S.M.A.R.T. Weight Loss

5 Secrets Of Setting And Reaching Your Weight Loss Goals
By Bill Urell

Good intentions for weight loss are wonderful. Like a whole lot of folks, I swore I would start to exercise more, go on a diet, and lose those extra pesky pounds for good. Months later, I'm still deciding on the 'best' diet for me, and paying the monthly gym dues for visits that I am 'just about' to get around to.

What's the hold up? I had the best of intentions to lose weight and keep it off. I never got started. According to the experts, I failed because I didn't have a specific, workable, weight loss plan.

Studies in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology found that people with firm action plans were more likely to engage in goal driven behavior, (eg.weight loss). In my case, I wanted to lose weight and start a healthier lifestyle. But as you can guess, this isn't as easy as just writing down "Lose weight and exercise more", and sticking it on the bathroom mirror.

Developing an action plan is a process you must go through, really think about, clearly visualizing what you want. By answering the following questions, you can create your own weight loss and exercise action plan.

What are my goals? What, exactly, do I want to achieve? Get those ideas out of your head and on to paper. That helps to make them concrete and doable. Who doesn't like checking off lists when they get done?

There are five specific things you should keep in mind when writing down all of your weight loss goals:

1. Make your goals specific. Don't say you 'need to lose weight' or I'm 'going to lose weight', say you will do it. For example: "I will lose 15 lbs and take a walk every evening."

2. Make your excercise and weight loss goals measurable and specific. 'I'll walk on the treadmill three times a week for a half hour at a speed of 3.5 miles an hour'.

3. Write down your chosen goals. Create both short term and long term goals for losing weight. Keep a chart or journal to track progress and give yourself some encouragement as you reach your weight loss milestones.

4. Set deadlines. Make your weight loss goals not only measurable, but time specific. Set your weight and exercise goals realistically. It's hard to pursue goals that can never be attained. Unrealistic goals that never seem to be reached can add to your stress level.

5. Give yourself emotional reasons for continuing to lose weight. What moves you to action? Imagine your feelings when you succeed. What will your reward for achievement be? Write it down and plan for it.

When should you begin? How about right now! It's decision time. You can continue to dream about a healthier life style, starting to lose weight and looking better, or you can do something about it today. You can stay stuck in your rut, or you can make a change. You can put off your happiness until another day, or you can begin doing positive things now, that you know you are capable of doing.

The choice is yours. It's easy to fall into the trap of 'someday.' Someday I'll lose those extra pounds, but right now I have so many other things to take care o'f. The truth is, you will always have things to take care of, people to see, and places to go. You have to make time for a better life for yourself because you are worth it.

Now that you know how to set up a specific, goal oriented, weight loss action plan, there is nothing stopping you!

Bill Urell reviews only the best diet and fitness plans, tips, and articles that promote healthier lifestyles. Visit us and claim your FREE E-Cookbook, as a welcome gift. http://www.online-weight-loss-resources.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com

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Great Attitudes Create Great Results!
Al Smith is also the Editor and Publisher of a Motivational and Goal Achievement Ezine. Subscribe for FREE at
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What Do You Think?

Stop Trying To Motivate Me!
By Peter Hunter

Motivation is seen as something to be supplied to the workforce in discrete lumps by paid third party gurus.

The "motivated" workforce is then sent back to exactly the same conditions that demotivated them in the first place.

Why not spend that time and money figuring out what demotivated them in the first place, and just stop doing it. Stop Trying To Motivate Me!

Some years ago while working with an NHS Primary Health care trust I was in conversation with one of the ward sisters.

In the course of the conversation she revealed that she thought she should be doing more to motivate her staff, but with a roll of her eyes, she told me how difficult it was to find the time to get through the normal business of the ward without doing anything extra, like motivation.

I did not feel there was any value in remonstrating with her at the time since her perception of what was required of her was deep rooted and supported by an entire industry that agreed with her idea that motivation was something that she was responsible for handing out in discrete packages.

We have been brought up in an age where motivation is seen as a commodity that can be bought and distributed to the workforce in the same way as candy.

The Ward Sister held the common view that motivation was something that came on prescription and it was her job to hand it out at frequent intervals, except that like aspirin, did it really matter too much if you missed a dose.

In her case having missed one dose, missing the next one did not seem so serious until missing out on motivation became the norm.

This view, that motivation can be applied in discrete lumps by management, is a common one that is supported by the industry from whom we purchase speakers, workshops and techniques to infuse our workforce with this mysterious management candy called motivation.

What we seem to have missed in this rush to spray the latest brand of motivation on the workforce, is the follow up.

We rush out of the motivational workshop ready to do battle with giants, then we all assemble underneath a large banner that says "Now What".

The reason we feel that the workforce needs motivating is because the environment they work in has demotivated them.

But as soon as we have applied a dose of motivation to the workforce we put them back into the same environment that demotivated them in the first place.

A more effective use of the workforces time would be to find out what is going on in the workplace that demotivates them, then stop doing it.

This would avoid putting the workforce back into the same environment that caused the problem in the first place and would in all probability avoid the need for an injection of motivation in the first place, because the workforce would not be demotivated.

The nurses on the ward were not demotivated because the sister failed to give them motivational talks.

They were demotivated because the sister would not consult them before allocating the off duty, they were demotivated because the administration would not give them enough pillow cases to cover all the beds, they were demotivated when they had to look after healthy people because there were not enough ambulances to take them home, they were demotivated when wards were closed by accountants who could count numbers without seeing the real cost.

Nurses are one of the most highly motivated groups of people on this planet. They become nurses because they want to be able to care for people.

For this they go through a long and taxing process of education and training until when they finally qualify they are fitted for the task and proud of their ability to carry it out.

They are the most motivated people on this planet.

Then when they go to work they are not allowed to apply for the holidays they want because they have not been on the ward long enough. They are not allowed to park next to the hospital because the administrators have taken all the spaces and instead they have to pay to park in the public car park. They are not allowed the basic tools that they need to do their job because the budget allocation for that year has been used up.

It would not matter how many motivational talks they received.

While the same conditions persist that first caused their frustration they will always return to the source of that frustration and the same banner that says after motivational training, "Now What"

The nurse is one example, in one industry, in one sector. That example is by no means unique.

The view of Motivation as a commodity to be dispensed at intervals by paid third party gurus prevents Managers from accepting responsibility for the way their own staff feel about what they do.

