Creativity of Engineers and Eminent Achievers (By Lance Winslow)

Not long ago, I was talking with a brilliant engineer about the challenges that engineers have in coming up with creative ideas. No, not all, and this certainly isn't meant to offend, in fact we have many engineers in our think tank that are the absolute exemption to that rule. Now then, my engineering acquaintance noted that he believed that;

"Creative thinking people need to continue moving to different positions and areas because in the first couple of years (more or less based on how difficult the areas is) a person will give all the new fresh insight and their mind and in their previous experience to an area and then basically that person ends up placing themselves into a box of their own making. This reduces a person's effectiveness the more time they are in the same field."

Wow, that was a bold statement but think about, he's absolutely correct, and yes, another way of visualizing the same stated problem and a viable solution. I sometimes wish Google X would try to re-arrange their search engine - a secondary system for cross pollination. Twitter should be used for people with ideas to post them to the world, fully searchable, not stupid messages or BS party line gotchas. The Internet needs an upgrade for human forward progress.

"Does this once again bring us back to stagnation vs growth?" he rhetorically asks, adding that "Maybe all thinkers should be constantly moving around to different areas, while doers who are non-thinking should be in that same area doing the ideas brought forth by the thinkers. I am sure a graph could be created depicting the bell curve of time vs effectiveness of a creative mind in any given field."

Ah, now we are getting somewhere, do you see where he's going with this, have you considered this, he's right isn't he? Sure he is, but I think that the graph is also not static, the charted line moves with culture, domain, money flows, nations, etc. One paper I read stated that any more than 2-years in an upper-end college was of detriment to the "eminent achiever creative genius" as Dean Simonton professor and expert in the subject calls them. And there are lots of examples; Dell, Gates, Jobs, etc., and other problem is boredom, people stop thinking once they learn something, stop asking questions.

An interesting book to read is; "The First 20-hours" by Josh Kaufman (I highly recommend this book - CYA I was sent an advanced copy by the publisher to read), where he empirically shows that the fast uptake, interests, questions occur at super-fast rates in the very beginning. Once someone masters something and becomes in the top 1%, that could take 10,000 hours, then they often find a breakthrough too. So, maybe there is a gap in the middle, and maybe someone with fluidity of the mind can maintain the innovative thought process the whole time, through; passion for the domain or endeavor.

What I mean to say is that maybe we need to turn that Bell Curve on its head and watch for the trap in the gulley! That's why you need a think tank, to bridge the gap. Now then consider the "Inflection Points" of a Bell Curve to maintain innovation? What if you bridge the gap with additional "channels" or frequencies, then you get all sorts of humps in your inverted Bell Curve inverse, and you play that, just as you would investing in Inverse ETF's using a derivative algorithm? Please consider all this and think on it.

https://ezinearticles.com/?Creativity-of-Engineers-and-Eminent-Achievers&id=8452456

Big Things Have Small Beginnings

This is a quotation from the book and film titled "Lawrence of Arabia." If you have not seen that film, I suggest that you watch it, and pay close attention to an array of characters whose lives sing. Mostly, the story is true. It seems that while the vast majority of people stumble through their lives and merely react to what happens to them, ever so often, a world-shaper comes onto the scene.

The thing about T. E. Lawrence is that he recognized at an early age, his ability to cause monumental change. In fact, read about him before you watch the film. See how a person of privilege, who seemed to be mediocre at best, identified the world that he would change, studied it, and prepared to enter it before an opportunity came that would allow him to plan how to do it. This is such out-of-bounds thinking from the rest of us. The rest of us, being those who are not the stumblers, are achievers of something, but probably something petty, something that enriches only us. Yet, it is rare to find such a capable person as Lawrence, who might achieve greatness for himself, yet he chose to help a people be great, and not the people with whom he was affiliated. In fact, British army generals and British politicians were convinced that he had done extraordinary things for Britain when he did them, but that was not true. He did extraordinary things in order to enable Arab people to reclaim independence that they once had.

Today, much emphasis is placed on technology, but what is technology without a human being to wield it? What was Lawrence's small beginning? He rode alone into the desert on a camel to meet with a local tribal leader. If he could not impress the Arab, he would be killed. He hired an Arab guide, and straight away, he listened to the guide, and he counseled him like a father might counsel a son. The two of them played a game during their journey, each trying to be the most moral. When Lawrence understood that his Arab guide greatly appreciated personal arms, he gave him his pistol, his only personal protection. Already, he reasoned that he was not going to accomplish anything worthwhile through personal combat, so he did not need the pistol. Instead, he would do great things through personal example.

