African Pen

DO THESE IF YOU WANT TO MAKE MORE OF YOUR REGULAR 24 HOURS

2016-11-08T15:52:00.001+01:00

Originally Posted on 23^rd September, 2016

How often have you said "I wish I have time?" Time is never enough. As humans, we often complain that we don't have enough time, few weeks ago someone voluntarily offered me a magazine to read, and reluctantly I told her that I barely have time for myself. Then she replied me that "time is never enough, you just manage it.”

I found her comment challenging, So I went online to do some research and study on time, so I found some interesting time management keys that have been helpful to me. So I decided to share it again with my readers.

Keys To Time Management

1. Prioritize

All tasks are important, but some are more important than others according to you. So determine the order and arrange your to-do-list according to their relative importance. We will always come across things to do that are relatively not important, so when we have this done, it will serve as a guard to you and do not fail to mark the completed task.

2. Make Decisions

This plays a huge important role in managing your time and achieving goals.

This comes after you must have done your to-do-list. Set time for yourself, it does a lot of good, keeps the mind and body sound. Create a list on what you want to do with the time, such as reading, studying, taking a walk, calling a friend and taking a nap.

Other decisions: Decide on the number of things that are number one priorities. Will you have two or four things that must get done? Choose what you can realistically handle.

That does not mean you won’t get to do other things, it just allows you to take some of the pressure off that comes with feeling like you have to do everything now. Please note this is not procrastinating – you’re not putting it off out of avoidance or fear. You are wisely taking control of your clock and taking care of yourself.

3. Set Boundaries

Lastly, you need to set boundaries. In our world today, lot is happening on Social Media, and we sometime feel lost or someone that just dropped from the sky when we haven't checked our Social media accounts in a week. Just because social media is on 24/7 doesn’t mean you need to be on it 24/7 if it is disruptive to your schedule. We must learn to set boundaries around consuming the influx of constant digital information.

Decide on what you need to give up in order to get what you need, such as habits, relationships, and activities.

Very true that no one gets more than 24 hours in a day, we still have power over how productive we are by managing our time. Managing time is more than just the ability to write an organized schedule. True time management means setting priorities that communicate clearly what’s really important, making wise decisions that help set realistic goals, and setting firm boundaries that allow us to keep the promises we make to ourselves and others.

Do you have any of these personality traits of successful persons?

2016-10-04T18:00:00.001+01:00

Photo Credit: pixabay.com

Success isn’t a new word. It is a word that has existed for many years. Many books and audio on success have published, readers have read. But traits of successful persons are cultivated.

Here are the traits most widely successful people have. If you have any of these, then you are a step closer to being successful.

Self-Confidence

Self-confidence is to trust in yourself; the freedom from doubt on your abilities, qualities and judgment. Most unsuccessful people lack the self-confidence and self-esteem to become a successful person. Self-confidence is something that cannot be taught. It is up to the individual to decide how much belief that they possess inside of themselves. You need to trust and believe in yourself first before others will.

Integrity

Honesty is the best policy they say. It is the best character you can cultivate as person that wants to become successful.It helps you set set morals, standards and helps define who you are.

Patience

Life generally is one step at a time. The road map to success doesn't always work how we planned it, but learning to understand that when we fail, we fail to progress.

Passion

Much shouldn't be said about passion. It is simply the fire that lights our journey to become successful.

"Make your passion your paycheck" - Ji Lee

Optimism

If you want to succeed you must be hopeful of good things in this world and believe that there opportunities to achieve them.

"It is the faith that leads to achievement, nothing can be done without hope and confidence. - Helen Keller"

Networking

You will always need people in life. So on your success journey treat people right, create the right relationships and help set others straight in their success pursuit, this sometimes will in turn be an asset and of good importance in the future.

Communication

Learn to be a good listener. You might be asking yourself, isn't just to be a good listener? Yes, it sounds simple, but doing it well, particularly when disagreements arise, takes sincere effort and lots of practice. It provides you with a deeper level of understanding about someone’s situation, and helps to know what words are best to use or which words to avoid.

Willpower

You have the power to initiate and get something done when you want it done. You don't procrastinate and you don't give up when there is setback. Everyone who has achieved something great stayed focus and firm in spite of difficulty nor oppositions.

Accountability

You are responsible and accountable or your mistakes, success and failures. This in turn helps you to be trustworthy. People trust you, they want to associate with you.

Drive

You are determined to push or propel yourself to work harder, so as to stay in alignment with your goals despite the challenges.Drive at the initial stage always seem like struggle, but it prepares and offers you the strength you will need in the future.

"You can find inspiration from others, but determination is solely your responsibilities." - Dondisky

3 Strategies To Time Management

2016-09-23T15:52:00.002+01:00

How often have you said "I wish I have time?" Time is never enough. As humans, especially we African, we often complain that we don't have enough time, a Sunday ago an elderly woman voluntarily offered me a magazine to read, reluctantly I told her that I barely have time to read. Then she replied me saying "time is enough, you just prioritize it." I learned so much from her comment.

So during some study and research online, I stumbled upon some interesting time management keys.

Keys To Time Management

1. Prioritize

There are some task that are more important than others. So determine the order and arrange your to-do-list according to their relative importance. We will always come across things to do that are relatively not important, so when we have this done, it will serve as a guard to you and do not fail to mark the completed task.

2. Make Decisions

We can't say we haven't heard about making decisions. We know it, but barely few persons know how to get it right. It has never been easy, but it plays a huge important role in managing your time and achieving goals.

This comes after you must have done your to-do-list. Set time for yourself, it does a lot of good, keeps the mind and body sound. Create a list on what you want to do with the time, such as reading, studying, taking a walk, calling a friend and taking a nap.

