MoTIvATioNaL aRTiCLes!

A 9 Step System for Achieving Your Goals
by Joe Gracia

1. START WITH THE END IN MIND:

The best way to set your goal is to visualize the end result you will achieve with your goal. Once your goal is achieved, what will you have?

If your goal is to write a book, then you should end up with a professional looking book in your hand. If your goal is to make $100,000 a year, then you will have that amount in sales at the end of the year.

2. BE SPECIFIC:

Don't say 'I want to make more money in 2001.'

Always make your goals specific.

'I want to make $50,000 in sales from my Web site by December 31, 2001.'

The more specific you are in setting your goals, the better success you will have in achieving them.

3. WRITE IT DOWN:

Put your goals in writing. Don't leave them floating in the air or in your mind. By writing your goals down, in a goal log, you make them tangible. They become real.

4. CREATE A PICTURE OF YOUR GOAL:

If you want to write a book, then create a representation of your book, or just clip a picture of a book and paste your title on it and post it someplace where you can see it every day.

If you want to create a Web site, then do the same. Create a visual representation of a Web site with your name on it and post it prominently.

The key here is that you want to be reminded of your goal every day so that you will constantly strive towards that goal.

5. RESEARCH THE STEPS YOU NEED TO TAKE:

You can't just say you want to create a Web site and have one magically appear. Every goal has certain steps that must be performed to achieve that goal.

This part is critical. You must learn what the steps are to achieving your goal, otherwise, you will never achieve it.

Go to the library and read every book you can find on the subject. Sign up for a course. Ask professionals for advice.

Find all of the free resources you can, but don't be afraid to invest in quality resources too. You can only learn so much from free resources.

The easiest and surest way to learn how to do something well, is to invest in resource materials from experts who already know the step-by-step systems for achieving the goals you want to achieve.


6. BREAK THE STEPS DOWN:

Once you understand the steps you must take to achieve your goal, it's time to break them down into simple, easy to accomplish segments.

While the entire goal may seem overwhelming, by breaking it down into smaller pieces, it will not seem so daunting.

7. SET DEADLINES:

A dream is a goal with a deadline.

Without a deadline you won't achieve most of your goals. Why? Because there are so many things in life that will take over your time, and before you know it, a year will have gone by and you will be no closer to your goal than you were before.

Set an overall deadline for the completed goal, and also set interim deadlines for each piece that needs to be accomplished.

A deadline must be a specific date, not just sometime before the end of the year, or when I get around to it.

If you miss a deadline, don't beat yourself up over it, just set new one and get back to working on the steps to your goal.

8. REWARD YOURSELF:

As you accomplish each step of your goal, reward yourself with something fun. A dinner out, or a new CD, or just a relaxing evening. Always associate rewards with accomplishing steps to your goals and goal achieving will become a fun experience that you look forward to. It will become a way of life.

9. DON'T GIVE UP:

Winston Churchill is credited with the shortest speech on record. It was presented to a college graduating class. He approached the podium, looked out over the audience and said slowly . . .

'Never, never, never, give up.'

Having made his point he then sat down.

It was probably the most profound advice these graduates ever received.

So much of success is simply not giving up.

Remember, the only time you fail is when you stop trying.

SOURCE: http://www.givetogetmarketing.com/motivate-goals.html
 
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Formula for Success

The more desire you have to improve some part of yourself, the more successful you'll become.

After every basketball game, a high school basketball coach watches the videotape and analyzes what the team did so he can reinforce the things the team did well and suggest ways to improve the things they didn't do well.

Just as the coach reviews the team's performance after every game so he can suggest ways to keep them in the win column, you should review your performance at work and develop a winning game plan. Actually, you can use the same strategy as the high school basketball coach. Here's the coach's winning formula:

Goals: First and foremost, you have to know what you're shooting for. In the team's case, it's to win. What are your goals at work? To be the best in your area or department? To get a promotion? To reduce the number of errors in your department? To increase productivity?