From a beginning of no consequence, Lawrence created a consequence when he stood up to the Arab leader just after the leader killed the guide because he drank water from the leader's tribal well. At the risk of his own life, at the risk of any greatness that he might have done, Lawrence berated the leader for placing so much value on his tribal trappings and so little value on the life of a brother Arab. That was the small, but risky beginning of a great thing.

If you are going to do something big with your life, you must be all in. No one can find a flaw if you are true and transparent. Other people follow those who behave that way. They follow the sort of people who give meaning to everyone's life. The key to accomplishing something great is to be a true leader, and to plan and prepare to lead. That is how you and everyone else who follows you will do something greater than yourselves.

https://ezinearticles.com/?Big-Things-Have-Small-Beginnings&id=9502276

How to Be Motivated to Work Out Every Day

We all feel that we should exercise more, workout more and eat healthy food more. Whether it's a short 20-minute jogging, a 45-minutes yoga session, or a 75-minute weight lifting training, most of us hope that we can shed some fat, build more muscle (for guys), and have a stronger, faster, more aesthetics body to provide us more energy, motivation and self-confidence.

So when most people start out working out, they will try different training programs, follow different experts and fitness coaches, attempt multiple workout methods during their first year. Combining with different plans of diets or lifestyles, they have a tough time limiting their calories, forcing themselves to stay too long in the discomfort, hoping they will reach their fitness goals.

That's why most people will give up their goals within a couple of weeks after the New Year. They've pushed themselves too hard, too intense and too fast that they burn out all their willpower before habits are developed.

You can't add a 2 hours training every evening after work.

You can't exercise too much too long especially when you are not used to doing physical work.

You can't exert your body too much while expecting you have the same amount of energy to do other things normally.

.Yes being ambitious is great for achievers, but you also need to be realistic

Scientists have found that the sweet spot of peak performance is to set your challenges around 4% above your current skill set. That way it's challenging enough to feel motivated to push yourself, while not too difficult that overwhelm yourself.

So instead of expecting yourself to lose weight on a weekly basis, track these fluctuating metrics bi-weekly or monthly instead. You need to allow time to work its magic.

Also, you want to make the start of your workout journey as easy as possible. Instead of having 2 hours workout, why not start with a quick 15 minutes' walk a day? Or instead of paying a large sum to 2-year membership in the gym, why not start doing some body weight training at home?

Next, you should also remind yourself of your ideal vision every day.

Remember your emotional reasons why you are working out? What are the pains of overweight you are trying to get rid of? What are the pleasures of being fit and sexy you want? How would it feel if you have the body you've always wanted and get admired? How much better will life be when you are confident, good-looking and inspiring to people?

In your process of weight-loss journey, you've got to remind yourself the fantasy land you've always dreamt of. Track your progress regularly and make sure you're in the right direction. Let your vision fuel you and focus on the next baby action step to get the thing done!

http://ezinearticles.com/?How-to-Be-Motivated-to-Work-Out-Every-Day&id=9562628

Change Your Future With Personal Development

This article is about how to achieve Success by Claiming Our Unlimited Potential through our own Personal Development.

Napoleon Hill has been one of the most famous messengers of this concept. He first published the "Law of Success" and later "Think and Grow Rich" in the early 1900's. The latter has probably been credited with creating more millionaires that any other book in history.

In her book, "The Secret", Rhonda Byrne also talks about the secret of Success which has been known for ages by the past achievers of our society!

The message is always the SAME and is very simple - CONCEIVE - BELIEVE - RECEIVE.

The premise is that: If we can THINK the Thought and also BELIEVE the Thought to a sufficient extent, then through the Law of Attraction the Universe will provide and we will RECEIVE that which we are Thinking about!

A simple and sensible concept! It should make as much sense to us as it has for those who have used the concept for ages to achieve their desired level of Success. There is, however, a factor involved which increases the difficulty for most of us.

Thinking of who we want to be or what we want to achieve is usually fairly simple. However, LEARNING or KNOWING how to create or possess a level of BELIEF sufficient for the process to work is another matter!

