Leadership Training, Personal Development, & Life Hacks

Overcoming Procrastination “Carpe Punctum” - Seize this Moment

admin@cultivategreatness.com (Travis Wright) — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 04:43:50 +0000

So, I have been listening to a lot of enlightening media lately, and they seem to have a central theme. The moment. Most of us get caught up in the day-to-day living of life, in which we are always tuned into thinking about things that don’t necessarily apply to right now. If you want to overcome procrastination, you must respect the moment.

With this economy, it sure is easy to drift away thinking about this bill or that bill, or how we are going to pay this or that. With the election season caught, we get thinking about the worse case scenario if this candidate gets into office or if that candidate gets into office.

We get into our emails and forward all this negative news about Candidate X and get all bend out of shape. Oh, how we worry about worst case scenarios. Oh how we dwell in the past and fret over the future. It is these type of activities that are really procrastination in action. In this state of mind, it is hard to overcome procrastination.

The enlightenment masters all say the same thing. ”Now is the moment of power”. You can’t change what happened yesterday, nor can you control events that are happening many days from now. The only thing that is within your ability to affect is NOW, because there is ONLY NOW.

Robin Williams starred in a movie in 1989 called, “Dead Poet’s Society”. This movie had a very powerful catch phrase in it… “Carpe Diem”. But seizing the day isn’t good enough… it’s too vague. More importantly, you need to SEIZE THE MOMENT. Carpe Punctum… Specifically… SEIZING THIS MOMENT.

Time is now. So clear your mind from the trash within, the thoughts that pollute and disempower you. The thoughts that tell you that you aren’t good enough, and the thoughts that tell you that you’ll never measure up. Those thoughts that nitpick at your self-worth and make you feel inferior… they are all trash.

Trash is what keeps you from the only thing that matters… this moment. NOW.

So if you want to motivate yourself to overcome procrastination, just realize that the only thing that you have control over, is right now. Carpe Punctum, my friends. Life is filled with only moments, and doing the right thing now, will ensure that your life will be where you want it to be in the future.

I’d recommend picking up the book, “Peaceful Warrior”, by Dan Millman or watch the movie by the same name. It will help give you a different perspective on this time called time. Use this moment wisely, don’t abuse this moment. Don’t waste this moment. Do in this moment that in which is most important, and your life will be better than you could possibly imagine.

Get off Cultivate Greatnes, and go do something more important and Carpe Punctum!

Yours in growth,

Travis Wright

Small Business Tips – It’s Never The Perfect Time

admin@cultivategreatness.com (Travis Wright) — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 19:50:24 +0000

Many people wait for things to be “perfect” before they pursue their dreams and goals. They wait for the perfect conditions, the perfect attitude, and the perfect time of year. They really want to achieve their goals … but the time just isn’t right.

In business they wait to take action on things they need to do to grow their business until they have their strategic plan in place, until staff turnover settles down, until they stop being so busy, until they get a few more clients. They really want to get around to taking the actions they need to do to grow their business … but the time just isn’t right.

When managing people they really want to tackle the poor performer, the rude staff member, the tardy employee. They want to give recognition to the high performing team member and take time out to plan their team’s projects or tasks… but the time just isn’t right.

Are you seeing any patterns?

Waiting for the right conditions is another name for procrastination which is an excuse for not achieving your goals. By waiting for the “right” time before acting - people accept mediocrity.

People often procrastinate because of fear – fear that they won’t be able to handle the results of their action (either good or bad). They may be afraid that if they have that hard conversation at work the person may cry (or resign). They worry they may not make a difference at work if they try and change things or they may go broke and cause embarrassment to themselves and their family.

They end up paralysing themselves into place, numbing themselves into inactivity.

So if you recognise yourself in these patterns what can you do about it?

… Start from wherever you are.

By that I mean, look at one just thing that immediately needs doing and start there. Don’t try and change the world … just do one small thing which, in the process, will also help you to clarify your direction and goals.

In business, if you need to revamp your brand for business cards … start there. A great graphic designer will ask lots of questions to help you clarify your business direction and goals before they put pen to paper. The act of re-designing your brand will in the hands of a skilled designer, help you to focus on your business goals (and if it doesn’t – find another designer – I know a few great ones!).

If you need to manage staff performance … start there. Part of managing performance is having clear and open discussions about future directions and objectives. The outcome of those discussions is greater and shared clarity about your business direction and goals.

If you need to get some direct mail or marketing out there to draw in customers … start there. A good writer will place your writing in the context of your business direction and will help you to articulate precisely what that direction is.

If you need to get a handle on your finances … start there. A good accountant or book-keeper will do more than process your accounts; they will help you work out your financial goals and targets.

If you need to change a bad habit … start there. Bad habits come about from a past response to a usually stressful situation. The habit was helpful at the time as a way of helping you deal with the circumstances. Changing the habit needs to be seen in the context of your broader life goals and direction.

To start from wherever you are, sometimes you need a hand to help you get moving.

The easiest way is to always surround yourself with people who will help you to take that step up and get a helicopter view of your situation – bigger than waiting for everything to be just right.

Find yourself business mentors, coaches, consultants, friends or executive teams who will tell you when you are procrastinating … then who nudge you off your self imposed limitations. People who won’t join in on the “feeling of being stuck”, but who will prompt you to see the actions and the choices available to you that you maybe didn’t see before.

A great support team that gets you moving is one of the best predictors of success for any business owner.

You don’t need perfect situations to get started. You just need the courage to take the first step (even if it isn’t a big one or perfectly executed!) or the right support team around you to help you run.

Author’s Bio

Ingrid Cliff is a Brisbane freelance writer and the Chief Word Wizard of Heart Harmony - her writing services studio that helps put your business into words. Ingrid writes a free weekly newsletter packed full of small business tips to help both you and your business grow www.heartharmony.com.au .

