Do You Have A Big Dream And Don't Know Where To Start?

What do you do if you have a big dream and don't know where to start? This is going to sound strange. In fact, it's going to be quite counterintuitive.

Get still.

Go somewhere and sit down. Yes, sit down. Take time to process this big dream that has tapped you on the shoulder and enlisted you. Suppress the inclination to dive head first into busyness. Instead, take time to get your bearings. Tune into your inner voice to hear the heart beat of your dream and what your unique gifts, talents and skills bring to it.

Get educated.

T.D. Jakes, in his book Instinct, cautions us to get acquainted with our new surroundings. Find out the law of the jungle before announcing to the world, "I'm here! It can mean the difference between surviving or getting eaten by a lion. It's not because you are defective or you are on the wrong path. Life simply wants you to succeed so it gives you time to get ready.

A mentor is a great place to start! Mentors help you develop the skills and the sensibilities that you'll need. They alert you of the pitfalls and the best time to go to the watering hole to get a drink of water. They know the jungle and help you navigate it.

If you cannot identify a person immediately, remember that mentors come in various forms. An often underestimated resource is books. Media can be a great mentor as well. YouTube videos and TEDx talks can introduce you to thought leaders and people who offer free webinars and affordable options for your development.

Get moving.

What I like to say to my clients is this, "Knowledge is only power if you know how to use it." This is where a coach is most needed. She or he helps you get out of your head or running around in circles to devising a strategic plan to get you moving in the right direction. In fact, studies show that out of the numerous benefits of coaching one is accelerating progress.

Get all in.

Every single part of your life has been enlisted by your dream. Resistance is futile. Just as a baby owns your body for 9 months, your dream owns you until its done. Your role is to nurture it all the way. You nurture it by taking impeccable care of yourself. Eat healthy. Take your vitamins. See your doctor regularly. Let others help you. Get plenty of sleep. Take care of your mental and emotional health.

The closer you get to your dream, the more it will require of you. All too often, dreamers increase their busyness but do not strengthen their core. Getting still, educated, moving and being all in will help you to endure the rigors and help you to be better when you arrive.

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6 Good Reasons Why Every Mentor Should Have a Mentor

1. You need a Mentor!

For years as a salesman, I struggled to make the grade. I made the calls without any real conviction, tried to reach targets that somehow I couldn't quite reach, read all the good books on selling but still failed to motivate myself. I was in Dead End Street.

What I needed was someone to share my journey but show me a different road. It didn't have to be by cutting corners or a short cut. I was burning out, wanting to quit, because I seemed to be on the road to nowhere. There was something I was missing, something I didn't quite get.

In the great movies, this is when along comes Obi Wan Kenobi to guide the young Luke Skywalker, or, a Yoda, or a Mary Poppins turns up. Even the great heroes of the bible needed someone when the going got tough. Moses needed Jethro, Joshua needed Moses, Elisha needed Elijah and the disciples needed Jesus.

The point is that we cannot succeed on our own. Someone who has been around the block a couple of times needs to show us the way.

Then I experienced a mentor in my own life, in the shape of a Field Sales Manager. Even then a field sales manager was old hat. Modern managers at that time were office bound, numbers people. But here was a guy who had been there and done it.

He shared my journey, made the calls with me, he asked me the right questions, encouraged me to share my experiences with the customers, relax and enjoy the journey. Eventually, the success came. I still made the calls, did the presentations but with a passion and a purpose.

I spent many years as a salesman and a sales manager and it took me to many different countries. It would be easy to say that I did it my way, but that would be only half a story. I recognised that any success that I experienced was down to the others who had shared my journey.

2. A mentor can help you move forward

Mentors are generally volunteers. They volunteer for many reasons, but often they want to 'put something back' or, 'pay it forward'. So why is it that many mentors, especially in the voluntary sector, do not consider having a mentor themselves?. Perhaps they feel they do not need a mentor, or that nobody would want to support them.

On the surface, it may seem strange that someone who can help another person to achieve their dreams, does not consider it for them personally. Everyone has hopes and dreams, and having support from outside of our immediate circle of family, friends and colleagues, who do not carry the same baggage, can make a significant difference.

But if that mentor would consider it carefully, they would decide that a mentor would be a good option for them.

3. Two people can share a journey

Sometimes we need someone who has "been there and done it" to help us negotiate a difficult situation, someone from outside who can get a different view of things. This is a mentor's role. You are worth the time and investment.

Being on the mentee side of the mentoring relationship will give you fresh insights into your own role of mentor.

4. Having a mentor will make you a great mentor

You may think that you don't have what it takes to be a mentor. You cannot see yourself in the role of wise and trusted guide. Perhaps you think you are not qualified to be a mentor. After all don't mentors need a degree in some 'ology' or other? Put your mind at rest.

Having a mentor will help you to find your own strengths. The best qualification for a mentor is often 'experience of life'. If you are in a business setting, perhaps you have had experience in starting an online business, or have been the CEO of a medium size company. Then you are perfectly placed to help someone else go through the same challenges.

You may have no business experience. Perhaps you have experienced and overcome family breakdown, financial difficulties or long-term unemployment. Who would want someone like you? The answer is anyone who is going through similar tough life circumstances.

How much would they value support from someone who knows what they are going through. A listening ear and the wisdom that comes from hard-earned experience could be a life-saver for someone who is socially isolated by difficult challenges.

