Business &amp; Branding

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Stay ahead in business: strategies and insights for success

Experience has taught me that when you are in the presence of a brilliant thinker, always have a pen and paper handy. As you begin to ask questions, you’ll find that a river of wisdom and practical examples freely flows from someone with valuable insight into the world. This was the case with J. Lennox Scott, Chairman and CEO of <a href="https://www.johnlscott.com/About-Johnlscott?Length=3" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">John L. Scott Real Estate</a>, a third-generation real estate firm based in Seattle with over 100 offices and 3,000 agents in four states.



While enjoying an exquisite dinner at the Bull &amp; Bear in the Waldorf Astoria Orlando, I asked Lennox, “What has caused your company to succeed in this economy?” He told me that everything shifted when he challenged his employees <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/achieve-joyful-peak-performance-with-shola-richards/">to walk in joy</a>, <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/john-c-maxwell-6-tips-to-develop-and-model-an-abundance-mindset/">walk in abundance</a> and <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/marcia-hunter-on-following-your-dreams/">live an inspired life</a>.



Now, before you write this off as some hocus-pocus concept, consider the impact this attitude shift had on Lennox’s business: 40% of new business (that is, referrals, <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesbusinesscouncil/2021/12/02/just-ask-the-power-of-referrals/?sh=68ad205d7f0d" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">which are like gold</a> in <a href="https://www.forbes.com/advisor/business/how-get-clients-real-estate/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">the real estate business</a>) came from 80% of the people the agents already knew and had personal face-to-face contact with within 90 days. 



<h2 id="h-traits-of-a-great-employee">Traits of a great employee</h2>



“Our company is not just a real estate company; we are a learning company,” Lennox said. He requires all of his executives to read the same book, then come together to discuss how they intend to apply the techniques they have learned. This exercise has inspired the agents <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/365-ways-to-improve-yourself/">to improve themselves</a> and stop <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/changing-the-world-why-true-innovators-need-upheaval-with-roger-martin/">settling for the status quo</a>.



Lennox’s most successful employees have developed three traits: positive mindset, skill-level competency and being action-oriented.



Sometimes agents can have the right mindset, but lack the skill level to compete. When this is the case, it’s up to the leader or manager to help their employees develop their skills.



When an agent has neither the right mindset for the job nor the appropriate skill level to perform, they will likely fail to take any action and should leave the organization. The real estate business <a href="https://www.investopedia.com/articles/personal-finance/040215/real-estate-broker-career-you.asp" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">is a tough one</a>, and the agents who survive do so because they possess all three of the necessary components—<a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/5-realistic-tips-to-be-more-positive/">the right mindset</a>, the skill level needed to compete and the initiative to take action on their own behalf.



Lennox’s continuing mission is to help agents discover possibilities, rather than focusing on why they are not doing something. Then he challenges agents by asking, “Why are we doing this activity?” and “How can we create a positive outcome?”



Another buzzword. I asked Lennox what he meant by “positive outcome.”



“To get to the positive outcome,” he said, “you have to find out how the agents can make a positive contribution to the potential prospect or past client. This simple act of consistently <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/what-makes-good-customer-service/">looking to serve the customer</a> ultimately pays off. It’s not about what you get from them; it’s about what you can give to them.”



<h2 id="h-helping-your-employees-develop-these-characteristics">Helping your employees develop these characteristics</h2>



This method allows an agent to “walk in joy” because they know that they are positively impacting their customer’s life and doing more than just buying or selling a home. Walking in abundance happens when an agent knows that they are making a positive contribution to their customers’ lives by solving problems and finding solutions.



As a leader, you can help your employees develop these traits:



<ol><li>Find out whether your team members possess the right mindset, skill level and initiative to take action. If they are lacking in any of these areas, then you have your work cut out for you.</li><li>Tell your employees what they are doing right instead of what they are doing wrong. I like to recall this anecdote: A coach was yelling at a football player, telling him all the things he was doing wrong on the field, when another player observed the coach berating his teammate and said, “Coach, aren’t you going to tell him how to do it right?”</li><li>Walk in joy. Every day you need to bounce out of bed with pep in your step, because you have that day to create a moment for your team members. Say thank you, nudge them to go the extra mile, give them an assignment that stretches their capabilities and get out of their way.</li></ol>



This article was published in September 2014 and has been updated. Photo by PeopleImages.com - Yuri A/Shutterstock

J. Lennox Scott, CEO of John L. Scott Real Estate, grew his business when he challenged agents to develop these traits of great employees.

J. Lennox Scott, Chairman and CEO of John L. Scott Real Estate, grew his business when he challenged agents to develop these traits of great employees. | SUCCESS

Great Employees Have These 3 Things

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Traits of a Great Employee—Do Yours Have Them? | SUCCESS

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Simon T. Bailey is an international speaker, writer and personal transformation strategist. He is the author of Shift Your Brilliance: Harness the Power of You, Inc., and Be the SPARK: Five Platinum Service Principles for Creating Customers for Life. When he’s not working, he enjoys rooting for the Buffalo Bills (his hometown team).

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Simon T. Bailey

what makes you different helps you stand out

Lifestyle

Lifestyle Archives

Elevate your lifestyle for success and happiness

We are moving into a decade where we’ll have to begin to <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/how-to-stand-out-from-the-competition/">embrace what makes us different</a> instead of fitting in to get along. Gone are the days when you just showed up and did average work in an average time. Companies, businesses and organizations want <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/how-to-stand-out-in-a-sea-of-the-same/">people who stand out</a> so that they can <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/theyec/2021/12/13/want-to-build-a-career-that-will-make-a-difference-follow-these-eight-strategies/?sh=30c9676141da" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">make a difference</a>. You don’t make a difference by doing more of the same, you have to embrace what makes you different.



Many years ago, I had just started out in the speaking industry, and I had been watching the likes of Zig Ziglar, <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/author/jim-rohn/">Jim Rohn</a> and Les Brown—all of the great motivational speakers who were popular at that time. One day I recognized that when I got up to speak, I was just mimicking what I had heard and seen.&nbsp;



I was not an original voice. There was nothing different about me. I was more of the same. My audiences were not getting the best of me; they were getting a part of me, which was a need to fit in and not stand out.&nbsp;



My life changed when my mentor said to me, “You weren’t born to fit in; you were born to be brilliant.”&nbsp;



<h2 id="h-what-makes-you-different-helps-you-stand-out">What makes you different helps you stand out</h2>



That became the combination that opened the vault of my soul from the inside out to recognize: A job is what you’re paid to do, but finding your spark is <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/what-is-my-purpose-in-life/">what you’re made to do</a>.



When I embraced that, all of the sudden I woke up one day and said to myself, “I no longer want to fit in. I no longer want to conform. I want to <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/changing-the-world-why-true-innovators-need-upheaval-with-roger-martin/">disrupt my world</a> and go in the opposite direction of what everyone else is doing.”



Here’s the deal: In this decade, when everybody is zigging, choose to zag. When everybody is saying, “It’s got to be done this way,” be willing to stand up, be the odd person out and walk in the opposite direction.&nbsp;



That’s where your freedom is.&nbsp;



Freedom is not being the “yes” person. It’s saying “no” to what doesn’t work for you, and “yes” to what wants to emerge. That’s how you make a difference.



At the beginning of the year, set the tone for the rest of the year. Start thinking ahead now and ask yourself:&nbsp;



<ul><li>“What can I do right out the gate to set the tone for how I intend to be different <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/6-steps-to-discover-your-true-self/">and authentically myself</a> for the rest of the year?”</li><li>“Where in my life have I been mimicking others, and how can I instead begin to use my original voice?”</li><li>“In what contexts can I anticipate I’ll need to zag when others zig?”</li></ul>



Write down your answers, and return to your notes at least once per quarter. Ask yourself, “Have I been <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbeshumanresourcescouncil/2019/06/27/embrace-what-makes-you-odd-to-experience-real-success/?sh=64ad0eb73eb0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">embracing what makes me different</a>?”



This article was published in January 2020 and has been updated. Photo by NDAB Creativity/Shutterstock

Why fit in when you were born to stand out? Here’s why you should embrace what makes you different to be successful and make a difference.

Why fit in when you were born to stand out? Here’s why you should embrace what makes you different to be successful and make a difference. | SUCCESS

Embrace What Makes You Different to Make a Difference

What Makes You Different? Embrace It and Make an Impact | SUCCESS

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Your Idea Didn’t Fail—You Just Got Feedback

Everybody fails. There comes a time when even <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/5-must-have-traits-of-successful-leaders/">the most successful leaders</a> have a strategy that flops or a plan that backfires. But how do you pick not just yourself back up, but your team, who are looking to you for answers, support and stability?



Remember this, a phoenix must have both wings to fly. To be the epitome of resilience, encouraging your team to rise from the ashes of disaster and soar, you must have an <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/7-practical-tips-to-achieve-a-positive-mindset/">inherent supply of positivity</a> yourself. A one-winged bird cannot remain airborne.



