Relationships

Relationships Archives

Relationships | SUCCESS | What Achievers Read

There’s a big difference between appreciating people and <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/comfort-gratitude/202101/gratitude-helps-strengthen-how-we-make-others-feel" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">making them feel significant</a>. Of course, you still <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/5-essentials-for-the-art-of-appreciation/">want to appreciate others</a>. But even more than that, you need to make those important people in your life feel that they matter.



Success—both personally and professionally—is hard to achieve without <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/positive-influencers/">those who support</a> and fill gaps for you. There is rarely an exception to this. Think of people in your life: Who has really impacted your career and your family? Do you make those people feel as if they’re irreplaceable? Do you brag about them in the presence of others? Do you give them credit for all they do for you? Do you <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/constructive-controversy/201906/the-importance-taking-the-perspective-others" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ask for their opinions</a> on things important to you and to the success of your company? Do you tell them how much you value their advice? Are you interested in the things they care about?



I have a note on my phone where I’ve written the names of the special people in my life. Next to their names, I noted what’s most important to them. By understanding their needs, I can help them win. When I help them win, I show them how valuable they are to me.



What are you doing to<a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/the-5-very-best-ways-to-thrill-your-customers"> </a><a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/5-ways-to-thrill-your-customers/">make your clients feel special</a> and significant? I have what I call the “black card” standard of services that comes with special treatment. We pick up our clients and drive them to our meetings, create a spa-like atmosphere in the restrooms and have an outside lounge where people can gather at break times. We also offer healthy snacks and drinks, print their boarding passes and sometimes even wash their vehicles if they’ve driven themselves. We want our clients to feel like we are their concierge service—this is one way we show them that they really matter to us.



How about your family? Do you go the extra mile to make your spouse and children <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/too-busy-for-relationships/">feel important to you</a>? Do you<a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/how-to-speak-well-and-listen-better"> listen to them</a>, value their input, compliment them often and do special things for them? I take thousands of pictures of my family every year and spend hours putting together albums on CDs so we can enjoy the memories together. When family members see how much time I put into these albums, they know how much they matter to me. I take them on vacations and go out of my way to make every birthday and milestone event special. People blossom when they feel loved.



How can you do the same for the people you care about?



This article was published in May 2015 and has been updated. Photo by Odua Images/Shutterstock

What can you do for the special people in your life?

People blossom when they feel loved. How can you do the same for the people you care about? | SUCCESS

How to Make Others Feel Significant

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How to Make Others Feel Significant | SUCCESS

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Tony Jeary is an author, executive coach and presentation strategist. Jeary has published more than three dozen books about making presentations and strategic effectiveness. He coaches the world's top executives from companies such as Wal-Mart, Ford, New York Life and Texaco.

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Tony Jeary

This Is How You Can Get Better at Reading People

Sometimes, try as we might, we just can’t understand why people act the way they do or say the things they say, which can cause a huge communication pileup. It seems that whatever we do or say, we’re not getting through or getting the results we want.



Because people filter the world through their own personality styles, understanding why they do what they do is of utmost importance. Your odds of success increase dramatically when you understand the personality style of the person you are interacting with. That includes everyone, whether it’s an audience, a colleague, your spouse, your kids or a customer. It also includes every way you communicate, whether it’s in person, by phone, by email, by text or on social media.



Because my work puts me in front of so many people, I’ve always been fascinated by personality styles and the way people interact with each other. Several years ago, I had an opportunity to co-author a book with my friend and client Robert Rohm, Ph.D., a well-known author and speaker, called<a href="https://amzn.to/2miifSm" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Presenting with Style</a>. The book describes the four basic personality styles and how to interact with each type. We wrote the book because we wanted people to understand two primary communication concepts:



<ol><li>Each personality style wants to receive a different level of communication detail.</li><li>Each personality style wants to receive information (communication) at a different speed.</li></ol>



There are several different types of personality profiles. Since we liked profiles that are easy to use, we chose the <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/how-to-connect-with-different-personality-types/">DISC model of human behavior</a>, which is based on the 1928 theories William Moulton Marston first proposed in his book, <a href="https://amzn.to/3eEUF18" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Emotions of Normal People</a>. This model describes the four basic patterns of behavior:



<h2 id="h-dominant-extroverted-task-oriented">Dominant (extroverted, task-oriented)</h2>



The high “D” person (dominant, direct, demanding,<a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/10-ways-successful-people-make-smart-decisions"> </a>decisive, determined and a doer) usually wants information fast and without much detail. According to a <a href="https://www.hrprofilingsolutions.com.au/blogs/aus-blog/measure-validity-psychometric-assessment/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">2019 DISC® Assessment validation study</a>, 9% of the population is in this quadrant.



<h2 id="h-inspiring-extroverted-people-oriented">Inspiring (extroverted, people-oriented)</h2>



The high “I” person (inspiring,<a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/5-ways-to-increase-your-influence"> </a>influential, impressionable, interested in people, interactive and impressive) often seeks information very quickly, with more detail and in a very friendly manner. According to the 2019 DISC® Assessment validation study, about 28% of the population falls in this quadrant.



<h2 id="h-supportive-introverted-people-oriented">Supportive (introverted, people-oriented)</h2>



Someone high in the “S” quadrant (supportive, stable, steady, sweet, status quo and shy) will likely want details given step-by-step in a steady manner. They are very people-oriented. According to the 2019 DISC® Assessment validation study, about 32% of the population is in the “S” quadrant.



<h2 id="h-cautious-introverted-task-oriented">Cautious (introverted, task-oriented)</h2>



If someone is a high “C” (cautious, calculating,<a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/how-to-develop-critical-thinking-skills"> </a>competent, conscientious, contemplative and careful), they probably want a lot of detail but prefer to receive it very slowly to digest it and analyze it properly. According to the 2019 DISC® Assessment validation study, about 30% of the population identifies with this quadrant.



<h2 id="h-better-family-relationships">Better family relationships</h2>



The idea is not to become a personality style expert, but rather to understand those you interact with, which could range anywhere from only a few people to hundreds of people each day. Understanding each personality style can have a tremendous impact on your effectiveness, especially when communicating with your family and those you are closest to.



I am so grateful that I learned this distinction early on and could apply it in<a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/14-loving-quotes-about-family"> </a>my family life. It’s so helpful to be able to understand and respond to my wife, Tammy, (who is a very high “C” personality) and kids in a way that benefits all of us.



For a long time, my oldest daughter had a tendency to be a “D” with a secondary “I,” and she wanted to make her choices autonomously. Tammy and I learned that it worked well if we gave her two satisfactory options for something and allowed her to choose one. She would win, and we would get what we wanted. Everyone was happy. But if we hadn’t understood that our child was a “D” personality and had demanded she do things instead of giving her the ability to have some control, we could have set ourselves up for a lot of frustration, stress and rebellion.



Do you want to <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/the-8-most-important-qualities-of-a-healthy-marriage/">have a really great marriage</a>? Learn each other’s personalities and respond to each other accordingly. I’m very extroverted and outgoing, while my wife is the exact opposite—she’s very introverted and more cautious, calculating and task-oriented. We’ve had to understand and accept <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/the-enneagram-in-love-how-your-number-impacts-your-relationships/">each other’s personality styles</a>. She gives me the flexibility to travel the world as needed and to go out and meet people, but she doesn’t necessarily want to go to all of the events I attend. She’s OK with my going, and I don’t insist she join me every time, because we’ve figured out each other’s models for viewing the world. It produces a win for both of us and makes for a great relationship.



<a href="https://www.personality-insights.com/about-us/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rohm’s website</a> offers many great tools, including personality tests for your whole family—even for children as young as 4. Most of the tests are a series of simple questions (some tests with as few as 12) that can help you understand how to best respond to your family members. I suggest you explore his website and select the tools that will be most advantageous for you and your family.



<h2 id="h-better-work-relationships">Better work relationships</h2>



As you study the personality types I’ve described, you will be able to identify the styles of people you interact with professionally. Understanding the personality of your difficult teammate, for example, might help you relate to that person in such a way that you see a marked improvement in<a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/the-road-map-to-great-teamwork"> </a><a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/8-tips-to-improve-team-collaboration/">how you work together</a>. And understanding the different personalities in any audience will enable you to customize your presentation to <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/5-tips-for-connecting-with-your-audience-from-the-woman-whos-worked-with-the-biggest-names-in-entertainment/">connect with everyone</a>.



I think you’ll see a dramatic increase in your results once you begin to understand the personalities of the people in your world.



This article originally appeared in the<a href="https://store.successcom.wpenginepowered.com/by-media/success-magazine-february-2018-gabby-bernstein.html"> February </a><a href="https://store.successcom.wpenginepowered.com/by-media/success-magazine-february-2018-gabby-bernstein.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">2018</a><a href="https://store.successcom.wpenginepowered.com/by-media/success-magazine-february-2018-gabby-bernstein.html"> issue</a> of SUCCESS magazine and has been updated. Photo by gonzagon/Shutterstock

Your odds of success increase dramatically when you understand the personality style of the person you are interacting with.

