Stop Making Excuses…

“The person who really wants to do something finds a way; the other person finds an excuse.”  U

Tips for Avoiding Making Excuses

Accept responsibility for your own life. It’s no one else’s fault. If you’re not where you wan

10 Keys of Love

1. Be open to it. 2. Be giving of it. 3. Be on the lookout for ways to engage in it. 4. Be yourself

 

What I Know to Be True About Staying Positive

November 27, 2011 in Change Management, Personal Development

After a very busy week at the Neujahr household, I found myself struggling to stay positive. I was tired, needing some personal space and feeling a bit stressed about the week ahead. I had to stop yesterday and reread my own blog from a few days ago. I needed a reminder about how to stay positive. And after reading my own words – I was convicted to change my attitude.

What I know to be true about staying positive today is:

  1. I will never get it perfect.
  2. I GET to choose my own attitude every day.
  3. I can start the day over any time I want.
  4. My attitude, whether positive or negative, affects other people.
  5. It takes more energy to be negative.
  6. I feel better about myself and my life when I look at the positive.
  7. Being positive starts with being grateful. If I take time to focus on what I am grateful for – my attitude changes.
  8. I do not have to engage in other peoples negativity.
  9. Today I CHOOSE to be positive.

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21 Ways to Be Positive!

November 25, 2011 in Business

Smile. A smile is a simple but powerful tool. It automatically makes us feel better and touches the people around us. Are you smiling now?

Have positive reminders. Fill your mind and home with positive reminders and motivational products. Choose to surround yourself with things that remind you to be positive.

Talk nice. Remove destructive language, negative talk, swearing or complaining. These things rob our joy in life. Speak positively or do not talk at all.

Pay for your bad words. We pay our vacation jar $5 for every swear word someone says. Family members hold one another accountable. Find some way to hold yourself accountable for destructive language.

Give me three now! For every negative thing you say about yourself, you must say three positives out loud. Again, family members should hold one another accountable.

Stop gossip. Let others be who they are. Concentrate on only speaking positively about other people.

Be honest. When we tell the truth we never have to remember what we said to whom. Honesty may be hard in the moment, but you will definitely sleep better at night.

There is nothing wrong. Stop telling yourself something is wrong. There is nothing wrong with your life. When we live in the moment and accept what is, we stop creating the idea that something is always wrong. Live life accepting what is.

Notice life. By noticing your thoughts without judgments attached, you are free to just experience life. We do not have to fix or change everything – sometimes we just need to notice.

Enjoy the journey. Life is not a race – we don’t have to get there today. In fact, there is no “there.” Our job is to simply enjoy the process.

Don’t engage in negative conversation. It’s okay to just walk away without correcting or explaining. Just simply excuse yourself.

Pay attention to your positive thoughts. What are they saying? What do they tell you about yourself?

Choose positive people. Surround yourself with people who build you up. Get rid of the “wet blankets” in your life.

Put on your attitude. Choose which attitude to wear prior to getting dressed in the morning. Sometimes having a good day starts by telling yourself that you will have a good day.

You have permission. Give yourself permission to be positive and enjoy life. Being positive is much more fun than complaining all the time.

Plan ahead. Practice and plan what you will say ahead of time when others engage in negativity. Knowing what to say before hand will help you say what you need to say and to stay true to being positive.

Leave on a happy note. End phone calls, e-mails and letters with a positive message. Always leave meetings on an upbeat note. This keeps you from dwelling on the negatives.

Choose carefully. Be selective with your words. Once we speak word, we can not take them back. Speak less and listen more.

Practice. Try saying positive things to strangers. Try out being positive with people you’ll never see again. Try new phrases and take the opportunity to speak positively with each new person you meet.

Study positive people. Watch how they interact with the world. Interview them when possible. Look for ways you can incorporate their techniques into your life.

Down days will come. Realize you will have down days. Plan for them and practice good self-care on days that you feel down. Then remind yourself that life will swing back and you’ll be up again.

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Be Positive!

