on those positive thoughts is going to make you successful. If you don't take action, your optimism is not based on anything real. Be a realistic optimist and take the action.

2007-02-03 - Walk your Talk
There's nothing better in developing business relationships than to do what you say (i.e. act in a way that is consistent with your talk). This gives you both credibility and trust, and they are the foundations of strong/long-term business relationships.

2007-02-04 - Do What's Necessary
Most of the people won't do things they don't like to do, even if they are really necessary to get ahead in life. The successful people just get on with it and do what's necessary (even if it's something they don't like to do). Since most of the people won't do what's necessary, then there's little competition for you. Do what's necessary today.

2007-02-05 - Every Leader is in "Show" Business
If you think about it, every leader is really in "show" business. They are always communicating to their people to "show" the direction and the possibilities for their organisation's success. Also, they are the "show" in many cases, as they are their people's role model. Remember, as a leader you are in "show" business.

2007-02-06 - Customers Determine the Culture You Need
Many leaders are focussed on the culture they need to drive in their companies to be successful. However, often they take a too internal view on this and miss their most important source - their customers. Remember, it is your customers that determine the culture you need.

2007-02-07 - Be a "Go To" Person
One of the best compliments you could ever get is that others view you as a "Go To" person. That means that you have the attitude and determination to always deliver on what you set out to do. Would your co-workers and friends describe you as a "Go To" Person?

2007-02-08 - Compare Yourself to your Potential
True competitors do not really compare themselves to their competition, but to their own potential. Comparing yourself to the competition sets limits on yourself and you will not see the opportunities that are within your potential. From today, compare yourself to your potential.

2007-02-09 - How do you Feed your Creativity
Everyone has their own special times when they are most creative, and there are often different ways that everyone's creativity gets triggered. However, we all need to also feed our creativity by the books we read, the CD's we listen to, and the experiences from the people we meet each week. What are the best ways you feed your creativity?

2007-02-10 - It's the Questions that Drive Change
Change often comes from the questions we ask ourselves and others. The better the questions you ask yourself and others, the more focused the change you drive. A great overall question to ask yourself is "Is what I am doing right now - taking me closer or further away from my goals?"

2007-02-11 - You Can't See the Picture When You're in the Frame
Many people get so consumed in their day-to-day problems, that they don't see the opportunities that are really right in front of them. They need to step back from the day-to-day and look at things in a broader perspective to see those opportunities. Remember, you can't see the full picture (the opportunities) when you are in the frame.

2007-02-12 - Responsibility: The Ability to Respond
A good definition of responsibility is the ability to respond. That's a great way to describe it, as it demonstrates that we all can take responsibility. It means we take ownership and respond to whatever happens that impacts our ability to deliver. Remember this definition: Responsibility is the ability to take ownership and respond.

2007-02-13 - It's Feedback, Not Failure
There never is a failure in your life unless you don't learn from the experience. Failure, when you take the learnings, is really feedback. It is highlighting a way that doesn't work and gives you learnings and insights to do better the next time.

2007-02-14 - Buy Stock in Yourself
You buy a certain company's stock because you see the potential in the company to perform, and you invest money in the company. Why not buy stock in yourself. You do that by investing time for your own self-development because you see the potential in you.

2007-02-15 - Develop Understanding Through Study
Continuous study is so important for success. Most people study just enough to learn "how". The successful people keep on studying to learn not just the "how", but the "why". As the saying goes, people who only know the "HOW" will always be lead by those who know the "WHY".

2007-02-16 - Be Accountable for your Own Happiness
You hear people say all the time - "I wish _____ would act different, as I would be much happier." They are always looking for others to be responsible for their own happiness. Be accountable for your own happiness. It is just a decision to be happy, and you will then create your own better circumstances.

2007-02-17 - What's Your Inner Dialogue?
What you say to yourself can be one of the most important dialogues you can have. Are you constantly telling yourself that you can do it, or that you can't do it? What impact would it have on a friend if you would constantly tell them they couldn't do something (or that they were not capable)? We wouldn't do that to a friend, be often do it to ourselves! Keep your inner dialogue positive, take action and you will get the results you desire.

2007-02-18 - We Look for Evidence of our Thoughts
Whatever we think about drives what we look for in our lives. If we are thinking negative, we will naturally look for what's negative in everything. However, if we are thinking positive, we will then see the positive and the opportunities that are everywhere. Remember, we always look for the evidence of our thoughts.

2007-02-19 - If You were in Similar Circumstances
Too many times we get upset with another person's behaviour and say to ourselves, "I would never have acted like that". Maybe true. However, their circumstances are different than yours. Their life experiences have been different than yours. If you were in similar circumstances, would you have behaved in similar ways? This is great to keep in mind when responding to another's behaviour.

2007-02-20 - Law of Diminishing Intent
Whenever you see an opportunity, it is important to take some sort of action as quick as possible. Every day you delay taking action, your motivation weakens, and you may end up taking no action at all on that opportunity. Don't let this happen to you. Take action right way on those key opportunities that come your way.

2007-02-21 - Two Types of People - Inspired and Uninspired
There are two types of people in this world. The inspired: who look at life with optimism and see opportunities everywhere. And, the uninspired: who wouldn't see an opportunity if it ran straight into them. Which are you? Remember, it is just a decision and it begins right in your mind. "To be or not to be". Just make the decision.

2007-02-22 - Feel Comfortable with Who You Are
Successful people feel very comfortable with who they are. That makes them more relaxed and gives them confidence to take the necessary actions to make them even more successful. However, this doesn't mean that they are satisfied with their own development. They are continuously taking action to improve themselves and that's another reason they feel comfortable. They know that they are growing to meet any new challenges and opportunities that come their way.

2007-02-23 - Forget the Word - Later
Too often people will say, "I'll do that later"; and then later never comes. Whenever you need to delay something, delay it to a specific date and time. Remember, never use the word later and it is best to abolish it from your vocabulary forever.

2007-02-24 - Your Beliefs Determine Your Actions
It is absolutely true. Your beliefs determine your actions. If you believe that a goal is not possible, then you will not see the opportunities that come your way and you won't take action. Your belief determines what opportunities you will see and also provide the fuel for your actions.

2007-02-25 - Preparation is Where Success is Found
It is the preparation where success is usually found. Contrary to what unsuccessful people believe, success doesn't really come down to luck. It comes from the preparation that makes the successful person ready when the opportunities come their way.

2007-02-26 - Find What Will Make it Worth it for You
Every person has it inside them to be successful. Most never use it, as they never find what will make it worth it for them. That means, what is so important to them that they would be very determined and disciplined to do whatever is necessary to achieve it. Find what will make it worth if for you, and you've just found your key to success.

2007-02-27 - An Attitude is Something You Can Share
When you have a positive attitude, you can have an impact on others. You can share a positive attitude, but you can also share a negative one as well. So, which one would you prefer to share with others? Be positive and you will always have an attitude "worth" sharing.

2007-02-28 - Don't Be A Victim of Circumstance
When we lack goals in our lives, we a really a victim of circumstance. We are driven by the goals and actions of others and maybe not in the direction that we wan to go. When we are a victim, we usually don't know what we want. The only cure is to decide what you want, set your goals, and then take the action to create your own circumstances that are in the direction of your goals.

January 2007 « » March 2007

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