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Dedicating to yourself to your personal development goals is a great step in the right direction. When I talk about personal development, it means dedicating time to learn work on your mental fitness, health, skills and knowledge.

Upon completing these goals, you may notice that you have gained some sideline spectators as well. In most cases, you are catching their attention because of the changes you are making. I frequently think that success breeds more success. This means that when we have achieved a small level of success with our work, we tend to have people attracted to what we do. For example, when I started gaining small successes in the speaking industry, I started to get more offers to speak in different countries and seminars.

By gaining someone’s attention, you are serving as an inspiration to others. This often happens naturally and is another big commitment. You have committed to be consistent with your actions and to serve as a role model for others to follow.

If you want to make the most out of this occurrence and really impact other people’s lives positively, you can use the steps below. These steps are designed to create an amazing life:

1. Passion and excitement: A person will usually only serve as an inspiration to others if they are passionate and love what they do. It is a known fact that the more excited someone is about something, the more they will excel in their work. What makes you passionate? Does it excite other people to pursue theirs as well?

2. Goal Setting: Always set goals for what you are looking to achieve. The use of goals has proven to be very effective and allows for a greater commitment factor. It is important to make them detailed so you know when you have actually reached the goal. You can then celebrate the accomplishment of that goal and move on to create another. This will not only keep you motivated, but show others that goals are attainable. In addition, this will get people to draw their inspiration from you and desire for more out of their lives.

3. Go big or go home! You need to set goals to push your limits. By doing so, you will achieve more and really shine to yourself and others. The important thing to keep in mind is to make sure you are not creating goals that are unrealistic. There is a distinct line between goals that are challenging versus those that are just not plausible (eg. walk on the moon without a breathing apparatus).

Another aspect to keep in mind with very challenging goals is to make sure you measure them by performance. In other words, the outcome might not have been the outcome you wanted but you gave your best performance in achieving it. This means that you might fail at times, but knowing that you have given your best shot at it, it is alright to fail. You just need to change completely or modify your strategy and take massive actions on it. Which leads to the point 4 below.

4. Consistency and Persistency: To be truly exceptional, you have to make sure you are reaching goals. Be continuous in your efforts in reaching challenging goals. The harder you work for the goal, the more you will appreciate it. Moreover, persistence, as seen from an outsider, is what really motivates and inspires someone. This persistency in handling problems is what is termed as Adversity Quotient (AQ), where you demonstrate resilience in tough situations. It is not talented people who succeed all the time, but people who have strengthened their AQ over time and are able to keep moving forward even when situations seem bleak or rough.

In my life, I do not always have all the answers, but I know that it is just a matter of time before I find the answers that I seek. I just need to be consistent and persistent in my quest. In my line of work, I never knew it was possible for me to be invited to speak in seminars or even give keynotes because I started out doing small group training (I first started out with only three people in front of me and now it has grown to hundreds) The question I feel is never whether you can or cannot do it, it is always “how can I do it?”. Persistency will pay off if you keep at striving for different ways to make it work. Will you decide to be relentless?

5. Share what you know: It is important, as an inspiration to others, that you share knowledge you have. Let people know how you did it and encourage them just the same. I have personally found that some people just need you to light the fire in their hearts and they will start their search for greatness.

It is important to remember that you need to keep a positive attitude and always look to the future. With doing this, you will not only enrich your life, but you will do the same for others. No man is an island, everything we do affects another person.

Make a decision to inspire someone today! Who will they be? Do leave your comments.

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It is true that the past has an impact on who you are today. If you look at yourself today, you will either see someone who has overcome obstacles positively, or someone who has maybe let the obstacles overcome them. In any case, we all have situations in our life that we might have wanted to play out differently. There are some incidents in my life that I am not proud of, but I have to remind myself that what matters now is the future and I can’t change my past.

Even if I could change it, why should I? It has served as a learning experience and, therefore, it is something that contributes to my development.

So how can you take those not so pleasurable experiences and make them into something usable? Allow me to suggest some pointers when you are looking to leave the past behind you.

1. Do not allow your past to creep up into decisions where it dictates your life. If your past has held you back before, it has no bearings in the future.