Here is how you can cultivate resilience and always <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/11-tips-for-letting-go-of-past-failures-and-embracing-the-future/">bounce back from failure</a>:



<h2 id="h-1-separate-yourself-from-the-failure">1. Separate yourself from the failure.</h2>



Don’t internalize the feeling—it was the plan or project that failed, not you. Detach your self-esteem from the situation; you cannot let failure affect you in a way that causes you to shrink away from challenges later on.



Leaders tend to blame themselves, but <a href="https://medium.com/mind-cafe/self-pity-is-destructive-heres-one-mental-shift-to-help-you-stop-feeling-sorry-for-yourself-2a56565b1815" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">instead of wallowing in self-pity</a>, display fortitude and strength. This project may have failed, but have enough faith in your ideas to know that the next one will not.



<h2 id="h-2-take-an-analytical-approach">2. Take an analytical approach.</h2>



Your perspective changes—and feelings of frustration and regret alleviate—when you look at the failed situation analytically. By studying the situation, taking the information and learning from it, you are prepared to apply and incorporate that newfound insight into your next project.



Broaden your mind, and use cool logic to approach any inconvenience. This will always ensure that emotion and reason are kept apart, which allows you to <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/the-art-of-problem-solving-4-creative-strategies-to-tackle-your-biggest-obstacles/">work out a solution</a> in a rational way.



<h2 id="h-3-view-failure-as-feedback">3. View failure as feedback.</h2>



Instead of fearing failure, relish it. Understand that failed projects are signposts guiding you along the right path. Until the incorrect method is pointed out and separated, you can’t determine what the correct method is. <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/overcome-your-fear-of-failure/">Failure is never final</a>; it is simply feedback. It helps you recognize where you had erred and teaches you to reconcile your past mistakes.



Good leaders are determined, and a small dose of failure can never keep them from moving ahead with speed, precision and clarity. <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/averyblank/2021/11/09/3-steps-you-can-take-that-will-help-you-learn-from-mistakes/?sh=9623d276213a" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Learn from your mistakes</a>, and adapt to new experiences.



You stand out because of your ability to <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/9-tips-for-overcoming-setbacks-from-9-resilient-entrepreneurs/">move past minor setbacks</a> and because you are able to see failure for what it really is: an enabler, a motivator and a teacher. You are already aware of this—it dwells in your subconscious—but you must hone the ability to adapt and grow, and only then can you truly rise above.



This article was published in October 2014 and has been updated. Photo by @banyushka/Twenty20

There comes a time when even the most successful leaders have a strategy that fails. But how do you pick not just yourself back up, but your team that looks to you for answers, support and stability?

There comes a time when even the most successful leaders have a strategy that fails. But how do you pick not just yourself back up, but your team that looks to you for answers, support and stability? | SUCCESS

Your Idea Didn’t Fail—You Just Got Feedback | SUCCESS

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We’ve all heard the big stories about people who have founded groundbreaking companies outside of their day jobs—how the<a href="https://www.airbnb.com/about/founders" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> co-founders of Airbnb</a> started their business out of their apartment when they couldn’t make rent, or how Mark Zuckerberg<a href="https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2010/09/20/the-face-of-facebook"> </a>created Facebook <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2017/05/25/mark-zuckerberg-returns-to-the-harvard-dorm-where-facebook-was-born.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">out of his college dorm room</a>. Although inspiring, these stories can feel too grandiose and far away to be relatable to the average person.



But what all of these success stories have in common is that someone, somewhere,<a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/10-steps-to-achieve-any-goal"> </a>started<a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/10-steps-to-achieve-any-goal"> </a><a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/3-steps-to-manifest-your-goals-in-life-yes-it-really-does-work/">working toward a dream or goal</a> before they knew where it would go. That’s it. There was no business plan. There were no investors. There was no market research to inform their thinking. In these cases, actionable steps and forward momentum toward a goal trumped detailed research and planning.



Jenny Treadwell didn’t have another job lined up when she <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/before-you-quit-your-job-try-these-3-things/">left her full-time job</a> as a paralegal to pursue her passion in the male-dominated field of racecar driving. When asked what her plan was the day she quit, she said, “You know, I would like to say that I had it all figured out in advance, but I really didn’t… I just decided to <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbescoachescouncil/2021/06/22/seven-steps-to-facing-your-fears-and-leaping-outside-your-comfort-zone/?sh=186a9c366a00" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">take a leap of faith</a> and start working it out.” In 2016, she became the first woman to win a divisional championship in her class.



As to what advice Treadwell would give to other people who want to make a big shift, she says, “There’s never going to be a good time to do it. <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/how-to-get-over-your-fears-and-get-on-with-your-life/">Move past your fear</a>—whatever it is. It’s easy to focus on that part, but focus on your potential.”



In this economy, everyone is an entrepreneur. If you’re thinking the word “entrepreneur” doesn’t apply to you, you’re wrong; we’re all charged with <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/actionable-advice-help-kids-thrive/202111/the-adaptability-advantage" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">being adaptable</a>, quick on our feet and able to acquire new skills on the fly, even within the traditional business environment.



And although it’s true that there are a myriad of tools you can use to advance your skill set, promote your personal or professional brand, build your network, etc., the sheer volume of resources, options and avenues for development can cause <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/5-decision-making-books-to-help-you-combat-analysis-paralysis/">analysis paralysis</a>. Which path is the right path? Which course? Which skill set?



“Just because you don’t have it all figured out doesn’t mean you can’t move in the direction you want to go.”



However, it matters less what you do and matters more that you do. Don’t think of development as a linear path—think of it as a maze. You might go in one direction and quickly hit a dead end, so you try a different route and this time you get much further before you hit another dead end. You only have to back up a little to move in yet another direction.



When it comes to <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/change-is-growth-3-tips-for-embracing-new-opportunities/">making a shift</a>, make an educated guess about which direction to pursue and see where it takes you. Successful ventures always begin with an idea and a series of actionable steps. You will course-correct along the way—It can take several changes in direction before you find a definitive path.



So if you’re reading this and you have <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/the-side-hustle-handbook/">a dream, passion or side project</a> you’re secretly itching to pursue, don’t wait for the stars to align before you make a move. If you do, Treadwell says you’ll never get there: “Just because you don’t have it all figured out doesn’t mean you can’t move in the direction you want to go. If you’re waiting for the perfect time or the perfect plan, that’s just not going to happen.”



Here are some things you can start doing today to <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/the-art-of-true-confidence/">build your confidence</a> and craft an entrepreneurial mindset:



<h2 id="h-1-identify-your-fears">1. Identify your fears.</h2>



When those dreams pop up in your mind, do you immediately engage in <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/how-to-combat-negative-thinking/">negative self-talk</a>? Identify the negative stories you’re telling yourself and change the narrative.



<h2 id="h-2-focus-on-the-positive">2. Focus on the positive.</h2>



Start watching inspiring videos, reading motivational articles and hanging around other positive people.



<h2 id="h-3-think-about-smaller-ways-you-can-get-started-working-toward-your-dream">3. Think about smaller ways you can get started working toward your dream.</h2>



For Treadwell, this meant reducing the number of hours she worked at her day job (versus quitting altogether). You might also work outside of your normal business hours or even during your lunch break.



In short, stop planning and start moving toward your dream. What can you do to make a shift and get going?



This article was published in April 2017 and has been updated. Photo by @ira_lichi/Twenty20

We’ve all heard the big stories about people who have founded groundbreaking companies outside of their day jobs. But what do all of these success stories have in common?

We’ve all heard the big stories about people who have founded groundbreaking companies outside of their day jobs. But what do all of these success stories have in common? | SUCCESS

3 Ways to Start Living Your Dreams Today

3 Ways to Start Living Your Dreams Today | SUCCESS

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Welcome to the year you went big. As the calendar turns to January, it’s time to set wild goals about the personal sales records you can smash with a little planning and practice.



As a 100% commissioned salesperson for the past 19 years, I’ve often wondered what are the characteristics of the top producing sales professionals and successful leaders.



What’s there to learn about the mindset, skill set and willpower that allows them to achieve in any economy? How do they <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/rohn-how-to-bounce-back-from-failure/">bounce back after a setback</a>? What are the rituals, routines and revelations that allow them to flourish despite challenges?



In a world where customers can buy anytime and in any way they like, sales professionals are moving faster, operating with more flexibility and putting significant emphasis on their mental health.



Here are four tangible ways for you to have your best year ever.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-1-take-your-meds">1. Take your meds. </h2>



I connected with Kathy Romero, a business coach, and asked her for her secret sauce to thriving and overcoming anxiety. She said, “Simon, you have to take your MEDS.” Not aware of any performance-enhancing drugs for pitching products and services to buyers, I asked, “What in the world are MEDS?”



She said, “Investing your energy in meditating, exercising, dieting and sleeping.”



<a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/3-thoughtful-ways-you-can-benefit-from-meditation/">Meditating</a> (mindfulness) is carving out time to breathe and clear your mind before you start the day. It can be as simple as sitting in a chair with your feet on the ground and your back in an erect position, then taking a few slow, deep breaths. Inhale goodness and exhale anxiety.



<a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/how-to-create-an-exercise-routine-that-doesnt-suck/">Exercise</a> early and often. According to the Mayo Clinic, “regular exercise releases feel-good endorphins and other natural brain chemicals that can enhance your sense of well-being. Exercising takes your mind off worries.” Set the tone in the morning, carve out time midday or unwind after a busy afternoon with some body movement.



