Philanthropy

Philanthropy Archives

Philanthropy | SUCCESS | What Achievers Read

Bill Murray is one of America’s great pranksters, the funny guy who became a household name on Saturday Night Live. Later, the actor starred in movies including Caddyshack, where he plays a gopher-obsessed greenskeeper named Carl Spackler, and Ghostbusters, in which he plays psychologist, parapsychologist and ghost hunter Peter Venkman. And he knows how to garner attention everywhere he goes, whether he’s playing golf in <a href="https://www.huffpost.com/entry/bill-murray-ghillie-suit-pebble-beach-picture_n_1270509" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">head-to-toe camouflage gear</a> or <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tw9VIXX6RJY" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">skydiving to raise money</a> for USO of Illinois. “He’s a presence,” says his youngest brother, Joel. “He can take a room from zero to 60 depending on the mood he’s in.”



<h2 id="h-bill-murray-s-caddyshack-charity-golf-tournament">Bill Murray’s Caddyshack® Charity Golf Tournament</h2>



But if you want to watch the funny guy turn serious, ask Bill about philanthropy. <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/how-to-give-back-purposefully/">Giving back</a>, he says, completely straight-faced, is a responsibility, not an option. And the centerpiece of his personal efforts is the Murray Bros. <a href="https://murraybrosgolf.com/#about" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Caddyshack® Charity Golf Tournament</a>, hosted by Bill and his five brothers in St. Augustine, Florida, home of the original <a href="https://mbcshack.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Murray Bros. Caddyshack restaurant</a>.



The annual tournament allows Bill to combine subjects he loves: family, charity and golf. “I love golf and spending time with my brothers,” he tells me. “It’s great for all of us to come to Florida, spend time in the restaurant, play these great courses with our friends and <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/how-to-make-giving-back-routine/">do some good things</a> for this community. We’ve had a lot of fun with this tournament and we believe the end result is very worthwhile.”



The idea for the tournament came even before the Caddyshack restaurant opened in the World Golf Village in St. Augustine, home of the World Golf Hall of Fame (the hall of fame is <a href="https://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/news/2022/jul/20/world-golf-hall-of-fame-closing-in-st-augustine-to-move-back-to-north-carolina/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">leaving in late 2023</a>). The brothers were doing a walk through the facility when a group of nuns approached. “They came up to us and said, ‘We heard you boys are Catholics,’” remembers Joel. “They said, ‘What are you going to do for us?’ We said, ‘I guess we can do a golf tournament and give you all the proceeds.’ It was nice because we should be giving back to the area where we are asking people for business.”



<h3 id="h-bill-murray-s-philanthropy-through-golf">Bill Murray’s philanthropy through golf</h3>



Now in its 22nd year, the Murray Bros. Caddyshack® Charity Golf Tournament has raised more than $4 million for charities, including St. Vincent’s Mobile Health Outreach Ministry, Guardian Catholic Schools, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Florida and Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation. The tournament brings in heavy hitters from sports and entertainment, some of whom have become regulars: country music star Darius Rucker; former Caddyshack cast member Cindy Morgan, who played Lacey Underall; actors Melissa Joan Hart and Kristy Swanson; golfers Fuzzy Zoeller and John Daly; and former players from Bill’s beloved Chicago Bears, including Jim McMahon and Hall of Famer Richard Dent.



“You want to have good celebrities who understand the cause and spend time meeting and greeting the guests,” says Chris Seely, a longtime friend of Bill’s. “And of course, they need to play some decent golf or at least have the right handicap.”



On the contrary, Bill jokes: “I make sure I don’t invite any of my friends who are better than me. It’s my tournament; I want to win!”



Actually, Bill, <a href="https://dknation.draftkings.com/2023/2/2/23581292/pebble-beach-pro-am-celebrity-golfers-athletes-best-worst-handicaps-who-will-win" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">who has a +17 handicap</a>, is a pretty good golfer in his own right. He’s also a consummate host. He makes a point of interacting with every player, taking scores of pictures, cracking jokes and delivering one-liners that leave everyone in stitches. (In a previous tournament, Bill had an interesting assessment of this author’s embarrassingly bad swing, which carved a divot that probably sailed farther than the actual ball. Riding up in his golf cart about that time, he said, “Where I come from, we call that a raisin bran shot.” “What?” I asked. “It’ll take two scoops to fill that hole,” he replied.)



<h2 id="h-bill-murray-s-love-of-golf-runs-deep">Bill Murray’s love of golf runs deep</h2>



Comedy and golf seem to be part of the Murray DNA. Of the nine siblings, four are in show business—Bill, Brian, John and Joel have acting credits. Five, if you count sister Nancy, a nun who toured the U.S. with <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3855544/Billy-Murray-s-nun-sister-touring-country-one-woman-patron-saint-fire-prevention.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">a one-woman show</a> about the life of Saint Catherine of Siena. Brian co-wrote the script for Caddyshack, which was inspired by the brothers’ experience working summer jobs as caddies.&nbsp;



Giving back is another Murray family tradition. “It’s just how we were brought up,” Bill says. Joel explains that <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/just-surviving-and-really-living/">their widowed mother</a>, who raised her six sons and three daughters alone, was their primary inspiration. “I don’t know how she made the bills every month. But when she would sit down and do the bills, she would write a check for charity. Even if it was $25, she would write a check for something. She was doing her best to keep shoes on us and <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/how-30-days-of-kindness-made-me-a-better-person/">was always giving something away</a>.”



When it comes to charity, Seely says Bill will do just about anything. In 2008, he jumped out of a plane at the 50th Chicago Air &amp; Water Show. In 2011, Bill and Rucker acted as coaches and team captains in the “<a href="https://abcnews4.com/archive/take-me-out-to-the-ballgame-to-support-louies-kids" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Slim Down the South</a>” charity softball game in Rucker’s hometown of Charleston, South Carolina. Proceeds benefited childhood obesity programs through the nonprofit organization Louie’s Kids.



One tournament Bill plays each year is the <a href="https://www.montereyherald.com/2023/01/18/bill-murray-will-return-for-this-years-att-pebble-beach-pro-am/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">AT&amp;T Pebble Beach Pro-Am</a>. He won’t deny that playing at beautiful Pebble Beach is part of the draw. But his primary motivation is that tournament proceeds go to “charities throughout Monterey, Santa Cruz and San Benito counties,” <a href="https://www.attpbgolf.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">according to the tournament website</a>. His presence alone draws spectators to the event each year. He usually provides a few memorable moments throughout the competition—such as in 2012, where he showed up in a camouflage suit, attempted to putt backward and tickled a cameraman.



<h2 id="h-donating-time-and-money">Donating time and money</h2>



During the Caddyshack tournament, Bill donates eight to 10 foursomes to be used at silent auctions at other tournaments to drum up interest in his causes and broaden participation. He also concocts other ways to give through the Caddyshack tournament. In 2006, he <a href="https://www.9news.com/article/entertainment/bill-murray-builds-caddyshack-motorcycle-for-charity-auction/73-344466363" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">hosted an auction</a> for a custom Caddyshack motorcycle, which he ultimately bought. It happened after Orange County Choppers offered to <a href="https://www.backstage.com/magazine/article/murray-occ-build-caddyshack-motorcycle-34453/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">create a Caddyshack motorcycle</a> on their TV show, which broadcasted on the Discovery Channel. Bill jumped at the opportunity, went to New York and taped the show. Then he invited show hosts Paul Teutul Sr. and Paul Teutul Jr. to the Caddyshack golf tournament to auction off the bike.



“That bike is a piece of art, so I said, ‘You know what, I’m going all in,’” Bill says. “So I won the bike for $150,000. That bike still sits at the restaurant. I’ll take it for a spin every year when I go back, but it wasn’t about the money. I knew it was going for a good cause so I had no problem buying my own bike.”



In the end, while Bill has won fame from his gift for comedy, it’s his gift for giving that’s set him apart from many others in Hollywood. “Bill may be the most caring person I’ve ever known,” Seely says. “He is <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/how-to-use-your-influence-to-help-others/">always thinking of others</a>. He gives to a lot of people and has been a longtime supporter of many worthy causes.”



This article was published in April 2012 and has been updated. Photo by Tim J Gray/Shutterstock

You may know him as the funny guy from "Caddyshack" and "Ghostbusters," but Bill Murray is a philanthropist and lover of golf.

