INeedMotivation.com Blog

5 Ways To Live A More Exceptional Life

Frederic Premji — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 03:00:36 PDT

Right now, in the very moment that you are reading this article, you can start doing what is necessary to completely transform the quality of your life. It’s nothing complicated, the key is in the understanding of the principles. How do you get the ball rolling? Here are 5 ways that can help you start living a truly exceptional life:

Don’t demand, become
Don’t wait for the world to give you something. Go out there and make it happen. Don’t be a person that reacts to a situation, be the one that made the situation happen. Let me give you an example. Lottery is a pretty popular activity in most countries, especially in North America, where people spend up to hundreds of dollars a month in hopes of winning. I’m sure you all know the odds of winning the lottery, let’s just say you have a better chance of being bitten by a shark without even swimming! If those people were to take their money and do something productive like investing it or building a business for example, their chances of becoming financially rich skyrockets! So remember, don’t wait for things to happen to you, make it happen for you.

Work harder on yourself
Most people spend more time focusing on their work than they do on themselves. You are the foundation to all that you do and become. Without a proper, well kept foundation, anything built upon it is prone to be flawed. Make it your mantra to improve who you are as a human being. How about learning to be a nicer person, instead of worrying about what others think of you? How about doing some good deed for someone else, instead of thinking about what else you can buy yourself? How about learning to relax, instead of agonizing about your schedule for tomorrow? Think in terms of “quality”, become a better person, take care of yourself more, learn to prioritize your personal growth, and watch how it affects all other areas of your life. Don’t believe me? Try it for yourself!

Associate with winners
Negative energy is like a virus. It spreads very easily, and it is very contagious. Losers have a tendency to relish within their own misery, as if they’ve gone mad from this “negativity plague”, and if they can bring anyone down to their level, all the better for them. Learn to stay away from losers and their negative energy. There is nothing for you to gain. You won’t change them by trying, as a matter of fact, they are trying to rip you apart from your own positivity. We tend to become a product of our environment, and this includes our circle of acquaintances. Keep company with successful, happy people, and let it rub off on you. You will feed off from each other’s energy and build it up, instead of down.

Greatness is an art form
Happiness and greatness is not having more or doing more. The secret is all in the style. Living well is like a beautiful piece of art. Imagine a stunning painting, with exquisite details, and attention to even the slightest, most obscure areas of the canvas. View your life and your striving for a better life in the same manner. Be the person that leaves a healthy tip. Be the one that takes time to read a book with your kids. Be the person that raises the bar for quality. You are the artist, and it is up to you to create the most unique, most exceptional piece of art that there is: your life.

Do your part, God will do his
My mom always used to say the following saying in French when I was a kid, “aide toi et le ciel t’aidera”. To lead an exceptional life, it is crucial that you do what you are supposed to do. Don’t wait for others to bail you out and do it for you. Don’t wait for God to lay a helping hand. Miracles are probably more rare than winning the lottery! Help yourself. Do your part. Do what’s right. Follow your heart. Then, and only then, will you have aligned yourself enough with the helping hands of your God that if not miracles, then at least magic, will take place

Image by thefost (license)

The Art of Choosing

Frederic Premji — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 11:17:33 PDT

Sheena Iyengar studies how we make choices — and how we feel about the choices we make. At TEDGlobal, she talks about both trivial choices (Coke v. Pepsi) and profound ones, and shares her groundbreaking research that has uncovered some surprising attitudes about our decisions. This is one of my favorite presentations. Very eye-opening in the examples the speaker shares, especially the ones across different cultures. Interesting to see the perspectives of very few choices and very many choices. Great video, check it out below:

3 Steps to Self Improvement – the Childish Way

Guest Writer — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 13:20:05 PDT

It’s something all of us aspire to achieve, but unless we consciously choose to get rid of our weaknesses and promote our strengths, there is no way to self improvement. Improving the self is an exercise that is sporadic at best – to make it work on a continuous basis, you must be constantly aware of your thoughts and actions and be able to steer them towards a more positive direction. Self improvement starts with self awareness, and that’s one of the reasons why it’s possible to observe much from the world of children in taking your first steps towards improving yourself:

