The Article Of Self-Responsibility, Not The Statue Or Statute

We must be responsible for how we feel, respond and act in any situation. The choices we make are our choices. Listen, I sometimes would like to blame all of the good stuff on myself and all of the bad stuff on other people. But good or bad, life is ultimately a choice of "my fault" however it goes. This article is halfway "helpful physician help yourself" and halfway "what I would do with my own advice in an ideal situation". Indeed, though, this article is all reality, as you will be able to tell while you are reading it.

Sometimes, like anyone, I get frustrated with the bad happenings, and haughty about the good happenings. The only difference is, though, is that I am aware of my choices that caused or had a hand in causing both types of happenings. To be a winner is to embrace the good and the bad, and genuinely say and mean "my fault", take charge, and make the bad good and the good better without chalking things up to "it was nothing" or bad or good luck. Realistically, I can say with all honest meaning from and to myself: Ultimately, looking at things from an "I cause it" point of view however good or bad the situation is really is best. Indeed, looking at causes instead of "lucky", "unlucky", "fortunate", "unfortunate" type events brings a whole new and sometimes way better light to a situation. For acknowledging personal choice as being the causation in situations gives genuine personal power. Giving the cause to something outside yourself is the ultimate personal weakness. Take full initiative, and responsibility and all of that good stuff, and ultimately you will get where you want to go.

I know how the above sounds, and I did say and mean that this article would be unflinching and realistic. But, personal responsibility does lead to a superior, genuinely superior state of being. Good choices equal good results? You bet they do. Bad choices equal bad results? Oh, you can depend on luck to make a good outcome, but ultimately, when everything is done, the good choices are better even when you get a "luckily good result" and the way of the fool is to totally depend on luck or a turn of good fortune to make a bad choice good whatever the result may be even if it is "good". Be responsible, nothing can take the place of responsibility for yourself.

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Going An Extra Mile

Success followed predictable and distinct patterns of behavior. An important principle of success in all walks of life and in all occupations is a willingness to " Go The Extra Mile "; which means the rendering of more and better service than that for which one is paid, and giving it in a positive mental attitude.

It develops the important quality of personal initiative. It develops self-reliance and courage. It serves to build the confidence of others in one's integrity. It aids the mastery of the destructive habit of procrastination.

The privilege always of rendering an "overplus" of service is a means of accumulating a reserve credit of goodwill, and to provide a just reason for demanding more pay, a better position, or both. Every position based upon a salary or wages provides one with an opportunity to advance himself by the application of this principle.

Any practice of philosophy which deprives a man of the privilege of going the extra mile is unsound and doomed to failure, for it is obvious that this principle is the stepping-stone of major importance by which an individual may receive compensation for extraordinary skill, experience, and education; and it is the one principle which provides the way of self-determination, regardless what occupation, profession or calling the individual may be engaged in.

Verily it pays to go the extra mile, for every time an individual does so he places someone else under obligation to him. No one is compelled to follow the habit of going the extra mile, and seldom is anyone ever requested to render more service than that for which he is paid. Therefore, if the habit is followed it must be adopted on one's own initiative.

In American system rewards and bonuses are provided for those who follow this habit and makes it impossible for a man to adopt the habit without receiving appropriate compensation. The compensation may come in many different forms. Increased pay is a certainty. Voluntary promotions are inevitable. Favorable working conditions and pleasant human relationships are assured. And these lead to economic security, which a man may attain on his own merits.

There is still another benefit to being gained by the man who follows the habit of going the extra mile: It keeps him on good terms with his own conscience and serves as a stimulant to his own soul! Therefore, it is a builder of sound character, which has no equal in any other human habit. You who have young boys and girls growing into adulthood might well remember this for their sake!

Teach a child the benefits of rendering more service and better service than that which is customary and you will have made contributions of character to that child which will serve him or her all through life.

However, the worker who renders this type of service may not always receive appropriate compensation from the person to whom he renders the service, but this habit will attract to him many opportunities for self-advancement among them new and more favorable sources of employment.

His pay will come to him directly. If you serve an ungrateful master serve him the more. Put God in your debt. Every stroke shall be repaid. The longer the payment is withheld, the better for you, for compound interest on compound interest is the rate and usage of this exchequer". Speaking once more in terms that seem paradoxical, be reminded that the most profitable time a man devotes to labor is that for which he receives no direct or immediate financial compensation.