6 Essential Areas to Being a Great Leader

admin@cultivategreatness.com (Travis Wright) — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 21:48:10 +0000

If I asked you to name someone you thought was a great leader, who would you pick? John Wooden? Abraham Lincoln? Your grandmother? You have reasons for your selection. What are they? What makes that person a great leader? Too often we know a great leader when we see one, but less often are we able to pinpoint what makes it so. It’s worth taking the time to define the qualities of the person you selected as a great leader, and determine how you can incorporate those qualities into your own leadership. Every one of us is different, so we will be different leaders, but there are core essentials that need to be well-developed to create a great leader. I believe there are 6 essential areas to being a great leader:

Know your own leadership style. Are you a take-charge person who can get things done regardless of barriers? A planner who is skilled with the details of a large project? Spontaneous and creative, but struggle with deadlines and timetables? Do you prefer a low-key, slow-paced environment? Who we are naturally will determine how we will lead others. By default, we will lead others the way we prefer to be led. If we are spontaneous and not a planner, we will do things spur of the moment; some people cannot thrive in that environment. If we are a take-charge person and fast-paced, we’ll find some people need more processing time than we will give. So we must know what our own leadership style is and how to adjust it to create a culture where all can thrive.
Understand whether you’re a manager or a leader. What’s the difference? An analogy from Stephen Covey asks you to imagine there is a large group of people on the ground, and a ladder leaning against a tall building. Everyone must climb the ladder to get to the top of the building. The MANAGER makes sure the ladder is secured, rungs are in good repair, people ascend safely, etc. The LEADER makes sure the ladder is leaning against the right building - so the group ends up where they need to be. The LEADER determines what the goal is - why the people need to be at the top of the building. Do you sometimes have to work in both roles? Probably, but it’s important we stay focused on our primary role.

Promote Succession Planning. What is succession planning? Until recently, it has been defined as identifying and planning for the next CEO. But today, succession planning has a whole new meaning as we anticipate a mass exodus of leadership - as the Baby Boomers are retiring, it is estimated that by 2018, 60% of current leadership will be gone. So even if you’re a new leader, you need to already begin to develop new leadership right alongside you. It’s a great time in history for new leaders, because promotional possibilities are much greater than ever before. You may not stay in your leadership role very long, and you need to be intentional about preparing someone to step in.

Understand that “It’s All About Relationships.” This is so fundamental, and yet one area that leaders neglect the most. There are 3 reasons why everything in the marketplace really is all about relationships:
- People leave managers, not organizations. Staff retention, morale, productivity, and effectiveness are tied more to the relationship they have with their direct supervisor than on any other factor.
- People buy from and work for people they trust. You can’t build a high level of trust without focusing on building positive relationships at all levels.
- People work at peak for those who help them rise to their potential. ”People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” If you provide the support needed for a person rise to his or her potential, you have discovered the greatest key to that person performing at their peak abilities.

Promote Effective Communication. An organization knows when they do not have effective communication, but often doesn’t know how to create it. Traditional communication methods are important, and should be used effectively. But there are particular events that are typically neglected that should be a strong focus for strong, positive communication, including:
- Performance evaluations. New leaders, especially, are often not equipped with skills to conduct effective performance evaluations. The leader must feel confident during the evaluation process and have a tool that is effective.
- Staff discipline. Sometimes staff discipline is necessary, but often can be avoided with good mentoring and communication concerning regarding the job description, expectations, and frequent feedback.
- Multiple generations in the workforce. For the first time in history, we have four different generations in our workforce, which creates exciting possibilities, as well as unique challenges. You’re probably heard “the younger generation has no work ethic,” or “senior management needs to come into the 21st century.” These are common comments, and the leader must understand the generations, their characteristics, strengths and weaknesses, unique needs, and how all four can be utilized to the greatest effectiveness of the organization.

Develop an Effective Professional Image. How others perceive you is how you are in their mind; their perception is their reality. If they perceive you as trustworthy, to them you are. And if they perceive that you are not, you are not. The critical link here is that your professional effectiveness with that person is directly linked to their perception. You already have an image, whether you know what it is or not, and it speaks louder than your words. As you assess the other 5 areas for yourself, this sixth area becomes a natural conclusion and easier to understand. Take your leadership style, for example, and determine your strengths and weaknesses - what about your style contributes positively to your professional image? What does not? What would you like to change? Think about your skills as a communicator, and determine what areas you’d like to strengthen there, which has a direct correlation to your professional image.

What can you do to enhance your skills as a leader? Start today! Leadership Development guru Teresa Gilbert, “The Emerging Leader’s Champion,” publishes the ‘Emerging Leadership’ weekly ezine. If you are ready to rise to excellence as a leader, get your FREE tips now at http://www.leaderschampion.com

70 Things To Do Before Having Children

admin@cultivategreatness.com (Travis Wright) — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 02:56:41 +0000

They say having children changes everything. While it’s unquestionably a remarkable time in one’s life, I can also see how the transition introduces obvious limitations. Suddenly you have dependent beings of life to care for. Responsibility kicks in, compelling you to dedicate a significant portion of your time and attention to the best interests of the little ones. Combine this with the obvious physical and lifestyle limitations that come with age and it seems to me that there are several activities to check off the bucket list before settling down to start a family.

Here’s our list of 70 things to do before having children. For us, it’s simply about conquering as many life experiences as possible. We’re not quite there yet, but we’re getting closer.

Live in a high rise condo with an amazing view.
Take a month long vacation on the opposite side of the world in a city with a completely different culture.
Attend the Super Bowl live.
Jump out of a perfectly good airplane.

Check Out This @ Marc and Angel Hack Life!

Worry is Prayer for What You Don’t Want

admin@cultivategreatness.com (Travis Wright) — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 19:59:37 +0000

Sometimes, it is very difficult to NOT think of what you DON’T want. We are wired to think and worry about things that we don’t wish to happen. This is very detrimental to your success, as when you think of anything, your subconscious views it as something you would like to have happen. We think things into reality.

If you have kids, and you are worrying about them getting abducted every time they go outside or are out of your view… don’t be surprised if, one day, your kid gets kidnapped. You were silently wishing for it with every little ‘worry prayer’.

Worrying about losing your job, losing your home, losing your car, losing your marriage or getting ill… actually INCREASES the odds that that in which you are dreading will become reality.

Does this make sense?

I know it’s hard. Some people are oversensitive and show their worry and concern as a sign of love for those they care about. My Grandma Wright was a huge worrier. She worried about her health constantly, and died relatively young with health issues.

