Keys to Productivity

   How many times have you decided to procrastinate work that needs to be done around the house to sit on the couch to watch television? If you said “not me” then you are not telling the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Everybody has done this. I have been especially guilty during July and August here in Las Vegas when it gets extremely hot in the summer. Anyone that says they haven’t procrastinated at least once doesn’t know the definition.

The opposite of procrastination is productivity.

   I was at a party recently when my cousin mentioned to her friend that she never watched movies, and the friend said she felt unproductive when she did that. Amen sister! I couldn’t agree more because I need to feel productive each day or I am unfulfilled. My day starts by opening my journal and seeing what I have in store for me that day. Then I begin attacking it.

   When you aren’t productive during the day you fail to reach your potential. Each day that goes by where you don’t meet your potential is one day wasted. Add those days up and they become months and years WASTED! Whenever you don’t do what needs to be done each day you hold yourself back because now the stuff that didn’t get done today is added to tomorrows stuff. If you have to play catch up it keeps you from moving forward.

   One of the keys to productivity is to finish your to do list. One reason people get down on themselves is because they take thirty minutes to create a ten item list and do just four things. That is discouraging. When you make a to do list make sure each item can be done that day. Then make it your mission to complete it no matter what. Develop the habit of doing this each day and you will be more productive than ever.

   Another key is if television or video games are your problem then do something valuable instead. Read a book, take a walk, call family, or something else that will inspire you. Most people get bored and turn the TV on instead of opening a book. Don’t let this be you anymore. Instead of grabbing the remote and plopping on the couch start doing something that is going to help you make life changes.

   The third key is that once you have your goals written down you work towards them each day. It can be baby steps, but there should be progress. Your work during the day needs to point you towards your goals. When you add this discipline you will start to see your goals on the horizon and you will gain so much from becoming the person who could accomplish them.

   When you are productive it eliminates unwanted stress. How do you feel when you lack productivity? Usually not very good because you just put it off to whenever you decide to get around to it. Lack of productivity at work can get you fired, and lack of productivity in your personal life can lead to frustration, anxiety, and sadness.

   Today make a to do list and complete each item on it. Start small. Wait until you see what that small accomplishment does for your confidence. Daily productivity is a big step in making life changes. If you have the philosophy of procrastination then change it. You can do it! Make the decision to make each day as productive as you can. Nothing should stop you!

  

Your Personal Philosophy

                                                 

   Your philosophy is the wisdom you have gained throughout your life from various sources. Usually when you think of philosophy you think of Plato, Aristotle, Socrates, or William James. Even philosophy is in books like Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand. That book is dripping with her philosophy. Your personal philosophy comes in many different ways throughout your life. Your personal philosophy is a major factor in shaping your destiny.

   Your personal philosophy comes in two ways. It comes from your experience and other people’s experience. Your philosophy starts when you grow up. When you’re a child your philosophy is shaped by your parents. What they think and believe is instilled in you at an early age. There are many ways that can go. On the good side if you are taught the philosophy of hard work and doing your best that will shape you as you get older. However, if the philosophy is just trying to get by and blaming other people for your problems then you could go in another direction based on that philosophy.

  Your philosophy is as simple as walking around the block instead of watching television, or reading a book instead of going to happy hour. Each one of those is a different philosophy. To find out why you are where you are just look at your philosophy. What were the decisions you made based on it? Take a long look back and see. You may not like what you find.

   The first way to develop your own personal philosophy is by your habits. Good habits bring good things and of course bad habits bring bad things. Yes it’s that simple. If you develop the habit of working hard and putting in a good days work every day then you can expect your income to increase and promotions to follow. If your habit is to do just enough and complain about pay then you will struggle to make ends meet.

    Any person that doesn't do something because they don’t get paid enough will always make that amount of money because of their philosophy. Your philosophy leads you. If you are struggling right now and don’t feel your life is going anywhere then you need to examine your philosophy. What do you need to change? What do you need to read? Who can you talk to? These are just a few ways that can help you in changing your philosophy if the one you have is leading you down the wrong road.

   Many people play the blame game. Don’t let this be you. Instead of refining their philosophy to initiate life change they blame taxes, the government, their friends, their boss, and their family. It’s always someone else’s fault except theirs. These people do not take responsibility for their lives. They go nowhere because they refuse to change their philosophy and do it on their own. The people who blame others also want to wait on someone to come by and push them. What happens if they don’t show up?