Peter A Hunter
Author of "Breaking the Mould"
http://www.breakingthemould.co.uk

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com

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Great Attitudes Create Great Results!
Al Smith is also the Editor and Publisher of a Motivational and Goal Achievement Ezine. Subscribe for FREE at
The Realgoalgetter Ezine.
Another publication from The Realgoalgetter Group.
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Focus On Results - Not Money

Focus On Results - Not Money
by Darryl Gee

Are you in sales management for the money? Of course you are - and that's fine but you must not lose sight of what will get you the money you are after. Developing the plan, implementing the plan and monitoring results - while being merely aware that you are making money. Winning starts with a passion for the task at hand. To be an effective leader you must love the challenge of devising and implementing strategic plans.

Money absolutely motivates me. It allows me to live the quality of life that I desire and to provide for my family. I don't like to think about it, that is I prefer to "know" I am making money. This awareness puts me at ease and allows me to focus my thoughts on the task at hand - driving sales results.

Almost every position I've had offered a commission as incentive. I used it as a barometer to help me set goals - that's it. I don't dwell on the fact that I earn $100 from each sale my team makes. I do dwell on what is necessary to make the sale. I have an awareness that money is being made, but it does not consume my thoughts. Reason being money the great motivator that it is, can be a distraction if you are constantly counting it. How can you focus on providing excellent customer service if every customer represents a dollar sign?

Now don't get me wrong, counting money is an excellent way to keep score but not during the heart of the battle. When you are on the front lines your mind should be focused on implementing your strategy.

We get emotional about money. Very emotional. How much we are making can cause us to get excited or it can depress us. 100's committed suicide during the stock market crash of 1929. Day traders have lost great sums and went on killing sprees. These people were passionate about one thing - money. The loss of which left them nothing to live for. Others looked at the score and trudged on - focusing on doing those things that would help them succeed.

There are few championship teams that are undefeated. They lose games, sometimes several in a row, yet they make the playoffs, the finals and are victorious. They don't dwell on the score, they focus on the fundamentals that will help them to succeed. They focus on their passion for the game. As fans we are disappointed in athletes who are focused only on cash, because we want them to love the game.

The passionate driven manager is too busy to worry or get excited about his income - he is devising strategy, reviewing results and coaching sales people. He knows he is doing the right things to get him to his goal so he isn't worried about income. He's not counting, he's doing.

I recently saw a Mike Tyson fight in which he lost. Being from Brooklyn, I took it personal. I take pride in watching Tyson, despite his legal woes (no one is perfect). However, I was disappointed when in the post fight commentary, Tyson exclaimed "I only did this for the money. I need money for my bills."

While there is nothing wrong with wanting and needing money, there is something wrong with allowing it to cloud your judgment. There is something wrong with allowing it to take your focus off of the fundamentals that help you achieve your goals.

Mike Tyson should have been focused on his victory in the ring. Planning how to counter his opponents strengths and exploit his weaknesses. Instead he was driven to make money - and this arrested his focus, denying him the ability to train properly and deliver a victory.

The money is there. It will always be there but the passion is what we have to continually cultivate. If there is passion for the task the money will come, because the task will have been done properly. Remember, to be an effective leader you must focus on devising and implementing strategic plans - and the money will follow.

Copyright 2005 - Darryl Gee

About The Author
Darryl Gee has 18 years of sales and management experience. He shares his entrepreneurial and corporate management expertise on his website http://www.madmanager.com and the madmanager message board at http://www.madmanager.com/forum

--------------------
Great Attitudes Create Great Results!
Al Smith is also the Editor and Publisher of a Motivational and Goal Achievement Ezine. Subscribe for FREE at
The Realgoalgetter Ezine.
Another publication from The Realgoalgetter Group.
Check out the Previous Archived Issues here and then type in your name and email address to start receiving them now.
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Days Of Your Life

What Do You REALLY Want to Devote the Rest of Your Life To?
By Gary Simpson

Bzz. Bzz. Bzz. That's the sound of your alarm clock going off again.

You open one eye, peer at it. Ugh. You look at the clock again. Yep. 6.00 am. You can't believe it. It hardly seems like you just laid your head on the pillow. You stretch, yawn, contemplate calling into work "sick" like you do every other morning.

You stretch some more then all of a sudden you find yourself sitting on the edge of the bed. Out you get. You trudge wearily into the bathroom, turn on the shower and step under the water. It fully awakens you and you start to think about the day ahead. Work.

You get out, towel dry, have some breakfast while you glance at the morning newspaper. Then, it's time. Time to start your journey to work - along with several million others.

Here's a question for you to think about... Who wrote that script?

All of you are on the treadmill. You are all singing the mantra: "It's off to work we go!" Sure you are. Don't despair. I've been there too - for many years I did just that. I went to work to pay the bills to go to work to pay the bills.

It's called the "rat-race." You go to work to pay the bills week in, week out, month in, month out, year in, year out and you do it for decades. You do it like a robot until one day you ask yourself why. Why am I doing this?

Eventually you just can't take it any more. You have to make a change. Sometimes it is a subtle change. Sometimes it is a drastic change.

The truth is, we spend so much time working for everybody else just to keep our noses above the water line. I ask you again - who invented this system? Who commands that we keep repeating this over and over again? Obviously it was people a lot smarter than the robots who keep trudging the same path every day.

Another question - are you so infatuated by the safety of the system that you are prepared to trade the rest of your life for it? It's a glum existence but for so many, it is a safe existence. So they keep doing it. Are you one of those people? I was - once.

Eventually "the system" will decide that you are too old or too worn out for you to be useful to it any more. That is when you get "retired" or "pensioned off."

Now, in your old age and failing health you are allowed by those who control the system to enjoy yourself. You have finally "paid your dues." For the next few years you can really enjoy yourself. Finally, you can do all those things that you have always wanted to do all your life. You might even be lucky enough to last another ten or twenty years. Realistically you will last as long as your body allows.

If you have planned well along the way you might even own your own home. Of course, you will have to watch your meager budget. It has to last you the rest of your life. If you overspend one week then you might have to watch how much food you can put on the table next week. Occasionally, you might really be able to lash out and take you and your spouse or a friend to watch a movie.

Is this where you are headed? Am I describing the treadmill of your life?

Millions of others are doing exactly the same thing. They say that there is safety in numbers. Is there? Or is it all a big con? The system is all-powerful. Or is it? Have you ever asked yourself any of these questions? If you haven't done so yet, you will one day. And you will remember my words. Indeed you will.

What if you opted out of that system? I did. I can almost hear you saying: "Yeah, sure. How can I possibly do that?" You can. There are ways. Most things are possible. How much pain is enough for you?

