Tag Archives | commitment

Motivation + Perseverance + Meaning = Life Success, Part 3

By on May 16, 2012 in Make a Difference, Purpose

When we are talking about life success, we are talking about not only achieving goals and financial success but also a high quality life in general, meaningful relationships, good health, enjoyment and laughter a fulfilling connection to the world outside of us. We have talked about how motivation and perseverance play a role in achieving a life of satisfaction and success. If you missed those posts, I recommend you read Part 1 and Part 2 first.

But meaning is also an important factor in achieving life success; it’s possibly the most important one. There needs to be purposefulness in both your life and your work in order for us to be truly fulfilled.

What exactly do we mean by “meaning?”

For our purposes, we will define meaning as purposefulness, a driving force or perhaps even a mission. If something fulfills us, touches us in some way, or feels worthwhile. If it makes us say, “Yes, this is good and right,” then it probably has meaning to us.

When you discover your mission, you will feel its demand. It will fill you with enthusiasm and a burning desire to get to work on it. - W. Clement Stone

How do we know what is meaningful to us?

It calls to us, it compels us to action, it sparks our passion, or evokes strong feelings. These things signify meaning and they will differ, sometimes drastically from person-to-person, organization to organization. It really doesn’t matter what we find meaningful, what matters is that we recognize what is meaningful to us and we tried to incorporate that into our lives. Finding meaning in what we do and how we live may truly be the most significant factor in the quality of our lives.

Types of things that may have meaning to us:

 

Using our talents and skills in a way that benefits the world around us. – Each of us has a special gift of some kind that brings us joy and satisfaction. We may be compelled to look for and explore these talents and gifts or we may not recognize that the skills we possess are actually very important and useful.

What is your special talent, skill, or gift that you have to offer?

Upholding our values – If something angers us or feels unjust in some way, if we feel compelled to act or speak out in some way, there is usually something happening in our lives or the world around us that is in conflict with our values. When we take action when we defend an innocent, when we take a stand or try to correct a wrong, we are expressing our values. Our values clearly have meaning to us and in many ways drive the decisions we make.

What do you believe is right? What is important? What do you value? Whom do you champion?

Growing as individuals – When we seek to improve some aspect of ourselves or to expand and stretch beyond our previous limits, that growth, that expansion has meaning to us. It may be meaningful to improve our health, to gain knowledge, to explore our creativity, to develop a deeper awareness of what’s inside us, or to cultivate a stronger connection to that which is beyond our individual selves. Expansion and growth provide a strong sense of meaning.

How do you seek to grow or expand yourself as an individual?

Growing as a society – When we are compelled to improve upon the world around us, to make our community, our world better in some way it speaks to something meaningful inside us. A desire to right a social injustice, help others preserve our world and our history or to affect in a positive way the future legacy we are leaving those who come after us is indicative of something that is fiercely meaningful to us.

What do you strongly feel needs to be changed in the world around you? Moreover, what role do you feel you can play in bringing about that change?

Knowing what has meaning to us can be a heavy and deep concept. However, finding why we do what we do, what drives us to succeed, to excel and to push ourselves beyond our limits, what calls to us, what compels us, what makes our hearts sing, or our blood boil, is the key to life success.

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How to Stay Productive and Focused

By on March 28, 2012 in Goals, Inspiration, Life Balance, Motivation, Personal Growth, Productivity

writingI was recently cleaning out old files and documents on my computer. I came across the transcript of an interview I was asked to give about a year ago or so, on how I stay productive, maintain my focus and enjoy life.

As I was reading through, I had to ask myself if the answers are still true and more importantly if I’m living by them. Yes and no. The answers are still true. Definitely. But I don’t consistently translate them into daily actions, and when I don’t my productivity, my connection and my happiness in life falter.

It was an important reminder to me. And I hope that by sharing, you will ask yourself the same questions and that your answers might make your path to life fulfillment and successes clearer.

Questions:

  1. How do you stay productive?

I think the key to living a productive life and making productivity a consistent practice is in having clearly defined goals or outcomes, knowing what actions you need to take to accomplish what you desire, then making it a habit to follow through to completion on tasks and projects. Then you need to make sure you have some balance in your life. There has to be some fun on the flip side.

  1. Where do you find motivation on a daily basis?

I am motivated by a burning desire to connect with others and to share any wisdom or insights I may have that might help them in some way. I see an epidemic of busyness both in the work place and at home. People are frustrated and overwhelmed in their lives and careers. We’re working harder, enjoying life less and spinning our wheels much of the time.