For it must be remembered that there are two forms of compensation available to the man who works for wages. One is the wages he receives in money. The other is the skill he attains from his experiences; a form of compensation which often exceeds monetary remuneration, for skill and experience are the worker's most important stock in trade through which he may promote himself to higher pay and great responsibilities. The attitude of the man who follows the habit of going the extra mile is this. He recognizes the truth that he is receiving pay for schooling himself for a better position and greater pay!

This is an asset of which no worker can be cheated, no matter how selfish or greedy his immediate employer may be. It is the "compound interest on compound interest" which Emerson mentioned. Thus we see that no matter how we view the principle of going the extra mile, we come always to the same answer, that it pays "compound interest" to all that follow the habit. No one ever does anything voluntarily without a motive. Verily it pays to go the extra mile. There is something about this habit of doing more than one is paid for which works in one's behalf even while he sleeps. Once it begins to work, it piles up riches so fast that it seems like queer magic which, like Aladdin's Lamp, draws to one's aid an army of genies, which come laden with bags of gold.

Thus, it is peculiar how opportunities have a way of trailing the people who make it their business to go the extra mile, but they do very definitely.

A form of compensation which often exceeds monetary remuneration, for skill and experience are the worker's most important stock in trade

http://ezinearticles.com/?Going-An-Extra-Mile&id=9678444

Through Failure, a Better Way to Succeed

Success always waits to walk into the room after failure has embarrassed us. The key is not being put off by our embarrassment. Keep thinking appreciatively.

Shame and guilt cost us so much. We leave something prematurely, or become despondent, when all along it was persistence that was going to prove the way was worth it.

We are so bothered about how we look we lose sight of how wonderful we are when we say, 'Oh well, I'll keep going anyway.'

Our minds are our sharpest critic. Our shame gear kicks into overdrive and before we know it we are apologising for what many people did not even see.

Our hearts are so vulnerable. We want kudos for our works and initiative, when God is set on keeping it secret, so a richer reward would ultimately be ours.

The time has come to embrace the embarrassing faux pas and put it straight without feeling guilty. The time is ripe to make a hash of something with the intention of succeeding, knowing that our intention was sincere and pure. The time is now to be ready to fail.

We never intend to fail. We are never so brash. But in moving forward and ahead we shouldn't fear moving further behind. Indeed, when it seems like we're getting behind can actually be God putting us ahead - His strange way of reversing fortunes.

Imagine not being afraid of failure. Imagine not experiencing that anxiety that comes with performance. We can care and at the same time risk. Sometimes when we risk, we find the best way to care.

Our best successes come after we have failed and possibly many times. Success came because we did not give up.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Through-Failure,-a-Better-Way-to-Succeed&id=9894985

What Is The "Secret Sauce" That Can Get You Success In Life?

Nido R. Qubein, a well-known speaker, pointed out by saying "Most of history's greatest achievements have been accomplished not by the most talented but by the people who are willing to take on great risks and challenges and see them through." In other words, the main ingredient of success is not talent. Then, what is the "secret sauce" that can open the special gateway that can take you quickly towards success? Initiative and lateral thinking alone will provide you with the competitive edge that can take you on the highway to success.

For example, if you are working in an organization and if you do your work as per the exact instructions you receive, there is nothing to feel proud about. Of course, you make all possible efforts for not deviating from the instructions. But do not forget that this is a trap because if you have this mentality, you will continue to be just "another employee." You will never receive accolades nor will laurels come to you. This means you will have a slow growth in your career. Similarly, you cannot fast-track your journey towards success in your life if you lack initiative or if you do not think out-of-the box.

Those who succeed are aware that they cannot depend upon instructions from others to carry out their work. They always focus their energy on finding ways for improving their efficiency in doing things. Their ability to think out-of-the-box will be 'visible' to everyone.

But what is this out-of-the-box thinking? It is more about looking at all the angles, foreseeing situations and coming out with innovative ideas and solutions. Out-of-the-box thinking will help in being proactive. So, by developing this proactive thinking habit, you can "breathe life into your life." In other words, once you develop this habit, you will not wait for things to happen. On the contrary, you will start creating your own opportunities. This means your proactive actions will galvanize the speed of your growth and catapult you to amazing heights.