"The Secret" and many other books talk about different processes (i.e. - Visualization) available to use for generating that level of Belief, because in order to possess that sufficient level of Belief we must transfer our "Conscious" thoughts and desires into our "Subconscious" being.

I personally prefer the process of self-hypnosis because the processes of Auto-Suggestion and Self-Hypnosis combined with the proper structure, coaching support and reinforcement offer the FASTEST and most EFFICIENT method available for that level of BELIEF to occur!

Let's review the first 2 Steps of the "Secret". If we learn how to do the first two, the third will occur.

Step 1 - CONCEIVE - Thought is Creative!

Earl Nightingale talked about it in his million-dollar seller "The Strangest Secret in the World".

Napoleon Hill talked about it in his classic "Think and Grow Rich".

James Allen, in his short-but-powerful essay, "As a Man Thinketh", discussed the same thing.

"As a man (person) thinketh in his heart, so is he (are they)."

Now, this simply means that behind everything that happens or appears in our lives, there is a corresponding thought in our minds. In other words, the "facts" are a direct result of our thoughts and choices: not, as it may seem that the thoughts are simply conclusions or observations of what we see.

Self-hypnosis and/or Autosuggestion can and will reprogram the thoughts, habits and beliefs which currently exist in your Subconscious and make a positive difference in your life if you so desire!

Most courses or audios are uniquely designed to provide the most direct route possible to achieving your ambitions and desires in the Personal and Business areas of your life. You will begin to feel and experience change within the first few weeks. Improvements and accomplishments in your life will become more apparent with each successive week, month and year you continue with the process.

I personally used these concepts over 40 years ago to help change my life and future and have continued to utilize and share the concepts with others.

By utilizing these same concepts, I firmly believe that you can be a new, more successful person - happier, wiser, more confident and self-assured!

Here are some of the topics of personal development to be considered or addressed:

The relationship between Money and true Prosperity,

Fear of Success and how to overcome it,

Goal Setting

Problem Solving

How to Make a Decision

Fear of Failure and how to overcome it

Will Power

How to cultivate Creative Thinking abilities

Subconscious Sales Power in relationship to our profession

How to develop Enthusiasm

How to be more Self-Confident

The relationship between Money-Compensation

Utilizing these concepts will help you better plan your Personal and Business Life, your Finances, focus on your Goals, and be much happier on a daily basis. This process can also help you on track and focus on where you are and where you want to be.

Best to you always,

http://ezinearticles.com/?Change-Your-Future-With-Personal-Development&id=9380276

Success and Fame

Most of us somehow treat these two terms - Success and Fame as synonymous. That is precisely where success and its definition and the attendant emotions need careful understanding. After all there are many students who take to careers; many professionals who transition keeping this one goal of being successful. They may not use the word 'success' but would equate it with personal goals like achieving a particular designation, or maybe a pay package or maybe becoming a SME (subject matter expert).

There have been changing trends in the professional world, which was working in Public sector in 60s and 70s in India. This moved to working for Multi-national companies in the 90s, IT sector in the millennium and today we have the start-up wave. At all times, these were at best, external manifestation of success as the world conjured up meanings for us. The fact is, absence of an objective definition of success, enticed many professionals to follow these trends. All through these changes, happiness eluded those people who had not defined success with a personal meaning and an internal measure. A person wanting to do original work could get frustrated in a family run company with a rigid hierarchy and rules. While a person looking for job security could feel insecure in the professionally run organisation where only performance did the talking.

Not only is absence of an internal definition of success fraught with risk of not enjoying your success, but the Success, which the world confers, is ephemeral and not a true representation of the person's achievement. When we leave the definition to the world we land up with the delusion that success and fame go hand in hand. Let me use the example of Nobel laureate Kailash Satyarthi of India. The irony is best captured by the fact that most of us were left googling for him when his name got announced by the Nobel Awards Committee in 2014.

Let us ponder and discuss this man's success in his mission of preventing child trafficking and slavery. The key query which gets provoked is

His successful work in this field lead to the Nobel Prize being conferred on him OR

He became successful after this prize.

Can we call him successful even if he was not a Nobel Laureate? Interesting to realise that such questions are deeply discomforting for many of us and we may dismiss it. It is because we somehow believe that these cannot be applied to us working professionals and entrepreneurs. The discomfort is simply because we realise in our depths of our personality that we choose to decide what success would mean for me. But, but how can success, not acknowledged by the world, be Success really!!!? So without thinking much, we leave the definition for the world to decide.