   You can’t wait for someone else. You have to do it on your own. If you take the time to improve your philosophy you will see life change begin immediately. As you continue to change your philosophy it will give you a new level of confidence and get you going in the right direction.

   

Motivation Monday: Becoming Better

“Don’t wish it was easier wish you were better. Don’t wish for less problems wish for more skills. Don’t wish for less challenge wish for more wisdom.” – Jim Rohn

   How many times have you found your life spinning out of control and you didn’t know what to do? Probably a few times. Most people want things to be easier. If only the situation was easier then everything would be different. You have to be better. You have to rise to the occasion no matter what the situation is.

   When you wish for fewer problems and challenges then you aren’t making the kind of changes that will put you in a better position to handle them. If you are struggling to find a job then learn new skills. Learn skills that make you grow then when problems arise you will be far better equipped to handle them and they won’t seem nearly as difficult. Why? Because you will know what to do.

   Wisdom is achieved by learning from your experience and other people’s experience. Make a point to educate yourself in whatever your challenge is. Find ways to solve the problem. Don’t wish for it to go away because of the person you’ll become in conquering the challenge. Too often in hoping problems and challenges go away you can miss a glorious opportunity. Many times what seems like the worst thing ever can present you with opportunities you never expected.

   Be patient. Nothing usually goes as bad as you think it will if you take the time to improve yourself. Take 100% responsibility for your life. Make it a point today to get better, learn new skills, and gain more wisdom. Then when trials and tribulations happen you will be ready.

Take Action First - Do it Now!

      

For years I thought that I needed to feel good, or have the right frame of mind to get anything done. I had heard and read that you take action first and then your feelings and thoughts will change. I never believed it. Then I decided to try it. I didn’t feel like writing one day. Instead of just shutting down the laptop I decided to just start writing even though I wasn’t in the right “frame of mind.” What happened blew me away. When I took action I ended up writing for four hours and low and behold I felt like it.

   I had acted myself into feeling. I was amazed. That decision changed my whole perspective. Since that day I have taken action when I needed to get something done, and even though I may not be in the mood I was so glad it was done. When you take action you will almost automatically feel good about it. It will put a smile on your face.

   Taking action does many things like eliminate stress, improve self-confidence, stop laziness, and it will give you a feeling of accomplishment. When you take action on what is important in your life it will take you to another level. It will help you change your philosophy on getting things done. No longer will you rely on your thoughts and feelings first.

   W. Clement Stone coined a simple three word phrase that has had an impact on personal development since it was first coined. That phrase is “Do it Now.” Stone said by just uttering that phrase will get you to start moving. It sounds hokie and over simplistic. At least that’s what I thought. What I found was that it really does move you. It’s almost like you hear another voice pushing you to improve.

   Taking action on what is important will have a tremendous impact on your life. The feeling of success will overwhelm you. How good does it feel when you have a “to do list” and you are able to cross everything off? It feels great. You become energized to do even more. Once you take action once it leads to more action. That’s just the way life is.

   Look at yourself. What have you delayed doing that is important? Think about this. Then take action on it immediately. Do it now. Don’t wait. Become a person who takes action and gets things done. It will change your life.

What will You Sacrifice?

  

This Charles DuBos quote had a massive impact on my life. It put into perspective what was required to experience total life change. Here is the quote:

“The important thing is this: To be willing at any moment to sacrifice what you are for what you would become.”

   The phrase sacrifice what you are really hit me between the eyes. I had never thought of it this way before. For the first time I realized that sacrifice was a major part of the life change process. Webster’s defines sacrifice as: Giving something up for the sake of something else; act of giving up. When you make the decision to sacrifice something that void has to be filled in another way. For something else.

   As I meditated on that quote for days I began thinking about what I needed to sacrifice. Sacrifice to me means giving up things you may enjoy that are not valuable for something that is. Are you willing to sacrifice happy hour each night and read life changing material instead? Will you sacrifice watching bad re-runs and watch an inspirational video? Will you sacrifice a donut to go for a walk around the block?

