Followers accept
Leaders question

Followers get along with everyone
Leaders challenge everyone

Followers give you respect
Leaders make you earn their respect

Followers take the main road
Leaders take the road less traveled

Followers are content
Leaders stay hungry

Followers are afraid to fail
Leaders know they will fail before they succeed

Followers are afraid of change
Leaders welcome change

Followers think
Leaders do

Followers make others follow
Leaders inspire other leaders

Followers follow
Leaders lead

There must be a reason why many people quite often start projects or tasks, big or small, and at some point while working on the tasks they feel overwhelmed, frustrated and stressed, so much so that in the end they quit or feel like quitting.

When they are in a state of overwhelm or frustration their motivation to keep working is hindered. Their enthusiasm to finish off what they had started is greatly reduced and may lead to stop working on the project altogether.

So what do most of them do?

They mosey on to the coffee machine grunting under their breath, and once there they find someone to vent on. They spend a few minutes in idle one way chatter, complaining about the project or task that they have to do.

And as soon as the complaining session is over they reluctantly go back to their desk and stare at the project with great distaste wondering how they are going to get it done.

Rather than you falling into the same predicament of overwhelm and frustration, there are 5 ways I found that can really keep you productive and motivated to finish off what you started, where you can get things done from beginning to end, and feel great while doing so.

Here are the 5 ways that you can use today to easily finish off anything that you started, and to do so with great enthusiasm and motivation:

1. Break down the project into smaller pieces. The size and type of the project is irrelevant. To be more productive and remain motivated to finish off the project, you simply have to break it down into smaller, more manageable portions.

By breaking the project into smaller pieces, it will not seem so daunting. And what’s more, as you complete one step and before going to the next, you will have a sense of satisfaction, a sense of accomplishment, which feels wonderful, psychologically.

This alone will motivate you to move onto to the next chunk or piece. But, before you move on to the next piece, be nice and give yourself a reward.

Go to the coffee machine and pour yourself a well-deserved cup and celebrate that achievement.

Once the celebration is over, go back and finish off another chunk. Notice the difference in your mood. You will be more productive than before and you will also feel more motivated to work, looking forward to receiving another reward.

2. Utilize the snowball effect to your advantage. What has the snowball effect got to do with motivation? In one word, momentum. Find the easiest and most enjoyable part of the project and start there.

This way you will finish off that portion of the task quickly and easily. It will give you the added buzz of accomplishment, and it will also increase the level of your self confidence and motivation.

What a huge sense of achievement. Even if that chunk was small or petty, the motivating sense of accomplishment is still there. It is to be recognised and, better yet, rewarded.

3. Avoid multitasking as best as you can. Perhaps you cannot avoid distractions, but at least make an effort to stay clear of multitasking.

Focus on what is at hand as best as you can.

The main benefit from this is that when you focus on the project that you are working on, not will you only be more productive, your motivation level will also increase as you will more than likely finish off the project sooner.

4. Take breaks. If at any point as you are working on a project you feel your motivation is slipping, perhaps because you still have a long way to go, or the remaining work is harder and more time-consuming, I suggest you finish off the chunk that you are working on and walk away from the task.

Get up and go for a chat, have lunch, call someone.

The objective here is to take your attention away from the project. This will ease away the frustration or annoyance that you may be feeling. And when you get back to the task, you will feel more relaxed, refreshed and motivated to continue.

5. No, seriously… take breaks. Yes, take another break. Where possible, figure a way for you to take a 3 – 5 minute break after every 40 – 45 minutes of continued work. Preferably get away from your desk or your work area.

Use your imagination here!

Research says that after 40 – 45 minutes of continuous work the brain tends to get tired or slow down. Perhaps that delay is not that noticeable, but it is there. In time, it will be obvious when you feel tired or drained, or you cannot focus as well.

Go for a stretch, a drink of water, a stroll.

Whatever way you can come up with to take a break will be highly beneficial. I am only talking about a short 3 – 5 minute break.

And, again, once you go back to the task, your brain will have had a rejuvenating break. You will feel well rested, refreshed and more motivated to continue.

Make these 5 ways an integral part of your life, where you will have the satisfaction of doing more and in less time, and you will do so in a more enthusiastic and motivated way.