5. A mentoring relationship works both ways.

A mentoring relationship can be life changing for both the mentor and the mentee. When a mentor asks the mentee the right question, a light-bulb moment can happen as the mentee arrives at a solution to their own problem. This can be a revelation to both parties. In guiding a mentee through stormy waters, a mentor will often experience a light shining on some event in their own life. These are great moments in the relationship.

6. Matchmaking makes mentoring meaningful

Some mentoring relationships seem to be made in heaven. This happens when care is taken in matching the mentee with a suitable mentor. This is not rocket science. When both parties are keen to make the relationship work, then it has a better chance of being successful - just like any relationship in marriage or business. Having a good mentor will add to your value when you are mentoring.

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Channeling Your Inner Meggin (By Gini Cunningham)

Everyone needs a mentor, someone who supports and guides to self-discovery and understanding. While family plays a valuable role in helping, a mentor offers gifts that come in no other way. A mentor is a coach, a counselor, a teacher, and an advisor who observes with fresh eyes and no preconceived notions or past history and no worry about being too honest. My mentor is Meggin.

Meggin was my instructor and advisor in my masters program at the university. An excellent teacher and presenter, she inspired me with her genuineness and enthusiasm, her honesty and openness. I worked to model my behaviors and attitudes to reflect the positivity she exemplified. She taught me much about reading instruction and literacy, but she taught me even more about myself. When I hesitate, she reinforces, when I stumble she provides a boost, when I meander off my designated, self-designed path she assists me with realignment. She never accomplishes this by being pushy or overbearing. Rather she asks the questions that lead me to my inner-most being. Everything Meggin does empowers the "me" held within my heart and soul.

In high school I had the confidence of the world and feared nothing and no one. During my years at the university, I slowly became lost in nervous anxiety. While I could fake it pretty well most of the time with outward bravado, inside I shivered when I met new people or encountered odd situations. I was fine on my own - I spent a year studying in Europe and primarily traveling alone, glad to be able to see and learn in my unique method. When I returned I became teacher. Although first day jitters often consumed me, once I got rolling, poise and self-reliance soared. In front of my eager students and at their side, I had unlimited sureness which stimulated more of the same for them.

By 30 I felt better about myself in most situations. My roles then included wife, mother, teacher, and coach. As I broadened my base I extended my talents and capabilities. Born with a love of learning every class encouraged more reflection and learning and so I added more teaching certifications to my repertoire and more thoughts and ideas to my brain. This permitted me to teach K-12 through college in a variety of subjects and in multiple schools. All of this enhanced my positive outlook and outward reach, but I still held some quivering within.

Recently a job opportunity came my direction. It was one for which I basically wrote the description and determined the salary. Writing the outline was fairly easy as it was for a mentoring position with teachers, something I enjoy and to which I am dedicated. In this case the project included new teachers as well as experienced teachers who needed assistance, a group of individuals for whom I hold great passion. As the requirements of the profession become ever greater it is essential to support and assist new teachers as they get their feet on the ground and navigate the ins and outs of the classroom. My salary request was another story.

I recognized that the district wanted me but I was nervous about asking for money. How do you apply for something you love, a job that you have been doing for free for eight years, and then ask for money? Hmmm. I wiggled the hours, the days, the amount of time each new hire might need. Then I fiddled and faddled and pulled a number out of the air. It seemed outrageous (again, I have been supplying expertise at no cost) and then I added some more. When I felt semi-confident, I emailed my proposal to Meggin. Immediately I had a response.

"You are not an hourly worker!" she exclaimed, "And while you are offering a tremendous service you are not requesting adequate funding. It's time to channel your Meggin."

Channeling my Meggin was a wonderful, passionate experience. I took Meggin at her word and jotted down all of the talents and abilities I possess, dug deep into my soul for how I could help every teacher reach excellence or at least an version of excellence, and I shook out my fear. Channeling Meggin entailed reigniting belief in myself and what I have to offer, applauding attitudes and qualities that I alone possess. After settling on these good feelings and aptitudes, I headed out the door for a jog to let all of this gloriousness settle.

Wow-ee-yay! My self-assurance buoyed and then elevated my spirit as I eyed the sky for inspiration and self-belief. I danced a jig and sang a happy song, then returned to my computer, revamped my proposal, and requested a competitive wage tied to my integrity and not an hour by hour grind. Everybody needs a Channeling Meggin. Do you have yours?

http://ezinearticles.com/?Channeling-Your-Inner-Meggin&id=9124209

Ten Ways to Let Your Light Shine Brightly

Many of us have at times felt prompted by the desire to focus on becoming the best version of ourselves, to let our light shine brightly and become the brightest ever! It may be at the start of a new year, a special birthday or the sudden realisation that we're not getting any younger. Sometimes it's a 'now or never' impulse.

To let your light shine really brightly may mean sorting out old patterns of thinking or behaviour, undertaking personal development, becoming fitter in order to run a marathon or becoming committed to taking your business or career to exciting new heights.

Here are ten tips to help you become the bright star in your life:

- Start by being clear as to what you really want. Outline your ultimate aims, what the shining version of you looks and feels like. That way you have something measurable to dream about, aim for and focus on.

- Get a good coach or mentor to support and guide you. The roles of mentor or coach are often very different but either can motivate you to stay on track. Some of your activities will be more important than others so it's important to be accountable to someone who's impartial, who asks tough questions and pushes you to focus on your priorities. Whether your coach is paid or has volunteered to help you, it's important to have someone who treats you seriously, who takes you to task when you're distracted and motivates you to improve and shine.

