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15 Things Successful People Do

2013-04-10T01:29:00.003-07:00

“Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome.”

Whether in business or life, there's a fine line between success and failure. Booker T. Washington’s quote highlights the inevitability of obstacles on the path to success. In fact, I firmly believe success and failure go hand-in-hand. Those looking to succeed must first fail or learn from those who failed.

Successful individuals aren't just born, there’s a lot more that goes into the equation. I've found those who are highly successful have a lot more in common than we may think. If you’re seeking success, these habits may come in handy.

1. Fail. No matter how hard you work, failure can and will happen. The most successful people understand the reality of failure, and its importance in finding success. Rather than running and hiding when you fail, embrace it. Learn from this mistake and you won’t fail in the same way again.

2. Set goals. Those who are successful set daily achievable goals. Find success by solidifying S.M.A.R.T. -- smart, measurable, attainable, realistic, timely -- goals. Stop juggling a mental to-do list of just long-term goals and establish small daily goals to achieve your vision.

3. Don’t rely on luck. Many relate success to being in the right place at the right time. While this is an element of success, there’s also the crucial involvement of blood, sweat, and tears. Don’t hold yourself back by waiting for the perfect timing or idea. Some of the most successful people got there by hitting the ground running, even if timing wasn't perfect.

4. Track progress. Success comes from regularly monitoring behaviors, strategies, and tactics. How can you make adjustments if you don’t know how you’re doing? Hold yourself accountable by checking your progress as often as possible.

5. Act. Successful people don’t always know the right answer, but the keep moving anyway. Don’t let obstacles stall you when you’re searching for the right solution. Taking action will lead to answers.

6. Connect the dots. Those who are successful have the ability to see the greater picture. They identify and connect the tiny details to get there. Look at things in a “past, present, and future” context to receive favorable results.

7. Display realistic optimism. Those who succeed truly believe in their abilities. This respectfully drives them forward. Assess your abilities to gain a clear understanding of what you are able to accomplish. This will allow you balance yourself through the aid of find someone or something else.

8. Continued improvement. Successful people habitually thrive on self-improvement, whether it’s in terms of learning from mistakes or simply using their weaknesses as opportunities. Channel this habit by continually searching for ways to be better. Maybe your networking skills are rusty or you need some extra training -- set goals for improving your weak spots.

9. Commit. Success doesn't come without effort. The most successful individuals are often the most committed to what they’re working toward. Throw yourself into your tasks and go the extra mile every single day. Make no exceptions.

10. Be alert. A keen sense of awareness breeds success. If you’re not keyed into your environment, you’re sure to miss opportunities. Do you know what’s being said within your company, feedback from clients, or even in your entire industry?

11. Persevere. Truly successful people never give up. Do they ever fail? Yes. But as times get hard, their stamina to move forward doesn't wane. Develop a willingness to work through the challenges you encounter along the way.

12. Communicate with confidence. Those who are successful have an ease for convincing others. They don’t manipulate or pressure, but logically explain the benefits. Communicating with confidence will allow you to more easily negotiate your visions.

13. Display humility. The most successful individuals lack an ego. It’s their fault when they fail. Hold yourself accountable for every aspect of your life by focusing on remaining focused and humble.

14. Be flexible. Plans may change. Successful people roll with the punches. Rather than getting frustrated, swiftly maneuver in another direction.

15. Make connections. Successful people often attribute their achievements to the help of others. You can’t and won’t be able to do this alone. Invest in generating mutually beneficial business connections and partners. Even if you have all the skills necessary to run your company, a business partner could complement your weaknesses.

Initiating these habits of successful people will fuel you on your search for achievement.

What do you think is the most important habit of successful people?

An Individual Who Changed His World - Bill Gates.

2013-04-09T13:24:00.002-07:00

“Your most unhappy customers are your greatest source of learning.”