This is one of my favorite commercials of all time. It’s very inspiring and always moves me, no matter how many times I see it. I thought of it since i just talked about challenging the norms in my recent post “The Rebel Within“.

Here’s to the crazy ones.

The misfits.

The rebels.

The troublemakers.

The round pegs in the square holes.

The ones who see things differently.

They’re not fond of rules.

And they have no respect for the status quo.

You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them.

About the only thing you can’t do is ignore them.

Because they change things.

They push the human race forward.

And while some see them as the crazy ones, we see genius.

Because the people who are crazy enough to think that they can change the world…

Are the ones who do.

It’s a lot easier said than done, but figuring out what path you want to head down is a crucial first step to reaching your final destination.

Planning and figuring out what to do with the rest of your life might seem too monumental of a task, but the trick is to do it one step at a time, one day at a time.

“A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.” – Sun Tsu

You need to realize that you are not signing a lifetime contract with anyone by simply choosing a specific goal for yourself. Worst case scenario is that you realize your current path is no longer in tact with your original plans and you’d have to change it. We’ve all taken detours before, and it shouldn’t be hard to get yourself back on a positive path. Pretty much, you just need to alleviate any unnecessary strain you imply onto yourself.

“Don’t worry about the future; or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubblegum.” – Mary Schmich

Take a nice deep breath and think about what you love doing. Close your eyes and reminisce about your childhood and all the dreams you had in front of you. What were some of those dreams?

Also, think about things you love to do. What do you love to do so much, that you’d do it for free? Maybe you’re already doing something everyday but never realized its potential for becoming a career. Now the trick is to find a way to get paid for what you love to do.

“Start by doing what’s necessary; then do what’s possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible.” -St. Francis of Assisi

I know what you’re thinking… and yes, there is a high demand in the prostitution field, and yes, the pay is really good. But trust me, I tried it before and it was a tough gig… the hours were late, no healthcare, no dental, rude customers, weird customers and of course, not a good retirement package…. (just kidding)

Still having problems figuring out what’s for you? Try talking with family and friends. Maybe they can see the greatness and potential in you that you can’t see yourself.

Pick up the book called “Grindhopping” by Laura Vanderkam http://www.grindhopping.com. It talks about finding your own passions in life and turning it into an entrepreneurial venture. The term Grindhopping comes from the mundane lifestyles that most adults fall into, where we go to college, show up, become an average student and then eventually go out into the world as a corporate slave in the corporate grind. So Grindhopping is thus, finding your own path and becoming your own boss, hence skipping, or hopping, the daily corporate grind that drives so many of us into becoming mediocre working adults.

Grindhopping (verb) – Achieving accelerated career success, without paying your dues.

“Grindhoppers who hit the jackpot from the start have not just talent, but affection for their work. They do not believe that they should be anything but blissfully happy with their jobs.” – Lauren Vanderkam

Excepts from the book:

Guideline #1: Always Be Your Own Boss

No compromises, no excuses

Guideline #2: Know Where You’re Going

It’s the only way to drive on unmarked roads

Guideline #3: Recalculate Risk

Get comfortable with being uncomfortable

Guideline #4: Think Projects, Not Jobs

Welcome to the Craig’s List Economy

Guideline #5: Seek to Be Judged on Results (and Deliver Them)

Be better, and you’ve got it made

Guideline #6: Everything is Negotiable

From money to work-life balance, don’t believe “that’s just the way it is”

Guideline #7: Cultivate a Network and a Nimble Mind

Learn how to learn on the job

I asked Lauren, “What is one thing all the Grindhoppers you met have in common?”

Her response was that all of them had a strong sense of self-discipline. After all, these people aren’t working for anyone else other than themselves. So it’s their own internal fire and personal drive that will allow them to succeed or fail.

So now the question is, do you have that same motivation within you?

“The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.” – Walt Disney

Often times, we are asked to conform, to fit in, to adjust ourselves, or to just go with the flow. For most of us, this would be a good idea. In fact, it would be the ideal situation that our parents had envisioned for us – to blend in. These parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles or mentors raise each of us to follow orders, do as we’re told, respect elders and simply diminish our own inhibitions as not to make a scene. Little do these “grown-ups” know that they are actually asking us to give up so much more.