You may know him as the funny guy from "Caddyshack" and "Ghostbusters," but Bill Murray is a philanthropist and lover of golf. | SUCCESS

All Kidding Aside: Bill Murray's Love of Golf and Giving Back

All Kidding Aside: Bill Murray&#8217;s Love of Golf and Giving Back

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How Bill Murray Gives Back Through Golf | SUCCESS

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Elisa Henry

Business &amp; Branding

Business &amp; Branding Archives

Stay ahead in business: strategies and insights for success

<div class="Basic-Text-Frame" id="_idContainer002">
The deeper you understand a subject, the simpler it becomes for you.

The opposite is quite true as well: The simpler your understanding of something, the more complex it seems to you. According to people I’ve interacted with, some of the work I do is considered magical, like some kind of sorcery. But I am no wizard, just a mere webmaster with a <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/3-ways-to-discover-your-true-passion">passion for success</a>.

During the time I’ve been at SUCCESS I’ve had the opportunity to extend my knowledge, which in turn allows me to learn complex concepts and make them simpler for others. The analytics and stats of website traffic can be very intimidating, especially to someone who has to make decisions based on that data. Every dataset has a story, and it’s my goal to provide that story along with the key performance-indicating metrics that contain the information needed to make decisions for <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/5-tips-for-running-a-successful-business">business growth</a>. If I do my job well, SUCCESS.com creates more stories you’ll love.

Related: <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/15-quotes-to-inspire-you-to-never-stop-learning">15 Quotes to Inspire You to Never Stop Learning</a>&nbsp;

Anything can become as simple or complex as you make it. You can take this approach and apply it to almost any topic you’re passionate about. If you can do that, you can create an empire by providing a complex service in the simplest way possible at scale.

I’ve seen it countless times: a small startup offering their services for a complex problem many individuals or companies face. By turning the customer’s problem into a simple solution, they will be rewarded greatly as more and more customers depend on that solution.

In today’s world, most companies (whether or not they like it) have some kind of tech aspect to them. While things continue to get more and more competitive as technology exponentially advances, you must always <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/22-ways-to-become-a-relentless-learner">continue to learn</a>.

You’ll stop growing if you stop learning!

Related: <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/blog/to-be-skilled-at-anything-commit-to-being-a-lifelong-learner">To Be Skilled at Anything, Commit to Being a Lifelong Learner</a>

&nbsp;

This article originally appeared in the <a href="https://store.successcom.wpenginepowered.com/by-media/success-magazine-december-2017-jennifer-hyman.html" target="_blank">December issue of SUCCESS magazine</a>.
</div>

You’ll stop growing if you stop learning!

You’ll stop growing if you stop learning! | SUCCESS

Why You Must Always Continue to Learn

Why You Must Always Continue to Learn | SUCCESS

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Professional Growth

Professional Growth Archives

Professional Growth | SUCCESS | What Achievers Read

How do you <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/9-things-every-aspiring-leader-should-know">get noticed as an up-and-coming leader</a>, one who is a key member of the team? How do you set yourself apart so that you will be identified for career success ahead of others?

With a few consistent actions, you can develop your leadership potential, set yourself apart from the ordinary employee and be noticed as a future leader ahead of your peers.

Related: <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/blog/titles-dont-make-leaders-but-these-7-actions-do">Titles Don’t Make Leaders—But These 7 Actions Do</a>

<h2>1. <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/top-of-mind-7-characteristics-of-the-best-teammates">Be a team player. </a></h2>

According to the Center for Creative Leadership’s World Leadership Survey, organizations are looking for leaders who are collaborative, inclusive and team-oriented. Helping your team deal with conflict, develop cohesion and work together will quickly set you apart to team leaders and managers.

<h2>2. <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/blog/10-ways-to-be-a-leader-even-when-you-arent-in-charge">Lead from where you are. </a></h2>

A leader isn’t always identified by a title. One of the most difficult things to do—but something that will get you noticed—is leading while not formally in charge. Improving communications and taking on difficult tasks gets you noticed by team leaders and managers. When it’s time for managers to move on to other opportunities, they will likely think of you first as the right one to move into their position.

<h2>3. <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/3-techniques-to-never-stop-learning">Be an expert, but learn and master new skills. </a></h2>

Performing well in your current role is an excellent way to get noticed. After that, look around and identify what additional skills and jobs you can master. Stay on top of changes in your career field. Senior managers will notice people who have already demonstrated a willingness and aptitude to perform at a higher level, and who are eager to learn.

<h2>4. <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/how-to-overcome-the-fear-of-feedback">Be open to feedback and criticism, and use it to grow. </a></h2>

Ask your supervisor for corrective feedback. It might be difficult, but it demonstrates you are not only comfortable with your abilities, but that you take your career growth seriously and are willing to learn from mistakes. When you are criticized or you make a mistake, own it. Ask your manager to describe what the right approach would have been, so you have a clear expectation of what they would have done.

<h2>5. <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/5-tips-for-running-a-successful-business">Demonstrate a firm understanding of client needs.</a> </h2>

Up-and-coming leaders set themselves apart by looking for ways to improve products and streamline processes. Use every opportunity to communicate with customers to find out their wants and needs. Identifying ways to save money, while improving client experience, gets you noticed by senior managers because it also benefits their own careers.

<h2>6. <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/6-communication-skills-that-will-make-you-a-better-leader">Learn to communicate well.</a> </h2>

Future leaders learn to speak and write well. They convey a clear understanding of what needs to be done and why. Speak truthfully and accurately—rather than emotionally—about challenges facing a task or project, and then give positive recommendations about how to overcome them.

<h2>7. <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/john-c-maxwell-how-to-live-out-your-mission-statement">Take actions and make recommendations for the good of the organization, not you.</a> </h2>

Senior managers want employees who are fearlessly loyal to them and their team. When making recommendations that conflict with what’s going on, articulate in a positive way how it will be advantageous for the organization and the client. When it’s time to take credit, give it to the entire team. You will gain their loyalty, knowing your motives are for the good of the organization and not yourself.

Related: <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/10-qualities-of-masterful-leaders">10 Qualities of Masterful Leaders</a>

You have the potential; develop it. | SUCCESS

Do These 7 Things If You Want to Become a Leader

Do These 7 Things If You Want to Become a Leader | SUCCESS

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How do great leaders inspire others to commit themselves to their goals? It’s not just that they have <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/6-qualities-of-a-charismatic-leader">charismatic personalities</a>, or that they give a lot of high-energy motivational talks. What they do is communicate their vision so effectively that other people adopt it as their own.

Related: <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/rohn-7-personality-traits-of-a-great-leader">Rohn: 7 Personality Traits of a Great Leader</a>

<div id="stcpDiv" style="position: absolute; top: -1999px; left: -1988px;">Rohn: 7 Personality Traits of a Great Leader</div>

Inspiring people is what great leaders like John F. Kennedy did best. In the early ’60s, President Kennedy set his sights on putting a man on the moon and told the American people, “We can do it!” He said it with such conviction that people believed it and committed themselves to making it happen. And, sure enough, we made it to the moon.

That’s the formula for any leader to inspire commitment: <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/rohn-4-tips-for-setting-powerful-goals">Clear goals</a>, a solid plan of action and a strong conviction.

Of course, <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/11-leadership-lessons-you-didnt-learn-in-school">leadership</a> takes more than inspiration.

One of the most insightful tips I learned about leading others is that people do things for their reasons, not for your reasons or for mine. So the goals, the plan of action and the strong conviction have to be communicated in a way that directly answers the question, “What’s in it for me?”

People respond to clear opportunities for personal and <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/13-pieces-of-career-advice-to-help-you-flourish-at-work">professional growth</a>. So back up your promises with action.

But how can you move past the empty rhetoric and translate your vision into concrete actions your people can identify with and get excited about? Let me suggest 7 proven techniques for building a solid team:

<h2>1. Recognize outstanding performance.</h2>

Everyone likes to look good in the presence of their peers. Give your team a public pat on the back and if they do really well, throw in a tangible benefit. It will boost the whole team’s mood and productivity.