On the other hand, normal and average folks react to situations and they cannot move forward at a fast pace. But there is good news for these normal and average people also because they too can become proactive "initiators." Let us see how you can develop certain habits that may help you in becoming a proactive person.

1. Assume responsibility for your actions. When you make efforts to succeed, you may face problems but you and you alone are responsible for them. Not only that, you cannot rely upon others for having solutions to your problems because it is you who is aspiring to succeed. Blaming others or your circumstances for your problems will not fetch you success.

2. Focus only on things that are under your control. Remember that you cannot control many things and if you focus on them, you will be wasting your energy, time and other resources. You may end up getting frustrated. In extreme situations, you may decide to quit also. On the other hand, if you focus on things that are under your control, you will be able to come out with ideas and solutions.

But how to come out with unique ideas or solutions? The best way is to be an omnivorous reader. It is not necessary that your ideas will come only from the books or materials that are related to your field. You can get ideas even from sources that are completely unrelated to the field in which you are operating.

3. Set realistic and achievable goals. A smarter way is to split even these goals into smaller goals. But you must make it a point to set time-frames for achieving these small goals. On the other hand, if you set very lofty goals that you cannot achieve, you may very soon get frustrated and stop making efforts.

4. Consistency is the key. There is no point in being a proactive person only on certain occasions. You should consistently be proactive which means you should make it a habit. If you constantly look for ideas to do things in a better manner, others will certainly notice you very soon. This will fast-track your success.

http://ezinearticles.com/?What-Is-The-Secret-Sauce-That-Can-Get-You-Success-In-Life?&id=9672237

The Rare Goldfish

Have you ever noticed those little goldfish in the bag when you put them into a large aquarium? No matter how large the aquarium or even in a lake or the ocean, they swim in the same small circle and are very easy to catch. As a matter of fact, how predictable do you think some people are. I am not taking all the credit for the creation of this article or the perception of this idea, but, I do notice that it is a genuinely real idea that I am writing about here. For the self-esteem of so many people is that limited where they and their actions are very easy to predict, ascertain and "hook" just like that limited bagged goldfish I started in with.

A real life starts with our consciousness and a genuine intention acted upon. But, do most people have that in their lives? Not really. They follow authorities in fear with genuine fears of success or fears of failure without thinking at all for themselves or taking necessary initiative.

Notice all winners: They have initiative, honesty and take charge of themselves. They do not always work hard and follow through, they have initiative and courage enough to genuinely take charge and become leaders in life and existence.

Speaking of which: Dr. Robert Anthony brought the idea of the little goldfish that swims in a small circle to my attention and a childhood memory came to mind about a goldfish I had in a bag which I put into my sister Kimberly's aquarium. I sat there and watched the fish, and even when I made faces and tapped on the aquarium, it swam in the same circles without even thinking of leaving those circles. Then my sister said: "Leave the fish alone, that is what it is supposed to do." I realized that consciousness is the key to leadership, not blind following until someone from outside "advances you". After all, reality is made by the creators, including God, not the utterly enslaved and following want to be spirits, including the devil. I write of God and the devil as an archetype and in a stereotypically understood way without actual religious connotations, I just wanted to make that clear.

Emerson said: "What is the hardest task in the world? To think."Well, let me modify that a bit. What is hard is to act genuinely independently for the goldfish as well as the "normal person". What makes an extraordinary person is the consciousness combined with the actions that produce results. I could end on a better, more dramatic note. But, I will say this we all have a choice, to swim in a circle or do our genuine thing. What do you want to do really?

http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Rare-Goldfish&id=9402992

Alertness And Gratitude

Being alert and grateful in life means never taking anything for granted, and living with full presence of mind and honestly thinking deeply about most or every action taken with attention to results. With that said, I begin this article. For me, life and existence are a quest to do this the best without flinching toward the opposite of that statement even once in a while, and if it means being irritatingly detail oriented sometimes, so be it. To be that way is better than being careless. I know that. Realistically, being alert and grateful is the key to winning even if temporary slips and losses happen. The permanent fall is not to care anymore and fear success. Success is being constantly grateful and alert, not fearing to attempt or lose if you do succeed. Grateful and alert means that maximum winnings matter but small successes and failures, and small failures and losses do not, they are steps to the ultimate winnings.