Skills: Once you have a goal, you must have the skills to be able to reach your goal. If you don't have them, you have to acquire them. If you want to be a computer programmer, for instance, then you must learn the language. Whatever you decide you want to do, you must learn and develop the skills necessary to put in a top performance every day.

Execution: Now, just having the skills doesn't mean you can use them well. You must be able to perform them to perfection. That means practice, practice, practice.

Support: We all need to work together to reach our goals. No one member of the basketball team can win the game alone. Players need one another and rely on one another to get the job done. The same applies at work (and at home and school too).

Leadership :The team has a captain or cocaptains -- leaders -- to ensure the team executes the coach's game plan. Companies need leaders who direct their efforts toward profitable endeavors.

Desire: Last, but by far not least, you must have the burning desire to reach your goal -- whatever that goal may be. You can possess the sharpest skills, execute them perfectly, and have the most support and the best leadership -- but if you don't care, chances are good you'll still fall short. You must WANT it. And that's what it takes to win. You can have anything you want if you want it desperately enough.

source: http://www.givetogetmarketing.com/motivate-success.html
 
Get Your Priorities Straight
by Maria Gracia

Once at workshop, a time management expert stood in front of the group he was presenting to and said, "Okay, time for a quiz."

He pulled out a one-gallon, wide mouthed mason jar and set it on a table in front of him. Then he produced a dozen large rocks and carefully placed them, one at a time, into the jar. When the jar was filled to the top and no more rocks would fit inside, he asked, "Is this jar full?" Everyone in the group answered, "Yes."

He replied, "Really?"

He reached under the table and pulled out a bucket of gravel. Then he proceeded to pour the gravel into the jar. He shook the jar, causing the pieces of gravel to work themselves down into the spaces between the rocks. He continued to do this until no more gravel could fit. Then he asked once more, "Is the jar full?"

By this time, the group was onto him. "Probably not," one of them answered. "Good!" he replied.

He reached under the table, brought out a bucket of sand and started dumping the sand in. It went into all the spaces left between the rocks and the gravel. Once more, he asked the question, "Is this jar full?"

"No!" the group shouted.

Once again he said, "Good!"

Then he grabbed a pitcher of water and began to pour it in until the jar was filled to the brim. He looked up at the group and asked, "All right, what is the point of this illustration?" One business professional raised her hand and said, "The point is, no matter how full your schedule is, if you try really hard, you can always fit more things into it!"

"No," the speaker replied, "that's not the point. The point is that if you don't put the big rocks in first, you'll never get them in at all."

What are the big rocks in your life? More time with your loved ones? Advancement in your education? Business growth? Greater wealth? Something else that you've always wanted to accomplish?

If you don't take the time to prioritize--put your major goals in first-- then all your time will be used up by less important things.

Make an appointment with yourself today to think about and reflect on this story. Ask yourself the question: What are the major goals in my life or business? Then, remember to put these major goals in first, or you'll never get them in at all.

source: http://www.givetogetmarketing.com/motivate-priorities.html
 
Change Your Point of View
by Joe Gracia

You've probably heard of Stephen Covey, author of "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People." He uses the word paradigm a lot, which simply means a belief, or a point of view.

Dr. Covey believes that you need to have a paradigm shift before you can make dramatic breakthroughs in your business success -- or your life.

Here's a story I heard a few years ago that illustrates the point perfectly.

Imagine you’re in London’s Heathrow Airport. While you’re waiting for your flight, you notice a kiosk selling shortbread cookies. You buy a box, put them in your traveling bag and then you patiently search for an available seat so you can sit down and enjoy your cookies.

Finally you find a seat next to a gentleman. You reach down into your traveling bag and pull out your box of shortbread cookies. As you do so, you notice that the gentleman starts watching you intensely. He stares as you open the box and his eyes follow your hand as you pick up the cookie and bring it to your mouth.

Just then he reaches over and takes one of your cookies from the box, and eats it! You’re more than a little surprised at this. Actually, you’re at a loss for words.

Not only does he take one cookie, but he alternates with you. For every one cookie you take, he takes one.

Now, what’s your immediate impression of this guy? Crazy? Greedy? He’s got some nerve?! Can you imagine the words you might use to describe this man to your associates back at the office?