<h2>2. Constantly ask for input and ideas.</h2>

People are usually much more enthusiastic about supporting decisions and plans they helped create. So get ideas and input from any person whose job will be affected by any upcoming decision. When your team quits talking about the company, and starts talking about our company, you know you’ve got a team.

Related: <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/4-ways-to-be-a-more-collaborative-leader">4 Ways to Be a More Collaborative Leader</a>

<h2>3. Don’t make assumptions.</h2>

If you’re lucky, you’ll have one or two people who can plow into almost anything and do well. But most people need initial and ongoing training.

<h2>4. Play the role of coach and mentor.</h2>

Encourage people to <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/john-c-maxwell-create-opportunity">keep growing</a> and taking on new challenges. Deal with mistakes and problems quickly, and then move on.

<h2>5. Just be a nice person.</h2>

Make people feel valued and important by treating them with dignity and respect.

<h2>6. Build an environment of growth.</h2>

Provide plenty of <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/how-to-nurture-the-personal-growth-of-your-people">opportunities for people to grow</a>, both personally and professionally.

<h2>7. Perform regular maintenance. </h2>

Weed out the bad apples before they spoil the whole team. It takes a lot of patience and effort to build a solid team of people who will share and help you fulfill your vision, but the results will be well worth all you put into it.

Related: <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/blog/titles-dont-make-leaders-but-these-7-actions-do">Titles Don’t Make Leaders—But These 7 Actions Do</a>

How to build your dream team and lead them to victory

How to build your dream team and lead them to victory | SUCCESS

7 Ways Leaders Can Inspire Commitment to Goals

7 Ways Leaders Can Inspire Commitment to Goals | SUCCESS

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Personal Development

Personal Development Archives

Personal Development | SUCCESS | What Achievers Read

Did you know it takes only five second to change your life? Serial entrepreneur, business coach, speaker, author, and award-winning radio and TV show host Mel Robbins speaks often about the concept of the Five-Second Rule. She’s a frequent CNN Commentator; her public TED Talk, “How to Stop Screwing Yourself Over,” has 5 million views and growing; and she wrote the book Stop Saying You’re Fine. Robbins travels the world empowering people to improve their lives. How? By closing the gap between knowing what needs to be done and actually doing it. In this interview, Shelby Skrhak, SUCCESS.com's director of digital content, digs into the concept of taking action.

This interview appears on the <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/podcast/success-talks-collection-may-2016">SUCCESS Talks Collection May 2016</a> edition.

&nbsp;

<h3>Takeaways:</h3>

<ul>
	<li>How to recognize when your life is on autopilot, when you’re in a pattern of default thinking and default behavior</li>
	<li>The negative impact of the “hesitation habit”—when the gap between knowing what to do and taking action holds you back</li>
	<li>How to use the Five-Second Rule to focus on what split-second actions you can take that will set a potentially great idea into motion</li>
	<li>Why even when you feel stuck, your soul will talk to you—and it will keep talking until you start doing the work, until you figure out who you are</li>
</ul>

&nbsp;

<h3>Favorite Quote From This Episode:</h3>

“The second that your mind gets involved, you're screwed. It’s not really fear, or laziness or procrastination.&nbsp;What's truly stopping you in your life and robbing you of opportunity are these&nbsp;small hesitations you make when you know you should be doing something.” — Mel Robbins

&nbsp;

SUCCESS Talks, the popular audio program included in every issue&nbsp;of&nbsp;SUCCESS&nbsp;magazine,&nbsp;is now available&nbsp;as a podcast.&nbsp;SUCCESS&nbsp;Talks&nbsp;features fascinating interviews with prominent business, creative and thought leaders such as Tony Robbins, Anne Sweeney, Richard Branson, Tim Ferriss and Barbara Corcoran.&nbsp;SUCCESS Talks&nbsp;focuses on helping the listener nurture and develop their mind, body and spirit. Each month is thematically different and includes key takeaways designed to help you achieve your biggest goals and live your true passion.

Catch up on all episodes at <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/successtalks">SUCCESS.com/SUCCESSTalks</a>.

Did you know it takes only five second to change your life? Serial entrepreneur, business coach, speaker, author, and award-winning radio and TV show host Mel Robbins speaks often about the concept of the Five-Second Rule. She’s a frequent CNN Commentator; her public TED Talk, “How to Stop Screwing Yourself Over,” has 5 million views and growing; and she wrote the book Stop Saying You’re Fine. Robbins travels the world empowering people to improve their lives. How? By closing the gap between knowing what needs to be done and actually doing it. In this interview, Shelby Skrhak, SUCCESS.com's director of digital content, digs into the concept of taking action.

Did you know it takes only five second to change your life? Serial entrepreneur, business coach, speaker, author, and award-winning radio and TV show host Mel Robbins speaks often about the concept of the Five-Second Rule. She’s a frequent CNN Commentator; her public TED Talk, “How to Stop Screwing Yourself Over,” has 5 million views and growing; and she wrote the book Stop Saying You’re Fine. Robbins travels the world empowering people to improve their lives. How? By closing the gap between knowing what needs to be done and actually doing it. In this interview, Shelby Skrhak, SUCCESS.com's director of digital content, digs into the concept of taking action. | SUCCESS

Mel Robbins on Changing Your Life in 5 Seconds

Mel Robbins on Changing Your Life in 5 Seconds | SUCCESS

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"If you don't design your own life plan, chances are you'll fall into someone else's plan. And guess what they have planned for you: Not much." These are the words of Jim Rohn, legendary mentor to modern masters. Rohn touched numerous lives, and his influence is still felt through today's personal-development icons. This special clip is from our digital learning program Foundations for Success, in which Rohn shares&nbsp;why developing yourself is crucial to becoming successful in life and business and how the seasons are an allegory for our growth.

This interview appears on the SUCCESS Talks Collection January 2016 edition.

&nbsp;

<h3>Takeaways:</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Why the Bible story about two men, one who built his house on a rock and the other built his house on the sand, is an allegory for building a good foundation&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Jim Rohn's take on learning to change: "Life and business is like the changing seasons. You cannot change the seasons, but you can change yourself."</li>
	<li>"Work harder on yourself than you do on your job. If you work hard on your job, you can make a living. If you work hard on yourself, you can make a fortune."</li>
	<li>"Your income&nbsp;is primarily determined by your philosophy, not the economy."</li>
	<li>"Success is something you attract by becoming an attractive person."</li>
</ul>

&nbsp;

<ul>
</ul>

<h3>Favorite Quote From This Episode:</h3>

"Beware the thief on the street that's after your purse, but also beware the&nbsp;thief in your mind that's after your&nbsp;promise."&nbsp;— Jim Rohn

&nbsp;

SUCCESS Talks, the popular audio program included in every issue&nbsp;of&nbsp;SUCCESS&nbsp;magazine,&nbsp;is now available&nbsp;as a podcast.&nbsp;SUCCESS&nbsp;Talks&nbsp;features fascinating interviews with prominent business, creative and thought leaders such as Tony Robbins, Anne Sweeney, Richard Branson, Tim Ferriss and Barbara Corcoran.&nbsp;SUCCESS Talks&nbsp;focuses on helping the listener nurture and develop their mind, body and spirit. Each month is thematically different and includes key takeaways designed to help you achieve your biggest goals and live your true passion.

Catch up on all episodes at <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/successtalks">SUCCESS.com/SUCCESSTalks</a>.

&nbsp;

In this "Foundations for Success" clip from the SUCCESS archive,&nbsp;Jim Rohn discusses how the changing seasons is like our changing lives.&nbsp;"If you don't design your own life plan, chances are you'll fall into someone else's plan. And guess what they have planned for you: Not much."&nbsp;

In this "Foundations for Success" clip from the SUCCESS archive,&nbsp;Jim Rohn discusses how the changing seasons is like our changing lives.&nbsp;"If you don't design your own life plan, chances are you'll fall into someone else's plan. And guess what they have planned for you: Not much."&nbsp; | SUCCESS

Jim Rohn's Foundations for Success

Jim Rohn&#8217;s Foundations for Success

Jim Rohn's Foundations for Success | SUCCESS

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In 1944, the Office of Strategic Services, the CIA’s predecessor, published The Simple Sabotage Field Manual, a how-to guide for undermining an enemy. Along with recommended acts of vandalism (slashing tires, salting engines), the manual contained eight seemingly innocuous tactics intended to disrupt enemy organizations. The tactics included time wasters (never allow shortcuts to expedite decisions, speechify whenever possible and illustrate your points with long anecdotes), efficiency corrupters (bring up irrelevant issues as often as possible and haggle over the wording of communications) and other techniques to stymie productivity.