2. Let it go and embrace the changes you can make today, tomorrow and years to come. Instead of looking back a year ago, look ahead a year. Set goals that will allow you to accomplish something you have wanted to do. Those goals will lead to more goals. Pretty soon, you will look back over your shoulder and see only positive and smile.

3. If you have gone through a traumatic experience in your life, it is unfortunate. You need to make peace with your past and no longer allow it to control you. It has already got you once- why let it keep bringing you down?

4. Think positive: Make sure you cast out negative thoughts. These thoughts can only bring you down and pierce your personal development achievements.

5. Get rid of physical evidence:  Even though something might cause us pain, we still seem to keep reminders around. For instance, a broken relationship might yield gifts given and pictures. Put them out of sight. Seeing past situations that hurt only make the pain worse.

Conclusion

The only way you can move forward is to accept the past, know you cannot change it and let it go. This will allow you to continue with a bright future with the past lifted off your shoulders.

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Have you ever run across those people who always seem happy? These people have become very few over the past few years. Getting yourself to that point of a successful nature takes effort on your part. No one has ever gotten anywhere by doing nothing. To dial in a successful and meaningful life, you first have to gain the mindset of a successful person.

Getting Your Mindset in Order

There are a few things you must do in order to get your mindset to where it needs to be. Throughout the years you have been training yourself just the opposite in most cases. The first piece of advice is to be patient.

When you begin focusing in on personal development, here are some aspects you need to consider:

1. Keep your mind open

Think out of the box and never shut your mind to ideas. People who succeed are those that overcome obstacles, not give up. There is a solution- find it.

2. Keep Learning

Truly successful people have realized they can learn from anything. Even witnessing something done completely wrong will pave the way for avoiding the same mistake in the future. By the same token, accept that mistakes do and will happen. There is no avoiding this fact. Learn from mistakes to contribute to your personal development. Pick up something motivational to read rather than a tabloid. There are many resources available that will keep you on the right track. I have personally been using this personal development website and it has taught me many new lessons that have shaped the way I think and act.

3. There is no luck

Successful people in the right mindset will make sure they set themselves up to be in the right places. When most people attribute being in the right place at the right time to “luck”, successful people view it as an achievement.

4. If you want to be successful, act and believe you are successful

If you do not believe in yourself, who will? To really commit to this notion, surround yourself with people who are successful. Being around people you aspire to become can only help. Seeing people in action with the right mindset will aid you in your personal development as you build confidence in your efforts. There were many times I was so encouraged by their energy and mindset that could overcome all obstacles.

As you can see, having the right mindset relies on many factors. The only person that can make this change is you. Creating a solid mindset will be the foundation of your personal development goals.

If you like this article, please subscribe to our blog by getting the Free Report on “7 Transformational Secrets to creating a Dynamic and Cohesive Team”. If you have comments, I would love to hear them. Please post them below.

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When you are on the road to personal development, take a look of who is around you. Are these the people that inspire you? Are these the people that make you want to succeed?

It is important to understand why having the right people around you will make all the difference in the world. Success is measured by actions. If you never get around to the actions, you have not succeeded.

Here are the reasons why the right people around you will be more fulfilling and enriching to your personal developmental needs.

1. Some people cause stress

To be more precise, some people cause consistent stress. People that cause consistent stress should not be around you. In all, stress devours will, drive, motivation and a positive outlook. A person can only have so much stress before they begin to cave in. If these are the types of people you surround yourself with daily, what are you doing to yourself?

2. Drainer versus Provider

Do the people around you lean on you for things, or do they spark your interest and motivate you to do things. The best people to be around are those people that constantly evolve and take you along for the ride. Personal development thrives on these characteristics. The idea behind these traits is the fact that it will keep you focused and consistently on the lookout for better or new ways of doing things. More importantly, it will show you how you can personally develop yourself.

3. Find people who ask more from you

One of my favourite shows like Rocky, I can always recall the Rocky’s coach demanding more of him. Words like, “You can do 10 more push-ups or get back to running another 5 laps!” Coaching him to do more than what Rocky has faith in himself. A good friend challenges you to your limit and helps you grow.