November 22, 2011 in Personal Development

“If you look for the positive things in life; you will find them.”Author Unknown

I have heard that 76% of all we tell ourselves in a day is negative and that 84% of all we hear in a day is negative. That’s a lot of negative going into our minds. I’ve also heard that for every negative we tell ourselves or others, it takes nine positives to recover the damage.

Wouldn’t we be better off just putting more positive things into our minds? If we do that we can avoid the mind clutter of negative thoughts. And then live in perfect harmony – yeah!

But that’s easier said than done. I know how hard it is to change my thoughts and to focus on being positive.  My kids often tell me that I can’t be crabby because I am a motivational speaker. Maybe they’re right but I’m still a mom and moms can get crabby. Being a mom is tough and it can be full of negatives at times. Kids get sick, they complain, we nag them to do their chores and the housework is never done. It’s easy to get crabby and feel negative. Yet we have a choice – we can choose to be positive.

I recently had the opportunity to practice what I preach. And I failed miserably.

I had a bad day. I’d been feeling lots of stress. I was overwhelmed, tired and hungry when I came home from work. That combination is dangerous for me. And yet I did nothing about it. I just focused on the negatives and let the feeling grow. I walked in the door and was greeted by our extremely happy golden retriever, who I quickly dismissed. Well the more I dismissed her the more attention she wanted. And then I snapped right as my family was coming in the door. I had a meltdown, yelling at the dog, crabbing at the family and then storming up to my room. It wasn’t a pretty scene.

I went to my room and felt horrible. I had let all the negative things pile up all day long and I’d taken it out on the ones I love the most. Our negative thoughts often do that to us, they come out towards the ones we love the most, the ones who had nothing to do with our negativity.

I had to go downstairs and apologize to my family and to the dog. I told them I was sorry and that I have made a decision to change my attitude. I had to start the day over – at 5pm.

A friend of mine gave me a lizard in a cage years ago. She told me that when we focus on the negative or we are stressed or angry, we begin to think like a lizard. She told me to keep my lizard in its cage – in others words, she told me to keep  negativity, stress and anger under control so the lizard doesn’t get out.

Today practice keeping your lizard in its cage!

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What I Know To Be True About Developing Excellence

November 16, 2011 in Business, Personal Development

I love the word excellence. Excellence is the state or quality of excelling or being exceptionally good.  I want to excel, I want to be exceptionally good. And yet I know developing excellence is a life long process.

What I know to be true about excellence is:

  • Excellence can only happen when I take good care of myself.
  • Excellence in my life is my responsibility.
  • To excel I need other people to  help me.
  • Excellence starts in my mind. I must begin with an excellent mindset.
  • Excellence is the sum total of all the choices I make every day.
  • It’s more fun to excel than is it to suck at something.
  • Excellence takes practice. I don’t start out being excellent – I must work to get there.
  • Excellence is mine if I choose it.

Today I choose excellence! 


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Developing Personal Excellence

November 14, 2011 in Business, Personal Development

“With regard to excellence, it’s not enough to know, but we must try to have and use it.” Aristotle

Developing excellence doesn’t happen overnight. There are no quick and easy ways to develop excellence in our families, lives or careers. We can’t attend a seminar and as a result magically become excellent. We can’t read a book and have it all figured out in a day. And we can’t just tell ourselves we have excellence and then automatically possess it. Developing excellence takes time; it’s hard work and can take a lifetime to develop.

The word excellence is defined as the quality of excelling, possessing good qualities in high degree. It also means to excel in something. The word excellent means something is very good of its kind, eminently good or first class. In other words, something that is excellent is superior.

Excellence is not perfection. It’s not performing flawlessly or without mistakes. Excellence is a process and developing excellence is a mind-set, a mind-set that says, “I’m working toward excelling at something and I desire to possess good qualities in high degree.” It can also mean that I am striving to be excellent, a mind-set that says, “I want to be very good at what I do. I want my life and work to be superior.”