When I find myself worrying about something, I change my focus to working on a solution to the issue. I change my state of worry and concern to a state of ingenuity and inventiveness. Don’t worry or bitch about a problem… work towards finding a solution for that which mentally ails you.

Knowing that worry is a silent prayer, which asks and pleads for that which we don’t want is a powerful thing to consider. It could profoundly affect your life. Worry is the Law of Attraction working AGAINST you.

The more we think about something, the greater chance it has to become reality. Keep that in mind!!!

Much Love!

Travis Wright

8 Ways to Take It to the Next Level

admin@cultivategreatness.com (Travis Wright) — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 20:40:14 +0000

by Dustin Wax

No matter what you’re doing, there comes a time when you are going to want to take things up a notch. Maybe it’s your career — even if things are going along fine right now, ultimately you’d like to get a promotion, increase your client base, or reach a larger audience. Or maybe it’s a hobby that you think you’d like to turn into a career.

Getting started with anything can be a struggle, but once you reach a certain level of success, it can be hard to figure out how to make whatever it is you do truly remarkable. The things we do have a way of developing their own inertia, and if we’re not careful, we get carried along in the routine without ever realizing the full potential of what we and our lives can be.

How can you shake things up a bit? What do you have to do to take your project, your career, your product, or your life to the next level?

1. Build Your Brand

Long-time readers know that I haven’t always been fond of the idea of personal branding. Consider me convinced.

The strength of your brand is how well you are associated with whatever you do. For instance, lifehack.org offers tips and hacks to increase personal productivity. When people hear the word “lifehack”, they think of personal productivity, and when they hear “personal productivity” they think of lifehack. It’s a pretty strong brand. Some people have equally strong brands: when you hear about permission marketing, chances are you think of Seth Godin.

How strongly is your name linked with what you do? What could you do to link them more strongly? Some things to consider:

Traditional marketing: Commercials, print ads, billboards, bus wraps — anything that gets your name and message in people’s faces. There are a few problems, though: people might mistake your message, linking you with the wrong speciality; people tend to tune out a lot of advertising as a survival mechanism; people often respond negatively to blatant branding efforts; it’s quite expensive.
Blogging: A blog is a conversation with your audience, and can help build up a loyal following that actually cares about what you do.
Word-of-mouth: Hard to create and hard to fake, but very effective. Seek out people with a great deal of influence and focus on convincing them of your value. If Seth Godin wrote on his blog that I was the best web writer he knew of, you can bet that within the day my career would be at the next level (maybe the level after that, even!).

2. Build Your Audience

Make a concerted effort to increase the number of people who know about you. Branding is part of this, but it’s not all of it. Give something away, find a new outlet, tell everyone you meet what you do, hand out cards wherever you go, show up at conferences and exhibitions, go to your kids’ classrooms and talk about what you do (and make it interesting enough that they tell their parents). Make yourself useful so people have a compelling reason to pay attention.

3. Increase Your Output

Give your audience, whoever that is, more of what they expect from you. Double, triple, or septuple your output. If you’re a writer, write twice as much. If you’re an actor, get into more plays. If you’re a filmmaker, pledge to produce four short films this year instead of one. Make a painting a day. Aim to top your sales quotas by 50% every month. Do whatever it takes to make yourself more productive. Learn to do whatever you do in half the time — then halve it again. (Read lifehack.org every day, of course!)

4. Improve Your Output

Make whatever you make twice as well. Improve the quality of your work until people have no choice but to stop and gape. Create benchmarks for your output, and aim to top them every single time. Take classes, read book, follow a mentor, practice twice as much, commit yourself to doing what it takes to master your craft or profession.

5. Expand Your Niche

Do what you do now but with a wider outlook. If you write about dogs, start writing about pets in general. If you sell widgets, get into the widget case business. If you’re a musician, learn how to produce. Think about the people whose needs you aren’t meeting, and figure out how to meet them. Don’t try to create a new niche altogether, just look for ways to complement and leverage the work you’re already doing.

6. Restrict Your Niche

Or, do the opposite. Focus yourself on a narrow part of your niche until you’re the only one doing it. If you write about sports, write about baseball, then write about left-handed pitchers. If you make household appliances, make appliances for college students (and then for left-handed college students, maybe). If you paint landscapes, paint trees. If you do marketing consulting, offer viral marketing techniques that work with teenage boys. Become the person people have to go to when they have very specialized needs, because you’re the only one that does it.

7. Cross-Develop

Figure out how to use what you know in an entirely different way. If you coach little leaguers, write a book about coaching. If you offer one-on-one organization coaching, work with a developer to create home organization software. If you’re a TV camera operator, tutor middle schoolers in video podcasting. Find a new way to challenge yourself and put your knowledge to the test — while developing new knowledge and skills.

8. Expand Your Network

Your audience are the people who buy, read, or otherwise use your product; your network are the people that help you make it, market it, or distribute it. Focus on building strong relationships with a variety of people both in and out of your profession. Don’t try to fake it — strong relationships have to be genuine or they won’t last. Join a social networking site like LinkedIn and work it like mad. Go to trade shows, conferences, and exhibitions and talk to every exhibitor and every presenter. Make a list of 20 people in your field you want to know and email them introductions. Build relationships with your 10 best clients. Build relationships with someone from your top competitors (if that’s legal). Join a professional organization and run for an office.

Obviously these are not all exclusive — you can and sometimes have to do more than one at the same time. And they’re not all necessary — some even contradict others. But all of them shake up your routines and make people pay attention to you, whether those people are potential clients, potential customers, or potential partners.

None of these are keys to instant success. All of them require hard work and time to show any effect. If you’re ready to take it to the next level — and you’re ready to put in the work and commitment that entails — then go through the list and ask yourself how each item could help get you there.

How to Find the Olympian Within

admin@cultivategreatness.com (Travis Wright) — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 00:37:35 +0000

by Denis Waitley

You’re standing on the highest pedestal, the one in the center. You hear the roar of approval from the crowd. As the first note of the national anthem is played in the Olympic stadium, you feel all the pride and honor that accompanies this moment. Ten thousand hours of preparation for this one triumphant moment in history. You’ve won the gold!