Conclusion

People can sometimes help you grow to your potential or they can break you. So, surround yourself with people with the right people who have your interests and you will surely go far.

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A step in the right direction for personal development would be to overcome fear. Fear is what blocks us from being truly happy and content with our lives. In many severe cases, fear has taken such a strong hold it has destroyed peoples jobs, relationships and overall quality of life.

The big question is: How do I overcome fear? The answer, like many things in life, comes with steps. Following the steps below will help you to achieve overcoming fear for a positive and lifelong change toward personal development.

1. You first need to block out what other people say

Every day we have things in our “way” that prevent us from accomplishing our goals. Push them aside! Do not listen to people when they say you can’t do something. Instead, think of all the ways you can make it happen (this I feel is a better question to ask ourselves). Understand what makes you happy and purposeful, then do it. Overcome fear by focusing on these parts of your life.

2. Forget the fear of being rejected and not accepted

The only thing that limits us from being accepted is the fact that we tell ourselves that. Kick that alter ego out of your head and replace it with a positive outlook. Instead of saying “I will never be accepted”, say, “I wonder what new people I will meet”.

3. Settle the Priorities in life

Everyone considers different aspects priorities in their life. Find what is most important to you and accomplish those things happen first. Why do you pay for an expensive car when you could have got a mid range and then still complain that you can’t afford to go back to university? This is a prime example of someone not putting their priorities first.

4. Understand that personal development takes time

Face your fears one by one. The more confidence you build, the less you will fear. You will soon find out that fear is only a manifestation in your mind typically caused by lack of confidence. One of things that I constantly do is to challenge my fears. Since fear itself is illogical, I can challenge it and tell myself that it is not real. I also surround myself with people who challenge me and ask more from me. This helps a lot in my personal development.

These are all simple ways you can slowly overcome fear. The best part about fear is that once you start to have small steps of courage, it will fade away and melt into insignificant portions.

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We all can see ourselves doing certain things or achieving a certain status. The problem is many of us do not take steps to actually reach those potentials. Goal setting is an important process and provides a step by step outline of our wants, needs and aspirations.

Goal Setting Reasons:
- Motivating
- More effective use of time and resources
- Short term gratification
- Long term gratification
- Confidence Builder

When you get started in your goal setting, take a look at your life. What is your ultimate goal? Take some time to think about this because you will use all your other smaller, short term goals, to work up to this point.

Once you determine your long term goal, it is time to focus in on your short term goals that will get you there. In general, this is when you begin to shape all the areas in your life. Some of these areas can be:

- Continuous Learning
- Perspective (Attitude)
- Professional (Career)
- Health (Physical and Mental)
- Family
- Financials
- Spiritual

These are all areas that make a person balanced and well-rounded. When you achieve these goals, you will be well on your way to attaining your ultimate goal in life, while enjoying a fulfilling journey along the way. Always keep in mind; this is your personal development process, not anyone else’s. Make goals that you want to achieve.

A good way to go about short term goals is to set goals in different ranges. I personally prefer three month goals because I can constantly review my progress. Weekly goals and daily goals can also be very important. Check lists and “to do” lists are often very helpful and necessary in the goal setting process. I mean, whenever you cross something out when you complete a task, it gives you sense of satisfaction that it is completed.

Keeping Momentum and Staying on Track

It is important that we consistently check our goals and make sure we are on track with them. We also need to assess them every now and again and check to see if anything has changed in our long term goals. If so, no big deal, just rearrange a little.

To keep on track, you will need to follow these tips to ensure success:

1. Be specific: Make goals with numbers. This helps to know when you have achieved these goals, which will motivate you more.
2. Be positive: Stay positive when determining your goals. Stay clear of words such as stupid, dumb, etc. What you focus on expands.
3. Make them attainable. “Chunk” down larger goals into more manageable pieces. It will make you feel like you are getting somewhere with it.
4. Prioritize: Figure out which goals are more heavily weighted and time sensitive.
5. Write them down! Keep track of your goals by writing them down constantly! This will serve as a constant reminder and allow you to see and measure progress.

