Attitude

“Very often a change of self is needed more than a change of scene.” ~~Arthur Christopher Benson~~

A little more on being 100% responsible:

I was reminded again yesterday after a situation during which I could have reacted better, that I am 100% responsible. I am responsible for creating my actions, my reactions, my responses and my results. I am responsible for how I feel, how I live, and how I work. If I am not getting what I want, I need to take steps to fix that.

It is hard to take responsibility for yourself, and so easy to blame others. But, where does that get you?

Preparation + Taking Responsibility

“Action springs not from thought, but from a readiness for responsibility.” ~~Dietrich Bonhoeffer~~

As I prepare for the work-week ahead, a short one at that, and look at the sheer magnitude of my TO DO list, I admit, I’m a little overwhelmed. This post is really to help me remember that I am 100% responsible for myself and my actions. I can freak out, or I can be thankful that I have so many opportunities in front of me. I can blame my circumstances for not getting as much done last week as I had hoped, or I can appreciate that I had some extra time with my family and get busy now. This post is to help remind me that I can accomplish whatever I set out to accomplish, because I believe that I can, and I am ready to take responsibility for my success. Are you ready to take responsibility for your success?

“You can awaken each day to obligations you never chose - or you can decide now to choose them.” ~~Robert Brault~~

Motivation (many quotes and a few affirmations)

“I make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes.” ~~Sara Teasdale, from "The Philosopher" ~~

It’s sometimes hard to stay motivated when you’ve hit a “plateau” whether it’s about your diet, building your business, or staying on top of your job search, but we know we need to keep going, even when we don’t feel like we’re making progress. It can be even more difficult to stay motivated when we feel like we’ve made a wrong decision, or we start second-guessing our decisions. We can get stuck. I think then, it’s even more important to stay motivated and keep going. As Thomas Edison once said, "I am not discouraged, because every wrong attempt discarded is another step forward." I really like that sentiment, and coupled with the knowledge that, "We have a choice every day - to act on yesterday's good intentions or get an early start on tomorrow's regrets," (via Robert Brault), I am committed to not losing steam!

Some affirmations on this topic might be:

I work well with what I am given and make the best of any situation.
I am encouraged by my learning process and know I am on the right track.
I am enjoying my journey.

Happy Friday, everyone! Enjoy your weekend and make the best of your time. And, remember the words of John Lennon, “Time you enjoy wasting, was not wasted.”

Goals

“Success is 10% inspiration, 90% last-minute changes.” ~From a billboard advertisement~

Don’t be afraid to adjust your goals! You never know what life is going to throw your way, and if you won’t even consider the possibilities because they might upset your current plan, who knows what you may miss. Remember to enjoy the journey, do your due diligence, keep an open mind and your eyes open too, and you never know what you might see!

Preparation + Affirmations

“All things are ready, if our minds be so.” ~~William Shakespeare~~

Some affirmations for today:

I am energized, focused and take action on the tasks that get me closer to my dreams.

The more grateful I am, the more reasons I find to be grateful.

I do everything necessary to reach my best and improve on what I’ve already accomplished.

"My unique and creative talents and abilities shine through in all that I do."

I am _SO_ ready for this week! What affirmations will help you prepare for what lies ahead?

Motivation

“We should be taught not to wait for inspiration to start a thing. Action always generates inspiration. Inspiration seldom generates action.” ~~Frank Tibolt~~

So, what are we all waiting for? Ready! Set! GO!!

“An idea not coupled with action will never get any bigger than the brain cell it occupied.” ~Arnold Glasow

Goals

“Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment.” ~~Jim Rohn~~

I mentioned yesterday that dreams are critical to success and that if you knew how to get there, or knew how to do it, it would be a TO DO, not a dream. Something else I learned from Brad Sugars two nights ago was that once a dream gets within 5 years of happening, it becomes a goal.

Accomplishing goals requires planning, and then requires action. Here’s what I learned yesterday and today; planning requires discipline. I have ideas about what I want. I have visualized my future. I know my 20 year plan. But I have no idea how I’m actually going to REALLY accomplish my next goal. I have broad stroke thoughts on how I’m going to get there, and I have my nitty-gritty TO DOs to get my daily work done. What I don’t have is a real plan. I have a lot of work to do, and today, with you as my witness, I am beginning to plan the way to accomplish my goals, devoting myself to the discipline needed, and frankly, calling my coach!

I know I don’t have to do this alone. I am grateful to my network, and to all of those who support me.

Have you tapped your network today?

Attitude

“Positive attitude without positive action equals positively nothing.” ~~Brad Sugars at the Business Is Booming Event last night~~

Thanks to the invite from Action Coach, Tom Maier I had the privilege of participating in Brad Sugars’ Business Is Booming event in Bridgeport, CT last night. What a success! Not only was it a fantastic networking opportunity, but I took home pages of notes on ways I can help make my business, and my life, more of what I want them to be!