Your odds of success increase dramatically when you understand the personality style of the person you are interacting with. | SUCCESS

This Is How You Can Get Better at Reading People | SUCCESS

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3 Ways to Get Better at Dealing with Change

Personal Development

Personal Development Archives

Personal Development | SUCCESS | What Achievers Read

We all know that nothing lasts forever. It’s a fact of life that has guided the evolution of our society since the dawn of time.



Without change, there is no innovation, creativity or incentive for improvement. <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/commit-to-constant-and-never-ending-improvement/">Improvement means moving forward</a>. It means making life better. It doesn’t just occur on the macro level, across time and civilization. It happens to all of us in our individual lives, too. And <a href="https://medium.com/@kat_collins/change-is-inevitable-how-do-we-respond-to-it-4a1dcd3d9883" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">how we react to change</a> determines our results.



The fact is, life is going to throw you some curveballs from time to time, whether you like it or not.



Fear of the unknown can be a major factor in resisting change. Even in the best of circumstances and even when change is invited, it can often be scary. I would bet that if you examine your past and look at all the ways life has changed up to this point, things often turn out for the better. I call it fortunate happenstance.



Do you see how, when you look in retrospect, things have lined up just right? You have every reason to think that way about the future, too. You might not know where you’ll end up, but <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/7-practical-tips-to-achieve-a-positive-mindset/">if your mindset is right</a>, you can trust that your direction is positive.



When we <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/mindset-and-the-happiness-factor/">learn to manage our mindset</a>, focusing on the potential positive outcomes, we often make the most out of each circumstance surrounding change. When we look at some of life’s common changes and dissect them to see if we can take some of the fear and apprehension out of the unknowns, we are better equipped to deal with the new circumstances.



One of the biggest situations I’ve found that people worry about in their lives is the change that happens in a family when their first baby is on the way. Even with the excitement of the great news, many couples are very apprehensive about the fact that things will change and never again be the same.



Well, it is 100% true. So many things change once a baby arrives, but they are by and large good changes. Sure, you might miss out on some sleep for a while; but once you hold that tiny miracle in your hands, you wonder how you ever survived without them.



Like building a family, some changes are just evidence that your life is moving forward to a new stage—a stage full of new adventures and experiences. So why does change scare you? It could be because you haven’t properly shaped your thinking. Here are a few pointers for managing a proper mindset:



<h2 id="h-1-ask-for-help">1. Ask for help.</h2>



A key factor in dealing with change is <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/tracking-wonder/202002/4-tips-effectively-ask-help-and-get-yes#:~:text=Asking%20for%20and%20offering%20help,you're%20asking%20can%20contribute." target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">asking for help</a>. Examine your family, your friends and your team, and determine those people who would be best equipped to help you with your current life changes. I believe that when you do, you will find that there are a lot of people who care about you and are willing to help you figure out how to respond to the changes.



<h2 id="h-2-reframe-your-perspective">2. Reframe your perspective.</h2>



I recently lost my father, and I was having a hard time dealing with the loss as we were very, very close. I reframed my thinking and determined that I was now the patriarch of the family and was <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/10-quick-tips-to-start-building-your-legacy/">in charge of the legacy</a> moving forward. Sometimes change is hard, but we can always <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/why-change-is-good/">reframe our perspective</a>.



<h2 id="h-3-look-for-positives">3. Look for positives.</h2>



Life changes are often out of your control. Don’t fight them, but do find healthy ways to deal with these situations. <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/how-to-deal-with-unexpected-change/">How you deal with change</a> will set you apart from those around you.



This article originally appeared in the <a href="https://store.success.com/shop-all/success-magazine-fall-2018-jeff-bezos.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Fall 2018 issue of SUCCESS magazine</a> and has been updated. Photo by @Rushay/Twenty20

Afraid of change? Try shifting your perspective from one of anxiety to positivity. Little by little, shape your mindset for better results.

Fear of the unknown can be a major factor in resisting change. In the best of circumstances when change is invited, it is still scary. Things often turn out for the better. I call it fortunate happenstance. | SUCCESS

3 Ways to Get Better at Dealing with Change | SUCCESS

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<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-q-nbsp-this-year-has-been-incredibly-unpredictable-and-i-m-having-trouble-looking-ahead-without-feeling-overwhelmed-how-can-i-better-cope-with-the-uncertainty-of-today-s-world">Q:&nbsp;This year has been incredibly unpredictable, and I’m having trouble looking ahead without feeling overwhelmed. How can I better cope with the uncertainty of today’s world?</h4>



A: Already 2020 has ushered in more change than many of us have experienced in our lifetimes. We’ve had to adjust to living through a pandemic, working and schooling from home, and an ever-increasing sense of divisiveness in political and social issues. The game has definitely changed.



Actually, that’s wrong: The game is continually changing, and choosing your ongoing responses is crucial.&nbsp;



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I’ve been fascinated with change for many years. I believe mindset is the foundation of mastering change, and even converting change to a great benefit.&nbsp;



I recently teamed up with Lamar Smith, the former CEO of a successful international financial services company, to launch a book called&nbsp;The Game Is Always Changing. The two of us identified a handful of ways to not only cope with change, but get ahead of it. Here’s how.&nbsp;



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-reset-your-thinking-nbsp">Reset Your Thinking&nbsp;</h3>



The challenges we face—in our personal lives, in our businesses and in our nation—demand a higher level of intentional, disciplined thought than ever before. We need different results than we’re seeing, and we need them quickly. Our mindsets must be preconditioned to offer a head start for the changes that will continue to come so we don’t deal with each one from scratch.&nbsp;



This preconditioning revolves around looking at each change for the opportunities it presents, the problems it introduces and the risks it reveals. Those who are skillful at this analysis will have an advantage over those who have no plan and have not trained themselves.&nbsp;



Experts agree that there are two mindset types—growth and fixed. Those who have a fixed mindset accept the status quo instead of looking for alternatives. Those with a growth mindset tend to look at failure as an opportunity to grow, and they are typically more open to exploring new ideas and opportunities. As you can imagine, having a growth mindset is significantly better.&nbsp;



Begin changing your outlook by cultivating a growth mindset. You will be able to turn frustration into an exciting opportunity, which will empower you to embrace the next change that comes your way.&nbsp;



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-do-the-work">Do the Work</h3>



We believe there are three main pieces to the mindset puzzle: individual, leadership and organizational.&nbsp;Here’s how you can make progress in each category.&nbsp;



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-individual">Individual.</h4>



People tend to fall into one of three camps: those who see change as negative so they resist it; those who are indifferent to it; and those who view change as positive so they encourage it.&nbsp;



Those who see change as negative are resistant for a handful of primary reasons—some worry about losing their sense control, while others struggle immensely with uncertainty.&nbsp;



Those who are indifferent often have a “this-too-shall-pass” mentality. These individuals usually expend a great deal of energy seeking and justifying their minimal response to change, thus missing huge opportunities in the process.&nbsp;



For those who embrace it, change can be a beautiful thing, because each change creates fresh, exciting thinking. These people have a positive, solution-oriented mindset and tend to flourish. 



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-leadership-nbsp">Leadership.&nbsp;</h4>



As a leader, it’s important to gain clarity by asking: Where are we going, what is the “why,” what is the rationale and how do I best lead the charge?&nbsp;



Once you have clarity, it’s important to share your vision and communicate the “why” with those in your organization. Let people know how this is a win for them. The most influential leaders make progress while instilling hope and confidence in their teams.&nbsp;



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-organizational-nbsp">Organizational.&nbsp;</h4>



An organization can be a family unit, a club, a department or an entire company. Does your organization foster change and prioritize working as a high-performing team? High-performing teams focus on being as effective as possible while continually reevaluating to work toward quality, with each team member being individually motivated with high levels of investment in the outcome.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-focus-on-the-present-nbsp">Focus on the Present&nbsp;</h3>



The past meets the future at a control point known as the present moment. Too many people miss the present moment of their lives because they’re busy worrying, daydreaming or doubting themselves.&nbsp;



To unleash the power of the present moment, you must have the courage to change your mindset. In the foreseeable future, we will only see the rate of change accelerate. How you shift your mindset and embrace change—personally, as a leader and in an organization—will be a significant factor in whether or not you thrive.&nbsp;



 This article originally appeared in the&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://store.success.com/by-media/success-magazine-nov-dec-2020-payal-kadakia.html" target="_blank">November/December 2020 issue of SUCCESS magazine</a>. Photo by Jacob Lund/Shutterstock.com

Your mindset determines how you’ll handle the unexpected. Here is how to reset your thinking to get ahead of change.

Your mindset determines how you’ll handle the unexpected. Here is how to reset your thinking to get ahead of change. | SUCCESS

How to Better Cope With the Uncertainty of Today’s World

How to Better Cope With the Uncertainty of Today’s World | SUCCESS

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Business &amp; Branding

Business &amp; Branding Archives

Stay ahead in business: strategies and insights for success

What factor allows the most successful people to become even more successful?



This is the question I asked myself as I began a four-year project which recently culminated—one of the achievements I’m proudest of in my career. The overwhelming answer was one I’ve always known: The most successful people&nbsp;think.



As surprising as it sounds, thinking does not come easily to many people. Most individuals typically don’t get the results they want because they’re far too concerned with immediate action. Most people fail to pause, take a step back and strategically think about what they’re doing—they fail to walk through the step-by-step processes for acquiring clarity, enhancing focus and ultimately achieving execution.



