"Never say Never, because Limits, Like Fears, are only an Illusion."

MJ

"Just remember, once you're over the hill you begin to pick up speed."

Arthur Schopenhauer

Five Tips to Help Strengthen Will Power

"Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will." Mahatma Gandhi

Gandhi wasn't physically a huge man but he will forever be remembered for breaking the British shackles from the  Indian colony...

According to Baumeister, willpower is not a personality trait, a skill or a virtue. Instead, it operates like a muscle. And as such, it can be strengthened - but also easily exhausted (Baumeister 2003).

Act in line with our highest goals, and not with our immediate appetites. 

Challenges are there to limit successes, but with the right attitude and willpower we still can achieve extraordinary feats...

In the 1960s, Walter Mischel tested four-year-old children for self-control in "The Marshmallow Test": the children were each given a marshmallow and told that they can eat it anytime they want, but if they waited 15 minutes, they would receive another marshmallow. Follow up studies showed that the results correlated well with these children's success levels in later life.

Focus on long term goals... like a career path... 

Five Tips to Help Strengthen Will Power

1. Reset your internal hard drive: Know thyself... Focus on your goal: Intensity beats extensity every time... "You are the only person on earth who has your ability." Zig Zigler
2. Surround yourself with the right people: "Tis better to be alone than in bad company." George Washington. Understand the demand placed on you by your relationships and prioritize.
3. Get to work: Stop analyzing, over thinking or doubting... start doing... read biographies, research alternatives, ask people.... keep working on it... "I don't wait for moods. You accomplish nothing if you do that. Your mind must know it has got to get down to work." - Pearl S. Buck
4. Believe: “You may fetter my leg, but Zeus himself cannot get the better of my free will” Epictetus quotes (Greek philosopher associated with the Stoics, AD 55-c.135. Fear Nothing: Nihil Timendum Est. You're never failing once you're trying... the only true failure is failing to try...
5. Take good care of your physical body: Eat well, sleep well and dress well and every other thing you do will be done well...

References:

http://www.ideafit.com/library/how-to-strengthen-willpower-part-1

Photo Courtesy: http://www.articlesweb.org/lifestyle/strengthen-your-willpower

Men of Honor!

I can't propose that everyone wants to be the best they can and live life the right way, but for those of us that do... here's a tip for change... Lead a life of honor... Respect authority, our parents, our spouses, our relatives and everyone we come across. We may not agree with others all the time but because of our quest to become the best, we'll honor them.

The irony of such an ideology is that some people may think that they are being honorable for the sake of others, but that's not the case... We lead honorable lives for ourselves. We're the ones that have to live with ourselves anyway.

Men of honor keep their head up and do what's right out of respect for themselves.

It's true that sometimes we may fall off the wayside of the track we would like to live, but a great philosopher once said, "It's not where you stand that matters, but the direction you are going".

Let's continue to sow seeds of greatness in our lives by living honorably and kick negatives like pride, jealousy, sarcasm and disrespect out the door. Remember, this doesn't mean we're weak, but it shows our strength to deliver upon our own expectations.








Photo Courtesy:
http://www.du.edu/studentlife/studentconduct/honorcode.html


Pic

A Better Man Post #1

“ No longer talk at all about the kind of man a good man ought to be, but be such. ”

— Marcus Aurelius Antoninus

STRATEGY; The Art of Transforming Ideas Into Action

Focus on a lifestyle that bridges the gap between knowing and doing.


With each passing day, moment, second... life is slipping away... Make it count by being the best every moment requires.


"Space we can recover. Time, never." Napoleon Bonaparte

"A man's whole life is a succession of moment after moment".

If one fully understands the present moment,

there will be nothing else to do, and nothing else to pursue. 

Live being true to the single purpose of the moment."

Yamamoto Tsunetomo

Pressure Makes Diamonds

Embrace challenges...

Limits, like fears, are often just an illusion...

MJ

“Ne Te Quaesiveris Extra.”

“Do not seek outside yourself... Look within ..."

Employ the Key of Confidence... Always...

Constantly second guessing yourself is very dangerous. Fortune is a woman and whoever wants her must be adventurous, as opposed to proceeding cautiously. I love the way Robert Greene shed more light on the subject of confidence in chapter 28 of his bestseller, "The 48 Laws of Power". He says, Enter Actions with Boldness: If you are unsure of a course of action, don't attempt it. Hesitation puts obstacles in your path, boldness eliminates them."

In life, not many people get second chances... It's not a Nintendo game, there's no replay button... Move ahead, forge forward with confidence and if you're lucky and you have a second chance of doing it again... Then make it better. 