That dream of an Olympic championship is in the heart of every amateur athlete, just as the Grand Final, World Cup, Super Bowl and Wimbledon are the goals of professional football players and tennis players. What are your dreams? You’re most likely not a world-class athlete, but surely you have aspirations of your own. Perhaps you imagine a metaphorical gold medal being placed around your neck by the CEO of your company or by your friends and family for being the best in your own unique way. Maybe you wonder whether you’re up to the risk of starting your own business.

On Sundays, my grandparents would take us children to ride the huge merry-go-round next to the San Diego Zoo. We could hardly wait to mount those bobbing zebras, lions, tigers and stallions, and whirl round and round to the music of the antique pipe organ. Surrounded by mirrors and lights, our hearts would pound in anticipation as we stretched out desperately, trying to be the one among all the riders who would grab the gold ring and win another ride. So began my competitive spirit.

Since you’re probably younger than I am, you may never even have heard of grabbing the gold ring on the carousel. But in the 40s, and 50s, if you reached out and caught it, you not only got a free ride—your name was also announced over the loudspeaker and all the other kids and their parents would applaud. And, of course, the kids all wished it could have been them instead of you.

Reflecting now on my youth, I’ve come to some realizations. I guess I did start out thinking of success and winning as something that you got by reaching outside yourself and proving to others that you were worthy. Come to think of it, most of my friends also believed that you had to prove or earn or win or perform in some special way, and then you would deserve the gold ring or the Olympic gold medal.

The approval of others seemed to precede feelings of self-confidence and self-worth. You were entitled to feel good about yourself only after you performed well. Why did it take me so many years to discover that just the reverse ought to be true?

After devoting most of my lifetime to investigating the wellsprings of personal and professional success, I’m able to make the following statements with great confidence:

You need to feel love inside yourself before you can offer it to anyone else.
Your own sense of value determines the quality of your performance. Performance is only a reflection of internal worth, not a measure of it.
The less you try to impress, the more impressive you are.
What you show the world on the outside is a mirror image of how you feel on the inside.
You should chase your passion, not your pension.

The key trait shared by athletic champions and winners in every walk of life is the fundamental belief in one’s own internal value.

If your success depends on external possessions, you’ll be subject to constant anxiety. When your peer group cheers one of your accomplishments, you’ll feel good for a while, but then you’ll wonder if they’ll cheer as loudly the next time. If they’re critical, you will feel hurt and threatened. The truth is, you can never win over a long period if your concept of success depends upon the perfect performance or the placing of a gold medal around your neck.

It’s obvious that talent, looks and other attributes aren’t equally distributed, but we’re all given an abundance of value—more than we could use in several lifetimes. The game of life certainly isn’t played on a level playing field for each of us in terms of education, a supportive home life and other circumstances beyond our control, but I can assure you that you were born with the qualities of a champion. That’s what I mean by value.

You see, champions are born, but they can be unmade by their perceptions, exposure and responses. Losers are not born to lose. They’re programmed that way by their own responses to their environment and their decisions.

There’s a phrase I like to use—The Inner Winner—that describes the kind of person who recognizes his or her internal value, and who is able to use that recognition as the foundation for achieving any goal. The secret of wearing the gold medal around your neck in the external world is that first you must be an Inner Winner. You must recognize that you’re already an Olympian Within.

Debt and Debtor’s Disease

admin@cultivategreatness.com (Travis Wright) — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 23:29:42 +0000

Debtor’s disease is a silent killer. Killer of respect, marriages, self control, and families. There isn’t a part of your life that it won’t touch and destroy with it’s deadly power. Some of you won’t even know you have it for many, many years. It’s a sneaky affliction; creeping into your life and slowly but surely taking control of every part of your existence.

Seems a bit of a dramatic description, doesn’t it? But, the sad part is, it’s all true. Even though we often hate to admit it, debt will control our lives totally. Even when we first realize it, we won’t do anything about it. We will deny it, continue to feed it, and give it all it needs to thrive within our lives. Oh, you’ll have help, no doubt about that. There are many ways we fuel the fever. Falling into the credit card trap is just the beginning. Self justification is your worst enemy. Why, the human mind is masterful at justifying just about any action, or purchase, given the right circumstances.

The first step is recognizing the disease. Diagnoses of debtor’s disease is much harder than you might expect. Oh, the symptoms are very clear for sure. But, since most of us hate to admit our own vulnerabilities and defeat, they can be nearly invisible to the victim. I experienced nearly all of the symptoms below before I finally excepted the fact that I did indeed have the affliction. It is quite a humiliating experience to realize that so many obvious warning signs were present and you continued down the wrong path.

They say hindsight is 20/20; Meaning that the past is clearer when we look back. And, when things go wrong, we like to hope that we would have done things differently if we knew what we know now. Well, I’m hoping I can prevent you from some of that humiliation and financial disaster. You can stop it from growing to destructive levels if you can identify the warnings early on. Identify problems early and fix them. Make no mistake, if the following scenarios apply to your situation, you are headed for financial trouble.

SYMPTOMS

Requesting credit increases lately?
Requesting credit increases for no specific major purchase, but because your cards are maxed out, is a sure sign that your spending is out of control. You may be living way beyond your income.
Do you apply for new credit cards because your current credit balances are maxed out?
This is just another way to get additional credit especially, when you can’t seem to get any more credit increases from your existing creditors.
Are you rescheduling monthly bill payments due to lack of funds. If you find it increasingly difficult to pay bills on time and according to a consistent schedule, you’re probably starting to get into trouble. You should not have to put off paying essential bills.
Are you using credit to meet your living expenses.
Credit is not intended to help you live above your income. You should be able to meet all of your essential living expenses with your income. If you have income left for non-essential expenses, great. If not, don’t turn to credit to live above your income. It will most certainly result in financial disaster. Paying essential monthly bills, such as the electric or phone, with credit cards is a serious symptom. Once you turn to credit to pay your monthly bills, you’re in serious trouble. Sooner or later the credit cards will be maxed out, you will be refused additional credit increases, and you won’t be able to pay those bills.
Do your credit card payments equal more than 10 -15% of your monthly income?
Your income to credit ratio is an important part of your credit management picture. The higher your balances, without an increase in income, the lower your credit score. This is true even if you have no derogatory items on your credit history, and are consistently maintaining good payment records.In most cases, creditors will identify debtor’s disease long before the victim realizes his affliction. They will begin to arm themselves against the consequences of the infection when this occurs. Your interest rates and penalties (i.e. late fees, over limit fees) may increase as companies anticipate default. Even they can see you’re headed for trouble.