In addition to the quote above, which I found very powerful, there are some tips I’d like to share, that I feel apply to life, not just business.

1. GRATITUDE is so important! SHOWING GRATITUDE is even more important. Who can you thank today? HOW can you thank them?
2. DREAMS are critical to success. You have to have a dream, and you have to write it down. You don’t have to know how achieve the dream. If you knew how to get there, or knew how to do it, it would be a TO DO.
3. PLAN! A sad, but all-too-true fact: Most people spend more time planning their wedding than they do their life. (or their job search, or their career track…)
4. You have to BE more and DO more to HAVE more.
5. It’s all about RELATIONSHIPS!

As I process all my thoughts, I may have more to write on these topics… but in the meantime, for more information about Brad Sugars and Action Coach, please visit http://www.actioncoach.com/ and http://bradsugars.com/.

Preparation

“Plans are only good intentions unless they immediately degenerate into hard work.” ~~Peter F. Drucker~~

I am once again amazed (not surprised, just amazed) by the power of the affirmation and the drive that I have when I am mentally prepared for greatness. Preparation for a great day, a great week, and in conjunction, great success comes from within, and help to realize that power within does exist!

Committed to taking advantage of the enthusiasm I gained after networking with an Action Coach late last week, and once again re-energized beyond my norm, I feel ready to conquer even the largest obstacle (my own tendency towards procrastination!) and know that I will be successful! The power of networking, be it with one colleague or a whole accountability group, really helps me mentally prepare for the greatness I know I can achieve.

Planning for this week actually started last Friday. Over the weekend, instead of stressing about what I still hadn’t done, I wrote down things on my “to do” list as they entered my mind. Last night, I organized my desk a bit, downloaded my email from the weekend and deleted the junk, and prioritized my to do list for today. I went to bed last night repeating to myself, “I am healthy, well-rested, energized and focused. I stay on track and successfully accomplish my tasks.”

As I said, I am again amazed by the power of affirmation… My allergies, which were really starting to get the best of me, seem to have cleared quite a bit, and I have gotten more done already this morning than I expected.

I am jazzed, and I love this feeling! So, THANK YOU to my network, my readers, my family, and specifically, my friend and Action Coach. I’ve always said that every great player needs a coach, and I’m so happy that at least in this instance, I took my own advice!

“Happy people plan actions, they don't plan results.” ~Dennis Wholey

Preparation

“The most important day ever is TODAY.” ~~James Allen~~
…and “tomorrow is another day” ~~Scarlett~~

Preparation for having TODAY be the best day it can be may be difficult. I *swear* sometimes I spend half of my day preparing, and then feel like I wasted half my day! And even when I am prepared, there’s often some monkey-wrench thrown in to my great big plan. Even still, it really does help to prepare a bit ahead of time. You wouldn’t go into a formal business presentation without at least a few notes, would you?

I prepare my workspace (less clutter = fewer distractions), my to-do list, and my mindset. A few affirmations before bed and in the morning really help me feel ready to tackle whatever life throws at me.

And, when all else fails, know that it will all still be here tomorrow…

Motivation

“It's too big a world to be in competition with everyone. The only person who I have to be better than is myself.” ~~M*A*S*H-Colonel Potter~~

And a few more quotes:

“I think in terms of the day's resolutions, not the years'.” ~~Henry Moore~~

“If at first you don't succeed, you're running about average.” ~~M.H. Alderson~~

“Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm.” ~~Winston Churchill~~

Goals

“It is never too late to be who you might have been.” ~~George Eliot~~

I have decided to work towards a new goal. Well, not entirely new. And, while I am certainly not changing my long term personal goals, or my business goals (at least not today), I am focusing on something different. I’m trying a new tactic, I guess. My “new” goal is to do and be my best. Simple, right? If I do my best all the time how can I not accomplish my other goals? If I am my best all the time, how can I not achieve success? I’ve struggled with this in the past because I felt like I had to define “my best”, but I came to the realization today that “my best” isn’t a constant. I’m evolving; learning more every day about who I am and what “my best” is. So, as of today, I am committed to “my best” and look forward to becoming who I am.

Attitude

“A cloudy day is no match for a sunny disposition.” ~~William Arthur Ward~~

A positive attitude really can make a difference! A friend of mine posted on Facebook this morning about the person who serves her coffee with a smile, and how that smile and a kind word help get her going in the morning. Coincidentally, it’s that same friend who, no matter how bad things may get for her, will always tell you that she’s well, and always has a smile on her face.

I quoted recently that “attitudes are contagious” and I believe that! Let’s start an epidemic!

I have an overwhelming need to quote another favorite kids’ song:

"Zippity doo dah, Zippity ay,
My, oh my what a wonderful day!
Plenty of sunshine coming my way,
Zippity doo dah, Zippity ay. "