As an executive strategist, Tony Jeary International is all about helping our clients become stronger thinkers. When a CEO or company founder comes to meet with us with their inner circle, they have to be prepared to do the critical thinking that others won’t.



I’m a strategy-minded person. For decades, I designed my work around the kind of life I wanted to live with my family. That meant my team and I worked out of what I called the&nbsp;Strategic Acceleration Studio, situated on my estate in North Texas. I could have found office space elsewhere, but to model the importance of intentionality to clients, I worked from this home studio because it allowed me to energetically dedicate more time to my two daughters, teaming up with my wonderful wife.



She and I always dreamed of raising extraordinary kids, and that’s what our girls have become. Today our daughters are 26 and 22, and both are successful and happy in their individual careers, with two great men by their sides.



But once they were out of the house, my intentionality changed. I wanted to model for my clients the possibilities that strategic thinking can create for their businesses. So I began to build the ultimate think tank—The RESULTS Center.



I set the bar high for this new project, envisioning a place where the worlds’ most successful people could come with their teams.



<hr class="wp-block-separator is-style-wide"/>



<h3 class="has-text-align-center">I wanted to model for my clients the possibilities that strategic thinking can create for their businesses. So I began to build the ultimate think tank— The RESULTS Center. </h3>



<hr class="wp-block-separator is-style-wide"/>



The RESULTS Center needed to be somewhere easily accessible to DFW Airport, so we built at an aspirational location that is just an eight-minute trip in our RESULTS1 sprinter van (a jazzed-up thinking environment in itself). The RESULTS Center needed to leverage all of my research and experience, so we built the Best Practices Library, housing an endless supply of all the books I’ve written—more than 50 of them. The RESULTS Center needed to be a stimulating environment, so we have filled the modern, sun-lit meeting and coaching space with music, a jam board, a health bar, even a vast outdoor lounge designed for shaking hands and mingling.



The RESULTS Center also needed, of course, to be a working home for my stellar hand-picked team, so I’ve supported my people by incorporating top of the line software, office tools and furniture. The team is equipped to cater to clients and be efficient in serving their thinking.



Obviously I’m proud of the space and believe it will help my clients drive the greatest results during our time together. But why am I telling you this? Because after years of perfecting my methodology for clarity, focus and execution—the&nbsp;how&nbsp;of getting results faster—I also realized the importance of the&nbsp;where.



Put simply:&nbsp;Where&nbsp;matters.



For many companies, an office is simply a functional location for people to congregate. Many solopreneurs working from home are motivated by cost-savings and comfort. This lack of attention to the&nbsp;where&nbsp;of work hampers our thinking.



You can tell that I’m proud of The RESULTS Center itself—the space, the structure. But I’m more proud of what it represents: My intention to bring results to my clients by helping them think at the highest level. If you can create a space for your own business that allows you to think at another level, you’ll see the effect of the clarity, focus and execution it affords.



You’ll see that&nbsp;where&nbsp;matters.&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/KEEP-GOINGConsistency-isthe-Key-to-10x-Success.There’s-an-old-saying-about-the-definition-of-insanity—doing-something-over-and-over-again-expecting-different-results.-But-Grant-Cardone-points-to-the-example-of-the-791x1024.png" alt="" class="wp-image-38134"/></figure>



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>.

Tony Jeary wanted to model for his clients the possibilities that strategic thinking can create for their businesses. So he began to build the ultimate think tank—The RESULTS Center.

Tony Jeary wanted to model for his clients the possibilities that strategic thinking can create for their businesses. So he began to build the ultimate think tank—The RESULTS Center. | SUCCESS

How the Right Environment Drives Results

How the Right Environment Drives Results | SUCCESS

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<h3 class="COLUMNS-DEPT_COL-DEPT-Dek ParaOverride-16">Q: Every day I come to work with the best intentions, but things keep getting in the way. The little things. Busy work. How do I actually clear my schedule for productivity?</h3>
A: I know the things you’re talking about. I call them <a href="https://tonyjeary.com/identify-high-leverage-activities/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Low Leverage Activities</a>. They include wasted meetings, activities that others should be doing for themselves, prolonged phone calls and chasing down things you need because you are unorganized. They’re activities that don’t lead to the results you want. Most people burn 15 to 20 hours a week in things they shouldn’t be doing. If you want the best results, you have to get more organized and deliberate.
Think about how much of your time you spend doing the things that truly matter the most, and then think of all of the activities you do that waste your time each day. It can be a real problem. Let me give you my four keys to eliminating distractions.
<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-36021" title="The Results Guy" src="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/The-Results-Guy_4.jpg" alt="eliminating distractions" width="733" height="412">Suzy Hazelwood/Pexels

<h5 class="COLUMNS-DEPT_COL-DEPT-Dek ParaOverride-18">1. <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/organize-your-to-do-list-into-these-4-categories/">Make good daily to-do lists.</a></h5>
<h5 class="COLUMNS-DEPT_COL-DEPT-Dek ParaOverride-18">2. Be organized to the max.</h5>
<h5 class="COLUMNS-DEPT_COL-DEPT-Dek ParaOverride-18">3. Schedule your time on your calendar! (In order to own your calendar, you have to learn to <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/learn-to-say-no-to-take-control-of-your-life/">say “no”</a> to certain things.)</h5>
<h5 class="COLUMNS-DEPT_COL-DEPT-Dek ParaOverride-18">4. Constantly audit yourself. At the end of the day, ask&nbsp;How did I do? Was I actually productive and focused on results, or did I just do a ton of activities?&nbsp;Activities don’t count! Results do!</h5>
<blockquote>Related:&nbsp;<a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/how-to-stop-procrastinating/">How to Stop Procrastinating</a></blockquote>
This article originally appeared in the&nbsp;<a href="https://store.success.com/by-media/success-magazine-fall-2019-the-side-hustlers-handbook.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Fall 2019 issue of SUCCESS magazine</a>.
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Do you go to work with the best intentions, but things keep getting in the way? Follow these productivity tips for eliminating distractions.

Do you go to work with the best intentions, but things keep getting in the way? Follow these tips to clear your schedule for productivity. | SUCCESS

4 Keys to Eliminating Distractions

4 Keys to Eliminating Distractions | SUCCESS

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<h3 class="COLUMNS-DEPT_COL-DEPT-Dek ParaOverride-19">Q: I feel stuck in a rut. I’m doing fine personally and professionally—but that’s all. Fine. How do I renew myself and get to the next level?</h3>
A: Many of the people I coach come to me wanting to become a “new person.” One of the biggest ways I impact their lives is to sit them down and say, “The first thing you need to do is get clear on your values.” So let’s start there.
Most people make the mistake of setting their goals just for what they want to have; however, they forget to include things they want to give, share, experience, and—most importantly—become.
<a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/tony-robbins-ultimate-guide-to-your-best-year-ever/">If you want to become a new you</a> and get to the next level, whatever that may mean in your life, a big piece to that puzzle is starting with your values. So what do you value? Make a list of 10 words that represent what you seek to be. Meaningful words, like generous, fair, joyful or winner.
Now it’s a little easier. A powerful way to kick-start your quest to <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/purpose-feeling-foggy/">live out those words</a> is to think about and answer these questions: Am I the same person I was a year ago, or am I better? If I want to become a better, new me, what goals will I need to achieve?
Identify your goals, study them, and then make sure to invest the time and resources to reach them.
I often ask the people I coach how much money and how much time they’ve invested in the last year to make themselves better. Most people are discouraged when they realize they can’t come up with a good number for either.
So here’s the question you need to ask yourself today: Am I really clear about my values, <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/rohn-4-tips-for-setting-powerful-goals/">have I set clear goals</a>, and am I investing both the hours and the dollars it takes to become the new me?
Work to fulfill your values. You’ll get there.

<blockquote>Related: <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/do-your-actions-reflect-your-values/">Do Your Actions Reflect Your Values?</a></blockquote>

Do you feel stuck? To improve yourself and become a better, new you, the first thing you need to do is get clear on your values.

To become a better, new you, start with getting clear on your values. | SUCCESS

How to Renew Yourself and Get to the Next Level

How to Renew Yourself and Get to the Next Level | SUCCESS

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<h3>Q: I’m having some success with my <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/how-to-start-a-business-in-a-day/">new business</a>, but how do I make sure it grows sustainably?</h3>
A: Benjamin Franklin’s great advice still applies today: “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Let’s look at five distinctions of a healthy business.
<blockquote>Related: <a class="row-title" href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/4-smart-tips-for-growing-your-business/" aria-label="“4 Smart Tips for Growing Your Business” (Edit)">4 Smart Tips for Growing Your Business</a></blockquote>
<h3>1. Trajectory</h3>
Is your business declining, staying neutral, or growing? If your business is not growing, you’ll obviously need to make some immediate changes.
<h3>2. Culture</h3>
By leveraging the strength of your people’s teamwork, you have the benefit of collective intelligence and expertise; you expand your leadership bench; you support cross-training, where people learn from each other; you promote team engagement and enjoyment; you improve execution and get better results.
<h3>3. Clarity</h3>
When you and your team share and understand the vision, it pulls you out of your circumstances and toward better results.
<h3>4. Cash flow</h3>
Cash flow can be hard money, money invested, or money generated. You have to have positive cash flow and reserves. You need to make sure there’s enough cash incoming that you won’t be pressured into making bad decisions.
<h3>5. Risk mitigation</h3>
This is a principle I’ve been driving heavily on recently with my clients. You need to be seriously thinking about what things could make you have a hiccup in your business. You will have a healthier business if you’re not on the edge in those areas.
<blockquote>Related: <a class="row-title" href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/5-tips-for-running-a-successful-business/" aria-label="“5 Tips for Running a Successful Business” (Edit)">5 Tips for Running a Successful Business</a></blockquote>
&nbsp;

This article originally appeared in the <a href="https://store.success.com/shop-all/success-magazine-winter-2018-dr-mehmet-oz.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Winter 2018 issue of SUCCESS magazine</a>.