I have no doubt in my mind that the human being is an amazing machine... a machine which, if maintained and efficiently maximized, can do miracles... As individuals, opportunities are limitless for those who eliminate the barriers of fear. Don't be a scientific calculator with an an owner who uses it for only basic arithmetic.

A favorite quote of mine goes thus, "On the lands of hesitation, lay the bones of countless millions who on the dawn of their victory lay down to rest, and while resting they died"...

I'll end this heartfelt rant and begin my weekend with the following Latin line: 

Nihil Timendum Est... 

Fear Nothing.

The Pen is the Tongue of the Mind

Photo Courtesy: http://www.flickr.com/photos/qisur/4350431493/

No Fear. No Surprise. No Hesitation. No Doubt.

Richard Templar

B.A., M.A., Ph. D. & Everything Else!

On the first day of 2011, a friend of mine called and asked what I had planned for 2011? I answered without a second's hesitation, "To keep moving forward"... Today, the last day of 2011, I thought I'll pen a few words to mark the occasion.

In a sense, I have moved forward. I've been to places I've never imagined, both geographical and situational. I've stood in harms way to help complete strangers in ways that are most humbling, I've earned much more money than I ever had in a single year and I endured the most painful loss of the single most influential person in my life; my father. Come to think of it... In the midst of all that... At the end of 2011, I have moved forward and I'm still here...

My father always humorously recited the following joke. "Earning a B.A. degree means; Begin Again. Earning an M.A. degree means; More After and earning a Ph.D. degree means; to Push Harder Daily".

In essence, regardless of one's success in life, one thing should always remain paramount. Never to rest on your laurels.

That's the plan for 2012! Don't Rest on Your Laurels!

http://www.sixthcircuitappellateblog.com/recent-cases/

Leadership & Legacy; Beginning with the End in Mind

"No one can go back and make a new start, but anyone can start from here and make a brand new end"... It's never too late to build a leadership legacy you'll be proud of. At the end of your current position, after your academic/professional career, at the end of your life... what message would you like to be remembered by? These questions go a long way in shaping the person we choose to be and the message we would like to leave behind.

Leadership, as a topic, has been a major point of discussion for centuries and we're still redefining the concept, learning its diverse array of theories and experimenting on what styles best fit our identity. The dimension of your current role isn't as important as leaving a message for others that inspires achievement, improvement and sustainability.

As an older sibling, a parent, teacher, a manager or CEO, regardless of our scale of influence, we are all leaders and the earlier we embrace this role and learn as much as possible, the better. Be it short term, long term or even over a lifetime... any activity we carry out should be an opportunity to be a positive example to others.


I've always believed in beginning with the end in mind. Having a vision aids our execution along the way. Focus on the message, play with the concept and eventually your heart will settle on a brand message that fits.

The greatest leaders have shaped their legacies this way, building ideals that inspire others; Martin Luther King Jr. had a dream, Obama: Hope, Einstein: Intuition and imagination, Steve Jobs: Innovation & Design, my father: Education and Faith, and many others who have blazed the trails of success and taught us how to be better people and inspiring leaders.


Here are my 5 essential elements necessary to building the ultimate leadership legacy:

1. Consistent Message: 

A common Latin saying goes as such; "Repetition is the mother of learning". Practice whatever ideals you want to be remembered by and make sure you believe in them 100%... and if that single model, be it tenacity, attitude, grit, integrity, does not fit so well as your vanguard mantra, then change it... but it's very important to pay attention to your brand message  as well as its growth and development.

2. Define Your Expertise: 

To build anything that will last, impeccable quality is paramount. You know what they say about a "Jack of all trades"! Your work, your job, your responsibility to delivering quality products speaks volumes. Look for a niche you can perform better than anyone else and apply yourself to it. We're all unique and there are certain assignments that best fit our skill set other than others. History shows that people who have left behind dynamite legacies are those who found something they loved doing and applied a good amount of enthusiasm.

3. Execute Your Strategy Regardless of Convenience: 

To build a true image that stands the test of time does not happen by coincidence. You will require the necessary ingredients of champions; discipline, tenacity, persistence and patience. Of course, if these characteristics were so easy to embrace then everyone will be a champion. We must remember that there is a gap between knowing and doing and the more we actually bridge this gap the closer we are to becoming the leader we hope to be.

4. Focus on Doing the Best You Can, Not Perfection:

Of course, we say it all the time, "To err is human" or "No one is perfect"... and no one is expected be be... but what is most important, all the time, is to deliver on our word. Even delivering on our expectations or that of others 100% of the time might seem like an impossible feat, - One helpful tip in this area is to focus for five minutes: Starting is the hardest part; for your toughest tasks. This way you don't waste time procrastinating and once you begin, be patient enough to check, recheck and double check your work.