Meanwhile, you both continue eating the cookies until there’s just one left. To your surprise, the man reaches over and takes it. But then he does something unexpected. He breaks it in half, and gives half to you.

After he’s finished with his half he gets up, and without a word, he leaves.

You think to yourself, "Did this really happen?" You’re left sitting there dumbfounded and still hungry. So you go back to the kiosk and buy another box of cookies.

You then return to your seat and begin opening your new box of cookies when you glance down into your traveling bag. Sitting there in your bag is your original box of cookies -- still unopened.

Only then do you realize that when you reached down earlier, you had reached into the other man’s bag, and grabbed his box of cookies by mistake.

Now what do you think of the man? Generous? Tolerant?

You've just experienced a profound paradigm shift. You’re seeing things from a new point of view.

Is it time to change your point of view?

Now, think of this story as it relates to your business. Perhaps you've been doing something the same way for years, but never stopped to think about how it could be done better. A little bit of research and brainstorming may make you see what you’re currently doing in a whole new light.

Maybe, you've only been using newspaper advertising to market your business, and haven’t been open to other methods of marketing.

Seeing things from a new point of view can be very enlightening.

Possibly, you've been annoyed at one particular client who may have complained about some aspect of your service, but when you actually take the time to understand his frustration and his point of view, you may suddenly experience an entirely different perspective.

After all, he may have just helped you to avoid problems with future customers.

Think outside the box. Don’t settle for the status quo. Be open to suggestions. Be open to changing your point of view.

Things may not be what they seem.

source: http://www.givetogetmarketing.com/motivate-pov.html
 
The Three Travelers

One night a group of nomads were preparing to retire for the evening, when suddenly they were surrounded by a great light.

They knew they were in the presence of a celestial being.

With great anticipation, they awaited a heavenly message of great importance that they knew must be especially for them.

Finally, the voice spoke.

"Gather as many pebbles as you can. Put them in your saddle bags. Travel a day's journey. Tomorrow night you will be both glad and sad."

Afterwards, the nomads shared their disappointment and anger with each other.

They had expected the revelation of a great universal truth that would enable them to create wealth, health and purpose for the world. But instead they were given a menial task that made no sense to them at all.

However, the memory of the brilliance of their visitor caused each one to pick up a few pebbles and deposit them in their saddle bags while voicing their displeasure.

They traveled a day's journey. That night, while making camp, they reached into their saddle bags and discovered that the pebbles they had gathered the night before had turned into beautiful and brilliant diamonds!

Indeed, they were both glad and sad, just as the voice had promised.

They were glad they now had beautiful and valuable diamonds. They were sad they had not gathered more pebbles when they had the opportunity.

The moral

If you spend time picking up the pebbles now -- learning all you can about marketing and working hard to apply it -- your future will then transform all that effort into great rewards.

source: http://www.givetogetmarketing.com/motivate-travelers.html
 
The Fisherman

A fisherman observed a snake swimming towards his boat.

When the snake reached the boat the fisherman could see that he had a frog in his mouth. Feeling sorry for the frog he reached down and carefully removed the frog from the snake’s mouth and set it free.

But then, feeling sorry for the snake he looked around to see what he could give him. He found a bottle of bourbon, poured a capful and gave it to the snake.

The snake then swam away.

The fisherman was feeling content from his good deeds when about ten minutes later he heard a knocking at the side of the boat.

When he looked over the side he saw the snake had returned . . .
this time with "two" frogs in his mouth.

The moral

It’s a universal truth. Give people -- or animals -- what they want and they’ll come back again and again. Even better, they’ll bring their family and friends back with them.

source: http://www.givetogetmarketing.com/motivate-fish.html
 
The Three Frogs

QUESTION: Three frogs sat on a log and one decided to jump off. How many frogs were left on the log?

ANSWER: Three.

Explanation: Although almost everyone answers "two," the correct answer is "three."

Just because the frog decided to jump off the log does not necessarily mean that it actually did it.