- Learn from the best and read self-help books, watch videos and attend seminars. Invest in improving your skills, find ways to manage stress and support good health, add techniques for a positive mindset, motivation. Copy, shadow and emulate the best.

- Practice stillness and gratitude. Being a shining star means radiating inner calmness and peace. You can achieve much by moving forward with love and humility rather than with urgency and overwhelm. Allow yourself to be thankful, motivated and filled with faith in yourself and the universe or God. Then your decisions and your inner purpose become much clearer.

- Learn to respond rather than react when situations don't go to plan. This provides more control and enables you to stay calm, think clearly and recover in a constructive way.

- Treat failure as stepping-stones to success. Put yourself out there and remember that a high-jumper only knows they've achieved their absolute best when they try and fail to clear the bar. If they clear it they simply raise the bar! Regard failure as feedback; you need to find another way.

- Relish occasional detours as opportunities to experience new and different things. How quickly do you really need to get from A to B? Some challenges may be time-sensitive, when it's important to keep a sense of urgency and stay motivated. Otherwise, allow some flexibility and take time to explore new things that present themselves along the way. Let your light shine brightly as you open up a more adventurous side to yourself.

- Appreciate that sacrifices have to be made along the way. You may have less disposable income, less time to spend with family or friends. Your hobbies and interests may need to be side-lined for a while. Accept this as a price you're prepared to pay to move from where you were to where you want to be. But also include time for rewards and treats. It may mean taking a little longer with your journey, but will succeed in making your experience more pleasurable and satisfying.

- Give stuff away. Let your light shine brightly by introducing the new you to the world at large. It can be good experience to give talks, write blogs and make yourself openly accessible. Share your experiences en route to success; people love stories of triumph over adversity and you'll be able to spread the word, enhance your reputation and gain some ambassadors who'll be happy to sing your praises.

- Ignore the trolls and critics. Negative comments may need consideration, but trust your instincts and assess what motivating factors could be behind unhelpful comments or feedback. Your radiance and enthusiasm may be disconcerting to your circle, who may feel forced to acknowledge their own apathy or inertia. Receive constructive criticism with a smile. It can be informative to hear other people's perceptions of you, as well as providing opportunities to tailor what you're doing.

Don't forget about fun and time off. Breaks provide time for reflection and are a good way to manage stress and burn out. Dedicate some time to family, friends, hobbies and interests. Let others be supportive, helpful and able to understand the times you're perhaps preoccupied, grouchy or in need of a hug. Let your light shine brightly and include laughter, humour and balance, so becoming a shining star in the different areas of your life.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Ten-Ways-to-Let-Your-Light-Shine-Brightly&id=9657534

The True Meaning of Giving

Today, I felt the urge of writing further about "The True Meaning of Giving" responding to some of the queries that I've received about the general definition people have about "giving". I'd like to shed light on the essence of giving in my view and point out that it's rather a much broader concept than many of us has confined it. I'd also like to clarify few misconceptions about "giving", from the feedback that I've received.

Perhaps, the first two things that generally come to our minds when we hear the word "giving" is either charity i.e. giving money or volunteering i.e. giving time and in spite of both areas being widely accepted forms of giving in the society, I say both are still relatively a portion of a big pie called "giving". It's also worth discussing here the bigger impact created by the form of "giving" we choose to be part of. Although being a very noble way to contribute to or relieve our less fortunate brothers and sisters around the world, most charitable and voluntary efforts tend to have a short term impact on the receivers through providing core needs like food, drink, shelter and cloths. This in my opinion will not support the receiving individuals or communities to sustain long term advantage, therefore, the aid will be expected to come again and the question here is: "What value this kind of giving has added to the world so far"?

In best case scenario's, there will be schools, hospitals or larger investments done through such humanitarian efforts to drive long term social and economical values like education or health. I particularly admire those developmental projects or initiatives that are launched to empower individuals or communities to run their lives by giving them the right tools and further, teaching them how to use these tools to create a more promising future for them and their families. I commend programs that coach and mentor people on how to be productive members in the society, how to get the right education that will enlighten their lives and in turn they can be a blessing to others once they are self-sufficient themselves. You can imagine the kind of world we will be creating if each one of us contributed by "giving" a solution to others problems that can shift their lives rather than just "giving" them a meal or some money that can only last for a day or so. The beauty is in "giving" people hope by altering the way they choose to live their life positively. For me, this is the true meaning of giving. In this occasion, I can't help mentioning the Chinese quote that says: "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach him how to fish and you feed him for a lifetime".

Furthermore, one of the most common misconceptions about "giving" I wanted to clarify here, is that people mostly want to have the "saint" mentality when they think of "giving". I heard many comments around: "if there is a personal gain for me by doing this or that, then how can that be related to giving?", implying that "giving" must in all cases be one sided or without a return!!! I don't even know from where such distorted image of "giving" has been originated. In life, balance is required to ensure consistency and continuity. One thing we need to understand is that God has created this universe with abundance. There are enough things for everyone in here and sharing will even create plenty of supply.

Researches have shown that people do strive for reciprocity in the long run and that people who get some sort of material or emotional rewards as a result of their contributions are more likely to give more; and this is a basic human need as well. So, depriving yourself in order to give others will ensure that even if you give, you don't give with love, at the same time; your giving activities will not last for long time because you are unable to see the: "What is in it for Me"? Mother Teresa said: "It's not how much we give; but how much love we put into giving".