THE CURE

If you answered yes to any or all of the above, you have fallen victim to debtor’s disease. Don’t let it take control of your life! Fix the problems now. You’ll have less stress and be a lot happier. I can say that with confidence. It is such a relief to be able to see an end to the struggle. You will feel as though a great burden has been taken from you when your finances are under control.

And, even though you may experience some difficult periods when you may get discouraged, you’ll find those times much less stressful that periods when you worried about how your bills would get paid. Take some serious money management steps to begin your treatment. It’s never too late to take control of your finances and make a commitment to debt free living.

Identify overspending and eliminate it.
Identify where your money goes. Track spending for specified period of time. Eliminate unnecessary expenses. Reduce those you feel you need to keep.
Develop a plan to become debt free.
Create a plan to get rid of debt. Use a self help plan or a professional. Whether you choose a counselor, debt consolidation or settlement, or a self help plan, lower debt consistently to manage and eliminate debt. A plan that calls for a consistent monthly commitment until debt is paid will be easier to budget.
Create a Household budget
Creating a household budget will be essential to your success. It is necessary to bring your living expenses within your income. This is the concept of living within your means. You can create this yourself as well or seek professional help in setting up or maintaining your budget. Your situation and your level of self discipline will determine what will be most successful for you. Find a plan that works for your situation and will be the easiest for you to stick to!
Implement lifestyle changes that will help you free up money to help pay down debt.
Consistently apply these extra funds to debt payments to get out of debt faster. The sooner you are free from debt, the sooner you can start investing that money in yourself. Save money everyday on everything you buy and do.

Once you rid yourself of debt, commit to debt free living. Remember, you now know how you made the mistakes, you know how to identify the symptoms, and you have the knowledge and power to implement the cure. You should now be immune to debtor’s disease.

Now, you can vaccinate your children, friends, and family with the knowledge to prevent them from falling prey to this life draining affliction. Give them your hind sight and help them build happy, secure, and independent futures for themselves and their families.

Cheryl Johnson is a mother of four helping herself and others become and remain debt free. Publisher of the family friendly site, Simple Debt Free Living, at http://www.simpledebtfreeliving.com where you’ll find a plan, ideas, and resources for household budgeting, debt free and frugal living, and a variety of money saving tips.

8 Reasons to Have Good Posture

admin@cultivategreatness.com (Travis Wright) — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 15:40:57 +0000

Your parents were right - Posture is Important!

“Sit up straight!” “Don’t slouch!” -

I’m sure we’ve all heard those admonishing words more than once from our mother when we were growing up. And most of us begrudgingly complied with her command having no concept of the anatomical and biomechanical rationale behind her persistent prodding. In fact she probably wasn’t aware of all the implications of poor posture herself! But somehow, some way your mother always seemed to know best.

Think about it. The first thing you notice about people is not their eyes, not their hair, not even their clothes. It’s their posture. And it screams messages about who they are. Someone who stands erect gives off an aura of pride and self-confidence, while someone who slumps and stoops looks like he’s ashamed to be taking up space.

Yet looks aren’t the best reason to improve your posture. Health is. What begins as merely an unsightly stance or carriage can lead to authentic health problems if not corrected.

But what is good posture anyway and why is it so important? Basically posture refers to the body’s alignment and positioning with respect to the ever-present force of gravity. Whether we are standing, sitting or lying down gravity exerts a force on our joints, ligaments and muscles. Good posture entails distributing the force of gravity through our body so no one structure is overstressed.

So, here are eight more reasons to have a ‘correct’ healthy posture:

1. Portrays a better, more confident image.

Good posture will boost self-confidence. Try this: take a deep breath and stand straight. Do you feel better? More confident?

Also look around a crowded dining area or cafeteria some time, and notice how many people are hunched over their meals. Then try to spot someone who’s sitting tall in their seat, raising their fork or spoon to their mouth instead of pitching forward to grab the next bite. Doesn’t that look more elegant? Which person looks poised and confident to you?

2. Breathing becomes easier and deeper.

Try this: sit down and bend over and try to breathe in. Notice how it is harder to breathe. This is an extreme example of how our muscles and tendons get over restricted and cause a lessening of depth and ease in breathing.

People are often asked to sit up straight. This rarely has permanent effect because by the time someone needs to be reminded to do so, their body has adapted to be more comfortable in the slouching position. When they attempt to sit up “straight” they actually tighten the already over-shortened frontal muscles and tendons and this causes restrictions in the ease of breathing volume; tightening these muscles even slightly to make oneself more erect causes tightness in the entire upper body and reduces the ease of deeper breathing.

We intuitively do not like this and soon adjust back to where it was easier to breathe. That is why most people that are advised to sit up straight, remain erect for only a few minutes before reverting to the former slouch where breathing is a little easier. Their breathing is still held back from being fully deep, easy and balanced. For them it becomes easier and more what they have become accustomed to.

Often what we perceive as satisfactory is a lack of adequate understanding.

3. Improves circulation and digestion.

Good posture increases lung capacity, aiding oxygen transport and nutrition around the body. Upright open posture also allows more room in the abdominal cavity, this improves your health by allowing your organs to function more easily.

4. Makes you look slimmer and younger.

When having a good posture you will instantly take off 3-5 lbs in your appearance. It will also make you look slimmer, younger and your clothes will look better.

5. Your voice will sound better.

If you maintain good posture when you speak, and are careful not to let your chest “collapse” as you exhale, your diaphragm will open, making your voice sound better.

6. Help your muscles and joints.

Good posture helps us keep bones and joints in correct alignment so that our muscles are used correctly, decreasing the abnormal wearing of joint surfaces that could result in degenerative arthritis and joint pain. It also reduces the stress on the ligaments holding the spinal joints together, minimizing the likelihood of injury.

A good posture allows muscles to work more efficiently, allowing the body to use less energy and, therefore, preventing muscle fatigue. It also helps prevent muscle strain, overuse disorders, and even back and muscular pain.