If you Google for Kailash Satyarthi in 2012 you would get some 300 results which has now in 2016 has gone up 6 times. Is this fact a measure of success? Did Kailash Satyarthi work for this? Let us assume for argument that he somewhere in the corner of his heart did toy with the dream that he might noticed for his work. Even if he did that, it looks highly improbable that the prospective fame could have been motivating for him to take up such a noble work.

In fact true achievers work and achieve success, so that the cause they are working for, gets noticed. They are clearly subservient to the cause and they are vocal about it. They use the awareness of their work to leverage and enhance the circle of its impact. The word fame is about getting noticed by a wider audience to the advantages of the cause they working for. It enables soliciting support to enrol more interested volunteers. Equally and more critically it dramatically enhances the reach to prospective clients and beneficiaries of the services.

True achieves never get carried away by the awe, admiration and adulation which follows their success. They stonewall themselves so that they do not lose track of their objectives. Ordinary mortals can rarely differentiate the person from the cause or the organisation and more importantly the purpose it serves in society. Even today a Successful businessman, Successful Company, Successful Brands and Succesful products have a very fuzzy understanding.

Successful people are those who are keen to make a difference to people's lives through their products and services and ensure that they do a good job of creating, delivering and monetising the value. This gets acknowledged which we called fame. Fame generally has a domino effect and from the product spread to the brand, company and the finally the person very quickly.

Those who have the awareness and pragmatism to realise his source of fame, will remain grounded and work for future success rather than 'basking' in the glory. They are many more Entrepreneurs and businessmen who are almost unknown and love to be behind the scenes. It is a strategy which has enhanced their deep sense of happiness and fulfilment. They are fulfilled by the fame his company, team, products and brand are deriving from society.

Like these people, let us clearly define our internal measure of success so that we do no entertain any such expectation that our success will be noticed by the world at large and acknowledged as fame. It is important to realise that famous products and people is not at all a measure of their 'goodness' or 'utility'. Also Fame has nothing to do with the internal experience of Success called happiness. Hollywood and Bollywood starts bear testimony to this statement.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Success-and-Fame&id=9384935

Big Things Have Small Beginnings

This is a quotation from the book and film titled "Lawrence of Arabia." If you have not seen that film, I suggest that you watch it, and pay close attention to an array of characters whose lives sing. Mostly, the story is true. It seems that while the vast majority of people stumble through their lives and merely react to what happens to them, ever so often, a world-shaper comes onto the scene.

The thing about T. E. Lawrence is that he recognized at an early age, his ability to cause monumental change. In fact, read about him before you watch the film. See how a person of privilege, who seemed to be mediocre at best, identified the world that he would change, studied it, and prepared to enter it before an opportunity came that would allow him to plan how to do it. This is such out-of-bounds thinking from the rest of us. The rest of us, being those who are not the stumblers, are achievers of something, but probably something petty, something that enriches only us. Yet, it is rare to find such a capable person as Lawrence, who might achieve greatness for himself, yet he chose to help a people be great, and not the people with whom he was affiliated. In fact, British army generals and British politicians were convinced that he had done extraordinary things for Britain when he did them, but that was not true. He did extraordinary things in order to enable Arab people to reclaim independence that they once had.

Today, much emphasis is placed on technology, but what is technology without a human being to wield it? What was Lawrence's small beginning? He rode alone into the desert on a camel to meet with a local tribal leader. If he could not impress the Arab, he would be killed. He hired an Arab guide, and straight away, he listened to the guide, and he counseled him like a father might counsel a son. The two of them played a game during their journey, each trying to be the most moral. When Lawrence understood that his Arab guide greatly appreciated personal arms, he gave him his pistol, his only personal protection. Already, he reasoned that he was not going to accomplish anything worthwhile through personal combat, so he did not need the pistol. Instead, he would do great things through personal example.

From a beginning of no consequence, Lawrence created a consequence when he stood up to the Arab leader just after the leader killed the guide because he drank water from the leader's tribal well. At the risk of his own life, at the risk of any greatness that he might have done, Lawrence berated the leader for placing so much value on his tribal trappings and so little value on the life of a brother Arab. That was the small, but risky beginning of a great thing.