In the hadith of prophet Mohammed (PBUH): "None of you truly believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself"; is a strong indication that this balance is a requirement of our human nature to have healthy individuals and peaceful societies. You are an emotionally healthy individual if you love good things for yourself. Equally important; is that you must love for your fellow humans the same good that you choose for yourself. If any of the two conditions are missing; then you are nor a true believer neither an effective giver.

To conclude, "giving" is a very deep term, we cannot limit it to few handful activities just because this what we mostly see common around us. The essence of "giving" is in freeing people from their psychological chains or idols, altering their way of thinking by providing solutions, revealing to them new possibilities they never heard of and empowering them to take charge of their lives once again. I truly believe in dedicating personal time to share knowledge, train and coach others to help them succeed spiritually, mentally and physically. Once they succeed, they are ready to make a wider impact in other people's lives by helping them succeed as well. Here, I can proudly say that we have understood the true meaning of "giving".

http://ezinearticles.com/?The-True-Meaning-of-Giving&id=9627813

The Power Of Self Development (By Mark Huddleston)

Let me share a story that a multi-millionaire shared with me back in 1998. This story changed the way I saw the world and inevitably my life. For those of you that wonder why you cannot get any further in life, you might want to pay close attention to what I am about to share with you. I have always been a hard-working person. I was never late coming to work and in most cases, was the last to leave. It seemed like no matter what I did to get ahead with my employer, never sufficed. At this time is when I met a very important mentor in my life. Still to this day I do not know why this person took interest in me, but he did, and I am so thankful that he did.

From the very first day I met this man I knew I was in for a treat. He told me that I was somebody and that I was special. I had never been told this before by anyone. Not even my parents or teachers had told me that ever. When someone makes you feel good about who you are it does something to you. It gives you a boost of confidence. You feel as if you can move a mountain or stop a river just by encouraging words being uttered. Wow! Oh, what a feeling.

One thing that this man shared with me was the power of self-development. I mentioned to him how much money I made on my job and he said that is not all they pay, and I told him that he was wrong. He then said, no, that is all they pay you. I know they pay other people more than you. I told him that he was correct. From that day on I made a vow to do what I could to better myself do I could do better for myself.

The man in question told me to pick up every book that interested me and attend every seminar that peaked my interest. Still to this day I have followed that mans advice. I have seen my self-confidence skyrocket along with my income. I have gone from a nobody to a somebody. I am a true believer that If you can believe it, you can obtain it. But the only way to get you where you want to go is through self-development. Nothing else well get you there. He also stated that your income can never surpass your knowledge. No truer words have been spoken.

http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Power-Of-Self-Development&id=9864061

How to Achieve Success by Hiring a Mentor

Nothing incredible was ever accomplished alone". Having a mentor is said to be a standout amongst the most imperative keys to success. I trust this is especially true at an early stage yet it is imperative at any point in your life, since mentors are an imperative at any point of your life. The best mentors will help you learn and develop by sharing their insight and intelligence to you. Along these lines, you can profit by their experience without suffering the outcomes of gaining that experience firsthand.

Here is why I believe you should find yourself a mentor:

Get You Started:

Whatever it is that you need to achieve in life, a mentor is going to kick start you on the way to accomplish it. By a long shot the hardest piece of finishing anything is beginning. We as a whole have dreams and objectives, however until we make a move to follow up on them, they will dependably stay only a fantasy or a goal.

Coaches can give a spark, or straightforward way of direction to push you to first step in finishing your objective.

You Learn From Someone Who Walks the Walk

You additionally have the rare opportunity to see what it resembles to be in the shoes you need to be in. By having a coach who is in the place where you need to end up, you can see direct what their everyday experience is. This is extremely helpful in making sense that whether you truly need to go down that way.

Experience is an important tool. Experience can't be purchased. It must be earned, or shared. An incredible mentor will impart their experience to you to help you accomplish your objective in the most ideal way they know how.

Build Your Confidence:

Anytime you start on a way towards something new, there will be a great deal of instability inside yourself along the way. That is natural. A lot many people can beat that uncertainty without anyone else. Others can't. This instability turns less demanding to overcome when you have a mentor since they build certainty.

Simple words of motivation, an email with somewhat different point of view, or even simply realizing that you have the backing of somebody in your back pocket can help build your certainty.

You don't always know the way a mentor can help build your confidence since it can originate from many different angles.

A Resource for Life

When you have a mentor, they truly turn into your mentor for life. It doesn't make a difference in the event that you move up and on, that connection will still always be there. When you have "made it" there never turns into a point where you know it all and don't need any help.

When you have a mentor out there, they will always looking out for you regardless of what the circumstances are. Some of the time work may pop open your mentor may believe is perfect for you. Now and then your mentor may even want to hire somebody themselves. What sort of individual do you think they are hoping to hire? Somebody they know and trust on a personal level.

Show Appreciation

Any great (and savvy) mentor is not going to take out time from their busy life to put into you for free. You don't need to pay your mentor monetarily, however you have to offer them some value for their time.

It is important that you do your best on any task that your mentor wants you to do. Not only for the fact that someday they may hire you, additionally on the grounds that it is your reimbursement to your coach for the invaluable experience have they imparted to you.