Let me ask you this: "What is stopping you?" The bills? The children? Responsibility? The mortgage? Your credit card debt? All of the above? I know that.

I'll tell you what is really stopping you. Two things:

1 - Fear - the fear and uncomfortability of stepping out of your comfort zone.

2 - Uncertainty - the uncertainty of not knowing what else you can do.

Tell me I am wrong. Fortunately, if all these things are swirling through your mind I have a solution. I have created a system called "Journey, Life and Destiny" which will guide you through the maze.

So, let me leave you with these thoughts. What do you REALLY want to devote the rest of your life to? Do you want to continue participating in the humdrum rat-race of life like all the other robots? Or, would you prefer to create a destiny for yourself governed by your own set of rules? It all boils down to a simple choice. Rat-race versus personal destiny.

Do nothing and the choice has already been made. Others will choose your destiny for you. It's as simple as that.

Bzz. Bzz. Bzz. That's the sound of your alarm clock going off again. GET UP! You'll be late. The boss won't like that. Bzz. Bzz. Bzz.

About the author:
Gary Simpson is the author of eight books covering a diverse range of subjects such as self esteem, affirmations, self defense, finance and much more. His articles appear all over the web. Gary's email address is budo@iinet.net.au. Click here to go to his Motivation & Self Esteem for Success website where you can receive his "Zenspirational Thoughts" plus an immediate FREE copy of his highly acclaimed, life-changing e-book "The Power of Choice." To learn more about your destiny click here.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com

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Great Attitudes Create Great Results!
Al Smith is also the Editor and Publisher of a Motivational and Goal Achievement Ezine. Subscribe for FREE at
The Realgoalgetter Ezine.
Another publication from The Realgoalgetter Group.
Check out the Previous Archived Issues here and then type in your name and email address to start receiving them now.
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Too Nice For Your Own Good?

Are You Too Nice For Your Own Good?
By Royane Real

How can anyone be “too nice”? Isn’t being “nice” a good quality to have in a relationship?

When niceness is a sign of genuine respect, kindness and interest in another, it is a wonderful quality to have. When the “niceness” is a by-product of low self-esteem, passivity, or desperate loneliness, it can be a liability, and can make other people feel uneasy.

Have you ever met a person who never expresses their real preferences, opinions, or desires, even in the smallest matters? When someone asks them, “Where do you want to go tonight?” they reply, “I don’t care, anything is fine with me, where do you want to eat?”

A person who won’t state their opinion or preference may think they are being nice, but this is not niceness, this is a form of fearfulness, and a lack of self-respect.

Some people develop the trait of never asking for what they want because they were raised in a family where expressing wants or opinions was discouraged, or even disallowed. They may have been literally taught that they shouldn’t speak up, that they shouldn’t want anything for themselves, and that everyone else’s opinion mattered more than theirs did.

A child who grew up in a family where they weren’t allowed to express their needs or opinions, may grow up believing that this is how the whole world wants them to behave, even after they have become adults. They may find it difficult to take the initiative in any situation involving other people. They may feel uncomfortable or fearful expressing their desires. They may even feel they are being “bad” if they ask for anything.

Although they may think that being extremely passive and refusing to make decisions is their way of “being nice”, it isn’t always fun having a person who is this self-effacing as a friend.

It can be tiring for the other person in the friendship to have to make every decision just because their passive friend won’t make any. In relationships that are healthy and satisfying, both people share responsibility equally when making plans and decisions.

If you believe that being nice means never asking for anything for yourself, it’s important to learn to pay attention to your needs, to respect yourself, and to ask for what you want and need. Take your turn making decisions with others. Make your needs and preferences heard.

If you find your wishes are always being ignored, take a close look at why this is happening and see how you can change it.

This article is taken from the new book by Royane Real titled "How You Can Have All the Friends You Want – Your Complete Guide to Finding Friends, Making Friends, and Keeping Friends" If you want to improve your social life, download it today at http://www.royanereal.com

--------------------
Great Attitudes Create Great Results!
Al Smith is also the Editor and Publisher of a Motivational and Goal Achievement Ezine. Subscribe for FREE at
The Realgoalgetter Ezine.
Another publication from The Realgoalgetter Group.
Check out the Previous Archived Issues here and then type in your name and email address to start receiving them now.
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Thinking on Your Feet

Five Secrets to Thinking on Your Feet
By Ed Sykes

Many times we are put into situations where we are asked a question and need to give an answer on the spot, or “think on your feet.” It could be a sales or customer service situation, your manager asking you for a progress report, a request for your ideas on a new community project, or a job interview.

During these times we can feel the pressure. Our heart begins to race, we start to sweat, we feel our knees knocking, or we want to hide under a rock. This is because sometimes the answer we give could mean that big sale, the customer being satisfied, a promotion or raise, or that dream job.

The following are five secrets to help you master your “thinking on your feet” skills:

1. Listen

Many times when we are in a high pressure situation where we are so nervous we really don’t hear the actual question. Been there, done that. To make sure we understand the question and give the right answer do the following:

• Breathe slower (Benefit: Relaxes body and mind)

• Look directly at the questioner. (Benefit: Increases comprehension)

• Ask questions (Benefit: increases clarity and shows you are listening)

2. Pause to Organize

It is okay to pause. Pause to gather your thoughts. When you pause you look and sound poised and in control. Remember, there is power in silence.

3. Repeat the Question

This has several benefits:

* Buys you time to think.

* Communicates a complete piece of information.

* Allows you to take control of the question by rephrasing the question to a more positive light if needed.

* Enables everyone, if in a public setting, to hear the question.

4. Focus on One Main Point and Support It

The number one reason why we sometimes freeze up when asked to think on our feet is because we have so many ideas running around in our minds. We don’t know which idea to mention.

Here’s the solution: Go with the first idea that comes to mind and say it. By sticking with that one point you can focus on two or three supporting points. You sound more direct and confident when giving your answer.

5. Summarize and Stop (SAS)

End your answer with some SAS (Summarize and Stop). Give your answer, summarize, and stop. Don’t apologize and don’t ramble on beyond the finish. Try this trick: repeat the essence of the question. For example, you may be asked, “Why did you stop the project?” In your summary you might say, “And that‘s why we decided to start another project.” Then stop.

Give your answer, let them know the end is near by saying:

“In summary…”

“In conclusion…”

Then simply stop. Remember SAS.

Apply these techniques so that you can become a master at “thinking on your feet” and give great answers. You can practice these skills by joining Toastmasters. In their meetings they have an exercise called “table topics,” in which you can practice this skill in a supportive environment.