If you are going to do something big with your life, you must be all in. No one can find a flaw if you are true and transparent. Other people follow those who behave that way. They follow the sort of people who give meaning to everyone's life. The key to accomplishing something great is to be a true leader, and to plan and prepare to lead. That is how you and everyone else who follows you will do something greater than yourselves.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Big-Things-Have-Small-Beginnings&id=9502276

5 Learnable Mindsets of Highly Successful People

Have you ever wondered how truly successful people like Bill Gates, Richard Branson or Muhammad Ali became successful and continued to excel? I sure have. I’ve always been fascinated by what makes people successful.

This was probably because I wasn’t very successful in school. It wasn’t until I discovered and started applying what I learned from competitive sports, biographies and books by Stephen R. Covey and Tony Robbins that things began to turn around for me.

A lot has happened in the 25 years since I nearly flunked out of school. I’ve read hundreds of personal development books, obtained three psychology degrees, and trialed-and-errored my way through my own personal-development journey.

As a psychologist, I’ve assessed and treated everyone from hardened criminals to anxious executives. I now work with athletes, executives, academics and entrepreneurs to help develop their personal and professional potential.

Throughout the last 25 years, I’ve discovered five (learnable) mindsets that set apart the achievers from the rest of the world:

1. Successful people know and accept themselves.

They know their strengths and weaknesses. They accept themselves for who they are and work with or around what they are given.

Think of people like Bill Gates or J.K. Rowling. They accept and work with their introverted personalities. They don’t try to be something they aren’t. If they’d spent their lives fighting against their introversion, we likely wouldn’t be enjoying the fruits of their labors today.

2. Successful people set goals congruent with their personality, values, interests, strengths, skills, mission and purpose.

Not based on their immediate urges, moods or circumstances.

Martin Luther King Jr., Mother Teresa, Steve Jobs, Nelson Mandela and Oskar Schindler all lived their lives based on who they really were, what they valued, what they were good at and what they realized their mission was. Some of them paid dearly for pursuing their path. But I doubt that any of them would have had it any other way. Friedrich Nietzsche aptly said, “He who has a why to live can bear almost any how.”1

3. Successful people know they have much more control over the trajectory of their lives than others realize.

At the same time, they know that even though they are steering their ship, they can only control themselves. They understand and accept that they can’t control what the world throws in their path, but they can control how they react to those obstacles. They know that they can anticipate and act before the world acts upon them. They know that if they keep pushing forward they will eventually reach their destination.

4. Successful people accept that they will repeatedly go through tough times.

Tough times are par for the course for those who do big things. They know that’s how the world works and don’t fight or complain about it. Without difficult times and failures, there is no learning, no growth. They know that nothing worth achieving comes without a struggle. They know there’s a difference between suffering and struggling.

The Dalai Lama wrote, “Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional.” Successful people struggle and feel pain, but don’t suffer because they are living their lives and pursuing goals that are in line with who they are, what they value, and what they believe to be their purpose or mission. To them, it is worth it.

5. Successful people know that once they get to their destination, they will find another.

Because of this, they accept and enjoy the struggle, for they know that the journey is the destination.

To achieve these learnable mindsets, start with these five tips:

• Learn as much as you can about yourself.

Learn more about your personality, values, interests, strengths and skills. In my new book, ACHIEVE: Find Out Who You Are, What You Really Want, And How To Make It Happen, I offer tips for figuring out your personality and applying that to achieving more in your life.

• Make smart decisions.

Big and small decisions should be made based on what’s really important to you and your purpose, not on what the situation pulls you toward or based on your mood.

• Act within your control.

Control the only thing you can control: yourself. Don’t be a victim to life. Push forward and act before life acts upon you.

• Reframe setbacks and failures.

Depending on your interpretation, they can destroy or improve you. See setbacks as opportunities for growth and improvement.

• Be stingy with your time.

Make sure you’re spending your time on something that is worth it. Realize you only have one life to live, so enjoy the journey.

Too many people live below their potential. Don’t let one of them be you.

http://www.success.com/blog/5-learnable-mindsets-of-highly-successful-people

If You Want to Win, Help Others Win First

We are wired to compete, and that often leads to a mindset of trying to 'one-up' others. But truly smart achievers help others win. 

When I was a kid, my dad taught me the most important principle of my life: “Give value: Do more than is expected.” It has been the foundation of my success.