<a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/what-is-intuitive-eating-and-how-can-it-help-you-ditch-fad-diets-for-good/">Diet</a> fuels the body and mind. Commit to planning meals, keep a stash of healthy snacks throughout the day and, most importantly, drink water.&nbsp;



Sleep is “the Swiss army knife of health,” says Matthew Walker, Ph.D., currently the Professor of Neuroscience and Psychology at the University of California and a leading advocate of a good night’s rest. According to a Rand Corporation study, in the U.S. $411 billion in productivity is lost per year because of insufficient sleep. Rand suggest consistent wake-up times and limiting the use of electronic items before bedtime. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests 7-9 hours of sleep per night.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">2. Become an exceptional listener.</h2>



Great salespeople understand that the same letters used to spell the word listen also spell the word silent. Exceptional listening means getting things right the first time, which is all the more important in a world of swipe, click and buy. Yankelovich, a market research firm, estimates that a person sees 5,000 advertising messages a day. Sales professionals that stand head and shoulders above the noise are long remembered for their quality of listening instead of the quantity of words spoken.



Exceptional listening is <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/how-to-speak-well-and-listen-better/">deep listening</a>. According to Mark Nepo, author of Seven Thousand Ways to Listen, “deep listening is more than hearing with our ears, but taking what is revealed in any given moment with our body, our being and our heart.”



This type of listening positions you to be what business author Joe Calloway calls a “Category of One” caliber of sales professional. When you are talking less and listening more, this enables you to listen beyond the words and read between the lines.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">3. Cultivate a wealth DNA.</h2>



Frank and Theresa AuCoin are serial entrepreneurs who own a franchise sign business, real estate and are among the largest producers in LegalShield through their Performance Family Network. Frank has been awarded Charleston Businessperson of the Year and South Carolina Businessperson of the Year. Recently, over dinner, I was riveted by his encyclopedic mind and Theresa’s laser-sharp wit. Being personal friends with Jim Rohn, they shared many stories of his brilliance. I was curious to know their secret for attracting wealth and success. Without missing a beat, Frank said the door to wealth and achievement swings on these five hinges:



<ul>
<li>Respect and honor everyone because they matter.</li>



<li>Be on time.</li>



<li>Do what you say you’ll do.</li>



<li>Finish what you start.</li>



<li>Say please and thank you.</li>
</ul>



He then reminded me of one particular Rohn quote: “Success is something you attract by the person you become.”



I asked him what else he did to become successful, and he said, “<a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/5-steps-to-personal-greatness/">Personal mastery</a> is a step above personal development.” He routinely surrounds himself with opportunities for learning. He’s always reading, watching and listening. After all, the more he understands from different disciplines, the more well-rounded his thinking and communication is.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">4. Don't sell—serve. </h2>



A few years ago, an old boss from my time working at Disney called and suggested that I meet Michael Hanley. Michael is in the insurance business, and it dawned on me that he was probably going to shake me down to buy life insurance from him. I dreaded calling him but decided to follow through anyway.



He invited me to meet him for lunch at Orlando’s Bay Hill Country Club, the private golf course built by the legendary Arnold Palmer. I did my best to contain my excitement.



On the day I was supposed to meet him, I arrived super early looking casket-sharp. He warmly greeted me, and we proceeded to sit and visit before ordering lunch. After we placed our order, I quickly scanned the environment around me and noticed an older gentleman slightly hunched over in the corner. I did a double take and mumbled to myself, “That’s Arnold Palmer!” I abruptly left the table without excusing myself and swiftly went over to shake the great golfer’s hand. I said, “Thank you for being a great American, and thank you for what you’ve done for the game of golf.”&nbsp; He looked up at me and said, “Thank you, young man.” I preceded to take my phone out and snap a selfie but noticed an entourage closing in, so I politely put my phone back in my pocket and returned to the table.



By this time, Michael had turned red and was laughing. He said, “You’re not allowed to use your phone in the club, let alone take a picture with Arnold Palmer.”



I said, “Michael, what’s the likelihood of an average guy like me, from Buffalo, New York, having an opportunity to dine in your prestigious Grey Poupon country club and see Arnold Palmer?” We laughed it off that day. Michael didn’t try to sell me insurance.



A few weeks later, I was speaking at an Equitable Insurance sales event. I was about to leave the stage and the host said to wait because “we have something for you.” She then proceeded to take a hat out of a bag, autographed by Arnold Palmer. Michael was in the audience that day and had arranged this pleasant surprise. Michael and I took a picture of me sporting my new hat along with my Cheshire Cat smile. He still didn’t try to sell me insurance.



Three months passed and sadly, Arnold Palmer died. I called Michael and we begin to reminisce about the day we had lunch at the country club. I decided that day that, even though he didn’t bring it up, I would buy three life insurance policies.



He never had to sell me. He simply understood that when you sell to someone, it’s a transaction. But when you connect, it’s a relationship.



After buying the policies, Michael didn’t just ditch me and move onto the next prospect. He calls me quarterly to ask about my business and my family. When I hit a few months of declining revenue, he personally met with me and opened his Rolodex. He introduced me to several of his CEO clients who have now become my clients.



The bottom line: If you want to have your best year ever, just remember that serving is the new selling.&nbsp;



I hope you consider embedding these practices into your days ahead. Your life will never be the same again. And that is how to make 2022 your best year ever. 



This article originally appeared in the January/February 2022 Issue of SUCCESS magazine. Photo courtesy of Simon T. Bailey

In a world where customers can buy anytime and in any way they like, sales professionals are moving faster, operating with more flexibility and putting significant emphasis on their mental health.

In a world where customers can buy anytime and in any way they like, sales professionals are moving faster, operating with more flexibility and putting significant emphasis on their mental health. | SUCCESS

Serving Is the New Selling, and Other Tips for Having Your Best Sales Year Ever

Best Sales Year Ever: Serving as the New Selling and More Tips

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Ready to hear your new edge in business? <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/how-to-improve-your-client-relationships/">It’s customer love</a>. The key is simple: Stop selling and start connecting with customers.



Going beyond the transaction is what keeps you in business. <a href="https://www.lendingtree.com/business/small/failure-rate/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">According to LendingTree’s analysis</a> of data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, “20.8% of private sector businesses in the U.S. fail within the first year.” At 10 years, just over 65% of businesses fail. I’m proud to be one of the exceptions, with over 20 years behind me as a speaker, author and coach. Before starting out on my own, I spent years in hospitality, even working at the Disney Institute, so I have a deep appreciation for great customer service. My years as a solopreneur have only furthered my belief that relationships are the currency of professional success.



By turning introductions into opportunities and moments into memories, you can <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/client-retention-strategies/">create clients for life</a>.



Unforgettable experiences improve customers’ brand perception and increase customer retention. I am convinced that this is the greatest time in history to level up your business. I challenge you to think of your interactions as connect-the-dot experiences that entice customers to do business with you instead of experiencing the bland customer service they might expect from one of your bigger, stronger competitors.



To understand how to truly connect with your customer and <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/what-makes-good-customer-service/">provide the ideal service experience</a> for them, get to the bottom of three key questions:



<ul>
<li>What is the experience of your business, brand or service?</li>



<li>Are your client connections meaningful or money-oriented?</li>



<li>Where can you create an above-and-beyond moment?</li>
</ul>



Once you have drilled down on the answers to these questions, you can get to work connecting with people, <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/how-to-improve-customer-service-7-ways-to-take-your-mission-beyond-words/">creating a positive emotional imprint</a> on your customers and giving extra effort with no strings attached.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-to-connect-with-your-customers">How to connect with your customers</h2>



There are a few principles I learned early in my career and use in my own business to this day. I know they’ll help you, no matter whether you’re moving real estate, working as an independent marketer or coach or trying to find the true believers in your startup.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-1-see-customers-as-guests">1. See customers as guests.</h3>



Provide a warm and gracious greeting to everyone you come into contact with, thus creating a customer love environment.



Action tip: Use your customer’s name whenever possible; if you don’t know it, ask.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-2-personalize-the-experience-to-connect-with-customers">2. Personalize the experience to connect with customers.</h3>



Be prepared to individualize how you create a platinum service moment. This can be done in almost any type of business. There was an Uber driver who delivered me to the airport once in Columbia, South Carolina. He made it a point to ask if I enjoyed my visit and promptly provided a laundry list of vetted suggestions regarding local restaurants, scenic sites and other off-the-beaten-path goodies for me to experience should I decide to return. That gentleman created an impression that lasted long after our meeting. He understood how to create an appetite for return travel. Now that’s customer love.



Even if you mostly connect with customers online instead of face-to-face, you still need to create a positive customer experience. David Crystal, a renowned linguist, wrote in his book, <a href="https://amzn.to/3WTBfb1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Stories of English</a>, about how modern technology has affected language. He explains that email, chat rooms and other forms of communication have utilized “netspeak” and visibly changed the way we interact with language.