Is there a gap between what you decide to do and what you actually do?

source: http://www.givetogetmarketing.com/motivate-frogs.html
 
Shake It Off!

One day a farmer's donkey fell down into a well.

The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do.

Finally he decided the animal was old and the well needed to be covered up anyway, it just wasn't worth it to retrieve the donkey.

He invited all his neighbors to come over and help him. They all grabbed a shovel and began to shovel dirt into the well.

At first, the donkey realized what was happening and cried horribly. Then, to everyone's amazement, he quieted down.

A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally looked down the well and was astonished at what he saw.

With every shovel of dirt that hit his back, the donkey was doing something amazing. He would shake it off and take a step up.

As the farmer's neighbors continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it off and take a step up.

Pretty soon, everyone was amazed as the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well and trotted off!

Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt. The trick to getting out of the well is to shake it off and take a step up.

Each of our troubles is a stepping stone. We can get out of the deepest wells just by not stopping, never giving up!

Shake it off and take a step up!

source: http://www.givetogetmarketing.com/motivate-shake.html
 
Secret of Success
Author: Unknown
A young man asked Socrates the secret of Success. Socrates told the young man to meet him near the river the next morning. They met.
Socrates asked the young man to walk with him towards the river.
When the water got up to their neck, Socrates took the young man by surprise and ducked him into the water.
The man struggled to get out but Socrates was strong and kept him there until he started turning blue.
The young man struggled hard and finally managed to get out and the first thing he did was to gasp and take deep breath.
Socrates asked 'What you wanted the most when you were there?' The man replied 'Air'.

Socrates said 'that's the most secret to success. When you want success as badly as you wanted air, you will get it.
There is no other secret'.

source: http://www.heartnsouls.com/stories/e/s465.shtml
 
Sizzle! Sizzle!
Author: Neil Eskelin
Everyone likes excitement. When people bubble with personal energy, others enjoy being around them. Business firms like to hire a staff that brings zest to the establishment. Some national restaurant chains, for example, train their staff to form an impromptu ensemble and sing "Happy Birthday: or "Happy Anniversary" to their customers on special occasions. It produces more than noise. People keep coming back.

One restaurant, knowing how people respond to excitement, devised a special plan. When a customer ordered a steak dinner, the chef placed the meal on a hot steel plate. Then, just before the waiter left the kitchen, he would drop an ice cube on the platter.

The waiter was instructed, "Walk slowly to the table. We want everyone to hear the sound of that hot platter." It wasn't the steak that was sizzling, but the ice. The plan worked like instant advertising. If customers were in the process of ordering, they'd hear that sound and choose a steak. The sizzle produced the sale.

Today, think creatively. Ask yourself, "How can I add some excitement to what I plan to deliver?"

source: http://www.heartnsouls.com/stories/e/s448.shtml
 
Sitting on Your Talent
Author: Steve Goodier

There was a man played piano in a bar. He was a good piano player. People came out just to hear him play. But one night, a patron told him he didn't want to hear him just play anymore. He wanted him to sing a song.

The man said, "I don't sing."

But the customer was persistent. He told the bartender, "I'm tired of listening to the piano. I want that guy to sing!"

The bartender shouted across the room, "Hey buddy! If you want to get paid, sing a song. The patrons are asking you to sing!"

So he did. He sang a song. A piano player who had never sung in public did so for the very first time. And nobody had ever heard the song Mona, Mona Lisa sung the way it was sung that night by Nat King Cole!

He had talent he was sitting on! He may have lived the rest of his life as a no-name piano player in a no-name bar, but because he had to sing, he went on to become one of the best-known entertainers in America.

You, too, have skills and abilities. You may not feel as if your "talent" is particularly great, but it may be better than you think! And with persistence, most skills can be improved. Besides, you may as well have no ability at all if you sit on whatever talent you possess! The better question is not "What ability do I have that is useful?" It is rather "How will I use whatever ability I have?"


source: http://www.heartnsouls.com/stories/d/s378.shtml
 
Are You a Bucket-Filler or a Dipper?