I remember reading about the American Revolutionary war when I was a boy here in this world. Lord Charles Cornwallis won more battles than he lost, and George Washington lost more battles than he won. But the difference is that George Washington was alert and grateful during and after the key battles he won that established the genuine victory, and Lord Charles Cornwallis thought arrogantly that he could overpower by winning a bunch of small battles without attention to overall victory, starting with using his soldiers in traditional ways instead of creatively using guerrilla or creative tactics like George Washington did and at Yorktown and other key battles that he and his soldiers did survive and win, the biggest failure of Cornwallis was underestimating the value of creative tactics and initiative unlike George Washington. Sure, the moral of what I am saying with this example of the American Revolutionary War is not an explicit example of history, but a metaphorical warning: Be creative and adaptable or genuinely lose to an "inferior", more creative, genuinely superior force that wants the goal more.

Understand me there. That is not historical, but metaphorical for all ages and realities, the creative force that wants it more will always win over the overconfident competitive force that depends on arrogance to "win", even if winning does happen for that overconfident force temporarily for that overconfident competitive force. Creativity ultimately wins out and rears its head later every time almost without exception. Even in the exceptions though, a different way to win is found, because creativity does not give up, it adapts without really giving up.

https://ezinearticles.com/?Alertness-And-Gratitude&id=9157666

What Is Motivation and How to Strengthen It

What is motivation? It is the inner power that pushes you toward taking action and toward achievement. Motivation is powered by desire and ambition, and therefore, if they are absent, motivation is absent too.

Sometimes, you might have the desire to get something done, or to achieve a certain goal, but if the desire and ambition are not strong enough, you lack the push, the initiative, and the willingness to take the necessary action. in these cases, you lack of motivation and inner drive.

When there is motivation, there is initiative and direction, courage, energy, and the persistence to follow your goals.

A motivated person takes action and does whatever it needs to achieve his or her goals.

Motivation becomes strong, when you have a vision, a clear mental image of what you want to achieve, and also a strong desire to manifest it. In such a situation, motivation awakens inner strength and power, and pushes you forward, toward making your vision a reality.

Motivation can be applied to every action and goal. There can be motivation to study a foreign language, to get good grades at school, bake a cake, write a poem, take a walk every day, make more money, get a better job, buy a new house, own a business, or become a writer, a doctor or a lawyer.

Motivation is present, whenever there is a clear vision, precise knowledge of what you want to do, a strong desire, and faith in your abilities.

Motivation is one of the most important keys to success. When there is lack of motivation, you either get no results, or only mediocre ones, whereas, when there is motivation, you attain greater and better results and achievements.

Compare a student who lacks motivation and who hardly studies, to a student who is highly motivated, and who devotes many hours to his studies. Each student will get absolutely different grades.

Lack of motivation means lack of enthusiasm, zest and ambition, whereas the possession of motivation is a sign of strong desire, energy and enthusiasm, and the willingness to do whatever it takes to achieve what one sets out to do.

A motivated person is a happier person, more energetic, and sees the positive end result in his or her mind.

What can you do to strengthen your motivation?

1. Set a goal. If you have a major goal, it would be a good idea if you split it into several minor goals, each small goal leading to your major goal.
   
   By dividing your goal into several, smaller goals, you will find it easier to motivate yourself, since you will not feel overwhelmed by the size of your goal and the things you have to do. This will also help you feel that the goal is more feasible, and easier to accomplish.
2. Understand that finishing what you start is important. Hammer into your mind that whatever you start you have to finish. Develop the habit of going to the finish line.
3. Socialize with achievers and people with similar interests or goals, since motivation and positive attitude are contagious. Associate with motivated people, who share your interests.
4. Never procrastinate anything. Procrastination leads to laziness, and laziness leads to lack of motivation.
5. Persistence, patience and not giving up, despite failure and difficulties, keep the flame of motivation burning.
6. Read about the subjects of your interest. This will keep your enthusiasm and ambition alive.
7. Constantly, affirm to yourself that you can, and will succeed.
8. Look at photos of things you want to get, achieve or do. This will strengthen your desire and make your subconscious mind work with you
9. Visualize your goals as achieved, adding a feeling of happiness and joy.

Remember, if a certain goal is really important, going through the above steps will strengthen your motivation, and keep you going forward.

http://www.successconsciousness.com/strengthen_motivation.htm