I recently read somewhere that success is a personal thing. I totally agree with that statement. Success, afterall, is how you define the word for yourself. Success for one person might mean earning a huge income. Success for someone else might be finding a path in life that they are passionate about. Nonetheless, successful people seem to share common traits.
I firmly believe whether you are a working women, a full-time mother or a blend of the two...being successful in life requires these traits:
The 12 traits/steps to Success:
1. Believe in yourself
2. Own your words...if you say it, mean it.
3. Maintain a positive attitude.
4. Have a dream.
5. Do one thing towards your dream consistently.
6. See problems as opportunities.
7. Never give up
8. Thoughts drive our actions which lead to our results.
9. Be prepared; mentally, physically, spiritually
10. Do unto others as you want done unto you
11. Take risks, learn to fail, get up
12. Give more than you take.
Showing posts with label heidi michaels. Show all posts
Showing posts with label heidi michaels. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Going Backwards to Move Forward?
I was just working with a client who told me she was leaving for a trip to India on December 26th, the day after Christmas. As she told me this, I was thinking, "wow, what a tough time to leave for a long trip to a far away land." She continued to tell me her reasons for going and how the trip came about. It all made sense...but I continued to wonder how she'd manage it all.
As we talked, she realized she had many thoughts and ideas whirling in her head about how she would manage it all. We often make our lists of all the things that need to happen in our heads. And, what happens? We begin to feel overwhelmed. The picture we create in our heads is of a list a mile long.
The first thing we did was to look ahead to the day she was leaving. How did she want to feel? She wanted to feel that everything was in order with work and her family so she could leave and not feel worried.
The key for my client was to work backwards from the outcome. Next step was to stop, remove the list from her head and write it down. It helps clearly map out the tasks that need to be addressed. Writing it down serves three purposes. First, it allows us to see what needs to happen. Next, it allows us to organize the list into categories, or blocks. And finally, we're able put into action, each day, small pieces to accomplish the final goal.
As she did this exercise, she laughed and said, I'm going to write on an index card the things I need to do each day. A GREAT idea. An index card does not allow for lots of writing. It's big enough for only 6-7 tasks. And six tasks is plenty to accomplish each day towards that final outcome of leaving for a trip and feeling no worries.
The other beauty of an index card? You can throw it away when you've crossed the tasks off the list.
Next time you're planning something big or working towards a goal. Take the time to work backwards, write down everything then chunk it down and use an index card to celebrate each day's accomplishments.
As we talked, she realized she had many thoughts and ideas whirling in her head about how she would manage it all. We often make our lists of all the things that need to happen in our heads. And, what happens? We begin to feel overwhelmed. The picture we create in our heads is of a list a mile long.
The first thing we did was to look ahead to the day she was leaving. How did she want to feel? She wanted to feel that everything was in order with work and her family so she could leave and not feel worried.
The key for my client was to work backwards from the outcome. Next step was to stop, remove the list from her head and write it down. It helps clearly map out the tasks that need to be addressed. Writing it down serves three purposes. First, it allows us to see what needs to happen. Next, it allows us to organize the list into categories, or blocks. And finally, we're able put into action, each day, small pieces to accomplish the final goal.
As she did this exercise, she laughed and said, I'm going to write on an index card the things I need to do each day. A GREAT idea. An index card does not allow for lots of writing. It's big enough for only 6-7 tasks. And six tasks is plenty to accomplish each day towards that final outcome of leaving for a trip and feeling no worries.
The other beauty of an index card? You can throw it away when you've crossed the tasks off the list.
Next time you're planning something big or working towards a goal. Take the time to work backwards, write down everything then chunk it down and use an index card to celebrate each day's accomplishments.
Monday, March 2, 2009
Preparing and Planning
Last night I gave a talk to a group of high school baseball players on the benefits of mentally preparing for both practice and games. Mental preparation for sports is a great parallel to life. Just as in sports it's important to prepare mentally for your day.
Mental preparation includes imagery, positive self talk, relaxation or arousal techniques. In athletics, these ingredients prepare the athlete for performance in allowing them to rehearse how they want their performance to go, stay relaxed and prepare a strategy. Having the mind rehearse the performance builds inner confidence, positive thoughts and thus a better performance.