You have heard of the cup that overflowed. This is a story of a bucket that is like the cup, only larger, it is an invisible bucket. Everyone has one. It determines how we feel about ourselves, about others, and how we get along with people. Have you ever experienced a series of very favorable things which made you want to be good to people for a week? At that time, your bucket was full.

A bucket can be filled by a lot of things that happen. When a person speaks to you, recognizing you as a human being, your bucket is filled a little. Even more if he calls you by name, especially if it is the name you like to be called. If he compliments you on your dress or on a job well done, the level in your bucket goes up still higher. There must be a million ways to raise the level in another's bucket. Writing a friendly letter, remembering something that is special to him, knowing the names of his children, expressing sympathy for his loss, giving him a hand when his work is heavy, taking time for conversation, or, perhaps more important, listing to him.

When one's bucket is full of this emotional support, one can express warmth and friendliness to people. But, remember, this is a theory about a bucket and a dipper. Other people have dippers and they can get their dippers in your bucket. This, too, can be done in a million ways.

Lets say I am at a dinner and inadvertently upset a glass of thick, sticky chocolate milk that spills over the table cloth, on a lady's skirt, down onto the carpet. I am embarrassed. "Bright Eyes" across the table says, "You upset that glass of chocolate milk." I made a mistake, I know I did, and then he told me about it! He got his dipper in my bucket! Think of the times a person makes a mistake, feels terrible about it, only to have someone tell him about the known mistake ("Red pencil" mentality!)

Buckets are filled and buckets are emptied ? emptied many times because people don't really think about what are doing. When a person's bucket is emptied, he is very different than when it is full. You say to a person whose bucket is empty, "That is a pretty tie you have," and he may reply in a very irritated, defensive manner.

Although there is a limit to such an analogy, there are people who seem to have holes in their buckets. When a person has a hole in his bucket, he irritates lots of people by trying to get his dipper in their buckets. This is when he really needs somebody to pour it in his bucket because he keeps losing.

The story of our lives is the interplay of the bucket and the dipper. Everyone has both. The unyielding secret of the bucket and the dipper is that when you fill another's bucket it does not take anything out of your own bucket. The level in our own bucket gets higher when we fill another's, and, on the other hand, when we dip into another's bucket we do not fill our own ... we lose a little.

For a variety of reasons, people hesitate filling the bucket of another and consequently do not experience the fun, joy, happiness, fulfillment, and satisfaction connected with making another person happy. Some reasons for this hesitancy are that people think it sounds "fakey," or the other person will be suspicious of the motive, or it is "brown-nosing."

Therefore, let us put aside our dipper and resolve to touch someone's life in order to fill their bucket.

source: http://www.inspirationalstories.com/4/458.html
 
kEEp MarKeTINg YOu..

Rejection and job searching go hand in hand. As a writer, I can tell you something about disappointment. I had enough "reject" slips from New York publishers to start a bonfire. Then one day, an editor said, "Yes," and my world was drastically transformed.

Ken Taylor began re-writing the Bible in a contemporary translation and had more than 60 rejections. He finally decided to self-publish "The Living Bible" and it became one of the greatest best-sellers in publishing history.

If you're qualified for a particular job, never stop interviewing -- even if you return to the same companies five or six times. Meanwhile, you need to accept an interim position to keep yourself gainfully employed. When you add lack of funds to job rejection, it's a double-whammy. Never overlook working for a "temporary" employment agency. It gives you a chance to demonstrate your skills to a number of companies and can open some exciting doors. As a last resort, start free-lancing your skills. Who knows? You may wind up with your own business and be your own boss! :tea:

source: http://www.inspirationalstories.com/6/605.html
 
LessONs FRom A raINy dAY...

August 26, 1999 is a day that many New Yorkers would probably like to forget. However, this New Yorker will always remember that day because that is the day that I learned what a powerful gift appreciation can truly be.

On August 26, 1999, New York City experienced a torrential downpour. The relentless rain caused the streets to flood. New York City's subway system came to a screeching halt as the subway stations were inundated with water. Unfortunately, this happened during the morning rush hour.