When it comes to having a healthy business, Benjamin Franklin's sage advice still stands today: “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”

“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” — Benjamin Franklin | SUCCESS

The 5 Distinctions of a Healthy Business

The 5 Distinctions of a Healthy Business | SUCCESS

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<h3 class="Body-Copy-1st-Paragraph-DROP-CAP">Q: I have trouble setting goals and keeping them. I know goal-setting is important for high achievers, so do you have advice for how I can set better goals and stay motivated to achieve&nbsp;them?</h3>

A: Goals work because they help you filter out things that don’t matter and <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/blog/5-questions-i-ask-myself-when-i-start-losing-focus">stay focused</a> on the things that are important to you. They allow the right things to enter your mind, and hence, your life.

Related: <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/master-the-art-of-setting-goals-in-4-steps">Master the Art of Setting Goals in 4 Steps</a>

There’s a part of your brain called the reticular activating system (RAS) that understands goals. Your RAS is a small group of cells at the base of your brain stem. Its function is to act like a sorting office, evaluating the incoming information from all senses and prioritizing what enters your brain, and eventually <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/blog/how-to-properly-focus-your-ambition">what gets your attention</a>. Because your conscious brain can’t capture everything, the more serious you are about what you want in life, the more your subconscious will focus on achieving it. In fact, your conscious mind can only consume 50 bits of data per second, while your subconscious mind can consume 20 million bits of data per second. That’s powerful.

There are three components to <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/blog/4-steps-to-realistically-attack-your-goals">making your goals work</a> and leveraging your RAS:

<ol>
	<li class="BODY">Write down with clarity what you really want.</li>
	<li class="BODY">Visualize it.</li>
	<li class="BODY">Employ congruent self-talk for achieving those goals. Goals should not just be about what you want to have, but also what you want to experience, share, give and become.</li>
</ol>

Actor Jim Carrey did an interview with Oprah Winfrey in 1997 in which he shared that in 1992, he had written himself a check for $10 million for acting services rendered, and he gave himself three years to accomplish that goal. He dated it Thanksgiving 1995, put it in his wallet, and kept it there. Just before Thanksgiving 1995, he found out he was going to make $10 million on Dumb and Dumber. It was a pivotal lesson for him in setting personal goals.

Related: <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/rohn-4-tips-for-setting-powerful-goals">4 Tips for Setting Powerful Goals</a>

Similarly, as I was beginning my career at 19, I framed and signed a note to myself that stated I would be a millionaire by 25.

I hung it in my bedroom and looked at it daily. I set out to do this when I had barely finished high school. I knew I was willing to work as hard as it took to reach this goal. It was my first representation of a vision board, and I accomplished this goal in just three years.

***

Some people are ready to jump in and go to another level of goal setting, but most need to “weed their gardens.” They need to make some <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/6-mindset-shifts-that-will-improve-your-life">changes in their thinking</a> so they actually believe goal-setting is effective.

&nbsp;

<h3 class="BODY rtecenter">Goals work because they allow you to get clear on where you are today and where you want to go, and in turn focus on the right things to help achieve your targets.</h3>

&nbsp;

A powerful question here is: “Why don’t people set goals?” One reason is that it just isn’t on their radar as being important. Others don’t see the benefit of spending the time to set goals or believe that it leads to more accomplishments. Some people were not introduced to goal-setting when they were younger, and it is just not on their belief window.

A belief window can be described as a window or filter through which you view the world. On this window are principles, rules and truisms that were primarily established by your parents early in your life but have since been influenced by your education, friends, experiences and career. Sometimes, you find that something you had previously believed is no longer valid, so your principle changes. The example I often share is this: Many grew up with their parents telling them they should always clean their plate. Today people know that cleaning their plate often leads to overeating. It’s actually best to have your plate taken away once you start getting full. Yet some still feel guilty if they don’t finish their food. It’s an old and erroneous principle that many people still believe, and it needs to change within their windows. In the same light, perhaps you need to change what’s in your window related to goal-setting.

I have an exercise that will help you attain clarity so you can begin <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/10-tips-for-setting-your-greatest-goals">setting more effective goals</a>.

Ask yourself this question: How could my life be 10 times better? Take some time and begin listing people and actions that will make a difference in your personal and professional effectiveness. It could be things you already know to do, but just haven’t set goals for yet. Continue to add things on an ongoing basis. If you’re stuck, try these prompts.

How can I…

<ul>
	<li class="BODY">Strengthen my relationship with my spouse?</li>
	<li class="BODY"><a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/got-debt-take-these-5-steps-to-get-it-under-control">Become debt-free?</a></li>
	<li class="BODY">Maximize my advisors?</li>
	<li class="BODY">Be more effective?</li>
	<li class="BODY">Be more disciplined, determined, confident, persistent and focused?</li>
	<li class="BODY">Strengthen family relationships?</li>
	<li class="BODY"><a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/how-positivity-makes-you-healthy-and-successful">Live a life of ultimate health?</a></li>
	<li class="BODY">Have greater financial strength?</li>
	<li class="BODY">Maximize my contacts/network?</li>
	<li class="BODY">Educate and improve my wisdom?</li>
	<li class="BODY"><a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/5-tips-for-running-a-successful-business">Perfect my business strengths?</a></li>
	<li class="BODY">Delegate better?</li>
	<li class="BODY">Remain organized?</li>
	<li>Maximize technology?</li>
	<li class="BODY"><a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/15-negotiation-tips-from-people-who-always-get-their-way">Increase negotiating strength?</a></li>
	<li class="BODY">Maximize my brand?</li>
</ul>

Once you answer these questions, you will be able to set goals that are truly meaningful to you, and in turn, you will be motivated to achieve them.

Related: <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/9-straightforward-ways-to-achieve-big-things">9 Straightforward Ways to Achieve Big Things</a>

&nbsp;

This article originally appeared in the <a href="https://store.successcom.wpenginepowered.com/by-media/success-magazine-october-2017-brendon-burchard.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">October 2017 issue of SUCCESS magazine</a>.

Goals work because they allow you to get clear on where you are today and where you want to go.

Goals work because they allow you to get clear on where you are today and where you want to go. | SUCCESS

3 Steps to Setting Goals You’ll Actually Stick To

3 Steps to Setting Goals You’ll Actually Stick To | SUCCESS

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Money

Money Archives

Achieve financial success and freedom

What you do matters. What you focus on matters.

What you do matters. What you focus on matters. | SUCCESS

What Are You Living For?

[Quiz] What Are You Living For? | [site:name]

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<div class="Basic-Text-Frame" id="_idContainer001">
<h3 class="COLUMNS-DEPT_COL-DEPT-Dek">Q: I think I am great at my job, but I’m not in the top 1 percent of performers at my company. How can I refine my skills to become one of the best?</h3>
</div>

A: You sound like the type of person who hopes to perform at a peak level, who wants to <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/videos/youtube/4-ways-to-get-the-life-you-want">get the most out of life</a>, and who wants to continually raise the bar on your performance. If these statements are all accurate, it is fair to say that you are probably very interested in becoming what I like to call a master.

Related: <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/blog/5-deliberate-steps-to-master-a-skill">5 Deliberate Steps to Master a Skill</a>

Several years ago I created a term called Return on Effort (ROE). ROE is about getting the best possible results from the most compressed amount of time and energy invested. Consistently achieving a high ROE involves the pursuit of not just great results, but extraordinary results. I’m talking about the kind of results that are eye-popping; the kind of results that you might have thought were impossible to achieve.

I teach the people I work with that there is a progression of satisfactory results that has three stages. Many people and organizations are satisfied with good results. Then there is a smaller percentage of people who want to accelerate their results, and they perform at <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/5-steps-to-personal-greatness">a level of greatness</a>. The third stage is one I call mastery. Most of my new customers are those performing at the great level and have a desire to achieve more. They want to perform at the mastery level. The shift to mastery involves a specific change in thinking.

What do you think of when you hear the word mastery? Most people think of being elite or being the best they can possibly be. Although those ideas are accurate, mastery involves much more than that. Let’s break this down a bit.

