For those of you who use Mozilla Firefox browser it's an absolute MUST to download the Page Addict add-on. Coolest add-on yet.
It monitors what web pages you spend your time on.
http://www.pageaddict.com/
Sunday, March 21, 2010
lessons from March madness
It was 60 degrees Thursday and Friday this week in Madison, WI. Saturday morning I woke up to snow on the ground.
Kansas lost to #9 seed Northern Iowa in the NCAA tournament. A remarkable 42% of all ESPN.com brackets had Kansas winning it all.
Expect the unexpected.
Following the crowd is a recipe for mediocrity. Be bold.
"A simple rule: Be fearful when others are greedy, and be greedy when others are fearful." Warren Buffett
Kansas lost to #9 seed Northern Iowa in the NCAA tournament. A remarkable 42% of all ESPN.com brackets had Kansas winning it all.
Expect the unexpected.
Following the crowd is a recipe for mediocrity. Be bold.
"A simple rule: Be fearful when others are greedy, and be greedy when others are fearful." Warren Buffett
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Getting better everday
Four More Great Lessons I've Learned.
1. Be a man of your word. Make sure people you vouch for earn the credit you give because your word is on the line. Never loan money you need to see again. I once vouched for a guy and he cost me $25,000 and almost cost me my job. My word was on the line and my job was also on the line and I decided being a man of my word was worth 25 grand. How much is your word worth? This was a valuable lesson to learn early in life.
2. Doing things for others to build their self esteem is the quickest way to boost your own self-esteem.
3. Start a success journal. Every night write down 3-5 things that were great about your day. Fixed a car. Won a game of cards. Held the door for someone. Told someone you loved them. Scored a goal in the game. Did something nice for a stranger. Landed a business deal. Overcame a fear. The point is to focus on the small successes, nothing is too big or too small to go in your journal.
4. The goal is to get a little better everyday. No one starts anything as an expert. Find something you enjoy doing and spend your time doing more of it. Gradually through hard work and perseverance you will become better.
"Getting better everday" (the inscription on my Tiffany's keychain) Read it again! Yes that's actually what it says and how it's spelled. Thank you Silvia at Diamonds on Wabash for helping me live my mantra. Next time you're in Chicago stop in and see Silvia. http://www.diamondsonwabash.com/
1. Be a man of your word. Make sure people you vouch for earn the credit you give because your word is on the line. Never loan money you need to see again. I once vouched for a guy and he cost me $25,000 and almost cost me my job. My word was on the line and my job was also on the line and I decided being a man of my word was worth 25 grand. How much is your word worth? This was a valuable lesson to learn early in life.
2. Doing things for others to build their self esteem is the quickest way to boost your own self-esteem.
3. Start a success journal. Every night write down 3-5 things that were great about your day. Fixed a car. Won a game of cards. Held the door for someone. Told someone you loved them. Scored a goal in the game. Did something nice for a stranger. Landed a business deal. Overcame a fear. The point is to focus on the small successes, nothing is too big or too small to go in your journal.
4. The goal is to get a little better everyday. No one starts anything as an expert. Find something you enjoy doing and spend your time doing more of it. Gradually through hard work and perseverance you will become better.
"Getting better everday" (the inscription on my Tiffany's keychain) Read it again! Yes that's actually what it says and how it's spelled. Thank you Silvia at Diamonds on Wabash for helping me live my mantra. Next time you're in Chicago stop in and see Silvia. http://www.diamondsonwabash.com/
10 keys to livings a successful life they won't teach you in school
These 10 keys are worth more than my 20 years I spent in school
1. Practice optimism every single day. Read something motivational or listen to your favorite song in the morning. It will seem silly at first though eventually it will "click" and change your life for the better. Nearly every successful person I've ever met is an optimist -- take the hint.
2. Mistakes are learning lessons, the more you make the more you learn.
3. Set and write down your goals and read them every day if you want them to come true. Make sure your goals are specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, timely
4. Surround yourself with people who bring out the best in you. Avoid "toxic" naysayers and anyone who lies, cheats, steals or doesn't keep their word.
5. The key to relationships is to ask people open ended questions about themselves they will enjoy answering. Add value to every relationship you are a part of.
6. Saying you know something and moving on it the most common trait of losers, winners always look for ways to improve
7. Tell people what you want and why and they will surprise you with the results.
8. Success leaves a trail. Read and learn everything you can about people who are successful at things that interest you. Learn what it takes to make it and go for it. Successful people do what others are not willing to.