Seventy years on, such vintage tactics not only still work but they’re also used intentionally or inadvertently every day in businesses and organizations, PTA meetings and family discussions. The authors, all business strategists, explain how to recognize, manage and neutralize the time wasters, hagglers, distracters, and other saboteurs in your workplace and in your life.

<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0062371606/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;creativeASIN=0062371606&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=sm0fe-20&amp;linkId=6L77J5OR6CHCIVQ6">Simple Sabotage</a>&nbsp;is both evergreen and entertaining.

By Robert M. Galford, Bob Frisch &amp; Cary Greene 
September; HarperOne; $23.99

[node:summary] - A Modern Field Manual for Detecting and Rooting Out Everyday Behaviors That Undermine Your Workplace

In 1944, the Office of Strategic Services, the CIA’s predecessor, published The Simple Sabotage Field Manual, a how-to guide for undermining an enemy. | SUCCESS

Reading List: Simple Sabotage

Reading List: Simple Sabotage | SUCCESS

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<div id="_idContainer054">Creative living isn’t about poetry, painting or penning a best-seller; it’s about living a life “driven more strongly by curiosity than by fear,” writes Elizabeth Gilbert, who also authored the best-selling <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0143038419/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=0143038419&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=sm0fe-20&amp;linkId=KHGOAMZA7PFHHNMH">Eat, Pray, Love</a>. Gilbert sweetly yet powerfully nudges readers to <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/how-fear-warps-your-thinking-and-3-ways-you-can-fight-back" target="_blank" title="How Fear Warps Your Thinking—and 3 Ways You Can Fight Back | SUCCESS.com">release fear</a>, summon courage and allow the “strange jewels” hidden within each of us to emerge and shine. The end result is the “big magic.”Gilbert reassures readers that inspiration waxes and wanes, and she gently suggests that they don’t complain. She also shares her own struggles with creativity, courage, persistence and trust.Engaging storytelling mixed with personal anecdotes and astute insights make <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1594634718/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;creativeASIN=1594634718&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=sm0fe-20&amp;linkId=VQZU5FC54G7VXETW">Big Magic</a> a rewarding, motivating and delightful read.By Elizabeth Gilbert September; Riverhead Books; $24.95</div>

[node:summary] - Creative Living Beyond Fear

Creative living isn’t about poetry, painting or penning a best-seller; it’s about living a life “driven more strongly by curiosity than by fear,” writes | SUCCESS

Reading List: Big Magic

Reading List: Big Magic | SUCCESS

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In the past, the gatekeepers—people who can grant or deny access to a recognized authority within a company—were receptionists, administrative assistants, executive administrators or the personal assistants. But that has changed. Technology has allowed companies to reduce clerical staffing, and the prevalence of consensus decision-making means many individuals can veto your pitch and many must collectively say yes. Today you have to adopt new tactics for getting past the new-generation gatekeepers.Here’s what you’re up against:The admin staff might have been replaced with an even more difficult gatekeeper: voice mail. You’ve been here before, haven’t you? You’ve called. You’ve navigated the phone system options to reach an important contact’s extension. You’ve left message after message. Your messages have been completely ignored. That’s one tough gatekeeper.Or if you face a human obstacle, this gatekeeper probably doesn’t have a title that indicates that he or she fills that role. Instead the new gatekeeper can be any person whom your contact trusts to vet salespeople before meeting with them.For example, one of my clients is the president and CEO of his company. Good luck getting him on the telephone or securing a meeting with him by contacting him directly. If you want to reach him, you are going to need to get past at least one of his gatekeepers, the very best being his vice president of marketing. My client trusts her implicitly, and if she says you are worthy of a meeting, you get the meeting. If she says you aren’t, then you are finished. He has other gatekeepers, too. His chief operations officer is a second example. Two additional gatekeepers are lower-level managers who have proved that they know who is worth seeing and who isn’t. All of these gatekeepers have the keys to the castle, and if you play your cards right, they’ll guide you through to see their boss.Whether you are trying to get past a digital or human gatekeeper, the test for you is the same. Pass the test, and you are in. Fail the test, and you will be kept outside.Open the GatesThe test is whether you can prove you are a value creator.To get past any type of gatekeeper, you have to offer something valuable to the person you are trying to meet. Your clients aren’t sitting around waiting for salespeople to call and offer to come in and pitch them their products, services or solutions. Clients have raised the stakes. The price of admission is your ability to help produce better results, and you must have a value proposition for your meeting request that proves you can walk your talk.Let’s look at the digital gatekeepers first.In the past, you might have left a message that sounded something like this: “Hi, Jane. This is Chris with XYZ Widgets. We are the leading name in widgets, and I’d like to come out, introduce myself and my product, and show you how our widgets can make a difference for&nbsp;you.”Jane will hit delete before she even finishes listening to your voice mail. That message is all about you. There is no value in it for Jane. Jane didn’t wake up this morning and think, I hope some salesperson will call to pitch me their products today. That never&nbsp;happens.Your new and improved message needs to sound like this: “Hi, Jane. This is Chris with XYZ Widgets. I am calling you today to schedule a meeting where I can share with you the three biggest challenges you and your industry are going to face this year and what you can do about them. Listen, even if you never buy anything from me or XYZ, I&nbsp;promise the information I share with you is going to help you navigate those challenges. It will change some of the decisions you make. I’ll follow up this voice mail with an email to get on your schedule and try to reach you on the phone again tomorrow.”This message is different. It indicates that you have value to offer beyond <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/the-8-most-important-basics-of-an-elevator-pitch" target="_blank" title="The 8 Most Important Basics of an Elevator Pitch | SUCCESS.com">pitching your product</a>. You and your product can help Jane navigate her challenges, and you establish yourself as a value creator by focusing on delivering your ideas and insights. There is no reason to wait for Jane to call you back; she didn’t commit to doing so by listening to your voice mail. Your promise to call her back lets Jane know you aren’t giving up or going away.Now let’s look at human gatekeepers.Regardless of who answers the phone when you reach out to prospects, you will have to prove you are worth letting through.The problem most folks have here is the same problem they have with voice mail: Their pitches don’t demonstrate value. They sound like this: “Hi. I am trying to reach Jane.” The reply is often, “May I&nbsp;tell her who is calling?” The salesperson says, “Yes, this is Chris with XYZ Widgets.” The gatekeeper asks the dreaded follow-up question, the one that strikes fear in the non-value-creating salesperson’s heart, “May I&nbsp;tell Jane what this is regarding?” The answer from most salespeople almost always sounds very much like the voice mail: “I’d like to introduce myself and my service.”Instead, you need to lead with a killer value proposition. Say, “Hi, this is Chris with XYZ Widgets. I am calling to schedule an appointment with Jane. We’ve discovered three challenges that companies in your space are struggling with now and want to share the three best ways to deal with those challenges. Jane is going to want to see this, and it is going to help her navigate this tricky landscape. Can you put me through to Jane?” It helps a lot to name the three challenges so the gatekeeper gets a sense of what is at stake and the compelling nature of your call.It has never been easy to get past a gatekeeper, and it’s more difficult today than it was just a decade ago. But switching from pitching to instead providing real value—your insights and ideas that can benefit your prospects—is key to opening that gate and meeting with valuable&nbsp;contacts.Know Problems and Offer SolutionsCreating a compelling value proposition that gets you past the gatekeeper can sound like magic, but the process really isn’t all that&nbsp;difficult.First, identify the two or three problems that your clients face. What are their biggest challenges? Where are they struggling? What has changed in their world, and what impact is that having on their business? If you want to know how to compel someone, find out what is already compelling them. Make a list of those challenges.Second, it’s really handy to have new stories, statistics and industry opinions about those challenges and their impact. When you have these conversations, you need to be armed with the facts. Facts are stubborn things. It’s easy for a prospect to disagree with a salesperson about his or her industry and the political, social, technological or cultural changes that are impacting their business; it’s much more difficult to argue with unbiased facts (customer demographics or return-on-investment statistics, for instance) and the opinions of industry thought&nbsp;leaders.Finally, you need to provide answers. Share what you can do to help your customers with their challenges. Once you sit with them face to face, your clients are going to ask how you can help. And once you’ve made the case for change by sharing the problems and the surrounding facts, they will be very interested in how you can help.<a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/3-tricks-to-scoring-that-sale" target="_self" title="3 Tricks to Scoring That Sale | SUCCESS.com">To close, you must build consensus among all the stakeholders. Learn 3 tricks to scoring that sale.</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;This article appears in the October 2015 issue of SUCCESS magazine.