If at first you don’t succeed, try and try again: If you’ve seen a child trying to take their first steps, you’ll know what I mean. They may fall on their butt an awful lot, but then, they’re always up and at the attempt to walk again. Soon enough, walking becomes second nature rather than a conscious attempt. This instinctive attitude of kids is a lesson in self improvement to keep trying again and again even if you fail at first. For example, if you’re trying to quit an addiction, don’t be upset by setbacks or relapses; just keep trying until you’re able to rid yourself of the habit for good. Sooner or later, staying free of your addiction becomes the norm rather than an anomaly.
Once bitten, twice shy: When a child touches an electrical socket or falls off the edge of a bed once too often, they’re wary of getting too close to a switch or the foot of the bed again. They learn through experience that certain things are dangerous and so must be avoided. Similarly, when trying to improve yourself, it’s important to remember that you must learn from negative experiences if you want to achieve progress. For example, if you’ve suffered because of an abusive or otherwise unhealthy relationship, don’t go right back into another one simply because you’re too weak and have no self-control. Remember the hurt you suffered – it’s going to happen again if you repeat your mistakes instead of learning from them.
Beauty is on the inside: You don’t see children complaining about the way they look or worrying that they’re too fat or too skinny or just not right. They look in the mirror just to make faces at themselves; they choose their clothes based on the bright colors and funny pictures – they don’t care that they don’t match; and they look beyond the outside appearance of people and focus on what’s inside. So in your attempt to improve yourself, look not at the way you look, but on how you treat people and yourself. Focus on improving your inner beauty rather than boosting your outward appearance. When you’re a truly warm, kind and caring person, your external looks don’t matter.

Self improvement is a process that must be consciously done and continuously adhered to if it is to work. So know what you need to improve, and strive to achieve the necessary improvement.

This article is contributed by Susan White, who regularly writes on the subject of surgical technician schools. She invites your questions, comments at her email address: susan.white33@gmail.com.

Measuring What Makes Life Worthwhile

Frederic Premji — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 03:00:36 PDT

When the dotcom bubble burst, hotelier Chip Conley went in search of a business model based on happiness. In an old friendship with an employee and in the wisdom of a Buddhist king, he learned that success comes from what you count. Watch the video below:

Understanding The True Definition Of Self Discipline

Frederic Premji — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 12:59:02 PDT

Self discipline is one of the most common topics that comes back over and over again with my coaching clients. It seems like all of us are struggle to have the discipline to do something (or anything) in our life. Trouble waking up in the morning? Can’t get yourself to clean the dishes? Can’t finish that report or project on time? Can’t get yourself to exercise regularly? All of these scenarios have an issue rooted in the lack of self discipline.

What I have found to be one of the main causes why most people cannot master discipline easily or keep it up for the long haul, is a clear misunderstanding of the true definition of what self discipline really is. You see, most people go about self discipline in a way in which they eventually expect themselves to start liking whatever it is that they are doing, and when that doesn’t happen, they fumble back into their comfort zone, and give themselves all kinds of excuses as to why it didn’t work out. Such as “I’m not the type to be on time”, or “I’m the type that likes to be under pressure”, or “I’m a night owl”.

Here’s your wake up call:
Self discipline is doing something even if you hate it or don’t feel like doing it.
Doing something because you enjoy doing it is NOT discipline.

Many months ago I started a work out regimen, where I had to wake up very early and complete an intensive workout. Yes, it’s absolutely brutal the first couple of weeks. After a while, you get a little bit used to it. Months later, the habit is there, I do it every day, but it does not mean I like it! I totally would prefer to sleep that extra hour, but discipline is pushing me out of my bed and into the workout. When you understand that you will probably never like doing whatever it is that you want yourself to do, you can start to build incredibly powerful self discipline. That is the case because now, you’re removing the expectation that one day you will feel great about it, and it will be super easy. If you expect it to be hard, yet you push through every single time, you will create discipline on a level that will reverberate into every other area of your life. This is where you can begin to create something magical into your life.

Self discipline is exactly like a muscle. The more you exercise it, the more you get used to it, and the further you can push yourself. Don’t try to overhaul your entire life in one big swoop! Just like you can’t lift the biggest weights right away, you have to work your way up. I usually recommend my clients to start with something small, just to get their feet wet, and to get used to the idea that doing something that you don’t want to do, or that you will never like, is OK! As a matter of fact, it’s via this road that you will achieve your life’s greatest successes. Then, over time, you can gradually add more to your list of things to do that you don’t particularly like.

