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Secrets to success

What does it mean to be successful in life?

Some people regard success as making a lot of money, being good at something, achieving a goal, leaving a legacy or being famous. Everybody has their own version of what it means to be successful.

Ultimately success is the ability to reach your goals and achieve your own purposes, thereby feeling important and worthy.

The secret of success is not one single thing. The “secret of success,” if there is one, is that success is brought about by a combination of smart habits, a tenacious spirit, and a whole lot of luck. Making a few conscious changes to your behavior and attitude could prove to be quite rewarding.

4 Secrets of Insanely Successful People

Here are four not-so-secret secrets of insanely successful people:

1. They have a vision

Successful people have the capacity to translate vision into reality. This means that success starts with answering a fundamental question, What do I really want?

Whether you call the answer to that question your mission statement, core values, brand identity or just your goals doesn’t really matter. You need to have a clear idea of what you want to do—professionally and personally—and the strength to persist in the face of setbacks, even failures.

Two of the most statistically significant factors that set the richest people apart from everyone else is that 81% of them maintain a to-do list and 80% focus on accomplishing a specific goal.

2. They are honest

Successful people tell the truth.This sounds so obvious that you might think it doesn’t even need to be said. But in a climate where the pressure to look good, perform well, eke out profits and win by any means necessary is constantly increasing, honesty is becoming a scarce commodity.

And yet, honesty pays.

A study, conducted by the Corporate Executive Board, found companies that “rated highly in the area of open communication” and encouraged honest feedback among their staff delivered a 10-year total shareholder return that was 270% more than other companies.

Taking responsibility for our mistakes and admitting when we’re wrong isn’t just relationally smart—it’s financially savvy.

3. They show gratitude

Without gratitude, you aren’t being mindful or totally thankful of the good things in life—and your perspective is probably skewed to the negative as a result. You might even have less motivation to go after more good things, if you aren’t grateful of the ones you already have.

We tend to think of gratitude as a spontaneous emotion, something that just happens to us in moments of triumph or success. In reality, though, gratitude is something we develop and just like all the other not-so-secret secrets on this list, it is something we choose, something we make a wide-eyed, premeditated, self-determined decision to experience.

How? By actively looking for reasons to be grateful and second, by simply saying, “thank you.”

When we look for reasons to be grateful—when we make that our intentional focus—we find them. On top of that, when we call attention to those reasons, we cultivate gratitude not only within ourselves but within our relationships and organizations.

4. They are adaptive

Success isn’t about avoiding failure. It’s about learning from failure.

Take Thomas Edison's famous quote about inventing the light bulb: “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”

What differentiates the success stories from the failures is that the successful entrepreneurs had the foresight, the ability and the tools to discover which parts of their plans were working brilliantly and which were misguided, and adapt their strategies accordingly.

All this means is that instead of hiding from failure, insanely successful people anticipate and integrate failure into their lives in ways that transform it from an end into a means.

Here is what the self made billionaires have to say:

Richard Branson - Dream big

"Dreaming is one of humanity's greatest gifts; it champions aspiration, spurs innovation, leads to change, and propels the world forward," says Branson. "In a world without dreams there would be no art, no adventure, no moon landing, no female CEOs, and no civil rights. What a half-lived and tragic existence we would have."

"The benefits of dreaming far outweigh the perceived risks, because the value of dreaming isn't just measured by the outcome, but the inspiration that comes from the journey of achieving the dream."

Mark Zuckerberg - High risk, high reward

"One of the things I'm most proud of about Facebook is that we believe things can always be better, and we're willing to make big bets if we think it will help our community over the long term," writes the CEO. "News Feed has been one of the big bets we've made in the past 10 years that has shaped our community and the whole internet the most."

Richard Branson - Love the Journey

When Branson wrote about the closing of the Virgin American brand, he celebrated the process of building the airline: "This was the ride and love of a lifetime. I feel very lucky to have been on it with all of you."

Mark Zuckerberg: Apologize quickly when you mess up

After emotionally sensitive user content was removed by the Facebook content regulation algorithm, Zuckerberg apologized publicly.

"We've seen this in misclassifying hate speech in political debates in both directions — taking down accounts and content that should be left up and leaving up content that was hateful and should be taken down," says Zuckerberg on his Facebook account. "This has been painful for me, because I often agree with those criticizing us that we're making mistakes."

Bill Gates: Seek out simple solutions

"The barrier to change is not too little caring; it is too much complexity. To turn caring into action, we need to see a problem, see a solution, and see the impact. But complexity blocks all three steps."