Ed Sykes is a professional speaker, author, and success coach in the areas of leadership, motivation, stress management, customer service, and team building. You can e-mail him at esykes@thesykesgrp.com, or call him at (757) 427-7032. Go to his web site, www.thesykesgrp.com, and signup for the newsletter, OnPoint, and receive the free ebook, "Empowerment and Stress Secrets for the Busy Professional."

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com

--------------------
Great Attitudes Create Great Results!
Al Smith is also the Editor and Publisher of a Motivational and Goal Achievement Ezine. Subscribe for FREE at
The Realgoalgetter Ezine.
Another publication from The Realgoalgetter Group.
Check out the Previous Archived Issues here and then type in your name and email address to start receiving them now.
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You Can't Buy Time

You Can't Buy Time
By Marie Roker

Our daily lives are inundated with a crammed to-do list. We are often rushing throughout our day trying to keep up with ourselves. Although technology has improved and simplified our lives, we are as pressed for time as past generations. Often your day seems so full, and you are so pressed for time that it is impossible to get in all there is to do, and yet a little quiet thinking will show that the important things can be easily put into two thirds of the day, and the remaining third is free for rest, or play, or both.

You can feel normally pressed for time; and because of this pressure you can arrange in your mind what best to leave undone, and so relieve the pressure. If one thing seems as important to do as another you can make up your mind that of course you can only do what you have time for, and the remainder must go. You cannot do what you have time to do so well if you are worrying about what you have no time for.

We hurry through life, slowing down just to consume our free time with television, the internet or magazines and newspapers. If you feel like life is passing you by and you do not have the time to do the things that bring you pleasure in life, then you need to examine what is holding you back from managing your time better. Is procrastination taking up most of your day?

Our supply of time is a daily miracle. You wake up in the morning, and your life is filled with twenty-four hours. No one can take it from you. No one receives either more or less than you receive. You alone decide how to spend your time. You can not get into debt of time, you can only waste the passing moment. No matter how you try to stretch it or change it, there will always be only 24 hours in a day. Time can not be hoarded.

Before you can start to focus on how to get more out of your day, you need to be clear on how to use your time more efficiently. Your problem isn’t "not enough time". It can’t be, because all the time you experience is the time that you create. You create all the time that you experience.

When you feel that you do not have enough time, have a look at what is happening. Every second something big passes by: YOUR LIFE. Your happiness and fulfillment in life is determined by how quick you are to recognize the things you need to change, and how quick you are to act upon them.

We worry more about how to make money instead of how to use our time wisely. Time is more valuable than money. Although money can buy you many things, it can not buy you more time.

Questions

What is your attitude towards the value of time?

In what areas of your life are you wasting time every day?

If you had less than 24 hours a day to do everything, what would you change or do differently?

Are you borrowing time from tomorrow by overextending yourself? In what areas of your life are you borrowing time from?

Do you feel that you are leaving something undone which you would like to do when you have "more time”?

If you’re always in a hurry, or are feeling too much time pressure, what can you drop from your schedule?

Marie Magdala Roker is a Personal Development Coach and Author of Successful Thinking for a Successful Life: How to Banish the Unhealthy Thoughts and Habits That Limit Your Success. Her Successful Thinking™ program is an affordable coaching resource that offers support and encouragement when there are roadblocks to success. You can find out more about the program at http://www.thinkandbesuccessful.com or sign up for her free Be Inspired newsletter at http://www.smartbeecoaching.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com

--------------------
Great Attitudes Create Great Results!
Al Smith is also the Editor and Publisher of a Motivational and Goal Achievement Ezine. Subscribe for FREE at
The Realgoalgetter Ezine.
Another publication from The Realgoalgetter Group.
Check out the Previous Archived Issues here and then type in your name and email address to start receiving them now.
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Plan Your Work - Work Your Plan

Plan Your Day and Stick to Your Plan
Copyright 2005 Inez Ng

How many times have you remarked to someone that there are not enough hours in the day? The sad truth is, not matter how much you wish it, it is unlikely that you can get more than 24 hours in each day. So, the trick to time management is really how you get the most out of the hours you have. One way to do that is to become an exceptional planner of your day. It is not very difficult - just takes some basic knowledge and a lot of discipline. As a coach, I can help you with both, but the knowledge is what I'll cover right now.

Set aside time to plan

This is really the first step. You have to make planning a habit, and do the task religiously. I set aside an hour on Sunday mornings to plan my week. In order for me to make sure that the week goes according to plan, I have to have "a plan" to start with. In the beginning, it may take you longer than an hour, but once you've done the planning for a while, you'll get more efficient at it. You will also feel much more focused when you have identified what you want to accomplish for the week.

Schedule at least one week at a time

Some people only plan one day at a time, but I think that you need to be more forward looking than that. So, I suggest you focus on at least one week at a time, but also review what may be coming up in the next month while you are considering what to prioritize for the next week. The more proactive you are about your life, the less often you will find yourself having to react to unforeseen situations.

Identify your "big rocks" for your week

If you don't know what I mean, you have to read Stephen Covey. He made a masterful illustration using a bucket, some sand, and several rocks of various sizes. He explained that the sand represents all the busy work that we have to do, like answering the phone, reading email, filing away papers, etc. The rocks represent all the important things that we have to do, such as setting goals for the year, launching a new project, creating a vision for your team, etc. The bucket represents all the time we have for all the demands of our lives.

What happens with most of us is that we fill up our buckets with the sand first, and then we can only put a few rocks on top, and there's no more room for the rest. What he suggested is that we put all our rocks into the bucket first, and then fill in all the available spaces with the sand. And miraculously, everything fits in our container!

This is the philosophy you need to employ when you schedule your week. Identify all your big rocks, and block out the time to handle these first. Then worry about the sand afterwards. We have to make sure that we handle the important stuff first, and not let the busy work consume our days.

Think 24/7

I am not suggesting that you plan to work 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. But I am suggesting that you account for 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in your schedule. If you neglect to consider Saturdays and Sundays because those are your "days off", you may find on Sunday night that you have not handled any of the household chores that you needed to get done. Or if you are planning on having a dinner party on Saturday night next week, you had better block off some time Friday or Saturday to straighten out the house, or go to the market.

Plan personal and play time

Don't think that a schedule is only for work, this is a plan for your life. So, make sure that you block off time for exercise, or "date night" with your spouse, or cheerleader time for your kids' games in your schedule. Remember that the goal is to have time to handle everything that's important to us, not just things that are important concerning work. If you want Friday to be a mental health day, block that off. You don't need to put in any more details than that. But you know that if you don't plan for it, it won't happen.