[node:summary] - Selling requires it. And one crucial step will get you past the new gatekeepers.

In the past, the gatekeepers—people who can grant or deny access to a recognized authority within a company—were receptionists, administrative assistants, | SUCCESS

Do You Have Access to the Right People?

Do You Have Access to the Right People? | SUCCESS

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<div id="_idContainer047">In this spirited, provocative work, Stanford Business School professor Jeffrey Pfeffer challenges prevailing conventional wisdom about leadership development. In Pfeffer’s view, many well-intentioned popular philosophies—those that champion traits such as humility, honesty and authenticity, for example—take an overly simplistic, unrealistic approach.Pfeffer contends that while all those traits are admirable, honesty isn’t always the best policy, humility isn’t always desirable, and authenticity is overvalued. In addition, there’s no scientific evidence to prove the effectiveness and efficacy of those leadership traits and styles on a company’s success. Pfeffer notes that a Google Scholar search for “leadership” returns more than 2 million entries; a search for “proportion of authentic leaders” (and variations thereof) yields zero results.Pfeffer’s contrarian views are original and well worth considering. Agree or not, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0062383167/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=0062383167&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=sm0fe-20&amp;linkId=A27AIH25BVWWSXZN">Leadership BS</a>—as Pfeffer promises—will make you rethink and reorient your beliefs and behavior related to leadership.By Jeffrey&nbsp;Pfeffer (September; HarperBusiness; $29.99)</div>

[node:summary] - Fixing Workplaces and Careers One Truth at a Time

In this spirited, provocative work, Stanford Business School professor Jeffrey Pfeffer challenges prevailing conventional wisdom about leadership | SUCCESS

Reading List: Leadership BS

Reading List: Leadership BS | SUCCESS

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Debbie Goldman-Bhyat spent much of her childhood as a contemporary dancer. She turned her passion into a professional career as a performer, a choreographer and the director of a dance company until an injury forced her to retire in her late 20s.“I was 28, injured and flat broke in spite of being the recipient of awards and top industry accolades,” Goldman-Bhyat says. “And there were dismal prospects for a change in those circumstances for the foreseeable future.”She didn’t want to take a bow from the industry she loved, but Goldman-Bhyat waded into the business world as a financial-services recruitment consultant working for Capital Assignments in South Africa. She spent almost 21/2 years there before starting her own company, <a href="https://Jack Hammer Executive Headhunters" title="Jack Hammer Executive Headhunters | JHammer.co.za">Jack Hammer Executive Headhunters</a>. More than 15 years went by, Goldman-Bhyat says, before she was overwhelmed by the urge to pick up her passion. “One day shortly after my 42nd birthday, a proper midlife crisis crept up on me,” she says. “All of a sudden, I had a desperate desire to dance and perform again, on a stage, with a professional dance company.”Goldman-Bhyat began an 18-month training and rehearsal process. She still ran her business, just a little more hands-off than before, and while it wasn’t easy to take this step back, the situation gave her team an opportunity to grow immeasurably. “I needed to delegate not just tasks, but also decision-making—allowing others to do things without needing my personal yes or no. A big part of gaining comfort with this was also accepting that things would probably not always be done the way I would do them. I needed to make peace with it so that my team felt confident to step up and make decisions.” In addition to the leadership skills her staff developed, the company also saw a 20 percent increase in revenue during Goldman-Bhyat’s absence.As a member of the Cape Town chapter of the <a href="https://www.eonetwork.org/about" target="_blank" title="About EO | EONetwork.org">Entrepreneurs’ Organization</a>, she gained many insights that have been instrumental for her and her business. She also offers her perspective for those who might be reluctant to indulge in absences from the office. “Until you’re forced to take the time out, one can never really test the resilience, competence and self-sufficiency of one’s business.“Most of us would need a really compelling reason to do this. I found a great reason, without which I doubt I would have taken the gamble! My advice: Go for it!”<a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/john-c-maxwell-how-to-carve-out-your-lifes-passion" target="_self" title="John C. Maxwell: How to Carve Out Your Life’s Passion | SUCCESS.com">What’s your life’s passion? Find out how to fire it up—so you can wake up excited to start your day, every day.</a>

[node:summary] - Debbie Goldman-Bhyat, CEO, saw her team grow by leaps and bounds while she pursued a passion.

Debbie Goldman-Bhyat spent much of her childhood as a contemporary dancer. She turned her passion into a professional career as a performer, a | SUCCESS

The Benefits of Taking a ‘Timeout’

The Benefits of Taking a ‘Timeout’ | SUCCESS

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<div id="_idContainer058">After graduating from college in 1989, the Jacobs brothers decided that designing and selling T-shirts would be a lucrative career. They bought a minivan, dubbed it The Enterprise, and vowed to “boldly go where no T-shirt guys had gone before.” After five years and only $78 in profits, the brothers considered crossing off the T-shirts and parking the van permanently.In the end, their optimism, a character trait nurtured by their mother, saved the venture. As they tell it, no matter what havoc reigned in their middle-class childhood home, at dinner their mother inevitably asked, “Tell me something good that happened today.” That simple question “changed the energy in the room,” they write, and years later inspired them to design a T-shirt emblazoned with the phrase, “Life is Good.” Those three simple words birthed a clothing brand now worth $100 million.In this uplifting tale, the brothers narrate their journey from small-time vendors to <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/top-of-mind-what-does-it-take-to-be-a-successful-entrepreneur" target="_blank" title="Top of Mind: What Does It Take to Be a Successful Entrepreneur | SUCCESS.com">big-time entrepreneurs</a>, share their professional and personal struggles, explain their simple yet powerful philosophy of life (It’s not easy. It’s not perfect. It’s good.), and describe their socially conscious business (10 percent of annual profits benefit children in dire circumstances). They also introduce readers to the 10 “superpowers”—openness, courage, simplicity, humor, gratitude, compassion, fun, creativity, authenticity and love—that we all possess and can cultivate to enrich and improve our lives.Illustrated with the brand’s iconic artwork, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1426215630/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;creativeASIN=1426215630&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=sm0fe-20&amp;linkId=QESBNGDMGDRADVAZ">Life is Good</a> is inventive, inspiring and an all-around delightful read.by Bert Jacobs and John Jacobs September; National Geographic;&nbsp;$25</div>

[node:summary] - How to Live with Purpose & Enjoy the Ride

After graduating from college in 1989, the Jacobs brothers decided that designing and selling T-shirts would be a lucrative career. They bought a minivan, | SUCCESS