Bill Gates is best known as one of the most successful investors and contractors of all times and as the person, who have made the biggest revolution in the computer technologies. Born in Seattle, Washington in 1955, his interests in math and science began when he was in the high school. After he graduated school, he continued studying in Harvard University, where he spent some time with Paul Allen. They started working together on a project called BASIC, which is simply the basis of the first microcomputer. However,

he left the university on his junior year to found the today’s most popular computer and software company in the world - Microsoft.

When he established his company in 1975, at first he had no idea that this will become the cleverest investment he had ever made.

The greatest success with Microsoft came when the company released the operating system MS-DOS. Bill Gates had believed that the computers have to be easier for use and more functional. His best move was to improve the software to state, which will let the ordinary customer to have an instant access to all programs.

He had also fought against the plagiarism and types of software piracy, which was totally unknown in those ages, creating powerful defending programs, which are topical even today. Thanks to his efforts nowadays, Microsoft is one the most successful company in the world, which makes billions of dollars every year.

Microsoft has become a monopolist on the market, which brings many negative criticisms about its company policy. The largest software companies, like Apple Computer and Netscape had announced against the aggressive methods, which Microsoft used to sell its products.

Today Bill Gates is the richest person in the world with a fortune of $53 billion dollars. The company had also made him a “great example” of how the middle class person is able to reach the tops. It is an interesting fact, that he did not receive any financial help from his family, when he decided to found the Microsoft Company.

Nowadays Bill Gates is also a founder of one of the largest charity organizations, which donates over one billion dollars every year for improving the world health and gives a chance of development for highly talented students. The foundation is called Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation - baptize on his own name and that of his wife.

Today the founder of Microsoft is part of the company, works on the positions of “Chairman” and “Chief Software Architect”. Based on 2010 his net worth is around $54 billion.

In conclusion, let us familiarize you with Bill Gate’s inspirational definition of success. He says, “Success is a lousy teacher. It seduces smart people into thinking they can't lose. ”

He Changed His World. You Too Can...

For One Man, It Really Is The End Of The World.

2013-04-05T19:04:00.000-07:00

Hey Guys, Came Across This Interesting Interview on A Man Who has traveled round the world! Read on!

As business goes increasingly global, many wonder: Is it true that people are the same wherever you go? One man has an answer. Not very many people in the world have visited all 193 countries, but one more person is about to accomplish this spectacular goal.

His name is Chris Guillebeau. He’s the architect of the Art of Non-Conformity and bestselling author of The $100 Start-up: Reinventing the Way You Make a Living, Do What You Love and Create a New Future. I've visited less than 20 countries. Every time I go someplace new, my entire perspective is radically changed. The idea of visiting 193 is so tantalizing not only for the promise of a new vision and countless thrilling, terrifying and illuminating experiences, but because it shows that anything is possible.
I had a million questions for Chris. He graciously took the time to respond even as his plane was touching down at Heath-row for his journey to Norway, the last country on the list, where he will celebrate his birthday with friends, family and fans this weekend. Here’s a glimpse into his wondrous journey.

Did you ever want to give up the chase?

No. I had lots of low moments, but I can honestly say once I started working toward the goal I never wanted to quit. I'm very motivated by goals, and for some reason I connected with the idea of "going everywhere" and it stuck. It probably helped that as I got going I cultivated a community of readers who were following along with the journey. I couldn't just say to them, "Thanks for caring, but I'm done now."

Would you recommend this to anyone else?

Sure, I'd recommend it to anyone who felt passionate and eager to see the world. They'd also need to be fairly determined and patient, since there is an endless loop of logistics to untangle.
Perhaps more importantly, I'd say that everyone can pursue a quest or big dream. Not everyone wants to visit every country in the world, but we all have dreams. Converting the dreams to real life is what this project has been all about for me.

How many people do you know of who have been to every country? I can’t imagine that there are too many human beings who have undertaken this extraordinary journey.