7. Change your frame of mind.

Posture also affects your frame of mind and your frame of mind can affect your posture. So, when you are well, feeling happy and on top of things, posture tends to be upright and open. In contrast, people who are depressed and in chronic pain, often sit or stand slumped.

Next time you feel depressed or you’re anxious about something try changing your posture, stand up straight and breath deeply. Good posture in sitting and standing makes it easier to breathe fully and naturally, helping both relaxation and concentration, many Eastern practices such as yoga and tai-chi work on posture.

8. Healthy spine

Correct posture is a simple but very important way to keep the many intricate structures in the back and spine healthy. Back support is especially important for people who spend many hours sitting in an office chair or standing throughout the day.

Not maintaining good posture and adequate back support can add strain to muscles and put stress on the spine. Over time, the stress of poor posture can change the anatomical characteristics of the spine, leading to the possibility of constricted blood vessels and nerves.

To achieve good posture you must make it a habit by keeping your shoulders back, abdomen pulled in, your head lifted and chin parallel to the ground. This won’t be easy if you are not used to it because you will have to build the muscles that keep your body in the correct position. It will take patience and practice. When you make a decision to work on your posture don’t expect it to happen overnight but rest assured it will improve and you will see and feel the difference.

So, what are you waiting for? Start improving your posture right now!

[via RirianProject]

Detoxify Yourself: 101 Tips to Remove the Poison from Your Body and Your Life

admin@cultivategreatness.com (Travis Wright) — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 16:23:13 +0000

With air pollution, harmful pesticides and an unhealthy diet, your body is probably full of chemicals and poisons that you don’t even think about. If you want to detox your entire body, mind, spirit and life, turn to this list, which has over 100 ideas for removing the poison.

10 Goals for Every Day

Keep these 10 tips in mind each day for a regular detox session.

Watch less TV: Watch less TV, if any. Your mind will be freer to concentrate on more important things than annoying commercials, celebrity gossip and superficial materialism.
Limit your online activity: It’s pretty much impossible not to log on to your e-mail accounts everyday, but limit the rest of your online activity, including going to fluff sites and playing online games. You’ll be more productive and will probably end up using the time you would have wasted on something more important and fulfilling.
Stop gossiping: Always thinking and spreading nasty thoughts about others brings your own mood and self-confidence down.
Use non-toxic cleaners: Using non-toxic home cleaners helps rid your home of unnatural substances that can be harmful to your health.
Quit smoking: Cigarettes contain over 4,000 different chemicals, including nicotine, tar, hydrogen cyanide and even arsenic, all of which are poison to your body.
Exercise: Exercising helps purify your mind and your body by releasing aggressive emotions and endorphins. Exercise also helps your body take in more oxygen and pump your blood faster.
Sleep better and longer: Learn valuable techniques for getting a more relaxing, effective sleep each night in order to let your body fully recuperate from the previous day.
Introduce organic produce into your diet: Fresh, organic fruits and veggies are free of toxins that harm your body and interfere with great taste.
Limit the number of pills you pop each day: If you have a chronic health condition, we’re not asking you to stop taking pills. But if you pop several pills every time you have a teensy headache, you’re putting way too many kidney-damaging chemicals into your system.
Breathe deeply: Breathing deeply increases the flow of oxygen into your body and relax your mind.

Physical Poisons

From alcohol and drugs to chemicals in your beauty products, make a concerted effort to rid your body of these poisons.

Limit alcohol consumption: While researchers have found that moderate consumption of red wine does have health benefits, drinking too much damages your liver, weakens your heart, and can make you feel tired and worn out, since it interferes with your sleep.
Drugs: Drugs are incredibly toxic to your body and your life, weakening the immune system, causing rifts with family and friends, ruining your career and taking a major toll on your body.
Go easy on makeup and beauty products: Consider using natural makeup and beauty products that are free of chemicals that can be harmful to your skin. Or, take a look at these tips to limiting the amount of makeup you put on each day without compromising your looks.
Give your hair a break: Hair dyes contain a lot of unhealthy chemicals that are bad for your hair and scalp but can also be damaging when you breathe them in every couple of weeks.
Try skin brushing: This detox strategy involves stimulating your skin in order to increase “its rate of elimination of toxic waste products, which decreases the demands placed on the kidneys.”
Consider a colon cleansing: Colon cleansings are believed to remove the body of parasites and other toxins that can interfere with digestion and general health.
Have sex: Having sex can give you energy, help you sleep better, reduces cholesterol, reduces stress, increases the flow of oxygen to your brain, and can even be a natural pain reliever.
Do a juice fast: Juice fasting is controversial, but it’s also a popular way to detox. Juice fasts are done with the goal of reducing animal products and cooked food products from your system in order to cleanse your body.
Hydrotherapy: This alternative health practice can be done at a spa, sauna or even in your shower. By alternating the temperature of the water, you can reduce inflammation, stimulate your body’s circulation and remove waste from body tissue.
Take herbs: There are a number of natural herbs that can be used for internal and external detox, like yucca root and licorice root, which are laxatives; milk thistle seed and dandelion which support the liver; pumpkin seed which expels parasites; and cranberry and witch hazel, which are anti-inflammatory and antioxidant herbs.

Social Poisons

Give your social behavior and expectations a real makeover by considering these detox tips.

Close or increase privacy settings on your online dating profile: Online dating companies can be extremely beneficial to some individuals, but posting photos and information about yourself online can attract unsavory characters who badger you with inappropriate messages.
Volunteer: Increase your social circle by volunteering. Doing something for the good of others is also a selfless act that is good for your conscience.
Reconcile with family and friends: Don’t let a grudge or a fight with friends affect your conscience or your mood. Reconcile with estranged family members and friends to give your social life a detox.
Stay in: If you’re always going out with friends, take a night to yourself and stay in. You can give your mind and body a rest from all of the external stimulations and social pressures by relaxing at home.
Go out: On the other hand, if you’re always at home, try to go out every once in a while and be social with the community around you. Even if you aren’t out for an organized event with friends, opening yourself up to spending time with other human beings can help you feel more relaxed.
De-stress at work: For some people, going to work means feeling stressed out as soon as they sit down as their desks. Learn to de-stress at work by staying organized and tuning out annoying or over demanding co-workers.
Learn to tune out: Tuning out gossipy friends, media messages and moody strangers will keep your mood elevated and your mind free from worry about everything going around you that you can’t control anyway.
Separate yourself from the pack: Don’t go along with everything everyone else is doing just because they say so. Separate yourself from the pack by doing what makes you feel right and the things that honors your life choices and long term goals.
Be responsible: Take responsibility for yourself and your actions, and you’ll find that you end up taking much better care of yourself, physically, emotionally and socially.
Smile: Smiling can help you focus on the positive and forget about negative thoughts and feelings that plague you.

