What NOT to Mix in Life

We are always told what to do, what action to take, what book we should read, what organization we should join, etc. The advice is out there in a big way should you choose to seek its word. I'd like to take a different approach and discuss some things in life that should not be mixed - and you will be a better person and most likely more successful by doing so.

This list by all means should be bigger - so if I capture your attention - tell me if you agree or disagree and I want to know what should be added from your perspective.

Don't Mix - Drinking & Driving.

This is probably a no brainer for most of you and not even remotely an issue, but for certain people it's most definitely a problem. I'm a bit younger and know that it happens all the time - and it happens in your town as well as mine. So drink as you wish, but don't ever get your car keys involved.

Don't Mix - Money & Emotion.

Not an easy one to really grasp - but it applies to everybody. It's simple, do not make rash financial decisions based on your emotions. When decisions are based on emotions - rationality tends to escape you. I often use the old rule, wait one week and see how you feel about that same decision - reducing emotions impact and allowing you to make a grounded decision.

Don't Mix - Dishonesty & your Career.

Who am I kidding, this should say "dishonesty and life" right? Not so fast, that's a bit too generic to swallow and take from. Your job, profession, career - whatever it is that you do for a living - maintain an underlying principle of integrity and honesty. Your job is no different than life - there are tough times, there is bad news, there are people that you don't like and people that might not like you - but being honest and true to yourself will pay dividends now and for a long time to come. Being dishonest and hoping that someone, like your boss, doesn't find out is no way to go about your business - and is quite unprofessional. So, it's not always easy, when things get sticky or you have to deliver bad news just stick to your guns, be yourself and be honest.

Don't Mix - Negativity & Action Assessment

Due to the weak title of this last one, I owe you a bit of an explanation. Anytime your mind escapes to pondering taking action on a dream, a conflict, any decision in your life where you are considering and evaluating options - keep negativity far far away. You hear it time after time - "can't" should simply not be a word that you use when it's a matter of your abilities or doing something you know is challenging, something that might require a lot of hard work and dedication. Your attitude and frame of mind are consequently critical to the decisions you make and the ultimate direction of your life.

5 Methods to Improve Productivity & Efficiency

Most people could benefit from improving efficiency and becoming more productive in all aspects of life, whether it's your job, grocery shopping, managing your email inbox, paying your bills, etc.

Proper planning and simple steps taken can pay dividends and ultimately make a big impact on your life. Here are some easy things you can do everyday to get things done:

Take 5

Everyday, dedicate 5 minutes in the morning to plan what you need to accomplish in that day. The more detailed you can get the better. If you can plan your day down to buckets of time to complete specific tasks - then do it.

As your day winds down, take 5 minutes before you go to bed to reflect on the day. What was accomplished? How did you progress towards your goals? What problems were solved? What new problems need to be addressed? Document the days' important moments and milestones.

If you commit yourself to doing this everyday, you are sure to get more accomplished than if you blindly attack each day. And by doing so, you are creating a journal, or a log of what you are doing to reach your goals, how you are addressing life's problems, etc. Then at the end of each week, each month, each year - you can again reflect back upon your performance. Becoming more conscious of how you are utilizing your time is key to becoming more efficient and productive in life and in business.

Do it 7 Times in a Row

Develop weekly challenges and do something to better yourself for 7 days. This creates a foundation to build upon. Once you get used to disciplining yourself for a week you begin to build the confidence needed to attack bigger and better obstacles. If you are persistent in setting and achieving 7 day challenges, you learn how strong you can be and that you can accomplish anything that you set your mind to. Try it out and make sure you again keep a log or journal of your challenges and what it took to complete the challenge.

The 3 D's

I love the rule of the 3 D's - Do it, Delegate it, or Delete it. Are you unorganized? Do you procrastinate? Is your inbox always full? If you keep in mind and live by the 3 D's - you will most likely simplify your life, reduce clutter and become quite a bit more productive. The basis of this rule is to not put things off. Life's lessons have taught us that putting something off makes it instantly harder and tougher to deal with.

Begin with the End

Learning to visualize can prove to be such a valuable tool for success. Think about it. How can you really come to the end if you don't know where you are going? Not only does visualizing help you plan, but it can be a foundation for ideas and getting yourself organized. Before you start any project, business, task - spend as much time as it takes to identify exactly what you expect to accomplish and exactly what the desirable end result is going to be. Do not start something without planning first. Again, documentation and tracking your progress is crucial.