It doesn’t have to be that way! I think life is a journey of growth and we are meant to continuously evolve. I think we design our lives by the actions and choices we make each day and I truly believe that if I can help others make wiser choices and take better actions then I’m doing something worthwhile with my life.

  1. How long have you been doing what you do?

I have been blogging for about two years. I actually started out with a completely different blog and focus, but gradually evolved both my personal (GuardWife.com) and professional (ProductiveLifeConcepts.com) blogs until they were a more comfortable fit for me.

  1. What inspires you?

I am constantly inspired by the world around me. I read incessantly…I always have. I find people interesting and am fascinated by what makes them tick and why they behave the way, they do. I also have a genuine love of nature. The simple beauty of flowers, trees, animals, even the weather provides me with endless inspiration and ideas. I try to get out into nature every day. It calms and centers me, which allows me to be more creative as well.

  1. How did you develop a talent for writing?

I’m not sure honestly. I have always been good at writing, especially on non-fiction topics, but never pursued it professionally until I decided to get into blogging. My writing has definitely improved with practice. After writing hundreds of blog posts and writing my first book, I have gotten much more efficient and clearer with my writing, both during the writing process and in the end result.

Once I discovered my personal writing style, which happens to be very conversational in nature, I found that my writing flourished. I write as I speak, as if I’m having a conversation with a colleague or friend, share a bit of myself, break a few rules, and have fun.

Your Turn

You’ll obviously want to substitute whatever you do and what your talent is for mine, but the questions are still relevant, and I hope useful.

I’d love to know your answers if you’re willing to share. By sharing something of ourselves, we inspire others.

 

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Want to Know the Secret to Achieving Goals?

By on February 27, 2012 in Goals, Health, Inspiration, Motivation, Personal Growth, Stress, Work

The secret to achieving goals in life, whatever they may be lies in the attitude and level of commitment with which we approach them. We are capable of so much more if only we believe it is possible.

Whenever we approach our desired goals with a committed, unswerving attitude, no obstacle is too large and no setback too severe to overcome. Attitude and perception can be a shaping influence in how successful our individual pursuits of achievement will be because it is our mind-set that allows us to triumph over adversity.

We are more likely to pursue our dreams persistently when we trust that success will be the ultimate and foreseeable result of our efforts. Unanticipated difficulties will not deter us, prepared as we are by the expectation that our paths will be littered with the unexpected. Confident in our ability, we move forward, assured of the attainability of our goals. Our unwavering determination will enable us to achieve our goals with less stress and a more positive attitude.

What goals are you wholly committed to?

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Get Involved in Your Community

By on January 13, 2012 in Personal Growth, Work

Photo by Dennis Herrara (CC BY-ND 2.0)

Smart Moves

Did getting more involved in your community make your list of goals or resolutions?

Here’s why it should.

Any form of community involvement can be a wonderful thing in itself. The satisfaction you experience by contributing to your community and the people around you is priceless and many times is the most positive thing you do in your day. Although community involvement by its very nature is altruistic, you will often find that you receive more than you give.

But beyond the personal rewards, being active in your community also provides a tremendous opportunity to network with people who live in your area and the professional connections can help you advance your career or bring in more business. It can also present a fantastic opportunity to make new friends and build your personal support network.

Start participating in neighborhood or community meetings, take part in activities relating to your kids’ school or join a volunteer group or cause that interests you. The choices are endless. Find something that appeals to you and fits into your schedule. Don’t view this as another demand on your time, but as a possibility to enhance your career and your life.

Plus you’ll be setting a great example for your children.

I have over the years been a part of the school PTO and joined a local literacy tutoring group. I found both to be enjoyable, rewarding and very beneficial in adding to my pool of connections.

What type of community involvement have you done or are you planning to di in the future?

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Why Ruthlessness Can be a Good Quality

By on August 5, 2011 in Life Balance, Mood, Relationships

ruthlessBe ruthlessly selective, both in life and in the workplace. If you want to cultivate a fulfilling, satisfying and productive career or home-life you must carve it out for yourself. You need to be careful to make choices that take you closer to the life you want to live or to the career that is most fulfilling to you.

And sometimes those choices may be difficult. You may make people angry. You may let people down. But in the end if you want to achieve your best life, your best career, your best balance between the two, then you must be brave enough, bold enough and sometimes ruthless enough to make the difficult choices.

