Your October Action Plan: 10 Ways to Play to Your Strengths

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Your Action Plan is a monthly to-do list of tips straight from SUCCESS magazine—10 things you can do right now to improve yourself and your life.

This month, focus on the special things that make you who you are—the traits that help you stand out from the rest. Learn to take advantage of the things that make you unique, and apply your strengths where they count.

1. Risky Business

Commit to delegating some of your daily workload to an existing or new staffer. Take a healthy risk on a person who has shown honesty, integrity and a strong work ethic.

Read: John C. Maxwell: 5 Attributes That Lead to Success

2. Hold Your Ground

This week, analyze your motives on small decisions. Keep the long-term health of your business in mind so you’ll be ready when big decisions need to be made.

Read: John Addison: Follow These 4 Leadership Principles for Making Difficult Decisions

3. Build Bravery

Do one small thing every day that scares you. Courage is like a muscle. Build it with deliberate and repetitive action.

Read: This Is What It’s Like to Step Into the Middle of a Tornado

4. Vitals Check

Write out the 10 most important things in your life. Place that list on your bathroom mirror as a reminder of the things that need to stay at the top of your priority list.

Read: Do Your Actions Reflect Your Values?

5. Give Back

Sign up to volunteer with a veterans’ program this month. Visit Volunteer.va.gov for a list of programs in your area.

Read: Why I Served: 3 American Heroes Share Their Stories 

6. Tiny Tweaks

Instead of punishing yourself with an “eat this, not that” diet, compromise by downsizing portions of your favorite guilty pleasures.

Read: 7 Healthier Versions of Your Cheat Day Favorites

7. Watch and Learn

Do you feel stuck in your career? Find someone who is where you want to be. Meet with him or her to develop a plan that will take you where you should be.

Read: Why Quitting Doesn’t Mean You’ve Failed

8. Perk Up

Commit to doing one thing that makes you happy for at least 20 minutes per day. Take note of your increased happiness.

Read: 7 Things You Can Do to Feel Happier

9. Assess Yourself

Do circumstances make you apprehensive about standing up for your values and beliefs? Identify the five triggers that hijack your moral courage. Focus on eliminating one per month.

Read: 4 Tips for Standing Up for What You Believe In

10. Dare to Be Different

Jot down the top three things that make you unique. See how you can implement them in your business.

Read: #GIRLBOSS Sophia Amoruso Is the Most Successful Misfit You Know

This article originally appeared in the October 2016 issue of SUCCESS magazine.

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