5. Human Capital:

"Coming together is a beginning, staying together is progress, and working together is success" - Henry Ford; the first to apply assembly line manufacturing to mass production of affordable automobiles. He understood that the greatest asset of any organization was not the financial resources or latest technology, but human capital. As an individual, what makes us better people is appreciating the importance of relationships, both professional and personal, and valuing life itself. It doesn't matter whether you're dealing with top talent or not, everyone deserves respect and courtesy - Politeness is to humans, like warmth is to wax.

A very inspiring example of someone with incredible leadership legacy is that of Dr. Randy Pausch; who is popularly known for delivering "the Last Lecture" at Carnegie Mellon University. What I learned most from his story is to live the right way and enabling the dreams of others.

To view the full version of "Last Lecture" at Carnegie Mellon University on Youtube, click here

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Photo Courtesy: 

http://lcmsseventeen.blogspot.com/2010/03/beginning-with-end-in-mind.html

http://influence-people-brian.blogspot.com/2011/04/consistency-vs-authority-which-to-use.html

http://lewishistoricalsociety.com/wiki2011/tiki-read_article.php?articleId=126

Video Courtesy:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNTEGQCAbyI&feature=related

Fight Complacency - Play Every Gig as if its Your Last

"There was once a man who thought he was better than me, and he was, until he had that thought". Anonymous.


This particular quote has floated in my head for well over five years now. An old college friend had recited it and I immediately adopted it as my mantra, even though I had not completely wrapped my head around its meaning. What most fascinates me about the quote is its multiple levels of interpretation.


A few days ago I crossed paths with a very influential authority figure; one who appreciates good poetry, and as we sparked up a very engaging discussion on motivation, leadership and strength, I asked him about the quote; "There was once a man who thought he was better than me, and he was, until he had that thought." He replied, "If I want to kill a gnat, I'll hit it with a sledge hammer."


As we grow older and increase our level of expertise on a varied array of subjects, we tend to get too comfortable. Over time, our complacency increases the risk of us over valuing our strengths and becoming less and less thorough in handling our affairs. As a result, we make the mistake of digging our own grave - metaphorically of course.


Our mistake is not giving a particular assignment our full attention, especially tasks in which we assume are our "areas of expertise". In essence, "Complacency is a state of mind that exists only in retrospective: it has to be shattered before being ascertained". Vladimir Nabokov.








Photo Credit: http://creoleindc.typepad.com/rantings_of_a_creole_prin/2011/08/family-of-complacency.html

Both tears and sweat are salty, but they render a different result. Tears will get you sympathy; sweat will get you change.

Jesse Jackson

Passion: The Key Ingredient to Happiness, Success and Leading a fulfilling Life

I've heard the question several times; "What is the key requirement for greatness"? How do we source real talent out of millions of others with the same skillset and/or background. Bill Gates, the Billionaire owner of Microsoft says, "there's no formula to it... That one-in-a-million type person does not follow a particular road to success e.g.: Dropping out of College, dropping in on interesting classes, travelling to India, smoking bongs, then settling on a great start-up idea and eventually changing the world". Yes, it worked for Gates, Jobs and Zuckerberg but, those are the exceptions, not the rule. There's more to the formula.


I've always loved reading biographies of exceptional people and I've found out that the one key ingredient that stands out most, is passion. Passion has kept them going long after everyone else has given up. Passion keeps them running on empty even when the finish line isn't in sight. Passion enables them to work on their trade so much so that it no longer seems like a chore. Passion has taught them discipline, hard work, tenacity, endurance, grit, hope, strength and faith... 


My very good friend, Albert Einstein said, "It's not that I'm so smart. I just stay with problems longer". The Michael Jordans, Lance Armstrongs, Roger Federers, Steffi Graphs, Jackie Joyner-Kersees and many other world athletes all know the feeling of living a life of passion for their one single purpose in life.

My previous blog post was premised upon the quote, "Choose a job you love and you'll never have to work a day in your life". Passion is the love that translates our enthusiasm to greatness. Passion makes work fun and choosing a career in a field we're passionate about is truly a blessing. In every field, only the truly passionate become the leaders, trailblazers, game-changers and they serve as that god-like inspiration to the rest of the world. Thanks to the Gandhis, Thatchers, Lincolns, Martin Luther King Jr.'s, Churchills, Mandelas, Roosevelts, e.t.c., now we have some sort of a template to follow on seeking our ultimate quest.


I've long concurred with the veracity of the following statement; "No one is lazy, they're just uninspired". So the next time you see  someone complaining, lethargic, demotivated, or just cranky on the job, then maybe it's a sign that they'll be more fulfilled in a different career. Only the passionate will continue working with the same enthusiasm, even when they're not getting sufficient paid, or not appreciated. Only the truly passionate will continue down a tough, tumultuous path, even when everyone else is saying it's a lost cause.