Other decisions: Decide on the number of things that are number one priorities. Will you have two or four things that must get done? Choose what you can realistically handle.

That does not mean you won’t get to other things, it just allows you to take some of the pressure off that comes with feeling like you have to do everything now. Please note this is not procrastinating – you’re not putting it off out of avoidance or fear. You are wisely taking control of your clock and taking care of yourself.

3. Set Boundaries

Lastly, you need to set boundaries. In our world today there is a lot going on in the Social Media, and we sometime feel lost or someone that just dropped from the sky when we haven't checked our Social media accounts in a week. Just because social media is on 24/7 doesn’t mean you need to be if it is disruptive to your schedule.We must learn to set boundaries around consuming the influx of constant digital information.

Decide on what you need to give up in order to get what you need, such as habits, relationships, and activities.

Very true that no one gets more than 24 hours in a day, we still have power over how productive we are by managing our time. Managing time is more than just the ability to write an organized schedule. True time management means setting priorities that communicate clearly what’s really important, making wise decisions that help set realistic goals, and setting firm boundaries that allow us to keep the promises we make to ourselves and others.

Use Your Fear To Motivate You To Achieve Greatness

2016-09-06T12:04:00.005+01:00

The only way out is through. You may be dreaming about launching a startup; you’re armed with an innovative idea, passion and drive, but lingering self-doubt keeps you from taking the first step. As humans, we naturally try to avoid our fears and anxieties. But embracing your fears is actually the best way to conquer them.
How? By identifying your fears, and using them to motivate you. Let’s take a look at what entrepreneurs fear most and how to turn each into a motivational mantra.

Use Your Fear To Motivate You To Achieve Greatness

Fear of failure

Motivational mantra: “Mistakes are the portals of discovery.” –James Joyce
It’s easy to believe that the entrepreneurs we admire most are somehow immune to the fear of failure. But that’s simply not true. Billionaire Richard Branson and Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling credit their failures as key shapers of their success.
By default, smart entrepreneurs accept their losses as part of the game. Identify the areas in which this fear is most prevalent: financial, social, personal or professional. Think about the worst thing that could happen in any of these areas, and how you could remediate it.
The fear of failure can either paralyze you or fuel your motivation and shape your successes. Accept that some failures are inevitable and look at them as learning experiences. Here are some tips for addressing your fears:

Be humble and set lower expectations. Setting low expectations makes it easier to surpass them and takes the pressure of socially, personally and professionally.

Expose yourself to failure by learning a new skill (painting or a musical instrument). Each time you fail, you become more comfortable with failure, and more motivated to improve.

Take action. Taking the first step may be the most difficult, but it is also the most important. Break down your overall goals into smaller, manageable ones that you can accomplish without feeling overwhelmed. Get your business plan out of your head and onto paper.
Challenge negative self-talk and maintain a positive mindset with some inspirational quotes.

Fear of Money

Motivational mantra: “Wealth is the ability to fully experience life.” –Henry David Thoreau
To truly succeed as an entrepreneur, you must believe in your idea and love what you do. Still, you’ve got to make a living, right? The fear of not making a consistent income also has practical implications. And then there’s the anxiety that you won’t be able to pay your employees, or attract potential investors. Tips for dealing with the fear of money:

Look for ways to build equity and jump-start your business without outside help, at least at first.

Prepare yourself for struggles with money so when they come, and they will, you’ll be ready. Accept that you may have a limited income for 1-2 years.

Be more with less. Pay off outstanding debt and embrace a minimalist attitude — downsize your house, sell your comfortable car, pass on the vacation, new clothes etc.

Plan your financial goals, challenges and approaches to funding.

Fear of quitting your day job

Motivational mantra: “It is so hard to leave—until you leave. And then it is the easiest goddamned thing in the world.” ― John Green, Paper Towns
Often we find that once we’ve built a career and settled into a comfortable position, we feel stifled, or as if we are in a cage. Even so, most budding entrepreneurs are too afraid to leave a well-paying job to pursue their dreams. Often this fear is replete with excuses: “I can’t afford it”, “I don’t know where to begin,” etc. But if you’re ready – the best time to quit your job is now. Here are a few tips:

The best way to conquer the fear of leaving your job is to start planning your departure. Tell friends and family when you do for some extrinsic motivation.

Figure out how much you’re actually spending on necessities only (minus what you put into savings and extras). That’s how much you’ll need to quit.

Stay at your job just long enough to start shopping around your idea or product on the side. Once you build some momentum, quit.

Realize that your time is valuable. A full-time job requires a considerable investment of your time, and if you are not receiving significant returns, whether tangible or intangible, it’s time to quit.

Fear of Success

Motivational mantra: “The secret of success in life is for a man to be ready for his opportunity when it comes.” – Benjamin Disraeli
Sometimes the fear of succeeding can keep you from acting on your dreams as much or more than the fear of failure. People fear that being in the limelight will alienate them from their peers, or that they won’t be able to handle the demands of running a successful business. What if your idea is actually as good as you think it is? What if your customers, investors, and the media line up to meet you? The fear of success often shows up as self-doubt. Here are some tips for dealing with it:

Practice self-compassion, realize that imperfection is part of being human and trust in your own value system.

Stop asking for validation. Seeking out feedback and advice is helpful, but only up to a certain point. Trust your own instincts when it’s time to make decisions.

Keep your goals to yourself. Research show that the more we talk about our goals, the less likely we are to do the work necessary to achieve them.

“Start shipping!” This is the advice of American entrepreneur and author Seth Godin who advises entrepreneurs to “stop stalling and go make something happen.” Holding back because you are afraid of being vulnerable or believe your work must be perfect is counterproductive. If you’ve created a new product, share it with the world and risk exposing yourself to criticism, or even failure.