Our internal understanding of the world is slowly being shaped to simply do the accepted thing. Questioning the norm is found to be outlandish, crazy or even disrespectful.

The generation and culture I grew up in respected unity. They held highly the collective tranquility within the community. Don’t get me wrong, this structure is needed in many places for it to function. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with this; unless of course, you’re a rebel like me.

Being a rebel has many derogatory connotations that come along with it. It suggests tattoos, piercings, weird hair cuts with even weirder colors,  a strong disregard for authority and of course, horrible fashion (yes, I had fallen victim to each of the mentioned “phases,” as my parents called it). On the other hand, I’m now telling you that we all need to listen to that rebel within us, if only for a moment!

You need to listen to your inner rebel because it’s that inner voice within us that will question the very existence of life. It’s that unbiased, unscrutinized, uninfected inner monologue that tells us all what is right and what is wrong. It’s what will make us stand up for what we believe in and turn us into a wolf amongst the sheep.

“Well behaved women rarely make history” ~Laurel Thatcher Ulrich

We each lose our ability to think, to dream and to live our own lives the second we stop listening to our inner rebel. When we just follow the same unremarkable routines of those who have gone before us, we lose our power, our strength, our very selves.

Don’t get me wrong, we should still respect our elders, we should still listen to advice and we still need to have limitations to what we rebel againts. All I’m saying is that we each need to question everything that is thrown at us then formulate our own conclusions.

So dear moms and dads out there, when you tell your kids to blend in and to do as they’re told – please know that you’re asking them to give up on themselves.

“Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” ~Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Tony Morgan from www.TonyMorganLive.com gives us 10 simple clues not on spotting good leaders, but spotting bad leaders.

Is there anything else you think we could add to this list?

10 Easy Ways to Know You’re Not a Leader

1. You’re waiting on a bigger staff and more money to accomplish your vision.
2. You think you need to be in charge to have influence.
3. You’re content.
4. You tend to foster division instead of generating a helpful dialogue.
5. You think you need to say something to be heard.
6. You find it easier to blame others for your circumstances than to take responsibility for solutions.
7. It’s been some time since you said, “I messed up.”
8. You’re driven by the task instead of the relationships and the vision.
9. Your dreams are so small, people think they can be achieved.
10. No one is following you.

Sunday Bloody Book Review 1 –

“WHY MEN DON’T LISTEN & WOMEN CAN’T READ MAPS” by Allan & Barbara Peas

A must read for any male or female struggling to understand the opposite way of thinking!

For couples who just started dating to those who are celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary. This book sheds light to the little misunderstanding that often lead to big fights. 

It’s a very scientific and humorous approach to the genetic differences between men and women. Millions of years of evolution has imprinted concrete modes of thought for each gender. Though society and upbringing plays a small roll in shaping us into who we are, this book clearly shows that countless years of evolution is hard to ignore. 

“Why Men Don’t Listen and Women Can’t Read Maps” is an international bestseller that reveals many of the universe’s questions such as:

• Why men really can’t do more than one thing at a time
• Why women make such a mess of parallel parking
• Why men should never lie to women
• Why women talk so much and men so little
• Why men love erotic images and women aren’t impressed
• Why women prefer simply to talk it through
• Why men offer solutions but hate advice
• Why women despair about men’s silences

I have to admit, I’ve had my share of thinking that Men are from Mars and Women are the Spawn of Satan. Thanks to this book, I’m more likely to think that we’re all just misunderstood. (Though some women are just plain crazy still… =P )

I only have three rating scales –

1. Must read
2. OK read but you’ll live without it
3. Don’t bother

This book is a MUST READ! It gives you knowledge that will change the way you deal with the opposite gender. It is very well written, with concrete facts and witty commentaries.

One of my favorite stories of all time….

The Businessman and the Fisherman

An American businessman took a vacation to a small coastal Mexican village on doctor’s orders. Unable to sleep after an urgent phone call from the office the first morning, he walked out to the pier to clear his head. A small boat with just one fisherman had docked and inside the boat were several large Yellowfin tuna. The American complimented the Mexican of the quality of his fish.

“How long it took you to catch them?” The American asked.

“Only a little while.” The Mexican replied.

“Why don’t you stay out longer and catch more fish?” The American then asked.

