Motivational Quotes

How Mindfulness Helped Me Drop Bad Habits https://ift.tt/fCO4Fn8

2022-02-24T03:45:00.001+05:30

Almost everyone will admit they have areas or habits in their lives they feel can be better than they are at the moment. Some people may feel they can be more kind and compassionate, others feel they can be more assertive, and others feel they can be more peaceful and happy.

For me, a few years ago, I felt I could be less angry and explosive. I was short-tempered and would often result in very cruel words which I didn’t think through well or just simply be violent. And this was not something I enjoyed at all.

I tried a couple of anger management techniques to see if they could help but they were barely helpful. When I almost gave up on this character improvement project, it’s when I discovered mindfulness and went on to work with it to overcome this problem.

A Clear Breakdown of How I Used Mindfulness to Conquer Anger

Step 1. Research about mindfulness and get to know it

Although I had a rough idea of awareness, I decided to do deep research on it so that I would have concrete detailed information on the practice. I used reliable sources of information online for learning about mindfulness which are credible and authoritative in the self-improvement industry.

I also read books, visited self-help websites, watched videos, and listened to podcasts on mindfulness.

Step 2. Figure out an approach plan and where to start

After my research, I tried to figure out how I could apply it practically in my life. I had learned that mindfulness meditation was a form of training in mindfulness so I only found it natural to begin mindfulness by training myself through meditation.

My approach plan was to start with the meditation practice and later on try out other mindfulness techniques to increase my moments of mindfulness and increase its effects in my life.

Step 3. Get started with mindfulness meditation immediately

After having a vision and a plan of how to approach things, I made the effort of beginning the meditation practice right away. I used guided meditation resources for mindfulness meditation to help me learn how to do the meditation practice and also have a feel of what mindfulness is like. I began meditating for 5 minutes and slowly increased the duration as I got comfortable. This is an important step because most people don’t take it. They never get started at all.

Step 4. Aim to get better with every meditation session

After a couple of meditation sessions, I noticed that, since I was still a beginner, I was making a lot of mistakes which included feeling weighed down by the practice and feeling like it was too much work to do, just to name a few. So I researched more about the problems from people who have experienced the same in the past, found effective solutions for them, and began applying them as I aimed to make some improvements in every session. Online meditation communities and forums helped me find the solutions to my meditation problems.

“Mindfulness is the kind of light that shows us the way. It is the living Buddha inside of each of us. Mindfulness gives birth to insight, awakening, compassion, and love.” – Thich Nhat Hanh

Step 5. Reflect and visualize about solving the problem you have

My goal was to control my anger to the point where it couldn’t affect me even when I was told anything that might trigger negative reactions. I desired to be told something that felt insulting and not even flinch. So I would reflect every so often on how I wanted my life to be. I would think about the specific problems that are brought by the anger and I would try to look for solutions. And then I would visualize myself applying those solutions in the needed areas. I would consciously tell my mind that the visualized solution is exactly how I’m going to be doing things in my life going forward. Doing that helped me remember to be aware of myself when such times came and made applying the solutions much easier since I had already established in my mind, through visualization, exactly how I wanted things to be.

Step 6. Put in personal effort consistently to apply the solution

Now applying the solution every time isn’t easy. The first few times might be a bit easy but making them stick and become your second nature is quite hard. What I found to help with the issue of consistency and habit creation is that you have to view the solution like a new habit you’re going to form that’s going to stick with you forever.

So when you apply it the first few times successfully, you should still remind yourself that it’s what you’re going to do again when you’re in the same situation in the near future. I reminded myself and followed it up with physical effort. If I came across anything I knew might make me angry, I would try to be aware of myself and my emotions and then remind myself what I decided to be doing, and then I would act upon it immediately. Sometimes, I would choose to walk away, and other times I would keep quiet and discipline myself to not speak at all.

Step 7. Aim to be aware of yourself

Based on my personal experiences, I have learned that being always aware of yourself, not just when you want to solve a problem in your life, but every other moment really helps. Awareness helps you not get into that problem in the first place so that you avoid having to solve it after it has already affected your life.

However, being always aware is pretty hard and needs a lot of work. I achieved it by doing mindfulness meditation daily for 10 to 20 minutes to start with.

I also worked with mindful listening and speaking when I was having conversations with other people, mindful working when working, mindful walking when commuting to work or generally any time I was walking, mindful eating during my meal times, and mindful showering when taking a bath. Ideally, taking any chance you get to be aware and fully maximize it.

However, before I got to use these other mindfulness techniques, I only worked with mindfulness meditation and visualization to be aware of myself when trouble came and then used the other mindfulness techniques to be always aware of myself.

Moreover, I’d take my time in the evenings to review how my day was and how I did with regard to calming down my anger. And I’d visualize how I would approach the next day when I had the same anger problems. I’d take different versions of scenarios that would get me angry and see myself handling them much better without being lost in emotions. Doing this helped me remember automatically how to behave when I got into such situations.

To achieve all that I was dedicated, committed, disciplined, and focused on making a permanent change. Eventually, it worked!

The post How Mindfulness Helped Me Drop Bad Habits first appeared on Addicted 2 Success.

source https://addicted2success.com/life/how-mindfulness-helped-me-drop-bad-habits/

How to Be at Your Best When Bad Things Are Happening https://ift.tt/CuxWqsp

2022-02-22T03:28:00.001+05:30

The past two years have been challenging to say the least. Between people losing their jobs, businesses going under, and the medical condition of the world threatening our freedoms, it’s been a significant amount of trauma for us to adapt to as a collective. On the positive side of things, if anything, the last two years have taught us the power of resilience.

But surviving isn’t enough. Making it through is not a way of life. So how can you learn to be at your best when bad things are happening to and around you? How can you show up for yourself to make sure that you’re in the best possible position to be nimble and pivot as necessary, but also stay in alignment with who you really are?

These are the secrets to staying at the top of your game when life gets extra challenging.

What it takes to be at your best

When life has a season that drops you to your knees repeatedly, the very first thing you want to do is go back to basics because when things get tough, your mind defaults back to your most engrained coping habits—ranging from counter-productive to dangerously destructive. This can look like cutting back on sleep, bingeing TV shows for an escape, and isolating yourself from others. People also tend to eat comfort foods like mac and cheese, fried chicken, and ice cream that makes them feel safe but doesn’t actually support their bodies.

Having moments of these things is okay. Everyone needs a break sometimes. But if these have become your main coping mechanisms, it’s time to go back to basics so that you’re supporting a strong, healthy nervous system that can help you manage the stress.

Things like eating nutrient-dense food, getting high-quality (and enough) sleep, and caring for your body well are important factors in your stress management, as well as keeping yourself adaptable. Caring for your body can look like a lot of different things. This may mean going out in nature for a bit every day, getting massages to help release tension from your muscles, or exercising so that your body is strong enough to handle what life throws at you. Pay attention to the activities that make your body feel supported and build those into your schedule as non-negotiables.

To take this to the next level, build in practices that take care of your mind and manage your energy. Your mind affects your body. If you want your machine to run properly, you have to take care of its operating system—your mind. You can do this through journaling, meditation, conversations, personal development work, and learning new skills to keep your mind in tip-top shape. Likewise, you need to pay attention to your energy and how you spend it. There are certain things that will cost you more energy than others, even if those activities take the same amount of time. For example, it may take you less energy to read a book for an hour than it does to have a conversation with your mother for an hour. When you understand how you spend energy, you’re able to craft your days more intentionally so that you don’t overspend one day and rob yourself of energy for the rest of the week.

All of these things will strengthen your base so that when things go wrong, you have the best chance at handling them.

“Your reality is as you perceive it to be. So it is true, that by altering this perception we can alter our reality.” -William Constantine

Emergency catches

On top of having a solid foundation, you need practices in your toolbox that can catch you in an emergency. Those practices you can do when things hit the fan and you need help now. Our two favorite categories of emergency catches are grounding and breathing exercises.

If you haven’t taught yourself to consciously breathe, you’re likely a shallow breather. That means you breathe into your chest without inhaling fully. Proper breathing goes deeper into the belly, making the diaphragm move. This is how you properly oxygenate your blood, body, and brain. This matters because deep breathing can actually help you release stress, which promotes a healthier immune system. Breathing exercises like laying on your back, placing your hands on your lower abdomen, and breathing into your hands to push them away from you for a count of eight on the inhale, hold for four, and exhale for eight will help you develop deeper breathing habits.

Grounding exercises are also great in emergency situations. In times of trauma or stress, people can disassociate from their bodies. This means that the world may not feel real to you, it can seem as if you’re outside of your body, or you may not be experiencing reality as it truly is because of the disconnect from the feelings of your body. Things can go blank and your mind can refuse to focus. If you struggle with these things, grounding exercises can help you by bringing awareness back to your body. This is especially important to note if you find yourself in the space of needing to make a decision. Your body gives you information through your feelings. If you’re disconnected from your body, it becomes difficult to read those signs which can lead to making misaligned choices or having a skewed perspective. By grounding your body, you reconnect to its messages and can make better choices.

One grounding exercise is to sit comfortably and every part of your body that is touching the floor, imagine it growing roots into the earth. Imagine those roots pull in the nutrients and nurturing of the Earth’s pulse, as you bring your awareness to your breath. Feel what it’s like to breathe deeply into your belly. Pay attention to how your rib cage expands. Then consciously start to release any tension you feel in your feet, then your calves, then your thighs, and work all the way up your body. By putting your focus on your body, you bring yourself back to the present moment and fill up your vessel.

It’s important to remember that not everything needs a response now. Coming from a place of calm is better than operating from a place of fear or anger. If your emotions start tipping that way, these are powerful exercises to implement into your toolbox.

The daily energy practice that is often overlooked

There are powerful ways to shift and direct your energy. One of the most overlooked practices that you can implement is the power of the spoken word.

Your voice has resonance, which means that you can command your energy to focus in a specific way using your voice. Remember, your mind is the facilitator of body health. So when you take time in your day to take your thoughts and put them into spoken words to direct energy, you can create change.

For example, if you feel tired you can command energy to refill your energy levels. If you feel like there is negative energy in your space, you can command that energy to leave, and for the space to be filled with bliss and peace. Keep in mind that you must believe in what you are saying for this to change your reality.

This takes time and practice, and that’s okay. Results come from consistent action, and this spoken word energy clearing will create results the more often you use it.

The post How to Be at Your Best When Bad Things Are Happening first appeared on Addicted 2 Success.

source https://addicted2success.com/life/how-to-be-at-your-best-when-bad-things-are-happening/

8 Things Companies Can Do to Thrive During the Great Resignation https://ift.tt/flKj1eg

2022-02-21T03:28:00.001+05:30

The Great Resignation continues into 2022, with over 4 million Americans quitting their jobs for six consecutive months. Now the question is, how can leaders respond to this crisis effectively? How can businesses surmount this challenge and even thrive?

In this article, we outline 8 strategies to help your business grow and expand in the midst of the Big Quit. We offer insights into why employees resign, what businesses can do to improve retention, and how to navigate the changing landscape of the workplace.

1. Leverage Information

Solving a problem requires understanding it. In the case of The Great Resignation, employee interviews and surveys are a great resource. These will help you identify improvement points that can prevent the crisis from negatively impacting your business.

For instance, you can perform “stay interviews” aimed at understanding what motivates an employee to stick to their current role. With this information, you can further strengthen what your employees perceive to be beneficial to their stay and thereby increase retention.

Conversely, you can perform and assess “exit interviews” to understand why past employees left. This way, you can address existing issues and prevent other employees from resigning.

2. Focus on Employee Experience

One of the best ways to retain top talent is to provide a great employee experience. Hence, it is important to invest in this endeavor during the great resignation. When employees feel heard and valued, they are more likely to stay longer with a company.

Some factors that contribute to a great employee experience are inclusivity, psychological safety, and work-life balance. These are factors you can measure by asking for feedback from your employees.

By continuously working on improving employee experience, you can ensure an engaged and productive workforce during these uncertain times. You can also dramatically increase the positive perception of your business and attract many great potential hires.

3. Offer Time Flexibility

Another way to reduce employee turnover is to offer time flexibility. What we mean by time flexibility is by giving employees flexibility in when they work. Allow your employees to start or end work at different times outside the 9-5 window, so they can attend to life’s demands without feeling extra pressure or stress. This option is highly sought by employees. In fact, a survey by Harvard Business Review revealed that 96% of U.S. professionals need flexibility. Yet, only 47% of the companies in the same survey cater to this need. This means that a flexible working schedule can be a competitive advantage for your business.

Both you and your employees can benefit from time flexibility. By implementing it, you may be able to enjoy increased employee engagement, higher productivity, and reduced tardiness and absenteeism. While new business models like the one this entails can be challenging to adopt, you can surely reap great rewards after.

4. Hire Remote Employees

Experts claim that remote work is here to stay. Many businesses already transitioned to a full remote or hybrid setup during the COVID-19 pandemic. If you haven’t yet, you may be having difficulty finding the right talent as many are prioritizing location flexibility when seeking employment today.

Besides location flexibility, employees have experienced greater productivity, work-life balance, and overall job and life satisfaction on a full-time remote schedule.

Those who hire remotely find themselves having a wider talent pool. They can find the best people to do the job from all over the world. They also spend less on office space and can allocate the supposed budget for other important things. Most importantly, they are able to cultivate a culture of trust which is the foundation of any good employer-employee relationship.

5. Cultivate a Culture of Empathy

Research shows that burnout is the main reason why people quit their jobs. One great way to prevent it from happening to your employees is by making empathy central to your company culture. Activities related to this may include creating conversations around empathy, learning how to acknowledge individual feelings at work, and knowing how to listen to employees without judgment.

Empathetic leadership brings out the best in people. It is especially important to practice it during times of crisis. By practicing empathy in the workplace, you can boost employee morale, foster greater collaboration, and improve employee loyalty.

“There’s no magic formula for great company culture. The key is just to treat your staff how you would like to be treated.” – Richard Branson

6. Create Advancement Opportunities

Lack of growth opportunities is another reason why people are exploring the possibility of employment elsewhere. If you want people to stay in your company, you have to think about what their short-term and long-term goals are. Then, you have to think about how these goals align with what your company can offer. This kind of information should be made available and discussed with your employees.

One great maxim to follow is “offer careers, not just jobs.” This means offering not just promotion and advancement, but also room for personal and professional development.

7. Promote Health and Wellbeing

The Great Resignation is, in part, a workplace mental health crisis. In Mind Share Partners’ 2021 Mental Health Report, half of the respondents said they quit their jobs due to mental health reasons. There are many ways employers can avert this problem. You can start by destigmatizing mental health issues, offering more personal time off, and promoting work-life balance.

Aside from mental health, many employees also leave their job for better financial wellbeing. With the recent increase of national inflation by around 7%, employees are needing more financial capability just to keep up with their basic needs.

All things considered, it can be more costly to replace top talent than to simply increase their salary. For this reason, you should consider reevaluating the compensation package and benefits you offer in response to today’s high quit rates.

8. Outsource and Delegate to a Virtual Assistant

Navigating the pandemic and The Great Resignation can be quite overwhelming. Thinking about how to do all the tasks listed in this article alone requires great effort. In order to lessen your workload and combat the effects of The Great Resignation, you can consider hiring a virtual executive assistant or EVA. EVAs perform time-consuming tasks so you can focus on the ones that generate income.

EVAs usually have lower wage demand, so they can help your business recover from the financial setbacks of today’s crises. Plus, they have been less likely to participate in The Big Quit.

There are several ways to combat the dreaded Big Quit. As discussed in this article, leaders must first understand why employees quit. Then, they have to gather information and respond to employee demands today such as time-flexibility, location-flexibility, and advancement opportunities. Another strategy is to choose to outsource some of your business functions.

In the end, companies may choose to adopt strategies like the ones listed in this article or suffer great attrition. Meanwhile, companies that are consciously turning The Great Resignation into the Great Retention are the ones that will survive and thrive in 2022.