Attitude is Everything

There are so many great quotes on attitude. I have commented on a few in prior posts. The one thing you can control when you wake up everyday is your attitude - and it shows. Your attitude becomes very transparent and it shines through your work. Having the right attitude can be the difference between being highly productive or being unorganized and unproductive. When you wake up, tell yourself how lucky you are to have today to make a difference in your life - and someone else's life for that matter.

Reflection is critical. As you may have noticed, in all 5 methods to improve your efficiency as a person in life, keeping record of your actions and behavior is essential for continuous growth.

10 days of Inspirational Quotes & Thoughts: Day 5

In continuing the discussion on pulling inspiration and motivation from great quotes, I've chosen one that hits the negative thinkers of the world.

"The longer we dwell on our misfortunes, the greater is their power to harm us."

Initial Thoughts: Bad things happen every day and they happen to people that may not be deserving of misfortune. When one lets an occurrence run their lives for an extended period of time, the stronger and more impactful that misfortune becomes. It's initial impact only cuts deeper and gains strength if it isn't concsiously addressed. If you are in a situation where it's tough not to dwell on something, take the word "can't" out of your thought process - and know that you have the will and the power to change - even turning your misfortune into a personal motivator or driver.

Digging Deeper: There are different matters of misfortune in our lives. Losing a loved one is much different than say losing your job. Both are very misfortunate happenings, however, it's much more difficult to overcome the emotional impact of losing a loved one. That is where your network of family and friends can be of great value. The quote still holds true, as dwelling on the fact that one has passed will only keep your spirits pinned down. I plan to touch on this subject more in a later post.

Let's use the second misfortune mentioned - losing your job or simply being broke. Yes, you may not have deserved it, but it happened didn't it? This is where you have the power to turn things around. Thinking positively and churning the negative thinking that comes with dwelling out of your psyche is a must. You CAN get a new job and WILL. If you are broke, maybe you've made some regrettable financial decisions. Well guess what, YOU can stop digging that hole and climb your way out by making smarter decisions - laying a foundation for the future and never turning back. Educate yourself if you have to on becoming financially literate.

What to Walk Away With: Again, bad things happen to everybody. Maybe you've been dealt a bad hand. It's in your power to change your cards. Develop methods to change your mindset to overcome challenging times - be the master of your own behavior - dwelling on a situation will literally keep you standing in place, and probably send you backwards.

10 days of Inspirational Quotes & Thoughts: Day 4

I've decided to finish out working through some awesome quotes before I get into my journey that took me through Guatemala and Honduras for the last ten days or so. It was an adventure and experience that I will definitely never forget - and one that I look forward to sharing. So today's quote is definitely one of my personal favorites and one that many people who feel like they have been "unlucky" throughout their life should take a second to reflect on and think about.

"The harder I work, the luckier I get" - Samuel Goldwyn

Initial Thoughts: Working hard and committing yourself to something you stand behind is the first step towards catching breaks or getting "lucky". Yes, some people truly do get lucky and win millions in the lottery, or are simply born into a very privileged family. Some may consider those folks as being lucky. But even considering those lottery winners or flat out lucky people is really taking this quote out of context.

Digging Deeper: Many people feel as though they just can't catch a break and are destined to fail because they simply have "bad luck". Well, that is crap and just isn't true. Now, if that is your mindset and you've given up on overcoming these challenges that coincide with bad luck - then you most likely will continue to experience such unfortunate times. It goes back to a previous quote I have covered, "I think, therefore I am." If you think you are just an unlucky person, chances are your fortunes will not be desirable.

Getting to the essence of the quote, it's about putting yourself in a position to achieve results that are to your liking, that meet your goals, and that get you closer to the ideal life that you would like to live. Working hard does not go unnoticed, whether you are on a competitive team in a large corporation - or trying to establish your own business in your local community. It's really amazing what you can do with some intense focus and hard work. People will notice.

What to Walk Away With: In life, it's simple, it's those that commit to working hard that wind up successful. It's those folks that are viewed by the younger generations that think to themselves "wow, that guy is lucky to be able to travel the world" - but chances are, that guy has put in years of hard work in order to achieve goals that ultimately lead to a place in life that many people will never get to and that many consider to be "lucky".