Developing excellence is a process in which we strive to excel and live a life full of good qualities. Excellence is not a one-time event – it’s a way of life. And to possess anything in high degree or to be first class, we need to practice.

Practice

In my own life I haven’t always liked to practice. This is probably the reason I was never good in sports. I always wanted to be good without the practice it took to get good. I wanted results without the work. Unfortunately, that’s not possible. To achieve anything in life we must work at it. We must practice it. And then we become excellent.

I’ve spent many years trying to do things quickly and wanting results fast. When I published my first book, I wrote it quickly, got it published and went out into the marketplace to begin selling it. I didn’t do any research, ask for any feedback or make a plan as to how I would sell it. I just did it.

And while I’m glad I did it, I would do it differently if I had it to do over again. I would have taken more time, asked for feedback and done research on books similar to mine. I would have asked more questions, taken more time to brainstorm and been willing to be critiqued.

Live Without Regret

Being excellent also means living without regret. And even though I would do it differently today, I do not regret publishing my first book. It’s been a huge success and I’m proud of my accomplishment.

I believe developing excellence means we learn from the past and use it to excel in our future endeavors. It’s not about bashing ourselves for past mistakes – that only keeps us from developing excellence. Developing excellence means learning from the past,deciding what worked and what could have worked better, and then applying our learning to future projects.

Some of the things I learned from my first publishing experience can apply to all areas of my life.

  •     I learned to slow down and think through any project before forging ahead.
  •     I learned to let go of my need for immediate results.
  •     I learned to look at the big picture before moving ahead.
  •     I learned to ask for help and to get feedback from people I trust.
  •     I learned to research my ideas and the resources available.

Another Chance

One of the neatest things about developing excellence is that we always have another chance – we’re never done. Developing excellence is a work in progress.

I now have an opportunity to apply what I learned from my first book and use the knowledge as I begin writing my second book. I did my homework this time. I asked for feedback, held a focus group and researched my market. I’ve also taken the time to let my ideas come to life and to really think about the focus of my book, its audience and the results I desire through this publishing effort.

It feels good to be able to put into practice some new ways of developing excellence. I know my business will never be perfect but I’m committed to continually developing excellence in business and in my personal life.

And as you take steps to further create excellence in you life, remember to practice, live without regret and take full advantage of second chances.

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What I Know to be True About Self Awareness

November 11, 2011 in Personal Development

I have spent a great deal of time lately thinking about this amazing journey of self awareness.

What I know to be true about self awarensss is:

  • I will never be done or ‘get’ there
  • It’s HARD. Learning about myself and changing the crap I don’t like is NOT easy.
  • I can get into ruts and settle for mediocre. Once in a rut – I must work hard to get out of it and get moving again.
  • I MUST be self aware if I’m truly going to make a difference in the world.
  • I get farther and reach bigger goals as the result of knowing myself.
  • The process of becoming self aware has many rewards.
  • And finally, as the result of my journey I know and love myself  today. (and that is HUGE)

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To Be Unstoppable You Must Be Self Aware

November 10, 2011 in Business, Change Management, Personal Development

Be Self Aware

I believe being self aware is the first step to being unstoppable. Without self awareness, I flounder, get off track and end up settling for less than I’m capable of. Yet becoming self aware and continuing to be self aware is hard work. Knowing who I am takes time and energy. It takes commitment – a commitment to know and grow myself.

In order to know myself I must be willing to get uncomfortable. Self awareness is not a comfortable process. Many people avoid self discovery because they’re not willing to get out of their comfort zone – they’ rather stay stuck. But if we don’t move outside our comfort zone, we won’t come to truly know who we are.

Self awareness requires that I know my strengths and my weaknesses. It requires that I look at the things that keep me stuck. It requires an honest look at who I am and what I stand for. Self awareness demands that I take down the walls and honestly assess myself in all areas. It isn’t an easy process but it’s worth it.