Productivity Drainers

Mass e-mails, violent video games and even telemarketing calls are a real drain to your productivity and fill up your mind with useless garbage. Rid yourself of these poisons by taking a look at our list below.

Improve your focus: By keeping track of your time and setting goals throughout the day, you’ll be able to stay focused on the things that matter.
Unsubscribe to blog feeds: Clean out your inbox by unsubscribing to all the RSS feeds and newsletters that keep you away from your work and focused on unimportant things.
Eliminate distractions: Distractions can be poisonous to your schedule and your mindset, so turn off the TV, block certain websites and unplug the phone until you complete your to-do list.
Stay nourished: Hunger drains productivity and can negatively affect your metabolism if it’s been too long since your last meal.
Ignore “nasty people”: The Random Hitz blog maintains that “nasty people drain productivity in the workplace,” so try to tune out competitive co-workers, backstabbers and the office gossip to stay focused and keep your energy high.
Turn off the instant messenger: Unless you do business over instant message, sign off your account or create a new one just for work. Chatting with friends will keep you from your work, making you feel anxious and unprepared at the end of the day.
Violent computer games and video games: Playing violent computer or video games is not just a productivity drain: it also fuels your mind with overly aggressive images that can affect your perspective on real life.
Exercise your brain: Keep your brain sharp by doing simple mind exercises that can keep Alzheimer’s and dementia at bay.
Get a spam filter: Get a spam filter for your e-mail account so you don’t have to look at crass junk mail messages all day long.
Get an unlisted phone number: Keep your phone number out of the phone book and off of telemarketing lists so that you don’t have to stress yourself out over prank calls, sales calls and other annoying phone calls.

Meditation Tips

Meditation is an effective technique for ridding your mind and body of poisonous thoughts and energy drainers.

Follow a specific program: Play one of these meditation guides to help you focus and relax.
Meditate alone: Being along is an important strategy for effective meditation.
Eliminate external discomforts: Make sure the room is a comfortable temperature and the lighting is just right for your meditation.
Be patient: This tip will prevent you from getting too overwhelmed if you feel like meditation isn’t working at first.

Emotional and Mental Health

De-stress by opening up and acknowledging your feelings. These tips are also meant to boost your self-esteem and remove toxic thoughts that sabotage your emotional health.

Counseling: Talk to a counselor or psychologist regularly so that you can hear yourself work through your problems. Setting aside an hour each week also ensures that you make you time to address your feelings, instead of burying them until they manifest in an unhealthy way.
Be social: Getting out with friends or even going to a coffee shop will make you feel more connected to the community around you and can distract you from your own problems for a while.
Open up: Share your thoughts, goals and feelings with a friend or family member to purge yourself of anxiety, self-doubt, or any other negative emotions.
Self confidence: Give your self-confidence a boost and get rid of negative thoughts that harm your spirit and prevent you from doing the things that make you happy.
Set realistic goals: By setting realistic goals, you’re more likely to feel a sense of achievement and triumph as you complete each one.
Understand your body: To prevent poisonous thoughts and mental disorders like depression or anorexia/bulimia, get to know your body and your mind. Appreciate yourself for who you are and understand what triggers can set you off so that you can avoid feeling down.

Organization Tips

Staying organized will elevate your mood and keep your surroundings clean and bacteria-free.

De-clutter: Clutter around your house and in your schedule can cause you to feel stressed, anxious and even unhealthy, if your clutter is really dirty.
Take out the trash frequently: This tip may seem like a given, but taking out the trash instantly removes poisons and waste from your surroundings.
Budget: Organize your budget to avoid overspending, debt, unpaid bills, unpaid taxes and other stress factors that could land you in serious trouble.
Schedule: Prevent scheduling conflicts, missed appointments, over bookings and running yourself ragged by maintaining a calendar or date book.
Get tech help: Use an online program like Tada Lists or Remember the Milk so that you don’t have to keep up with to-do lists floating around your car, office and home.

Simplify Your Life

By simplifying your life, you can have more time to concentrate on your health. From re-prioritizing your to-do lists to automating regular tasks like bill paying, consider downsizing in the following ways.

Just say no: Don’t agree to run every event, attend every meeting or go to every party. Saying no can free up valuable time for yourself and prevent you from over stimulating your mind.
Keep things perspective: Instead of overreacting to every setback, keep things in perspective. Ask yourself if the problem at hand will matter in six days’ or six months’ time. Most of the time it won’t, and you can save yourself a lot of toxic worry.
Automate regular tasks: Set up an automatic bill pay or savings action so that you don’t have to waste time writing checks each month, and so you won’t fall behind on payments.
Take time out: Slow down every once in a while to give your mind and body a rest by taking a long weekend, going on a relaxing vacation or just making room in your schedule for an extra nap.
Cut back on communication: Don’t isolate yourself, but minimize the different communication platforms like Twitter, e-mail, Facebook and VoIP that you check each day to eliminate extra junk mail, distractions on welcome pages and useless messages.

Food and Diet

If you aren’t ready to start a full-on detox diet, introduce fresh, organic produce, fiber and plenty of water into your diet as a gentle and healthy way to rid your body of chemicals.