Reading List: Life is Good

Reading List: Life is Good | SUCCESS

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Coaching is about helping people grow and produce better results. Coaching helps people identify the resources they already have within themselves and then marshal those resources to reach goals and rise to challenges.Sales coaching is different from managing (even though the best managers are great coaches); when you are managing someone, you’re primarily invested in the outcome you need. Coaching also isn’t training; when you’re being trained, you improve skills or acquire skills you lack.Skilled coaches are nondirective when they believe the student is competent, has valuable ideas about what to do and needs a nudge—in the form of questions—to get going. Directive coaching is the best tactic when the individual being coached doesn’t know what he doesn’t know and needs a detailed plan.I use both approaches to advise these SUCCESS readers.Q: What is the one thing I could focus on every day that would create the greatest benefit for my business and result in more sales? I’m in real estate, but I bet every salesperson has the same&nbsp;question.—Jason Wieloch, AtlantaA: As Jason’s coach, I’m nondirective, asking:• What tasks could you do to increase your sales right now? I know Jason knows that he needs to spend more time targeting his dream clients, nurturing those relationships and prospecting for new business. He knows that he needs appointments with prospective customers, and he already seeks them.• Are there other things that you could do to increase your sales right now (in addition to those you mentioned in answering my first question)? I don’t want to let Jason off the hook with the simple answer that he needs to prospect. I want him to be resourceful. When I poke him with this question, he is likely to remember that he should ask for referrals and network more. I will tell him those are great ideas. He might come up with other excellent ideas, too—ones I&nbsp;never thought of.• Which of these choices makes the most sense to pursue now, and what are you committed to doing? I&nbsp;might ask three or four questions before I get to this one, but the point is that I haven’t told Jason what he needs to do, and I haven’t told him how to do it. He’s a smart, resourceful guy who knows the answers, so I&nbsp;help him through the process of reminding himself of who he is and what he knows. No matter how he responds, I am going to tell him his answer is great.• May I share two ideas? Only after I have made Jason do the work will I contribute my suggestions to his plan: Would it help you to list your top 20 dream clients and focus on the prospects that, if won, would produce the results you seek? (Of course it would be helpful. But I am not committing Jason to this course of action. He has to commit to it himself. I gave him a nudge and showed him something he might have missed. He might say he doesn’t need to do that. It’s his plan, and I am his coach here, not his manager. He has to do what he believes will help him succeed.)• When are you going to take action? And what are you going to be accountable for? Now Jason can tell me his plan and commit to it. The next time we get together, we can discuss how his plan is going and make adjustments.Nondirective coaching is powerful when people have what they need inside them already.Q: I’m selling plenty, but customers are slow to pay my invoices. What can I&nbsp;do to receive the money faster?—Farooqbhatt Sopore, via emailA: As Farooqbhatt’s coach, I’ll be directive, supplying him with a strategy and specific language to use with customers—motivating them without alienating them. (If he already had the strategy and the words, he wouldn’t be waiting on payment, right?)Here’s a general, but adjustable, plan for getting paid promptly:First, quick payment is easier if you establish terms at the beginning of the relationship. The best way to do this is to say, “The prices that I am quoting here are based on our invoice being paid upon receipt. That’s how I am able to deliver this value to you at this price. You can pay on receipt, right?” Maybe your terms are 30 or 45 days. It doesn’t matter. If there is going to be a problem, you want to know now so you can discuss it and maybe negotiate. Can you make this change and start doing this with new customers right now? Excellent!Now let’s deal with your existing customers who have unpaid invoices. You will need to call them and ask for payment. These relationships are precious, so you want to honor them and still receive the money owed. The best way to do this is to call and directly ask to be paid. You say something like, “Tom, our invoices for July haven’t been paid. I know you didn’t mean to overlook those payments. But I really need to be paid so I can continue delivering the value you expect from me. Can I pick up a check this afternoon?”Now be very quiet. Don’t speak. You’ve said this in a way that protects Tom’s ego by suggesting he overlooked this instead of being adversarial. Tom will say yes or will negotiate a date for you to pick up your check.When you pick up your payment, you want to have that conversation about establishing terms. Because you already are serving this customer, you say, “Tom, I’m sorry I didn’t explain our terms when we first started working together. To provide the value that I deliver for you, I base my pricing on payment terms of net 30. Can you get my business set up in your system with those payment terms?”Many companies pay the vendors who ask for—or demand—payment first. They stretch everybody else. You need to be one who asks for payment.You are asking for your own money. You have every right to ask for it, and no one has the right to withhold it unless you haven’t delivered the value you promised. Be polite. Be professional. And remember that part of being professional is asking for payment so you can run your business well and continue to serve your customers.One more note: If you aren’t being paid because your customer doesn’t have the money, you have a different problem. In this case, you may have to re-evaluate the whole relationship. Sometimes a customer has a short-term cash-flow problem, so it makes sense to work out a payment schedule and tie your continuing service to being paid promptly. But if the customer can’t or won’t pay, you may have to take legal action or hire a collection firm.Want to win business faster? Check out 7 clever sales hacks to close more deals.&nbsp;&nbsp;Editor’s note: This article appears in the September 2015 issue of SUCCESS magazine. We gave you, the reader, the opportunity to ask the SUCCESS columnists anything—and these are some of your best questions answered.

[node:summary] - Use guidance systems like these to help solve common sales stumpers.

Coaching is about helping people grow and produce better results. Coaching helps people identify the resources they already have within themselves and | SUCCESS

Advice for Selling More and Getting Paid Faster

Advice for Selling More and Getting Paid Faster | SUCCESS

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<div id="_idContainer094">If you are one of those confident people who can walk into a roomful of strangers and strike up a conversation without hesitation, awkwardness or a hint of self-consciousness, consider yourself lucky. Too many of us experience discomfort or anxiety and find ourselves in a corner fiddling with our phones. Or if we find a familiar face, we stick with that person, forfeiting the opportunity to <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/boost-your-networking-skills-with-these-7-tips" target="_blank" title="Boost Your Networking Skills with These 7 Tips | SUCCESS.com">make a new friend, contact or business opportunity</a>.Researcher and Babson College associate professor of management Keith Rollag has studied newcomer success for 20 years, interviewing people from all walks of life to understand what they do to fit comfortably into new social settings, groups and workplaces. What he concluded isn’t revelatory; you’ll recognize five basic steps: <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/blog/nice-to-meet-you-the-art-of-being-introduced" target="_blank" title="‘Nice to Meet You’: The Art of Being Introduced | SUCCESS.com">Introduce yourself</a>, learn and remember names, ask questions, seek out and start new relationships, and perform new things in front of others.In&nbsp;<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0814434894/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;creativeASIN=0814434894&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=sm0fe-20&amp;linkId=GUZ7SKVK74EG3STV">What to Do When You're New</a>, Rollag excels at explaining the self-imposed obstacles that prevent us from taking those steps. He has found that what we fear is failing to make a good impression, saying something stupid or asking a question that will make us look bad. As he points out, many of us waste time searching for information on Google instead of picking up a phone, asking the person next to us or raising our hand at a conference. “Reluctance to ask questions affects even the best and the brightest,” he writes. Rollag explains the genesis of these social fears and offers a variety of self-directed approaches to help readers overcome their awkwardness and expand their comfort zones.by Keith Rollag, Ph.D. September; AMACOM; $18</div>

[node:summary] - How to Be Comfortable, Confident, and Successful in New Situations

If you are one of those confident people who can walk into a roomful of strangers and strike up a conversation without hesitation, awkwardness or a hint | SUCCESS

Reading List: What to Do When You’re New

Reading List: What to Do When You’re New | SUCCESS

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<div id="_idContainer096">In her latest book, the best-selling author of <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/159285849X/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;creativeASIN=159285849X&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=sm0fe-20&amp;linkId=VPX4NBSNQAG467MF">The Gifts of Imperfection</a> and <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1592408419/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;creativeASIN=1592408419&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=sm0fe-20&amp;linkId=6V2PR2JTZTXJFDHK">Daring Greatly</a> challenges readers to face failure, get up and try again. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0812995821/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;creativeASIN=0812995821&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=sm0fe-20&amp;linkId=XLMNZOZZYKAAOQ7Y">Rising Strong</a> is a lifelong endeavor with three phases: trying to understand what triggers our emotional responses (The Reckoning), fact-checking and being brutally honest about the stories we tell ourselves and others (The Rumble), and using what we’ve learned to transform our thoughts and beliefs (The Revolution).Brown, a research professor at the University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work, backs up her theories with data and research. She also exposes her personal <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/how-fear-warps-your-thinking-and-3-ways-you-can-fight-back" target="_blank" title="How Fear Warps Your Thinking—and 3 Ways You Can Fight Back | SUCCESS.com">vulnerabilities and fears</a> and reassures readers that, like them, she’s a work in progress. The goal of the process is “to rise from our falls, overcome our mistakes and face hurt in a way that brings more wisdom and wholeheartedness.” Rising Strong isn’t as satisfying or stirring as Brown’s previous books, but it’s hard to resist her sincerity, candor and gentle approach.by Brené Brown, Ph.D., LMSW August; Spiegel &amp; Grau; $27</div>

[node:summary] - In her latest book, the best-selling author of The Gifts of Imperfection and Daring Greatly challenges readers to face failure, get up and try again.