Although the digital age allows us to work and communicate globally, “netspeak” shorthand could be a quick way to cause confusion and disconnect during those interactions. Keep that in mind, especially when you’re replying to customer reviews or questions on social media.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-3-anticipate-and-uncover-needs">3. Anticipate and uncover needs.</h3>



Success in today’s competitive business environment is impacted by <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/serving-your-ideal-client-starts-with-understanding-their-buying-motives/">the prediction and understanding</a> of customer behavior. Only after identifying what the guest of your brand or business wants are you able to customize solutions to suit their needs.



A great example is the speech David Packles, former senior director of product at Peloton Interactive, gave at Amplify 2020. I recently had a chance to speak at a virtual event for Amplitude and learned that Peloton has been brilliant enough to leverage the behaviors of their most active users. They developed a framework to harness emergent activities: “observe the behaviors, validate them with different personas, and learn from trying new things,” <a href="https://amplitude.com/blog/how-peloton-harnessed-the-power-of-emergent-behaviors" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">according to Amplitude’s article</a> discussing Packles’ presentation. These emergent behaviors are also known as “usage patterns or ‘hacks’ that appear organically within a highly engaged subset of users.”



Peloton posed two questions, according to the article: “How are our most engaged members using our product?” and “How might we productize these behaviors and make them applicable to the widest possible audience?”



How could you ask the same of your business or brand?



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-4-respond-with-immediate-and-appropriate-service">4. Respond with immediate and appropriate service.</h3>



Take a vigorous approach to improving customer experience and resolve issues in a way that demonstrates a commitment to customer love. If you can’t fulfill your promise to your clients, immediately communicate with them in order to manage expectations. <a href="https://www.pwc.com/us/en/services/consulting/business-transformation/library/customer-loyalty-survey.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">According to a survey</a> conducted by PwC, 37% of participants would stop buying from a business if they “had a bad experience with products/services,” and 32% would stop buying from a business if they “had a bad experience with customer service.”



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-5-connect-with-and-keep-customers-loyal-through-acts-of-kindness">5. Connect with and keep customers loyal through acts of kindness.</h3>



Surprise is a powerful emotion. When you delight a customer, you strengthen their loyalty and create powerful connections to your brand.



The customer love mindset is about investigating the value of random acts of kindness—deciding where you can do more or go the extra mile instead of the extra inch. Customer love is seeing your current and prospective clients as guests, personalizing their experience, realizing their needs and operating with appropriate immediacy, all while also engaging in random acts of kindness.&nbsp;



My parting advice for you would be to take time to See, Help, Infuse and Praise your clients and customers.



See clients for who they are, instead of who you think they are or who you want them to be. Pay attention to the language they use, the questions they ask and what drives or excites them.



Help the people you interact with where they are, not for what you can gain from where they are going. If your default is to only initiate what you perceive as advantageous relationships, remember the potential opportunities and valuable connections you may be passing up due to professional hubris.



Infuse them with hope. Equip, empower or encourage the guests of your brand or business with the tools to harness their potential and get the most out of what they are doing or where they want to go.



Praise them for the value they provide and the difference they are already making. Never underestimate the power of celebrating others for the little things they do. When you empower your customers, you create business success.



This article appeared in the May/June 2021 issue of SUCCESS magazine and was updated June 2023. Photo by PR Image Factory/Shutterstock

Take your service standards to the highest level by taking time to connect with customers with these five steps.

Take your service standards to the highest level by taking time to connect with customers with these five steps. | SUCCESS

Connect with Customers: How to Take Your Business from Good to Great

How to Connect with Customers to Boost Business | SUCCESS

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Personal Development

Personal Development Archives

Personal Development | SUCCESS | What Achievers Read

We’ve all been through a lot over the past year. The pressure cooker experience of the pandemic has required us to rethink and revise our daily lives. For a large swath of Americans, how we work, learn and socialize has completely changed to some degree. The prolonged adjustment has been exhausting.



Although it’s important to honor our experiences and <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/to-be-a-better-leader-you-need-to-empathize/">be empathetic adapters</a>, the individuals who find a way to accelerate while others are standing still will thrive. The future is for sale, and they are the shareholders of tomorrow’s success.



We are all given the same 24 hours each day—how we use them is the differentiator. Reignite inspiration, invest in yourself and get motivated with these three steps.


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<h2 id="h-1-celebrate-your-progress">1. Celebrate your progress.</h2>



It’s easy to find something to feel good about if you’re looking for it. Regardless of your emotional relationship to the previous year, the truth is there were 365 days of accomplishments and they are all worth celebrating. Bullet-point, list or illustrate your triumphs to spark pride in your achievements and ignite initiative.



<h2 id="h-2-learn-something-new">2. Learn something new.</h2>



<a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/22-ways-to-become-a-relentless-learner/">Adding to your skillset</a> not only increases confidence and competence, but it also feeds innovation. Whether it’s reading a book or enrolling in an accredited course, stimulating your mind is a great way to rekindle motivation.



<h2 id="h-3-keep-good-company">3. Keep good company.</h2>



I was recently speaking with my mentor, Mark Chironna, when he challenged me to, “experience life at the speed of relationships.” My interpretation of this was that we can only go as fast or as far as the people around us. Depending on which expert you listen to, we are the average of the five to 10 people we spend the most time with. Take inventory of yours. Energy is contagious, and your network is either an asset or a hindrance.



This year is yours. If you invest in yourself by focusing on progress, prioritizing development and keeping good company, the ROI will be a productive and purposeful year. Whenever you feel stuck, remember this Chinese proverb: “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second-best time is now.”



 This article originally appeared in the <a href="https://store.success.com/by-media/success-magazine-mar-apr-2021-daymond-john.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">March/April 2021 issue of SUCCESS magazine</a>. Photo by Rawpixel.com/Shutterstock

Reignite inspiration, invest in yourself and get motivated with these three tips.

Reignite inspiration, invest in yourself and get motivated with these three tips. | SUCCESS

How to Become More Motivated

How to Become More Motivated | SUCCESS

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Success

Success Archives

Success | SUCCESS | What Achievers Read

There are three must-do's to really experience personal transformation:


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<h3>1. Quality Time</h3>



There's a difference between being busy and being effective. What I've discovered over time is that I was focused on a lot of different things going nowhere fast because I thought busyness equaled effectiveness, and it doesn't. If you really want to understand the power of quality time, look at every hour of the day as your personal employee: How do you deploy your energy, your thinking and your ability to get the maximum out of that hour? If it's true that we should sleep at least eight hours a day, that means there are 16 hours left in a day after we sleep, 16 hours to ensure it is the highest and best use of our time. So ask yourself, Am I being busy or am I being effective? 



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<h3>2. Quality Relationships </h3>



Whoever has your ear has your life. The individuals that really challenge you to be the very best are those who don't always agree with you. They may not "like" posts or comment on anything that you're doing, but when you do talk to them, they give you critical feedback that is needed for you to grow. So do you have quality relationships that give you a different perspective and lens on everything that's happening in your life?



<h3>3. Quality Life</h3>



If you want to have a quality life, it's making a decision every single day to let go of things that have reached a natural expiration date, so that you can let come what wants to emerge. How do you evaluate if you have a quality life? Take a quick personal survey: On a scale of 1 to 10—10 being the highest, 1 being the lowest—how happy are you with the quality of your life right now? If you say it's a 5, what would it be like to move it from a 5 to a 5.5, to a 6 or to a 7? What different decisions will you make today? What choices are you going to make? What things are you truly going to let go of?



If you really want to experience personal transformation, how do you begin to think about quality time, quality relationships and having quality life? 



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">Watch next: <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/3-tips-for-finding-your-voice/">3 Tips for Finding Your Voice</a></blockquote>

How do you begin to think about quality time, quality relationships and having quality life?

How do you begin to think about quality time, quality relationships and having quality life? | SUCCESS

3 Must-Do's for a Personal Transformation

3 Must-Do&#8217;s for a Personal Transformation

3 Must-Do's for a Personal Transformation | SUCCESS

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Philanthropy

Philanthropy Archives

Philanthropy | SUCCESS | What Achievers Read

Albert Einstein once said, “It is every man’s obligation to put back into the world at least the equivalent of what he takes out of it.” While I agree with him, I also understand how easy it is to become overwhelmed (or at least a little confused) when deciding what shape philanthropy or contribution might take for you.



The benefits of giving back are well-supported by research. The Science of Generosity initiative, a comprehensive review of more than 500 studies on giving, found that givers experience countless benefits as a positive side effect of&nbsp;philanthropy.



One study published in the National Library of Medicine found that charitable donations activate neural activity in the area of the brain that processes pleasure and reward. Researchers from Harvard University and the University of British Columbia uncovered that spending money on another cause or person led to lasting improvements in people’s overall happiness and life satisfaction.



And, perhaps most notably, a 20-year study done by the University of Buffalo discovered that altruistic behaviors can even reduce mortality rates.



We all know we should give back, but making it routine can be hard when we’re unsure what to support, where to give or how much is appropriate. Here’s how to get started.


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<h3>Identify your cause.</h3>



Ask yourself these questions to figure out what cause speaks to you most.