The post 8 Things Companies Can Do to Thrive During the Great Resignation first appeared on Addicted 2 Success.

source https://addicted2success.com/success-advice/8-things-companies-can-do-to-thrive-during-the-great-resignation/

Little Known Way to Boost Your Client Attraction Results https://ift.tt/FXHnecp

2022-02-20T03:27:00.001+05:30

If you are struggling to prove that you are that expert your leads and prospects are ought to hire, if you are getting hesitation and confusion on your sales calls – perhaps I can show you another way to become magnetic to the right people in your audience.

In over two decades working with business owners from all walks of life, there is one main obstacle I can pinpoint when it comes to client attraction – where everyone who struggled to grow their business and attract more clients had one thing in common.

They were trying to follow marketing strategies that were not aligned with WHO they were as people, so there was no human energy in their marketing materials. It simply felt off – and their audiences could sense it.

People Work With People

People trust personal brands more than they do generic brands.

I always believed it, but I also wondered, “Why is that?” mainly when I lived in the countryside of Ireland, where people are not as open to using technology as in some other parts of the world. Why would Mary rather drive to Joe’s shop than order something online?

The answer was clear. May shopped at Joe’s because she liked him, she trusted him, enjoyed the “vibes,” the little chit-chat she could have when visiting his store, that warm fuzzy feeling that he would look after her.

And at the same time, she would never go shopping at Pat’s, who she thought was a very “difficult” man to deal with.

In other words, we interact with each other’s vibes that invisible energy more than we tend to give it credit. And in our marketing, our vibes play an even more critical role. If we are doing something we do not feel energetically lit up by (and most business owners I know hate anything to do with marketing) – the audience senses that “void” and simply does not respond to the offers.

After a long search through personality assessments and archetype research, I finally discovered an unusual but highly accurate tool. This discovery enabled me to help my clients magnetize their client attraction by mapping out their energetic potential. And it helps define the type of content that is so perfectly aligned with who they are that it feels easy for them to create and enjoyable to publish for the world to see.

That feeling of ease, inner security, joy, and, as a result, boosted confidence and the conviction with which they make their offers completely change the “vibe” of their marketing and, in turn, attracts a flow of great clients who immediately energetically respond in a very positive way.

My compass for achieving that is founded in a recently devised self-discovery and personal development system called Human Design. Some refer to this system as being given a “user manual” for your life. And it is perfect for aligning your business and marketing strategies with how you are designed to operate in the first place.

Your Business Energetics

Here is a little example of how learning about your Human Design Type, Authority (how you are designed to make decisions), and Profile help create a perfectly aligned marketing strategy. (you can get a free Human Design Chart Generated here.)

I am a Splenic Projector 1/3. A Projector is my Type. (There are also Generators, Manifestors, Reflectors & Manifesting Generators). In terms of my energetics, it describes a particular “shape” of my aura and the way I interact with people.

Projector’s aura is focused on the other person, one at a time. It is very penetrative. In other words, Projectors are gifted with seeing deep into the other, and they naturally make excellent guides, managers, organizers as they can see what needs to be aligned for achieving more efficiency and creating systems for doing whatever they see better.

The strategy for a Projector with such a laser-focused aura is to wait for an invitation before giving guidance. If a projector tries advising someone energetically “closed” (who has not “invited” them), it often meets pushbacks and resistance.

A marketing strategy for a Projector would be to focus on building their positioning as an authority expert in their niche and attract those who are open to concepts and ideas that that Projector is so passionate about.

Being seen and “recognized” both energetically and simply as an authority on the subject attracts very aligned kind of people. Clients often come to me already presold, so when I discuss enrolling them, the conversation is never about overcoming objections or persuading them I am the next best thing since sliced bread. My visibility does all the heavy lifting, so I can choose from the opportunities and invitations that it brings to ensure I engage in the most aligned ones.

This has been a winning realization for my own business, and it transformed the way I attract clients and the flow of new leads and new opportunities coming to me.

I tried to follow more traditional marketing strategies with cold outreach and structured sales calls – it felt utterly humiliating. I was forced into “proving my worth.”

I am not meant to operate by initiating action, and I am designed to be invited into interaction. Projectors do not see themselves and their worth the same way they see others, so this was always a very traumatic scenario for me.

Needless to say, it had low conversions too.

And yet, for some of my clients who were Manifestors by Type, cold outreach was perfect because their aura and Human Design are all about igniting the “fire,” starting projects, and initiating others into action.

For them messaging their connections on Facebook with invitations to join their groups and check out their offers worked seamlessly.

For me, it just created tension and even being blocked by annoyed recipients!

So the same activity performed by people with two completely different energetics evoked an opposite response, which is why traditional marketing strategies do not work for everyone. In fact, they do not work for most people, only those who have the same energetic type as those who created these strategies and succeeded in implementing them in the first place.

To my deeply logical mind, this makes perfect sense. I have been experimenting with my design in my own business and helping my clients who have different types of auras to find what works for them and find freedom from the pressure to say yes to offers and strategies that only get them more stuck. And it works every time.

Your Brand Magnetism

Another area of Human Design I am pretty obsessed with is Profiles. The insight into how we can become magnetic to the right people in our audiences is so powerful. I even developed my Marketing Archetypes based on the Human design profile lines to help create a specific type of content that feels truly enjoyable to create. My profile is 1/3 – it is the most introverted, self-absorbed type of energy that is all about getting deep to the core foundation of the topic and then testing it and finding the path through personal experiences to share one’s findings with others.

This is how people with 1/3 profile serve the community, through sharing their unique personal perspectives and letting others feel safe in trying new unknown things and learning from mistakes. We are afraid to embrace this in fear of being labeled selfish or self-centered.

Yet this is not a disadvantage because focusing on self and then sharing what that self sees is how we serve humanity. A very empowering perspective that has changed my life.

The way it shows up in my marketing it allowing me to focus on sharing personal insights in long-form posts on Facebook, my blog, masterclasses I create, publications I write for, and talks I give. It permitted me not to focus on growing a large community inside a free Facebook group- a typical traditional strategy widely advised by social media marketing gurus.

Having spent four years growing the group, I always felt that it was not an enjoyable activity for me to do. I somehow even felt more joy sharing my thoughts in a post on my personal profile than specifically creating a value post around the same thoughts for my group. Do you know that feeling if you do not like being the center of attention and are given a task to organize and host an event? You may do a decent enough job at it, but you will feel dead inside all the way through.

Interestingly, over four years and a couple of thousand total members, I never ever had a client enrolling with me through being “nurtured” in my free group. Most active members were already my clients and had their own exclusive Facebook group, which made me a little annoyed because they were engaging “in the wrong place.” When finally I relieved myself from a need for building a community as it is not where my energy becomes irresistibly magnetic, I felt so satisfied, free, and unstuck. I realized that just because I had this extra task to “post something in my group,” it was toxic for my creativity to write, interview amazing people for my podcasts, share my insights in talks and articles like this. And I did so much less of what brought clients into my business – all those above mentioned activities where I can be sharing what I was so deeply intrigued and excited by, without pressure to hang out, network, and socialize with other people.

By saying that, I am perfectly happy when I interact with people, I need the visibility to be seen and recognized and feel successful, this is also in my design, but I can achieve all that by being who I am, not who those gurus tell me I need to be to attract clients.

All one needs to be is to be themselves, to show up as who they are authentically, and everything else, client attraction, business growth, opportunities, and invitations start aligning and appearing as if out of nowhere.

Human Design is a new concept, it is under 40 years old, but it combines the ancient wisdom of many deep spiritual and practical modalities. What I find fascinating is that, unlike traditional personality assessments, the results do not depend on a bunch of questions that one may not answer while in a fully empowered and authentic state of mind. Hence, the results may not reflect the potential and often have some vagueness in practical application to one’s business strategies. Human Design may be called a pseudo-science by some. Still, I am yet to find anyone who discovered this system, leaned into it, and embraced some of their “user manual” suggestions and had not felt like they were handed permission to be themselves in their business or their lives.

If you need help in realigning your marketing strategies, look me up, but for now, I would love for you to think about all those things that did not work or did not feel right that caused you frustration and burnout. Would you like to never feel that way again in your business? I know I do.

The post Little Known Way to Boost Your Client Attraction Results first appeared on Addicted 2 Success.

source https://addicted2success.com/success-advice/little-known-way-to-boost-your-client-attraction-results/

12 Things I Learned in 12 Months of Working on My Startup https://ift.tt/b0mGdeN

2022-02-19T03:29:00.001+05:30

A few weeks ago I launched my startup. It took exactly 12 months from the initial idea until the moment I saw my app in the App Store. And these were some of the most challenging, fun and exciting 12 months of my whole life.

Before we dive deeper, a quick disclaimer. My startup it’s not a “standard” startup – I bootstrapped, I formed an LLC and not a corporation, and I don’t plan to sell it in a few years.

I have 15 years of experience working in a global technology and consulting company. So the good news is that I was familiar with the engineering side of things. The bad news, though, is that I had no idea about any other aspect of starting a business. So I had to learn it all (and I still am!)

Below I have tried to summarize some of the most important lessons that I wish someone had told me a year ago. Enjoy!

1 – Good ideas need space

I once was listening to an entrepreneurship podcast, and the podcast host said, “95% of my ideas came to me in the sauna.” And I thought to myself, “That is 100% true!” In December of 2020 I felt that I was ready to start my own business. The only problem was – I didn’t know what business I wanted to start.

I spent several weeks thinking about it and trying to come up with a good idea. Nothing was helping. And then I was laying on the tattoo table getting my tattoo done, staring at the ceiling and doing nothing, and this idea, this perfect idea, just popped into my head – and I’m not even kidding.

So next time you are trying to come up with an idea, or make an important decision – go get a tattoo. Joking! But seriously, slowing down and giving your thoughts room to breathe helps. Trust me.

2 – Choosing a brand name is harder than you think

Alright, now you have this awesome idea, let’s pick a name for your future company! Well, for me it definitely appeared to be harder than I thought.

It’s not just finding the name that is catchy, matches your brand and your vision and is not used anywhere yet (which is already pretty hard!). Have you also thought about the domain name? And how about social media accounts? Oh, and by the way, don’t forget the trademark!

I tried to come up with a name for my startup myself and failed, so I hired a professional to do that for me. And it was 100% worth it.

3 – You need a team from the start

It’s so tempting to do everything by yourself, especially if your budget is tight and/or if you are an expert in your area. Because of my technology background, many people asked me (and still do) if I am going to develop the app by myself.

But I knew from the very beginning that my time is much better spent being a visionary rather than an executor. So I found an agency for the design work, and then another one for development. And again, 100% worth it.

4 – Hold on to your vision

When you start, you have a strong vision in your mind. You know exactly what you want to achieve and why it’s important.

Then you begin to take small steps toward transforming your vision into the real product. Every step by itself seems to make sense. However, a few months into the process you might find yourself looking at the half baked product that looks nothing like your initial vision.

The danger here is that every step might in fact be a tiny deviation from your vision, but it’s so small you don’t notice it. However, these steps add up, and at some point deviation becomes noticeable.

In order to avoid this, or at least minimize the impact, make sure you step out from the tactics regularly and take a holistic look at what you are creating. And adjust if necessary.

5 – Pick your partners not just for the talent, but also for maturity

I found this design agency and fell in love with their work, so I hired them. And they really had very professional designers in house. The only problem was that all those designers left the agency within 3 months because the agency founder was treating them (and me, honestly) poorly.

Thankfully, we managed to finish the design, but it’s definitely a lesson learned for me.

6 – Your budget will increase

Whatever you plan for, add at least 25% for contingency. Whatever estimates you receive from your vendors, add 50% (or even 100%!)

It’s probably not what you want to hear, but it’s better to be prepared and to have this buffer ready for when it’s needed (and it will be needed, trust me), than try to urgently find more money while in the middle of the process.

“The value of an idea lies in the using of it.” – Thomas Edison

7 – Talk to your future users

Every interview matters. You don’t have to throw enormous budgets into the user research (absolutely do it if you have it though!), but you at least need to talk to some of those people who will potentially become your customers.

Does your product solve their problem? Do they even have a problem? It’s amazing how many insights you can get by talking to even just a few people.

8 – Cut your MVP. Then cut again

You have pictured this awesome product in your mind. But you go to your vendor, and they tell you that it will take hundreds of thousands of dollars and years of work to get your product out the door. Alright, it’s time to start cutting the scope for MVP (minimal viable product).

It’s not easy, and at first it will seem like every piece is essential. But if you dig deeper, you will find that core that absolutely has to stay there, and then you can cut everything else.

Oh, and by the way, be prepared to go through this process several times.

9 – Pivoting is your best friend

More “good” news for you here. It’s not just about cutting your scope, but also about changing it to reflect the actual people’s needs and the reality we live in. Or sometimes you might simply overlook something!

Remember – having to make changes is not a sign that your product is a failure. In fact, it’s the opposite – it gives your product a much higher chance of success, and it makes you a much smarter founder.

10 – Set your priority wisely

As a startup founder, you will constantly need to be wearing multiple hats. Finance and data privacy laws, product development and testing, marketing and PR, user acquisition and user retention – just to name a few of the things that will keep you up at night.

But remember – your capacity is not unlimited, so focus on one priority at a time. Feel free to switch between them weekly, but don’t try to multitask.

11 – Launch when you are ready, not when you have to

You will have the launch date in mind, and most likely this date will keep slipping. You will feel pressured to launch when you originally planned to launch. But don’t. Take as much time to finalize and test your product as needed.

Remember – you can only make the first impression once!

12 – Launch is just the beginning

If you think that, once you launch, the hardest part is done, think again. You can be creating as many hypophyses as you want, but it’s only when you start receiving real data and real feedback from your costumes, that you can finally prove (or disprove) your theories.

I cannot stress this enough – data is your best friend when it comes to making your startup successful. Spend the time and set up all the analytics tools you need in order to fully understand what’s going on with your business at any point in time. Funnels, conversion rates, retention, not to mention financials, – it might feel overwhelming (and trust me, it is at times!), but it is essential that you have it all figured out and ready to go, otherwise you will be blind.

And it’s really hard to navigate the fun and challenging startup world being blind.

The post 12 Things I Learned in 12 Months of Working on My Startup first appeared on Addicted 2 Success.

source https://addicted2success.com/startups/12-things-i-learned-in-12-months-of-working-on-my-startup/

Entrepreneurship Isn’t for Everyone but Here’s How You Can Succeed https://ift.tt/O5oIAD6

2022-02-18T03:27:00.001+05:30

Before the rise of corporations in the Industrial Revolution, most people worked for themselves. Now, we’re circling back as millions of workers have had a taste of freedom.

What’s causing this renewed interest in entrepreneurial ventures? For many, the turning point came during the height of pandemic lockdowns. People experienced autonomy as they worked from home, spent more time with their loved ones, and could arrange their schedules according to their needs. Unwilling to let go of that newfound freedom, many are handing in their resignation letters and setting out to start their own businesses.

Perhaps you’re one of the many looking to follow your dreams. Remember that the road from “I quit” to successful entrepreneurial ventures is anything but straight, predictable, or easy. But it is certainly achievable, especially if you engage with proven business models that provide networks, resources, and support.

The Entrepreneurial Scale

Before we get into what a proven business model is and why it matters, it’s important to understand the scale of entrepreneurship. On the very left side, you have the self-employed 1099 contractor. On the right side, you have someone who creates something out of nothing, a trailblazing visionary who takes 100% of the risk.

The proven business model concept can work well for those in the middle of that continuum. They are directing their daily lives on their own with no one telling them what to do, but they also don’t need to do all the experimentation and risk-taking that comes with creating something from scratch.

Make no mistake: Following a proven business model doesn’t restrict your autonomy. You’ll still have mastery over your time. But you’ll need to follow the system you’re given consistently to set yourself up for success without having to reinvent any wheels.

If you’re looking for more freedom than the corporate world could give you, the first place to look is inward. Take a step back, confirm you have what it takes to be an entrepreneur, and figure out what kind you are. If you’re the type who might benefit from some established structure, the next step is to discover the business model that’s right for you. Start here:

1. Honestly assess whether you have the makings of an entrepreneur.

You know you’re an entrepreneur if you don’t need to be told what to do. You don’t ask for permission; you ask for forgiveness later. You act now, and you just go with your ideas. You’re a risk-taker, but you take responsibility and blame no one for your failures or setbacks. You can think outside the box and see problems and solutions where others don’t. And, most essentially, you have a passion and drive to perform on your own and for yourself.