I think there are about 100 or so people in total who have done it. I don't know any of them personally.
Were any of the countries surprisingly easy to get to (or surprisingly hard?)
Both! Overall I was surprised at how easy it is to get almost anywhere, once you set your mind to it and figure it out. Memorizing airline schedules and visa regulations became a hobby for me when I was first starting to travel, and that helped a lot. However, there were also numerous countries that proved very difficult. Angola was hard... in Eritrea I was deported... in Nauru I was denied boarding at the Brisbane airport... and the list goes on.
What was your favorite meal? What about your least favorite?

I became vegetarian about halfway through the journey. At first I thought it would be restrictive and difficult, but for the most part it wasn't. I have fond memories of seeking out Indian restaurants all over the world, which became my favorite cuisine. As for least favorite, well, I was served goat in Somaliland in a situation where it was difficult to decline. I'd love to say I became a huge fan of eating goat, but that wouldn't be true.

What was your most memorable sleeping arrangement?

The ones that seem memorable also seem miserable. I spent a lot of nights (far too many) camped out on the floor of an airport in a developing country. There's basically no good way to do that. These experiences build character, or so they say, but I have no desire to repeat them. Otherwise, I enjoyed sleeping overnight on trains, especially through India and Eastern Europe.

The same way earth looked different to people when they saw the first picture of our planet from space, do you see the world differently now that you've been to every country?

That's a great question. I'm pretty sure the answer is yes, but I'm not sure how best to articulate it yet. One of the other things I've learned through writing about quests is that people often don't realize several core lessons from their journey until they've had some time and distance from it. Right now I still feel like I’m in "constant travel mode" even though it's almost done.

How did you define “country?” for this trip?

I used the U.N. standard. There were 192 countries when I started, and one was added (more on that in a moment). I've also been to plenty of regions, islands, and culturally distinct places that don't technically count as member countries: Taiwan, Kosovo, Kurdistan, etc.

What countries seemed the most foreign/unfamiliar?

China still seems very unfamiliar to me, at least compared to the "China Light" cultures of Hong Kong and Singapore which are much more comfortable as a Westerner. Much of the Russian-speaking world, including the "stan" countries, also seemed unfamiliar and intimidating at first. As I kept going back, it got easier.

Will you feel compelled to visit any new countries that get created after your final trip?

Probably. The thing about new countries is that they don't actually come along that often. There are always breakaway regions and semi-autonomous republics, but most of them don't get recognized by the U.N., which is the standard I used for my quest. The last one was South Sudan, and before that East Timor.

How do you feel as you head off to Norway?

"It's complicated"— but it's mostly good. There's a bittersweet feeling that comes with ending a long journey. I'm writing a book on quests now and it seems that a sense of alienation and discontent is common after you complete something you've been working on for a long period of time. However, it's also exciting. I am indeed glad to be almost done and eager for new projects.

Who is going with you? 150 people--family, friends, fans? Who are they?

About ten of them are family and close friends. The rest are my readers! About a year ago I started hearing from people who said they had blocked off the calendar to come to my last country (because it was always set for a fixed date of my 35th birthday, we knew in advance when it would be). I wasn't sure anyone would actually follow-through and buy a plane ticket to Norway, but apparently a lot of people did. We'll find out for sure on Sunday night.

Are people *really* the same wherever you go? If so, what is the common tie? If not, why not?

I'm glad you asked, because I think that's a total misconception. It's something people say when they first travel somewhere and discover that all over the world, mothers love their children and everyone loves to eat. The point is, yes, on the surface level there are similarities, but there are also some real differences.
I'm not sure there are average people, but for the sake of argument let's use that phrase. The average woman who grows up in China will have a very different worldview and set of experiences than the average man who grows up in sub-saharan Africa, just as those of us who grow up in North America, Britain, or Australia will have a different experience than someone in Russia. We're all shaped by our own unique set of experiences and values, many of which are cultural or situational.
Instead of pretending that everyone is the same, I think it's better to acknowledge that some beliefs and lifestyles vary considerably as you go around the world. And that's what makes it fun, right? We don't really want people to be the same anywhere.