<ul><li>What social, political, environmental or logistical problem do I want to solve?</li><li>We all have a cause or concern that is dear to us. The trick is figuring out how you can leverage yours to connect your heart and your hands.</li></ul>



<h3>Try micro-philanthropy.</h3>



Once you’re ready to begin giving, keep in mind that your contributions don’t need to be astronomical. Micro- philanthropy is the practice of leveraging charitable donations made in smaller increments. This could mean anything from 25 cents to $10 or $200.



Micro-giving can take many forms, from $1 Red Cross pledges at the grocery store checkout to event sponsorships like dollar-per-mile 5K races.



To figure out the right type of micro-philanthropy for you, ask yourself these questions:



<ul><li>What is the best use of my time, talent, network or&nbsp;resources?</li><li>What community project could I contribute to?</li><li>Does my organization have a company-sponsored event or donation-matching program?</li><li>Is there someone I could mentor?</li></ul>



Thinking about giving back in this way makes philanthropy more affordable, relatable and attainable.



The tennis legend Arthur Ashe put it best when he said, “Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.”&nbsp;


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 This article originally appeared in the&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://store.success.com/by-media/success-magazine-jan-feb-2021-mark-cuban.html" target="_blank">January/February 2021 issue of SUCCESS magazine</a>. Photo by @Elisall/Twenty20.com

Looking for a way to give back this year? Consider micro-philanthropy.

Looking for a way to give back this year? Consider micro-philanthropy. | SUCCESS

How to Make Giving Back Routine

How to Make Giving Back Routine | SUCCESS

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Years ago, I was living the American dream as it had been sold to me. I had a high-powered career at Disney, a big house, the best cars, a wife and two amazing children.
But I was miserable.
I was successful, but I wasn’t significant.
I was working for a great company, but I sat at my desk every day from 9-5 overcome by the frustration of stifled potential. What choice did I have, though? I had a family to support and a mortgage to pay. My bills were screaming louder than my dreams.
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During this time, the movie The Lion King had just come out. I was deeply impacted by the scene where the clouds in the sky part and Mufasa’s spirit appears to his son, Simba. Mufasa’s fatherly voice booms, “Simba! Remember who you are. You are more than what you have become.”
That line changed my life.
I knew I was more than I had become. I had just lost my way.
In the movie, Simba was forced to run away and, for a short time, lived a carefree life with his friends Timon and Pumbaa. However, he knew in his heart that he was meant for more. He knew he needed to return to his people to take his place as king, no matter how scary, no matter the cost.
Like Simba, I knew I needed to dig deeper to find my true purpose. I needed to go inside myself to find the answers. But I was afraid to make a change—to take a risk, to fail, to let my family down. I was scared of losing what I’d worked so hard to build over the years. I was afraid to shed my expensive, outer mask.
So I asked myself three questions:
<ol>
<li>What would I do if I knew I couldn’t fail?</li>
<li>What would I do even if nobody paid me to do it?</li>
<li>What makes me come alive?</li>
</ol>
In my heart, I knew I wanted to speak and write. I wanted to consult and coach. I would do all of these things if nobody paid me to do them. I would do all of these things if I knew I couldn’t fail. Because these were the things that made me come alive.
Fast forward to the present. I’ve now spoken to more than 1,600 organizations and consulted with a dozen companies in 45 countries. I’ve written nine books and personally coached more than 100 managers and leaders around the world, and I absolutely come alive every single day doing what I love.
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We all want to live in what I call a universal assignment, the point at which your talents, skills, abilities and gifts intersect with a void or a need in the world around you.
That is, as best I can imagine, the true definition of purpose we should all aspire to seek. But like anything else in the journey of success, it isn’t a fixed point that you arrive at and stay forever. The world changes too often. We change too often. It is the constant search for that point that keeps us on target.
Here are several guideposts to illuminate your path as you seek your purpose.
<h2>Pique Your Curiosity</h2>
Never underestimate the power of curiosity. A desire to know and learn, curiosity ignites your mind, forcing it to come alive.
I’ve always loved learning, but after my first year, my parents could no longer afford to pay for me to finish college. When their money ran out, so did my status as a college student. On my own for the first time, I found myself living in a crime-infested neighborhood and working a job that only paid $5.10 an hour. I was in big trouble. Thankfully, I’ve always been a voracious reader with a curious mind, and that paid off for me. I sought out motivational books that provided insight into a better future and found a mentor who saw something in me and fostered my growth.
When you admit that although you don’t know something, you’re eager and willing to find out about it, you release your potential to achieve incredible things. You become open to the possibility of your purpose.
Inquisitive people ask questions, seek answers, wonder how things work and try fresh approaches to old problems. You can easily recognize them by their behaviors. I refer to this phenomenon as “vujà dé”—the opposite of déjà vu. It means examining a problem or a situation with fresh eyes and an open mind, often resulting in a creative and innovative solution.
Curious people are constantly searching for “new” information. You’ll find them in bookstores and libraries, sitting on the floor, absorbed in a book about some seemingly random subject. They proactively solicit feedback from their managers, spouses, friends and co-workers. They ask profound and insightful questions.
Strive to take in fresh information. Consider your sources and then expand them. Find someone who inspires you and ask them what they’re reading, watching, listening to.
Curiosity naturally leads you to learn, unlearn and re-learn. Philosopher Eric Hoffer said, “In the future, the learners will inherit the earth, while the learned will find themselves beautifully equipped to live in a world that no longer exists.”
When we’re dead and gone, people can judge us on what we accomplished. Until then, it’s up to us to keep searching for what we’ll accomplish next. Your curiosity puts you in the driver’s seat.
<h2>Examine Your Motives</h2>
If your motives are pure and honest, you will experience forward momentum. If they’re not, your purpose will remain locked up.
A decade ago, when I relocated to Orlando, Florida, I made a list of the city’s key leaders. These were the men and women whose names carried enough weight to open doors and close deals. My goal was to leverage their community status and, in turn, gain access to their contacts—the movers and shakers. I showed up at every event like Johnny-on-the-spot, trying to be seen and heard, but never connecting with people. Why? Because my motives were cunning, and they could sense it a mile away.
It was when I began working with a life coach that I managed to change my course. He saw right through me. He immediately recognized my performance-driven behaviors as a need for external validation in order to feel confident. It was clear that I was deriving my self-worth from what others thought about me.
When I left Disney, I set out on an expensive chase to increase my self-importance. Then one day I woke up and realized it was a total joke. Someone had sold me a bag filled with holes. I’d achieved some measure of fame in my small sphere of influence; however, if the truth be told, I was a wannabe famous person who was overexposed but underdeveloped in character.
My life coach helped me learn that permanent and real validation comes from within. When your confidence is unshakable and unaffected by the way others react to you, this authentic confidence leads to authentic motives, which creates authentic connections and authentic results.
I increased my confidence by being willing to pay the price to develop character and a spirit of excellence. Give instead of take, be kind, and care for someone who can do nothing for you.
I invite you to do the inner work of examining your motives, no matter what the situation. Failing to do so risks building your life on an unstable foundation, so rid your system of backstabbing, politicking and attempting to control outcomes. When you’re obsessed with achieving a particular outcome, you’re disconnected from your spirit. Instead, consider living your life with detached intention. When you’re open to different outcomes, you’re aligned with your spirit. This inner peace releases your purpose and attracts what’s in your best interest.
You’ll <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/marcia-hunter-on-following-your-dreams/">recognize your purpose</a> when time ceases to exist and there’s an alignment of your head, your heart and your hands. Purpose isn’t external; it’s something you own inside.
<h2>Ignite Your Intuition</h2>
Intuition is knowing or sensing without the use of rational processes. Call it a hunch, or your sixth sense—it’s when you simply know you were meant to walk a certain path or make a specific decision. You don’t know why you know, you just do.
When I let my intuition guide me while speaking before a crowd, I fall into a state of uncomplicated joy, knowing that I am making a difference in these people’s lives. I forget to look at the clock because I am in an effortless flow, doing what I love. Adding value to the word costs you nothing, but will earn you everything.
Listening to and following your instincts is key to becoming purpose-driven. When you live with purpose, you become more intentional about what you do and how you do it. While many people depend on hard data, schooling and experience to make decisions, I invite you to remain open to what your intuition might be telling you, especially if it’s different from what logic indicates. There will also be times when you simply don’t have enough information to make a good decision—what do you do then? Get quiet, listen to your gut and go with it.
Going against the grain—especially in corporate cultures where companies tell you, “Bring us your brains, but check your heart at the door”—isn’t easy. Whether the world approves or disapproves of you following your intuition, you’re the one who has to live with your choice. You’ll know that your instinct is on target by the peace you’ll feel in your soul.
<h2>Evaluate the Core Areas of Your Life</h2>
If you feel trapped in your 9-5 job, if you feel under-skilled, inexperienced and undereducated, you’re not living in your purpose. How do you process this and identify your purpose?
I felt this way once. On paper, I had the job of my dreams, but I was just going through the motions. In my heart, I knew that I didn’t want to be there anymore, and I was spinning my wheels.
I reached a place professionally where I no longer wanted to work for my employer. I showed up late, took long lunch breaks and left early. I didn’t fully participate and did just enough work to keep from getting fired. I was there physically, but I was emotionally and intellectually unavailable.
One day, I decided to stop living beneath my potential, and I gave myself permission to be intentional. I knew that I needed to move more deeply into who I wanted to become. For me, that meant leaving the organization—but then what, and how would I get there? I looked within my core areas for the answers.
The core areas of your life are personalized to you and your purpose. Only you can truly define them—mind and body, family and friends, spirituality, finances, career.
Start by doing some soul-searching. Ask yourself personal questions about your life as you see it: How are you doing in the core areas of your life? Are you excelling in some and lacking in others?
For example, career is a core area where many people struggle. If this is you, ask yourself: What am I good at? What are my special talents, skills and abilities? Then take it outside of yourself: What do I want to do?
What external problem, situation or need nags at you? What opportunities, careers or vocations are you interested in but haven’t pursued? Seeking your truths within the core areas of your life, both inside and out, will help you walk a purpose-driven path.
<h2>Develop High-Impact Habits</h2>
One of the most crucial things you can do to live on purpose is to develop high-impact habits. These are the behaviors and actions that move you farthest and fastest in the direction of your heart’s desire. High-impact activities accelerate the process of unleashing your purpose. On the flip side, low-impact habits drain your energy, your enthusiasm and your efforts, and they delay and prevent you from finding your purpose.
Develop a habit of being a steward of your time and energy. What you do with these two resources will determine the outcome of your life. Time is our most precious asset, and yet we tend to let it slip away on activities that don’t move us forward. How much time do you spend watching TV, answering emails and surfing the internet? I’ll be the first to admit that I’ve wasted far too much time on those three things, and all it is, is noise.
I remind myself daily that if I’m going to live my purpose and reach my goals, I can’t let these low-impact activities consume my day. This habit has transformed my life, and I want you to try it: Guard your energy and protect your spirit during what I call the “hour of power.” Every morning, devote 20 minutes to meditation, 20 minutes to exercise and 20 minutes to reading aloud.
We live in an electronic world that moves at the speed of light, and we’ve forgotten how to focus. This morning ritual will open your mind, heart and spirit to your purpose like no other. Meditating centers your energy and intention on how your day will unfold. Exercising invigorates your body and creates momentum. Reading focuses your mind, and reading aloud expands your vocabulary and increases your confidence.
<h2>Putting It All Together</h2>
Living your purpose means waking up every morning excited. The moment your feet hit the ground, you can’t wait to make a difference in the life of another. You’re excited to solve a problem, put a smile on someone’s face, identify a solution to an issue, and you go to bed at night with the internal satisfaction that you were your most productive self that day. You brought your best self to work and gave it 100 percent.
In my book <a href="https://amzn.to/3w7mN5C" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Release Your Brilliance</a>, I lay out a simple, three-step exercise to help you discover your purpose and then design your life around it:
<h3>1. Ask</h3>
Ask yourself, How can I use my purpose to make a difference?—and your subconscious mind will open to the universe and its possibilities.
Try to start each day with some quiet time to yourself, in meditation, prayer or with your morning coffee. Give yourself the space to ask yourself this question every single day.
<h3>2. Seek</h3>
Actively look for answers to how you can use your purpose each day. Look for the path that you’re supposed to take. Do your research. Understand that you may have to follow a lot of rabbit trails, some of which will take you to dead ends. That’s OK; it’s all part of the process.
The path to living out your purpose isn’t always obvious or clear-cut. Go online, watch videos and listen to podcasts. Read every book you can get your hands on that calls out to you. Seek guidance from people who can help you live your purpose.
Once you’ve opened your mind and heart to the possibilities of the universe, pay close attention to the people who show up. They are there to either teach you a lesson, challenge you or help you on your path.
<h3>3. Knock</h3>
And keep knocking.
When you come upon a door of opportunity that you intuitively believe is for you, you must knock. If you want to find out what’s on the other side of the door, you have to push it open and step through.
Every single day take one small step that moves you in the direction of your purpose. Write down your goal, then break it down into smaller goals, and then even further into small, actionable steps. I promise you, these will add up quickly.
Believe within your spirit that this is why you are here. Make the decisions and choices that bring into your life the things that will help you fulfill your purpose. There will be times when you lose your footing or take a wrong step, and that’s OK. Each step, whether right or wrong, will teach you something and lead you closer to your purpose. Listen and pay attention to each one.
Follow these three steps purposefully and consciously every single day, day in and day out. If you do, I promise that you will wake up one day just a few short years from now and your life will be completely transformed—because you’ll be living your purpose.
<div id="om-bglruk5yrx5mevj75dgb-holder"> </div>