Once you confirm you’re an entrepreneur, assess where you fall on the continuum. If you’re somewhere in the middle between self-employed contractor and from-the-ground-up entrepreneur, you can find success with a proven business model. But be sure to carefully assess where you fall. If you’re a visionary with big, creative ideas, for example, you might be too far to the right to find fulfillment following an existing model.

2. Identify the purpose that will fuel the fire in your belly.

Work without purpose becomes dull very quickly. That’s why so many workers with entrepreneurial leanings become disengaged. Accordingly, you want to name and claim your purpose. For instance, I have had a lifelong passion for helping entrepreneurs. This led me to find a proven system that allowed me to become a business coach.

To make your list, record everything that you’re passionate about. Maybe it’s working with kids or college students. Whatever it is, write it down. Then, flesh out your purpose a little more.

Let’s say you like working with school children: Do you want to teach them? Do you like the activity so much that you want to do it on a day-to-day basis? Once you confirm what will give you the motivation to keep going, you can start looking for a corresponding business that features a proven income model.

“Entrepreneurship is about turning what excites yuo in life into capital, so that you can do more of it and move forward with it.” – Richard Branson

3. Search through existing business models that line up with your purpose.

Plenty of entrepreneurial ventures are out there. Some have high levels of investment; others require relatively low financial outlays. Make sure you have a budget in mind and then seek out business models in your range. For instance, going back to the idea of tutoring young people, you might consider owning a local Kumon Learning Center. Those usually fall into the low-to-middle investment end.

Maybe your budget is higher and your passion is serving food to families. Opening a well-known chain restaurant could be the right choice. You’ll likely need access to a substantial upfront capital, but many chains have known working models that tend to be lucrative when followed closely.

As a caveat, be cautious when hunting for entrepreneurial ventures. If part of the model’s revenue system is based on somebody else making money from you joining, that should raise some red flags. It matters who is bringing you into the model. If it’s an individual who is personally incentivized financially, beyond maybe a nominal referral fee, to get you into the model because they get a significant portion of your revenue, then be wary. You should only be dealing with a model’s business operations group and not individuals looking to fill their downline.

4. Decide who you want to operate the business.

You need to honestly interrogate yourself and confirm what type of entrepreneur you are and want to be, then go through the process of filtering the many opportunities. For example, do you want to be in charge, or do you want to hire others to operate your business?

If you want to be an absentee owner, look for something hands-free like WaveMax, a coin-operated full-service laundry franchise. You just need to write the check, hire the general manager, and do nothing else after that. It’s recurring passive income, and you can then scale it from there based on your investment returns.

5. Gauge the business model’s support system.

You’ve narrowed down your business model options to one or two possibilities. Now, it’s time to evaluate your top contenders on the support they give.

A proven business model should give you leads, a sales and marketing process, a business development framework, and more. This enables you to skip a lot of the back-end startup responsibilities and start earning faster.

Be diligent about checking references as well. Talk to other users of the business model: Do they feel like the model works and allows them to realize their purpose? Are they profitable or on a path to becoming profitable? The more hard and anecdotal data you have at your fingertips, the easier it will be to pinpoint the right model for you.

The road to entrepreneurship isn’t a straightforward, exacting one. Many entrepreneurs never get liftoff. However, aligning yourself with a business model that’s proven itself time and again can afford you the runway you need to soar.

The post Entrepreneurship Isn’t for Everyone but Here’s How You Can Succeed first appeared on Addicted 2 Success.

source https://addicted2success.com/entrepreneur-profile/entrepreneurship-isnt-for-everyone-but-heres-how-you-can-succeed/

30 Motivational Kylian Mbappe Quotes to Motivate You https://ift.tt/V87e9Ry

2022-02-17T08:27:00.001+05:30

Kylian Mbappé is a French professional footballer who plays forward for Paris Saint-Germain, and is considered one of the best players in the world. Mbappé helped France win the 2018 FIFA World Cup along with winning the Best Young Player Award during the World Cup.

Check out these inspirational Kylian Mbappé quotes on hard work and becoming successful!

Here are 30 Motivational Kylian Mbappé Quotes:

1. “We must always set the bar high, otherwise we do not progress.” – Kylian Mbappé

2. “You have to raise your game to the level of those around you. Then you have to maintain that high level, and by doing this I think I am improving naturally.” – Kylian Mbappé

3. “Like the greats, you want to make your own story yourself, and not be a copy of another.” – Kylian Mbappé

4. “Football goes fast but it can go quickly in both directions.” – Kylian Mbappé

5. “We try not to let pressure get into our heads and play the way we usually do.” – Kylian Mbappé

6. “When we make the effort for each other, it makes the difference.” – Kylian Mbappé

7. “A great team relies on its leaders and they have to make a difference at key moments.” – Kylian Mbappé

8. “We must stop feeling fear.”- Kylian Mbappé

Image Credit: Statustown

10. “For me, football is more than a sport, just look at the impact it has on society.” – Kylian Mbappé

11. “Helping people, moreover those coming from where you grew up, this is the most important. Not everyone can succeed, but at least you can to act for them.” – Kylian Mbappé

12. “You should always focus on training and consider it a step forward. And each step is taking you higher and higher until you reach the top, which is where you should stay.” – Kylian Mbappé

13. “We have given ourselves the means of our ambitions, and in football, when we give ourselves the means, it is always less difficult.” – Kylian Mbappé

14. “I am happy, and I am living the life I always dreamed of.” – Kylian Mbappé

15. “Learning is fine, but you also have to win – you only have one career.” – Kylian Mbappe

16. “In football, everything is possible, from the moment you work and you believe in your qualities.”- Kylian Mbappé

17. “If the team needs you, you need to sacrifice.”- Kylian Mbappé

18. “PSG is an ambitious club that wants to be the best in the world. So you have to win all the competitions and leave no room for doubt.” – Kylian Mbappé

19. “I am hungry for titles.”- Kylian Mbappé

20. “The Champions League is very difficult and you need to keep your concentration at all times.” – Kylian Mbappé

21. “I work hard every day to try to help my team. I try to have fun too – because football is still fun – and scoring goals, breaking records, that’s what drives me.”- Kylian Mbappé

22. “It’s really incredible to be compared to a player like ‘King Pele’ who is the King of Football. But what I must think about is working hard and following my own pathway and not thinking about people who compare you to other players.”- Kylian Mbappé

23.

Image Credit: Statustown

24. “It will not matter, the pressure I always had it, I was mediated early, I learned to handle it, I got used to it and it’s part of my environment.” – Kylian Mbappé

25. “I always assume that one day someone will come and try to do better so you always have to go beyond your limits.” – Kylian Mbappé

26. “The greatest are an inspiration for all the kids who wake up early in the morning. Everyone watches you, is inspired by you and wants to be you. So you influence society. That’s what being more than an athlete means. I want more kids to have that opportunity. I want everybody to start with the same chance.” – Kylian Mbappé

27. “Even if I am French, I have African roots. Helping African sport to develop is something that is very important to me. If I can use my reputation or other means to help, then I will.” – Kylian Mbappé

28. “I’m not going to revolutionize football. I’m in a system. You have to know how to respect it and to stay in place.”- Kylian Mbappé

29. “I would choose Messi’s left foot, Neymar’s right foot, Christiano’s mentality, and Buffon’s class.” – Kylian Mbappé

30. “I don’t have the words. Not even in my wildest dreams, and I am a big dreamer, would I have imagined this, there is still one more step to take, but we are proud of what we have done.” – Kylian Mbappé

Which Kylian Mbappé quote is your favorite and why? Comment below!

The post 30 Motivational Kylian Mbappe Quotes to Motivate You first appeared on Addicted 2 Success.

source https://addicted2success.com/quotes/30-motivational-kylian-mbappe-quotes-to-motivate-you/

Adversity Leads to Success but Only if You Don’t Give Up https://ift.tt/Ujxtz3f

2022-02-17T04:27:00.001+05:30

In the pursuit of any goal, you’re going to encounter hard times and adversity. Generally, the bigger and more ambitious the goal, the more obstacles you’ll need to overcome. I dropped out of college in 2014 to start a business called cravebox.com. I had no prior business experience or business education, very little start-up cash, and took no investments or debt. So growing the business was a slow process that required faith and persistence. Facing adversity in business or in life forces you to adapt, become stronger, and stay in the game long enough to find success. You just can’t give up along the way.

Results come long after the work

When you start something new, success does not come quickly. Most new businesses require 18-24 months to become profitable. You need to understand and expect that you’ll do a lot of hard work over a long period of time and it might seem like you’re making no progress. My business was not profitable for the first 3 years. I worked all day, 7 days per week, for 3 years straight and continued to lose money and hardly do any sales.

There were many occasions when I thought that maybe I should give up and doubted that I was going in the right direction, but deep inside I had faith and decided to keep going. In my 4th year, my business became profitable and continued to grow. Now we’re in a 60,000 square foot warehouse and employ 40 full-time staff.

So the lesson here is to focus more on doing high quality work consistently over a long period of time and focus less on results. The results will come but they’ll take time to come and if you focus too much on results, you might become discouraged and quit.

You have to adapt

In the last section, I wrote about how you should focus on the work you’re doing and don’t put too much emphasis on results (or lack of results). But that doesn’t mean you should continue to work mindlessly in the same wrong direction. It’s very important to work hard in a certain direction, analyze the results to see if it’s gaining any traction, and depending on those results, possibly pivot and adapt if you think it’s necessary.

So while results will take time, and be underwhelming in the beginning, you should notice some signs that results are around the corner. If you’ve worked at something for a year and you’ve seen absolutely no sign that it could ever work, maybe it’s time to pivot and try a slightly different approach.

For example, I started my CRAVEBOX business by partnering with colleges, marketing to the parents of their students, and giving the college a cut of sales. I worked on this marketing approach for about 2 years and it worked to a degree but my progress was so slow and cumbersome and it wasn’t very profitable since I was giving a large cut to the colleges. I decided to try listing my products on Amazon and after some time and effort, I realized Amazon would ultimately be more successful than partnering with colleges, so I went 100% in the direction of Amazon.

“Sometimes adversity is what you need to face in order to become successful.” – Zig Ziglar

Rejection is the norm (especially early on)

When you first start on the pursuit of any goal, like growing a business, you will face a lot of rejection. In the case of starting a business, rejection is more common in the beginning but it’s a pretty common theme through the life of the business. As I mentioned before, CRAVEBOX started by partnering with colleges, but it was a very competitive environment since many companies wanted these exclusive partnership rights.

For every college that partnered with me, I was rejected by about 400. And each of those attempts required a lot of work, communication, presentations, etc. It was frustrating and almost discouraging but I’m the kind of person that gains energy from rejection. I became more determined and frankly angry as the rejections kept coming. This energy helped me to work even harder, submit more proposals to colleges, and to think of other ways to make the business work, which ultimately led to listing my products on Amazon.

Eventually you’ll figure it out

If you can consistently work towards your goal for a long time, adapt along the way, and gain energy as you face rejection and obstacles, you will eventually find success. With enough time, experimentation, learning, and work, you’ll figure out what it takes to compete. To be successful, you need to be better than most of the competition and that takes time.

Even after I listed my products on Amazon, it took about 4 years to become a top Amazon seller in my category. This was a daily effort to improve my images, products, reviews, listings, etc. As I continued to improve the business, I realized that I was getting closer and closer to offering a product that was as good or better than the top competition in my industry.

The post Adversity Leads to Success but Only if You Don’t Give Up first appeared on Addicted 2 Success.

source https://addicted2success.com/success-advice/adversity-leads-to-success-but-only-if-you-dont-give-up/

3 Ways Meditation Can Make You More Successful https://ift.tt/2seQpNE

2022-02-16T03:27:00.001+05:30

Meditation has been practiced in Eastern culture for thousands of years but now it’s gone global. If the word meditation and other spiritual practices conjures up images of monks or long-haired hippy types, think again. With everyone from high-achieving CEOs to celebrities now attributing much of their success to regular meditation the stigma is finally being removed and it’s becoming mainstream.

When I was younger I was afraid to express too much interest in such things as spirituality or other such esoteric beliefs because they would’ve been dismissed as nonsense and I didn’t want to be judged as weird. However, having gone through such an enlightening spiritual awakening over the last few years I’m now all in. The more I learn about the three M’s (mindfulness, meditation and manifesting), the more it makes sense. There’s a reason this wisdom has been taught in eastern cultures for thousands of years: it works.

Here in the West we are slowly catching up to what the ancients have known all along. Presence, awareness and moments of calm are essential to living a fulfilled life; stress, angst and fear are not. We have been conditioned to believe that if we’re not doing everything at a hundred miles an hour, burning the candle at both ends and spinning all the plates without breaking a single one we are, at best, not worthy of our success, at worst, complete and utter failures.

However, there is more and more evidence to suggest that taking time out to be present, to feel our emotions and then to release them, is the key to living a calmer, more balanced and, ultimately, better life. Art is a fantastic tool for getting started or if you have difficulty staying focused during traditional ‘eyes closed’ meditation. Studying a painting mindfully while controlling the breath can be equally as, if not more, effective than using a mantra.

Here are three great reasons for starting your meditation practice that will set you up for success:

1. Better Sleep

I’ve never really had a problem falling asleep but staying asleep, well that’s different. I used to get up two or three times during the night to catch mice/feed the cats/go to the loo (more often than not all three!). However, since I’ve upped my meditation practice to twice a day I have slept a good six to seven hours straight every night.

I begin my day with a 20 minute visualisation meditation which helps ease me awake slowly and more consciously. Simply waking up half an hour earlier to incorporate this ensures that we start our morning feeling positive and in a calm state of mind. This then has repercussions throughout the day meaning that we’re able to navigate any obstacles that may appear with ease rather than panic. Taking ‘mindfulness breaks’ using tools such as art can help to maintain calm during our waking hours.

By the time we go to bed there is minimal stress in the system and any that does remain can be released during an evening meditation. This means that our body gets the rest it needs at night instead of getting rid of stress, resulting in a deeper and more restorative sleep.

“Meditation is not about stopping thoughts, but recognizing that we are more than our thoughts and our feelings.” – Arianna Huffington

2. Improved Productivity

Now that you’re sleeping better and getting the proper rest you need during the night it follows that your days will be more productive too. Less fatigue and brain fog and more mental clarity means we can stay focused and get more done in less time. When we are constantly existing in fight-or-flight mode it’s difficult to think straight and we often make bad judgement calls under pressure.

Meditation, combined with mindfulness practices which use an anchor to keep us present, such as art, can greatly improve our cognitive function. What it does is calm the nervous system, creates order and therefore allows stress to be expelled from the body. Meditating over time literally changes our brains: studies have shown that regular practice shrinks the amygdala (the part of the brain that controls fear and emotional impulses) and increases the size of the brain stem (where dopamine and serotonin originate) and the pre-frontal cortex, which is the part responsible for learning and creative problem-solving.

3. Enhanced Intuition

If you find you’re constantly second-guessing yourself or have difficulty making decisions on a daily basis then meditation is your new best friend. Most of the time we are using our left brain to analyse and problem solve in a logical way.

What meditation does is strengthen the connection between this and the right, or creative, side of the brain. Using the two in tandem increases our powers of intuition which enables us to instinctively make better decisions and choices. Art also has this ability to unite the two sides of the brain – the left is analysing and trying to make sense of the picture as a whole while the right taps into the emotions that we feel when looking at it. By visually meditating using a piece of art you are in effect supercharging your practice by giving your brain the equivalent of a HIIT workout!

You may not have aspirations to be the next Jeff Bezos or Will Smith but meditation will make you better at being you. Whatever your dreams, they will seem much more attainable if you afford yourself the time to slow down, tune in and filter out the noise. Haircuts and robes are optional.

The post 3 Ways Meditation Can Make You More Successful first appeared on Addicted 2 Success.

source https://addicted2success.com/success-advice/3-ways-meditation-can-make-you-more-successful/

48 Motivational Dwayne Wade Quotes on Success https://ift.tt/fh6HSmR

2022-02-15T08:27:00.001+05:30

Dwayne Wade is a former NBA player who spent 16 years in the league. He’s best known for being the face of the Miami Heat along with winning three NBA championships with them. Dwayne Wade is considered one of the NBA’s best players of all time.