From day one, we encounter competition on the playground and in the classroom. Later we compete with others for educational benefits, careers and promotions. We are wired to compete, and that often leads to a mindset of trying to “one-up” others. But truly smart achievers help others win, which directly impacts the speed of results they experience.

Now that I’m aware of this idea, I teach it to others. Often when I’m making a presentation, I’ll facilitate input. If someone says something that is very valuable, I have two choices: I can gloss over it by saying something like “that’s a good idea,” and then spout my ideas, or I can have a much greater impact with my audience—and especially with that individual—if I compliment the person and encourage him or her to share more. I might say, “Wow! That’s really a great idea, Bob! Tell us more.” By doing so, I create a triple win: Bob wins (I let him shine), the other audience members win (they have received valuable input from someone other than me), and I win (I gained trust, respect and rapport by letting someone else shine).

To be the best, have the best and deliver the best results, you must be completely comfortable and confident that you will win when you help others win. If you want to see amazing results, embed this philosophy in your life and your organization.

http://www.success.com/article/if-you-want-to-win-help-others-win-first

Who Is A Real Achiever?

The world of human beings has peculiar characteristics. People measure any success by the outcome, ignoring the efforts preceding it. A swimmer wins an Olympic medal by a second, but the person coming next is ignored. Anyone that reaches the top is considered a great achiever. To be fair in our judgement, the methods adopted and the efforts expended in any success should also be weighed to determine the real achiever. Many sportsmen lost their title or medals after the doping effect of some drugs was found out. Similarly, the business stalwarts of yesterday were found to be facing the criminal charges of abuse of powers and manipulations.

The following are the instances of how many people earn fame and name by unethical ways and take pride as if they achieved by themselves.

1. Turn a big shot by crooks and tricks.

2. Occupy the top spot by default.

3. Grab opportunities like education, employment, etc. through the shortcuts and unfair means.

4. Use the political, religious, and communal links to further self-interest, and

5. Gain power through the muscle and money power.

A real achiever will possess the characteristics as below.

1. Rises to the top through the legitimate means and own efforts such as talent and strength.

2. Never seeks undue favor to promote his interests.

3. Never pampers for others' benevolence.

4. Believes in honesty and integrity.

5. Never employs any influence to serve his purpose.

6. Shuns bribery and corruption, and

7. Cares for others' welfare.

Two examples would make the above points clear.

A Vagabond turned a VIP. A lonely man in rags took shelter on the pavement near a small tea shop. He used to lead the life by seeking alms from the passers-by and those visiting the shop. Nobody had any idea of his genesis. One day, a political party asked him to attend its agitation for the sake of head counts and paid him a food packet and some cash. Gradually, he began attending the rallies and public meetings of that party on a regular basis. However, the lure of money and power made him learn the nuances of politics. About 5 years later, he gained popularity and the confidence of the local leaders and secured the contacts and relationships of high ranks as well. At one stage, he overtook the mentor to become a confidant of the high command. He made huge wealth within a short time and led a luxurious life. The customers of the tea shop wondered how a loafer could become such an influential figure. Nonetheless, Everything came to an end when the corruption and other crimes of him came to light.

Dedication sans publicity. In an office, a clerk worked with all sincerity and devotion. He remained unmarried and spent a major portion of his income for the welfare of poor people. After the office hours, he would visit the homes of the less privileged and provide them with the food and clothes. Not only that, he donated his superannuation benefits to a social organization caring for the aged and homeless people. Unsatisfied by all these, post retirement he took up a job in a restaurant. Retaining a small amount for self-sustenance, he gifted the meagre earnings to help the indigent. Neither he sought others help nor claimed publicity for the noble and selfless work rendered by him.

Now, decide who is the real achiever. Neither all that glitters is gold nor that remains hidden has no value. Time alone exposes the facts.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Who-Is-A-Real-Achiever?&id=9286810

All High Achievers Share These 9 Things In Common

You have to care.

What is the mindset of high achievers? originally appeared on Quora: The best answer to any question.

Answer by Nicolas Cole, writer, fitness model, and entrepreneur, on Quora:

I'm a very high achiever. I know this. I am obsessive, I am overly ambitious, and I am definitely out of balance at times (something I'm working on), but that's just how I operate. The rules I live by are strict, but that's because they have to be. As a result, a I'm criticized a lot by people who aren't "high achievers." But that comes with the territory. And as a result, I achieve what I set out to achieve.