This past week I had an opportunity to increase my own self awareness once again. It’s amazing to me that no matter how much I practice self awareness – there’s always more to learn. I guess that makes me human. I’m learning that I’ll never have myself completely figured out. I won’t ‘get there’ someday. Self awareness is a lifelong process. Things happen every day that challenge who I am and what I am capable of. My strengths appear in new ways and weaknesses tend to pop up in areas I never expected.

My life is in constant motion. I will always be in a process of self discovery. I am grateful that I am more self aware today than I was at 20 and I hope that when I’m 60 I’ll be even more self aware and comfortable with myself. But for now I’m continuing on the journey of self awareness one day at a time.

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101 Ways to GROW Your Life!

November 9, 2011 in Personal Development

“The whole point of being alive is to evolve into the complete person you were intended to be.” Oprah Winfrey

  1. Write a personal mission statement.
  2. Take only one step at a time.
  3. Set goals and write them down.
  4. Observe the opportunities around you.
  5. Walk through doors as they open.
  6. Take a risk daily.
  7. Network constantly – be open to meeting new people.
  8. Renew your childhood dreams.
  9. Start a mastermind group.
  10. Ask yourself, “If I had no fear and could not fail what would I do?”
  11. Find a mentor. You can have one for each area of your life.
  12. Voice the vision you have for your life.
  13. Ask for help when you need it.
  14. Build a support network of awesome women.
  15. Accept and use negative feedback to grow.
  16. Commit to personal and professional development.
  17. Exercise your mind; read, study success and attend seminars.
  18. Exercise your body.
  19. Be gentle with yourself, especially when stressed or PMSing.
  20. Have fun on a regular basis.
  21. Laugh often.
  22. Take weekly time just for you.
  23. Take the long way home.
  24. Hug yourself.
  25. Get counseling if you need it.
  26. Dream.
  27. Look toward the future with expectation.
  28. Buy a new outfit.
  29. Ask others for feedback.
  30. Write out your goals.
  31. Find a creative outlet.
  32. Be kind to others.
  33. Take a seminar on personal development.
  34. Grow spiritually
  35. Take a vacation to let your mind relax.
  36. Go back to school.
  37. Use your time wisely each day.
  38. Watch others.
  39. Live out of passion.
  40. Define your passion.
  41. Be silly.
  42. Go somewhere completely different.
  43. Switch your daily routine.
  44. Clarify your core values.
  45. Celebrate small victories.
  46. Evaluate your progress.
  47. Pay attention to your thoughts.
  48. Listen instead of talking.
  49. Mentor someone else.
  50. Volunteer to help others.
  51. Investigate your options.
  52. Write out the pros and cons of any decision you are trying to make.
  53. Take 24 hours before saying yes to any new opportunity.
  54. Get support from others daily.
  55. Love your life.
  56. Let others love you.
  57. Tear down the walls of defensiveness and separation.
  58. Admit your mistakes.
  59. Be as authentic as you can in all situations.
  60. Be a cheerleader for someone else.
  61. Physically challenge yourself with some new activity.
  62. Take a personal retreat.
  63. Reward yourself often.
  64. Hang with people who are good to you and support you.
  65. Remove the negative people from your life as much as possible.
  66. Create healthy habits.
  67. Reframe your thoughts.
  68. Be hopeful.
  69. Focus on what you can do, not what you can’t.
  70. Listen to your kids – they are smart.
  71. Create joy wherever you go.
  72. Take time to grieve when you need to.
  73. Crying is good.
  74. Turn off the TV.
  75. Accept your body as it is.
  76. Say you are sorry when you are wrong.
  77. Be kind to animals.
  78. Take on a cause.
  79. Feed your body good things.
  80. Feed your mind even better things.
  81. List the facts.
  82. Get rid of the drama in your life.
  83. Don’t exaggerate or make things worse than they are.
  84. Keep it real.
  85. Keep it simple.
  86. Don’t hold a grudge.
  87. Be willing to change and grow.
  88. Laugh at yourself.
  89. Develop an excellent mindset.
  90. Have fun traditions.
  91. Enjoy new or old hobbies.
  92. Don’t fill your schedule too full.
  93. Be realistic with you expectations.
  94. Hold on to yourself.
  95. Stay in your own head – you can not read minds.
  96. Be the change agent.
  97. Think big.
  98. Be humble.
  99. Actively seek out what is best for you.
  100. Try and try again.
  101. Enjoy life!