Editor’s note: This post was originally published in October 2018 and has been updated for freshness. Photo by Yuricazac/Shutterstock.com

Purpose is the point at which your talents, skills, abilities and gifts intersect with a void or a need in the world around you. What is yours?

If you’ve ever wondered, ‘What is my purpose in life?’ here is how to find out. | SUCCESS

Why Purpose Matters and How to Discover Yours

Why Purpose Matters and How to Discover Yours | SUCCESS

https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/What-Is-My-Purpose.jpg

To operate above the noise, you have to connect to your truth, and to do that, you have to take care of yourself and get out of your own way.

To operate above the noise, you have to connect to your truth, and to do that, you have to take care of yourself and get out of your own way. | SUCCESS

3 Tips for Finding Your Voice

3 Tips for Finding Your Voice | SUCCESS

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People struggle with making <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/the-ultimate-guide-to-habits/">habits</a> stick for one simple reason: They make a rational commitment instead of an emotional one. Until you’re emotionally committed to a particular habit, you won’t see it through.&nbsp;



Here’s how to form an emotional connection to your habits.&nbsp;



<h3>Identify your goals.</h3>



Have you made your priorities part of your daily routine? Are they habits yet?



Years ago, I got up just in time to shower, shave and get to work. But when I was 32, I decided to make an emotional commitment to starting my own company. I developed the habit of getting up 15 minutes early to start writing. Soon, 15 minutes turned into three hours. Why? Because my entire being became consumed with making my dream a reality.


 <iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/IoRD7R_iAH4" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>


 Struggling with where to start? These four habits will take you to new heights in 2020:



→ <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/3-ways-to-maximize-your-side-hustle/">Manage your finances.</a>&nbsp;Drill down on your cash flow and put systems in place for growing a viable business.&nbsp;



→ <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/how-to-excel-as-a-mentor-or-mentee/">Form a personal board of advisors who will help you stay the course.</a>&nbsp;Meet with them every 90 days, and give them 30-, 60- and 90-day updates.&nbsp;



→ <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/cool-side-hustles/">Study other industries for ideas you can leverage in your space.</a>&nbsp;When you look at DoorDash, GrubHub and Uber Eats, you can see how companies looked at what another industry was doing and applied it to their own business model.&nbsp;



→ <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/4-ways-to-surround-yourself-with-people-who-challenge-you/">Find people who challenge you intellectually.</a> If you’re the smartest person in the room, you’re in the wrong room.&nbsp;



<h3>Rewire your brain.</h3>



Some habits are harder to maintain than others. For example, I hate exercising. I’ve begun treating myself to a reward every time I work out. I’m rewiring my brain to feel emotionally connected to an activity that doesn’t come naturally to me.



<h3>Put a plan in place.</h3>



Decide to be a steward of your time and energy. What you do with these two resources will determine the outcome of your life. Time is the most precious asset on the planet, and yet we tend to let it slip away on activities that don’t move us forward. Commit to what will move you in the direction of your future.



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">Read next: <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/rohn-4-tips-for-setting-powerful-goals/">4 Tips for Setting Powerful Goals</a></blockquote>



<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://store.success.com/patchworks-imported-products/success-magazine-july-aug-2020.html" target="_blank">This article originally appeared in the July/August 2020 issue of SUCCESS magazine.</a> Photo by Carodevorst/Twenty20.com

Whatever your life goals, you must develop habits that give you a chance to succeed.

Whatever your life goals, you must develop habits that give you a chance to succeed. | SUCCESS

The Secret to Making Your Habits Stick

The Secret to Making Your Habits Stick | SUCCESS

https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/USE-THIS-TIME-PRODUCTIVELY-TO-GET-BACK-TO-WHAT-IS-TRULY-IMPORTANT.-1.png

Visualize the logo of a brand you love.&nbsp;Now, think about three words you associate with that brand.&nbsp;



When it comes to your business or career, you want people picturing specific things when they think of you. But in order to do that, you need to be intentional about establishing who you are and what it’s like to work with you. Think of this as your brand tattoo. It’s something timeless that never leaves you.



You want to tattoo who you are onto the heads, hearts and hands of the people you serve. Every single day, how you show up for your customer, how you comment, how you respond, how you do what you do—that leaves an imprint on everyone who crosses your path.&nbsp;



Start by writing down answers to these questions:



<ul><li>What impact do I want to make on the world? <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/what-problem-were-you-created-to-solve/">What difference am I trying to make on an ongoing basis?</a> What does that&nbsp;look&nbsp;like?</li><li>What have I been through in my own journey that allows me to speak with any level of authority or insight? Have I embraced what makes me me?</li><li>What results have I generated thus far that point to the difference I’m making?</li></ul>



Then, begin to infuse your brand throughout your business:



<h3>1. Only accept projects that are on-brand.</h3>



When a new opportunity presents itself, ask yourself:&nbsp;Is this on-brand for me? Will this contribute to the impact I intend to make?