This is your life! This is your career! Isn’t it worth a little bit of ruthlessness?

 

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Are you Super Woman? (Or Superman)

By on May 4, 2011 in Health, Personal Growth, Stress

I saw a bumper sticker awhile back that said, “I am woman. I am invincible. I am tired.” That sure sums up the way most of us live our lives. Who says we have to be perfect and do it all? Just because we can have and do anything we want does not mean that we must do everything! We especially can’t do it all at once. Cut yourself and your fellow man/woman some slack. Just stop the madness!

THE INBOX WILL NEVER BE EMPTY and THE TO-DO LIST WILL NEVER BE FINISHED!

But wait, aren’t we supposed to be trying to be more efficient, to get more done each day, to reach all of our goals. Well, yes, but… and it’s a huge but… We are not supposed to be working ourselves into a frenzied existence of poor health, unbearable stress, self-flagellation and discontent. THAT IS NOT A PRODUCTIVE LIFE.

Pace yourself. Take a breath. Have some fun along the way.

Kiss Super Woman goodbye! Let’s shoot for “Efficient, reliable, creative, hard working and fun, but not perfect” instead. Yeah, that’s what I’m shooting for. The cape was never really a flattering accessory anyway.

To get us started down the path here are some strategies we can use to make the shift:

  • Let go of the idea that you can do it all.
  • Ask for help! (Or delegate if you must.)
  • Be flexible – things come up, priorities change, plans fall apart.
  • Laugh at yourself – it’s a must.
  • Repeat after me – “I’m sorry, but no.” It gets easier with practice…lots of practice.

Come on, give it a try. What have you got to lose? Perhaps a little stress!

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Are You Asking the Important Questions?

By on April 20, 2011 in Goals, Habits, Personal Growth, Questions, Work

We get so caught up in day to day living that sometimes we forget that we need to stop for a minute and take our pulse. To put it in business terms, have you looked at your “business plan for your life?” It does not have to be a lengthy process, just a quick assessment to make sure you are on track, still heading in the right direction and aren’t dragging any debris along with you.

What is cluttering my life (things, people, commitments)?

Who do I have relationships with that are no longer fulfilling?

Where could I be making better use of my money?

What do I find rewarding in my job or career?

How can I give back or contribute?

Why am I doing (or not doing) what I do?

That last is the most important question in my view. Many of us know what we want to do, how we want to behave, the kind of person we’d like to be, but we just can’t seem to do what we know needs to be done on a consistent basis. Ask yourself why. It’s a good question. Isn’t it?

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Questions Have Power

By on March 28, 2011 in Goals, Personal Growth, Questions, Relationships, Work
question mark

Image via Wikipedia

Do you regularly ask yourself questions? No? Then how do you ever have any answers?

Try starting every week off with some questions. Try a few of these or come up with your own!

What project or task do I really need/want to complete this week?

What new “thing” can I try this week? Activity, food, book, attitude….

What can I learn this week?

What can I do differently this week?

Who do I want to spend time with or meet this week?

How can I help someone this week?

Have fun with this. What other questions might you ask? Please share…

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You are the Master of Your Schedule

By on February 14, 2011 in Life Balance, Personal Growth, Time

A simple rule to remember – Schedule your life and work around your priorities; not the other way around.

If you try to fit the important tasks and moments  into an already overcrowded calendar you will fail. Mark the important things down in ink; growth time, creative time, time to build your network and business, time for sales, time for production, time with significant people in your life.

If you are a writer, don’t spend all of your time on Facebook and then run out of time to write. If you are a mom, don’t spend all of your time cleaning and forget to play with your kids. And if you are a business owner, don’t spend all of your time reading email and neglect the activities that grow your business!

First, you have to know what those priorities are. If you haven’t yet determined your Core Concentrations, I suggest you start there.

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Underpromise and Overdeliver – Fundamental Rule

By on February 7, 2011 in Life Balance, Work

Under-promise and Over-deliver.

This is one of the fundamental rules for business success, but it’s also a valuable guideline in life. Whether you are an employee, business owner, parent or volunteering your time; this strategy is almost always a good one to keep in mind. When you commit yourself to a deadline, try to figure in time for the unexpected and give yourself a cushion.

First, don’t over commit.

Second, be realistic, conservative even in time estimations.

Third, give something of extra value if you can.

Your managers, clients, children or organization will be thrilled when you come through earlier, better or cheaper!

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