Lacking Expertise

Motivational mantra: “You cannot create experience. You must undergo it.” –Albert Camus
Many entrepreneurs fear they lack the experience and education to be taken seriously, or the technical skills to realize their ideas. But you likely know everything about your product or service to answer questions and solve problems. Continuous learning is part of the process, and there’s no shame in seeking help, advice and knowledge.
There are plenty of young, successful entrepreneurs who had little to no experience when they started their businesses, and many more who had no financial backing: Andrew Carnegie, Thomas Edison, Russell Simmons, Coco Chanel, Steve Madden and Rachael Ray, to name a few. Tackle your fears about being under qualified by:

Calling yourself an expert and committing yourself to excellence, regardless of your experience.

Highlighting your soft skills such as your ability to communicate effectively, work in a team or think critically.

Focusing on results.

Dedicating an hour each day to your professional growth.

Remember to ask yourself, “What’s the worst thing that could happen?” Once you have that scenario in mind, and you can live with it, your fears no longer have power over you. On a psychological level, confronting your fears, rather than trying to avoid them, will leave you with a sense of accomplishment. Each time you expose yourself to fearful thoughts and situations, you gain power, and your fears lose strength.
The short-term discomfort of identifying and exposing yourself to your biggest fear is a small price to pay for the long-term benefit of freeing yourself from anxiety and acting on your dreams. Turning your fears into motivational mantras will reframe them to your advantage.
“Success means having the courage, the determination, and the will to become the person you believe you were meant to be.” – George Sheehan

What is your biggest startup fear? How can you turn it into a motivator?

By Gareth Simpson

Top 10 Things Entrepreneurs Should Never Forget - By Lucy Adams

2016-09-05T20:02:00.001+01:00

Do you know what makes the difference between an average entrepreneur and a real business guru? Undoubtedly, that’s the correct mindset and business view. Of course, any novice who enters the market needs practice. Although the practice rather than the theory makes perfect, the latter helps to take grounded and well-thought decisions.
Ask 100 successful entrepreneurs about their best tips, and you’ll get 100 different answers. Nevertheless, I’m going to share my best advice on how to take your deals to the next level.
Follow the rules below and evolve!

Top 10 Things Entrepreneurs Should Never Forget

#1 Choose One Business Direction and Be Strong in It

Startups are small. Resources are limited. Also, there are a few bigger companies in your niche.
Great entrepreneurs know that to be competitive and successful, they have to come up with something really unique or extremely good. Focusing each and every effort on the final goal can be the answer while an attempt to please everyone and everything at the same time is a recipe for a disaster.

#2 Examine Your Target Audience/Customers Far and Wide

The first question you have to ask and answer is “Who’s your customer?” Get as much information about your target audience as you can.
A first-class entrepreneur studies his client bases both inside and outside, conducts surveys, holds interesting contents and makes everything to accurately define the needs, preferences and requirements of the target client.
You can’t reach all the people in the niche at least for the reason of limitedness of a budget.
Try to spend money on things that matter. Consider the type of people who can be your best customers. Find out age, gender, social status, level of income, etc.
Make your campaign focused. Don’t disperse.

#3 Take Every Advice, but Apply Only Those That Suit Your Business Goals

If you’re a novice entrepreneur, you get tips all the time and out from many sources. The key is to distinguish between useful advice and ones irrelevant and without any practical appliance.
Even the richest investors sometimes give founders terrible advice. Therefore, collect the advice but never take unjustified risks.

#4 Ask for Help if You Need It

Great entrepreneurs usually turn for help to all those who might be useful. Successful entrepreneurs know that to get something, they sometimes need help and they are not afraid to ask for it.

#5 Take Notes and Watch

I’m constantly surprised by the fact that young entrepreneurs often underestimate the importance of information when meeting with potential investors. Actually, they sometimes even don’t have a tool to write down facts and ideas. It even makes me wonder whether they want to remember the meeting.
Take notes and keep an eye on things you may forget. Try to absorb all significant that may affect your business, and be sure to write it down.

#6 Talk About Your Business with Energy and Enthusiasm

World-class entrepreneurs are able to sell ideas to investors, customers, and partnersjust because they know how to express thoughts so that the average person understand and quickly memorize the information.
For sure, insights are welcomed, but they should rather follow the key concepts and basic ideas than outpace them.
Sharpen the sequence of information supply. Describe complex problems in simple words and make sure your interlocutor catches the thread of the conversation.

#7 Sell Yourself, not Just the Startup

Well, one of the toughest business tasks is to convince people that you worth investing the time and money. When meeting with a potential investor, try to present yourself in the best light. Be funny, interesting, intelligent, hard-working, and experienced!
It is much easier to get a meeting with a potential investor if he considers the meet as a potentially fun and exciting event, not just something that may give him high ROI in future.

#8 Get Involved in Networking

While everyone knows networking is one of the most important things to launch a startup, the strongest entrepreneurs are able to establish useful contacts in the shortest time.
Some of the most valuable contacts can never be established at “crucial’ events (for example, lawyers whose clients are venture capitalists, industry conference organizers or people who have good contacts with investors).
When a business founder meets with the people, he has to have something to offer, whether it’s information from the field, recommendations or request for collaboration. Create target lists, use LinkedIn to reach needed people and use already established contacts to test and evaluate potential partners and investors.