In her latest book, the best-selling author of The Gifts of Imperfection and Daring Greatly challenges readers to face failure, get up and try again. | SUCCESS

Reading List: Rising Strong

Reading List: Rising Strong | SUCCESS

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James Ashcroft, co-owner of <a href="https://www.usexportdirect.com/about-us" target="_blank" title="About | USExportDirect.com">US Export Direct</a> and of <a href="https://www.lifesafetymanagement.com/about-us" target="_blank" title="About | LifeSafetyManagement.com">LifeSafety Management</a>, felt that he hit a plateau in his career. That’s when a friend invited him to attend an <a href="https://www.eonetwork.org/about/" target="_blank" title="About | EONetwork.org">Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO)</a> chapter meeting in his hometown of Fort Lauderdale, Fla.“I found my tribe,” Ashcroft says. “It was the first time I was surrounded by like-minded business leaders who all had similar personal and business challenges and wanted to openly share their best practices and resources.”Last year Ashcroft accepted a position as a mentor in the <a href="https://www.eonetwork.org/eo-accelerator" target="_blank" title="EO Accelerator | EONetwork.org">EO Accelerator program</a>, which meets monthly and provides entrepreneurs with structured educational content to help first-stage businesses.“I think of coaching as facilitation rather than a vertical teacher/student relationship,” Ashcroft says. “It can be hard to see ourselves objectively. <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/inside-the-coaching-industry" target="_blank" title="Inside the Coaching Industry | SUCCESS.com">A good coach</a> will help you define your goals, identify your blind spots and ensure your actions are in alignment with what you ultimately want.”Ashcroft shares five thoughts for others striving to improve their circumstances.1. Self-awareness: Spend time thinking about your strengths and weaknesses. Once they have been defined, focus on your strengths and hire others to shore up your weaknesses.2. Physical conditioning: Eating right and developing a training regimen should be on the top of your daily to-do lists. If you suffer from low physical energy and illness, it’s nearly impossible to have success at any level.3. Emotional well-being: Surround yourself with love and support. We are each the average of the five people we spend the most time with, so we must choose those relationships carefully, both personally and professionally.4. Mental growth: Find activities that inspire and challenge you. Schedule time to read and learn. <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/3-tips-for-cultivating-mentor-relationships" target="_blank" title="3 Tips for Cultivating Mentor Relationships | SUCCESS.com">Find a mentor</a>. Sleep well. Allow your brain to be at its full performance potential so personal growth can blossom.5. Spirituality: It may be going to church, meditating or writing in a journal. Whatever the case, train yourself to be aware of all the abundance in your life.Ashcroft adds one more piece of advice: Re-evaluate your <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/the-definition-of-success" target="_blank" title="The Definition of Success | SUCCESS.com">definition of success</a>. “We are led to believe that getting a job or running a business makes us successful and defines who we are,” he says. “In reality, we need to nurture our health, relationships and personal development while building our businesses. If we have corporate achievements but end up stressed, overweight and divorced, is that success?”<a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/tips-from-the-pros-how-to-be-your-own-life-coach" target="_self" title="Tips from the Pros: How to Be Your Own Life Coach | SUCCESS.com">Want to make wiser decisions for yourself—by yourself? Check out self-coaching tips from the pros.</a>

James Ashcroft, co-owner of US Export Direct and of LifeSafety Management, felt that he hit a plateau in his career. That’s when a friend invited him to

James Ashcroft, co-owner of US Export Direct and of LifeSafety Management, felt that he hit a plateau in his career. That’s when a friend invited him to | SUCCESS

5 Ways to Improve Yourself and Your Circumstances

5 Ways to Improve Yourself and Your Circumstances | SUCCESS

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<div id="_idContainer000">He fought bone cancer, osteomyelitis, fractured vertebrae, paralysis, multiple surgeries and grief. He was told—twice—that he might never walk again. But Jeff Banister, the rookie manager of the Texas Rangers, wouldn’t quit baseball.</div><div id="_idContainer004">His first health crisis began with a simple twist of his ankle while playing in a football game for La Marque High School in Texas in 1979. Banister stayed home with flu-like symptoms and agonizing ankle pain that caused him to collapse. The teenager had developed bone cancer and osteomyelitis, an infection of the bone or bone marrow, which had spread to below his knee. After surgery and several weeks in the hospital, Banister got the devastating news that, during a follow-up surgery, his leg might need to be amputated.The leg was spared, but his condition went from bad to worse after returning home. The flu-like symptoms recurred. Seven more operations and weeks of recuperation followed. “I was given an opportunity to lie in a hospital bed and think about all of the things I would do when I got out of the hospital,” Banister, 51, says in a video on the Texas Rangers website. “For me there was no choice other than to push forward.”He surprised everyone by returning to baseball, going on to play for Lee College, a community college in Baytown, Texas. And that’s where Banister would face a terrifying new injury.He wasn’t originally penciled into the lineup for the last game of the 1983 fall season, but New York Yankees scout Deacon Jones wanted to evaluate Banister, so his coach, Rod Soesbe, agreed to play him for five innings. In the fifth, a base runner sprinted toward home plate, where Banister was playing catcher. As the runner tried to hurdle Banister and score, his knee slammed into Banister’s head. As Banister writhed in pain, Soesbe placed a catcher’s mitt on each side of his neck to stabilize it until paramedics arrived—an action that may have saved his life. The collision fractured three neck vertebrae and paralyzed him for 10 days. Banister underwent two more surgeries.Eighty-five pounds lighter when discharged from the hospital, the young athlete asked his doctor, Lee Roy Lockhart, when he could play baseball again. “Jeff, you’ll never play baseball again,” Lockhart responded. “You get hit like this again, and they’re not going to repair you. They’ll just bring a bag out, put you in the bag, zip it up, and we’ll put you in the ground.”Banister smiled as he told Lockhart, “Doc, I will play in the big leagues.”Banister channeled Lockhart’s dire prediction into a <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/top-of-mind-how-do-you-find-motivation-when-youre-not-feeling-it" target="_blank" title="Top of Mind: How Do You Find Motivation When You're Not Feeling It? | SUCCESS.com">motivating force</a>. He relearned to walk during a year of rehabilitation. In 1985 he resumed playing baseball for Lee College, well enough to earn a scholarship to play for the University of Houston. And in 1986, the Pittsburgh Pirates selected Banister in the 25th of 28 rounds of the MLB Draft, the 621st pick.He would face <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/blog/will-you-ride-the-waves-of-life-or-let-them-pull-you-under" target="_blank" title="Will You Ride the Waves of Life, or Let Them Pull You Under? | SUCCESS.com">tough times</a> again as a minor leaguer: His grandfather and his 48-year-old father died a few weeks apart in 1988. His father, on the last day of his life, told Banister that people would want to know his story—words that have echoed in his ears throughout his coaching career. Banister does share his story, but his style also includes an appreciation for what his players have gone through.As Eric Nadel, the Rangers’ National Baseball Hall of Fame radio announcer, says, “He seems to have the ability to get to people and motivate people. He wants to go to great lengths to get to know each guy as a person rather than as a baseball player, to know what makes these guys tick. With all he went through to get to the major leagues as a player, he has a very special inner strength that some people don’t have. He didn’t need somebody to motivate him.”That drive led Banister to prove his doctor wrong. At 27 years old—an elderly rookie by baseball standards—Banister was called up from Triple-A Buffalo to play for the Pirates against the Atlanta Braves.He made it to the big leagues on July 23, 1991.Banister was not in the starting lineup, but manager Jim Leyland used him as a pinch hitter in the eighth inning. He hit a ground ball that Atlanta shortstop Jeff Blauser picked up and fired to first base. Banister said it seemed like forever as he “fought like hell” sprinting down the first-base line, counting every step. He beat Blauser’s throw by a fraction of a second. He had fought for—and achieved—his hit just as he had battled to reach the major leagues.That single would be his only hit in his only at-bat of his only major league appearance. Banister’s stint in Major League Baseball would last five days before he was sent back to the minors. But he will forever hold a perfect major league batting average of 1.000: one hit in one at-bat.Banister stayed in the minors a couple more years before ending his playing career and joining the Pirates organization as a minor league coach in 1993. He spent 29 years with the Pirates as a player, minor league manager, major league field coordinator and major league bench coach.Last October the Texas Rangers signed Banister to a three-year contract as manager. At his introductory news conference, Rangers general manager Jon Daniels said Banister’s experience, work ethic and attitude made him the ideal manager to right the struggling team.His attitude has carried over from his playing days into his coaching career. Banister’s Twitter page is filled with <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/blog/when-you-want-to-chicken-out-use-these-6-motivating-quotes-to-push-forward" target="_blank" title="When You Want to Chicken Out, Use These 6 Motivating Quotes to Push Forward | SUCCESS.com">motivational quotes</a>, such as, “Focus on the only two things you can control. Your attitude and your effort.” He signs his tweets with his hashtag “#nevereverquit.” The phrase is the slogan for the Rangers’ 2015 season, adorning everything from their website to commercials and even apparel.“I’m not going to show up at 7&nbsp;o’clock every night and go, ‘Well, we’re down two in the first [inning]. We might as well throw in the towel and walk away,’ ” Banister told fans at an event earlier this year. “The game’s not done until it’s over. You’re focused in until the last out is made. That’s my never-ever-quit attitude.”Rangers fans and players have bought into <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/rohn-7-tips-for-developing-your-personal-philosophy" target="_blank" title="Rohn: 7 Tips for Developing Your Personal Philosophy | SUCCESS.com">his philosophy</a>. “Every time I hear him talk, I want to kill someone,” 28-year-old pitcher Derek Holland jokes. “Sorry, I’m not going to murder anybody, no. He’s just got that voice. He’s a strong leader. He’s very passionate about what he wants to do. He’s one of those guys that I’m very excited to come in and play for. This guy is into the game.”Veteran starting pitcher Colby Lewis agrees: “Once he started to talk, I was just locked in,” baseball-ese for being totally focused.Banister carries his work ethic from the field to his home. His wife, Karen—whom he met when he was playing for the University of Houston—shares a story with fans about a night when they were watching TV, and she admired the painted walls in an infomercial. She casually mentioned the possibility of painting their daughter’s room. When she came home the next day, the walls were perfectly outlined with tape. Banister told his wife to pick the colors. (Karen Banister adds that he’s also handy at building things and doing yard work.)Banister believes it’s important to stay humble and work hard in life and in baseball. “I’m still learning this game. I’ve had a lot of great teachers in the past. I believe that if you’re not learning, you’re not growing. If you’re not growing, you’re dying.”&nbsp;<a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/technically-hal-elrod-has-died-3-times" target="_self" title="Technically, Hal Elrod Has Died 3 Times... | SUCCESS.com">Technically, Hal Elrod has died three times… But fueled by his will and optimism, he survived and thrived. Read his inspiring story next.</a></div>