Doing something that you absolutely don’t want to do but that you know is great for you is the ultimate way to express self discipline in its purest form. Keep in mind that you will probably never enjoy doing it, but that if you keep on doing it, the rewards that you will reap will be far beyond the measly little satisfaction that you get by not doing it in the first place. If you can wrap your head around this concept, you are guaranteed to inflict immensely powerful self discipline into your life, which will in turn completely transform the life that you want from a dream, into sheer reality.

Sweat The Small Stuff

Frederic Premji — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 19:32:53 PDT

It may seem that big problems require big solutions, but ad man Rory Sutherland says many flashy, expensive fixes are just obscuring better, simpler answers. To illustrate, he uses behavioral economics and hilarious examples. Check out the video below:

7 Tips To Become A Conversation Expert

Frederic Premji — Tue, 25 May 2010 16:01:37 PDT

Ever found yourself in a social situation, and couldn’t find something to say to jumpstart a conversation with a total stranger? How about you knowing what you want to say, but couldn’t figure out exactly HOW to say it or how to approach the situation? Here are some tips to help you talk to anyone, anytime. By mastering these tips, you will be transforming your social game, and you will be able to make solid connections with new people, which can help you in your personal or business life.

Enthusiasm
It is extremely important to approach anyone with a certain level of energy. Think about it, nobody wants to be around someone whose energy is plodding. By approaching with a smile and a positive vibe about you, you will dramatically increase your chances of getting a positive reception. Enthusiasm is highly addictive, and in no time, the person you are speaking with will be more upbeat, happier, and will perceive you in a positive light.

Eye Contact
When you are speaking with someone, it is important to look at them in the eyes. Now, for shy people, this can be a challenge, but you have to force yourself to do it. Get out of your comfort zone, and make an effort to initiate eye contact. Let’s face it, people trust and open themselves more through the eyes than with any other body part. As a matter of fact, lack of eye contact is associated with deceitfulness, so it is crucial not to be labeled as such right off the bat. Now, you do not need to keep eye contact forever. In fact, it is a good technique to gaze away for a bit and then return the eye contact. You don’t want to make the other person too uncomfortable, but you do want to convey a trustworthy image.

Focus on what they want
When trying to spark a conversation out of the blue with a stranger, most people fail in that they focus too much on what they want out of the ordeal. What you need to do is flip that on its head, and focus on what that other person wants. It’s very easy to figure out, just analyze the situation and ask yourself, what is this person doing here? What are they currently doing? What are they trying to get out of being here? Here’s the kicker, the vast majority of people are just waiting for someone with something interesting to say to come and talk to them. Even better if that something to say has to do with them. You can be that person!

Ask Why?
Asking the question why is a wonderful way to keep the conversation going, once you have established contact. It’s such a good question, which requires elaboration, so it will get the person talking for quite a bit. From what they say, you can then figure out a myriad of other topics to continue the conversation. Best of all, asking why shows genuine interest and shows that you are interested in what this person has to share.

Praise
The way to really make people feel at ease with you and to make them really enjoy your company, is to appeal to their ego. Everyone has an ego, and everyone enjoys being complimented. Use this to your advantage to sway the conversation into your favor. Praise people, and you will notice that your conversations are longer, better, and their perception of the whole thing will be incredibly more positive.

Leave on a high note
There is nothing worse than to linger around too long. Ever been in that situation, when there is nothing left to say, and it gets awkwardly quiet? Your goal should be to leave your audience wanting more. So always make sure to leave on a high note, and be the one to end the conversation. This conveys an image of control, and they will want to continue this conversation at another time in the future. Imagine a stand up comedian finishing his set with his worst jokes. Would you want to see him perform again? Not so much. However, if he leaves you cracking up with his best jokes, you will be dying to see him again! So always make sure to leave all conversations on a high note.