Goal setting is an important aspect of our life. If we did not have goals, we are not achieving anything. So… what are your goals for the rest of the year? Leave your comments, I want to hear you out!

If you like this article, please subscribe to our blog by getting the Free Report on “7 Transformational Secrets to creating a Dynamic and Cohesive Team”. If you have comments, I would love to hear them. Please post them below.

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There is a difference between being pro-active and reactive. In most cases, people are reactive to their environment. Being reactive, however, is not the way to get ahead in life. If you want to get ahead, stay ahead and make the most out of your personal development endeavours, you need to be PROACTIVE.

3 Ways You Can Lead Your Way to Being Pro-Active

1. Take responsibility for your actions

Do not blame others for outcomes, road blocks or problems.  When you blame other sources, you are reacting to the situation. Instead, take a step out of the situation and look at it from an unbiased and unemotional standpoint. In this, you will find that you will be able to take responsibility for your actions and deal with them appropriately. As a leader, I used to think that my group is lazy and constantly lay blame that they only have their own interests at heart. However, when I started taking responsibility for the results I’m getting, I started asking better questions like “How can I make them more pro-active? Is there anything that I can do for them to own the work, rather than me telling them what to do?”

Only you have the power to take action and make changes for yourself; it is a choice. Taking the initiative to accept responsibility will lead to actions to avoid problems and will to purposeful outcome.

2. Define where you eventually want to be in life

Just as businesses have mission statements, it is recommended that you create a personal mission statement for your personal development process. Your mission statement can present itself in the form of goals. Making clear and direct long term goals will help guide you through your life. You need to be able to “see” yourself in that situation. By visualizing where you want to be, it will motivate you to get there.

3. Prioritize

Think about what things you feel are the most important. When you deem something highly important, you need to put it first; at the top of the list. As you reach your daily goals, you will keep in mind that they come second, third or fourth to the most important aspects of your life.

It is also good to note to not overextend yourself. When you overextend yourself, you are letting the most important aspects of your life slip. I have personally made a lot of mistakes by over-committing myself, doing too many things and yet not being able to give my best. I have repented and now know that it its worth doing, I should do it with all my intensity. Although it is sometimes hard to say “no” when situations arise, you need to consider between doing more or being more effective. You Choose!

Considering these three points, you will realize a proactive person is someone who has a choice, who also takes action on their aspirations. The only thing that holds a person back is themselves. Once the first step is taken, the rest fall into place. Remember, for things to change, I must first change.

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I had a short discussion with a client just a few days ago. She was describing that people like to upgrade many things in their lives, especially their mobile phones, houses, cars, computers and even their watches! Don’t forget ladies upgrading their diamond rings too (my wife wanted me to write this)!

However, how many of us actually spend enough time and resources to upgrade our mindset?

We tend to focus on things that will not last, shouldn’t we focus on things that will Add Value to the way we think? I mean, our mindset is the very thing that is constantly with us, right?

I previously shared with my clients that I used to start off as a small time trainer, working very hard for just $30/hr (way below market rate for trainers). This was pretty bad, knowing that there were many assignments that only engaged me for 2 hours only!

Things started to changed when I realised that my mindset was preventing me to earn more money. I started to work very hard on learning how to deliver well and even paid thousands of dollars to attend Seminars. I wanted to learn and was hungry to be among the best. After some time, I remembered earning $1250 dollars after a 4 hour training session! Wow, what a big change from the previous salary that I earned! This completely changed my mindset and expanded my belief systems. My boundaries started changing again when I made over $6500 after another 4 hour training session. This completely helped me realised that the only person who was giving me limiting belief systems was myself!

How we look at things really matter in life. Without a strong mindset and God’s guidance, I will not be where I was today. I encourage you to constantly invest in yourself to upgrade your mindset. It definitely pays dividends and will bring you to higher ground! Onwards and Upwards.

There is a very useful Personal Development Website that I found to be very useful in helping me grow. I hope it will add value to you as well.

If you like this article, please subscribe to our blog by getting the Free Report on “7 Transformational Secrets to creating a Dynamic and Cohesive Team”. If you have comments, I would love to hear them. Please post them below.

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