Check out these inspirational Dwayne Wade quotes on hard work and becoming successful!

Here are 85 Motivational Dwayne Wade Quotes:

1. “Nobody knows that they’re going to be Champions – you have to work to get there.” – Dwyane Wade

2. “All children need their fathers, but boys especially need fathers to teach them how to be men.” – Dwyane Wade

3. “The biggest thing is to let your voice be heard, let your story be heard.” – Dwyane Wade

4. “I’m always telling my kids to be themselves and let their personalities show in other ways than with their mouths.” – Dwyane Wade

5. “Fashion’s about taking chances, it’s about taking risks, and just doing it the way you feel comfortable doing it. If you do that, people will respect it more.” – Dwyane Wade

6. “Places you go in life – it opens your eyes up and you kind of understand who you are.” – Dwyane Wade

7. “I don’t think the world focuses on the positive things enough.” – Dwyane Wade

8. “We live in the moment. We’re not thinking about the future right now. We’re not thinking about the past, you know. We’re living in this moment right here and it’s a sweet moment to live in.” – Dwyane Wade

9. “Never give up and take nothing for granted in life.”– Dwyane Wade

10. “We play the whole summer. I do think guys should be compensated. Just like I think college players should be compensated as well. Unfortunately, it’s not there. But I think it should be something, you know, there for it.” – Dwyane Wade

11. “My job, my whole life, I’ve always had that kind of doubter, people have always doubted me. And I don’t know how I would succeed without it. So I welcome it, and it gives me a challenge, and I will see if I can live up to my challenge.” – Dwyane Wade

12. “The biggest thing is to make sure that when something comes out about you that is false that you prove it’s not true.” – Dwyane Wade

13. “I live by the motto, ‘To whom much is given, much is required.’ I know that people are counting on me. That’s why I have to keep working hard.” – Dwyane Wade

14. “I’ve struggled in my life. I’ve had hard times, but I kept pressing on.”– Dwyane Wade

15. “Guys who might not be superstars but because of their hustle, because of the little things they do, these are the guys who can really mean the difference between winning and losing.”– Dwyane Wade

16. “I understand that I’m not perfect. I made mistakes and I had a hand in everything that’s happened to me, good and bad.”– Dwyane Wade

17. “I’m just showing my personality in my clothing.”– Dwyane Wade

18. “I want to continue to take steps forward.”– Dwyane Wade

19. “I realize that you have to be careful sometimes what you wish for.”– Dwyane Wade

20. “Immediately after games, we’re talking about what we need to do for the next game. We’re not satisfied in the moment that we’re in.” – Dwyane Wade

21.

Image Credit: AZ Quotes

22. “Every time I look at my children, they remind me to work harder and become a better man.” – Dwyane Wade

23. “The thing is, I don’t do these things for recognition, being a good teammate, being a positive member of the community. I do them because those things make me whole and complete.” – Dwyane Wade

24. “When I’m designing I try to think about what I like to see on other people.” – Dwyane Wade

25. “I’ve been successful in different areas, but nothing brings a smile to my face more than my oldest son, Zaire, and my second son, Zion, saying the kind word of ‘Dad.’” – Dwyane Wade

26. “When I first got into the league, I tried to fit in. Now I don’t care.” – Dwyane Wade

27. “I think everything happens as it’s supposed to. I don’t want to force anything. I want it to be so authentic that it’s seamless.” – Dwyane Wade

28. “My name is very important to me. I’m representing the Wade name. I’ve got the name on the back of my jersey when I play. I walk around with that name. That’s my family name, the name my son will grow up with. So it’s very important to me to keep the level of maturity that I have.” – Dwyane Wade

29. “I’ve stuck by being modest, honest and humble, because I think you’ll get more appreciated that way and we all want to be appreciated in this world.” – Dwyane Wade

30. “I’ll always be a Golden Eagle.” – Dwyane Wade

31. “I’m going forward with my plans for life. I’m looking at things not only basketball-wise, but personal-wise.” – Dwyane Wade

32. “I’ve learned great lessons from my parents for things on the court and off. I really look up to them.” – Dwyane Wade

33. “I always remind my kids that hard work pays off. They see that I take nothing for granted in life. It helps them stay grounded.”– Dwyane Wade

34. “My belief is stronger than your doubt.” – Dwyane Wade

35. “Nobody knows that they’re going to be Champions – you have to work to get there.” – Dwyane Wade

36. “I’ve struggled in my life. I’ve had hard times, but I kept pressing on.” – Dwyane Wade

37. “I have two definitions of success – one on the basketball court and one in my personal life. In basketball, success means making my teammates better, winning basketball games and winning championships. In my personal life, success means being a good father to my sons and raising them to be strong men; taking care of my family and being a good friend; and using my influence to make a difference in the community.” – Dwyane Wade

38. “You know, 10 years ago I never thought I’d be in this position. It’s a dream and I don’t even know if I dreamed this big.” – Dwyane Wade

39. “I’m a playmaker, and I’m going to score. At the end of the day, my job is to put the ball in the basket.” – Dwyane Wade

40. “Shooting is a lost art, but nobody wants to see nobody shoot all day. You want to see somebody break somebody off the dribble. That’s today game, and that’s what I try to do.” – Dwyane Wade

41. “I love football. I’ll watch the NFL before I watch any NBA.”– Dwyane Wade

42. “My will is to always be better and better and better. I’ve got the will to want to be the best.”– Dwyane Wade

43.

44. “The biggest surprise has been making the adjustment after losing a game. In the NBA you could lose tonight and you have to put that game behind you because you have another game the next night.” – Dwyane Wade

45. “For home games, I bring my clothes to the arena. I bring two different outfits that I can pick after the game. Road game, I got to wear what I walk in with.”– Dwyane Wade

46. “Our goal is to be the best team in the NBA at the end of the year.”– Dwyane Wade

47. “My biggest achievement – besides being drafted into the NBA – was becoming a father. Being a father has made me experience things that have contributed to my maturity and personal growth.” – Dwyane Wade

48. “I’ve played for the Miami Heat my whole career under Pat Riley. Mr. GQ himself. So when I pick out my outfits before a game, I’m already feeling confident. And some of that swagger stays with me when I take the court.” – Dwyane Wade

Which Dwayne Wade quote is your favorite and why? Comment below!

The post 48 Motivational Dwayne Wade Quotes on Success first appeared on Addicted 2 Success.

source https://addicted2success.com/quotes/48-motivational-dwayne-wade-quotes-on-success/

7 Principles That Drive the Success of Millennial Women Entrepreneurs https://ift.tt/XonDdbU

2022-02-15T03:27:00.001+05:30

There are many different factors that go into the success of a business. However, there are a few principles and strategies that millennial women entrepreneurs, in particular, value and implement more than any other generation. If you’re a woman entrepreneur looking to grow your business, then the seven principles and strategies outlined in this blog post are a great place to start.

Principle #1: Stay Creative

One of the most important principles that millennial women entrepreneurs live by is staying creative. This means always being open to new ideas and looking for ways to improve your business. Women are naturally creative beings, so embracing this principle can help you to stand out in your industry.

Some ways to stay in the creative flow include:

– Keeping a journal of your ideas

– Attending workshops and networking events

– Joining online communities of entrepreneurs

– Watching TED Talks and other inspiring videos

Millennial women in business are strong believers in using their imagination and originality to come up with new ideas and solutions. As a result, they are more likely to take risks and experiment with new things. This can be seen in the way they run their businesses; they are not afraid to try out new strategies or methods, even if there is a chance of failure.

Principle #2: Be Driven By Your Values

Millennial women entrepreneurs are highly values-driven. They care about making a difference in the world and helping others achieve their goals. This comes through in the way they approach business; they focus on providing valuable products and services that meet the needs of their customers. In addition, they often give back to the community by donating time or money to causes they believe in.

Principle #3: Keep Tech Skills Fresh

Millennial women entrepreneurs are very tech-savvy. They use technology to their advantage in order to run their businesses more efficiently and reach a larger audience. This includes using social media platforms to market their products and services, as well as utilizing online tools such as cloud storage, social media automation, email marketing and collaboration software.

“It’s our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.” – J.K. Rowling

Principle #4: Be Resourceful

Millennial women entrepreneurs are extremely resourceful. They know how to get the most out of every situation and make the most of what they have. As a result, they are good at making wise business decisions, gathering research and managing workflows. They also tend to be more flexible than other generations, which allows them to adapt quickly to changing circumstances.

Principle #5: Your Network Impacts Your Net-worth

Millennial women entrepreneurs are good networkers. They know the importance of building relationships and networking with other professionals. As a result, they are more likely to get help when they need it and expand their business reach. Women are also more likely than men to engage in networking activities on social media platforms like LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.

Principle #6: Be Authentic and Transparent

Millennial women entrepreneurs value authenticity and transparency. They want their customers to see the person behind the business, so they’re not afraid of showing some personality when it comes to marketing themselves and their products. They also believe in being truthful with their customers, which helps to create trust and loyalty.

Principle #7: Be a Team Player

Millennial women entrepreneurs are team players. They understand that success is not possible without the help of others, so they work collaboratively with their employees, partners, and customers. By collaborating effectively, they can create a powerful network of support that helps their businesses grow faster and stronger.

All in all, these seven principles are what drive the growth and success of millennial women entrepreneurs. If you want to be successful in business, then you should think about emulating these same values and strategies in your brand.

Remember, there is no one-size-fits-all approach to success; so find what works best for you and go for it! Stay creative, values-driven, and focused on your goals, and you’ll be well on your way to success.

The post 7 Principles That Drive the Success of Millennial Women Entrepreneurs first appeared on Addicted 2 Success.

source https://addicted2success.com/entrepreneur-profile/7-principles-that-drive-the-success-of-millennial-women-entrepreneurs/

How to Heal From Betrayal and Trust Yourself (and Others) Again https://ift.tt/ln6XjYu

2022-02-14T03:27:00.001+05:30

Ask anyone who’s been betrayed, and they’ll tell you that the “knife in the back” is not only a metaphor but an actual physical sensation. It’s been over ten years since I felt double-crossed by a business partner and walked away empty-handed from what I had believed was my purpose in life. The experience broke something inside me, but that wasn’t necessarily a bad thing, especially when I realize that what broke was my naive and innocent belief that a good, honest conversation and mutual compromise could overcome any conflict. Sometimes, nothing can.

Mistrustful of everyone

In the immediate months following my betrayal, I felt suspicious of everyone. I wondered: if someone could encourage me to open up to them only to use that information against me later on, couldn’t anyone? I started to wonder if promises and agreements were nothing more than ruses to hide ulterior motives. Was I a fool? Was everyone out to get me? These dangerous questions threatened to put all my relationships under a dark cloud of mistrust.

Incessant suspicion was an uncomfortable mental place to be in. I had always prided myself on my trusting nature. But this meant I had often shared intimacies with people before they had earned the right to hear them. I had believed that a strong, reciprocal relationship could always outweigh personal ambition. I hadn’t considered that often, blind ambition is precisely the energy that destroys personal relationships.

With time and deliberate inner work, I uncovered the hidden gem inside the pain of my betrayal: a richer connection to my intuition, which then helped me establish confidence as I stepped out to build better relationships, and trust, once again.

Here are the steps I went through to heal from betrayal and trust myself and others again.

1. Understand that it’s not about you

Betrayal feels very personal, but it’s important to remember that other people’s actions have more to do with their inner landscape than with you. They might be trying to prove something to themselves or others. Or, perhaps your energy reminds them of a previous relationship, and they are acting out of habit, insecurity, fear, or protection. Really, none of this is your business. When someone betrays your trust, understand that they would do that to anyone in your shoes. No amount of wondering why they did it helps with the healing, so if you can, let those thoughts and ideas go.

2. Understand that it’s completely about you

Wait, didn’t I just say that it wasn’t about you? Yes. But also: it’s entirely about you. Meaning this: betrayal of your trust by someone else reflects a betrayal of yourself by yourself. For example, in my situation, my body had tried to warn me in a hundred different ways that something wasn’t right. But, I dismissed the headaches, insomnia, and nightmares. So—where was the real betrayal?

None of this is to transfer blame from the other person to yourself. It’s more practical than that: becoming aware of where or how we have wronged ourselves is how we ensure we don’t do it again. As author Byron Katie says, “As long as you think that the cause of you problem is “out there”—as long as you think that anyone or anything is responsible for your suffering—the situation is hopeless.”

“The secret of change is to focus all of your energy not on fighting the old, but on building the new.” – Socrates

3. Forgive…or not

Many people believe that forgiveness is an important part of healing from betrayal. I agree that it can be, but forgiveness is a complicated thing, one that we often misunderstand. Often, we offer it too soon, trying to pretend that we’re “above it all” before we’ve fully processed the hurt.

For forgiveness to be freeing, it needs to be an act that is all about what it does for you, not the other person, not a bystander, not even a well-meaning advisor. And forgiveness doesn’t mean allowing that person back into your life again at any level. When forgiveness works best, it resets your boundaries—the same boundaries that were violated in the relationship. And, it helps you reclaim space in your heart and mind that was transgressed.

4. Cut ties

To effectively heal from a betrayal, you have to put yourself in a protective bubble. The best way to do this is to cut all ties, whether this is on social media or leaving in-person friend groups or social circles. For the time being, you need to put your well-being ahead of everyone else. While this can feel like extra punishment, wrapping yourself in a protective bubble means that you won’t suddenly see a picture come across your phone that reopens wounds that were just about to heal. Yes, you’re strong, but being around people who remind you of the offender will only slow your healing.

Don’t forget the energetic ties, too, and cut the “chords” that were created between you. This can be done via journaling or meditation, where you visualize these connections and imagine taking scissors to them. You will be amazed at how quickly this simple practice frees up space in your mind and heart.

5. Renegotiate your relationships

This is the step where you get to renegotiate your relationships—starting with the one with yourself. Can you see the signs you missed? Can you make peace with your emotions and body for their efforts in the situation? And, will you commit to listening more closely to the still, small voice within you that might point out something you don’t want to see? While we can’t always heal the damage betrayal does in a relationship, we can develop a deeper reliance on our body’s signs and signals from now on.

You know you’re healing when…

You know you’re healing when you can look back on a person or an event and not feel your heart race or your palms sweat. You’re healing when that person doesn’t take up so much space or time in your life, or when hours or days go by without thinking of them. And, after enough time goes by, you know you are healed when you can look back with compassion for yourself while also recognizing how much wiser you’ve become. One day, you might even thank that person for making you who you are today. I know that sounds crazy, especially if you’re fresh off a betrayal. Ten years ago, I would have agreed that the idea of thanking my ex-partner was bonkers. But here I am, and I have nothing in my heart left around this situation except gratitude and understanding.

No one ever wants to experience a betrayal. But, if you do find yourself with the proverbial knife in your back, you can use these steps to melt that knife into wisdom, discernment, and a more intimate, trusting relationship with yourself, which will translate into healthier relationships with others going forward.

The post How to Heal From Betrayal and Trust Yourself (and Others) Again first appeared on Addicted 2 Success.

source https://addicted2success.com/life/how-to-heal-from-betrayal-and-trust-yourself-and-others-again/

5 Tips to Get You Fit Mentally, Emotionally and Physically https://ift.tt/7vxO08M

2022-02-13T03:27:00.001+05:30

Are you tired of talking about getting moving again and not doing it? Or setting your New Year’s resolutions and goals to start working out and continue putting it off? How do you change from being dormant to wanting to move and exercise again? Although this is far from easy, and there are thousands of reasons we can find why not to, I would like to share my five actionable tips to help make this process seem manageable and motivating!

No matter how difficult and out of reach your health and fitness goals seem, these techniques will provide you with the motivation and courage to get your health and fitness back on track! Let’s focus on the areas we have neglected and now need to be adjusted after the pandemic.

The below quote is one of my favourite’s and is an excellent reminder that we have the power, and no one can do this for you.

Words by Dr Wayne Dyer, the “Father of Motivation” himself, “Be miserable. Or motivate yourself. Whatever has to be done, it’s always your choice.”