Leave some contingency time in your schedule

You know better than to expect that your days all go exactly as planned. Just when you are about to really focus on that important analysis you needed to do, your boss calls you into a meeting where your expertise is desperately needed, and your schedule is shot. So, don't cram every hour of your day with activities. Leave some contingency time for you to catch up when the unexpected happens.

Discipline, discipline, discipline

Once you have your days scheduled, you need to exercise discipline and stick to what you planned. Do everything you can to eliminate distractions and really focus on what you have to do. You will be amazed how much more productive you can be. So, close that email program, turn the phone ringer off and let voicemail handle the calls, close your office door for an hour of so. Then when it is time for you to handle email, and phone calls, and drop-in visitors, give all your focus to those activities then.

About the Author:

Leadership coach Inez Ng helps busy professional and entrepreneurs get better results quickly. Learn more about coaching with her at www.RealizationsUnltd.com
Check out her ebook packed with tips and strategies on saving time on email at www.easyemailstrategies.com

--------------------
Great Attitudes Create Great Results!
Al Smith is also the Editor and Publisher of a Motivational and Goal Achievement Ezine. Subscribe for FREE at
The Realgoalgetter Ezine.
Another publication from The Realgoalgetter Group.
Check out the Previous Archived Issues here and then type in your name and email address to start receiving them now.
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Power of Right Thinking

The Power of Right Thinking
By John Miller

Self-depreciation never won a single battle of life. It has, on the contrary, killed ambition, weakened the will, and incapacitated thousands from noble work. Many people have spent their whole life with a negative character and outlook. The daily, and perhaps hourly, streams of false suggestions pouring into their minds overwhelm them.

Many tormented by fear and timidity do not realize how a flood of negative thoughts daily affect them. They hedge themselves in with suggestions of limitation, incapacity, and unworthiness. They constantly think not of how they will succeed, but of how they will surely fail.

In developing the habit of positive thinking--of seeing only the best in yourself and others--of regarding yourself as capable of great things--it is well to bear in mind that our thoughts really make us what we are. What you did yesterday makes you what you are today, and what you do today determines what you will be tomorrow. Suppose you put these practical questions to yourself:

-Does negative thinking pay?

-Is it desirable for me to encourage thoughts in my mind that break down, hinder, and incapacitate me for good work?

-Do I want negative thoughts that inevitably bring discontent, unhappiness, and ultimate failure in their train?

Your answer will be, of course, that you do not want them. But such thoughts work insidiously, and will find an entrance into your mind if you are not extremely vigilant. The surest way to keep them out, however, is to fill the mind completely with vital positive thoughts, to think constantly of yourself as a person of unlimited possibilities, growing daily in mental and spiritual power, equipped for great things, and moving forward toward a triumphant destiny.

The habit of right thinking, when firmly established, becomes a source of attraction. Good thoughts soon become great thoughts, and the mature mind attempts even the impossible. The power of a single thought at the beginning of a day can hardly be estimated. It can change despondency into hope, and fear into courage. It can arm the nerve for great and noble deeds. It can strengthen a weak and timid. It is possible for it to set in motion an influence that will reach the ends of the world.

An excellent way to furnish the mind with material for right thinking is to commit to memory some of the sayings of great people and to ponder them at leisure. This assists in establishing a standard of truth, and at the same time furnishes the mind with many nourishing and useful thoughts. Here are some examples:

"The confidence which we have in ourselves gives birth to much of that which we have in others.''--La Rochefoucauld.

"Courage in danger is half the battle."--Plautus.

"We should not let others do our thinking for us. Our individuality is too precious to be so sacrificed."--unknown

A person who thinks right has reason to feel proud and walks abroad with "the sparkle in their eye." There is no weakness, no timidity, no hesitation, since to them - right is might. They have learned to make their thoughts selective, by aid of which they take the good and reject the bad. They know, too, how to fit each thought into its proper place, make correct inferences, and form well-considered judgments.

This clear and positive thinking is constructive in its character; it builds new power and discloses ever-widening fields of usefulness. Wrong or negative thinking is destructive; it produces nothing but paralysis, fear, hopelessness, and heartrending failure.

Right thinking means cheerful thinking. It means that you are an intellectual optimist, who sees nothing but good in yourself and in those around you. Your thoughts go out to clarify and brighten the lives of others.

How shall you exclude fear thought from his life? Certainly not by affirming such sentences as "I have no fear," "I am not weak," "I do not lack ability," "I am not a failure." Remembering that only positive thoughts are constructive, you will avoid even the use of negative symbols as "weak," "fear," "lack," "failure." You will say, rather, "I am self-confident," "I am strong," "I am able," "I am a success." These affirmations will be made both silently and audibly, always with deep conviction and earnestness.

Remember, however, that these affirmations must be confirmed by actual performance. When you say "I am courageous," you must demonstrate it in your daily life. You may say "I am hopeful, powerful, buoyant, cheerful," but if you then proceed to sit down in a corner by yourself and bemoan your fate, you are simply deluding yourself. It is not sufficient that you believe what you affirm; you must be it, live it, and act it.

Everyone who aspires to right and lofty thinking should shut the door of their mind against negative thoughts as they would against the bitterest foes. Negative thoughts work their way cunningly, by plausible excuse and subterfuge, until they hold you in their death-like grasp. They subdue, discourage, weaken, intimidate, and at last brand their victim as a failure and outcast. To harbor negative thoughts in your mind is to entertain an enemy.

Right thinking constructs, strengthens, and ennobles. It knows no limitations, and reaches out daily for new conquests. It is a power unto itself, growing through its own use. Our habits of thought must be governed by fixed principles.

One clear-cut, positive suggestion made in good time may frighten off a thousand petty negative thoughts. The thing we repeat frequently enough in our mind comes to acquire undisputed authority. We should not seek to perform some one great act of courage, but courageously perform all acts, however small, of our every-day life.

Pascal says: “Let us persist in our aim to think right, and to do right, knowing that "true courage consists in long persevering patience. Let us more earnestly direct our thought toward the lofty and sublime. Above all let us seek the best sources of inspiration, that the great thoughts of other men may become our thoughts, and that we may rise into the fullness of our rich inheritance.”

