Balls Of Steel

The title of this post refers to exactly what the imagery produces. To be successful in life, you need to have "balls of steel". In others words, being weak is a sure path to failure. One needs to be confident and sure of oneself while traveling up the ladder. Look at anyone who is at the top of any field and you will see how they were able to keep forging ahead in spite of challenges.

Success rarely comes easy. The path to the top is wrought with all kinds of dangers. Many give up their dreams too easily; the moment they encounter resistance. This is not the mindset of the successful. They believe that they will attain their goals...no matter what.

How does that compare to the average person. He or she doesnt have the "no matter what" mindset. Instead, most people have the "I hope it works" outlook. They go after their goals tentatively. Boldness is not an adjective used to describe these people.

There is no success in safety. The elite are willing to step out of the comfort zone in search of achievement. They certainly take the road that is less traveled. Their interest lies in forging new ground as part of their quest for excellence. Of course, this takes a great deal of courage.

Make no mistake: everyone questions whether they should throw in the towel. Nevertheless, the successful are the ones who resist the fear-based self talk and move onward. There are times when honest analysis reveals poor choices. However, this is a remarkably different than listening to fear. Decisions based upon sound reasoning and analysis are always recommended. Giving up hope because of fear is not.

I learned a great deal about myself in trading options. This is a vehicle that can help one make a lot of money quickly. At the same time you can lose it just as fast. Entering into this arena is a slippery slope. Success depends upon having the nerve to make the proper decision at the right time. Emotions of fear can crop up with every setback. Knowing when to fall back on one's plan requires a tenacity that few have. The "balls of steel" analogy applies to the type of investing.

Over the years I learned that it applies to success in all areas. Everything worthy in life involves some degree of risk. At times, it is easy to question whether we should continue or not. These are the times where we most often have to check our internal fortitude. There is a tremendous payoff for accomplishment. However, to enjoy this, we need to risk failure. Staying in the game often requires "balls of steel".
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Get Busy

Start your day off right. This is a wonderful thing for all of us to remember. The best way to ensure that you have a happy, productive day is to get it started on the right foot. Obviously, what is done will differ for each person but the premise holds true for all of us.

Many start their day off by grabbing a cup of coffee (with lots of caffeine) and a donut. This is not the best idea if you are seeking to get into shape. The bottom line is that we want our first actions to move us in the proper direction.

Momentum is one of the most power forces we have access to. Physics proved that it takes less energy to keep an object in motion than it does to get that same object moving. Guess who the object is in this instance? The hardest part of most activities is getting started.

When I am suffering from inertia, I spend an incredible amount of time "looking for something to do". Naturally, this is insane since I have a litany of projects that need my attention. Yet, when my motivation is suffering, I fail to take the actions that are needed. Instead, I will procrastinate by seeking out something that "strikes me" or spending time on meaningless tasks that provide no real value. I am doing the exact opposite of "getting busy".

This morning is the opposite of that. I am writing this post within 30 minutes of getting out of bed. There are days that I struggle with "writer's block". However, recently I have a list of topics I want to write about. There is absolutely no reason for me to wait to create this article. Therefore, I took the initiative and started writing. The hardest part was opening up the browser and going to my blogger page.

I stress the importance of this concept. It is imperative to remember that the hardest part of any task is actually getting started. Salespeople will tell you the hardest call for them to make is the first one of the day. We, as humans, tend to project about things in a negative manner. This leads us to procrastinate. As Anthony Robbins like to say, "procrastination is the silent killer". It simply saps us of our lives.

Action is the simple solution to procrastination. One caveat that I will put in at this time: for most, getting busy doing anything is a major advancement. We are often taught that it is important to focus our time and attention on the right tasks. I agree with this statement. However, since most individuals major in slothfulness, I believe that develop the ability to take action is crucial. This is done by getting busy on whatever tasks are in front of you. After you gained the capability to act, then you can start prioritizing your life. In the beginning, however, just get busy doing something.

Until next time, live sensationally.
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The Need For Speed

This is a line from the blockbuster movie "Top Gun". In it, Goose tells Maverick that he has "the need for speed". Of course, they were naval aviators so this makes sense. However, for me, this is a motto for successful people. Those who rise to the top have the need for speed in their daily lives.

How much time do you waste? This is a question which warrants a lot of thought. Have you ever considered how many hours per week you waste? Idle time is death to someone who is trying to get ahead. Nevertheless, most fall into the trap of misusing time. In the end, they fail to grasp the power of momentum.

Everyday is comprised of the same amount of time, 24 hours. This equates to 1440 minutes which you can use for positive results. Each minute wasted is one less that you have to accomplish something. And, the minutes do add up.

Let us suppose that you sleep 7 hours per night. That leaves 1020 minutes in your day since 420 of them are spent sleeping. Naturally, everyone has daily activities like personal hygiene, eating, and dressing. These can reduce the total by another 120 minutes total. That leaves us now with 900 minutes which to do something. Nevertheless, that is still a lot of time.