#9 Feel the Difference between “No” and “Not Now”

There are many reasons why someone may say “no” when being asked for a favor or a meeting. Actually, “no” doesn’t necessarily mean a categorical refusal. In most cases, it means “later” or “it’s possible, but you must ensure me.” In the end, a recipient may be busy or have another view of this stage of project development.
Thus, feel free to come back with your request again, at the right time – after reaching major goals, appearing of new opportunities, getting additional financing, etc. The return to those who previously said “no” shows that you are really interested in collaboration and smart enough to give the potential partner a good reason to say “yes.”

#10 Look for Creative Solutions

Don’t let the lack of funds keep you from what you want. Do not expect money to build your business. Instead, come up with a few clever ways to get what is needed for a minimal fee or through barter, services, outsourcing, etc. Ingenious solutions always get financing.

APOLOGY TO MY READERS

2016-08-12T11:23:00.001+01:00

Hello readers and viewers, It has been exactly 20 days that I have published a post on my blog. I have been very busy with some lecturers and training.I promise to return publishing as many educative post as I can when I finish with the lectures and training. Love you all!..

The 5 Biggest Motivation Murderers And How To Kill Them - Martise Moore (everydaypowerblog)

2016-07-23T13:27:00.002+01:00

The 5 Biggest Motivation Murderers And How To Kill Them

By Martise Moore

Photo Credit via Unsplash:Curtis Mac Newton

As a Run Faster Coach, it’s my job to help my clients stay motivated and avoid motivation killers. They all come to me wanting to run faster for a specific event. Sometimes they want to prepare for a race or a marathon, and sometimes they want to train for a military or law-enforcement fitness test. Some clients, meanwhile, simply want to become betters athletes in their sport. No matter what their reasons are, one thing is constant—it’s important to them.
Now even though I don’t know what your goals and dreams are, I know that they’re important to you too. I also know that without action, that’s all they’ll ever be—another goal and another dream. But action doesn’t just happen. It takes motivation.
When we first set out on a goal, we’re usually excited about it. We start imagining how great it will be when we accomplish it…and then all of a sudden, our life-changing project gets put on the back burner. This is an all too common phenomenon with common results.

If you’re ready to be extraordinary and get extraordinary results, take note of these 5 motivation killers and how to avoid them:

Mistake #1: Little to no commitment

Having a life-changing goal doesn’t mean much if you’re not committed to seeing it through. How many times have you started something and never finished it? Odds are, you give up simply because you don’t have any skin in the game. If there’s nothing to lose it’s easy to just walk away.

Step Forward: Increase Your Level of Commitment

Commitment is a measure of motivation. Therefore, the higher your level of commitment, the more motivated you are to make it happen. One of the most powerful ways to raise your engagement level is to invest in a growth program. Once you’ve spent money, you’re more inclined to stay engaged.
Another effective way to increase your commitment is to share it with the world. The more people you tell, the more motivated you will be to achieve it. This is an important step because your natural desire to look good boosts your motivation.

Mistake #2: Going from zero to 100

Have you ever jumped into a new activity or lifestyle that required an enormous amount of self-discipline or self-deprivation? Of course you have. We’ve all done it. And it usually doesn’t end well.
Making extreme changes in your behavior over a short period of time is hard to sustain. Willpower will only get you so far. It takes way too much effort. It’s your habits that will take you the farthest. They require the least amount of thought and effort and are therefore not motivation killers.

Step Forward: Stay Consistent

Consistency is key to building new habits. You don’t just get up one day and run a marathon. You train for it—consistently—for months. You start off slow and gradually increase your mileage. Then suddenly, what you once thought was impossible becomes possible. Consistency will get you wins. And every win will build your confidence and motivation, as you take forward, consistent steps towards your goal.

Mistake #3: Doing It Alone

Even the most self-motivated person can lose momentum during the ups and downs of pursuing a goal. The pressure to perform and complexity of the project can be overwhelming. This is one of the most common motivation killers.

Step Forward: Stay in Community

It’s important to stay in community, because community skyrockets your motivation. Your family is your immediate community; but sometimes you gotta seek out people who actually understand you. You want a community that gets why you want to run 26.2 miles, despite your perfectly running motor vehicle. You also want to be around people who’ve been where you’ve been and are now way ahead of you. Their knowledge base and experiences are invaluable.
That’s the magic of community: it multiples your motivation. Not only do you receive support and energy from the group, you also get to serve and pump up the other members. And let me tell you, one of the best energizers in life is the rush you get from helping other people achieve their goals. It’s like their wins are your wins too : )

Mistake #4: No Guidance

If you’re on your way to a destination and you don’t know where you’re going, you tend to get lost. And if you don’t have a map or GPS, you’ll waste a lot of time and energy trying to find your way. After a while, you’ll start to feel stuck. Until eventually, frustration and hopelessness sets in and you lose all desire to get to your original destination.

Sound familiar?

Step Forward: Stay Coached

There’s a reason why all professional athletes have coaches. Having a coach is the best way to stay motivated and at the top of your game. Their trained eyes can immediately identify inefficiencies and opportunities that can boost your results.
A coach is also your accountability partner, so your excuses have no place to hide. He/she will push you towards your goals by keeping you out of your comfort zone. The only way to get faster results is to get into your growth zone.

Mistake #5: You Stop Believing

This is the biggest mistake of them all. Belief creates motivation. If you don’t believe in something, you’re not going to fight for it. You’re not going to take a stand and invest your time, money or energy in it. That would be foolish. It’s not easy to believe in something you can’t see. That’s why it’s called faith. You’re never going to know the exact outcome of your journey. And that’s okay. That’s part of the fun.
It’s so easy to lose our beliefs the minute something goes wrong. Fear is usually the elephant in the room. Don’t let fear deter you from your greatness. It can convince you that you’re not good enough and that things will never work out.