Educate. Encourage. Empower. Are you ready to enrich your life?
www.self-improvement-tips-articles-books.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com

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Great Attitudes Create Great Results!
Al Smith is also the Editor and Publisher of a Motivational and Goal Achievement Ezine. Subscribe for FREE at
The Realgoalgetter Ezine.
Another publication from The Realgoalgetter Group.
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Break Procrastination's Grip

Break the Grip of Procrastination
By Betty Mahalik

Perhaps no single human behavior is as universal as procrastination. Even the most productive among us occasionally fall prey to its grip. And there are few things that rob us of more joy, productivity, freedom and achievement than procrastination. My purpose today is not to discuss all the reasons we procrastinate, but to offer some simple but powerful techniques for breaking its hold on us.

Perhaps as you read this, you're procrastinating on writing a report, exercising, starting a project or cleaning off your desk. So, read on, and apply any or all of the steps listed below, and start making things happen.

1) Ask yourself which project, task or result will have the greatest payoff for you if you act on it now. Once you've decided on a focus, go to step 2.

2) Ask yourself what you could produce or complete in the next 5 minutes toward that project. Usually it's a matter of taking one or two small steps that breaks the deadlock of procrastination.

3) Once you've identified those small steps, pick one and do it. Then do the next.

4) Stay focused on the results you're aiming for. Most of us get derailed because we smother ourselves in the minute, forgetting to look up at the goal we were after in the first place. Especially if it's a big project, keeping that vision in mind can be very motivating.

5) Keep a list of easy-to-do projects that will produce a quick, visible result. Sometimes we simply need the satisfaction of a small win to fuel us toward greater achievement.

6) Remember times when you broke through procrastination and even beat a deadline? A coaching client of mine recently completed two huge projects in a matter of days. Now when she gets mired in "I don't know if I can do this," thinking, I remind her of her recent accomplishment, and it sparks her motivation.

7) Stop worrying about whether you "feel" like it. As Shakespeare said, "our doubts are traitors." Instead go back to steps 1 and 2 to decide what is most important, then act on it.

8) Celebrate your successes along the way. Did you complete a project this morning that you had to get done? Give yourself a small reward. The old saying "nothing succeeds like success" applies here. But usually we get so busy on the next task or project that we don't stop to savor the satisfaction of our accomplishments.

9) Create a guideline to remind you. In the Best Year Yet program we create guidelines--standards of behavior--to guide us through the year ahead. A guideline that repeatedly shows up on my BYY plans is "Act on it now."

10) Do something counter-intuitive. Need to break a mental block? Get up and do a few minutes of stretching or walk around the block. Trying to write and the well is dry? Get a paper and pen and simply write the first thing that pops into your head. Keep writing until words begin to flow again.

Get laughing. Laughter has a way of clearing mental debris, and the endorphins released have a way of getting you in action. Sometimes the logical thing to do is the least logical. Give it a try.

As I often confess, these weekly messages are more for my benefit than anyone else's. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm ready to tackle the rest of my to do list!!

***********************
Quote of the Week
***********************

"Procrastination is the fertilizer that makes difficulties grow." ~~Unknown

Betty Mahalik has been coaching small business owners, independent professionals and leaders who want to achieve more but stress less, since 1996. Her background includes several years in the broadcasting and public relations fields prior to starting her own firm in 1987. She is an accomplished public speaker and corporate trainer specializing in communications, goal-setting and leveraging your strengths. Since 2001, she has written a weekly motivational message, free to subscribers, titled Monday Morning Coach. Visit: Dynamic Solutions and check it out!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com

--------------------
Great Attitudes Create Great Results!
Al Smith is also the Editor and Publisher of a Motivational and Goal Achievement Ezine. Subscribe for FREE at
The Realgoalgetter Ezine.
Another publication from The Realgoalgetter Group.
Check out the Previous Archived Issues here and then type in your name and email address to start receiving them now.
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Spin Your Wheels. Succeed!

Spin Your Wheels To SUCCESS!
By Michael Nicholas

Have you ever gotten caught on a slippery road and felt the wheels under you spinning and going nowhere?

Well, you don't really need to be in a car to know what I'm talking about because this scene has been played out metaphorically many times as well.

It's the feeling of not getting to your destination and it's an unpleasant result... Spinning your wheels is being out of control and getting nowhere while trying to get somewhere.

And when you apply this to reaching success it's not only frustrating, but it can also crush your spirit to move on and upward.

But let me tell you a secret of success that is in every revolution of a spinning wheel. This is something that is difficult to see while you are trying to navigate toward success.

It's like a thick fog or night blindness and it wants to throw you off course so you lose your way. It's a false/positive state of mind that wants to lead you down the wrong road to failure where you may easily think it's time to give up. After all it's quite easy to stop the engine and park it...

BUT... wait a minute... What if all the while your wheels were turning you were moving toward success little by little and didn't realize it? What if you were moving in revolutions that didn't feel like you were moving at all but you really were?...

And what if you didn't stop your wheels from spinning BUT kept them going in that same very direction you set out on?... Well this is the road to success, my friend, and YOU are on it...

At first being on the road to success may feel like you are going nowhere... This is where the weak give up and move to something else many times repeating the scenario over and over never getting anywhere.

They just think they are spinning their wheels and give up way too early. But if you have a goal you want to accomplish... something you really feel strong and dedicated about - don't yield to the false/positive feelings of failure.

Why? Because the feelings of failure WILL come greet you... That you can be sure of. But pay no mind to failure because it's not a reality unless you accept it. Many times it's only the fear of failure - so just ignore it.

These feelings are just part of the journey leading to your success. However, if you keep on driving toward your goal without taking your eyes off of the road, but stay put even when things look, feel and taste like a losing battle... Your reward for riding through the storm is SUCCESS.

And yes it's been there the whole time... but this destination does not come easy to those that give up.

Remember this...

When it looks like nothing is happening... look again, give it time and even more time... Then when you have stayed the course your journey requires... that's when success is right around the corner.

Therefore, one of the real secrets of success is when it doesn't seem like success... it can still very much be you are on a successful journey leading right to it.

So don't cut yourself off and just spin your wheels... Spin Your Wheels To SUCCESS!

(c) By Michael Nicholas

Michael Nicholas publishes his weekly newsletter, Success Triggers, featuring tips for online marketers worldwide. If you want to trigger your online success, come join Michael and receive FREE gifts that can help boost your online marketing starting today. ===> http://www.SuccessTriggers.com

--------------------
Great Attitudes Create Great Results!
Al Smith is also the Editor and Publisher of a Motivational and Goal Achievement Ezine. Subscribe for FREE at
The Realgoalgetter Ezine.
Another publication from The Realgoalgetter Group.
Check out the Previous Archived Issues here and then type in your name and email address to start receiving them now.
--------------------

Persistence

Persistence
By Devon D. Harris

When things go wrong as they sometimes will
When the road you’re traveling seems all uphill
When the funds are low and the debts are high
And you want to smile but you have to sigh
When care is pressing you down a bit
Rest if you must, but don’t you quit.