Our day is basically a series of tasks. Those who best manage their time seem to get ahead. Yet, what does it mean to "manage" time? While there are many different answers, my concept of this is to best utilize each moment of the day. Those who excel at time management move from one activity to another without wasting even a minute. It is no coincidence that these are usually the successful people in an organization.

Let us get back to your life. If you have roughly 900 minutes each day to utilize, are you doing it effectively? This will really take some honesty on your part. Most people waste a large portion of their day. They do not spend their time in productive pursuits. Instead, they let moments slip away like they are worthless. Time is precious; just ask a dying man.

So, how many hours do you waste watching worthless television? Casually surfing the web? Do you spent extra moments chit chatting with other employees instead of attending to the business at hand? How much time do you waste at home doing "nothing"? These should give you an idea of some of the areas where you allow precious time to escape.

From now on, I want to you strive to make you day seamless. What I mean by this is to move from one activity to another. Do not dilly dally in between the tasks that need attention. The behavior of the successful is to use each moment to the fullest. Put yourself on self imposed deadlines to get things done. Most people do respond to a bit of pressure. Whatever the method, the goal is to use the time we have to the greatest advantage. Adopt the philosophy of having "the need for speed".
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Focus

Do you ever feel like you are all over the place? I know this is something that I struggle with quite often. My mind has a tendency to drift while taking my focus along with it. For years, I battled the habit of bouncing from one project to the next. This led me to create lackluster results. Contained in this situation is a valuable lesson which I can attribute much of my success to.

Focus is one of the main components of success. Many will mention the importance of persistence, goal setting, and self confidence as factors for their accomplishments. While these are are crucial components, I found that focus is the single quality which will instantly separate one from all others.

I mentioned in the past that the world pays for completion. We do not value someone who accomplishes part of the job. Sports is an example of how this is present. The team that leads the game for three quarters does not receive a partial victory. It is the one that is leading at the end which is rewarded. The same is true in business. Your company will not give you a promotion based upon how many projects you started. It is the number of projects completed which is how one is judged.

How can this apply to your immediate situation? The best way to cultivate this habit is to focus on whatever it is that you are working on. Since it is reading this article, complete it before doing anything else. Successful people have the ability to maintain their concentration until the task is completed. This is your challenge now.

Take this approach in all that you do. For the rest of the day, do not leave anything incomplete. If you start it, finish it. Ignore all the distractions which will take you away from what you are doing. Developing this habit is one of the most powerful things that you can do. It will immediately send your productivity through the roof.
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A Rifle Versus A Shoutgun

Most know the difference between a rifle and a shotgun. A rifle is packed with a bullet that can be aimed with tremendous precision. It is the standard weapon used by snipers. A shotgun, on the other hand, is ideal for creating a mess of human flesh. In essence, a shotgun sprays a bunch of pellets into the person. The shot is not very accurate but will destroy anything it hits at close range.

Why do I refer to these different weapons? The reason is the analogy to life that they bring. Focus is what makes the difference between using a shotgun versus a rifle. People who lack the ability to concentrate are going through life trying to use the shotgun. If they hit anything, it is because they put so much out there. The results gotten will be more haphazard.

A more effective way to accomplish this "mission" is to use the rifle. Focus is the tool we use in this arena. When we concentrate our efforts, we access all the power that we have within us. Our actions are not deluded because we are all over the place. All the power is aimed at one specific area.

To take out multiple people, a sharpshooter needs to hit one person before moving onto the next. This is what produces the desired results. Life is the same for us. We need to aim our power on one activity until it is completed before moving onto the next. This is how we are effective.

Remember this analogy when you find yourself drifting aimlessly. At those times you are trying to use a shotgun when a rifle is the proper weapon. Concentrate your efforts so that all the power within you is aimed where you need it to be. This is how you can immediately increase your success.
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Success Is A Simple Process

Achieving success is really a simple process. Most complicate it by trying to re-invent the wheel. There is an old saying "success leaves clues". Our chances of accomplishment are increased when we follow the path that others set out. Removing the mystery from the equation is what allows people to thrive.

The best way to attain success is to model others who have the results that you want. It is proven that if you do what they did, odds are you will get similar results. Physical fitness is not a great mystery yet many are out of shape. Why? The answer is because many will not do what physically fit people do. Fitness is achieved if you follow their exercise and diet regimen.

There are three steps that is applied to achieve success in anything. Following them will ensure that you get the results you desire.

1. Decide what you want:

This seems like a given but you would be surprised how many have no clue what they want. What do you want? Get crystal clear about the results that you want to achieve in any situation. How do you want your life to look like? Trying to be successful without clarity is like throwing a dart at a moving target. Your chances are substantially reduced.

2. Take action:

Action is the bridge from our thoughts/ideas to the physical world. Many confuse the Law of Attraction to mean that action is not required. That is a fallacy which leads to failure. Action is always required since it is how we manifest things in our lives. It is in that act that we attract.

3. Make the necessary adjustments:

This is critical. Everything that you do will not work out. There are times when a new course is necessary. Many ignore this because of the time invested in pursuing one objective. If something is not working, try another way. Often, a simple adjustment is what leads us to the results we desired.

There it is for you. Apply these three steps to the next situation that you are confronted with. You will see difference in the results that you get.
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