In life use this principal to prepare for your day. Take the time each morning to lay out your day. See yourself handling a busy day with calmness, stay positive and work your plan. Visualize yourself handling the unexpected things with calmness and clarity. While you can't predict what exactly will happen in a day, you do have choices about how you react.
Your thoughts are in your control. Your thoughts direct your focus, confidence and performance. Think positively, direct your focus, plan your day, then confidently perform your best.
Mental preparation includes imagery, positive self talk, relaxation or arousal techniques. In athletics, these ingredients prepare the athlete for performance in allowing them to rehearse how they want their performance to go, stay relaxed and prepare a strategy. Having the mind rehearse the performance builds inner confidence, positive thoughts and thus a better performance.
In life use this principal to prepare for your day. Take the time each morning to lay out your day. See yourself handling a busy day with calmness, stay positive and work your plan. Visualize yourself handling the unexpected things with calmness and clarity. While you can't predict what exactly will happen in a day, you do have choices about how you react.
Your thoughts are in your control. Your thoughts direct your focus, confidence and performance. Think positively, direct your focus, plan your day, then confidently perform your best.
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Steps to Achieving A More Balanced Life
In general, Mothers have HUGE hearts and they give it all. They work until it hurts. They give to their children, spouses, friends, at work, volunteering...the list goes on and on. Most Moms also tend to get frustrated, stressed, exhausted, drained. Moms often try to solve this by working harder, giving more, doing more....really giving EVERYONE their all. And, it shows. Many times it shows in their health, in their well-being. Giving until it hurts is not sustainable.
However, there IS another way!
Most Moms want good health, energy and more time.
How do I know this? I was one of those Moms. I gave to everyone and everything, except myself. I felt guilty if I dared even think about doing something for me. Sit down, read a book? I just could not! There was always something to DO!
I live my life very differently now. I learned to slow down, live in the moment, fill myself up with what I love. This new way of living has enabled me to be fit, healthy, balanced and present for my family.
Here's four things you need to know:
1. Invest in yourself, NOW. Not tomorrow. TODAY.
Just as a financial advisor would tell you, if you want to save $10 a month, put it in your savings account first, then pay your bills. Same for YOU, fill yourself up then you'll know how much you have to give.
2. Get clear about what your personal values are, and start living them.
What's really important to you? Think about someone you most admire. What are the qualities of that person? Those qualities are important to you because they are also your personal values. Is honesty important to you? Then how can you live more honestly right now?
3. Know the first signs of stress and release them.
Pay attention to your body. How do you experience stress? How do you release it?
4. Set clear boundaries. Learn to say NO!
Sounds simple, doesn't it?
Well, the key to making changes in your life is not to just think about what and how to change...it's taking ACTION!
So, how will you invest in yourself TODAY? What action will you take?
What action will you take in getting clear about your values and then living them?
What action will you take to relieve your stress?
What do you need to say NO to in order to say YES to yourself?
However, there IS another way!
Most Moms want good health, energy and more time.
How do I know this? I was one of those Moms. I gave to everyone and everything, except myself. I felt guilty if I dared even think about doing something for me. Sit down, read a book? I just could not! There was always something to DO!
I live my life very differently now. I learned to slow down, live in the moment, fill myself up with what I love. This new way of living has enabled me to be fit, healthy, balanced and present for my family.
Here's four things you need to know:
1. Invest in yourself, NOW. Not tomorrow. TODAY.
Just as a financial advisor would tell you, if you want to save $10 a month, put it in your savings account first, then pay your bills. Same for YOU, fill yourself up then you'll know how much you have to give.
2. Get clear about what your personal values are, and start living them.
What's really important to you? Think about someone you most admire. What are the qualities of that person? Those qualities are important to you because they are also your personal values. Is honesty important to you? Then how can you live more honestly right now?
3. Know the first signs of stress and release them.
Pay attention to your body. How do you experience stress? How do you release it?
4. Set clear boundaries. Learn to say NO!
Sounds simple, doesn't it?
Well, the key to making changes in your life is not to just think about what and how to change...it's taking ACTION!
So, how will you invest in yourself TODAY? What action will you take?
What action will you take in getting clear about your values and then living them?
What action will you take to relieve your stress?
What do you need to say NO to in order to say YES to yourself?
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