Month: May 2015

Act Like A Success

Think Like A Success: Chapter 14

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Happy Success Monday!

What a great day to discuss the power of integrity in action.  Today is Memorial Day, a day in which we celebrate the sacrifices of men and women who fought for their country and their beliefs.

That’s what this chapter is about, fighting for your dreams and your belief in yourself and your potential success.  Learning to use NO can be like learning to use a four letter word. It is often hard to say NO to matters that impact us directly because we have conditioned ourselves to accept less than best. 

But that is what Steve Harvey is trying to help us do – say NO.  He wants us to stand up and say no to anything that isn’t parallel to our integrity.  He wants us to say no to anything that doesn’t propel you towards your goals. 

I enjoyed this short chapter and have listed my favorite quotes below along with this week’s questions.

Favorite Quotes:
“Being able to say no will help you become confident in setting personal standards, as well as being comfortable setting boundaries, both of which are critical in your journey toward success” – Steve Harvey

“Maximizing this power will help you avoid all kinds of situations that take you further and further off the path to your success” – Steve Harvey

“Because not every opportunity, relationship, or experience that comes your way— even if it’s something that you want— is good for you” – Steve Harvey

“Saying no gives you the ability to let someone else shine” – Steve Harvey

“Your no forces someone to step into the place he is being called to. Even if you let him fail once . . . you are helping him in the long run” – Steve Harvey

Questions for Reflection:
1.  What is the defining moment(s) that would make you say NO regardless of the consequences that could occur?

2. Think back over your life,  has there been a time in which you stood your ground and refused to compromise your integrity? How did that make you feel?

3. What are the five Es that you earn by saying no? Which one have you experienced?  If none, which would you like to experience and what could take you there?

4.  Have you ever said yes to something that you later wished you would have said no? Write those instances in your journal or a 5×5 card and keep with you as reinforcement to use NO.

5. Saying no allows you to use your ___ and ____ in the right _____ at the right ____ for the right ____.

6.  What are a few questions you can ask yourself to determine if yes or no is the right choice?

Til next time,
“The world is moving so fast these days that the man who says it can’t be done is generally interrupted by someone doing it.” – Harry Fosdick

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Think Like A Success: Chapter 13

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Happy Success Monday!

Welcome to Chapter 13: Never Be Afraid to Reinvent Yourself.  This chapter puts us one chapter closer to the end of Part 2 of Act Like A Success, Think Like A Success by Steve Harvey.

I planned to refrain from including a commentary to this section but there are times when you must acknowledge a good thing.  And Chapter 13 was a good thing for me.  Sometimes the words you need to hear or read come to you at the time in which you don’t necessarily need them but are ready to receive them.  That’s what this chapter was for me – the words I didn’t know I needed but gave me the mental boost that I need to continue on my progression towards success.

I have enjoyed and am enjoying reading this book.  I am also beginning the search for new titles to read at the end of this journey.  If you have any suggestions,  leave them in the comments.

Favorite Quotes:
“Change comes in every person’s life. You can either react to it or you can participate in it” – Steve Harvey

“Diversifying your gifts also means knowing how to use other experiences in your life” – Steve Harvey

“When you commit yourself to excellence, even a talent can take you to amazing places” – Steve Harvey

“An expansive vision is necessary when reaching for your life’s possibilities. We cannot allow small-mindedness to interfere with our rewards” – Steve Harvey

“Successful people appreciate where they have come from, but they don’t let their past set the tone for their future” – Steve Harvey

Questions for Reflection:
1.  When was the last time you reinvented yourself? Is it time to do another or your first reinvent

2.  What are other ways in which you can use your gift?

3.  Are you allowing your background to limit your potential?  What are ways in which you can change your material?

4.  Who are real life examples that demonstrate diversification of their gifts? Are there lessons you can learn from them which could assist you as you reinvent yourself?

5. Take some time this week and complete the Success Action Steps at the end of the chapter.

Til next time,
“Don’t let your background become a limitation” – Steve Harvey

Act Like A Success

Think Like A Success: Chapter 12

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Happy Success Monday!

We are now in Section 2 Chapter 12 of Act Like A Success, Think Like A Success.   In honor of the new section,  each post will follow a different format.  I plan to decrease my commentary and focus more on the quotes and questions for reflection.  I hope this helps you to focus on your interpretation of the reading instead of my opinions.   So here is the summary of this week’s reading.

Chapter 12: Tale of the Tape

Favorite Quotes:
“Make sure you know your opportunity, relationship, or job well enough to size up its requirements in relation to your skills so that you can knock it out of the park.”

“Finally, each of us has the ability to either evolve and grow stronger or remain stagnant and become weaker” – Steve Harvey

“Be confident enough to insert your skills into opportunities that will provide advancement and growth” – Steve Harvey

“Likewise, you have to consistently work on your strengths. Continued education, supplemental training, and reading everything you can get your hands on will not only keep your skills sharp; they will also help you to grow” – Steve Harvey

“Weaknesses are only a detriment if you allow them to be” – Steve Harvey

Questions for Reflection:
1. What is a present day application of the Tale of the Tape? Do you have a personal success story that aligns with the Tale of the Tape?  If so, write the tale and place it on your success board or in your journal as a motivational tool.

2. When you look at your list of skills, what are your potential advantages and disadvantages?

3.  What are the three areas where you may start looking for your strengths and weaknesses?

4. What are the characteristics that will serve you professionally and personally? Do you possess these skills? What are the areas in which you need to improve?

5. Now that you have seen Steve’s Tale of the Tape, what would it take for you to create your own?

6. What is an outside observer used for? Based on your current life circumstances,  are you in need of an outside observer?  What are the three things to keep in mind as you start working with your outside observer?
Application: Complete the Success Actions at the end of the chapter.

Til next time,
“Eventually all things fall into place. Until then, laugh at the confusion, live for the moments, and know everything happens for a reason.” – Albert Schweitzer

Act Like A Success

Think Like A Success: Chapter 11

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Happy Success Monday!

What did you think of this chapter? Did it strike a chord in your life? What were your first thoughts when you read the subtitle: There is no self made man?

For me, two thoughts occurred before I finished reading the first page:
1.  It takes a village
2.  Behind every great man is a great woman

As I read further I had the understanding that we have to ask for help while we are on this success journey.   This one little principle is extremely important yet something that many of us put off as something we will get to later.  As kids we had no problem implementing this practice but as we grew and matured our natural desire for the “high five,” “great job,” and “I’m so proud of you” from our youth turned into the fear of rejection of our adulthood.  

So today I issue you a challenge, don’t just read this chapter.  Do a careful and systematic evaluation of your life.  Apply the success action plan and wake up each morning and say to your reflection in the mirror, “NO DOES NOT DEFINE ME!”  Then go out and ask for what you need.  Here’s to embracing the truths of Chapter 11 and my favorite quotes.

Favorite Quotes:
“It wasn’t until I humbled myself, started really listening to other successful people and watching how they worked with each other, that I realized there is a different set of rules at play” – Steve Harvey

“I don’t want you to deny yourself anything just because you are too proud or stubborn
to realize that God often uses other people to assist you in reaching your destiny” – Steve Harvey

“Many times people miss out on opportunities because they are trying to keep it all for themselves” – Steve Harvey

“Not everybody who begins the journey with you can go where you are headed” – Steve Harvey

“But I learned that being around another dreamer can push you when you forget how to dream for yourself” – Steve Harvey

“Our lives are a direct reflection of our communication” – Steve Harvey

“Asking for what you want becomes a totally different process when you deal with people based on nurtured relationships” – Steve Harvey

Questions for Reflection:
1.  Do you know someone who is Living their dream while you are merely surviving?  How did it make you feel when you realized that they had made it and you had given up?

2.  Are there other dreamers in your circle who can serve as motivators or reinforces for you?

3.  What are the top reasons which prevent you from asking for what you want?  How has your current practice worked out for you?  Are you now ready to try something different?

4.  Which needs have you put off communicating to others? Categorize those needs from a scale of 1 – 5; make a decision to ask for the one which means the most.

5.  Fill in the blank.   Asking for what you want _____.

6.  What did sociologist Annette Lareau determine in her study? Which child are you? Is that the child you want to be?

7. What can determine the difference between a good life and a great life?

Til next time,
“You don’t know everything, you don’t know everyone, and you can’t do it all alone” – Steve Harvey

Act Like A Success

Think Like A Success: Chapter 10

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Happy Success Day!

Isn’t is a beautiful day to work on our own development? A day of promise and renewal;  a day of new beginnings.

Those are a few of the thoughts which come to mind when I recall the ideals presented in today’s chapter.  Chapter 10 is full of common sense wisdom that each of us likely knows and holds in our hearts.  However, we fail to act on these ideas because they makes us uncomfortable.  But change is always uncomfortable even though we know it can lead to new opportunities and blessings.

As I read this chapter I recognized that my favorite quotes each resembled the various pep talks my family gave me before I left home for college and as I worked towards my degree.  Then as memories sometimes do, towards the end of the chapter, I could envision the times in which the dead weight in my life hindered my growth.   It seemed a virtual picture of my biggest hindrance popped in my head and then it was replaced with thoughts of the positive things that have occurred since cleaning out my support closet.

Each quote helped me remember a time when following similar advice lead to increased success.  What about you? Were there any fond memories or attestation you experienced as you read this chapter?  If not, maybe your moment of recognition is right around the corner.

Favorite Quotes:
“No one else can pull the wagon but you. You are the one who wants to become successful. You’re the one with the gift and the vision. Whom do you have on your wagon”  – Steve Harvey

“God has already lined up all the people in your path to get you to your dreams and your visions; all you have to do is get rid of the wrong ones” – Joel Osteen

“If you are sharing your dreams with people and the first thing they do is try to tell you how your vision won’t work, you should immediately disassociate from them” – Steve Harvey

“Effective leaders know that the way to become a great leader is to become an even greater servant” – Steve Harvey

“Avoid people who are always having a bad day. In their minds, nothing ever works in their favor” – Steve Harvey

Questions for Reflection:
1.  Who are the unproductive and negative people you are pulling along with you on the journey to success?

2. True or False.  You want to have people with you who can aid you on your journey. Why did you select your answer?

3.  What four things should be considered when selecting role models?

4.  Look at your current support system, are there individuals who can be considered dead weight?  Identify your best course of action to remove them from your journey.

5. What you don’t need to know is ______ ; you need to know ____.

6.  What are the questions Steve Harvey asks himself before bonding with others?  What are the questions you need to know before YOU bond with someone?

7.  Who are the “Woe is Me” individuals in your life? What role do they play in your journey? If you can’t avoid them how can you decrease their influence over you?

Til next time,
” Procrastinators will weigh you down. Action is the prescription for moving forward. Action will eliminate boredom” – Steve Harvey