9. Let people in your life know how much they mean to you by showing your appreciation whenever possible. Be different, go the extra mile.
10. Have a definiteness of purpose. Know what your priorities are and be willing to stand up, fight for and never give up on what you believe in most.
“Formal education will make you a living; self-education will make you a fortune.” Jim Rohn
1. Practice optimism every single day. Read something motivational or listen to your favorite song in the morning. It will seem silly at first though eventually it will "click" and change your life for the better. Nearly every successful person I've ever met is an optimist -- take the hint.
2. Mistakes are learning lessons, the more you make the more you learn.
3. Set and write down your goals and read them every day if you want them to come true. Make sure your goals are specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, timely
4. Surround yourself with people who bring out the best in you. Avoid "toxic" naysayers and anyone who lies, cheats, steals or doesn't keep their word.
5. The key to relationships is to ask people open ended questions about themselves they will enjoy answering. Add value to every relationship you are a part of.
6. Saying you know something and moving on it the most common trait of losers, winners always look for ways to improve
7. Tell people what you want and why and they will surprise you with the results.
8. Success leaves a trail. Read and learn everything you can about people who are successful at things that interest you. Learn what it takes to make it and go for it. Successful people do what others are not willing to.
9. Let people in your life know how much they mean to you by showing your appreciation whenever possible. Be different, go the extra mile.
10. Have a definiteness of purpose. Know what your priorities are and be willing to stand up, fight for and never give up on what you believe in most.
“Formal education will make you a living; self-education will make you a fortune.” Jim Rohn
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
fear of decisions syndrome
I've come to realize I get asked for a lot of advice.
It's quite an honor that people look to me for suggestions on how to handle things.
If they had any idea how many times I've made mistakes would they still want my advice?
I've come to the conclusion that most people suffer from "fear of decision" syndrome and in a panic they decide any advice is better than trusting my own judgment. But why are people so afraid to be wrong?
The average person gets so stressed out about making the wrong decision it paralyzes them from making any decision at all. Why do we fear making mistakes? Is it peer pressure or family pressure?
If mistakes are looked at as a necessary ingredient for success we should welcome mistakes with open arms.
It takes less courage to push through fear (whether right or wrong) than to live with the ongoing fear of making the wrong decision.
The sooner you decide, the sooner you can learn the lesson if you're wrong or move on to the next step if you're right.
Take calculated risks and trust your own judgment, because it's your judgment you have to live with, so the sooner you start trusting yourself the sooner you'll be on your way to making good decisions.
Looking back on it -- "experience" came from trusting myself and using my best judgment which does not always equal making the right decisions.
"Trust yourself. You know more than you think you do." Benjamin
Spock
It's quite an honor that people look to me for suggestions on how to handle things.
If they had any idea how many times I've made mistakes would they still want my advice?
I've come to the conclusion that most people suffer from "fear of decision" syndrome and in a panic they decide any advice is better than trusting my own judgment. But why are people so afraid to be wrong?
The average person gets so stressed out about making the wrong decision it paralyzes them from making any decision at all. Why do we fear making mistakes? Is it peer pressure or family pressure?
If mistakes are looked at as a necessary ingredient for success we should welcome mistakes with open arms.
It takes less courage to push through fear (whether right or wrong) than to live with the ongoing fear of making the wrong decision.
The sooner you decide, the sooner you can learn the lesson if you're wrong or move on to the next step if you're right.
Take calculated risks and trust your own judgment, because it's your judgment you have to live with, so the sooner you start trusting yourself the sooner you'll be on your way to making good decisions.
Looking back on it -- "experience" came from trusting myself and using my best judgment which does not always equal making the right decisions.
"Trust yourself. You know more than you think you do." Benjamin
Spock
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Ready, Fire, Aim
First off thank you for reading my blog!
My goal with this blog is to encourage you to believe in yourself, stray positively away from the crowd, make more mistakes, and in doing so, live a happier and more fulfilling life.
Mistakes are just lessons life is waiting to teach us on the road to success.
I hope these lessons collectively inspire and motivate you to live more optimistically, take more chances, and to actively pursue the life of your dreams.
"I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work." Thomas Edison
My goal with this blog is to encourage you to believe in yourself, stray positively away from the crowd, make more mistakes, and in doing so, live a happier and more fulfilling life.
Mistakes are just lessons life is waiting to teach us on the road to success.
I hope these lessons collectively inspire and motivate you to live more optimistically, take more chances, and to actively pursue the life of your dreams.
"I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work." Thomas Edison
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