He fought bone cancer, osteomyelitis, fractured vertebrae, paralysis, multiple surgeries and grief. He was told—twice—that he might never walk again. But

He fought bone cancer, osteomyelitis, fractured vertebrae, paralysis, multiple surgeries and grief. He was told—twice—that he might never walk again. But | SUCCESS

Stay Humble, Work Hard and ‘Never Ever Quit’

Stay Humble, Work Hard and ‘Never Ever Quit’ | SUCCESS

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<div>While those much-ballyhooed and envied perks of Silicon Valley garner publicity and applause from employees, free lattes, doughnuts and nap rooms are not the stuff of an authentic corporate culture, asserts Diane K. Adams, chief people officer at the tech firm Qlik. In Adams’ view, corporate culture is the “clear set of values that drive the thinking, actions, attitudes, and guidelines of an organization and its people day in and day out.” Adams doesn’t mince words. Get it right, and your company will thrive. Get it wrong, and wait for the bells to toll.In <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1137526947/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;creativeASIN=1137526947&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=sm0fe-20&amp;linkId=RHTPXJQU43TBUH5R">It Takes More than Casual Fridays and Free Coffee</a>,&nbsp;Adams includes a helpful seven-point guide to <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/blog/5-characteristics-of-a-great-company-culture" target="_blank" title="5 Characteristics of a Great Company Culture | SUCCESS.com">building a successful culture</a>. She sets a lively pace with anecdotes that showcase praiseworthy corporate cultures. For example, CEO John Chambers of Cisco Systems, an international firm with 70,000 employees, personally calls any employee who experiences a serious illness or tragedy to offer support, from him and from the company. Although Adams’ reliance on anecdotes about former clients such as Cisco seems self-serving, her counsel is smart.by Diane K. Adams August; Palgrave Macmillan; $28</div>

[node:summary] - Building a Business Culture That Works for Everyone

While those much-ballyhooed and envied perks of Silicon Valley garner publicity and applause from employees, free lattes, doughnuts and nap rooms are not | SUCCESS

Reading List: It Takes More than Casual Fridays and Free Coffee

Reading List: It Takes More than Casual Fridays and Free Coffee | SUCCESS

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<div>Four years after the publication of <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/140020237X/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;creativeASIN=140020237X&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=sm0fe-20&amp;linkId=XRMZ6YQFH5M36CZZ">StandOut</a>, Marcus Buckingham releases this updated version. Like its predecessor, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1633690741/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;creativeASIN=1633690741&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=sm0fe-20&amp;linkId=EMZFDYOVXCXTFIYJ">StandOut 2.0</a> isn’t a standalone publication. To fully benefit, readers need to take the online assessment tool (an access code comes with the book) meant to reveal your two top strengths measured against nine archetypes. For example, advisers are practical, concrete thinkers who excel at solving other people’s problems. Connectors bring people and ideas together. Equalizers seek to maintain balance in a group, while influencers are talented persuaders who excel at engaging people.Buckingham explains how to apply your top two talents to <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/how-to-exponentially-improve-your-performance" target="_blank" title="How to Exponentially Improve Your Performance | SUCCESS.com">improve your performance</a> and that of your team. Bottom line: Even without the assessment, readers can figure out the strength roles that fit them best and use Buckingham’s advice to refine strengths and overcome weaknesses.He packed 2.0 with bells and whistles, including access to your own Personalized Success Channel where you’ll receive weekly tips to help you do your best work. You’ll spend only about 15 minutes taking the test, but what you learn about yourself will last much longer.by Marcus Buckingham August; Harvard Business Review Press; $25</div>

[node:summary] - Assess Your Strengths. Find Your Edge. Win at Work.

Four years after the publication of StandOut, Marcus Buckingham releases this updated version. Like its predecessor, StandOut 2.0 isn’t a standalone | SUCCESS

Reading List: StandOut 2.0

Reading List: StandOut 2.0 | SUCCESS

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The ability to adapt, endure and rebound from stressful situations, adversity and tragedy helps resilient people recover from events that plunge others into emotional and psychological turmoil. Supported by various studies, Everly, Strouse and McCormack point out that, given the right tools, we can build up our reservoirs of resilience. That’s good to know, but it’s not a game changer; we’ve long known that resilience isn’t genetic but a trait developed and strengthened over time. In <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0814436048/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;creativeASIN=0814436048&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=sm0fe-20&amp;linkId=X4SO7FQXKQRGLONJ">Stronger</a>, the authors identify five factors that when combined act as a “resilience magnet”:1. Believing you can change things for the better (<a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/blog/you-have-2-options-dance-or-drown" target="_blank" title="You Have 2 Options: Dance or Drown | SUCCESS.com">active optimism</a>).2. Tackling difficult decisions to help you rebound (<a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/decisions-decisions" target="_blank" title="Decisions, Decisions... | SUCCESS.com">decisive action</a>).3. Confronting challenges with honor and integrity (moral compass).4. Being persistent and determined (relentless tenacity).5. Seeking support and help from friends and professionals (interpersonal support).Given the authors’ impressive credentials—Everly is associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; Strouse holds a Ph.D. in organizational psychology; and McCormack, a former Navy SEAL, holds doctorates in leadership and clinical psychology—the familiar information may disappoint readers.<div>by George S. Everly Jr., Ph.D.; Douglas A. Strouse, Ph.D.; and Dennis K. McCormack, Ph.D. August; AMACOM; $24.95<a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/bouncing-back" target="_self" title="Bouncing Back | SUCCESS.com">Read stories of people who faced life’s toughest challenges and found the strength to keep on going—and how you, too, can develop your resilience muscle.</a></div>

[node:summary] - Develop the Resilience You Need to Succeed

The ability to adapt, endure and rebound from stressful situations, adversity and tragedy helps resilient people recover from events that plunge others | SUCCESS

Reading List: Stronger

Reading List: Stronger | SUCCESS

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