&nbsp;

<h3 class="BODY rtecenter">If you want to change what you do in order to achieve a better result, you must ultimately change what you believe about something.</h3>

&nbsp;

There are three possibilities when it comes to acceptable results. As I shared before, good is where many successful businesses operate. Good companies are profitable and experience some growth. They have developed business practices that work for them and stick to them. They are typically conservative when it comes to change and their innovation level is about average. Organizations such as these are satisfied with whom and what they are. They have <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/blog/why-your-comfort-zone-is-the-most-dangerous-place-to-live">settled into a comfort zone</a> and rarely take any action to disrupt it.

The second possibility is great. Great businesses start as good companies then <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/10-little-things-successful-people-do-differently">dare to do things differently</a>. They developed the ability to think more strategically and combined strategic thinking with the focus needed to create the strategies that propelled them to greater success. When businesses or people achieve greatness, they have difficulty grasping that there is yet a third possibility that awaits them: mastery. Their problem is they believe they have already achieved as much as possible. At that point, their greatness becomes a silent enemy and a roadblock to discovering the third possibility of achievement.

Related: <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/top-of-mind-why-you-should-always-keep-improving">Why You Should Always Keep Improving</a>

To achieve mastery, there must be a very specific <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/7-crucial-mindset-shifts-to-achieve-everything-you-want">shift in thinking</a>. This applies to individuals and organizations. Ask yourself, How is dramatic change ignited and what does it look like? I have been working with top-performing individuals and organizations for the past 25 years and have identified a specific profile of mastery. There are five essential characteristics of mastery, and all of them are the result of a specific way of thinking. As individuals and organizations begin to think and believe in some new principles, there is a consistent upward shift in superior results. The five foundational characteristics that produce the mastery profile are simple and easy to understand, but difficult to achieve.

<ol>
	<li class="BODY"><a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/what-do-you-want-out-of-life">A compelling strategic vision</a> and a deep motivation to achieve it. Clarity exists about why the vision must be achieved and its value and significance.</li>
	<li class="BODY"><a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/22-ways-to-become-a-relentless-learner">An obsession with learning</a>, growing and improving.</li>
	<li class="BODY"><a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/learn-to-develop-extreme-focus">The ability to think on a long-term basis</a> and focus on outcomes, vision and execution.</li>
	<li class="BODY"><a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/rohn-how-to-make-yourself-more-valuable">A desire to achieve perfection.</a> Perfection is understood to be about always doing the right things at the right time and making no mistakes.</li>
	<li class="BODY"><a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/4-ways-to-turn-obstacles-into-opportunities">The consistent ability to convert</a> challenges into opportunities.</li>
</ol>

Most people today don’t care about <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/blog/nothing-will-work-unless-you-do">doing the hard work</a> required to function at the mastery level. Most people prefer creating and then maintaining a comfort zone around themselves. For those with this mindset, apathy rules and any meaningful change is a possible threat.

The thing that ultimately drives action is belief. It is very difficult to think and accept ideas that conflict with what you believe to be true. The truth you embrace shapes your opinions, your personality and most visibly, the things you actually do. The things you do communicate whom and what you are to others and what you do is driven by what you believe.

If you want to change what you do in order to achieve a better result, you must ultimately change what you believe about something. Start believing that you can adopt the five characteristics of a master. It is only when you change what you believe that you can <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/if-you-want-to-change-your-results-you-have-to-change-your-thinking-first">change the way you think</a>. When you change the way you think, you can make better choices. When you make better choices, you can achieve better results. When you continually improve your results, you eventually transition from good to great to master.

Related: <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/43-ways-to-improve-yourself-in-just-10-minutes">43 Ways to Improve Yourself in Just 10 Minutes</a>

&nbsp;

Have questions for The RESULTS Guy? Send them to <a href="mailto:editor@success.com">editor@success.com</a>. 

This article originally appeared in the <a href="https://store.successcom.wpenginepowered.com/by-media/success-magazine-june-2017-dave-ramsey.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">June 2017 issue of SUCCESS magazine</a>.

You’re great at what you do. Now it’s time to be the best. Here’s how.

You’re great at what you do. Now it’s time to be the best. Here’s how. | SUCCESS

5 Ways to Be Better Than ‘Just Good’

5 Ways to Be Better Than ‘Just Good’ | SUCCESS

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<h2 class="Body-Copy-1st-Paragraph-DROP-CAP">Q: I’ve tried everything to stop procrastinating but nothing works. Do you have a method I can use to end my procrastination cycle once and for all?</h2>

A: First you need to know that <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/podcast/ep-20-why-its-ok-to-procrastinate">not all procrastination is bad</a>. Something I’ve long touted are the concepts of positive and negative procrastination. Think about your self-talk right now. Is it supporting you and giving you legitimate reasons to put things off? Or is it an excuse you’re making because you don’t feel like doing something? All procrastination comes back to what you say to yourself. Sometimes we say, Oh, it doesn’t really matter. I’ll do that later. No one cares. Or sometimes we might say, You know, I just don’t feel like doing that right now. That’s negative procrastination.

&nbsp;

<h3 class="BODY rtecenter">If you do nothing, that is exactly what you’ll get—nothing. If you do something, the possibilities are endless.</h3>

&nbsp;

A legitimate thing to say to ourselves, when it’s true, might be, I need to take a little bit of time to gain more valuable insight before I make that decision. That’s positive and strategic procrastination. Even if you say, I need to sleep on it tonight, that’s positive procrastination because you know you’ll <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/podcast/ep-32-tips-for-better-decision-making">make a better decision</a> if you let your intuition work throughout the evening.

Related: <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/podcast/ep-20-why-its-ok-to-procrastinate">Why It's OK to Procrastinate</a>

Generally speaking, negative procrastination is putting tasks off when you shouldn’t. To make improvements, you need to <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/30-tips-to-take-control-of-your-life-now">take charge of your time and your life</a>. Here are a few ways to contradict the <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/blog/say-this-not-that-7-responses-for-common-negative-thoughts">negative self-talk</a> that leads to procrastination.

<ul>
	<li class="BODY">
	<h4>Thought: I can do it tomorrow.</h4>
	</li>
</ul>

Ask yourself: What can I get started on now that will help me complete this project?

<ul>
	<li class="BODY">
	<h4>Thought: I don’t have everything I need, so I’ll wait.</h4>
	</li>
</ul>

Ask yourself: What can I do now with what I have on hand?

<ul>
	<li class="BODY">
	<h4>Thought: I don’t have time right now.</h4>
	</li>
</ul>

Ask yourself: What can I do in the next 10 minutes that will move me toward the result I want?

<ul>
	<li class="BODY">
	<h4>Thought: Someone else can do it better.</h4>
	</li>
</ul>

Say to yourself: Even if someone else can do this better, it’s my task and my responsibility. I might even get better as I keep working on it.

<ul>
	<li class="BODY">
	<h4>Thought: I just don’t feel like it right now.</h4>
	</li>
</ul>

Say to yourself: I’ll just do five minutes of work on this. Once I start the task, I’ll slowly begin making progress.

Getting started is the most difficult part. But to produce results, <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/rohn-whatever-the-project-is-start-today">you must dive in at some point</a>. If you do nothing, that is exactly what you’ll get—nothing. If you do something, the possibilities are endless.

Let’s take a short assessment to see how much you procrastinate. Rate yourself from one to 10 on these four questions, with one being often and 10 being never.

<ol>
	<li class="BODY">
	<h4>Do you regularly push tasks aside because you tell yourself you don’t <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/rohn-5-tips-for-using-your-time-wisely">have enough time</a>?</h4>
	</li>
	<li class="BODY">
	<h4>Do you find yourself putting off things because of lack of clarity? Do you make things too complex?</h4>
	</li>
	<li class="BODY">
	<h4>Are you not productive or fast enough because you’re too focused on perfection?</h4>
	</li>
	<li class="BODY">
	<h4>How often do you let <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/how-to-eliminate-distractions">distractions</a> become the basis for your procrastination?</h4>
	</li>
</ol>

How did you do? If your score was less than 25 follow these simple steps to <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/7-simple-ways-to-stop-procrastinating">overcome your negative procrastination</a>.

<h2 class="BODY">1. <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/11-science-backed-ways-to-become-a-morning-person">Rise early.</a></h2>

Many people hit the snooze button for five or 10 extra minutes of sleep rather than rising when they intend to. It’s better to <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/4-questions-to-calm-your-overthinking-brain">begin your day calm and collected</a> rather than rushing around in the morning. You can overcome procrastination by starting your day on the right foot.

<h2 class="BODY">2. Create momentum.</h2>

By identifying and doing little things when you have open minutes here and there, you can complete enough small tasks to become more motivated. That momentum keeps you from procrastinating and helps you finish tasks with time to spare.

<h2 class="BODY">3. <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/top-of-mind-7-ways-to-boost-self-motivation">Motivate yourself.</a></h2>

Make to-do lists and mark off items once you complete them. There’s nothing like the satisfaction you feel when you accomplish something.

<h2 class="BODY">4. Practice Production Before Perfection (PBP). </h2>

This could be the most important of all my time-management concepts. It applies to most people, and that probably includes you. How many tasks are you procrastinating on right now because you want them to be perfect? It’s often best to jump in and make things happen first, and then you can perfect as you go.