Be sure to show appreciation for somebody investing their time to guide you. Composing a written by hand card to say thanks goes far. Pick the phone and express gratitude toward them later on in life. Then again you can let them know as to whether they ever require anything, they can simply call you. Be grateful for the heading they give you, since it is precious.

http://ezinearticles.com/?How-to-Achieve-Success-by-Hiring-a-Mentor&id=9501817

You Deserve To Be A Winner

Have you ever felt that somebody who wins all the time has their luck working for them? And that their life is nice and easy compared to yours? Haven't we all? But, unfortunately that's not even close to being the truth. The fact is that winning and losing have some things in common: they are both habits. You probably know someone who can't win at the game of life, no matter how many advantages he's given. You also know someone that's the exact opposite. He wins at everything, even though he doesn't seem to have any advantages.

Which of those two would you like to be? The winner! right? If you could just develop these simple habits listed below you'd be amazed at how dramatically you will increase your chances of winning consistently!

1. Set SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, Time Bound) goals. You can't win if you don't define the goal. Know what you're trying to accomplish. Set clear goals with reasonable deadlines. Create a target that you find motivating and exciting. Choose the target, but be flexible in your approach to achieving the goal. Celebrate all wins! Celebrate each and every milestone achieved! Stay in the energy of gratitude.

2. Develop habits that serve you. Replace the habits that don't serve your goal with the ones that do. Discipline and willpower are in limited supply. Use them to create the habits you need to reach your goals. Once you have a habit, willpower becomes unnecessary. For example, if your goal is to release 30 lbs of body weight, develop healthy eating and exercise habits. If your goal is to find your most compatible soul mate, develop a habit of being open and talking to people you meet. If your goal is to find more leads for your business, be open to going to business networking events!

3. Simplify your life. Our lives are full of things that get in the way. They can be possessions, activities, or even people. Get rid of the junk in your life. Make room for success and minimize the obstacles and distractions you face.

4. Get a mentor. It's true that you can accomplish a lot on your own but you can accomplish much more with a mentor. Odds are that someone has already accomplished your goal. Wouldn't it make sense to get some guidance and advice since you're taking the same journey? There's no reason to reinvent the wheel. Take advantage of the successes and mistakes others made before you, just model their successes and learn from their mistakes!

5. Take full responsibility. You're ultimately responsible for your own success. Even if you have a mentor, it's still your responsibility. Be comfortable with this. It means that you are the one in control.

6. Learn to fail forward. Failing is just getting a result you didn't intend. You may have failed at something, but it does not mean that you are a failure. Failures are opportunities to perfect your approach. The more you fail, and the more you learn from it, the more successful you'll eventually become. Everyone fails. However, it's important not to repeat your failures. Ensure you're learning something each time. Remember! "Every master was once a disaster!"

7. Be wise with how you use your time. Time is the great equalizer. We all have 24 hours each day. Using these hours wisely is the key. Are you spending your time wisely or wasting it? Only you know the answer! The most successful people are those that make the most of their 24 hours.

8. Invest in yourself. More knowledge results in more effective decisions. Invest in educating yourself through books, motivational CDs, seminars and workshops. It's you who is the real asset! But avoid the trap of learning at the expense of actually doing something. Spend a few hours each week learning something that you can apply towards achieving your goals.

9. Persevere. Winners don't quit. You can't lose if you don't quit. Just keep on going! You'll eventually win as long as you're willing to persist. If you quit, you've lost! Build the perseverance habit into your daily life. When you have the urge to quit an activity, keep going until that activity is completed. It might be folding the laundry, cleaning the house, exercising, or working on a report for work. Learn to stick with tasks after you feel the desire to stop. The habit will transfer to other activities!

Winning is the result of having a goal, developing useful habits, and persisting until success is achieved. Winning doesn't take any more work than losing. The work is just different! Begin today to develop the habits you need to win consistently. You Deserve To Be A Winner.

http://ezinearticles.com/?You-Deserve-To-Be-A-Winner&id=9468365

The One Single Question That Changed My Life (By Dr. Tan Kwan Hong)

By 27, I have 3 masters degrees and 3 graduate diplomas, all with High Distinctions or overall scores at the highest grade category. I have accomplished all these degrees and diplomas within two and a half years, juggled them all at the same time, while running my import-export business, speaking to 120,000 people, getting involved with Toastmasters, and many more projects.

However, I did not consider myself an exceptionally bright student when I was younger. From secondary school to junior college, I scored average grades. I was an average student at best. I was only awarded a Good Progress Award for making improvements in my academic performance, but had no scholarships. Neither was I a top athlete, nor had I accomplished anything significant.

In university, I very much wanted to get into the school's double degree program. That was a prestigious program and it was the most important goal I wanted at that point in my life. However, my grades weren't good enough to qualify for it.

I begged and pleaded, but to no avail. The university kept rejecting my application. Although I had a great desire to learn, and an even greater desire to achieve my highest academic potential, I was not qualified to attend the double degree program just because of the 3 digits on my GPA (Grade Point Average).

I was on the brink of giving up on my studies. After all, for all my life, I hadn't accomplished any prominent academic achievements, and I believed that I wasn't endowed with the intelligence and the disposition for academic achievements. Why should I continue to waste my time in an endeavor that was just not for me? Why must I study so hard and put in great effort without a guarantee of any results? Why must I continue to slough for a future not guaranteed?

Just then, as if God or the Heavens knew about my misery, a mentor appeared, and gave me a question that, as cliche as it sounded, changed the course of my decision: If you can achieve anything you ever wanted to achieve, what would it be?