"Finding solutions is essential if we want to make the most of our caring," Gates said. "If we have clear and proven answers anytime an organization or individual asks, 'How can I help?,' then we can get action and we can make sure that none of the caring in the world is wasted. But complexity makes it hard to mark a path of action for everyone who cares, and that makes it hard for their caring to matter."

John Paul DeJoria: Launch a business in an industry driven by repeat customers

The co-founder of Paul Mitchell hair products and Patron Tequila is a billionaire now, but early on in his life, he was homeless and collecting cans for money.

His best advice for entrepreneurs is to build a business in an industry that doesn't require lots of persuading buyers. Instead, he seeks out products or services that will become part of a customer's routine.

"You don't want to be in the selling business," DeJoria says. Instead, you want to be in the reorder business, where "your product or service is so good, people want to reorder it or reuse it."

Richard Branson: Be yourself

Branson has four young grandchildren, three toddlers and one newborn, he says in a blog post. "I've been thinking a lot about the meaning of life and about the things that I want to teach them so that they live the best life possible," Branson says.

The Virgin founder and chairman says he keeps coming back to a quote from the children's book "Happy Birthday to You!" by Dr. Seuss: "Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is You-er than You!"

Branson suffers from dyslexia. He has had to learn to embrace his uniqueness, rather than allow it to be an impediment. "Yourself is always the best version of you — and being yourself is among the best advice I have ever received," says Branson.

Bill Gates: Give back

"From those to whom much is given, much is expected.'"

Gates listened to his mother. He is one of the founding members of The Giving Pledge, through which wealthy individuals commit to donating more than half of their fortunes. He is also the co-founder of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which works to lift children out of extreme poverty

Anthony Robbins

"You need to need success more than a drowning man needs air. When you need something this badly, you will do whatever it takes to make it happen." 

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The “How to” Guide

The "HOW TO" in business guide

Here is a simple list of HOW TO's in business and the work environment

from  Business Without the Bullsh*t: 49 Secrets and Shortcuts You Need to Know.

HOW TO MANAGE YOUR EMOTIONS

1. How to Become More Optimistic

  1. EXPECT something wonderful to happen every day.
  2. TREAT people as you'd want to be treated.
  3. DON'T waste breath fighting about things you can't change.
  4. CONCENTRATE on the job at hand, not the results you seek.
  5. ASSUME other people mean well.
  6. AVOID depressing people and conversations.
  7. EAT something delicious every day.
  8. TURN OFF the background television.
  9. ADOPT an attitude of gratitude.
  10. REMEMBER that the best is yet to come.

2. How to Eliminate Stress

  1. CULTIVATE the patience and perspective to let go of your results.
  2. FOCUS on what you're doing now rather than the results.
  3. IF you're overworked, negotiate a more reasonable workload.
  4. CUT your hours to the "sweet spot," which is about 40 hours a week.
  5. AVOID people who won't or can't control their own stress.
  6. FIND a place where you can work quietly away from distractions.
  7. TURN OFF news programming that's designed to rile you up.
  8. TURN DOWN projects that you can't do well.
  9. STOP arguing with fools and strangers online.
  10. ARRANGE tasks consecutively rather than trying to multitask.

3. How to Overcome Fear

  1. CONFRONT your fears head on to reduce their power.
  2. IMAGINE dealing with the fear to make it less daunting.
  3. REMEMBER that fear is just excitement in disguise.
  4. USE fear to spawn the energy you need to perform well.

4. How to Cope With Rejection

  1. REALIZE that rejection is just a difference of opinion.
  2. UNDERSTAND that rejection only hurts because you let it.
  3. REMEMBER that every rejection moves you closer to your goal.
  4. KEEP other opportunities in reserve so you can quickly move on.

5. How to Rise Above Failure

  1. CREATE goals that motivate you to achieve something possible.
  2. ALWAYS write goals down; display them where you'll see them.
  3. DECIDE by saying "I must..." or "I will..." rather than "I'll try...."
  4. BREAK your big goals into smaller, measurable milestones.
  5. CHECK whether you're moving toward or away from your goals.
  6. WELCOME setbacks because they'll hone your plan.
  7. REMEMBER that the only true failure is failing to take action.