The passionate aren't satisfied with just meeting goals, making quotas or receiving the accolades. They keep delivering, long after the fame and attention have disappeared. What makes them exceptional is their ability to find a niche they're passionate about and pursuing it regardless of the obstacles along the way.


True passion never considers alternatives... True passion doesn't accept substitutes... True passion never settles. Indeed, passion is that inexhaustible fuel that elevates man to extraordinary heights of greatness. And only those who are willing to employ it as a lifestyle will go on to make a real dent in the world.

Photo and Video Courtesy: http://asanvicente.com/2011/10/09/are-you-passionate-about-what-you-do-by-thomas-michael-hogg/

"I View Today's Economy as the Value Economy. Adding Value Has become More than Just a Business Principle; It is both the Common Denominator and the Competitive Edge".

Arthur Levitt, Jr.

Do What You Love: Five Ways to Bridge the Gap between Job Satisfaction and Earning a Paycheck

CONFUCIUS said it best, “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” According to the U.S. Department of Labor, every year we spend at least 1896 hours at work. On average, we spend about nine hours everyday on work related activities. Projected over a lifetime... and its pretty unfortunate spending all this time stuck in a profession we do not love.

Here are some interesting Job Satisfaction statistics from salary.com:

• About 65% of workers say they are somewhat satisfied in their jobs while less than 15% say they are extremely satisfied.
• The most satisfied age group in the work force is working retirees and the least happy age group are the millennials, those under 30.
• Roughly 35 percent of people said they were not looking around for a job and 65 percent of them cited the bad economy as the reason why. The need for a paycheck and benefits has the unhappy workers flying under the radar until the economy recovers.

Indeed, financial stability is important, but what's even more significant is pursuing a career we're interested  in. Of course, not everyone may get this opportunity but it's our responsibility is to find the right balance - based on our values, priorities, family obligations and preferences - between job satisfaction and earning a decent paycheck. The following tips serve as pointers towards bridging this gap.

1. Take the leap of faith and go for what you want, not necessarily what’s convenient: 

This rule is mostly relevant to college students and those still in the beginning phases of their careers. In order to choose the right career path one needs to know what what interests them and must have done substantial research on what the job entails. In business school, we’re taught to choose smart goals: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Reliable and Timely. Try as much as possible to clarify the career path that is most compatible with your passion.  

2. Hone your talents: 

Practice makes perfect. The more you do, the more you understand and as we gain more skill in this particular field, our interests spur us to push the boundaries of occupational success. Following the logic of becoming an expert in a specific field and going on to earning the right to command a price in a free market is not something that comes easily for everyone. It takes a lot of hard work. Even the most talented professionals have to put in a fair amount of effort to deliver and improve as time goes on. Working in a field you love increases the likelihood of becoming an outstanding professional.

3. Be creative in connecting the dots between your background and a new career: 

The world is changing and there are in-numerous combinations of how to connect our dynamic skill-set to any given career. With increasing development and influence of social media on business, management, marketing, advertisement, litigation, HR, ... Looking for a fulfilling niche, unique to our interests might not be so far fetched.

4. Career Shadowing: 

If you can’t just pack up your day job for a prospective intended field, it's perfectly understandable and you're not alone. However, the next best thing may be to make time to network with people within your prospective (dream) field. Take classes, call businesses that interest you, volunteer, attend seminars and follow up with the changing dynamics of these areas of interest. Most importantly, try not to pass up opportunities to speak to professionals within your intended field. In this economy improvisation is key and if you think enough, you might just spot an area in the industry which you're best suited for.

5. Beware of falling victim to the sunk cost fallacy: 

“ I've already come this far, I just can’t pack it all up and start all over”. Sounds familiar? Psychologists and Economists love making references to the concept of sunk costs. These are retrospective (past) costs that have already been incurred and cannot be recovered. The more we invest in something the harder it is to abandon it. For those of us with somewhat advanced careers, it may sound ridiculous to even consider leaving our familiar career path for something different, even if its a field we may derive lot's of pleasure from. It's important to recognize this fallacy and correct its impact where necessary.

Doing what we love is one way of leading a fulfilling and no matter what happens we must always find the love in what we do… Take calculated risks, expand our horizons, push limitations and try not to settle in any area of life, including our careers.

If you have any tips on the best way of choosing and getting a career you love, please share in the comments section.

_{Photo Courtesy: http://www.momandamicrophone.com/2011/03/loving-what-you-do.html}

_References: http://www.salary.com/Articles/ArticleDetail.asp?tab=psn&cat=cat011&ser=ser032&part=par1356