Wow!!! That's a feat I too imagine i just might accomplish one day. What about you? Have you challenged yourself recently? Give yourself that necessary boost!!! Challenge Yourself!!!

Artcle Source

Five Leadership Secrets for Challenging Times

2013-03-27T03:33:00.004-07:00

We consistently face new and ever growing challenges in the workplace such as reorganizing, downsizing, and “left out sizing.” We are faced with the question, “How do we lead in this storm of change?” It may seem difficult at times and the decisions we make define our short-term and long- term outcomes. I will share with you five leadership techniques guaranteed to keep you on track during these difficult times.

1. Integrity.

I put this first because the lack of integrity will make or break you as a professional, as a leader, as a person in the long run. The lack of this will turn yesterday’s heroes in today’s villains. For example, “MCI was the apple of the business community’s eye. High revenues, high profits, and high growth; MCI was beating the competition hands down. Then it was discovered that there were gross accounting irregularities that accounted for the astounding profits. You see, management made a decision, “Do I continue to sustain good growth and be able to look at myself in the mirror or do I cook the accounting books and spend the rest of my time covering up this integrity deficiency? The real shame of the MCI situation was that AT&T, Sprint, and others in the industry had to cut costs and lay off thousands of employees to compete with MCI’s false numbers. The lack of integrity at MCI not only affected the company but also the livelihood of thousands and the industry as a whole. I was recently speaking with a recently retired City Council member who is well respected in the community. I asked her what the secret was to her success while on the council? She mentioned that one of her political adversaries said to her, “While you were on the council, I didn't like the way you voted, but I respected the way you voted because you were consistent with your votes and had the city’s best interest in mind.” Ask yourself what decisions that you make are right for the long term? Be consistent in your actions, whether it is with management, your team, or your family.

2. Knowledge.

With change happening faster and faster every moment, it is extremely important that you gain the knowledge to master these changes. You owe it not only to yourself, but to your team and management. As I always say, “It’s not having the right answer, it’s that you have the right answer faster than before.” Many times during my team building programs a student will say, “I didn't know where to find the answer.” Then I will say, “That is an unacceptable answer.” Because part of being a leader is acquiring the skills to find the right answers. With the Internet, classroom and online training, mentors, etc., the knowledge is at your fingertips. Challenge your team members to use the same resources to acquire the knowledge to master their challenges. By acquiring this knowledge, you will be able to navigate your team through the ocean of change and achieve your goals.

3. Decisiveness.

You have seen them. They wait for information, then more information before making a decision. Then they need more information to support the information they already have. Then they need a committee to analyze the information. Then they wait for the perfect time to make the decision. Well, you know what I mean. Anyone you know? Make the decision! Good things happen when you take action; you grow, you adapt, and your team grows. There is no perfect time to make a decision. Leaders make decisions based on past experience, putting into action the decision, and staying and adapting the decision if needed. But make the decision. The worst quality you can show your team is indecision. What do you think your team sees when you can’t make a decision? Make the decision and go for it.

4. Vision.
This is the ability not only to see what is the present - anyone can do that - it’s the ability to see the future. Outstanding leaders can not only see their team for what they can do now, but what they can become, and paint the picture for them. These leaders are consistently communicating and coaching their team members to that vision. One of the best ways, and least used methods, to convey your vision is the team meeting (Team building and Coaching Skills for Outstanding Results). Every meeting should start out with the team vision, mission, and goals; and the rest of the meeting should tie into the vision. For example, the motivation portion of the meeting should tie into the vision, the information portion of the meeting should tie into the vision, the training portion of the meeting should tie into the vision, etc. Also, invest time to develop your team members’ personal visions and show them how they can accomplish their personal goals by tying into the overall vision. By consistently communicating the vision, your team will move with purpose, feel they are personally making a difference, and achieve their goals sooner.