Step Forward: Run a Self-Belief Campaign

Your actions are based on your self-belief. So if you want to stay motivated and crush some BIG goals, you need a self-belief campaign.
Here are the campaign components:

Get clear

Clarity supercharges your belief. It’s a total game changer. The clearer you are about your mission and how you’re going to achieve it, the easier and faster everything else becomes. Your actions come from a place of power and confidence instead of fear and weakness.

Tow the party line

If you keep telling yourself something over and over again, whether it’s true or not, eventually you will believe it. It becomes your story. If your story is that you never finish things and you’re not good enough, than you will always have a way out the moment things get tough. I challenge you to transform your story. Keep telling yourself how powerful and unstoppable are, and you’ll find ways to breakthrough any obstacle.

Drink the Kool-Aid

Every day, for the rest of your life, read books and listen to speakers who tell you how great you are—AND BELIEVE THEM!
So what’s your motivation? Leave your old stories and excuses in the past. You’re the only one who can take control of your future. What forward steps are you going to take, today, to turn your aspirations into achievement?

3 Signs That Prove You Have A Time Management Problem - Kirstin O’Donovan (addicted 2 success)

2016-07-23T13:12:00.002+01:00

3 Signs That Prove You Have A Time Management Problem

Kirstin O’Donovan

Image Credit | thetimediet

If you compare this era to the previous, it’s obvious how many more responsibilities and different elements of life we now juggle daily. The list is never ending: from work, to personal, to family, friends, and relationships; it’s no wonder a work-life balance remains an elusive dream for many.

The bad news is that we continue to take on more; but the good news is you can juggle everything in life, get a lot done and still have fun. We are taught so many important things in school, but who taught us to manage our time and get everything done that we really want to? Unless your parents did, probably no one. Yet it is one of the most important skills to have, not only to have balance in your life, but to be successful in everything you do.
The ironic part of it all is that even though what you do with your time is what gives you your results in life, most people don’t give enough importance to it, until it becomes chronic and they have no choice.

Here are my top 3 warning signs that say you have a time management problem and what to do about them:

1. Life always feel like a rush

Do you feel like you are constantly rushing around like a headless chicken putting out fires or jumping from one task to another without a break? If you don’t have time to sit down for 5 minutes and do nothing, then you seriously need to explore this more.
If this sounds like you, you’ve got to start planning your days better. Take out your calendar, write in your non-negotiable tasks for the day and block off the time it will take. Then looking at your remaining time, what is the best use of this?
Take items from your to-do list, prioritize the most important and then fill up the rest of your day with those tasks. And always, don’t plan more than 75% of your time, because things will come up. If you just can’t get everything done – start delegating, including your personal tasks.

“The bad news is time flies. The good news is you’re the pilot.” – Michael Altshuler

2. Making excuses constantly

It’s a fact that even though it takes time to plan, you save more time by planning than when you don’t. Be honest with yourself, how often do you find yourself saying ’I don’t have time’? The fact is, we all have 24 hours in a day, it’s not time that is lacking, it is your ability to manage it effectively.
Let’s agree, the super successful individuals always find a way. They don’t entertain the excuse of ‘I don’t have time’, they find the time. If this is you, firstly, there is nothing empowering about excuses.
So, what needs to change? What do you need to change about the way you are being and doing things to have more time? And a good place to start is by identifying your time thieves and what you can do to eliminate them. Nothing holds us back in life more than the lies we tell ourselves – called excuses.

3. You’re getting negative comments from others

This one really hurts sometimes, because you just don’t want to hear it. How often do other people make comments like ”you are always stressed out” or “you are always late” and worse “I’m really concerned and worried about you”. Sometimes it’s easier for others to see where we need to improve than it is ourselves. When it gets to the point that other people start to say things, you have to stop and take notice.
Don’t commit to plans that you know you might not be able to follow through with. Overcommitting and always saying ‘yes’ are huge contributors to stress. How much can you realistically commit to? You need to take responsibility for the stress you have in life.
The worst part of having time management challenges is not only do you feel stressed and cranky, you often miss important deadlines and opportunities and feel mentally and physically exhausted. Ironically you are actually making the choice to live this way.

“This is the key to time management – to see the value of every moment.” – Menachem Mendel Schneerso

The fact is when you manage your time, you manage your life better. You achieve more in months than you could in years and you can have the elusive work/life balance and achieve all your goals. Life becomes more fun when we feel on top of it and not under it.

So where do you want to be, on top of your life or underneath it? How are you going to do that? Please share your thoughts in the comment section below!

The Number One Thing to Stop Doing to Become More Effective

2016-07-09T16:15:00.002+01:00

We all have this crazy love-hate relationship with our To-Do list, right? (Ok, for many it might be straight-up hate or profound avoidance.) I get it because I talk to clients about it every day.

But there’s one major problem with how most of us approach our to-do list: We become obsessed with getting it ALL done ASAP! We start creating “Dream Lists” of 15-20 things that we are determined to complete today. Then, we only knock out 4-6 of them because other things get in the way, and we feel frustrated and depressed. Does this sound familiar?
If so, then I’m going to tell you the one secret that can immediately shift that destructive and disempowering pattern in your life. Even better, it’s something for you to STOP doing…Stop confusing your “Master List” for your “Today List.”

1. What is your “Master List”?

We all have dozens, if not hundreds, of things on our plates. Writing them down allows you to reflect and prioritize your actions. Capturing those tasks in one consistent place (a notebook, software app, etc), establishes the beginning of your “Master List.”
Your “Master List” is the one place where all your actions live. It’s where all those possible actions hang out until you’re ready for them. But, it’s not what you work from during each day. Trying to work from your “Master List” will feel crazy overwhelming because it will, and should be, never-ending.
In the best of all possible worlds you will still have a to-do list on the day you die. Having the list is a sign that you’ve stayed engaged in your life all the way to the end. In other words, having a list is a GOOD thing.