HOW TO MANAGE YOUR CAREER

6. How to Achieve Your Dream Job

  1. KNOW what would constitute your dream job.
  2. FIND role models and incorporate their way of thinking.
  3. HAVE the courage to sacrifice your security.
  4. LEARN to sell your ideas and yourself.
  5. CREATE a plan and start executing it today.
  6. ADJUST your goal as you learn more about yourself.

7. How to Attain Career Security

  1. LIVE below your means until you've got six months of income saved.
  2. DEVELOP expertise that makes it less likely you'll be fired.
  3. CULTIVATE new opportunities and record them in an escape plan.

8. How to Get More Done Each Day

  1. DON'T take calls from people you don't know, unless you're working in telesales or product support.
  2. USE email instead of time-consuming voice mail
  3. LIMIT your chitchat with co-workers.
  4. TURN OFF "alerts" that interrupt your thinking.
  5. KEEP TRACK of how you spend time; that's half the battle.
  6. REMEMBER that 20 percent of your actions produce 80 percent of your results.
  7. ONLY DO the 20 percent that produces the 80 percent of your results.
  8. PRIORITIZE based on what accomplishes the most with the least effort.

9. How to Use LinkedIn Effectively

  1. YOUR personal brand will define how people see you.
  2. GET a professional portrait and expunge unprofessional ones.
  3. CUSTOMIZE your résumé to match your career goals.
  4. SOLICIT recommendations that are realistic and relevant.
  5. AVOID blogging, unless you're being paid to do so.
  6. KEEP your irrelevant opinions off the internet.

10. How to Land a Job Interview

  1. CREATE and sell your own job description, if possible.
  2. GET a current employee to recommend you, if possible.
  3. CUSTOMIZE your résumé to match the job description.
  4. EXPLAIN "who I am" in terms of the specific job.
  5. DESCRIBE specifically how you helped former employers, not what you did.
  6. INCLUDE benefits that echo phrases from the job description.

11. How to Ace a Job Interview

  1. DON'T put all your eggs in this one basket.
  2. FIND out all you can about the hiring firm.
  3. DEVISE questions that show you've done your research.
  4. REHEARSE answers to the standard questions.
  5. WEAR what you'd wear if you worked there; don't be late.
  6. GET the offer, then decide whether you really want the job.


HOW TO MANAGE YOUR EMPLOYEES

12. What Great Bosses Believe About Their Jobs

  1. BUSINESS is an ecosystem, so cooperate, don't fight.
  2. COMPANIES are communities, so treat people as individuals.
  3. MANAGEMENT is service, so make others successful first.
  4. EMPLOYEES are your peers, so treat them like adults.
  5. MOTIVATE with vision, because fear only paralyzes.
  6. CHANGE is growth, so welcome rather than shun it.
  7. TECHNOLOGY eliminates busywork and frees creativity.
  8. WORK is fun, so don't turn it into a chore.

13. How to Create Loyal, Effective Employees

  1. MANAGE individuals, not numbers.
  2. ADAPT your style to each person.
  3. MEASURE what's truly relevant.
  4. ONLY one priority per person.
  5. STAY even-tempered.
  6. TAKE responsibility for your low performers.
  7. SHARE your thoughts and ideas.
  8. ASK questions rather than providing answers.
  9. TREAT everyone as equally as possible.
  10. DON'T expect more than you're willing to give.
  11. EXPLAIN the reasoning behind your decisions.
  12. DON'T prevaricate, decide now!

14. How to Hire a Top Performer

  1. KNOW exactly whom you're looking for.
  2. CONSTANTLY seek viable candidates.
  3. LOOK for character, not experience.
  4. RESILIENCE is the mark of potential greatness.
  5. SEEK out the self-motivated.
  6. ATTITUDE is all-important.
  7. DON'T settle for canned references.

15. How to Hold a Productive Meeting

  1. HAVE an agenda before you meet.
  2. PROVIDE background information.
  3. DON'T let the meeting meander.
  4. DOCUMENT what decisions were made.

16. How to Offer Constructive Criticism

  1. ADDRESS undesirable behaviors when they happen.
  2. OFFER praise, then identify the behavior you want changed.
  3. ASK questions to understand the "why" behind the behavior.
  4. AGREE upon a plan to change the behavior.
  5. MONITOR and reinforce the changed behavior.

17. How to Redirect a Complainer

  1. SCHEDULE a conversation when they try to start one.
  2. SET the agenda for the conversation as a "problem-solving" session.
  3. LISTEN respectfully to the entire complaint.
  4. ASK what the complainer plans to do.
  5. CONFIRM that your advice is truly wanted.
  6. PROVIDE your best advice (if it's wanted).
  7. END the conversation at the first "Yeah, but...."