Many people who were going to work were stranded and forced to go home. Some battled with fellow New Yorkers to hail a cab or to get on a bus. Still others braved the storm, walking miles to get to work.

I happened to be one of people on her way to work that morning. I went from subway line to subway line only to find that most service had stopped. After running around like crazy and making my way through crowds of people, I finally found a subway line that was operating. Unfortunately, there were so many people waiting to board the subway that I could not even get down the stairs to the platform. Undaunted and determined to get to work, I decided to take the train uptown several stops and then switch back to the downtown train. It was a hassle, but it paid off. However, the train got more packed at each stop. People pushed and shoved. I was constantly hit with elbows and bags. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the train reached my stop.

But the journey was not over yet. I would still have to walk several blocks to get to my office. The rain had intensified, and no umbrella was enough to withstand the forces of Mother Nature. When I finally got to work, I was completely soaked and left a puddle of water everywhere I sat. I was also exhausted and discouraged from my commute.

My coworkers and I spent most of the day drying off. When 5:00 rolled around, I was ready to go home. I was about to log off my computer when I received an email from Garth, my Deputy Director. I opened the email and found the following message:

I would like to thank all those associates who made the effort and eventually reported to work. It is always reassuring, at times like these, when employees so clearly demonstrate their dedication to their jobs. Thank you.

As you can see, Garth's email was short, but I learned more from that brief message than I ever did from a textbook. The email taught me that a few words of appreciation can make a big difference. The rainstorm and the transit troubles had made me miserable and weary. But Garth's words immediately invigorated me and put a smile back on my face.

Garth's actions also made me realize that words of appreciation not only make you feel good but it also motivates and inspires you. After reading his email, I felt that coming to work that day was an accomplishment that I should be proud of. Suddenly getting drenched and the extremely long commute did not seem so bad. As a matter of fact, his email made the whole subway ordeal all worthwhile.

Sometimes we are so wrapped up in our lives that we forget the magical power of appreciation. Garth had been caught in the rain like the rest of us. He had to tend to his responsibilities. He also had to cope with the numerous absences in the five areas that he manages. And he had to take on his boss' responsibilities, as she was unable to get to work. Yet, he still found time to send an email thanking his employees for their dedication and the extra effort they had made to get to work. Garth taught me that I should never be too busy to show people my appreciation and to acknowledge the positive things they do. This was the most valuable lesson that anyone could ever give me. And for that, I will always be grateful to Garth.

August 26, 1999 may have been one of the darkest days in New York City history, but it was one of the brightest days in my life thanks to Garth.

SOURCE: http://www.inspirationalstories.com/7/795.html
 
A MIllion DollAr LessON....

A cab driver taught me a million dollar lesson in customer satisfaction and expectation. Motivational speakers charge thousands of dollars to impart his kind of training to corporate executives and staff. It cost me a $12 taxi ride.

I had flown into Dallas for the sole purpose of calling on a client. Time was of the essence and my plan included a quick turnaround trip from and back to the airport. A spotless cab pulled up. The driver rushed to open the passenger door for me and made sure I was comfortably seated before he closed the door. As he got in the driver's seat, he mentioned that the neatly folded Wall Street Journal next to me was for my use. He then showed me several tapes and asked me what type of music I would enjoy. Well! I looked around for a "Candid Camera!" Wouldn't you? I could not believe the service I was receiving! I took the opportunity to say, "Obviously you take great pride in your work. You must have a story to tell."

"You bet," he replied, "I used to be in Corporate America. But I got tired of thinking my best would never be good enough. I decided to find my niche in life where I could feel proud of being the best I could be. I knew I would never be a rocket scientist, but I love driving cars, being of service and feeling like I have done a full day's work and done it well. I evaluate my personal assets and... wham! I became a cab driver. One thing I know for sure, to be good in my business I could simply just meet the expectations of my passengers. But, to be GREAT in my business, I have to EXCEED the customer's expectations! I like both the sound and the return of being 'great' better than just getting by on 'average'"

Did I tip him big time? You bet! Corporate America's loss is the travelling folk's friend!

source: http://www.inspirationalstories.com/0/14.html
 
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