I knew I wanted to be intelligent, I wanted to be exceptional, and I wanted to 'have it all', to have achievements in every area of my life, a great career, an outstanding academic track record, the prestigious awards and certifications, and other goals I yearned for... I made a list of everything I wanted, and great academic results was what I wanted.

I realised that if I were to quit on my studies, I would have created another reason in my life to label myself as a failure; another frame of reference that only suggest mediocrity. It will be something I will be guilty for the rest of my life.

I decided to give myself one more permission to push on.

Since that decision, I began to model after top students. I changed my studying strategy and learned new techniques. I began to invest time in learning new peak performance methodologies, from Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP), to goal-setting techniques, and the rest is history.

Fast forward to today, rejection from the school's double degree program has turned out to be one of the greatest blessings in my life. I lost the chance to get a second bachelor's degree, but I obtained 3 masters degrees and 3 graduate diplomas in its place. Best of all, I mastered peak performance techniques that will benefit me in many areas of my life, for the rest of my life.

Today, I am engineering every element of my life, all from the lessons I learned from that great moment of depression.

Conclusion

When the going gets tough, the tough gets going. I wrote this article to inspire you to keep pushing on despite the difficulties you might be facing. Never ever give up! You only give up when the goal is no longer important to you. Give yourself one more permission to succeed. Just one more chance, just one more attempt... Your success is just one decision away.

http://ezinearticles.com/?The-One-Single-Question-That-Changed-My-Life&id=9488084

Let's Change The World

The world is changing and the speed of changes is increasing every day. With the enormous flow of information and spread of knowledge is changing our society and our lives in an amazing way. Governments and organizations can no longer thrive in secrecy. Today everything is visible and everything can come to the light of day.

In today's society we have more opportunities and possibilities than ever before and our presence, knowledge and influences can have such an amazing impact on the world. Today we can share our knowledge and experience in so many ways. We can easily share it on social media, through status updates, articles, videos and more. We can so easily start a blog, a website, have newsletters and webinars to educate the world.

We can all become a role model for others and having a role model is very important. Having a role model, guide or a mentor that can show us the way to learn new things, how to improve our lives and how to become all that we could ever want to become. Success lies in education, learning new ways to be and do things. Some traditions are good but some are old and outdated. We often need to learn a new way to think to be able to grow into the person we want to be.

We all have the power to change and we all have the power to make an enormous impact on the world. Becoming a good role model and helping others achieve their dreams, helping others make their desire become a reality is something we should all strive for. We all have some unique experience that can help others see a new possibility.

Teamwork is the key to a better society and a better world. When we have found our speciality we should do our best to share what we have, what we have learned from life. There are people who are looking for information and knowledge that can help them take life to the next level. They are searching for something but often do not know exactly what they are looking for.

If we are visible, if we go out there and tell the world what we have to offer, someone, somewhere will tune into what we have. There have been great leaders that have changed and created a new vision for the world. They have impacted and improved the lives of so many just by speaking their truth.

The old Greek philosophers like Socrates, Plato and Aristotle that are still remembered and talked about today had something new to offer. In my childhood I looked up to people like Gandhi, Martin Luther King and Dalai Lama. The life and inventions of Nikola Tesla inspired me more than even I can imagine. They shaped me and affected me in so many ways. In more modern times I have gotten influence from Jim Rohn, Toni Robbins, Darren Hardy and other great speakers. We have Gary Vaynerchuk, a great leader who is sharing so much knowledge and helping people realise their own power.

They were all regular people like you and me. Still they believed and believe in something bigger. Their vision was so strong and there would be nothing that would stop them from speaking the truth. Galileo stated that the world was round and not flat, he could have withdrawn his claims to save his life but chose death instead. Speaking the truth may not always be popular but we need to speak the truth and we need to seek the truth. Some truths may not always be what we want to hear but the truth is always the best information we get for the long term.

For us who have found the truth or a truth, it does not matter how many people listen or believe what we are saying but we need to stay true to who we are and our vision of the world as we are all different individuals, there is someone out there who is looking for exactly what we are sharing.

We all have the power to improve and change the world. Many of us have been silenced and taught to obey, to speak and do what we were taught to speak and do. We all have our unique talents and vision. We all have something extraordinary to share with the world.

The question may arise that the world would become very loud if everybody would start sharing their own truth but that is and will not be the case. We know that as we are different individuals, there are leaders and there are followers. I am urging all humankind to follow their own truth and stay true to who they are but there will only be a certain few who will rise up in public to share the knowledge they have found.

We should support and urge the leaders in our midst to stand up and teach, preach. Then we have the followers who share their passion and will learn and apply it to their lives. The followers in their turn will lead a life that will impact the ones they are closest to. The leaders will create big ripples and the followers will create smaller ripples but every ripple is important.

We can see this as the world in whole. First we have our beautiful earth, then we have our continents. We have many countries in every continent and in every country we have many cities and towns. Some people will have the big role and their audience is maybe millions of people. Some have hundreds of thousands, some have tens of thousands, some have hundreds and some have a dozen.

We all have the power to impact the world in a positive way, we should all share the information we have gathered, share the knowledge we have learned to help others improve their way of life. Nothing is impossible and we are all extraordinary. As Dalai Lama said once "If you think you are too small to make an impact, try sleeping in a tent while there is a mosquito in there".

We should all rise to the occasion and be apart of this global change and help make the world a better place through teamwork.

Take care my beautiful friends and I am looking forward to hearing from you speaking and living in a way that has a positive impact on others.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Lets-Change-The-World&id=9414972

Make These 5 Mistakes If You Really Want to be Successful

If you really want success, try making some classic mistakes.