   What you sacrifice has to be important to you otherwise it isn’t a real sacrifice. Also, if you sacrifice one thing that isn’t valuable for another then you will get nowhere. You have to be willing to make real changes to become who you want to be. People think that their life will be over if they seriously cut back on watching television. As if their life would be over if they didn’t watch Seinfeld every night. That of course is nonsense.

   If you are really serious about life change then you should be more than willing to make real sacrifices otherwise you need to examine what you really want. I replaced television with reading and study, or writing. I thought it would bother me, but to be honest I don’t miss it at all. I find now that when the television is on I get irritated because I find it to be a tremendous waste of time. I’m not saying I never watch TV, but it has to be something that provides value to me.

   Take the time to write down everything you do on a regular basis. Whatever it is. Then on another piece of paper make two columns and label one side valuable and another one not valuable. You know the difference. The key with this exercise is to be honest with yourself. You know a reality show isn’t really valuable no matter how you spin it. Look at your original list and begin to fill the columns. Then decide what you will sacrifice and what you can do instead that will help you grow.

   If you find seven things you need to sacrifice don’t try to stop them all at once. This can be very difficult and discouraging. Try one a month at first. Make a point of not doing this one thing for a month and doing something else. Then write down how that worked for you. What you will soon see is that if you’re honest with yourself you won’t miss it at all. The reason is because you have gained so much from replacing it with something valuable.

   When you fill your life with things that help you make life changes and you see the results you will be more than willing to make more sacrifices. You need to take your life seriously and not do things just because they are fun. I have found as much enjoyment from personal growth then I ever did from watching TV or other things I have sacrificed over time. Invest in yourself. Be willing to do whatever it takes to have the life you dreamed of. What are you willing to do?

  

Experiencing Total Life Change

  

 

What does it mean to experience total life change? For me it started when my former wife was diagnosed with leukemia. I wanted to be a better person than I was and that I needed to change. What I found out early was that she needed as much encouragement and positivity that I could give her. I was very negative at the time, but I learned that the more I helped her the more I helped myself. The total life change for me when I started a website called Fight CLL to help people with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL).

   As I began writing articles to try to inspire people on Fight CLL I inspired myself. My life was changing by trying to change other people’s lives. I started practicing life changing principles and everything I had done before was changing. Then I read Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill. This book changed it all for me. I learned how to think about my life and what I could do to continue the changes I had already made. Napoleon Hill taught me that the way I viewed my life was flawed. It had to change.

   I have devoured the book several times. It moves me any time I study it. I found new gold nuggets whenever I read it. The book was truly life changing for me and began my obsession with personal development. I have a beautiful copy of it and it’s one of my most prized possessions. That was how life change began for me.

   How can life change begin for you? It starts with figuring out how you do things in your life. Eric Hoffer said, “To become different from what we are, we must have some awareness of what we are.” You have to figure out what you do wrong and start changing it. If you continue to do the same things you’ve always done you will continue to get the same results. It needs to change. If you want to know how the next five years of your life are going to go? Look at the last five unless you change. Don’t repeat the same mistakes you made during the previous five years. Make the next five different.

   I sat down and listed all the things I did wrong, and believe me it was a long list, and I was determined not to do them again. It isn’t easy and I still struggle in certain areas, but I am always working towards changing it. Life change doesn’t happen overnight. The epiphany to desire life change was instant for me, but the changes have taken years.

   You have to be committed to make the changes in your life to get the results you want. When you make real changes to your life the results are immediate. That’s what I have found. The more I commit to doing the right things then more often the right things happen. One of my favorite quotes is this gem by Charles DuBos, “The important thing is this: to be able at any moment to sacrifice what we are for what we would become.” I couldn’t have said it better.

   There are sacrifices that need to be made to affect life change. You have to be willing to give things up that are not valuable to your life. Surround yourself with things and people who bring value. There will be things that you don’t want to give up and it can be difficult. It was for me. However, having the discipline to do it will allow you to reap the rewards of the sacrifice. What you will find is that what may seem difficult to give up wasn’t difficult at all. Why is that? Because you will see the results. It’s easy to make changes when you see how making the changes improve your life.

   When you see your life changing you will want more. That’s what happened to me. As good things happen in your life then nothing will be able to stop you. This may surprise you, but achieving life change isn’t the ultimate goal because you will never achieve perfection. The key to life change is the person you become in the process. The changes you make will impact you and the others around you. When you become more from making life changes that’s when you have truly achieved.