“The only thing more important than your to-do list is your to-be list. The only thing more important than your to-be list is to be.” – Alan Cohen

The types of tasks on the list may evolve over time, but having a “Master List” is every bit as important as having a calendar to remind you of when to show up for the dentist or that lunch date with your friend.

2. What is your “Today List”?

If your “Master List” is where all your actions live until you choose to complete them, then your “Today List” is the SHORT selection of the items that are your priority for today. This list should have no more than four items on it.
Just four tasks? (And I do mean tasks, not projects. Actions that you can complete in 5-30 minutes.) This might sound like horrifying levels of under-achievement. But, things are going to come up. That call from your client, that urgent email response, the last minute errand for your kid’s homework. New tasks show up in our lives constantly each day.
When we choose our four priority tasks intentionally each day, then we can both keep ourselves focused and leave space for the urgent things to arise without knocking us off course or making us feel overwhelmed.
What I teach my clients is that your four daily tasks include: your “Inspired Action” and 3 bonuses. Your “Inspired Action” is a commitment that you’re making to yourself. This one item, come hell or high water, will get done before the end of the day. Once that’s accomplished, then the other three items are your next top priorities.
If you get through all four tasks on any given day, then celebrate! Seriously… 3 minute dance party, at least. When you’re done celebrating, then you can decide if you want to go back to your “Master List” and choose another task to power through. Or, you can leave space for inspiration, flow, or other activities as they arise. You’ll likely choose what works based on your energy and schedule for the day.

“Make each day your masterpiece” – John Wooden

When you stop confusing your “Master List” for your “Today List”, then you increase your ability to focus and decrease your persistent sense of overwhelm. It’s one of the simplest, and fastest tricks to immediately improve your effectiveness each day.

10 Essential Principles To Be Unbelievably Confident

2016-07-09T13:34:00.001+01:00

#1 – Be honest about your life and accept who you are

Let’s start from scratch.
Be brutally honest about where you are in life. Know it, feel it! Be honest about it to yourself and others. Stop denying and hiding from truths. What you deny, you can’t change.
Hard to grasp? Sit down and write it out.
I am a 28 year old guy in a shit job, wanting to travel the world. But can’t find the guts to cut some ties.
Your turn! The harder it is, the more you need to confront yourself.
Secondly – accept who you are.
You have strengths and weaknesses. And hey, you can improve them.
But not until you embrace who you are. Accept yourself as you are right now, with all your flaws and shortcomings. Find contentment in it. Because there is simply no other reality.
Through this utter acceptance you can you grow.

#2 Define your own values and framework

To grow confident you need to stop chasing illusions. Stop comparing yourself to what others demand of you. Or worse, what you think they expect from you.
Start by defining your own values. What is important to you? Why is it important? Start acting by these values.
Make a thorough analysis when defining your values. Make it profound.
Ask yourself: What implies my culture? And why? Do I agree? What did my parents teach me? Do I agree? And why? And so on. Get to the bottom of your thoughts and feelings.
Through reading, discussing and reflecting you can develop your set of standards and values. Use your own instinct, feelings and reasoning!
Recognize influence from group dynamics. So you won’t blindly follow the herd. Thinking for yourself means creating or choosing your own path in life.
Explore many sources to hone your thought and values. Read books and blogs. Have discussions and conversations. But always be critical and keep your wit.
Confident men and women define others by their standards. Not themselves by other people’s standards.
Create and follow your own moral compass.

#3 Go from outer reference to inner reference

There is definite proof that social media makes people feel bad. Why has he so many likes? Why is she going to cool parties etc.?
You might display similar behavior in the analog world. Why is he richer? Happier? Or more successful?
Strange how we make these unfair comparisons. We take a look at appearances and then compare it to how we feel inside.
We compare our inner-self, to the highly curated image of other people’s outer self.
A good recipe for misery.
Stop this unfair equation. Instead focus on yourself. To develop, think about how you make progress compared to your old self. Did I do better than the me of a month ago? Or a year ago? Did you make progress? That is success!
Progress of self is important for confidence.
And who is responsible for this confidence?
Who is responsible for success? And who for your failures? Where do you think control lies?
Confident people think it lies within themselves. They have cultivated an inner locus of control.
This means taking responsibility for your actions and results. You think you are responsible for how you feel and what you think.
Compare this to blaming everything on external actors. Like your boss, parents, the weather, or divine will. If you don’t think YOU are responsible, you won’t be inclined to improve.
Making yourself responsible will.
Granted, some things definitely are out of your control. But you are responsible for your reactions to these events.

#4 Adapt a growth mindset

As mentioned, developing and confidence go hand in hand. To stand still is to go backwards.
A fatal flaw people are susceptible to, is thinking their skills and character are set in stone. This deterministic mindset is incompatible with progress. It’s a limiting self-fulfilling prophecy.
If this is you, start adopting a growth mindset instead.
Know you can improve any skill! Know you can develop your character!
As long as you are alive, your body and mind can adapt to new challenges. Never think you can’t grow any further.
Furthermore, a healthy growth mindset acknowledges failure.
There is a lot of sketching before you draw a Mona Lisa. Redefine failure not as something stupid or dumb only for losers. But define it as a part of the learning process.
Failures will occur. Anticipate the impact and plan for getting back up!
Every failure is another lesson learned.

#5 Stop seeking validation and acceptance from others

As a person led by inner values you won’t need attention, validation and acceptance of others.
You might get it. You might even enjoy it.
But you don’t need it!
Stop actively seeking and craving it. Stop pleasing people to get it.
You can be nice to people! Of course! But it should come from a position of strength and compassion. Not from seeking acceptance and attention. Your own acceptance and moral integrity are the most important. Others can follow if they want.
If you condone behavior opposite to your values, or give away status to be accepted. You act without integrity. Losing confidence in the process.
Instead, stand by your values!