Let me give you an example: Are taxes something that need to be perfect, or if not perfect, pretty close? Yes. Then does that mean you have to wait to get started on them until you get every W-2 or investment document together? No. You can start working on your taxes each month of the year by keeping track of your taxable expenses and holding on to receipts.

There are a few exceptions, of course. If you’re building a helicopter, you have to get that pretty perfect. Or if you’re a doctor performing surgery, you have to execute impeccably. But for what most people are doing, things don’t have to be perfect. Good enough is OK.

Get going, and then make improvements as you go!

Related:&nbsp;<a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/videos/youtube/ted-talks-inside-the-mind-of-a-master-procrastinator">TED Talks: ‘Inside the Mind of a Master Procrastinator’</a>

&nbsp;

Have questions for The RESULTS Guy? Send them to <a href="mailto:editor@SUCCESS.com">editor@SUCCESS.com</a>.

This article originally appeared in the <a href="https://store.successcom.wpenginepowered.com/by-media/magazines/success-magazine-february-2017-j-j-abrams.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">February 2017 issue of SUCCESS magazine</a>.

Solutions for overcoming the I’ll-do-it-later mindset

Solutions for overcoming the I’ll-do-it-later mindset | SUCCESS

How to Stop Procrastinating

How to Stop Procrastinating | SUCCESS

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4 Steps to Make Decisions With Confidence

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<a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/13-quotes-about-making-life-choices">Life is a series of decisions.</a> We make most of these decisions without even realizing it: what to wear, what to eat, what call to take. The process for small decisions is the same when we make life-changing ones. We work to understand why we have to make the decision, we tease out the options available and then, according to some set of criteria, we weigh the options and we choose.
Related: <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/9-tips-to-make-smarter-decisions-faster">9 Tips to Make Smarter Decisions Faster</a>
Making important life decisions can be stressful. But with a sound strategy, <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/stop-overthinking-it-9-ways-to-make-decisions-with-confidence">you can make any call with confidence</a>. In order to make the right choice, you must:
<ol>
 	<li>Gain clarity as to why you are having to make the decision in the first place.</li>
 	<li>Identify your desired result.</li>
 	<li>Understand the options available. <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/5-ways-to-make-sure-you-dont-regret-your-next-decision">Choices carry costs.</a> What are the relative costs? Do you really know all of the factors, metrics and variables that should be taken into account? It can be challenging to assemble all of the evidence needed for big decisions.</li>
 	<li><a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/do-your-actions-reflect-your-values">Choose according to a system of values.</a> Are you letting politics get in the way? Are past experiences that affect your judgment still relevant? Given the speed at which the world is changing, it is more than likely they are not.</li>
</ol>
Making the right decisions in life can be hard, but new technologies make it easier each year. We can now obtain more real-time data than ever before and we can use software to find correlations and trends an army of analysts couldn’t find in a month. Does this mean personal and organizational decision-making is about to be turned over to machines? It doesn’t; rather it means that technology is a tool that can be used by humans to better execute the decision-making process. Everyone from the owner of a small business to the CEO of a Fortune 100 company should fully comprehend and embrace the technologies that can mediate our decision-marking. It’s an exciting time. Whatever your current role, you can make better decisions when you have machines on your side.
Related: <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/the-best-decision-i-ever-made">The Best Decision I Ever Made</a>
—From the forthcoming Man Plus Machine Equals Results by Tony Jeary

</div>

No. 1: Why are you making this decision in the first place?

No. 1: Why are you making this decision in the first place? | SUCCESS

4 Steps to Make Decisions With Confidence | SUCCESS

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<h2 class="Body-Copy-1st-Paragraph-DROP-CAP">Q: Between my job, my children, my spouse, exercise and my love of travel, I sometimes feel like I have trouble identifying what comes first. How can I better prioritize?</h2>

A: First ask yourself whether your inner world is in line with your outer world. People often set goals for what they want in life, but their daily and weekly activities don’t reflect their values. Think of the people who say they put family first, yet work so much they don’t have time to spend with their loved ones. These people miss baseball games, are no-shows at dance recitals, and miss dinner because they’re constantly at the office. <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/11-strategies-for-managing-stress">The stress continuously builds up </a>because there’s a gap between what they want and what they do.

Related: <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/blog/23-questions-to-ask-yourself-when-youre-stressed-out">23 Questions to Ask Yourself When You’re Stressed Out</a>

We’ve all been there. I got into some financial difficulties halfway through my career, and for several years I feared I would lose everything I had earned. When I was in the deepest part of the struggle, I&nbsp;had a heartfelt talk with myself and evaluated where I was. I picked up a pencil and a pad of paper and wrote down my assets, which were good health, freedom, family, friendships, reputation, relationships, wisdom, strong work ethic, success, integrity, being a mentor, <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/rohn-7-personality-traits-of-a-great-leader">being a leader</a> and enjoying lots of love—the list went on and on. In fact, the only thing I could not put on the list was money.

I felt sorry for myself before I made the list. But once I saw all of my assets in writing, I felt like a very lucky man. I realized that if I had to give away one of my values, it would have been money because I could always get that back, while I could not regain some of the other assets if I lost them. I quit feeling sorry for myself and started <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/rohn-5-ways-to-be-more-grateful-on-the-daily">living in a way that reflected how I was grateful for what I did have</a>. During my financial recovery, I read voraciously, flew helicopters, wrote a book and used the excess time to rebuild my business, all in addition to traveling the world with my family.

Once you list all of your values, you will realize just how fulfilled you are, too, and that <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/rohn-9-things-more-important-than-money">money is only one of your many assets</a>—and often not the most important one. In all likelihood, it is the first thing you would give away if your other assets were threatened.

Make a list of your core values and align them with your activities. Once you know what your values are, let them guide your actions in everyday life.

Related: <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/go-value-shopping-to-be-successful">Go Value Shopping to Be Successful</a>

Select 10 of the following:

<table border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" height="981" width="501">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>
			Affection
			</td>
			<td>
			Fun
			</td>
			<td>
			Personal brand
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>
			Alignment
			</td>
			<td>
			Generosity
			</td>
			<td>
			Personal salvation
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>
			Altruism
			</td>
			<td>
			Genuineness
			</td>
			<td>
			Philanthropy
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>
			Appearance
			</td>
			<td>
			Happiness
			</td>
			<td>
			Power
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>
			Attitude
			</td>
			<td>
			Harmony
			</td>
			<td>
			Productivity
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>
			Cleanliness
			</td>
			<td>
			Health
			</td>
			<td>
			Recognition
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>
			Congruence
			</td>
			<td>
			Honesty
			</td>
			<td>
			Respect
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>
			Contentment
			</td>
			<td>
			Humility
			</td>
			<td>
			Results
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>
			Cooperation
			</td>
			<td>
			Inner Peace
			</td>
			<td>
			Routine
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>
			Creativity
			</td>
			<td>
			Inspiration
			</td>
			<td>
			Romance
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>
			Education
			</td>
			<td>
			Intimacy
			</td>
			<td>
			Security
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>
			Efficiency
			</td>
			<td>
			Joy
			</td>
			<td>
			Self-improvement
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>
			Fairness
			</td>
			<td>
			Knowledge
			</td>
			<td>
			Simplicity
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>
			Faith
			</td>
			<td>
			Lifestyle
			</td>
			<td>
			Solitude
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>
			Fame
			</td>
			<td>
			Loyalty
			</td>
			<td>
			Spiritual maturity
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>
			Family
			</td>
			<td>
			Love
			</td>
			<td>
			Status
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>
			Financial security
			</td>
			<td>
			Motivation
			</td>
			<td>
			Travel
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>
			Freedom
			</td>
			<td>
			Openness
			</td>
			<td>
			Wealth
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>
			Friendship
			</td>
			<td>
			Organization
			</td>
			<td>
			Wisdom
			</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

&nbsp;

Once you understand what your priorities are, assess your life and goals to see whether your actions actually line up. Documenting your values can help identify areas where change is necessary, and it <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/stop-overthinking-it-9-ways-to-make-decisions-with-confidence">makes future decision-making simple and clear</a>.

Now think back to what you’ve done in the last 24 hours and write down the activities and times. Take your list of values and match each activity to one of them. Some activities might connect strongly to one or more, while others will be a stretch. Some might not support your values at all. You can discard these.

When your behavior conflicts with your values, the result is a mental conflict. Psychologists call this cognitive dissonance, and it is a source of pain and stress in your life.

&nbsp;

<h3 class="BODY rtecenter">Your goals will become a reality faster and with less stress if they align with your values.</h3>

&nbsp;

Once you have focus, then it’s time to use the power of visualization to <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/10-steps-to-achieve-any-goal">make your goals a reality</a>. Remember, your goals will become a reality faster and with less stress if they align with your values.

When I studied helicopters years ago, I learned there are several gauges you must use to fly. It is absolutely essential to learn how to operate these gauges because when you hit a storm, you live by them. What will you do when you hit the storm? Learn how to focus on your values now so you can live by them in all seasons and avoid the pitfalls in life.

My priorities center on health, freedom, happiness and integrity. <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/6-ways-to-keep-your-attitude-up-when-life-tries-to-bring-you-down">When I hit patches of chaos</a>, I refer back to my core values.