Practice
The bottom line is that the more you talk and the more you spark conversations, the better you get at it. So take the habit of starting a conversation with anyone, about any topics, anywhere you might find yourself. Could be at the bus stop, waiting in line at the bank, or at a party where you don’t know anyone. By doing so, you will not only become better and better at conversing with people, but this added layer of socialization to your life, will undoubtedly make you a happier person overall

How Great Leaders Can Inspire Action

Frederic Premji — Fri, 14 May 2010 16:32:25 PDT

Simon Sinek has a simple but powerful model for inspirational leadership all starting with a golden circle and the question “Why?” His examples include Apple, Martin Luther King, and the Wright brothers — and as a counterpoint Tivo, which (until a recent court victory that tripled its stock price) appeared to be struggling. Enjoy the video below:

10 Great Mother’s Day Quotes

Frederic Premji — Sun, 09 May 2010 13:45:10 PDT

Happy Mother’s Day! Enjoy these quotes to celebrate the toughest and most important job in the world, being a mother

A mother is a person who seeing there are only four pieces of pie for five people, promptly announces she never did care for pie.
- Tenneva Jordan

I remember my mother’s prayers and they have always followed me. They have clung to me all my life.
- Abraham Lincoln

The heart of a mother is a deep abyss at the bottom of which you will always find forgiveness.
- Honoré de Balzac

I love my mother as the trees love water and sunshine – she helps me grow, prosper, and reach great heights.
- Terri Guillemets

A little girl, asked where her home was, replied, “where mother is.”
- Keith L. Brooks

The best conversations with mothers always take place in silence, when only the heart speaks.
- Carrie Latet

No matter how old a mother is, she watches her middle-aged children for signs of improvement.
- Florida Scott-Maxwell

There is only one pretty child in the world, and every mother has it.
- Chinese Proverb

When you are a mother, you are never really alone in your thoughts. A mother always has to think twice, once for herself and once for her child.
- Sophia Loren

A mother’s love is patient and forgiving when all others are forsaking, it never fails or falters, even though the heart is breaking.
- Helen Rice

Master New Skills In One Easy Step

Frederic Premji — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 13:27:17 PDT

Did you know that most information that you come across is mostly lost after 48 hours? It’s actually already 50% lost after 24 hours. With this being the “information age”, we are exposed to so much information simultaneously that it can be hard to focus on the important information that we want to learn properly. There is a method, albeit a very simple one step process, that can help you master new skills and new information within this abundance of information thrown in your direction every single day.

Repetition
For information to truly be mastered, it must properly sink into your psyche, and the only way that this can happen is via repetition. Think of a song you know by heart. I bet you had to hear it multiple times to finally remember the lyrics and how the song goes. Remembering a song is usually not even done on purpose, so imagine what you can accomplish with the INTENT to memorize! If you think that by reading an article once, or listening to an audiobook once that you will have mastered the content, then you are missing out in a big way. As a matter of fact, you are probably remembering only less than 5% of the information you were exposed to only once. Retention goes up exponentially the more you repeat. So if you are serious about mastering a new skill or new information, make sure that you expose yourself to it over and over again until it becomes so familiar, that it’s like a part of you. This is why hypnosis works really well after you have done it time and time again. By the third week of doing hypnosis, that’s when you notice the results coming through. It takes on average about 21 times for something to become a habit or familiar. If you are learning a language, or studying for an exam, or learning about a new job, keep repeating if you still struggle to remember the information. What I do when I read a book is that I take notes of the important topics I want to remember. Then, I go over my notes instead of reading the whole book again. This can help you save time and make the memorization and retention of the crucial and important information even faster. View repetition as practice, because that’s what it actually is. Think of Olympic athletes. They had to practice over and over, thousands of times, until it became more than mastery…it became perfection. Repetition is practice, and practice is preparation. Start applying repetitive learning into your life and you will see how incredibly powerful it is. Instead of reading all the articles that you can find, focus on reading your favorite ones multiple times. You will notice how much more impactful it is

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INeedMotivation.com Blog

5 Ways To Live A More Exceptional Life

Other Articles:

The Art of Choosing

Other Articles:

3 Steps to Self Improvement – the Childish Way

Other Articles:

Measuring What Makes Life Worthwhile

Other Articles:

Understanding The True Definition Of Self Discipline

Other Articles:

Sweat The Small Stuff

Other Articles:

7 Tips To Become A Conversation Expert

Other Articles:

How Great Leaders Can Inspire Action

Other Articles:

10 Great Mother’s Day Quotes

Other Articles:

Master New Skills In One Easy Step

Other Articles: