Month: July 2015

Recommendation of the Month

The Book That Inspired Me Towards Personal Growth

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A few years ago I made a commitment to focus some of my energies on my personal development and growth as well as career growth.  In doing so, I had to embrace the power of initiative and create a desire for change within myself. I learned quickly that I had to become my own motivator if I had any chance of succeeding in life.  

Then for a few years I allowed myself to believe that I wasn’t good enough because I compared myself to others.  But the problems with comparison is that we don’t know what the other person is struggling with or did struggle with to get to this enviable state in their life.  Comparison only helps to hinder your progress.  I stopped focusing on comparing and started looking within for what I could change.  I had to learn that only I could change my circumstances.  

I had to learn to walk away from people who were not committed to holding me accountable when I needed a kick in the pants and who were not interested in being a member of my cheering squad when things were going well.  Walking away left me with a sense of loneliness at times and at other times it helped propel my desire to grow.  I wanted to learn about anything and everything all at the same time.  I didn’t really have a sense of direction of where to start but I had the desire.  With desire I knew I could figure it out.  

The problem was that as much as I loved school, the thought of going back did little to fill my heart.  In fact the idea made me want to go and hide my head in honey then stand near rose bushes full of bees.  Yeah it was that torturous for my mind to envision at the time.

It was while vacationing with my husband in California that I finally found the answer to my unrealized question.  As I strolled through Barnes and Noble I came across the book which began my personal development library:

Write It Down, Make It Happen by Henriette Anne Klauser

  
This book was revolutionary for me as it was the first book I read from start to finish over my vacation that wasn’t for entertainment.  In fact, this weekend I came across the list of goals I wrote down eight years ago and found that 80% of them had come true.

This book helped me focus my thoughts for what I wanted to achieve but more than anything it changed my perception of “self-help” books.  I found that despite my original misgivings, reading books for growth was not boring and they could be used for something other than a sleep aide.  My personal development library has grown since that fateful time in 2007 but I still count the book that started it all as one of my favorites.
Now it’s your turn.  What’s the name of the book or person that influenced you on you personal development journey?  
Til next time,

Life is a narrative that you have a hand in writing – Henriette Anne Klauser

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Weekly Wisdom

Entrepreneur.com – If You’re Not Happy, Stop Complaining and Make A Change

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The definition of insanity is doing the same thing and expecting a different result.  I can’t count the number of people I overhear talking or complaining about the status of their lives. What I often don’t get to hear when I am eavesdropping is what the person intends to do to change their circumstances.

I often walk away wondering what happened and hoping that everything will be ok for them. I can hear you shaking you head and wondering why I would eavesdrop in the first place but I am willing to bet that I am not the only one who has done it.  We are minding our own business enjoying our meal, waiting for our meal or standing in line and a snippet of conversations make their way into your consciousness.  This makes you look up and casually look around to see where the conversation came from.

Well this afternoon, I had one of these eavesdropping moments as I was reading an interesting article from Entrepreneur.com – If you’re not happy, stop complaining and make a change.

The article title was exactly what I was thinking but of course could never say.   I walked away itching to share this article and its advice but I couldn’t discern who the speaker was and I didn’t know them so I wouldn’t offer unsolicited advice.  So I decided to share here instead.  If you or someone you know finds that unhappiness has crept in today, visit this article and then decide to make a change.

Til next time,

The only person who can make you happy is the reflection in the mirror.

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Inspiration for the Weekend: Time

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“If only I had more time, I would…”

“I would love to help, I just don’t think I will be able to find the time”

“Boy what I would do if only I had more time”

Do any of these statements ring true for you? Do you remember speaking one or more of these statements? Maybe it wasn’t the exact phrasing but something similar. I definitely have said these and heard these many times.  And I must confess, when the “time” was there I did absolutely nothing to be productive with this “found” time.
If you can’t relate then this post is likely not for you but maybe you know someone who could benefit from the wisdom of my mistakes –  And I have made a lot of mistakes with my time.  Here are a few of the rationalizations I have used to squander my time:
1.  I want to rest my mind so I just want to do something that doesn’t require me to think

2.  It will only take me about 10 minutes, I am going to run into this store for a quick minute 

3.  I have a few minutes to spare, I’ll just play a few minutes of this game

One of the common themes you will find in my excuses (cause that is really what they were) is the four letter word JUST.  That word is so deceiving that I am adding it to my list of words that are not allowed in use at my house.  So what does the word JUST really mean? It means – Procrastination! And we know that Edward Young was right when he said, “Procrastination is the thief of time.”

Time is something that once it is gone you can’t get back. Thus it is a vital commodity that has to be used in the right manner if you want to make any traction on achieving goals. It is also something that is often mis-used.  For this reason, my personal issue for July is productive time management.  Some of the strategies I plan to employ toward this effort include the following:

1.  Utilize a Things accomplished list – many people keep to do list and so do I. The problem with my list is that it can easily become overwhelming and then I look for ways to temporarily distract myself which then leads to lost time. By using my things accomplished list, I will start tracking my successes which also gives me a boost of motivation.  Things Accomplished list is not an original idea of mine, I am sure it came from a distraction session of viewing Pinterest.
2.  Airplane mode and wifi off will be the permanent settings on my tablet until I have demonstrable evidence of applying strategy one.  Sometimes I get off track but knowing that I have a reward at the end of my labors tends to motivate me. I guess you can say I can be my biggest motivator or distraction.

3.  Take my phone everywhere.  Ok so this can and should be a no brainer but I have a bad habit of leaving my phone on my desk or bedside table. Then inspiration will hit and the kiddies will be asleep on my lap with no paper and pen in sight. Or someone will give me a great resource or tip I want to research and no phone only a post it.  Post it notes and big purses are not a great combination.

So there you have it.  My strategies for taking back control of my “time.”  Your turn! Do you struggle with using your time productively?  What are some strategies you will or are utilizing to regain control?

Til next time,

“Impatience never commanded success” – Edwin H. Chapin  

Weekly Wisdom

Inspiration for the Weekend

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“Worry is the interest paid by those who borrow trouble.” – George Washington

Worry is one of those practices that fill our minds with negativity.  It never comes without its own cheering squad. You know who they are:
1. Team Captain Anxiety – She is the point of origin for the beginnings of worry. Many times she gives you a shove without you ever realizing it happened.

2.  Mean Girl Insecurity – She is the one who whispers in your ear that you can’t handle the shove from Captain Anxiety.

3.  Tumbler Too Much Time – He is the one thing when combined with the other team members, allows for your mind to focus on only what could go wrong.

4. Mascot Achievement – He has the smallest & quietest voice that he is often unheard when he speaks. He tries to tell you everything will be fine over and over and over but you are stubborn and won’t listen.

When the top three are allowed to gain entrance into your mind,  they leave very little room for you to focus your energies on anything other than the cause of your worry.  Your mind begins to invent potential consequences and reasons why you will be unable to solve the issue at hand.  Use your weekend to focus on the positive things that are occurring in your life instead of what is weighing you down.  Allow Mr. Mascot Achievement to have a voice within your mind.

Here are a few quotes to help you as you move towards a brighter day:

“I try to keep it real. I don’t have time to worry about what I’m projecting to the world.  I’m just busy being myself” – Demi Lovato

“A day of worry is more exhausting than a week of work” – John Lubbeck

“Our frustration is often caused not by work, but by worry, frustration and resentment” – Dale Carnegie

“Worry is interest paid on trouble before it comes due” – William Ralph Inge

“I don’t worry. I don’t doubt. I’m daring. I’m a rebel.” – Mr. T

“Worry is the interest paid by those who borrow trouble” – George Washington

“I try not to worry about things I can’t do anything about” – Christopher Walken

Til next time,
“Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Willing is not enough; we must do.” – Goethe

Recommendation of the Month

Eight Online Classes for Entrepreneurs from Entrepreneur.com

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One of my favorite things to do is to provide resources for self development to those that have a dream but don’t know where to start.  I have a friend who is pursuing opening her own business and since I love to read, she asked me to let her know if I came across any information which could be of use to her.  Well, I came across an article which profiled online classes for Entrepreneurs. This immediately peaked my interest since it is not only something that I would pursue but also a resource I would give to my girlfriend. 
I love the idea of utilizing the internet as a major portion of my personal development.   Thus, I am sharing this article for those who dream of being an entrepreneur and for those who support entrepreneurs.

Please note that I have not personally taken any of the classes profiled but I hope that this resource can be a benefit to you.

8 Invaluable Online Classes for Entrepreneurs http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/248055?ctp=BizDev&src=Syndication&msc=Feedly

Til next time,
“When one door is closed, don’t you know that many more are open” – Bob Marley