#6 Cultivate a Bias for the Positive

People have this amazing power to decide how they feel about events. A small pause between stimuli and reaction. As mentioned by Victor Frankl.
Cultivate this little pause. And use it to choose a more positive reaction.
Guide your responses away from annoyance, anger or fear. Go instead for interest, gratefulness or excitement.
You can actively rephrase your thought patterns. Train different ways of thinking and speaking.
Examples of redefining your view on the world are:
–   Think in solutions instead of problems
–   Reflect on past achievements instead of past transgressions.
–   Enjoy the process instead of only seeing the goal.
–   Never let a good crisis go to waste
–   Focus on what you want instead of what you avoid
Of course there will always be old negative thinking patterns. Try using them as little as possible and actively immerse your mind with positivity.
Read uplifting books. Use mantra’s to rewire your brain. Let go of toxic people and environments and embrace uplifting ones.
All little steps to be more optimistic and confident.

“Sow a thought and you reap an action; sow an act and you reap a habit; sow a habit and you reap a character; sow a character and you reap a destiny.” – Frank Outlaw

#7 Lose self-limiting beliefs

When we grow up, we create models of the world.
We construct beliefs that explain what happens around us. X happens because of Y. End of story.
These beliefs can be deeply ingrained in our thinking.
But, a lot of beliefs are flawed. They limit your progress and possibilities. They prevent you from action and enjoying life.
Grow beyond these scripts.
First recognize them. When you think “I can’t do X because of Y.” Or anything similar, be alert!
Analyze whether that statement is true. And why. Reason even furthers. ‘Why do I think that?’ ‘Are not other people doing the same thing?’ Find prove that it is possible, contradicting your initial limiting belief.
Then redefine your scripts. Because these imposed scripts will limit you. Instead of thinking I can’t do this. Think I can do X despite Y.
This is a hard and elusive problem – but it can be countered!

#8 Forgive yourself and others

We all fuck up in life.
It’s a good idea to remind yourself everyday of your mistakes. And make yourself feel very miserable.
No of course not!!
You should learn from your mistakes. Absolutely. But wallowing in negative feelings won’t help. There is little you can change about past events. It has happened.
Instead: Own up to it, fix the problem if you can, forgive yourself, learn and move on. Don’t waste time and energy feeling bummed out about it.
Take the time to forgive yourself for mistakes.
Also – stop holding grudges. It is no good to keep being mad or grieved at others for their mistakes. Let go of it, you’ll release yourself from emotional poison.
Forgiveness allows you to focus on the now and the future instead of dwelling in the past.

#9 Be Self Reliant

Part of being confident is you know everything will be all right. Especially when shit hits the fan.
Got dumped? Got laid off? Dust yourself off, and tell yourself it will be all right.
No spiraling down in destructive self-pity. No bouts of whining and comfort seeking from friends and family.
Of course you can mourn. You can be sad or melancholic. It is not about being happy and joyful all the time. We all experience a wide range of emotion. Important emotions that are part of the human experience.
But inside, you know you the bad times will pass.
So you will tell yourself.
You will feel good and grow stronger in the future.

#10 Don’t take yourself too seriously

We are all insignificant bags of meat and bones. Trying to make meaning of a collection of random events called life.
People seeking power, fame and money are just looking for that bliss they had as a child. When life wasn’t that hard, when we weren’t putting so much pressure on ourselves.
Were you taking things seriously back then? I guess not right. Is there any reason to be serious about everything now? In a world filled with randomness? No reason at all.
Go with the flow and laugh about your own mistakes, successes and theatrics!
The world’s a stage and we are best in fooling ourselves with our performances! Choose the role you want and enjoy it. Knowing fully well, it is all a game if you just choose to play and have fun.

Do not take life too seriously. You will never get out of it alive. –Elbert Hubbard

—————–
Becoming confident comes at a price.
Change.
A change of heart and mind. Believe me, it is well worth it. If you succeed, you will still have ups and down in life. But also a steady level contentment. An anchor of stability that keeps you going without all too much problems.
So how can you possible make this shift? Small consistent steps. Here are some action to get started:

Define your own values
- Sit down and reflect, evaluate and define what is important to you
- Reflect and refine your values over your life
- Live true to them
Start a meditation practice to gain insight and control over your mind
Stop watching social media compulsively
- Read positive, growth focused books, blogs and movies
- Start slow, you will get there step by step. Start taking control and responsibility for your mind.

I love to hear your thoughts on all this. Let me know what opened your mind? Where are you struggling to become confident?

Ways To Defeat Self-Defeat

2016-06-30T14:41:00.000+01:00

Self Defeat is a big reason why people give up on achieving their dreams. This is cause by depression which dimmed light of hope for achieving a dream.

Some years back, I used to feel depressed, therefore defeating myself through some false core beliefs that guided my decision. Until I came to the knowledge that I am the only person that has the responsibility to achieve my goals and meet other needs. I realized that rescue wouldn't come from that uncertain hero in my fantasy, it is up to me to live by my values. I have the power to believe in my worth or not, to allow for imperfection or not, and to decide who I want to be.

Start Where You Are

Plant a Seed of Courage

Even the tallest Sequoia tree was once a seed. You need a seed of courage. You will find it in strategy one.

1) Ask yourself what you want. Is it fear? Do you want to accomplish what you dream of doing? What kind of person do you want looking back at you in the mirror? Take the time to write down your answers.