If you are starting up a new enterprise or looking to race up the company hierarchy, you're likely to be worried about making career mistakes. Basic mistakes such as missing deadlines or gossiping about the boss are probably going to have a negative impact on your progress.

However, there are some snafus that can actually help you on your path. Here are five career mistakes that could make you a better worker and more successful entrepreneur.

1) Getting Engrossed in Social Media

While social media interaction can be fraught with potentially career damaging mistakes, getting engrossed in social media can make you a more successful entrepreneur, or even help you find a better job more easily. Many recruiters use social media platforms to look for additional candidate information.

Social media interaction can be a great way to develop valuable networking skills, or get a good sense of what your target market is like, which are both essential when developing your new enterprise. Building a presence on social media channels may look like a waste of time to more traditional coworkers, but it can raise your profile and your career prospects. Just be careful with your posts and keep it positive and professional.

2) Socializing With Co-Workers

Work-related events out of the office and even company retreats can be a source of great embarrassment, often because of alcohol-related activities. Most people have experienced the embarrassment of coming into work after letting their hair down a little too much. If you find yourself socializing with one particular work group more often because of social activities, this can contribute to the development of cliques, which can be harmful to office morale.

While these aspects of socializing with coworkers can be problematic, your work colleagues can be a great source of support. They can help you develop diplomacy skills and other tools needed in the politics of your field or in developing an enterprise. Just take care not to align yourself with one particular group. Mix up your socializing routine a little to maintain a range of allies and resources.

3) Accepting Make-Ends-Meet Positions

Most of us will find ourselves struggling to secure a position in our career path at some point. Settling for a job just to make ends meet can be tough for many of us who once held an impressive rank at a top company, but nothing lasts forever except for change. It may be sad or frustrating to take a job that you might have once thought was "below" you, but forget about that. These types of positions can be beneficial.

If you currently have a lower level sales floor position or job waiting tables, you probably won't want to focus on those when you interview for higher profile work. However, you can use these more humble positions to your advantage. They can help you break out of your shell, encourage you to be a better listener and help you develop the drive you need to establish a successful enterprise.

4) Ditching the Pros and Cons Lists

Many experts believe that creating pros and cons lists for potential jobs or projects can be a great tool for making a rational and informed decision. Try making the "mistake" of not using them sometimes. By ditching the pros and cons lists, you may learn to trust your gut more, which can help you in being a better worker and a more successful entrepreneur.
Not all decisions can be rational and informed, so learning to consider your gut feelings can be important. Although new start-ups are encouraged to forecast profits and losses, establishing new client relationships and taking chances often rely more on gut instinct, so ditch the pros and cons lists from time to time.

5) Being Unavailable

Many people assume that being available is the most important factor to potential employers and clients. However, being constantly available can be detrimental. Some of the most highly successful people I know can be pretty hard to get a hold of (and it's not just because it's me trying to reach them). 

Always being accessible can mean that you are failing to delegate responsibilities. This inability to delegate can show employers that you are not a good mentor and can increase your stress levels when you're in charge. Take a little time away from your phone, email and computer. Rely on others and train them to do your work. This shows you're not afraid to potentially leave your current role and move up the ladder.

http://www.inc.com/john-boitnott/make-these-5-mistakes-if-you-really-want-to-be-successful.html

The 4 Types of Mentors You Need in Your Life to Succeed

Meet the 4 C's--different types of people who make up a personal board of directors. Without them, you'll have a much harder time achieving success.

It's September, which means a whole new class of graduates--as Prince once sang--is getting "through this thing called life."

That means along the way, you'll need a little help from some friends. These friends are your mentors and you never know when you'll meet them. You just do. Any successful person will tell you he or she did not get there without the advice and counsel of other wiser men and women. I have had many mentors in my life. I'm constantly asked by younger people how to find mentors and what to do once you think you've encountered one. I also wrote about how to develop a relationship with a mentor, 

Equally as important as finding a mentor is knowing what his or her role is in your life. Sallie Krawcheck, the former Wall Street banker and now CEO of Ellevate, calls this your personal board of directors. Not all mentors are created equal. It would be unfair and an inefficient use of their time if you treated each mentor exactly the same. I have some mentors I speak to every day; others I contact once every few months. Knowing how you use people's time, skills, and knowledge is critical in nurturing and prolonging that relationship.

Below are the four different types of mentors you should have around you. It doesn't mean there aren't more than this, but these are the most common ones. I call them the 4 C's.

1. The Coach.

Growing up, your parents will be your first coaches. If they're good, they'll encourage you when you're down, listen, and help you figure out solutions to incoming problems. The issue is that at a certain point in your adult life, their advice will cease to be as effective. It's not because you're too old for them, but because your career has outgrown their area of expertise. This is when you need to have older, wiser people around you who are more well attuned to your industry and job. They can coach you through tough moments, think big picture on projects and ideas, and help you solve work-related problems. Their satisfaction is knowing they are paying it forward by helping someone younger who has potential.

2. The Connector.

These are some of the most important mentors to have and they are pretty rare. Most people are very inward looking. Connectors are outward-facing people whose very satisfaction comes from helping people meet each other. I've met a half dozen true connectors in my life and without them, I would not have had as much success. Nobody knows why they love connecting people, but they all share traits of having bountiful amounts of energy and loving new ideas. They have a wide and very deep network of people who all respect them and they often "get things done." If you meet one of these people, hang on.