Firstly, one needs to understand that humans have the unique and incredible capacity to experience a wide range of emotions. But if you let your feelings dictate your life experience without pinpointing why you feel a particular way, your emotions control you. Over time, this affects how you think and act every single day. If a sense of well-being fuels you, you’ll exude happiness and calm. If you’re bogged down by negativity, those around you will sense your unhappiness and fear.

How can you avoid the latter? The truth is that you are entirely in charge of how you feel, including whether you feel motivated or not. Once you understand that your feelings are within your control, you’re well on your way to understanding how to control them and use them to your advantage.

Motivation is not something people are born with – it’s something you must create. Building motivation creates the feeling of courage and certainty that you can accomplish what you set out to do. Motivation is like any other emotion. It is something you feel, and you can train yourself to access it instantly.

Learning how to get your motivation back in the face of fear, stress and anxiety take practice and persistence. Think of it as learning a new skill. Once you’ve mastered it, it can be extremely liberating. Similarly, being brave and having courage when the situation calls for it can also be cultivated. Remember that life is 10% of what happens to you and 90% of how you react to it.

Below are five ways to create motivation within yourself, no matter how much you don’t want to or believe that it’s not possible.

1. Use the “5 Second Rule” by Mel Robbins and do it now.

The 5-second rule is simple. If you have an instinct to act on a goal, you must physically move within five seconds, or your brain will kill it. Hesitation is the kiss of death. You might hesitate for just a nanosecond, but that’s all it takes. That one slight hesitation triggers a mental system that’s designed to stop you. And it happens in less than, you guessed it, five seconds. Next time your alarm goes off to get up and go to the gym or do your morning exercise, count down in your head 5,4,3,2,1 and immediately push yourself out of bed.

The truth is, you’re never going to feel like it, so remember that and be the one that pushes through the mental barrier and start moving! It’s been shown in studies at Harvard University that you’re 87% more likely to go and do what you set out to for the day if you just push through that initial sticking point. This simple technique can be used to start training again and can also be used to overcome depression, follow it exactly, and it just works.

This same type of principle is quoted in the movie, We Bought a Zoo, Matt Damon’s character tells his son, who’s struggling to share his feelings with a girl he likes, “You know, sometimes all you need is twenty seconds of insane courage. Just literally twenty seconds of just embarrassing bravery. And I promise you, something great will come of it.”Fear can seem overwhelming if you think you’re going to have to experience it for days or hours. But everyone can face their fear for just 20 seconds. Or even less. Often, you just have to take one simple action, knock down the first domino, which sets the whole course of things in motion. The die is cast! You force your own hand; you burn the bridge behind you; you have no choice but to engage with what follows next.

2. Acknowledge your lack of motivation or fear of getting started and confront it!

“If you really want to do something, you’ll find a way. If you don’t, you’ll find an excuse,” Jim Rohn. Acknowledge the fear that you aren’t moving enough and could be taking years off your life or that you won’t feel confident in a bathing suit at the beach or pool this summer. While you’re lying in bed and that same hesitation comes up that has been for the last two years and the feeling of not wanting to get up arises, grab on to those parts of your body that you’re feeling the least happy about, your love handles, your stomach, whatever it may be and squeeze them. Allow yourself to feel into that uncomfortable feeling and guilt and use it for good as ammunition to get yourself out of bed and start exercising. Pain is our greatest motivator of all, so don’t be afraid to use it!

3. The “DO SOMETHING” principle by Mark Manson.

Doing something towards your health and fitness goals will provide motivation and the courage to keep moving and stay motivated. The conclusion is that if you lack the motivation to make an important change in your life, then do something, anything really, and then harness the reaction to that action to begin motivating yourself. “Action isn’t just the effect of motivation, but also the cause of it.” (Your actions create further emotional reactions and inspirations and move on to motivate your future) Action → Inspiration → Motivation. With action, you will gain inspiration and eventually be motivated to continue to train due to just starting on one small thing like going for your first long walk or doing some push-ups in your home. Pretty soon, you’ll be doing an entire workout routine with ease, without any thought of difficulty.

If you require the courage and confidence to go into a gym? Do reconnaissance to remove aspects of the unknown. Go in and check it out, meet the coaches and see where you are going into. Or you may want to just start by doing a form of mindfulness, such as downloading 1 Giant Mind or the Calm app to begin meditating or practice breathwork and box breathing. Whatever it is, just start by doing, and this will roll into inspired motivation. Remember that perseverance is not a long race; it is many short races, one after the other.

4. Find motivation in numbers.

It’s much easier to act in the company of even one other person who feels the way you do. The hardest thing in the world is to dissent solo. Sometimes, you’ll have to go it alone, of course. But often, this isn’t necessary. Find a coach, personal trainer or mentor that resonates with you, speaks your language and one you believe you would want to spend time with. That in itself can sometimes be the motivation that you require.

5. Reward yourself every step of the way.

Reinforce your successes by giving yourself a reward when dealing with what is holding you back or your fear of getting started. This could be a physical treat, like a nice bottle of wine, or a mental treat, like taking a break from training or human interaction and binge-watching a show on Netflix. By rewarding yourself and celebrating the small wins, you reinforce your motivation to take more inspired action and keep going. Don’t forget that it’s about the process, not the destination.

You are now psychologically and emotionally equipped to go out and start moving again. The only thing to do next is to decide what steps you will take today to challenge yourself and others to hit your health and fitness goals this year.

The post 5 Tips to Get You Fit Mentally, Emotionally and Physically first appeared on Addicted 2 Success.

source https://addicted2success.com/success-advice/5-tips-to-get-you-fit-mentally-emotionally-and-physically/

3 Ways You’re Subconsciously Punishing Yourself in Business https://ift.tt/t4nY2pl

2022-02-12T03:27:00.001+05:30

You’ve been working hard all month. You’ve been publishing your posts on social media. You’ve been drumming up the leads. You’ve even been putting in extra hours so you can make sure you leave no stone left unturned when it comes to signing new clients. Yet, you’re ten days away from the end of the month and all you can think about is what you didn’t do. The things that you should’ve done (or done better). How you would’ve been further along or even surpassed your income goal if you would have just done the thing that taunts your mind.

This cycle isn’t just annoying or draining—it’s toxic to you and your business.

If you find yourself working hard, going above and beyond in your business, to the point of burning out or falling out of love with what you do—you’re likely dealing with punishment mentality. Punishment mentality is where you make yourself suffer through things that should bring you joy and fulfillment—like running your business.

Punishment mentality leads to resentment. Resentment of your business, your clients, even life itself at times. It’s why you see some business owners burn their businesses to the ground after crossing the seven-figure mark. When you’ve been at this for too long and you’ve learned to use your purpose as a whip to flog yourself with, your love for your business slowly dies.

The good news is that there’s another way. But before you know what to do about it, you need to know the warning signs. Here are some of the common red flags that you could be subconsciously punishing yourself in your business.

1. Drill Sergeant Syndrome

How many times have you been pushing through something in your business, and you say to yourself, “My feelings don’t matter. I just have to get it done.” While honoring your agreements is noble, if you find yourself saying this often, you may want to look at the agreements that you’re making.

Being in your business shouldn’t be something you have to force yourself through. Yes, you will be challenged and there will be tough moments—but let’s be real. There are always moments where you’re being stretched. It’s normal.

What makes those moments feel harder and super painful isn’t the moment or situation itself. It’s the way you talk to yourself and treat yourself through the situation. That drill sergeant in you telling you that you should be perfect, or that bad things shouldn’t happen, or that you should have a perfect morning routine, or all of the other shoulds that make you feel not up to snuff.

All of those shoulds, all of those expectations that voice in your head has for you—they’re not realistic. The secret to having a seven-figure business and feeling open, relaxed, spacious, and revitalized every day, is to have a deep sense of love and compassion for yourself, your team, and your clients. It’s not being lazy, it’s being open, compassionate, and fluid.

“Self-compassion-being supportive and kind to yourself, especially in the face of stress and failure-is associated with more motivation and better self-control.” — Kelly McGonigal

2. Comparison

If you completed your first launch of a program and you signed five clients but your goal was 10, do you get down on yourself or celebrate? Most often, you punish yourself for not hitting the goal and you focus on the gap. You don’t celebrate the five souls that just said yes, but instead, you focus on the loss of the five people that passed.

This process of focusing on the gap causes you to magnify and amplify the difference between your expectations and your results. Then you enter an even more dangerous zone when you compare yourself to someone who launched their program and it succeeded way beyond their expectations. But there’s a fundamental flaw to this comparison game.

You don’t know how many times it took the other person to drive those results. You didn’t see their failures and fears and moments of challenge. Instead, you compared their spotlight moment to your behind-the-scenes footage. That’s like comparing someone who’s learning how to grow a little pot of cilantro in the window to a commercial farmer who’s been producing crops since before they could spell the word tractor.

When you focus on what’s in the gap instead of what you have, you focus on the cycle of lack. Focus on what you created and appreciate it—that is how you elevate your business. In that process of celebrating your wins and focusing on what’s working, people then see you differently because you see yourself differently. An excessive amount of self-celebration is required to end the subconscious self-punishment habits many business owners have.

3. The Hard Work Myth

Growing up, you likely heard about how noble it is to work hard and earn what you have. However, there’s an inherent flaw in this line of thinking. Working yourself to the bone and bringing money into the business are two completely different concepts. You can work hard and barely have anything to show for it (ask any Denny’s wait staff). And similarly, you can work 20-30 hours a week and amass wealth that most of the population can only imagine.

You don’t have to work hard to earn what you have. Receiving can come from something as simple as sharing one sentence with a client that forever changes their life, business, or results. Receiving comes from the exchange of value, not the blood, sweat, and tears that you shed while creating the outcome.

Not only do you not have to work hard to receive the money you desire, but you don’t have to work hard to enjoy the money that you do have either. There is no payoff to working hard. This is factory worker mentality and it doesn’t work for entrepreneurs. Working hard for what you make isn’t required. It’s required for you to take care of yourself. Get plenty of sleep, take care of your body, rest your mind—all of the things that help you to stay out of burnout.

When you work, you really work. You’re dedicated, committed, and all-in—working diligently and effectively. But you also take care of yourself just as intensely you work. You create the space to recharge so that you can work consistently without harming yourself physically, mentally, or emotionally. You’ll be surprised how much more productive you become when you stop working hard and start working effectively.

It’s the subtle things…

Punishing yourself in your business can look like you simply trying to do a good job. You show up. You push yourself. And you don’t leave your chair until your energy is depleted. But that’s not how you build a healthy relationship with your business.

Can you imagine sitting down with a new person, day after day, and not getting a break until you were ready to go to sleep? You’d get tired of that person really quickly and grow to resent them because you would feel bound, obligated, and stuck. This also happens with your business.

Luckily, these are simple shifts that you can make to create more freedom and stop using your business as a torture device. Give yourself structured time and space to work on yourself with grace and acceptance. Stop trying to force yourself through the challenges. And learn ways to work more efficiently instead of working yourself to the point of exhaustion. You are worthy and deserving of a business that you love. Be kinder to yourself.

The post 3 Ways You’re Subconsciously Punishing Yourself in Business first appeared on Addicted 2 Success.

source https://addicted2success.com/success-advice/3-ways-youre-subconsciously-punishing-yourself-in-business/

3 Red Flags That Your Energy Is Repelling Coaching Clients https://ift.tt/4ajfIVs

2022-02-11T03:27:00.001+05:30

You’ve had a big sales month, maybe even a few, and now it’s time to put your nose to the grindstone and deliver. However, there’s one small problem. You’re so busy doing client delivery, you don’t have the space to market, sell, and onboard new clients.

This means your cash dries up and it’s only a matter of time before that feast and famine feeling hits you again. Leaving you with the very real problem of wanting to bring on new clients, but not being available for it.

The worst part? This is only one scenario where you’ve become energetically unavailable for more clients. If you’re not sure whether or not this common challenge is affecting you, here’s the litmus test.

If you have an offer that you know your audience needs and desires—especially one that’s converted in the past—and the clients aren’t showing up, closing, or converting, there’s an energetic discrepancy between what you want (AKA: more clients) and what you’re available for.

What you want and what have the space to receive are two different things. You can desire something deeply but not have the ability to receive it because there’s no space for it.

For example, you can want a gazebo for your home, but if you don’t have a yard to put it in, you can’t actually have one. The same goes when your mind and energy are unavailable.

Here are 3 red flags that your energy is repelling coaching clients.

1. Overwhelm

When your mind, emotions, or body are overwhelmed, you send out a signal of “I have too much”. This creates a massive discrepancy between I want more clients and I’m overloaded and overwhelmed. If you’re feeling overworked, overtired, or overwhelmed, signing new clients only represents more of that burden. While new clients will lift the financial burden, your mental, emotional, and physical burden (which are more closely related to your survival instincts) are still heavy. It’s because of this perceived threat to your well-being that energetically you will become unavailable for more clients.

The good news is that overwhelm is often solved by implementing simple systems or bringing on team members that you can delegate to. When you’re no longer responsible for accomplishing every task in the business, you’ll find that you have more energetic availability to sign new clients.

“Everything is energy and that is all there is to it. Match the frequency of the reality you want and you can not help but get that reality. It can be no other way. This is not philosophy. This is physics.” – Albert Einstein

2. Fear of results

Have you ever worried that your clients won’t get results? Even the most talented, skillful, and revered coaches have felt this fear at some point in their careers. Why? Because this fear taps into imposter syndrome, making you doubt your ability to support your clients in getting results.

Left unchecked, this fear will repel new clients. Doubt is contagious—and so is confidence. When you believe in your ability to get results for people, your potential clients step into that same energy. It makes the vision of what’s possible clear, helping them make their buying decision. Likewise, if your potential clients sense your fear or doubt in helping them create change, it will tap into their fear of failure.

If you want to sign new clients, you have to believe in your core that you provide a solution that is of high value and provides powerful results for the clients who put in the work. When you show up with that unshakeable energy, people start lining up for the chance to work with you.

3. Identity mismatch

How you see yourself shapes how the world feels about you. While other people likely see you differently than you see yourself, your perception of you will impact the way you’re perceived by potential clients. More importantly, your identity will dictate what opportunities you notice and the conversations you have.

If you don’t believe that you’re the type of person who signs high-end clients (or any clients for that matter), then you won’t consistently sign clients. If you don’t believe you’re the type of person who is worthy of attention, you’ll continue to be the best-kept secret. If you don’t believe that you have the qualifications to support clients, you’ll subconsciously push them away to protect them.

When your identity does not align with your desires, you cannot achieve the goals that you have because you’re not the type of person who creates that level of success. The key here is understanding that your identity is flexible. It’s not set in stone. You have the ability to shift your identity. So if you find yourself saying things like, “people like me don’t do xyz,” or “I’m not capable of xyz,” understand that those statements are only as true as you allow them to be. You have the power to change your identity and open yourself up energetically to more clients.

The post 3 Red Flags That Your Energy Is Repelling Coaching Clients first appeared on Addicted 2 Success.

source https://addicted2success.com/success-advice/3-red-flags-that-your-energy-is-repelling-coaching-clients/

24 Inspirational Mozart Quotes on Life and Success https://ift.tt/IgnkyLZ

2022-02-10T09:27:00.001+05:30

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was considered one of the best musical composers in the history of Western music. He composed over 800 works, including sonatas and symphonies.

Check out these inspirational Mozart quotes on life and success!

Here are 24 Motivational Mozart Quotes:

1. “The best way to learn is through the powerful force of rhythm.” – Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

2. “Melody is the essence of music.” – Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

3. “I am a fool. That is well known.” – Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

4. “To talk well and eloquently is a very great art, but that an equally great one is to know the right moment to stop.” – Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

5. “I pay no attention whatever to anybody’s praise or blame. I simply follow my own feelings.” – Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

6. “When I am traveling in a carriage, or walking after a good meal, or during the night when I cannot sleep; it is on such occasions that ideas flow best and most abundantly.” – Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

7. “They probably think because I am so small and young, nothing of greatness and class can come out of me; but they shall soon find out.” – Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

8. “He fixed his eyes on my fingers while I played to him, then said suddenly, “My God; I work at it till I sweat and yet get no success – while you, my friend, simply play at it!” “Yes,” said I, “but I too had to work in order that I might be exempt from work now.”- Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

9. “Melody is the essence of music. I compare a good melodist to a fine racer, and counter-pointists to hack post-horses; therefore be advised, let well alone and remember the old Italian proverb: Chi sa più, meno sa (Who knows most, knows least).”- Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

10. “Forgive me, Majesty. I am a vulgar man! But I assure you, my music is not.”- Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

11.