“I have enough to support my family’s immediate needs and give a few to my friends,.” The Mexican said.

“But,” The American then asked, “What do you do with the rest of your time?”

The Mexican fisherman said, “I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, take a siesta with my wife, Maria, stroll into the village each evening where I sip wine and play guitar with my amigos, I have a full and busy life, senor.”

The American scoffed, “I am a Harvard MBA and could help you. You should spend more time fishing and with the proceeds you buy a bigger boat, and with the proceeds from the bigger boat you could buy several boats, eventually you would have a fleet of fishing boats.”

“Instead of selling your catch to a middleman you would sell directly to the consumers, eventually opening your own can factory. You would control the product, processing and distribution. You would need to leave this small coastal fishing village and move to Mexico City, then LA and eventually NYC where you will run your expanding enterprise.”

The Mexican fisherman asked, “But senor, how long will this all take?”

To which the American replied, “15-20 years.”

“But what then, senor?”

The American laughed and said, “That’s the best part. When the time is right you would announce an IPO (Initial Public Offering) and sell your company stock to the public and become very rich, you would make millions.”

“Millions, senor? Then what?”

The American said slowly, “Then you would retire. Move to a small coastal fishing village where you would sleep late, fish a little, play with your kids, take a siesta with your wife, stroll to the village in the evenings where you could sip wine and play your guitar with your amigos…”

The Story of The Businessman and the Fisherman

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“The foolish man seeks happiness in the distance; the wise grows it under his feet.” ~James Openheim

The grass isn’t always greener on the other side. It might just look that way, especially to the untrained eye. One often forgets to appreciate the greenness of the grass he’s already on.

I’ve come to the conclusion that life is as great and as bountiful as you choose for it to be. I’ve come to this conclusion to help me stick to specific place and give it all I’ve got. See I seem to be suffering from “Serial Relocation Syndrome.”

You may be suffering from this same bug if you are experiencing any of the following symptoms:

• Inability to decide what you want to do or where you want to be
• Inadequate feelings, including yearning, searching, seeking and scrambling for an intangible, unspecified goal
• Constant but irregular relocation to different towns, cities, states or for extreme cases, different countries and continents
• Uncontrollable swearing and abrupt, aggressive bowel movements (rare cases)

If you suffer from one or more of the above ailments then you too may have the “Serial Relocation Syndrome.”

Experts have long argued as to the best practices that can cure this condition. Doctors of the highest ranks prescribe medications such as Adderall and even medical Marijuana. Motivational speakers preach of “following your dreams,” “just doing it” and “living with no regrets.” Parents will nag that you need to be a lawyer, an architect or any other traditional title that will pay the bills and allow you to get them a good retirement plan. On the other hand, it’s the Zen masters that probably have the key.

Mindfulness is one of the foundations of Zen Buddhism that refers to finding happiness and relieving stress by living in the moment. Now believe me, this “living in the moment” thing is much harder than it sounds. No one is always living in the moment; we have to catch ourselves drifting out of it and refocus to bring ourselves back.

“Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” ~Abraham Lincoln

Now stop! Take a moment; bring yourself back, back to this moment. What’s around you? What’s in front of you? What are you overlooking?

Lately, I tend to close my eyes when I eat my dessert. It’s something that allows me to fully enjoy the different tastes that trigger my senses. Instead of quickly gobbling up my food, like I used to do, I now savor the moment. I savor the flavor, the texture, the sweetness and the chocolateness of it all. Instead of thinking the other ice cream flavor may have been better, I just enjoy the one I have.

“Normally, we do not so much look at things as overlook them.” ~Alan Watts.

The important thing here is to realize that you don’t have to be “there” in order to be happy. You can be right “here,” right where you are and be able to succeed with what you have. What you really need to question is your motivation and drive to succeed rather than make excuses for why it can’t be done here.

“Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.” ~Theodore Roosevelt

So this is my resolution to do what I can with what I have. No more thinking that things will be better somewhere else or that the grass is greener across the fence.

All I am is here, and all I have is this moment. =)

“Well,” said Pooh, “what I like best,” and then he had to stop and think. Because although Eating Honey was a very good thing to do, there was a moment just before you began to eat it which was better than when you were, but he didn’t know what it was called. ~A.A. Milne

copyright Vince Golangco

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