Life is queer with its twists and turns
As every one of us sometimes learns
And many a fellow turns about
When he might have won had he stuck it out
Don’t give up though the pace seems slow
You may succeed with another blow.

Often the goal is nearer than
It seems to a faint and faltering man
Often the struggler has given up,
When he might have captured the victor’s cup
And he learned too late when the night came down
How close he was to the golden crown.

Success is failure turned inside out
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt
And you never can tell how close you are
It may be near when it seems far;
So stick to the fight when you’re hardest hit
It’s when things go wrong that you mustn’t quit

-Author Unknown

I was in the ninth grade when I first heard those words. My friend Wally Small recited them in front of the class and they had an immediate impact on me. That was the year I started running track and during practice, as I struggled through the last two hundred meters of my intervals, under the bright afternoon sun, dust swirling from the occasional light breeze traversing the field, my muscles aching from the lactic acid build up, my lungs bursting as I gasped for breath; I would repeat to myself the only words I remembered from that poem....

”Give it your hardest hit but never quit.”

If we ever hope to realize our dreams and truly reap the fruits of our labor, we must develop the ability to endure in the face of the challenges and adversity that life will throw our way.

Persistence does not recognize failure

Lack of persistence is one of the biggest reasons for failure. People simply give up and, in the history of the world, no one has ever been defeated until defeat was accepted as reality. As Winston Churchill said in a speech at his Alma Mater, “Never give in; never give in, never, never, never, never - in nothing, great or small, large or petty - never give in except to convictions of honor and good sense.”

Unfortunately, most people give in even before they get started. They will come up with a great idea but right away think of all the reasons why it wouldn’t work - and quit.

No matter what your field of endeavor, you will always face obstacles. Things simply won’t go as well as planned or expected. But if you don’t quit, you may achieve your goals. Back in 1988 when our team got started we were sure that corporate sponsors would be knocking down the door to back this hot new idea.

Very quickly, however, it became apparent that that wasn’t going to happen. So we began selling T-shirts. You may remember them. They declared us “The hottest thing on ice!!” There were many nights that I pulled up beside a couple on the dance floor, whipping out a shirt and completing the transaction before the song was over.

Even more recently, as I prepared to compete in the 1998 Winter Olympic Games in Nagano, Japan, I was faced with the old age problem of funding. It was January 1997 and I can still hear my coach’s voice saying “Devon, if you don’t get sponsorship by June, you will only be chasing pipe dreams and you should quit. Well, instead of quitting I set up training camp in Evanston, Wyoming (www.evanstowy.org) and started to coach myself.

I delivered pizza at night after about eight hours of training during the day. I was experiencing major setbacks but I had found a way to keep the dream alive. June came and there was no sponsorship. July, August, September, October, November, and December came, and there was still no sponsorship. It wasn’t until January, one month before the Olympics, that the Utah based long distance company, Tel America (www.telamerica.com)came on board and provided the financial support that I needed.

It all happened because I didn’t quit.

Persistence denotes belief in yourself

Persistence is a very good measure of your belief in yourself. It speaks volumes of how confident you are in your ability to succeed. Only a person who is confident in their ability to succeed will persist. The more you persist, the more your confidence and your belief in yourself intensifies. That in turn increases your desire and motivation, and drives you to persist even more – which reinforces your self-esteem and belief in yourself. It is an upward spiral.

Persistence builds on itself

Persistence is the ability to endure in the face of adversity. Every single act of persistence builds and cultivates success habits which become ingrained and ultimately guarantee your success. Each act of persistence strengthens you and increases your ability to persist even more; until you become the most persistent, determined person you know. You will simply become unstoppable. As they say “The difference between the impossible and the possible lies in not giving up.”

Keep on Pushing!

Copyright (C) 2004 Devon Harris
All rights reserved worldwide
www.devonharrislive.com

Devon Harris Bio

• Born Christmas Day, 1964
• Raised in Kingston, Jamaica
• Graduated from the prestigious Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, in England
• Served as an officer in the Jamaica Defense Force
• Selected to membership on Jamaica’s first Olympic Bobsled Team
• Competed in the 1988 Winter Olympics – Calgary, Canada
• 1992 Winter Olympics – Albertville, France
• 1998 Winter Olympics – Nagano, Japan
• Disney based the popular movie, Cool Runnings, on the story of the 1988 Bobsled Team

Presently, Devon is an athlete ambassador for Olympic Aid, an athlete-driven humanitarian non-profit organization using sport and play to enhance child development and build community capacity. He resides in New York City and travels the world as a motivational speaker, offering a captivating message of inspiration and hope. His personal philosophy, like that of the Jamaican Bobsled Team, is that he will not permit others to define the limits of his success. www.devonharrislive.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com

--------------------
Great Attitudes Create Great Results!
Al Smith is also the Editor and Publisher of a Motivational and Goal Achievement Ezine. Subscribe for FREE at
The Realgoalgetter Ezine.
Another publication from The Realgoalgetter Group.
Check out the Previous Archived Issues here and then type in your name and email address to start receiving them now.
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Goal Setting for Life

Goal Setting for the Journey of Life
By Gary Simpson

Suppose you wanted to take a trip somewhere. What is the first thing that you do? You would get a map showing your destination, of course. Now you can see clearly how to get to where you want to go.

Next comes the planning phase. You wouldn't just get in your vehicle and drive or hop on a bus or a train or plane and hope for the best. No. You would plan a route. Fundamental to that would be the fact that you need to recognize your starting point.

You cannot choose a direction before you know exactly where you are. So, to arrive at a destination point we need to know the point of origin. Only then can we fill in the gaps between.

Say, for instance, that you want to get to town F and you are starting from town A. Your first check point is town B. After that comes towns C, D and E. By monitoring your route along the way you can be assured of reaching your chosen destination.

Sometimes along the journey we take a wrong turn. When this happens we need to check our map. If we don't, we just keep going in the wrong direction. Naturally this happens most often when we either don't consult our map often enough or we simply don't have a map. Checking the map allows us to "get back on track."

It is a fairly well known fact that all airplanes are "off-target" most of the time. However, minor adjustments along the way ensure that the plane travels along the general flight path until it arrives at its location.

Failure to make a one or two degree adjustment could cause the plane to be hundreds of miles off course. The same happens with the steering wheel of a car. Failure to make adjustments will see you end up in a ditch on the side of the road.