Here is my mindset:

1) My time is gold.

Time is the only thing I have. Time is what creates my writing. Time is what makes me money. Time is what allows me to eat, sleep, read, and learn. Time is my most precious resource.

When deciding where to invest my time, I am extremely greedy. I have to be. I give my close, close friends the time they deserve because I value our relationship. Casual friends and acquaintances I give extra time I have to, when I can. Anyone else, I weigh the investment versus the return and go from there. It might not be "normal", but it's required to reach the levels of success I know I want for myself.

2) I set goals and I reach them.

When I set a goal, I put a date to it. I tell myself when I'm going to have it done by. If I don't have it done by then, I'd better have a good reason for not doing it. If I don't have a good reason, I set another date and push myself harder to reach it. I do the same thing even if I had a good reason in the first place.

The difference between those who "achieve" and those who don't is the follow through. It's the ability to set a goal and walk through the finish line.

3) I see every decision as crucial.

Every decision I make has an effect. What time I go to bed, how much time I spend reading or writing, how much time I spend with my friends, etc. Everything I do, every choice I make, I ask myself whether or not it is moving me closer to my goal. Will this burger make me feel sick and will I waste an hour feeling groggy later? Yes? Ok, I don't eat it. Will me going out late tonight keep me from waking up early to write? Ok, I don't go out. Every single decision has to, in some way, be contributing to my growth. Am I perfect? Am I 100% consistent? No. But I'd say I'm somewhere around 80-90%. And that percentage over a long period of time is insanely, profoundly, immeasurably valuable.

4) I learn something from everyone.

Every single person I meet, I try to learn something from. Whether it's a CEO of a major company or a random person next to me on the train, I believe we all cross paths for a reason and there is a lesson everywhere you turn. By seeing life this way you are always open to the process. Every moment is an opportunity to grow. And the more moments you string together, the faster you learn, the more you grow, and better you become at everything you do.

5) I invest in skills, not in rewards.

I can play classical piano. I can beatbox. I can write stories. I can sing. I can produce music. I can rap. I can write songs. I can take pretty good pictures. I can lift weights with top athletes. I can cook. I can do a lot of things. I don't say this to brag, I say this to point out the fact that I am not a prodigy, I am not a genius, I am not any more gifted than you. The only difference is that instead of spending my Friday nights going to clubs and getting drunk, my Saturday nights hanging out at bars, my Sundays at brunch sipping mimosas, instead of being super social and Mr. On-the-Town, I work. I work really hard. And to me it's not even work, it's fun. I'd rather learn a new skill than get drunk. I'd rather socialize with people who I can learn from rather than having the same repetitive conversations with inebriated acquaintances. And it's sad how this mentality is seen as "above" other people. That's just part of the gig. People don't like it when you get good at stuff. People want you to be lazy like them. Screw that.

6) I surround myself with like-minded people.

There are people out there who live life like me. There are people who want to learn more than they want to get rich. There are people who want to build something of their own more than they want to climb their way up the corporate ladder. There are people out there like you, you just have to find them. And once you do find them, become friends and help each other. Once a week I meet up with a few entrepreneurs I know and we exchange ideas, set new goals, and hold each other accountable. Once a week I also meet up with an artist group from my college and we help each other stay grounded, meditate, and share our art. These sorts of groups of peers are beyond valuable. They will help you remember what you're working toward.

7) I read. A lot.

I read #ABookAWeek, minimum. On my website, I share which book I read last week and allow people to sign up for my weekly newsletter: www.nicolascole.com/blog.

I know you can learn without reading. I know that experience is immensely valuable. But if you're not reading you're not learning fast enough, and that's just the truth of it. When someone asks me what I'm reading, I say, "What genre?" I alternate between self-development "How To" books, timeless fiction literature, books on spirituality and meditation, books on creative process, nonfiction memoirs, and books on marketing and advertising.

Pick up a book. Now.

8) I know the value of a mentor.

I write about mentorship a lot because I believe it is the single most effective way to learn, period.

When I find a mentor, I give them everything. I throw everything I think I know out the window and I allow myself to be completely open to what they have to teach. I work harder than they expect me to work. I ask a million questions. I spend as much time around them as possible because I know how rare and valuable a mentor can be.