18. How to Fire Somebody

  1. TELL it like it is without the biz-blab.
  2. SHOW empathy for your co-workers.
  3. EXPLAIN why it's happening, as far as you legally can.
  4. CUT quickly, heal, and move on.


HOW TO MANAGE YOUR CO-WORKERS

19. The Ten Types of Annoying Co-Workers

  1. WAFFLERS can't decide, so force the issue.
  2. CONQUERORS must win, so make them team leaders.
  3. DRAMATISTS crave attention, so ignore them.
  4. ICONOCLASTS break rules needlessly, so avoid them.
  5. DRONERS are boring, so find something else to do.
  6. FRENEMIES sabotage, so keep them at arm's length.
  7. TOADIES are irrelevant; be polite but ignore them.
  8. VAMPIRES leach energy, unless you stay upbeat.
  9. PARASITES steal credit, so track who's contributed.
  10. GENIUSES are all talk, so pester them until they deliver.

20. How to Earn the Respect of Your Peers

  1. BE yourself rather than your role.
  2. SHOW interest in other people.
  3. SHARE the limelight.
  4. DRESS and groom to match your ambitions.
  5. PAUSE before speaking to mentally frame your thoughts.
  6. SPEAK from your chest without verbal tics or an end of sentence rise in pitch.

21. How to Play Clean Office Politics

  1. FIND OUT what other people need and want.
  2. BUILD mutually useful alliances with those you can trust.
  3. KEEP TRACK of the favors you owe and the ones owed you.
  4. USE your alliances at key points to help achieve your goals.

22. How to Recruit a Mentor

  1. MENTORS crave to teach people what they've learned.
  2. SEEK OUT mentors who have experience and skills you lack.
  3. ASK for advice and let the relationship develop.
  4. BE KIND when you outgrow the relationship.

23. How to Shine in a Meeting

  1. TREAT meetings as a possible way to advance your agenda.
  2. AVOID meetings that don't serve your own agenda.
  3. DECIDE whether each meeting will be useful or useless.
  4. EITHER decline to attend or prepare well; no in between.
  5. TAKE notes, so you can speak coherently when it's your turn.
  6. SPEAK confidently, and, if appropriate, segue into your agenda.
  7. PUBLISH your own "minutes" of the meeting.

24. How to Cope with an Office Bully

  1. DON'T try to calm the bully down or apologize.
  2. INSIST on respectful, professional behavior.
  3. IF the unprofessional behavior continues, leave the immediate area.
  4. COPE with your own emotions privately.
  5. REVISIT the issue at a later date.
  6. DECIDE whether the relationship is worth it.


HOW TO MANAGE YOUR COMMUNICATIONS

25. The Five Rules of Business Communications

  1. KNOW your reason for communicating.
  2. PICK a medium that's appropriate for the other person.
  3. SIMPLIFY your message for easy mental consumption.
  4. EDIT out all buzzwords and corporate-speak.
  5. AVOID jargon, unless dealing with fellow experts.

26. How to Have a Productive Conversation

  1. KNOW the reason you're having a conversation.
  2. IGNORE your internal dialog.
  3. LISTEN carefully to the other person.
  4. CONSIDER what was said and echo it back.
  5. RESPOND with something that adds to the conversation.

27. How to Write a Compelling Email

  1. KNOW what decision you want made.
  2. EXPRESS that decision as a conclusion at the beginning.
  3. SUPPORT that conclusion with simple arguments.
  4. PROVIDE evidence to bolster each argument.
  5. REPEAT your conclusion as an action item.
  6. WRITE the subject last and include a benefit.

28. How to Create a Great Presentation

  1. PLAN OUT an emotional journey for the audience.
  2. FLAG the places where the audience will feel emotions.
  3. BUILD a story that creates the emotions in that order.
  4. ARRANGE everything into a simple structure.
  5. MAKE slides relevant, short, simple, and readable.
  6. CUSTOMIZE your presentation and rehearse it.

29. How to Deliver a Great Presentation

  1. STAND UP rather than remain seated when you speak.
  2. CHECK your equipment in advance.
  3. HAVE somebody else introduce you.
  4. SET AND RESPECT a time limit.
  5. AVOID "warm-up" jokes, unless you're a comedian.
  6. ADJUST your presentation to the "feel" of the room.
  7. LESSEN stage fright by speaking to individuals, not the entire audience
  8. SPEAK directly to audience members.
  9. DON'T meander and skip.
  10. MAKE eye contact with multiple people.