Image Credit: MagicalQuote

12. “I never lie down at night without reflecting that, young as I am, I may not live to see another day.”- Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

13. “Music is my life and my life is music.”- Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

14. “To win applause one must write stuff so simple that a coachman might sing it.”- Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

15. “Love, love, love, that is the soul of genius.” – Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

16. “The most necessary, most difficult, and principal thing in music, that is time.”- Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

17. “Neither rejoice nor lament prematurely; for whatever may happen, all will be well if we only have health; for happiness exists–merely in the imagination.” – Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

18. “To my eyes and ears the organ will ever be the King of Instruments.”- Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

19. “Now there is music from which a man can learn something.”- Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

20. “Write to me and don’t be so lazy. Otherwise, I shall have to give you a thrashing. What fun! I’ll break your head.”- Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

21. “Believe me, my sole purpose is to make as much money as possible; for after good health it is the best thing to have.”- Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

22. “Writing music is my one and only passion and joy.”- Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

23. “The wonders of the music of the future will be of a higher & wider scale and will introduce many sounds that the human ear is now incapable of hearing. Among these new sounds will be the glorious music of angelic chorales. As men hear these they will cease to consider Angels as figments of their imagination.” – Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

24. “As death, when we come to consider it closely, is the true goal of our existence . . .”- Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Which Mozart quote is your favorite and why? Comment below!

The post 24 Inspirational Mozart Quotes on Life and Success first appeared on Addicted 2 Success.

source https://addicted2success.com/quotes/24-inspirational-mozart-quotes-on-life-and-success/

5 Ways Young Entrepreneurs Can Increase Their Income https://ift.tt/9Nrius1

2022-02-10T04:27:00.001+05:30

As a young entrepreneur, you’re always looking for new ways to make income through side hustles or a consistent business. With more people doing their business over the internet there are dozens of ways to start making an income online.

There are a lot of different ways to make money online but I’ll go over a few that I think have a high earning potential as well as being very passive. If you can put in the work upfront, these internet side hustles will continue to pay handsomely for years to come.

1. Invest In cryptocurrency

This is a great option if you already have some money saved up as you make quick profits by doing swing trades. That being said, trading is a skill and takes some time to learn and get really good at but can pay off handsomely if you know what you’re doing.

Don’t put all of your savings into it as some people did a few years ago as you never know what the market is going to do.

Even if you don’t know how to day trade long-term investing in crypto is still a solid strategy that can pay off down the road. Whichever strategy you use can still make you a lot of money in the long run.

2. Build a blog

Building a blog is one of the best ways to make passive income, it continues to make money well after it is built and is one of the best methods of passive income you can build. When you own a blog you can talk about whatever topic you want, whether it’s fitness and strength or home brewing coffee. Whatever it i,s you can provide your expertise and fill your site with some well-placed affiliate links to products that help your reader achieve their gold and you literally make money by helping people do what they love.

“If you don’t find a way to make money while you sleep, you will work until you die.” – Warren Buffett

3. Affiliate Marketing

Relating to the blog, affiliate advertising is when you advertise a company or someone else’s product and get a commission for it. This is a great way to start making some money if you don’t have your own product or service that you can offer.

You can use this method on your blog or email list if you use one and send offers for an affiliate product that adds value to your viewers/customers’ lives.

You can also make an email list where you put the links for affiliate products on your subscriber list and email it to your customers which is great for retention and keeping people coming back.

4. Dropshipping Products

This is a method that became popular in recent years, that requires you to have a little money saved up to start with, the potential for success is very high if you’re willing to put in the work.

If you have some money saved up, you could buy a domain site and some bulk inventory and start selling products hosted through a Shopify store. There are kids in high school that make some good money using this method.

You can research trends and make a niche store that sells specific products and items that are entertaining or useful like coffee mugs or coffee-related items if you’re into coffee. The point is you can buy some cheap inventory in bulk and sell them for profit if your marketing skills are good this one is easy as pie.

5. One on one coaching

This method is good if you are knowledgeable or skilled in a certain area like health and fitness and you can charge a fee to help some achieve a certain result like get in better shape or make more money.

Whatever it is you can host this option to contact you on your own website or make a profile on a website like Fiverr or Upwork and charge a fee for helping your customers get the result they’re looking for.

This one has its drawbacks like it’s not as passive as some of the other methods on this list and has you rearranging your schedule to accommodate someone else’s. Assuming you have one or two of the other side hustles going mentioned on this list, it can be a great way to supplement your income with some extra money.

The post 5 Ways Young Entrepreneurs Can Increase Their Income first appeared on Addicted 2 Success.

source https://addicted2success.com/entrepreneur-profile/5-ways-young-entrepreneurs-can-increase-their-income/

4 Tips to Help You Create Epic Content https://ift.tt/HVwpivm

2022-02-09T03:27:00.001+05:30

It’s inevitable. At some point every one of us sits down to write content, from a social media post to a full-length book, and it happens…We sit and stare at the blank page… sometimes for minutes, other times for hours, and occasionally for days.

So then, how do we overcome ‘blank page syndrome’ to fulfill timelines, obligations, or merely to finish a piece of content.

Rather than pull out our hair (maybe this is why my editor has none…lol) let’s take another angle and break down four ways to (hopefully) never allow this to happen again.

By no means is this an exhaustive list, however having created content, writing books, publishing articles, and simply even my own blog, there are many tips and tricks to avoid writer’s block, blank page syndrome, the abyss of the white screen… or whatever else you want to call it, there are four tips that stick out the most.

Here they are.

1. Location Location Location

It is nice to find that comfy place to sit and write. We spend time creating our own office space, so why not use it. Truth. Yes, we should have a comfortable office space to gather thoughts, forge our ideas into tangible products or services, yet even the best of offices can feel cramped from time to time.

When you experience this, a simple solution is to change where you write. Perhaps you will only need to do this once. Maybe more.

I will change my location at least once a week. This is enough to reset my brain. Then, when I sit back down in my big comfy chair, I feel invigorated.

2. Reframe Your Audience

This can be a tricky one. At least at first. When we sit down and write content, sure, we may be writing them to our specific client base, however when we are writing books, articles, and oftentimes blogs, we tend to write to a more general audience.

Nothing wrong with this. Such is the case for one of my books, Media Secrets Revealed. It was written with my ideal client in mind, yet general enough that it can be universally used across business.

Rather than write to a general audience, or even when writing to our ideal clients, sometimes we still feel like we cannot get anything down on the page.

So…

Pick one person you know who would benefit from your writing and write to them. This will make your writing feel more personal and authentic to whoever is reading it. This tip is one of the best ways I know to cultivate the know-like-trust factor quickly.

“Make it simple. Make it memorable. Make it inviting to look at. Make it fun to read.” – Leo Burnett

3. Dictate

Have you ever thought about the two-way radio? Most of us have used them at some point. They used to be almost exclusively called walkie-talkies. I never thought of the name until a few years ago when it clicked… they are called walkie-talkies because as we walk, we talk.

Simple thought.

Put into the writing realm, there are a myriad of programs and apps that we can dictate into a device that we are not strapped down to a chair and a desk.

Download one. Get out. Go for a walk and talk your content out. Then when you get it to paper there will be a few results from this.

You will not have to write but edit.
You can see how you speak.
You will learn to hone your skills.

The biggest benefit is having the ability to read how we speak. Are there a lot of “ums” in the text? If so, it’s time to look at how we speak publicly.

For actual writing, the biggest benefit would be to see how you think when you write.

4. Go Old-School

By old school, I mean pencil and paper. Now, you don’t necessarily have to write the entire article out on paper, although you could (then add in tip number three).

At the very least create an outline. Make some bullet points. The simple act of engaging our brains to the physical activity of writing is enough to get creative juices flowing.

I end up writing notes on the side, making arrows across the page. When I do this, it ignites a different part of my mind and I am open to more possibilities for writing than I do when I simply start with typing.

Change It Up

There are over 20 tips for not writing from a blank page, however these four will level up your content production and reduce your staring mindlessly into the write screen time more than the others.

The key here is to change it up. Simply because something is not working does not necessarily mean it won’t. Sometimes we need a break, an adjustment, a little tweak here or there to shift our perspective.

The more curious we are to our writing process, the better writers we become. If something doesn’t work. Change it up. Leave it. Then come back and try it again. Perspective is why we write. Time to implement more perspective into our practice. When you do… watch what happens.

The post 4 Tips to Help You Create Epic Content first appeared on Addicted 2 Success.

source https://addicted2success.com/success-advice/4-tips-to-help-you-create-epic-content/

34 Inspirational Jackie Chan Quotes to Motivate You https://ift.tt/AbXqmas

2022-02-08T12:27:00.001+05:30

Jackie Chan is an actor, director, and martial artist who’s performed in more than 150 films. He’s known for doing his own stunts along with having starred in the Rush Hour films series.

Check out these inspirational Jackie Chan quotes on life and success as an actor!

Here are 34 Motivational Jackie Chan Quotes:

1. “Most of the time, I’m not even working; I’m just helping people, because I feel that I am too lucky.” – Jackie Chan

2. “Sometimes it takes only one act of kindness and caring to change a person’s life.” – Jackie Chan

3. “My wish is to bring my heroes to the big screen, and many of them have already appeared in my films.” – Jackie Chan

4. “I know that eventually, I’ll have to change my life and my career, but I’ve got a lot of good years left in me yet.” – Jackie Chan

5. “I think as a celebrity, we have to teach the young generation how to speak with the old generation.” – Jackie Chan

6. “If there really is a god, then he really looks after me.” – Jackie Chan

7. “I’m good for some things, bad for a lot of things.” – Jackie Chan

8. “I never wanted to be the next Bruce Lee. I just wanted to be the first Jackie Chan.” – Jackie Chan

9. “Do not let circumstances control you. You change your circumstances.” – Jackie Chan

10. “The best fights are the ones we avoid.” – Jackie Chan

11.

Image Credit: Goalcast

12. “I only want my work to make people happy.” – Jackie Chan

13. “If one does not attach himself to people and desires, never shall his heart be broken. But then, does he ever truly live?” – Jackie Chan

14. “Being still and doing nothing are two completely different things” – Jackie Chan

15. “Why did I become Jackie Chan? Mostly because I work very hard. When people were sleeping, I was still training.” – Jackie Chan

16. “I think every young child can learn through any martial art. They would then learn to respect their life, respect their parents, respect their country, and respect the whole world.” – Jackie Chan

17. “When I look at young kids today I just don’t believe it, parents take away the Gameboy and they’re suicidal. They cannot take the pressure.” – Jackie Chan

18. “I want to build up my philosophy… my philosophy with kung fu is to respect people.” – Jackie Chan

19. “Now I am older, I understand we have to accept who we are.” – Jackie Chan

20. “A lot of people ask me when I do a stunt, ‘Jackie, are you scared?’ Of course I’m scared. I’m not Superman.” – Jackie Chan

21. “After all those years in Asia, I don’t have to do promotion anymore. We just release a Jackie Chan movie and – Boom! – people go.” – Jackie Chan

22.

Image Credit: Goalcast

23. “You don’t get to do over parts or go back and change your path. Your life is decided by your character and the decisions you make in the moment.” – Jackie Chan

24. “The world isn’t that big, but it’s not that small either, and connections between two human beings are always a little mystical.” – Jackie Chan

25. “I allowed myself to be bullied because I was scared and didn’t know how to defend myself. I was bullied until I prevented a new student from being bullied. By standing up for him, I learned to stand up for myself.” – Jackie Chan

26. “When I was young I trained a lot. I trained my mind, I trained my eyes, trained my thinking, how to help people. And it trained me how to deal with pressure.” – Jackie Chan

27. “Life will knock us down, but we can choose to get back up.” – Jackie Chan

28. “I want to make people laugh and I want to try to encourage world peace.” – Jackie Chan

29. “The action star’s life is very short. Back in Asia, I can do whatever I want to do. I’m the producer, I’m the director, I can do so many things, but in Hollywood any time I present a script they say: “No, no, no, Rush Hour 3, Rush Hour 4.”” – Jackie Chan

30. “When I came to Hollywood, I spoke no English – except nobody bullied me. Every day, I had nothing to do except training in English, to keep talking.” – Jackie Chan

31. “I know I have to run 20 more minutes if I eat ice cream. Basically, I eat everything, but I just do more training.” – Jackie Chan

32. “Pain is my daily routine. As long as I don’t go to the hospital, it’s nothing for me.” – Jackie Chan

33. “Sometimes you think the movie is good and BOOM! Sometimes you think it’s no good. BAAM! The movie business is a big gamble. You never know.” – Jackie Chan

34. “We learn martial arts as helping weakness. You never fight for people to get hurt. You’re always helping people.” – Jackie Chan

Which Jackie Chan quote is your favorite and why? Comment below!

The post 34 Inspirational Jackie Chan Quotes to Motivate You first appeared on Addicted 2 Success.

source https://addicted2success.com/quotes/34-inspirational-jackie-chan-quotes-to-motivate-you/

85 Powerful Bob Proctor Quotes On Becoming Successful https://ift.tt/C5p0PHs

2022-02-07T13:27:00.001+05:30

Bob Proctor is a Canadian self-development author who was most well known for his book ‘You Were Born Rich’, who else contributed to the film ‘The Secret’ in 2006. His ideology consists of a positive self-image in order to obtain success and often referred to the law of attraction. As of 2022, Bob Proctor has passed away and remains a legend among self-help authors.

Check out these inspirational Bob Proctor quotes on hard work and becoming successful!