The result: Clarity of focus will surprise you and others.

Water That Seed with Action

Dry seeds blow in the wind but do not produce anything. Your seed needs the water that strategies two and three provide.

2) Define what needs changing, and come up with some creative ideas to follow through. No idea is too weird as this is just brainstorming. For example, if you want to be more assertive, practicing in front of the mirror is a step forward. If you want to stop procrastinating on a tough decision, ask a friend to give you a deadline.

The result: You will begin to feel and think differently.

3) Ask, “What step(s) will I take today toward becoming who I want?” Make at least one quality decision. So what if the step is tiny, who cares? You are the one stretching your courage, do what is fitting for you today. Amaze yourself over time, as one step leads to another, then another.

The result: You will know you are a winner

Enjoy the Harvest

An apple seed becomes a tree that yields nourishment, beauty, and more seeds. Your seed abounds with ripe courage. Strategies four and five will prevent it from rotting on the tree.

4) Celebrate the victories, which are each step! Pay attention as your confidence muscles bulk-up. As change develops, you will inspire yourself.

The result: You will reap success after success

5) If you fall back, do not worry. Everyone falls back in bigger and smaller ways. Start again, even if it is from scratch, and congratulate yourself for being so bold! Most people remain stagnant. You are a champion just for trying again.

The result: Self-defeat is defeated.

Remember…
You are brave with each step you take- even for reading this and thinking seriously about change! Every movement counts.

At the time of my attempted suicide, no one could convince me my life held purpose. A blanket of old wounds, preconceived ideas, and unmanaged major depression obscured truth. From despair to a slow crawl, from standing to walking- my task has been to listen to wise counsel, retrain my mind, and take one step each day. My primary motivation from the start has been to honor God in how I think and with my choices. I now pursue a mission of bringing hope to others who cannot see beyond their pain.

It is your turn to name what you want and to decide what kind of person you want to be. Engage in brainstorming ideas to reach these goals. Start moving. You will astound yourself, and your courage will blossom, one step at a time.

Copied from http://everydaypowerblog.com/2016/06/26/no-self-defeat-5-strategies-grow-courage/

DREAMS

2016-06-29T10:55:00.000+01:00

Posting has been on and off in the past weeks, been very busy with job. But hate the fact that I have forgotten my work lately, and which is to inspire myself and others. I wanted to share with us on DREAMS, but it was late and I was tired. So while reading my e-mail this morning, then I fell into some quotes on dreams by Kanye West, found them motivating, but one struck me from the many quotes and decided I share it with my readers.
- "Most people are slowed down by the perception of themselves. If your taught is you can't do anything, you won't do anything. I was taught that I can do everything". I found one word interesting "Perception" that is the ability to hear, see or become aware of something through the senses. It is also a way of regarding, understanding, or interpreting something; a mental impression. Naturally it is easy for us to identify with things which we see or hear. Things we allow ourselves to hear and see subconsciously affect us, and indirectly affects the pursue of our DREAMS. So let us be careful when we choose the things we want to see, like places we want to go and things we want to hear.

Talent

2016-06-11T01:46:00.000+01:00

A talent is a gift. It is a skill that you are born with. It is very different from a gained skill, but skill that someone naturally has to do something. Talent makes it easy for you to do something that is hard in a simple and special way. Talent well nurtured through deliberate efforts sets a person above those that have acquired/learned/gained skill.

I believe most people or probably everyone has one or two talents, but we choose to find the nurtured talents of others more appealing to us than ours. So in our efforts to be like them, we choose to acquire their own talents and ignore the ones we are gifted with. Most people suffer in this course and they never attain any level of success. Why not nurture our on natural talent(s) and live a successful life?

MR. A’s talent might be different from MR. B’s talent, but that doesn’t mean MR. A’s talent is better than MR. B’s talent. We have to come to the realization that we all can’t be a musician or a footballer. When we all become footballer, then who is going to be maker of the balls and boots.

So I believe we are given different talents so as to help each other achieve our dreams or purposes. I believe we will make a lot of difference when we do that which we are created to. Let’s find our talent (that skill(s) we are born with), nurture it, and then we will live a successful life and attain heights that we never thought we could.

Find Your Talent

Nurture Your Talent

Excel Through Your Talent

Make extraordinary accomplishment and attain great height of success.

CONSISTENCY

2016-06-11T01:18:00.002+01:00

Consistency is the key aspect in achieving a set goal or a dream.

A sport team that wants to win a trophy, actually plays with the mindset and tactics of a defending and winning champion from the beginning of the competition till the very stage that the team has being announced as the winner of the competition. The sport team doesn’t always win every match they play, when they lose a match, they get sad, but they encourage themselves and stick back to their belief, plans may change, but they still always hold on to their belief.

We as humans we can only achieve our set goals in life when we remain focused only to our focus (set goals). People may not always accept everything that you do, be it works that you have given your best shot. Consistency doesn’t mean that your works are perfect, but it simply means you aren’t going to give up. So let’s not forget that we can only achieve success through what we do consistently, not what we do once in a while.

Be stable
Surround yourself with goal oriented persons, persons with vision and great courage
Believe in yourself; see yourself as being successful until it becomes your reality.

Finding The True Meaning Of An African

2016-05-21T07:19:00.000+01:00

I have always tried to find the true meaning of an African. Dictionary didn't help, not until I searched on the inside of me and I found the answers, it is because an African man or woman is strong physically, and got so much intellectual strength.
The difficulty we face is that most African men lack the knowledge of their intellectual strength, while some have the knowledge, but they so much believe in "hard work" that even when their intellect is required they make use of the physical strength.
I believe we will make a lot of difference when we do the "smart work" by put our intellectual strength in so much of our doings.