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31.
Assessment
Review operating information monthly. Check
out industry and pertinent economic indicators
at least quarterly. Using that data, make adjustments
to your strategy and plan. At least annually,
perform a total review including your vision
and mission. Summarize and document results,
commenting on what worked and what didn't.
32. Fear.
Fear is one of the worst enemies of success.
When fear wraps its tentacles around you and
keeps you in bondage, you will never be able
to reach for your dreams. We must confront our
fears, see them for what they are, toss them
to the side, and pursue our dreams with relentless
passion. Conquering fear and stepping forward
to reach new lands and new ideas is what makes
success possible. What are you afraid of today?
What fear must you conquer to be able to achieve
your dream? When you realize what it is, take
an action that is diametrically opposed to that
which you fear. This will confront and conquer
the fear by giving you the first step in the
right direction.
33. Lethargy.
Quite frankly, what keeps most people from success
is that they simply don't have the energy, or
make the energy, to do what it takes to move
to the next level. They get to a point that
is comfortable and then they settle in for a
nice, life-long nap! Don't get lethargic; get
going! Force yourself to wake up from the slumber
and move!
34. Lack of perseverance.
Oftentimes the race is lost because the race
is not finished. Success is often just around
the sharpest corner or the steepest hill. Persevere.
Keep going. One more hill. One more corner!
In real estate they say the three most important
things are "location, location, location."
In success the three most important things are
"perseverance, perseverance, perseverance."
35. Pessimism.
The saying is that you can achieve what you
believe. Ask yourself what kinds of beliefs
you hold. Are you an optimist or a pessimist?
If you don't believe that you can achieve than
you won't. Your pessimism will prove yourself
right every time. You will find that you subconsciously
undermine yourself. Develop your optimism. Look
for ways to believe that you can achieve success.
36. Not taking responsibility.
I am the chaplain for the local police department.
The other day I went with an officer as he took
two prisoners to court. Time after time the
prisoners made excuses as to why they hadn't
yet done what the judge had ordered (she didn't
buy it, by the way). After dropping the prisoners
off, I said to the officer that unsuccessful
people and prisoners have the same bad habit
-- they won't accept responsibility for their
lives. You are responsible. When you accept
that, you are on the road to success.
37. Picking the wrong people to hang out with.
We can easily become products of our environment.
This is why it is essential to hang around people
who will spur you on not hold you back! What
about the people you have surrounded yourself
with? Are they quality people who will encourage
you and strengthen you in your quest for success?
If not, move on!
38. No vision. Those who succeed always see
their success months and years before they live
it. They have the ability to look ahead, see
the future, imagine the good that can and will
come from their lives, families and work. To
not have vision is a tremendous roadblock. Sit
down and work on seeing the future -- and make
it good!
39. Understand that not all business is good
business. There's a lot of business out there
and a lot of wonderful people to do it with.
Life is so much sweeter if you surround yourself
with those wonderful, sincere, and pleasant
people. Let somebody else do business with the
jerks of this world.
40. Allow yourself permission to make mistakes.
Don't beat yourself up every time you do. Instead
realize that we learn from every mistake we
make, and every obstacle in our paths serves
to make us stronger and better at what we do.
41. Take a cue from Nike and "Just do it!"
So many of us are set on getting ready, to get
started, to begin, to prepare, to get organized,
to think about, etc. that we miss the chances
that are placed before us. If we wait for all
the planets to be in complete alignment on a
good hair day, we'll never get anything done.
I certainly believe in preparation, but sooner
or later we're all going to have to take the
plunge and venture out into a world where things
aren't perfect and aren't always safe. That
world is where the opportunities lie.
42. Know who has your clients! I don't mean
your competition, I mean people who cater to
the same clientele you do. Those are the people
you should be networking with -- not every Tom,
Dick and Harry at a Chamber of Commerce mixer.
Is your target market upper income baby boomers?
If so, what are they spending their money on?
In other words, whose services are they using
and who has access to them? If high-end (and
aging) boomers are your target market, for example,
you might want to start forming strategic alliances
with cosmetic surgeons, rheumatologists, cosmetic
dentists, florists, divorce lawyers, therapists,
stock brokers, golf pros, financial planners,
massage therapists, wedding planners, etc. Building
your business is so much easier when you know
whose business you want and who else has got
it.
43. Finally, if at first you don't succeed,
never EVER think of yourself as a failure. Simply
think of yourself as someone who just hasn't
succeeded yet! With that attitude, you surely
will.
44. Have powerful reasons. With a strong enough
reason you can and will find the how and the
wherewithal to achieve your reward. Reasons
plus belief keep you motivated. When you're
excited about your goal, it doesn't seem like
work. If you're not excited, your efforts will
require more discipline and energy. Make sure
it's YOUR goal. Make sure it excites you. And
then act enthusiastically.
45. Write your objectives down. This is a critical
step. Don't think it, ink it. When you write
your goals down, they appear not only on paper,
but they become indelibly written upon your
consciousness.
46. Visualize. "See" your objective
already in existence. Nothing can withstand
the power of a clear, multi-sensory vision of
what you are intending. What does it look like?
What will people be saying about it? How will
you feel? The more detailed and "real"
you can make your vision, the more powerful
it will be. It will operate like a magnet and
draw forth all kinds of things you never thought
possible.
47. Affirm your success. Speak your goal into
existence. An affirmation is a present-tense,
positive statement of your intended outcome.
I now have achieved ______________ (fill in
the blank). The more sensory rich you can make
your affirmations, the more effective they will
be. All of these techniques help you to feel
the presence of your objective and build belief.
48. Make a plan of action. To achieve and stay
focused upon your objective, create an action
plan. What are the steps you will take to get
you from where you are to where you want to
be? Your strategies will likely change as you
go along, so set your goals in concrete and
your plans in sand. Keep your eye on the goal,
but remain flexible in your path to it.
49. Measure your progress. You can't change
what you don't measure. Create mechanisms that
will allow you to see your progress. Use charts.
Log your actions. Use anything that will encourage
you by allowing you to objectively track your
progress. We all need feedback -- it's the breakfast
of champions.
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