Fiber: Fiber cleanses your body and your digestive tract, so opt for foods like whole wheat bread, brown rice, broccoli, bran cereal, corn and other raw vegetables and fruits.
Vitamin C: Vitamin C is a great detox agent for cleansing the liver, as it produces glutathione.
Water: Water is one of the easiest and most effective ways to flush out your system. It’s also a good substitute for soda, alcoholic beverages and sugary juices when you’re thirsty.
Garlic: Garlic is a great ingredient for promoting good health, especially detox, as it is rich in antioxidants.
Organic foods: Incorporate organic foods, especially fruits and vegetables into your diet, since they are free of harmful pesticides and chemicals.
Locally grown food: For a more socially conscious move, buy locally grown food to support your community in a green way.
Ethical food: Ease your conscience by making sure your food was produced in an ethical way, from conditions of slaughterhouses to Fair Trade coffee growers and harvesters.
Blueberries: Blueberries are extremely high in antioxidants and keep your brain sharp.
Say no to junk food: Processed junk food full of unnatural sweeteners and chemicals pumps poison into your body, can cause you to become overweight, and negatively affects your heart health. Even diet junk-food is processed and unhealthy.
Raw food: Whether you live a completely raw food and product lifestyle, or you’d like to try a raw food detox diet, raw food can be an effective way to cleanse your body of animal products and processed ingredients.

Exercise and Sleep

Getting enough of the right kind of exercise and sleep purifies both your mind and your body.

Cardio: Besides being a major calorie-busting workout, a cardio routine is also good for anger management.
Yoga: Yoga is one of the most popular exercises for a de-stress, detox lifestyle because it eases the mind, decreases blood pressure, increases your respiratory efficiency, helps digestion, improves focus and posture, and helps you sleep better.
Pilates: Like yoga, pilates can boost energy and your immune system without requiring a sweat-inducing cardio workout.
Reduce your body fat: Besides looking more in shape, reducing your body fat, which is where a lot of toxins in your body are stored.
Swimming: The website The Natural Path describes swimming as a good exercise for detox, as it works out your muscles and heart but also “increases your breathing and your body temperature, thus aiding in your internal cleansing.” Try to swim in a pool with as less chlorine as possible, or in a natural body of water.
Sweat: Pick an exercise that makes you sweat, which cleanses some toxins from the surface of your body.
Exercise the right way: Make sure you’re following the routine or fitness plan exactly; otherwise, you might injure yourself.
Keep a regular sleeping schedule: This schedule should include a routine for preparing for bed and making yourself sleepy, as well as waking up at around the same time each morning.
Exercise for sleep: Maintaining an active lifestyle can wear your body out just enough to ensure a restful sleep.
Protect your sleep environment: Polluting your bedroom with TV, artificial light from your computer and work materials can interfere with your sleep.

Good Lifestyle Choices and Links

Make good lifestyle choices, by avoiding promiscuity, maintaining proper hygiene and considering a holistic or even macrobiotic lifestyle.

Go organic: An organic lifestyle rids your body and environment of pesticides and may also mean that you support local growers and more ethically produced foods and products.
Promiscuity: This bad habit increases your chances of catching an STD and feeling emotionally dragged down.
Holistic lifestyle: A holistic lifestyle gives equal attention to your mind, body and spirit, so that you monitor the health and toxicity of every part of yourself.
Macrobiotic lifestyle: A macrobiotic lifestyle “is a way of life based upon living in harmony with nature through a balanced whole foods diet, an active lifestyle, and respect for the natural environment,” according to CrescentLife.com. Get tips for living this way by following the link.
Go vegan: There are a host of benefits associated with a vegan lifestyle, like good nutrition, disease prevention, avoiding harmful processed ingredients, helping the environment and more.
Oral hygiene: Your oral hygiene affects your overall health, so make sure your floss and brush a few times daily.
Bathing: Wash off the dirt, chemicals and other toxins on your skin by bathing regularly.
Wash hands frequently: Avoid getting sick by washing your hands frequently, which kills germs and washes off other harmful bacteria.
Feng shui: The purpose of practicing feng shui is to balance out your elements and promote the free flow of energy, greatly reducing the toxicity and stress of any environment. Get easy-to-follow tips here.
Pranayama: This yoga breathing exercise maximizes the amount of oxygen that goes to your brain, controlling “Prana, or the vital life energy.”
Strategic massage: Get a massage that stimulates your digestive system and increases your body’s ability to eliminate waste.

Purifying Your Environment

This list features different ways that you can purify your environment and ensure that your home, office and commute are free of all kinds of pollutants.

Drive an eco-friendly car: An electric car is good for the environment and your health, since you won’t have to breathe in toxic fumes at the gas station.
Walk or bike to work: Another way to prevent inhalation of gas fumes is to walk or bike to work, if you can find a route that doesn’t involve riding behind other gas guzzling vehicles.
Grow a garden: Grow your own vegetables to cut back on pesticides and environmentally harmful packaging and delivery methods.
Make your own household cleaning products: There are a lot of recipes online for concocting your own supply of household cleaning products, free of dangerous chemicals and chlorine.
Composting: Recycle your waste and feed your garden by composting.
Keep plants indoors: Having plants indoors increases oxygen production and zaps up extra carbon dioxide, purifying your air.
Aromatherapy: Natural aromatherapy can be a great help to simple ailments and colds, and it’s also a good stress reliever.
Throw away pet waste: Clean out the cat’s litter box and pick up after your dog, even in the backyard, to prevent the spread of bacteria that can make you and your family sick.
Air quality: Make sure the air quality in your home or office is healthy by ventilating the rooms, changing out your air filters and using natural home furnishings and carpet.
Sustainability: Sustainable living is an ethical and practical way to live, as it saves you money on energy costs and is good for the environment. Get tips for living a sustainable, poison-free lifestyle here.

[compiled by Laura Milligan]

Woman Saves $12,000 by Collecting Fives

admin@cultivategreatness.com (Travis Wright) — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 14:52:12 +0000

A sum like $12,000 doesn’t usually make the news, but one Boston Globe reporter has managed to trick herself into saving that amount by adopting a creative way to save. With two daughters in college and a mortgage to pay, Marie Franklin and her husband didn’t have any extra money to put into savings. While perusing online, she came across a saving trick that suggested saving every five she acquired and depositing them into a separate savings account.

Once she’s collected ten fives in her wallet, Marie deposits the $50 into her designated savings account, and once that account has $2,000 she purchases a CD to earn higher interest. After three years of saving all of her fives, she has accumulated $12,000 in savings. Marie acknowledges that this method of saving requires discipline, but her unconventional habit has obviously worked for her.

[via SavvySugar]