But what about your life? That is the biggest journey of them all. Why do so many people just blunder their way along without any plan? So many people have no goals, no plan, no checkpoints - nothing. Yet they expect to arrive at some fanciful destination called success.

Write yourself a plan. Mark in the checkpoints - A, B, C, D, E, F and so on. Monitor your progress. Measure it against time. If you do this you will be so far in front of the masses who not only have no idea where they are going but have no idea where they are.

Remember, be realistic about your starting point and your destination point. Filling in the checkpoints just becomes a matter of course then.

Take the "Journey of Life" and don't forget the roadmap. It's so much easier when you know where you are going.

This article comes with reprint rights providing no changes are made and the resource box below accompanies it.

About the author: Gary Simpson is the author of eight books covering a diverse range of subjects such as self esteem, affirmations, self defense, finance and much more. His articles appear all over the web. Gary's email address is budo@iinet.net.au. Click here to go to his Motivation & Self Esteem for Success website where you can receive his "Zenspirational Thoughts" plus an immediate FREE copy of his highly acclaimed, life-changing e-book "The Power of Choice."

--------------------
Great Attitudes Create Great Results!
Al Smith is also the Editor and Publisher of a Motivational and Goal Achievement Ezine. Subscribe for FREE at
The Realgoalgetter Ezine.
Another publication from The Realgoalgetter Group.
Check out the Previous Archived Issues here and then type in your name and email address to start receiving them now.
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Asking The Right Questions?

Are You Asking The Right Questions?
By Marie Roker

Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you - Matthew 7:7

Do you sometimes get frustrated because you feel as if you don't get the answers you desire? Well, maybe it's the questions you're asking. Asking the right questions has the power to elicit positive changes in your life. It's not just in your tone, but your words also. If you want to influence someone, you must demonstrate to them that you are a confident communicator.

Which of the following questions is most likely to get a "yes" from you?

"You wouldn't want to help me, would you?" or "I need your help with something. What days will work for you?"

The first question gives the other person the opportunity to dismiss you. The second question offers an option and requests a solution. If you ask a negative based question, you will get a negative response. If you a positive based question, more than likely you will get the response that you are looking for.

Make sure you are asking for what you want instead of what you don't want. Often our words and actions betray our thoughts and intentions. You have to be open to receiving in order to get what you want. The one way to alter the results you get in your life is to alter the way communicate what you want.

Ask people questions that will invite more information from them or pique their interest to seek more information from you.

This applies to your life too! By asking yourself the right questions, you will change your focus and build your self awareness. If you're asking yourself: "Why am I such a loser?" or "Why do bad things keep happening to me?" you are inviting more failure. You have to make the shift in your thinking.

This often requires that you examine what you want to accomplish in life and then focusing on how to achieve it. Ask yourself: "What can I accomplish today that will have a positive impact on my life?" or "What’s possible in my life right now?

Before you ask a question of yourself or others think about the outcome you would like to receive as a result of the question. Ask solution based questions and you will get the results you want. Always be enthusiastic and excited about the response you will be getting.

It takes time and practice to develop your ability to ask positive questions. As you develop this ability, you will be empowered to make better choices in your life.

Marie Magdala Roker is a Personal Development Coach an Author of Successful Thinking for a Successful Life: How to Banish the Unhealthy Thoughts and Habits That Limit Your Success. You can find out more at: http://www.smartbeecoaching.com She also offers the Successful Thinking™ program, an affordable coaching resource that offers support and encouragement when there are roadblocks to success. You can find out more about the program at http://www.thinkandbesuccessful.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com

--------------------
Great Attitudes Create Great Results!
Al Smith is also the Editor and Publisher of a Motivational and Goal Achievement Ezine. Subscribe for FREE at
The Realgoalgetter Ezine.
Another publication from The Realgoalgetter Group.
Check out the Previous Archived Issues here and then type in your name and email address to start receiving them now.
--------------------

Motivation: No Finish Lines

Motivation: No Finish Lines
By Jeff Herring

There is a saying that goes something like “getting to the top is easy, the hard thing is staying there once you get there."

There’s a reason the above statement is so true. It has to do with this interesting little quirk we humans have: our belief in finish lines. Deep with in our brains we have this belief that once we arrive, we can relax.

Now there are times in life when there are finish lines: 10K races and marathons, dog and horse racing tracks, and at Nascar races.

The problem is we apply this thinking to so many areas where there really are no finish lines: getting in shape, dieting, growing in your profession and especially marriage and other relationships.

Now in no way am I saying that we can't enjoy our achievements and pause to smell the roses. It's just that it's so tempting to stop and only smell the roses and not much else. I once supervised an intern who then took a job in the program. The first thing they said after they got the job and then graduated with their degree was "I"ve been reading so much in school that I'm not going to read anything for a year."

Wrong answer. When we imagine finish lines where there are none, we fall prey to something I call arrival syndrome.

Signs of Arrival Syndrome

The belief that you have "arrived" (with accompanying trumpets).
Coasting
You stop doing the things that got you where you are.
You do significantly less of the things that got you where you are.
Slipping backwards, losing the ground you have gained.
Other people noticing that you are slipping back but you deny it.

How to Avoid Arrival Syndrome

Discard the belief in finish lines
Pause to njoy your successes, just don't stop there.
Learn CPR. That stands for consistent, persistent and resistant. Consistant in the actions you take, persistent in your efforts to continue to grow, and resistant to the notion of resting on your laurels.
No matter how good things get, always remember to ask the queston: "how can we make this even better?"
Take notice of the mile posts of success along the way. This builds momentum and keeps you going.

This one is so simple and obvious, yet so many times we don't do it: keep doing the things that got you where you are. And if you really want to be different, do even more of the things that got you there.

It's often difficult to balance the enjoyment of all we have achieved with the commitment to continuing to learn and grow. Here's one tip that can be helpful: unless you see a white line painted on the ground in front of you, there are no finish lines.

Visit SecretsofGreatRelationships.com for tips and tools for creating and growing a great relationship. You can also subscribe to our f*r*e*e 10 day e-program on how to enrich your relationship today, from relationship coach and expert Jeff Herring.

--------------------
Great Attitudes Create Great Results!
Al Smith is also the Editor and Publisher of a Motivational and Goal Achievement Ezine. Subscribe for FREE at
The Realgoalgetter Ezine.
Another publication from The Realgoalgetter Group.
Check out the Previous Archived Issues here and then type in your name and email address to start receiving them now.
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