Here are 85 Motivational Bob Proctor Quotes:

1. “See yourself living in abundance and you will attract it. It works every time with every person.” – Bob Proctor

2. “Don’t expect a great day; create one.” – Bob Proctor

3. “Be brave enough to start a conversation that matters.” – Bob Proctor

4. “The ability to Self-Motivate is a cornerstone of true wealth.” – Bob Proctor

5. “People with the best intentions will often give you advice on why you shouldn’t take a risk because of what could happen. While some of what they say may be true, you should never allow them to get their negative anchors into your mind because, like them, you too will begin to sink. Next time this happens, throw them a life-line, and ask them what is good about their situation.” – Bob Proctor

6. “We have to understand there are two parts of our mind, there’s the conscious and the subconscious. It’s the subconscious that controls our behavior. It’s the conscious mind where the intellect is resident. So the conscious mind is understanding information, but it’s not internalizing it.” – Bob Proctor

7. “Be like a postage stamp. Stick to it until you get there.” – Bob Proctor

8. “Faith and fear both demand you believe in something you cannot see. You choose.” – Bob Proctor

9. “Do you want to know what you think about most of the time? Take a look at the results you’re getting. That will tell you exactly what’s going on inside.” – Bob Proctor

10. “See yourself where you want to be and then be there.” – Bob Proctor

11. “Gratitude is an attitude that hooks us up to our source of supply. And the more grateful you are, the closer you become to your maker, to the architect of the universe, to the spiritual core of your being. It’s a phenomenal lesson.” – Bob Proctor

12. “We can build anything in our imagination. That’s where all creation begins in your life.” – Bob Proctor

13. “Only a person who risks can be free.” – Bob Proctor

14. “Clearly understand that the only limitations you will ever have are the limitations you impose upon yourself. You truly do have infinite potential.” – Bob Proctor

15. “Sit down and write it down with a pen and then make up your mind you are going to do it. Don’t spend any time thinking of why you can’t. The fun is not in getting it, the fun is in growing. Goals are to help us grow, goals are to help us get. The getting is a side benefit; the growth is the real benefit.” – Bob Proctor

16. “Don’t let your present problems defeat you.” – Bob Proctor

17. “Remember – no limitation can be placed on you by any one but yourself. With your imagination you have a unique ability to draw on an infinite source of supply. There is power in thought.” – Bob Proctor

18. “The fear of making a decision is the result of fearing to make a mistake – the truth is, the fear of mistakes has a greater impact on you than making the mistakes.” – Bob Proctor

19. “You must begin to understand that the present state of your bank account, your sales, your health, your social life, your position at work, etc., is nothing more than the physical manifestation of your previous thinking.” – Bob Proctor

20. “Doubt and worry freezes people. Don’t sit wondering if you can do something, just go do it.” – Bob Proctor

21. “When you react you are giving away your power. When you respond you are staying in control of yourself.” – Bob Proctor

22. “Being a winner is never an accident; winning comes about by design, determination, and positive action.” – Bob Proctor

23. “Get the basic ideas in place and get moving.” – Bob Proctor

24. “Lack and limitation can only exist when we make room for them in our mind.” – Bob Proctor

25. “Regardless of what happens today, realize it is the beginning of something good.” – Bob Proctor

26. “Anyone who has ever accomplished anything of any consequence, didn’t know how to get what they want, they only knew that they were going to get it.” – Bob Proctor

27. “Science and psychology have isolated that one prime cause for success or failure in life. It is the hidden self-image you have of yourself.” – Bob Proctor

28. “By visualizing your goal already completed, you flip your mind onto the frequency that contains the way that it will be attracted to you.” – Bob Proctor

29. “Success requires action and a strong work ethic.” – Bob Proctor

30. “A mentor is someone who sees more talent and ability within you, than you see in yourself, and helps bring it out of you.” – Bob Proctor

31. “Chances are, if you are following the crowd, you’re following the wrong path.” – Bob Proctor

32. “Okay, do just a little bit more. Turn going the extra mile into a habit – it is what lifts most successful people above the crowd.” – Bob Proctor

33. “Change is constant and inevitable, but personal growth is a choice.” – Bob Proctor

34. “Train your mind to see in all people, what they do not see in themselves. Begin to treat every person you come in contact with as the most important person in the world. Look at them with new awareness.” – Bob Proctor

35. “The person who risks nothing, does nothing and has nothing.” – Bob Proctor

36. “Never reject an idea, dream or goal because it will be hard work. Success rarely comes without it.” – Bob Proctor

37. “Everyone should have a sense of urgency – It is getting a lot done in a short period of time in a calm confident manner.” – Bob Proctor

38. “People who are interested in doing something will do it when it’s convenient. People who are committed will do it no matter what.” – Bob Proctor

39. “Set a goal to achieve something that is so big. So exhilarating that it excites you and scares you at the same time.” – Bob Proctor

40. “Don’t be a victim of negative self-talk. Remember, you are listening.” – Bob Proctor

41. “Jobs and money are never the primary cause of stress. Thinking, negative thinking causes stress. The real cause of all problems lie in our thoughts, not in things or circumstances. You and I possess the power to change our thoughts. It is our greatest power – the power to choose. If you are feeling stressful, choose to relax. Look at your problems as a stranger might then do something about them – NOW!” – Bob Proctor

42.

Image Credit: Official Bob Proctor Facebook Page

43. “Outward change comes after we change from within.” – Bob Proctor

44. “Quite often very talented people FAIL because they believe they are too big to do the little things, while the most successful amongst us are quite willing to do the little things. They truly are BIG people.” – Bob Proctor

45. “Thoughts become things, If you see it in your mind, you will hold it in your hand.” – Bob Proctor

46. “Lack of time is really a lack of priorities.” – Bob Proctor

47. “You will attract everything that you require. If it’s money you need you will attract it. If it’s people you need you’ll attract it.” – Bob Proctor

48. “Don’t be in the past. Be there! Act like the person you want to become.” – Bob Proctor

49. “One thing you should never, never do, is worry about whether or not you’ll get the amount of money you desire, because we tend to manifest that which we focus on, so if we’re focused and worried about not having money then we tend to attract more of that way of life, as opposed to if we focus on what we do want and what’s possible and what we can achieve, then we tend to gravitate towards that.” – Bob Proctor

50. “Money is valuable only as long as it is being used; it is meant to be used enjoyed and circulated.” – Bob Proctor

51. “All of the great achievers of the past have been visionary figures; they were men and women who projected into the future. They thought of what could be, rather than what already was, and then they moved themselves into action, to bring these things into fruition.” – Bob Proctor

52. “Don’t be an extra in your own movie. Move out of your comfort zone. Don’t be afraid of feeling uncomfortable or awkward. Step-out and make it happen.” – Bob Proctor

53. “Everything has been created twice, once on a mental plane and one on a physical plane. What you think about you bring about.” – Bob Proctor

54. “Know what is happening around you. Be in control of what is happening within you.” – Bob Proctor

55. “Our attitude is the environment we carry with us during the day. It proclaims to the world what we think of ourselves and indicates the sort of person we have made up our minds to be. It is the person we will become. How’s your attitude today?” – Bob Proctor

56. “You must strive to become much less susceptible to influences outside of yourself and much more inclined to trust the instincts and feelings that lie within you.” – Bob Proctor

57. “You can only move ahead by letting go of old ideas.” – Bob Proctor

58. “You don’t know how to do something, until after you’ve done it. Our problem is, we set goals to do what we think we can do or what we’ve already done. There’s no inspiration in that.” – Bob Proctor

59. “You’re going to find the people that make it work NEVER quit, quitting is NOT an option.” – Bob Proctor

60. “The only limits in our life are those that we impose on ourselves.” – Bob Proctor

61. “I treat winning and losing exactly the same. I see them both as necessary steps to get us where we are going. Big failures big lessons little failures little lessons.” – Bob Proctor

62. “People who make decisions go to the top. Those who fail to make decisions go nowhere.” – Bob Proctor

63. “Everything you are seeking is seeking you. Therefore, everything you want is already yours. So you don’t have to get anything. It is simply a matter of becoming more aware of what you already possess.” – Bob Proctor

64. “Doubt of any kind can be ended with action.” – Bob Proctor

65. “You may avoid suffering and sorrow if you don’t risk, but you simply cannot learn, feel, change, grow, and love.” – Bob Proctor

66. “Always ask yourself the question, is this going to help me get to my goal or not?” – Bob Proctor

67. “Stay in charge of you, don’t let the outside world control you.” – Bob Proctor

68. “You must do what others won’t, commit and stay the course.” – Bob Proctor

69. “You’ve got to pay attention to what you’re attracted to, because as you hold images of what you want, you’re going to be attracted to things and they’re going to be attracted to you. But it literally moves into physical reality with and through you. And it does that by law.” – Bob Proctor

70. “The law of prosperity is generosity. If you want more, give more.” – Bob Proctor

71. “Faith is the ability to see the invisible and believe in the incredible and that is what enables believers to receive what the masses think is impossible.” – Bob Proctor

72. “The only competition you will ever face is with your own ignorance.” – Bob Proctor

73. “I believe people should study a little bit every day. It should become habitual, like brushing your teeth, combing your hair, having a shower or getting dressed. Study the mind, the laws of the universe and paradigms. There’s enough information on those subjects to keep a person studying forever.” – Bob Proctor

74. “Constantly look for the good in people and in situations. When you find it, tell the person.” – Bob Proctor

75. “Your real purpose in life is to develop yourself. To successfully do this you must always be working toward a goal.” – Bob Proctor

76. “Once you make the decision you will find all the people, resources, and ideas you need every time.” – Bob Proctor

77. “There is no problem outside of you that is superior to the power within.” – Bob Proctor

78. “The greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing.” – Bob Proctor

79. “You can’t escape from a prison until you recognize you are in one. People who have chosen to live within the limits of their old beliefs continue to have the same experiences. It takes effort and commitment to break old patterns.” – Bob Proctor

80. “The thing that keeps me going is that I love what I am doing. And I stay young because I don’t hang around old people, if you hang around old people you are going to become old!” – Bob Proctor

81. “Look back in your own life at what appeared to be a devastating situation five or ten years ago. Many of those situations were the turning point that caused a number of great things to happen in your future.” – Bob Proctor

82. “You can do anything if you put your focus on how to do it rather than on why you can’t.” – Bob Proctor

83. “You can’t just think and grow rich, you’ve got to do something with those thoughts.” – Bob Proctor

84. “Become personally involved with your dream and make it a priority, or it will never become a reality.” – Bob Proctor

85. “All the energy in the universe is evenly present in all places at the same time. We don’t get energy, we release energy. And the triggering mechanism to release energy is desire. When you have a strong desire to do something, you will always have the energy to do it.” – Bob Proctor

Which Bob Proctor quote is your favorite and why? Comment below!

The post 85 Powerful Bob Proctor Quotes On Becoming Successful first appeared on Addicted 2 Success.

source https://addicted2success.com/quotes/85-powerful-bob-proctor-quotes-on-becoming-successful/

The Most Powerful Lessons Thich Nhat Hanh Taught Us https://ift.tt/F9uXfGo

2022-02-05T04:27:00.001+05:30

Thich Nhat Hanh was one of the most influential spiritual leaders on the planet. Revered for promoting peace and bringing mindfulness to the west. Even Dr Martin Luther King, Jr. called him “an apostle of peace and nonviolence”.

It’s no wonder then that there are mourners the world over after the recent passing of Thich Nhat Hanh.

Solace does come through the powerful lessons he leaves behind.

Live in the here and now

Living presently has become a buzzword of sorts in recent years. We all know we ought to live that way, but few of us truly understand mindfulness, let alone are able to cultivate it.

Hanh’s gentle approach to mindfulness reminds us that peace is always available.

As he said, “feelings come and go like clouds in a windy sky. Conscious breathing is my anchor.”

By thinking of our feelings, and our thoughts as passing clouds, we see them differently. We no longer have to believe every thought, nor allow ourselves to fall into the trap of obsessive thinking. Instead, we gain power and perspective when we separate ourselves from our feelings and let them come and go.

Let go of suffering: start living

To really live mindfully, Thich Nhat Hanh said that we must let go of our suffering. Unfortunately, many of us would prefer to continue suffering than to step into the unknown.

And Hanh knew a thing or two about suffering. After travelling from his home country Vietnam to the U.S. and Europe to oppose war, (something that led him to be nominated for Nobel Peace Prize) Hanh was exiled from Vietnam for 39 years. Instead of making him bitter, he remained peaceful and continued his work around the globe.

“People have a hard time letting go of their suffering,” said Hanh, “Out of a fear of the unknown, they prefer suffering that is familiar.”

Our worries, anxieties, fears and regrets might feel familiar – and therefore safe – but to free ourselves and live in the present moment, we must let them go.

It means being strong with ourselves. When negative thoughts arise, we must allow them to float away. And gently come back to the present moment.

Enjoy every day

In our current world of restrictions, case numbers, and variants, naturally, fears and anxieties arise. Enjoying every day might seem hard in time’s like these. Regardless, Hanh is adamant that we ought to enjoy not just every day, but every minute too.

“I promise myself that I will enjoy every minute of the day that is given me to live,” he said.

It’s worth remembering, our days are not guaranteed. Importantly, happiness is actually a choice we make each day. There is incredible power in knowing this. Just as we can let out thoughts pass by us, we can choose to enjoy every day regardless of our circumstances.

Silence is powerful

Our world is noisy. If we aren’t obsessively scrolling on our phones, we’re replying to emails, taking calls or streaming drama shows. Notifications come in from multiple sources every hour of every day. Switching off is something that gets increasingly difficult. Yet, silence may just be the key to improving our lives.

Hanh believed so strongly in the power of silence he authored a book on it – one that had a lasting impact on my life.

“Silence is essential,” he said. “We need silence just as much as we need air, just as much as plants need light. If our minds are crowded with words and thoughts, there is no space for us.”

Practising silence allows us to hear our inner world. Rather than distracting ourselves with continuous noise, silence has the power to give us inner peace, knowledge, and knowing.

It can power our decision making, improve our focus, and perhaps even had a positive impact on our mental health. And according to Hanh, because silence comes from within, we can cultivate silence even in the most chaotic of places.

Come back to your breath

If you know anything about mindfulness, you’ll have undoubtedly heard about coming back to your breath. But for Hanh, it was so much more than a meditation technique. Connecting with our breath is a way of life and an anchor for us to truly live in the present moment.

“Breath is the bridge which connects life to consciousness, which unites your body to your thoughts. Whenever your mind becomes scattered, use your breath as the means to take hold of your mind again,” he said.

It’s uncommon for most of us to even consider our breath on a daily basis, let alone use it as a way to calm our minds. Yet focussing on our breathing for just a few minutes can do wonders for relaxation, and mental clarity.

There is comfort in passing

Having now passed, Thich Nhat Hanh’s view of death feels more relevant than ever. In one of his books, No Death, No Fear he details that when his mother passed away he suffered for a year. Then, one evening, after having an intense dream about his mother, he decided to go outside and walk in the moonlight. As he walked he realised she had never truly left him – that was a concept his mind had created.

“From that moment on, the idea that I had lost my mother no longer existed. All I had to do was… feel the breeze on my face or the earth under my feet to remember that my mother is always with me, available at any time.”

In a world that fears death, Hanh’s thoughts are comforting. Perhaps one of the greatest teachers of mindfulness and peace hasn’t left us at all.

The post The Most Powerful Lessons Thich Nhat Hanh Taught Us first appeared on Addicted 2 Success.

source https://addicted2success.com/life/the-most-powerful-lessons-thich-nhat-hanh-taught-us/

32 Inspirational Diego Maradona Quotes On Success https://ift.tt/xRvZjCV

2022-02-04T08:27:00.001+05:30

Diego Armando Maradona was an Argentine football player who’s considered to be one of the best players to ever play the game. He’s a joint winner of the FIFA Player of the Century.

Check out these motivational Diego Maradona quotes on life and success!

Here are 32 Inspirational Diego Maradona Quotes:

1. “My mother thinks I am the best. And I was raised to always believe what my mother tells me.” – Diego Maradona

2. “If you don’t want to play clean football, then go up into the stands.” – Diego Maradona

3. “He feels the ball and that is the difference from the rest.” – Diego Maradona

4. “Messi scores a goal and celebrates. Cristiano scores a goal and poses like he’s in a shampoo commercial.” – Diego Maradona

5. “While the coach is entitled to celebrate the team’s victories, there is a manner and a way of doing so without aggravating the opponent.” – Diego Maradona

6. “I have seen the player who will inherit my place in Argentine football and his name is Messi. Messi is a genius.” – Diego Maradona

7. “Something that just came out of me. It was a bit of mischief.” – Diego Maradona

Image Credit: Quote Master

9. “I certainly have an advantage over some, because I can pass on so much from the World Cups I played in.” – Diego Maradona

10. “The problem is that they are all stars at Madrid. You need someone to carry the water to the well.” – Diego Maradona

11. “Money is not a motivating factor. I do what comes to me at that moment.” – Diego Maradona

12. “To see my country lose a football match is very hard for someone who has worn the shirt.” – Diego Maradona

13. “I am black or white, I’ll never be gray in my life.” – Diego Maradona

14. “When God decides it’s time, I guess he’ll come for us.”

15. “The Lord helps those who help themselves.” – Diego Maradona

16. “When you win, you don’t get carried away. But if you go step by step, with confidence, you can go far.” – Diego Maradona

17. “I’ve come to add something and not to take away anyone’s position.” – Diego Maradona

18. “You can say a lot of things about me, but you can never say I don’t take risks.” – Diego Maradona

19. “To see the ball, to run after it, makes me the happiest man in the world.” – Diego Maradona

20. “When people succeed, it is because of hard work. Luck has nothing to do with success.” – Diego Maradona

21. “I was, I am and I always will be a drug addict. A person who gets involved in drugs has to fight it everyday.”- Diego Maradona

22. “All the people that criticized me should eat their words.”- Diego Maradona

23. “Everybody in Argentina can remember the hand of God in the England match in the 1986 World Cup. Now, in my country, the hand of God has brought us an Argentinian pope.” – Diego Maradona

24. “There would be no debate about who was the best footballer the world had ever seen – me or Pele. Everyone would say me.” – Diego Maradona

25. “God makes me play well. That is why I always make the sign of the cross when I walk out onto the field. I feel I would be betraying Him if I didn’t.” – Diego Maradona

26. “Even if there was a hand, it was the hand of God.” – Diego Maradona

27.