We’ve all known people who get into trouble and then cave. They turn to affairs, alcohol or some other addiction to handle stress. They stop exercising, stop their habits of success and enter a downward spiral. That’s because they didn’t have a plan for the tough times, and they got derailed.

This doesn’t have to be your fate. Know your values and keep your focus.

Related: <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/top-of-mind-what-do-you-value-most">Top of Mind: What Do You Value Most?</a>

&nbsp;

Have questions for The RESULTS Guy? Send them to editor@SUCCESS.com. 
This article originally appeared in the <a href="https://store.successcom.wpenginepowered.com/by-media/magazines/success-magazine-october-2016-sophia-amoruso.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">October 2016 issue of SUCCESS magazine</a>.

Your goals will become a reality faster and with less stress if they align with your values.

Your goals will become a reality faster and with less stress if they align with your values. | SUCCESS

Do Your Actions Reflect Your Values?

Do Your Actions Reflect Your Values? | SUCCESS

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<div class="Basic-Text-Frame" id="_idContainer062">
<h2 class="BODY-w--Q-A">Q: I’m a people pleaser—I have trouble saying no. How can I change?</h2>
</div>

<div class="Basic-Text-Frame" id="_idContainer063">
A: Learning to say no is the single most effective way to <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/4-steps-to-mastering-the-art-of-focus">increase your focus</a> and productivity. Saying no will help you reduce what I call low leverage activities (those that consume resources and drive results slowly) and invest more time and energy into high leverage activities, which are the key to achieving the right results faster. We must learn to say no to the things that don’t matter so we can say yes to <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/top-of-mind-what-do-you-value-most">the things we care about.</a>

There are a lot of ways to say no and <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/how-to-make-others-feel-significant">make people feel as if you still care.</a> Sometimes it really means saying not now.

I teach clients that instead of something being a complete no, it can be no and instead. For example, if someone asks me to lunch to talk about something and I am unsure whether it is a high leverage activity, I will <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/the-power-of-asking-questions">ask the person more questions.</a> If I learn the information can be covered over email, I’ll suggest that. I am still staying no to his initial request, but I answered his question and freed up a few hours for myself to invest in other things.

Related: <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/defend-your-boundaries-to-take-back-control">Defend Your Boundaries to Take Back Control</a>

&nbsp;

This article originally appeared in the <a href="https://store.successcom.wpenginepowered.com/by-media/magazines/success-magazine-august-2016-the-youeconomy.html" target="_blank">August 2016 issue of SUCCESS magazine</a>.
</div>

We must learn to say no to the things that don’t matter so we can say yes to the things we care about.

We must learn to say no to the things that don’t matter so we can say yes to the things we care about. | SUCCESS

Learn to Say No to Take Control of Your Life

Learn to Say No to Take Control of Your Life | SUCCESS

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<h2>Q: I get distracted easily, whether it’s my co-worker chatting with me or an interesting Facebook post. How can I improve my focus?</h2>

A: Have you ever attended an NBA game? In the final minutes of close games, the losing team usually resorts to a strategy of intentionally fouling the other team. When a player is fouled, the game clock is stopped to allow the fouled player to attempt free throws. The fans do anything they can to break the shooter’s concentration—they yell, wave towels, and jump up and down. To be successful, the shooter has to block this mayhem from his mind and fixate on the basket.

The most focused NBA players make 90 percent of their free throws; the least focused make less than 50 percent. To succeed in basketball and in all areas of life, you have to <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/blog/do-these-5-things-to-actually-stick-to-your-goals">keep your eye on the goal</a>, which requires a method for coping with distractions.

Related: <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/mobile/article/4-tips-to-turn-off-the-distractions">4 Tips to Turn Off the Distractions</a>

Focus doesn’t come naturally for most people. It’s a skill that must be learned, polished and practiced. There is a process you can follow to acquire it as a skill:

<h4>1. Become aware of the need to improve your focusing skills.</h4>

<h4>2. Make a conscious decision to invest the time and energy needed to improve.</h4>

<h4>3. Practice and train your mind to concentrate.</h4>

<h4>4. Implement your new skills and make them routine.</h4>

The first step toward improving is becoming aware of your level of focus.

Jon, a mechanical engineer who attends my church, works in the oil and gas industry. He is an expert in designing heat exchangers, which are expensive, custom-built pieces of equipment. The design of these contraptions is a complex process.

He sifts through roughly 400 pieces of information to build a machine that—if improperly constructed—could cause tremendous negative financial impact. The process requires attention to detail. Although he’s been trained to perform this process and he consistently produces good designs, he told me he initially found it overwhelming because he couldn’t concentrate. While designing the machinery, Jon was constantly barraged by colleagues, phone calls, emails and package deliveries.

Related: <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/videos/youtube/how-to-go-from-overwhelmed-to-motivated-in-3-seconds">How to Go From Overwhelmed to Motivated in 3 Seconds</a>

He could not perform his job well, which would impact his career path, financial gain and overall satisfaction. He needed to change, and he knew it.

To start improving, you must conduct an inventory of what you believe about your ability to concentrate. To help Jon better understand the strategic nature of focus, I urged him to ask himself the following questions:

<ul>
	<li>
	<h4>How well do you focus throughout the day?</h4>
	</li>
	<li>
	<h4><a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/8-ways-to-effectively-prioritize-the-things-on-your-to-do-list">How well do you prioritize?</a></h4>
	</li>
	<li>
	<h4>How many minutes a day do you lose because of distractions?</h4>
	</li>
</ul>

Getting to the bottom of these issues is the first step you must take to discover the strategic nature of focus.

Most people don’t think of focus as a strategic skill, so they haven’t spent much time examining how good they are at it. When you don’t treat it as a strategic issue, minimizing its importance is easy. Soon you’re ignoring it altogether.

&nbsp;

<h3 class="rtecenter">Your ability to concentrate is related to how well you avoid and eliminate distractions.</h3>

&nbsp;

People who lack intense focus approach it as a <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/john-c-maxwell-5-qualities-of-people-who-use-time-wisely">time-management</a> issue or an organizational challenge. But it’s neither. Your ability to concentrate is related to how well you avoid and <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/5-do-not-disturb-tips-for-avoiding-tech-distractions">eliminate distractions</a>. You become distracted whenever you allow something to enter your mind that takes you away from your tasks. Don’t worry—it’s natural to get distracted. Your ability to overcome disruptions depends on your ability to think in ways that will counteract what comes so naturally. It’s about establishing priorities. To do that effectively, you have to be able to control the distractions that bombard your mind.

How well do you focus? Only one objective standard can measure your ability in this area, and that standard involves the ability to consistently complete predetermined objectives on time. <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/9-early-bird-tips-for-the-habitually-late">People who are consistently late</a> for meetings and in finishing tasks have a focus deficiency. I’m not saying you will never experience times when you have more on your plate than you can handle; I’m talking about when those conditions are a way of life. Some people are always harried and behind on work.

To help you determine exactly how well you fixate on the important things, I challenge you to <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/rohn-why-you-should-keep-a-journal">keep a journal</a> for two weeks. All you need to do is keep a daily log of your activities. Write down your priorities and the specific things you intend to finish each day. Then keep an activity log of all that happens to you during the day. Be particularly mindful to log each distraction you experience and the amount of time you invested in the distraction. If you keep this log faithfully for two weeks, you will have a clearer picture of your daily focus and how you can improve.

When you complete your journal, look at how many minutes of each day you lost to distractions. Take a closer look at the priorities you established and the specific things you intended to finish each day. Make a list of the priorities and tasks you did not complete on the day in question, and then ask yourself what caused you to not complete the work you prioritized. The answers to those questions are your primary distractions.

Regardless of how legitimate they look, if they hindered your ability to finish work, they were distractions. You should now have enough information to understand how much you need to improve. Your journal will expose your focus challenge, and you should be able to commit to <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/rohn-how-to-make-yourself-more-valuable">improving your skills.</a>

Related: <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/blog/8-things-successful-people-never-waste-time-doing">8 Things Successful People Never Waste Time Doing</a>

&nbsp;

This article originally appeared in the <a href="https://store.successcom.wpenginepowered.com/by-media/magazines/success-magazine-june-2016-guy-fieri.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">June 2016 issue of SUCCESS magazine</a>.

Focus is a skill that must be learned, polished and practiced.

Focus is a skill that must be learned, polished and practiced. | SUCCESS

4 Steps to Mastering the Art of Focus

4 Steps to Mastering the Art of Focus | SUCCESS

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By implementing certain tried-and-true tactics, you can carve out ample time for yourself each day to <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/rohn-read-all-the-books-to-rise-above-the-ordinary">read</a>, go hiking, watch a movie or do whatever relaxes you. Here are four time-saving steps you can take:

Related: <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/john-c-maxwell-how-to-carve-out-your-lifes-passion">How to Carve Out Your Life’s Passion</a>

<h2 class="BODY">1. Prioritize.</h2>

Learn to put important events over urgent ones. Many of us fall into the habit of reacting to urgent events and letting important ones fall by the wayside. Be proactive instead of reactive. After all, the important tasks typically contribute more to our long-term <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/master-the-art-of-setting-goals-in-4-steps">goals</a>. Throughout the day, ask yourself: Is this the best use of my time right now? You may be surprised how this can spur you to do the right things at the right time.