3. The Cheerleader.

Before OMI made this word a "summer of 2015" song, cheerleaders were absolutely critical. These are the people whom you can call after getting a big promotion and they will be as thrilled for you as your mother. And believe me, nobody will ever be as thrilled as Mom. In a sometimes cutthroat world, you need people who will genuinely be happy for you and who will be there when everyone else has left--i.e., after your company has gone bankrupt. I have one person like this who will send me encouraging texts or take my call immediately if I'm having a particularly bad day. Sometimes that's all you need to get you through. You don't need too many people like this--sometimes one is just enough, but this person is your rock.

4. The Challenger

This mentor is not exactly going to be someone you'll be spending New Year's Eve with because he or she is there to call bullsh-- on a lot of things that will sometimes make you uncomfortable. But that's OK. If you want lots of happy talk, call Mom. She will love everything you do. If you want to grow, you will want some challengers in your life who will tell you when they think you're doing something wrong or if an idea just plain sucks. They're the ones who, after you call the Cheerleader about your great idea, will tell you a dozen ways why it won't work unless you do X, Y, and Z. This criticism, if it comes from the right place, will set you on the right path. Challengers are super smart and super fast--they often don't have a lot of time so you'll find they'll give their dose of advice quickly and move on. Call upon them only when you need it.

http://www.inc.com/betty-liu/the-4-types-of-mentors-you-need-in-your-life-to-succeed.html

9 Things Warren Buffett Says You Should Do to Be Happy and Successful

The legendary investor wants you to be as successful as he is, and he's willing to tell you how.

Warren Buffett knows a thing or three about becoming wealthy and successful, and the Oracle of Omaha is not averse to handing out mostly excellent advice to others who'd like to follow in his footsteps.

The personal finance site GOBankingRates has pulled together 14 pieces of advice Buffett has given to graduating classes and/or young people. They're all great tips for the young--but also excellent advice that all of us should follow, no matter what age we are. Here are some of the best. 

1. Invest in yourself before anything else.

"Investing in yourself is the best thing you can do--anything that improves your own talents," Buffett told Good Morning America. That's excellent advice, whether it's getting more education or training, to improve a skill you already have or to learn a new one--or whether it's starting a company of your own. 

2. Change bad habits as soon as you can.

Habits can make or break you, Buffett says. "I see people with these self-destructive behavior patterns," he says. "They really are entrapped by them."

The trick, he says, is to get out of the trap before it closes on you, which is why he advised graduating students at the University of Florida to form good habits as soon as possible. "You can get rid of it a lot easier at your age than at my age, because most behaviors are habitual," he told them. "The chains of habit are too light to be felt until they are too heavy to be broken."

True enough, but if you're older than a college senior, don't despair. Though it may be tougher, habits can be changed at any time in life.

3. Know your own strengths and weaknesses.

Use that knowledge to capitalize on the things that you do well, and avoid the risks of getting in over your head in your weaker areas, Buffett advises. "You don't have to be an expert on everything, but knowing where the perimeter of that circle of what you know and what you don't know, and staying inside of it, is all important," he's said.

4. Never risk something you need to get something you don't need.

It's not that taking risks is wrong--but do it only for the right reasons, Buffett explained to the University of Florida class. He added that he's seen both businesses and individuals take big risks out of greed when they should have held back.

"If you risk something that is important to you for something that is unimportant to you, it just doesn't make sense," he said. "I don't care if the odds you succeed are 99 to 1 or 1,000 to 1."

5. Find work you love.

"You really should take a job that, if you were independently wealthy, that would be the job you would take," Buffett said in that same commencement speech. "You will learn something, you will be excited about it, and you will jump out of bed. You can't miss." Finding work you love is a better bet than doing something because it pays well or because it would look good on your resume, he added. I couldn't agree more.

6. Surround yourself with people you admire.

Buffett has often talked about the importance of mentorship and the role his own mentor, Columbia professor Benjamin Graham, played in his life. But even beyond that, he advised a high school student to spend time with people whose qualities he aspired to. "Pick out associates whose behavior is better than yours and you'll drift in that direction."

7. Face down your fears.

Don't let fear stop you from doing things, especially things you know you must do to be successful, Buffett advises. In fact, he did this himself--he was once terribly afraid of public speaking, so he took a Dale Carnegie course to improve this skill. He's now one of the most sought-after and frequently quoted speakers in the world. You don't need to go that far, but if there are things you're afraid to do, or that you know are your weak points, do what you must to get better at them and become more comfortable doing them.

8. Your time is a precious resource. Use it accordingly.

Bill Gates once wrote that being jealously protective of his time was an important lesson he'd learned from Buffett. "There are only 24 hours in everyone's day. Warren has a keen sense of this. He doesn't let his calendar get filled up with useless meetings." Even though you're not a multibillionaire, you shouldn't either.

9. Never ignore a great opportunity.

Though much of his advice is on the conservative, cautious side, Buffett is a big believer in grabbing opportunities with both hands when good ones arise. "Big opportunities in life have to be seized," he said in a commencement speech at Georgia State. "We don't do very many things, but when we get the chance to do something that's right and big, we've got to do it. And even to do it in a small scale is just as big a mistake almost as not doing it at all. You've really got to grab them when they come, because you're not going to get 500 great opportunities."

http://www.inc.com/minda-zetlin/9-things-warren-buffett-says-you-should-do-to-be-happy-and-successful.html