When you’re off-brand, you’ll feel like you’re chasing shiny objects because you’re out of alignment. When you’re on-brand, you’ll feel like you’re in flow because you’re making an authentic contribution toward your intended impact.



<h3>2. Get inspiration from other leaders and influencers who are not in your industry.&nbsp;</h3>



Resist the temptation to focus only on your competitors—you’re likely to fall into the trap of imitating someone else. Instead, seek ideas from outside your industry. Don’t copy, but gain inspiration and strategy that you can uniquely translate into your own work.



For example, I’ve always been fascinated by how comedians brand themselves with a style of joke. I’m not a comedian, but I can apply that strategy to what I do.&nbsp;



<h3>3. Remember: What got you here won’t get&nbsp;you there.</h3>



Your brand should be timeless, but the way you translate it will change over time. Think about the brand you visualized at the beginning of this article. Have their product offerings changed? Has their messaging changed over time? Has their aesthetic changed?



Remain open to being taken in a fresh direction while also staying true to your principles and area of impact.&nbsp;



Now, visualize your own brand tattoo. What do you see?&nbsp;



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">Read next: <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/the-12-brand-archetypes-which-one-are-you/">The 12 Brand Archetypes: Which One Are You?</a></blockquote>



 <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.successacademy.com/successmagazine" target="_blank">This article originally appeared in the May/June 2020 issue of SUCCESS magazine.</a> Photo by Dean Drobot/Shutterstock.com

When it comes to your business or career, you want people picturing specific things when they think of you. But in order to do that, you need to be intentional about establishing who you are and what it’s like to work with you.

When it comes to your business or career, you want people picturing specific things when they think of you. But in order to do that, you need to be intentional about establishing who you are and what it’s like to work with you. | SUCCESS

How to Stay True to Your Personal Brand

How to Stay True to Your Personal Brand | SUCCESS

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We’ve known about <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/11-quotes-about-the-power-of-positive-thinking/">the power of positive thinking</a> for quite some time now. And although it’s incredibly important, the real magic happens when you allow that thinking to change your behavior. You can think about becoming a millionaire, but until you launch and scale a business, it can’t happen. That’s because the missing link between thinking and doing is talking.&nbsp;



Positive talking is the next level of positive thinking. Until you speak your aspirational thoughts aloud, they will never manifest.&nbsp;



Years ago, I wanted to move from Atlanta to Orlando to marry a woman I was dating. At the time, I was working in hospitality. I couldn’t find a job and my company was on a hiring freeze, so they couldn’t transfer me to Orlando.



I decided to start thinking positive thoughts. I began telling myself,&nbsp;I am going to move to Orlando and marry this girl.



Then, I took it a step further. On a visit to Orlando, I walked through a new hotel that was still under construction at the time. I began talking to the walls. “I’m going to move to Orlando,” I said. “And I’m going to work in this hotel.” I also told my then-fiancée (now wife) that we would be getting married on October 17 of the following year.&nbsp;I had no idea if I’d be in Orlando by then, but I was using positive talking to propel myself in the right direction.



I went back to Atlanta. One day, I was on a phone call with a senior vice president of the company. He said, “I understand someone has been blocking your move to Orlando. I wanted to let you know we’re going to create a position for you in Orlando.”



My last day in Atlanta was on October 9. I started the new job at the hotel that had been under construction on October 12. And I got married on October 17.



This was all made possible because of the power of positive talking—not just positive thinking.



Positive talking is simple: After you think your positive thought, you have to say it out loud. Then, you have to slowly recalibrate your thinking so that speaking your positive thoughts aloud becomes second nature. By speaking your aspirations, goals and dreams aloud, you’re holding yourself accountable for finding a way to make them a reality.&nbsp;



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">Related: <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/how-to-appreciate-yourself/">How to Appreciate Yourself</a></blockquote>



This article originally appeared in the <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="March/April 2020 issue of SUCCESS magazine (opens in a new tab)" href="https://store.success.com/patchworks-imported-products/success-magazine-march-april-2020.html" target="_blank">March/April 2020 issue of SUCCESS magazine</a>. Photo by sydney Rae/Unsplash.com

Positive talking is the next level of positive thinking. Until you speak your aspirational thoughts aloud, they will never manifest.

Positive talking is the next level of positive thinking. Until you speak your aspirational thoughts aloud, they will never manifest. | SUCCESS

The Power of Positive Talking

The Power of Positive Talking | SUCCESS

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3 Ways to Focus on Less Doing and More Being

Purpose
has become a loaded word.&nbsp;



A lot of the writing and advice about finding your purpose gives you so many things to do: complete this exercise, make this list, seek this project.&nbsp;



What
I’ve discovered is that people are just exhausted from doing more things and
not getting the results. When it comes to finding—and more importantly living
into—your purpose, you’ll need to focus on less DOING, more BEING.



It’s
easy to start with do. In the world
we live in today, there’s no shortage of tasks, committees and projects to
choose from. On top of that, there are so many books, articles and podcasts out
there (like this one), pulling us in different directions of doing. We think if
we do all of these things now, we can
be something else later.&nbsp;



I am finding that is not the case. More and more adults are reaching the ages of 60 and 70 years of age, and they’re realizing: I never became the person I thought I would be after doing all of those things.



I’ve had to learn this lesson myself. As a father, I’ve realized my success as a parent is just as much about me being with my children as it is doing things for them. Being present in a conversation, for example, will lead to <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/mentally-strong-kids-have-parents-who-refuse-to-do-these-13-things/">more purposeful parenting</a> than reaching into my pockets.



The same is true in business. If you want to <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/how-to-align-your-career-with-your-personal-definition-of-success/">build a meaningful career</a> that will stretch far into the future, you’ll need to flip the script and look inward before you turn outward.



Start with be. It starts with getting quiet and assessing: Who am I as a being? What does it feel like to be me in the micro moments of life? What is left when you strip away the titles and social constructs that define my understanding of myself?&nbsp;



Be together.
Embed yourself in a circle of friends and family who get you, celebrate you and
honor your journey. So often, we fail to stop and acknowledge the sweetness of
simply being with others who lift us
up and enrich our lives. Who you decide to be with on a regular basis will
shape you to your core, so seek other beings who want to be more, and do
less.&nbsp;



Be open.
When it comes to living with purpose, you need a surround sound of feedback.
It’s not all about meditation and collaboration. You’ll also want to find “no”
people who will push against the grain, go the opposite way and stretch your
thinking. Be open to the feedback that doesn’t make you feel good, but it will
make you better.



Fulfilling
your purpose isn’t about crafting the perfect sentence that reflects your
values or goals. It’s about getting connected to what is truly meaningful to
you and letting that guide everything you do.&nbsp;



Seek being before doing—not the other way around.



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">Related: <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/what-is-my-purpose-in-life/">What Is My Purpose In Life?</a></blockquote>



 Image by Isaeva Anna/Shutterstock.com

When it comes to finding—and more importantly living into—your purpose, you’ll need to focus on less DOING, more BEING.

When it comes to finding—and more importantly living into—your purpose, you’ll need to focus on less DOING, more BEING. | SUCCESS

3 Ways to Focus on Less DOING and More BEING

3 Ways to Focus on Less DOING and More BEING | SUCCESS

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There
has been so much written about setting goals. If you Google “goal-setting,”
you’ll be presented with 372 million results. (In contrast, if you search for
“laziness,” you’ll only get 24.9 million results.)



Many
great minds have examined this topic, so why are we still struggling so much
with how to do this effectively?&nbsp;



It’s because widely held misconceptions about goal setting prevent many people from even getting started. Once you bust through these common fallacies and demystify the process, you’ll take the pressure off yourself and start to see movement toward your goals.



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">
Related: <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/14-quotes-to-inspire-you-to-reach-even-your-most-impossible-goals/">14 Quotes to Inspire You to Reach Even Your Most Impossible Goals</a>
</blockquote>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Myth 1: The goal is
the destination.</h3>



With
phrases floating around like, What’s your end goal? I can see why people
get hung up on this one. However, goals are not the destination.



Oftentimes,
when people don’t hit their target, they get frustrated because things didn’t
go the way they thought it should go, and they give up. They think they just
don’t have what it takes, when all they needed to do was recalibrate.&nbsp;



Let’s
say you’re setting out on a trip with a friend, and you punch the specific
address into your GPS. Your objective is to arrive at that destination. Along
the way, there might be an accident. There might be a change in weather. You
might have to reroute to get to the destination. 



In
business, this could mean you spend more, people don’t return your calls, or the
contract doesn’t always come through. 