5. Unselfishness

Stephen Covey, in his successful book Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, wrote that a true leader must be a servant to the ones he or she leads. The leader must be able to “give of oneself for the good of the team.” In other words, be unselfish in words and action. Be unselfish in praise of others, in public, especially in front of management. Be unselfish in the ability to take time to listen, really listen to your team’s concerns. A recent management survey said that the average time management invests doing “pure listening” to employees during the year is a mere two hours- just two hours! What was meant by “pure listening” time was listening with eye contact, acknowledgement, and not answering the phone while listening, not speaking with another person while listening, etc. Be unselfish in the ability to help your team. Whether it’s the ability to readily assist with a difficult telephone call, jump in and remove road blocks for team members, or “be there” for a team member during challenging moments. Believe me, your team will remember those moments and excel for you.
Now I challenge you to put into action just one of the leadership techniques I mentioned above to achieve your vision, your mission, and your goals in the future.

7 Keys to Running a Successful Business

2013-03-27T03:29:00.004-07:00

Although dentistry may appear to be different than other types of businesses, in reality it is a business. And although this article is written from a dentist’s perspective on developing a successful practice, the principles can be used in virtually any business.
I have been in the dental industry for over 20 years and can proudly say I do have a highly successful business, also known as a practice. Over the years, I have learned many things that work in running a business and even more that do not. It is with this in mind that I share the following 7 keys to running a successful business. Regardless of your industry they can apply.

1. Have a vision
One of the most important aspects of running any business is to have a clear vision of what you want that business to be like. What do you want to be known for in the marketplace? What kind of clients do you desire? What level of service do you want to provide? Do you want to be “one among many” or do you want to be considered a leader in your industry?
By answering these and many other similar type questions, you will gain insight into the direction you can, and should, take your business.

2. Develop a plan that ties into the vision
Once you gain clarity on your vision, you must be willing to develop a plan. Far too often people have an idea of where they want their organization to be, but they fail to put together a usable plan. Take time to map out what needs to be done to achieve your outcomes.

3. Know your market
One of the most important aspects of running any type of business is to know whom your market is. You can’t be all things to all people. Contrary to what some would like to believe, not everyone is his or her market. There is a very astute saying in marketing, “If everyone is your market, then no one is your market.”
The clearer you are on who you are targeting the easier it will be to focus your efforts on reaching those individuals and/or companies.

4. Gain visibility within your market
Take a very focused approach to reaching your market. Just because you have determined who your market it, doesn’t mean you are done. You must now be willing to have a very focused approach to targeting your market. Whether that be through direct mail, advertising, newsletters, informational seminars or any number of methods, you have to be willing to keep your name in front of your market.

5. Get your team on board
This is probably one of the most crucial and yet, often most overlooked aspects of running a business. You have to make sure your team knows what is going on. Holding regular staff meetings as a means to keep people informed is a great way to gain the buy in of your team. Additionally, be open to ideas that may come from your team members.
It will be very difficult to achieve your long-term goals if your team members either don’t understand your vision or haven’t bought into it. When you hire people, make sure they understand what you are trying to achieve. Whether you are dealing with new members of the team or seasoned folks, everyone must be willing to be a part of the plan. When they are, you will have a much greater chance for success.

6. Be consistent
Running and marketing a business is an ongoing process. The greatest mistake people make in virtually any industry is they try something once and expect instant results. You must be in this for the long haul. Sure, with some of your marketing strategies you will get instant, or direct, response. However, with most approaches, it is more like the tortoise and the heir. In the short-term it looks like the heir is in the lead, but the reality is he is burning himself out and ends up losing to the tortoise who had a consistent and long-term vision.

7. Realize – you change lives
One of the things I most love about dentistry is I know I change lives. I recognize this beyond a shadow of a doubt. When my patients are able to obtain the smile they once only dreamed of because of what I did for them, I know I am doing my life’s work.
With most people, regardless of the industry you are in, in some way you do change lives. If you know that, your job is very rewarding.
Think about the end user of your product or service. What is it about what you provide that makes a difference for them? If you don’t know, ask your customers. You may be pleasantly surprised. It is in the answers you can become clearer and clearer as to your vision and the benefits you bring to others through the services you provide.