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7 Keys to Developing Excellence

November 7, 2011 in Personal Development

Take the time. Excellence takes time. Be patient with yourself, as results do not always come overnight.

Think through the process. No matter what type of project you are undertaking, be sure to think through the entire process. Look at the big picture or end results before diving in.

Be persistent. Keep moving forward despite setbacks. Things will get in the way – that’s life. Just keep moving ahead and you’ll develop more excellence in your life.

Ask for feedback. Receiving feedback is a great way to make sure your project will get the results you desire and it may keep you from going down the wrong path. Though receiving feedback is not always fun, just remember it will help you develop excellence.

Study excellence. Research your ideas as well as any experts in your field. There are people out there who have accomplished what you want to accomplish – study them. Learn how they accomplished their goals and look for the ways they were excellent.

Practice new techniques. Practice makes excellence. You will never be perfect at anything but you can be excellent at many things.

Celebrate small successes.  It’s essential to recognize your achievements, no matter how small. If you have taken steps toward excellence development and have results – applaud yourself!

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Build an Awesome Organization

November 5, 2011 in Business

 

The key to building an awesome organization is to value people, clients and employees while reaching for and consistently achieving results. High performing or “awesome” companies have a few things in common.

First and foremost they are committed to people. When owners and leaders within the organization value their employees, clients and vendors, as an integral part of their success, they step ahead of their competition. Awesome companies know that without people – they have nothing. They are willing to go beyond just valuing people – they work hard to make sure employees are satisfied and clients and “wowed.” Awesome organizations know they are only as good as the lowest person in their organization and they work hard to make sure every person all the way through the organization is on board and satisfied.

In addition to valuing people, awesome organizations develop their employees and invest in their success. They offer ongoing training, professional development and ways for employees to continually learn and grow in the organization. They know that most employees really want three things. They want to be appreciated, given opportunities for growth and they want to feel apart of the organization.

Another way to show you value your employees is by providing excellent benefits. This is an investment but one that is worth every penny spent. Investing in your employees is an investment in the future success of your organization. When you show them you care, they will work hard to build a better organization for you.

Awesome companies also invest in technology. In today’s business environment, being on the edge of information and technology is critical to success. As business owners, we can continue to bid projects on a legal pad and watch others take our clients away or we can make a commitment to be an industry leader in both information and technology.  By staying on top of industry trends, using information to streamline our organization and using technology to improve efficiency, we will build an awesome company.

To be awesome and stay on top, we need to get rid of the old “my way or the highway” thinking in management. We need to challenge our old ways of thinking, the temptation to led with our ego and refocus our company strategies to function with the team concept. Teams produce greater results than individuals. The team concept can help your organization produce greater results, run more profitability and lead to increased creativity with problem solving and process development.

Awesome companies also know how to set goals and achieve them. They are focused on achieving results and are willing to take risks, change old ways and begin again. We can not lead an organization without vision – our team needs to know where we are going and why.

Another core value within an awesome organization is their commitment to learning. By continually researching, watching their competitors and learning new skills – an organization will stay on top. We don’t know all there is to know about our industry, yet by making a commitment to continually learn and grow – we will put ourselves ahead of our competition. Learning take time, it’s time spent away from the business. Yet it is time to work on the business, to ensure it will be around five, ten, fifteen years from now.

As you think about what it takes to be a truly awesome organization, ask yourself the following questions.

  1.  Do you value the people in your organization? If so, how so you show them?
  2. Are you committed to gathering information and using technology to build your business?
  3. Is your company focused on the team concept?
  4. How are you doing with setting and achieving goals?
  5. Are you a learning centered company?

As you look forward to being more profitable and efficient in 2012, consider implementing these concepts into your business.

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