<h2 class="BODY">2. Avoid procrastination.</h2>

Procrastination does not mean you do nothing—it means you do low-priority, easy tasks before high-priority, difficult ones. Get in the habit of making things happen and focusing your energy on what matters most.

<h2 class="BODY">3. Improve your organizational skills.</h2>

Organization means not only having a neat workspace but also a <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/organize-your-to-do-list-into-these-4-categories">planning system</a>. First toss things that aren’t an integral part of your workspace. Then incorporate a method for accomplishing your daily tasks.

<h2 class="BODY">4. Delegate.</h2>

Sometimes our inability to delegate stems from our egos—we think we can do a better job than others. But knowing when to assign certain tasks to others can increase our productivity exponentially.

Related: <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/blog/3-questions-highly-productive-people-ask-themselves-every-day">3 Questions Highly Productive People Ask Themselves Every Day</a>

&nbsp;

This article appears in the <a href="https://store.successcom.wpenginepowered.com/by-media/magazines/success-magazine-may-2016-michael-strahan.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">May 2016 issue of SUCCESS magazine.</a>

Stop reacting to urgent events and letting important ones fall by the wayside.

Stop reacting to urgent events and letting important ones fall by the wayside. | SUCCESS

4 Ways to Find Time to Do What You Love

4 Ways to Find Time to Do What You Love | SUCCESS

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I want to share with you a very simple mindset hack that you can use right now to change direction in your life.

Related: <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/john-c-maxwell-it-only-takes-6-steps-to-change-your-life">It Only Takes 6 Steps to Change Your Life</a>

What you’re about to read is simple. That’s why it works.

So, if you’re willing to cast aside overcomplicated solutions and instead go straight for results, then keep reading.

<h2>The Inherent Dangers of Success</h2>

If you’ve ever been on a sailboat in the middle of the ocean, then you’ve realized just how small and insignificant a bunch of wood and canvas is against the mighty winds of the ocean.

And yet it’s not only possible but commonplace to leave the shore in a sailboat and return unharmed.

How is this possible? The answer is simple: When the captain of the sailboat knows precisely where he wants to go, those mighty and dangerous winds become tools in his hands for moving him to his destination.

<h2>Paint Your Perfect Picture</h2>

Most people cannot answer this question: “What does your perfect day look like?” In other words, they are in a sailboat without a plan.

Life is like the mighty wind. Powerful, sometimes dangerous and even unpredictable.

The people who have a specific plan are able to harness life and use it to propel them toward their <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/rohn-4-tips-for-setting-powerful-goals">goals</a>. Those who cannot become victim to its push and pull.

<h2>Plan Your Destination Strategically </h2>

It takes more than just desire to plan a boating trip. You need maps, knowledge of the water, familiarity with your sailboat and (if you can get it) an experienced captain.

The surefire way to sink a ship is to set sail without any of those things. Sounds crazy right? It is, and yet many who pursue success do exactly that.

They make a plan but refuse to use the roadmaps and blueprints available to them. They have no knowledge or experience that they can rely on, and they often refuse to call on the help of more experienced individuals and mentors.

You can counteract this, if you’re smart and use your head. Learn to be strategic about your plan.

Are you ready to set sail on your success adventure?

Related: <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/if-you-want-to-change-your-results-you-have-to-change-your-thinking-first">If You Want to Change Your Results, You Have to Change Your Thinking First</a>

Are you ready to set sail on your success adventure?

Are you ready to set sail on your success adventure? | SUCCESS

How to Think Your Way to a Better Life

How to Think Your Way to a Better Life | SUCCESS

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I teach people how to become ultra-achievers for a living. I’ve seen the habits, philosophies and motivation of hundreds of the world’s most productive, influential and <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/blog/5-daily-habits-of-highly-successful-people">successful people</a>.

I want to let you in on a little secret about these people….

The ultra-successful are no different than you.

They simply do different things than you do. It’s an important difference. Worth reading and rereading until it sinks in.

Related: <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/4-secrets-of-insanely-successful-people">4 Secrets of Insanely Successful People</a>

One of the things that <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/6-productivity-tips-from-people-who-get-things-done">highly productive people</a> do differently is ask themselves a series of compass-correcting questions every day. These questions guide, direct and ensure that these superachievers stay that way.

If you’d like to follow in their footsteps and achieve similar results, here are the three questions you need to start asking yourself today:

<h2>Question 1: What is the ONE THING I need to get the right stuff done fast? </h2>

Most people have a to-do list that spans two pages, with every to-do item marked “URGENT.”

<a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/blog/do-things-faster-and-6-other-ways-to-double-your-productivity-income-and-sex-appeal">Highly productive people</a>, on the other hand, look over their to-do lists often throughout the day—to determine the best use of their time right now. They re-evaluate and reassess based on the current reality of their situation, and reprioritize to ensure that they are always focused on the most important task at hand.

Too many assume that productivity equals getting a lot done every day. The truth is, productivity equals the completion of high-priority tasks that are going to have the most impact on your business, and your life.

Highly productive people (unlike most people) ensure that they are assessing in real time, taking into account the variables we all encounter in our busy days, and not just blindly following a list.

<h2>Question 2: Who can I get to help me with this ONE THING?</h2>

Peak performers never perform alone.

Athletes have coaches, medical staff, assistance and more. Musical entertainers have sound engineers, instrumentalists, bus drivers and more.

The same is true for leaders of business and organizations.

That might already be obvious to you, but what you may have missed is that ultra-achievers think specifically (on a daily basis) about who is going to assist them to <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/10-steps-to-achieve-any-goal">achieve their goals</a>.

That difference is important.

The ultra-successful spend a lot of time building and nurturing what I call life teams. These teams are what allow high achievers to force multiply their efforts.

It means that they can walk themselves higher up the task ladder, spend more time delegating and move quickly with confidence knowing that their <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/blog/how-to-create-your-personal-board-of-directors">support system</a> is in place.

<h2>Question 3: Is this worth my time?</h2>

One hundred percent of the people who you and I would classify as “highly successful, productive achievers” know their base worth number. Your base worth number is the minimum you need to earn to reach your goals).

With this number in the back of their minds, they are able to accurately determine their high leverage activities, which move them closer (with more speed) to their goals. They know precisely which tasks to say yes to, and which to ignore.

They are able to compare their base worth number with opportunities and pathways. From this comparison, they are able to draw accurate, quick conclusions about the “worthiness” of any given activity or potential path.

It’s a big reason why successful people seem to “get it”—constantly making good decisions, while the rest seem to bumble about rudderless.

Knowing your own base worth number, and using it to <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/stop-overthinking-it-9-ways-to-make-decisions-with-confidence">make better decisions</a>, is like having a GPS while everyone else is trying to find their way in the dark by feel.

This is a simple practice that goes a long way, so I encourage you to use these questions as tools in your own life. Specifically, for at least 30 days, try journaling the answers to these questions every single day. You’ll be pleasantly surprised at the transformation and progress you make just by consistently examining yourself in this way.

Related: <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/8-ways-to-effectively-prioritize-the-things-on-your-to-do-list">8 Ways to Effectively Prioritize the Things on Your To-Do List</a>

The ultra-successful are no different than you. They simply do different things than you do.

The ultra-successful are no different than you. They simply do different things than you do. | SUCCESS

3 Questions Highly Productive People Ask Themselves Every Day

3 Questions Highly Productive People Ask Themselves Every Day | SUCCESS

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Negative thoughts clutter our minds and use the same mental real estate the positive ones do, even though they do not have the same importance. You wouldn’t keep garbage in your living spaces, so why would you keep negative thoughts in your mind? <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/9-ways-to-say-no-to-negativity">Eliminate negativity</a> the same way you take the garbage out when it starts to smell or takes up too much&nbsp;space. 

Results often reveal a person’s mindset. If the individual has an <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/blog/get-your-mind-right-5-tips-for-untangling-your-cant-do-mindset">“it-can’t-be-done” attitude</a>, that’s probably right; it really can’t be done as long as that kind of negative thinking prevails. Have you ever known someone who proved valuable to an organization because of his ability to identify all the reasons why something couldn’t be done? No, of course not. Organizations need people who will take the high road and lead them to success through <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/15-uplifting-quotes-for-positive-vibes">positive thinking</a> and finding solutions.

If you’re seeing poor results in your business or personal life, something needs to change. Our thoughts drive our actions. The solution is to examine your thinking to come up with a better way to fix something that’s not working or find a new way to do it. Having a <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/problems-are-just-solutions-in-the-making">solution-oriented attitude</a> brings superior results faster. Think, What can we change to do this better?

Related: <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/if-you-want-to-change-your-results-you-have-to-change-your-thinking-first">If You Want to Change Your Results, You Have to Change Your Thinking First</a>

&nbsp;

This article appears in the <a href="https://store.successcom.wpenginepowered.com/by-media/magazines/success-magazine-april-2016-kendra-scott.html">April 2016 issue of SUCCESS magazine.</a>
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Having a solution-oriented attitude brings superior results faster.

Having a solution-oriented attitude brings superior results faster. | SUCCESS

Positive Thoughts = Positive Results

Positive Thoughts = Positive Results | SUCCESS

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