Since I was 15 years old, I've had some sort of mentor in my life. To show you how crucial mentors are, here's what happened:

15-18: Gaming Mentor. I sought out and played with one of the best World of Warcraft players I could find. As a result, we became best friends and I went on to become one of the highest ranked World of Warcraft players in North America.

19-22: Lifting Mentor: I became friends with a powerlifter at my gym. He took me under his wing and taught me everything. We became great friends (still friends today) and he helped me gain 40lbs of muscle and lift more weight than I ever thought was possible for a once-skinny kid like me.

23-Present: My current mentor is also my boss--a successful entrepreneur and marketing master. He hasn't just taught me about business, he's taught me how to be my own man. He's taught me how to carry myself, how to dress, how to handle clients, how to pitch clients, how to explain my creative ideas, how to stand up for what I believe in, and how to be willing to pursue ideas that other people would call "impossible."

9) I care about what I create.

This might be the most important differentiating factor in being a high achiever: I care. I care a lot. I care what I create, I care about the difference I make, I care about helping people, I can about helping others learn. I care, and as a result, I take things personally. I care if someone doesn't like what I make. I care about what people think. I do. It doesn't deter me from what I want to do, but I do care. And because I care, I put my everything into what it is I do.

People that don't care go nowhere. And do you know why most people don't care? Because it's hard. It leaves you vulnerable. It is a chink in the armor where people can point and aim and say, "Hah, you care." Especially as a man, we're told not to care. And a lot of people don't care out of fear that what they do care about will make them look naive. What if other people don't care about what you care about? How weird will you look then?

If you want to achieve, if you want to become successful--use whatever words you want--if you want to reach something that is slightly out of your grasp, you have to care. You have to care a lot. You have to allow yourself to feel all those emotions: excitement, fear, ambition, vulnerability. And you have to use what you feel to propel you to create, create, create.

You have to care.

http://www.inc.com/quora/all-high-achievers-share-these-9-things-in-common.html

John C. Maxwell: Instead of Complaining, Remember These 10 Things

How you can be a can-do person with the right attitude

A faint but discernible dividing line separates achievers from dreamers. What makes the difference?

Attitude. Achievers have a can-do attitude that sets them apart from mere dreamers. Achievers are sold out to success—no matter the obstacles—and they are willing to put forth the effort and pay the price of success.

Here are 10 tips to reveal your own can-do attitude:

1. Disown your helplessness. Can-do people aggressively pursue solutions, and, in the process, uncover creative solutions others never even try to find. Rather than wallowing in helplessness, can-do leaders search diligently to overcome the obstacles in front of them.

2. Take the bull by the horns. Can-do people are fearless. They go straight to the source of their solution. Their very effort commands attention as they wrestle a problem to the ground with expediency. They don’t wait; they initiate.

3. Enter the no whining zone. Can-do people abstain from complaining. They recognize its futility and guard their minds and mouths against indulging in this time-wasting activity.

4. Put on another’s pair of shoes. Can-do people empathize with others. They attempt to see any predicament from the other person’s perspective in order to make the best decisions.

5. Nurture your passion. Can-do people are immune to burnout. They love what they do because they’ve learned how to fuel the fire that keeps them moving. The prize is not given to the person who’s the smartest, nor to the person with the advantages in resources and position, but to the person with passion.

6. Walk the second mile. Can-do people exceed expectations. While others settle for an acceptable solution, they aren’t satisfied until they have achieved the unimagined. They set expectations for themselves higher than what is dictated by the people or situations around them.

7. Quit stewing and start doing. Can-do people take action. While others are crippled by worry, fear and anxiety, they have the fortitude to press forward. The perfect moment when all is safe and assured may never arrive, so why wait for it?

8. Go with the flow. Can-do people can adjust to change. They don’t get caught griping about an unexpected curve in the road. They accept transition with an optimistic outlook.

9. Follow through to the end. Can-do people not only initiate, they finish. They are self-starters with the capacity to close the deal.

10. Expect a return as a result of your commitment. If you make an all-out commitment with a can-do attitude, expect a return. Passionate commitment is contagious, and resources follow resolve. Committed leaders will reap rewards and find open doors as others are drawn to the excitement and energy emanating from them.

http://www.success.com/article/john-c-maxwell-instead-of-complaining-remember-these-10-things