Image Credit: Quote Master

28. “Messi I think is like me, he is the best in the world along with Ronaldinho.” – Diego Maradona

29. “I gave all I had. Now I want to enjoy my family.” – Diego Maradona

30. “What I love most about Norway is you ladies. Back home I’m used to fat and hairy women journalists.” – Diego Maradona

31. “The problem is that they are all stars at Madrid. You need someone to carry the water to the well.” – Diego Maradona

32. “If I could apologize and go back and change history I would. But the goal is still a goal, Argentina became world champions and I was the best player in the world.” – Diego Maradona

Which Diego Maradona quote is your favorite and why? Comment below!

The post 32 Inspirational Diego Maradona Quotes On Success first appeared on Addicted 2 Success.

source https://addicted2success.com/quotes/32-inspirational-diego-maradona-quotes-on-success/

This Single Habit That Will Keep You Successful in the 21st Century https://ift.tt/QkKTRz4UJ

2022-02-04T03:27:00.001+05:30

I am always curious what separates the successful vs. everyone else. My thought was if I could learn from how they think, model their behaviors, adopt their habits, I would eventually produce the same results they produced.

Because after all, they are no different than me, right? They may have an amazing network and a lot of money, but we all have the same mind. So, I figured studying them would help alter my thinking for the results I wanted in my life.

As I continued to study successful people that I know personally, people who have lived in the past, and others that I am sure you’ve seen on TV, I quickly realized the separation between those who accomplish their goal vs. those who don’t. Two words: controlled attention. Some people may also call this focus or concentration. To some, this may seem like an elusive attribute to create an abundant amount of success in life, but I’ve found that nearly every successful person has this unique quality.

Andrew Carnegie, the American industrialist, considered one of the wealthiest Americans in history, attributes his success to this very attribute. As the son of a migrant, he worked many odd jobs and eventually built one of the most successful business empires of all time.

In fact, it’s been said that government officials thought something was fishy because of how quickly he accumulated his wealth. So the US Senate commissioned Andrew Carnegie for questioning. As officials questioned him, Carnegie revealed his simple secret. Carnegie said, “I can keep my mind focused on something for five minutes at a stretch.” Carnegie had mastered the ability to keep his mind focused and attentive to start and complete a task in its entirety without distraction.

This simple but profound answer makes sense. I mean, after all, if you can’t focus your thoughts on a desired outcome, then nothing can progress in life – whether it be in your health, productivity, or wealth.

In an article published on the Napoleon Hill Foundation website, Dr. Angel L. Rivera writes that controlled attention is defined as “the act of coordinating all the faculties of the mind and directing their combined power to a definite end; an act that can only be achieved by the strictest form of self-discipline.” In addition, he writes that effective concentration “requires that the attention be focused, fully controlled and directed toward a definite end.”

Whether it be starting and finishing a task, giving your undivided attention to another person while in conversation, or even something as simple as sticking with one idea until completion – this is a quality that all successful people have adopted.

“I’m convinced that about half of what separates the successful entrepreneurs from the non-successful ones is pure perseverance.” – Steve Jobs

Now you may be asking yourself how I can develop my attention, focus, and concentration? With all the pings, social media wormholes, and demands in life, it almost seems like focus is the last thing our current society fosters. Not to mention our mind wanders nearly 50% of our day, according to a recent Harvard study! So the odds are definitely stacked up against us.

If you don’t feel like you have this attribute now, or you feel like you need more of it to get your goals and tasks completed, stick with me! New science concludes that focus and concentration are skills that can be learned!

In Dr. Amishi Jha’s book titled, Peak Mind, she discusses that by investing just 12 minutes a day, five days a week, you can increase your attention and working memory through a simple mindfulness exercise. So, for a small investment of your time, you can reap an enormous award in just about every area of your life. Now, if you are looking for a few other tricks to keep your focus, here are some:

1. Eliminate Distractions

Before starting any task, you have to set up your environment for success to lessen the likelihood of distractions. This could be putting all your devices on Do Not Disturb, putting your phone in another room, or waking up early before anyone else is up to get a task done. Personally, I have to put my phone in another room sometimes because I will unconsciously pick it up and start scrolling on social media, which ultimately distracts me from the task at hand. Clearing your space to free up distractions is a great way to pave your path to success!

2. Take Short Breaks

Working for an extended period of time can deter our concentration. An excellent way to alleviate this problem is by taking short breaks. I typically work for about 30 minutes with no distractions and then take a short break for 5 min. Whether it be getting a snack or looking outside the window – this gives my brain time to recuperate. After the break is over and I get back to work, I’m refreshed relaxed, and my focus seems to increase.

3. Exercise

Many of us attribute the benefits of exercise to our physical bodies. However, there’s a ton of research on how regular exercise can actually improve our overall mental health – which includes our focus and productivity. Whenever I have a challenging task that requires my full undivided attention, I typically always schedule my task right after my exercise routine! This simple trick has accelerated the productivity of all my tasks and goals.

The post This Single Habit That Will Keep You Successful in the 21st Century first appeared on Addicted 2 Success.

source https://addicted2success.com/success-advice/this-single-habit-that-will-keep-you-successful-in-the-21st-century/

40 of Freddie Mercury’s Most Inspirational Quotes https://ift.tt/JhYRCrONx

2022-02-03T11:27:00.001+05:30

Farrokh Bulsara, known to the world as Freddie Mercury, is considered one of the greatest singers in the history of rock music. He was the lead singer of the band Queen and wrote what many consider to be their signature song, Bohemian Rhapsody.

Check out 40 of Freddie Mercury’s most inspirational, funny, and motivating quotes below:

1. “The concept of Queen is to be regal and majestic.” – Freddie Mercury

2. “I always knew I was a star, and now the rest of the world seems to agree with me.” – Freddie Mercury

3. “I dress to kill, but tastefully.”- Freddie Mercury

4. “I like to be surrounded by splendid things.”- Freddie Mercury

5. “I love the fact that I can make people happy, in any form.”- Freddie Mercury

6. “When I’m dead, I want to be remembered as a musician of some worth and substance.”- Freddie Mercury

7. “We’ve gone overboard on every Queen album. But that’s Queen.”- Freddie Mercury

8. “The reason we’re successful, darling? My overall charisma, of course.”- Freddie Mercury

9. “Does it mean this, does it mean that, that’s all anybody wants to know. I’d say what any decent poet would say if anyone dared ask him to analyze his work: if you see it, darling, then it’s there!”- Freddie Mercury

10. “This thing called love, it cries like a baby in a cradle all night. It swings, it jives, it shakes all over like a jellyfish. I kinda like it.”- Freddie Mercury

11. “If I didn’t do this well, I just wouldn’t have anything to do… I can’t cook, and I’d be a terrible housewife.”- Freddie Mercury

12. “In terms of love, you’re not in control and I hate that feeling. I seem to write a lot of sad songs because I’m a very tragic person. But there’s always an element of humor at the end.”- Freddie Mercury

13. “I am loved by thousands, but I feel like the loneliest man in the world.”- Freddie Mercury

14.

Image Credit: Inspiring Quotes

15. “The most important thing is to live a fabulous life. As long as it’s fabulous I don’t care how long it is.”- Freddie Mercury

16. “Jimi Hendrix is very important. He’s my idol. He sort of epitomizes, from his presentation on stage, the whole works of a rock star.”- Freddie Mercury

17. “I don’t talk to everybody, so they don’t really know the real me.”- Freddie Mercury

18. “You can be anything you want to be, just turn yourself into anything you think that you could ever be.”- Freddie Mercury

19. “I’m a very emotional person, a person of real extremes, and that’s often destructive both to myself and others.”- Freddie Mercury

20. “Can you imagine how terrible it is when you’ve got everything and you’re still desperately lonely? That is awful beyond words.”- Freddie Mercury

21. “I’m just a musical prostitute, my dear.”- Freddie Mercury

22. “Excess is part of my nature. Dullness is a disease.”- Freddie Mercury

23. “I guess I’ve always lived the glamorous life of a star. It’s nothing new – I used to spend down to the last dime.”- Freddie Mercury

24. “Success is my breathing space. I brought it on myself. I will price it, I will cash it, I can take it or leave it. Loneliness is my hiding place, breastfeeding myself. What more can I say? I have swallowed the bitter pill, I can taste it. Life is real.”- Freddie Mercury

25. “We should never be disappointed with money; Because we only get what we have got.”- Freddie Mercury

26. “We’re a very expensive group; we break a lot of rules. It’s unheard of to combine opera with a rock theme, my dear.”- Freddie Mercury

27. “I always knew I was a star. And now, the rest of the world seems to agree with me.”- Freddie Mercury

28. “I don’t want to die, so sometimes I think it would have been better if I had never been born.”- Freddie Mercury

29. “When I’m dead, I want to be remembered as a musician of some worth and substance.”- Freddie Mercury

30. “I’m possessed by love, but isn’t everybody?”- Freddie Mercury

31. “My soul has painted like the wings of butterflies, Fairy tales of yesterday will grow but never die, I can fly, my friends…”- Freddie Mercury

32. “If I had to do it all over again? Why not, I would do it a little bit differently.”- Freddie Mercury

33. “The others don’t like my interviews. And frankly, I don’t care much for theirs.”- Freddie Mercury

34.

Image Credit: Quote Master

35. “What you must understand is that my voice comes from the energy of the audience. The better they are, the better I get.”- Freddie Mercury

36. “A concert is not a live rendition of our album. It’s a theatrical event.”- Freddie Mercury

37. “What will I be doing in 20 years time? I’ll be dead, darling! Are you crazy?”- Freddie Mercury

38. “About ten years ago, I knew three chords on the guitar. Now, in 1982, I know three chords on the guitar.”- Freddie Mercury

39. “Years ago, I thought up the name Queen…It’s just a name, but it’s very regal obviously, and it sounds splendid…It’s a strong name, very universal and immediate. It had a lot of visual potential and was open to all sorts of interpretations. I was certainly aware of the gay connotations, but that was just one facet of it.”- Freddie Mercury

40. “We don’t do it for the money… we do it for the music.”- Freddie Mercury

What was your favorite Freddie Mercury Quote? Leave the quote in the comments section below.

The post 40 of Freddie Mercury’s Most Inspirational Quotes first appeared on Addicted 2 Success.

source https://addicted2success.com/quotes/40-of-freddie-mercurys-most-inspirational-quotes/

Overcome Procrastination by Understanding Why We Do It https://ift.tt/HIjAfVXiW

2022-02-03T03:27:00.001+05:30

We’re all familiar with procrastination. For as long as humans have been around, we’ve been postponing the tasks we know we should do.

No matter how you experience it, procrastination affects everyone equally. It’s a force that prevents us from creating the life we want.

This article will break down how procrastination reigns over us so you can easily understand and apply the strategies to overcome it.

Why Do We Procrastinate?

The strangeness of procrastination is that we desperately try to avoid a task we’ve picked as the best way to spend our time. Why is it we know what’s ideal but would much rather do anything else?

There are two answers to that question: Time Inconsistency and The DUST Model.

Time Inconsistency

Time Inconsistency is our brain’s tendency to value immediate rewards higher than future ones.

The easiest way to understand this concept is to imagine you’re made up of two people: your present self and your future self. When you set a goal—like starting a business—that’s your future self. It recognizes that taking action on things with long-term benefits is important.

While your future self can set goals, only your present self can take action. The problem is that your present self only cares about instant gratification. So if your task doesn’t bring an immediate benefit, you’re not going to have any motivation to do it.

This creates a gap between what you want to do and what you actually do. Your future self wants to work on a side business, but your present self wants to watch Netflix. This disagreement is the primary driver of procrastination.

The DUST Model

Despite procrastination being rooted in time inconsistency, our emotions also exacerbate the issue.

DUST is a simple method to identify the emotions triggering procrastination:

Difficult – Challenging tasks lead to procrastination. This usually happens when you lack confidence or skill.

Unclear – Unclear tasks make it harder to start work. This is because you haven’t given yourself a precise outcome to work for.

Scary – Fear is a massive contributor to procrastination. Our brains are designed to keep us safe, so they will use procrastination to keep us in our comfort zone.

Tedious – Some tasks we procrastinate on because they are boring necessities. They don’t bring any joy or pleasure, but they have to get done—like filling out a spreadsheet at work.

“Putting off an easy thing makes it hard, and putting off a hard one makes it impossible.” – George H. Lorimer

How to Overcome Procrastination

Since our present self isn’t motivated by long-term benefits, we need to move future rewards and punishments to the present.

That’s exactly what happens when you put off a project until the last minute. You feel a little anxiety leading up to the deadline, but not enough to do anything about it. Then, suddenly, the day before the deadline, the future consequences become a present concern. So you write the report right before it’s due.

In that scenario, the report was no longer a goal of the future self. It became a duty of the present self.

So to stop procrastinating, we have to make it easy for the present self to feel motivated and get started. These are two methods that do just that:

Measure Something

It’s easy to feel uninspired when you don’t know if you’re making progress. That’s why you need to make your success measurable in some way. Starting is easy when you know exactly how much closer your current actions will bring you to your goal. A great way to make tasks measurable is by using visual cues—like the Paper Clip Strategy.

Let’s say you have to make 100 sales calls in a day. To use the Paper Clip Strategy, you start with two jars; an empty one, and one with 100 paper clips. You transfer one paperclip to the empty jar for each call you make until you’re done.

Visual cues work because of the Endowed Progress Effect—people become motivated when they see their progress towards a goal. Seeing your progress triggers your next productive action and gives you a short-term target.

Chunking

The most frustrating tasks are the ones that take many days to finish—like writing a report. You can spend all day working and have nothing but an unfinished project to show for it. It’s the exact type of work that induces procrastination.

An excellent technique for overcoming that hopeless feeling is Chunking. It’s when you split your large task into multiple smaller chunks.

An example of chunking is the 15-minute routine author Anthony Trollope used. Rather than tracking his progress by the completion of chapters or books, he measured it in 15-minute increments. Every 15-minutes, he would write 250 words. His strategy gave him short-term achievements while contributing to the large task of writing a book.

Creating tiny milestones makes it less daunting to start tasks and gives you more momentum while working. It motivates your present self and contributes to your future self’s goal.

Address the DUST Model

To lessen our emotions’ impact on procrastination, we can use the following solutions to address the DUST Model. These aren’t groundbreaking ideas, but they serve as a healthy reminder to take action when you’re facing these emotions (rather than suffer through them).

Difficult – If your task is challenging, giving yourself lots of time to finish is one of the most helpful things you can do. Use this extra time to learn the necessary skills and create a proper plan of action. Doing so will also give you an increase in confidence.

Unclear – When your to-do list is so unclear it gives you analysis paralysis, you need to define a clear starting point and end goal. It’s essential to make sure the task itself is actionable and can be finished. For example, instead of saying “Prepare for presentation”, say “Record myself presenting so I can get feedback on Tuesday”. This small change gives you a physical action you can complete.

Scary – When your fears prevent you from moving forward with a task, Removing the Ambiguity is one of the best techniques to follow.

Author Tim Ferriss explains this technique in The 4-Hour Work Week. He takes what he’s afraid of and describes every possible outcome (positives and negatives). Then he measures each potential outcome on a scale of one to ten. One being no impact, ten being permanently life-changing.

By doing this, he realized most of what he feared were temporary three’s and four’s, and all the positive outcomes were eights and nines. Meaning he’d be giving up a life-changing opportunity, because of potential discomfort.

Tedious – When a task’s nature is boring and tedious, the best solution is to create an enjoyable environment or give yourself an incentive. The key here is adding as much joy as possible.

For example, if you have to fill out a spreadsheet at work, can you listen to music or a podcast? Or make a deal with yourself that every 30-minutes, you’ll take a break to walk or scroll through social media.

Procrastination forces most people to endure life. They sit, suffer, and pass through it—surrendering their opportunity to live it. I hope this guide helps you overcome procrastination so you can create the life you want.

The post Overcome Procrastination by Understanding Why We Do It first appeared on Addicted 2 Success.

source https://addicted2success.com/life/overcome-procrastination-by-understanding-why-we-do-it/