These
are all just detours and obstacles for you to circumnavigate on the way to your
goal. Goals are not set in stone; They are meant to guide you in a general
direction. Sometimes you don’t achieve your goal, and that’s OK. What matters
is that you’re making progress.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Myth 2: Goals are fixed
once they’re written down. </h3>



This
one paralyzes people more than anything else I see. If you don’t know
specifically what title you want, where you want to live or how much money you
should save, you put off setting a goal because you’re not ready to write it
down.&nbsp;



We
know from research that you are infinitely more likely to achieve your goal if
you write it down. The great news? No one ever said you couldn’t revise it. You
should consider any goal-setting document as a working draft. Just get
started.&nbsp;



If
you’re really struggling to set goals, simply zoom out and start with: What difference can I make today in my
business or in my life?&nbsp;



The
most valuable resources that anyone has are time, energy and brilliance. You
want to use your time, energy and brilliance to get the best outcome or result.
What does that look like in your specific context?



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Myth 3: I need to
wait until I can apply a particular framework perfectly.</h3>



When
you go to seminars or read books on goal setting, the person tells you to
follow an exact formula. But when you follow the exact formula, it doesn’t work
out the way it was sold to you.&nbsp;This is because you’re a different person,
in a different place in the world, with your own set of variables. 



For
instance, you might live in California, but the person who told you to
implement XYZ lives in Wyoming! Well, it is a different community, a different
economy, and a different environment.



The solution? Study the best of the best. As you study their steps for success, ask for yourself:&nbsp;



<ul>
<li>What makes the most sense to me?&nbsp;</li>



<li>What can I do?&nbsp;</li>



<li>Where might I need to pivot?</li>



<li>How can I make this more congruent with what I’m trying to do?</li>
</ul>



Determine
your destination, learn from the best of the best, and then choose how fast and
how far you will go in following the wisdom of others. You’ll be well on your
way to achieving success in no time.



***



Now that we’ve debunked the myths, here’s how you can get started on setting your 2020 goals:



Begin with the eight core areas of your life:&nbsp;



<ol>
<li>Spiritual&nbsp;</li>



<li>Health/Well-Being</li>



<li>Family</li>



<li>Financial</li>



<li>Business/Career</li>



<li>Education</li>



<li>Emotional&nbsp;</li>



<li>Social/Friends</li>
</ol>



Next, look at the next 25 years and break it down into five-year increments. Within that five-year increment, decide: What am I doing within each 12 to 18 months to reach my goal?



Then, inside each of those goals there are three to five specific behaviors or habits you should implement to move yourself forward. For example, under <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/achieve-your-health-goals-with-this-3-point-plan/">health</a>/well-being, if you want to lose 15 pounds, are you drinking the right amount of water? Cutting out fried food? Going for a daily walk?



Last, reward yourself monthly, and then get back on your regimen. Rewards will help give you the energy to keep going long term—you just want to make sure you get back to it after you’re done celebrating.



Goal setting will never happen until you are convinced that this is what you really, really, really want. What you want, wants you. If you don't want it, you’re not going to go after it.



So, how badly do you want it?



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">
Related: <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/rohn-4-tips-for-setting-powerful-goals/">4 Tips for Setting Powerful Goals</a>
</blockquote>



 This article originally appeared in the <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://store.success.com/patchworks-imported-products/success-magazine-jan-feb-2020-grant-cardone.html" target="_blank">January/February 2020 issue of&nbsp;SUCCESS magazine</a>. Image by LeoWolfert/Shutterstock.com

Widely held misconceptions about goal setting prevent many people from even getting started. But once you demystify the process, you’ll be well on your way to achieving success in no time.

Widely held misconceptions about goal setting prevent many people from even getting started. But once you demystify the process, you’ll be well on your way to achieving success in no time. | SUCCESS

3 Myths About Goal Setting That Are Throwing You Off Before You Begin

Debunking 3 Goal Setting Myths: Unleash Your True Potential

https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Always-Look-Forward.jpg

Simon T. Bailey believes that relationships with your co-workers should go beyond surface level in order to have an effective team.

Simon T. Bailey believes that relationships with your co-workers should go beyond surface level in order to have an effective team. | SUCCESS

How to Connect With Your Team

How to Connect With Your Team | SUCCESS

https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Team_Website-Thumbnails.png

One of the greatest mistakes I’ve made
as a father is asking my children, “What do you want to be when you grow up?”



And as professionals, we ask ourselves
this same question all the time but in different ways: “What’s my dream? What’s
my passion? Where am I going? What’s my end goal?”



But as I’ve been looking at where the world is going, I’ve realized the most important question we should ask ourselves (and our children) is:&nbsp;“What problem were you created to solve?”&nbsp;



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">Related: <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/what-is-my-purpose-in-life/">What Is My Purpose in Life?</a></blockquote>



This question requires you to step back and look at <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/16-ways-to-hone-your-problem-solving-skills/">problem solving</a> from a 30,000-foot perspective. Normally, we think of “problem solving” as addressing issues that need to be “fixed” as they arise.&nbsp;



But I want you to think about problem
solving like a complex math problem or a 5,000-piece puzzle. You’re not fixing
anything, necessarily; you’re building toward a solution—and not only that, but
you were created for this purpose.



So, what problem were you created to
solve?



I know that’s a loaded question, so let’s break down how to answer it. Consider these questions:



<ol><li>What is the knowledge, information, wisdom and insight that aligns with my gifts, my talents and my abilities? What are you naturally good at doing? What do others notice about <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/answer-3-questions-to-identify-your-strengths/">your strengths</a>? This is strong hint at what problem you’ve been created to solve.</li><li>How does the problem I’m solving with my life provide value for someone else long term? How, in their eyes, do they know that value has been added not just in the moment but over time? Problem solving is not about you or me; it’s about we. You should have a clear understanding of who benefits from the problem you were created to solve.</li><li>How do I turn the problem that has been solved into a teachable moment to share with the world? This is <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/rohn-5-undeniable-reasons-to-leave-a-legacy/">your legacy</a>. This is what makes the problem you’re solving a lifelong endeavor. Whether you share with your team members, your mentees, your children or your community, how will you involve others in solving your problem?</li></ol>



Problem solving becomes a gift that
keeps on giving when a person approaches it not from the standpoint of “I’m a
great problem solver,” but from the conviction that “I was created to solve
this out of my own unique gifting. I was born to be a solution to a problem.”



Once you know what problem you were created to solve, you start seeing individual opportunities to “fix” problems as a pieces to a bigger puzzle. It broadens your perspective and fills you with a powerful type of energy that will fuel the work you do and the difference you make.



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">Related: <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/3-ways-to-lead-yourself-into-the-future/">3 Ways to Lead Yourself Into the Future</a></blockquote>



Photo by stockfour / Shutterstock

Knowing what problem you were created to solve broadens your perspective and fills you with a powerful energy that will fuel your work.

We know that’s a loaded question, so let’s break down how to answer it. | SUCCESS

What Problem Were You Created to Solve?

What Problem Were You Created to Solve? | SUCCESS

https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/What-Problem-Were-You-Created-to-Solve.jpg

Determination is what separates those who are in it for the long run and those who will burn out quickly. It’s made up of two things: firmness of choice and action over time.

Action is what differentiates determination from grit. Grit is the what; determination is the how. Determination says: “I am going to do this NOW. I’m going to make the extra call. I’m going to put in the extra reps. I’m going to mention this to my business coach.”

In an era where we have so much competing for our attention (and any number of opportunities to take the easy way out through a TV binge, social media time-kill or a strong drink), determination is harder than ever to cultivate.

What makes the difference is understanding how to make staying the course psychologically easier so that you reach for the TV remote less often and choose productive action often enough to move the needle in your life.
<h3>Tap into past wins.</h3>
I’ve discovered over the years that when I’ve been on the brink of giving up, I then received an email, text, post or comment from someone who was impacted by my work.

If you’re struggling with determination, remember a past win—how you succeeded or helped someone in the past—and use that to propel you forward.
<h3>Play to your strengths.</h3>
Having firm resolve requires a lot of energy, and you’ll keep your momentum high if you play to your strengths. What do you do really well, and what are your weaknesses?

If you played two sports, and you had to choose which one to go pro in, would you choose the sport you’re naturally very talented in and build off of that? Or would you choose the sport that you’re OK at and that requires much more training? It’s a no-brainer. You’d choose the sport you’re naturally great at because you know you’ll get further, faster.

The same is true in business. If you spend all of your time weakness-fixing, you’ll lose determination pretty quickly. When you’re moving toward a goal, take on the things you’re really strong at, and collaborate in areas where you’re weak.
<h3>Celebrate small wins.</h3>
Oftentimes, we get so into the work that we forget to reflect and celebrate it. Don’t skip this step, because it’s what gives you the energy to keep going. Small wins, over time, create bigger opportunities.

By tapping into past wins, playing to your strengths and celebrating small wins, you will get much more joy out of the actions you take over time. Before you know it, you will have accomplished more than you could ever dream of.
<blockquote>Related: <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/mastering-the-art-of-consistency/">3 Keys to Mastering the Art of Consistency</a></blockquote>
<div></div>
<div>This article originally appeared in the <a tabindex="-1" title="https://store.success.com/patchworks-imported-products/success-magazine-nov-dec-2019-marie-forleo.html" href="https://store.success.com/patchworks-imported-products/success-magazine-nov-dec-2019-marie-forleo.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">November/December 2019 issue of SUCCESS magazine</a>.
Photo by Naypong Studio / Shutterstock</div>

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