30. How to Work a Room

  1. BE CURIOUS about people and what they do.
  2. WHEN ASKED, describe yourself in terms of the value you provide.
  3. IF the other person seems uninterested, move on.
  4. EXPLAIN how you're different from the competition.
  5. IF the other person seems uninterested, move on.
  6. OPEN a conversation to assess mutual needs.
  7. IF interest continues, ask for a real meeting.

31. How to Negotiate a Deal

  1. DEFINE what's on the table in the deal.
  2. DECIDE what's important to you and what's not.
  3. HAVE reasons why those things are important to you.
  4. RESERVE a plan B, so your hand isn't forced.
  5. LET the other person open the negotiation.
  6. WORK together rather than digging your heels in.
  7. CREATE a deal that reflects what you both value.
  8. STOP negotiating when the bulk of the deal is defined.


HOW TO MANAGE YOUR BOSS

32. The Twelve Types of Bosses

  1. VISIONARIES are inspiring but can act like jerks.
  2. CLIMBERS want to get ahead, so expect no loyalty.
  3. BUREAUCRATS hate change, so document everything.
  4. PROPELLERHEADS love gadgets, so become an expert.
  5. FOGEYS want respect, so recruit them as mentors.
  6. WHIPPERSNAPPERS are insecure, so don't make suggestions.
  7. SOCIAL DIRECTORS love consensus but may suddenly explode.
  8. DICTATORS make fast decisions but cause disasters.
  9. SALES STARS would rather be selling, so let them do so.
  10. HATCHET MEN execute layoffs, so get another job pronto.
  11. LOST LAMBS need your help but may get dependent on you.
  12. HEROES are rare, so enjoy them while it lasts.

33. How to Keep Any Boss Happy

  1. DO what you say you'll do.
  2. KEEP your boss in the loop.
  3. CARE about your quality of work.
  4. ACCEPT decisions when they're made.
  5. SOLVE problems without whining.
  6. BE concise and clear.
  7. MAKE your boss successful.

34. How to Get the Best from Your Boss

  1. COMMUNICATE what you need in order to do your best.
  2. KEEP your manager informed of your progress.
  3. MAKE a case for keeping you in your job.
  4. ENSURE that everyone knows how much you contribute.
  5. UNDERSTAND your boss's goals and desires.
  6. CULTIVATE a common interest.

35. How to Ace Your Performance Review

  1. FIND OUT what you must accomplish and document the conversation.
  2. TRACK and report on your accomplishments against your metrics.
  3. WRITE your performance review draft or provide "inputs" to same.
  4. IF the boss attempts to renege, insist on some other reward.

36. How to Handle an Unreasonable Request

  1. BE flexible about what's unreasonable.
  2. IF you accept the task, negotiate something in return.
  3. CULTIVATE the courage to say no.
  4. REMEMBER that once you do it, it's part of your job.

37. How to Ask for a Raise

  1. DON'T bother discussing what you need, want, or expect to be paid.
  2. BASE your proposed raise on your financial contribution.
  3. LET your boss know how much it would cost to replace you.
  4. GATHER information to buttress your case.
  5. ESTABLISH a discrepancy between your value and your pay.
  6. FIELD objections, so they reinforce your case.
  7. PUSH until you've gotten a commitment with a number.

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What is your WHY?

PURPOSE..... IMPACT....
INTENTION
..that is what gives us power!!!

play

The belief in something bigger than ourselves...something that makes life worth living.

When you are lying on your death bed one day, you're not going to worry about how rich or how successful you were.

You're going to worry about what impact you had on the world.

How will people remember you?

Will they remember you?

What footprint did you leave?

Have you made a change?

Knowing your purpose turns on your drive

It turns on your passion

And it turns off your fear and then you can be successful.

There is nothing more powerful than someone with a purpose!

Would you like to know what your life purpose is?

Most people go through their whole lives not knowing what their life purpose is and end up feeling unfulfilled and unhappy. In just 5 easy questions we can help you figure it out.

Five little questions that can change so much. If you know what your life purpose is:

  1. You may review your career
  2. You may review your lifestyle
  3. You may realize what you have always wanted to do
  4. You may make some changes in your life
  5. You may become crazy happy!

It's so easy!
Just fill in your email below and you can discover your life purpose right now!!!


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