Saturday, January 26, 2013
Dream- zite
It’s irritating. Frustrating. Overwhelming. They say “Follow your dreams”, “Chase your passion”.
And you would. You really would. But there’s a problem. A huge problem.
You have no idea what your “passion” or “dream” is.
Once we know our passion then we can follow it with insane tenacity. The problem isn’t that people hold back from their passion. It’s that you have no clue what your passion is.
If you have no idea what your dream is you can’t follow it.
You read blogs, books, and get advice from anyone with a pulse. The truth isn’t you lack discipline, focus or commitment.
It’s much simpler than that… But also much scarier to admit.
The truth, is you have no idea what you want to do with your life…
So, what’s the solution?
It’s simple . Go find your passion…. Now I’m starting to sound like those “gurus” aren’t I?
But don’t worry I won’t leave you hanging. Below I list 10 very specific ways you can begin the process to discover your passion and dreams.
1. Develop a 5 year vision
Open up a word document (or take out a piece of paper and pen), and grab a stopwatch. Set the timer for 8 minutes.
Imagine all of your dreams have come true over the last 5 years of your life. You have everything you ever wanted. You are going to write in extensive detail what your life is like:
What time do you wake up? What activities do you do? Who do you hang out with? How much money do you make? How do you make money? What do you eat? How do you feel? Write down everything that comes to mind!
Set the timer at 8 minutes. Go! Go! Go!
2. Read non-fiction self-help books and implement a major action.
Reading a great self-help book is incredibly powerful. But this comes with a caveat. It’s only powerful if you are able to adopt and implement the ideas you get from the book.
Read a full book (not just the first chapter!) and focus on taking away one major idea. Not 2, 5 or 20! Focus on getting one idea and then immediately implement it in your life. If you read 12 books per year and implement one idea per book you won’t recognize yourself a year from today.
3. Volunteer in your community.
Fat, lazy, boring people don’t tend to volunteer. You know who does volunteer- interesting and motivated people who love to give back.
The more you surround yourself with positive people the more likely you are to start believing in your own capabilities. Also, you might be shocked at how much you like the activity.
4. Start that hobby you’ve been wanting to begin.
We all have that hobby that we’ve been saying for years “I’m gonna start that.” But year after year keeps passing. Make today that day! There’s a reason you are drawn to this hobby. Just go for it!
5. Read an inspiring blog then take action.
Identify a blog that you love! Not “like” but “love”! Then read 5 posts that draw you in. Then immediately take action based on what you learn. There is a reason you are drawn to this content. By taking action you will start to open a floodgate to learn amazing things about yourself.
6. Send an email “questionnaire” to loved ones.
Send an email to all the people you love in your life. These are the people that know you best. The following works perfectly: “Hi (name here). I’ve been trying to figure out what I want to do with my life, but I don’t know where to start. What do you think I would be amazing at?”
I have done this numerous times. You will be shocked! People that are around you all the time see your strengths and skills but since it’s not “normal conversation” it never comes up. Just make sure you send it to supportive, positive people who love you.
7. Ask and answer the question “What do I want to do?” with no limits.
Just sit back and ask yourself “What do I want to do with my life?” and hold nothing back. Don’t accept any excuses. Most likely that one thing that you say “Well I would love to ________ but I could never do that because _____________” is your thing.
8. Do things that scare you.
Choose something that scares you and go out and do it. When we face our fears we learn immense things about our character. It’s incredibly confidence building to attempt to do things that scare us. Also, very often the reason it scares us is because it means so much to us. The reason it means so much is because deep down in our core – we want it more than anything in the world!
9. Actively seek out “awkward situations.”
Have you ever attended a “community social event” and you didn’t know anyone. The great thing about attending awkward situations is that it gives us a wonderful opportunity to learn about ourselves. Because we feel uncomfortable we are highly aware of ourselves and those around us. It basically causes forced reflection. Which is always a great thing!
10. Always focus on learning.
In every single situation, no matter what happens, always ask yourself: What can I learn from this? What does this tell me about myself?
If you learn in every single situation… Just imagine how much clarity that would bring to your life.
——–
Izzy is living, breathing proof you can pursue your dream. no matter how crazy it is. Izzy’s a former teacher who lives in Japan. He’s pursuing his childhood dream: to become a ninja. Check out The Ninja Tool Kit– resources, books and tools to inspire, encourage and educate you to follow your dreams.
Want to feel great every single week? NOW YOU CAN!
To start being more productive today, click here now to get your copy!
Leadership from zite
INNOVATIONEXCELLENCE.COM 3 Days Ago
Leadership Means Facing Challenges Head-on
by Mike Myatt
Many would say if you’re in the leadership business, you’re also in the business of dealing with adversity. Regardless of where you are in your life and your career, I can promise you one thing; you will consistently be faced with challenges and obstacles along the way. In today’s post I will take a brief look at the beliefs that cause some to succeed where others fail.
Life isn’t easy, it’s not fair, and it’s certain to challenge even the best of leaders. You will face physical, mental, financial, relational, and resource challenges among others. Instead of beating yourself up or giving in, it is critical you develop the ability to learn from setbacks. In a nutshell, dealing with barriers, obstacles, and setbacks requires both attitude and aptitude. So, do you have the skills and perspective to thrive under pressure and to succeed, or will you implode when faced with a challenge?
Sir Edmund Hillary was unsuccessful on three different occasions in his attempt to climb Mt. Everest before his successful summit in 1953. People who lauded the praises of Sir Edmund’s ascent said, “You’ve conquered the mountain,” and Sir Hillary said, “No, I’ve conquered myself.” The bitter experiences of the three failed attempts did not hold back Hillary from a fourth one. With a focused vision, a clarity of purpose, a passionate outlook, and a great team, he pursued his goal and achieved it.
Anyone who has ever launched a new initiative understands the inevitability of running into numerous barriers over the life-cycle of any project. The difference between those who succeed, and those who fail, is their perspective on how to deal with the barriers they encounter along the way. People often stumble over even the smallest of obstacles, while all too easily considering these routine speed-bumps as rational excuses for their failures.
Setbacks and difficulties are an inevitable part of life. While they will often challenge your skills and temperament, it is those who are willing to spend the time assessing the obstacles as they arise, and who refuse to submit to their various trials who will succeed. The ability to blow through barriers must become a passion if you want to achieve sustainable success in the business world.
I could certainly paint a more complex picture of what it takes to overcome challenges by citing esoteric theories, but the truth of the matter is the only thing required to get beyond barriers is to stop complaining about the challenges and obstacles, and spend your time solving problems & creating outcome based solutions. If my objective is to get to the other side of the wall, I don’t really care if I go over the wall, under the wall, around the wall or through the wall… I just care I get to the other side. While I might spend a bit of time evaluating the most efficient strategy for getting to the other side of said wall, it will ultimately be my focus on the tactical execution of conquering the challenge that will determine my success. A bias toward action is always a better path than falling prey to analysis paralysis.
Generally speaking, there are only really two ways to address difficulties:
1. You can either change the circumstances surrounding the difficulty, or;
2. Change yourself to better deal with the circumstances or the difficulty itself.
You can deal with difficulties properly and leverage your experience (or better yet the experience of others) to enhance your confidence, or you can deal with them incorrectly and let them seriously damage your confidence, performance and ultimately your reputation.
Following are 4 things to consider when setbacks do occur:
1. Recognize: Be honest enough to acknowledge what has happened. Don’t hide from the reality of the situation at hand. Setbacks happen – don’t be discouraged, learn from them, deal with them, and move on.
2. Learn: Turn setbacks into development opportunities by asking positive questions such as: What are the positives surrounding this situation? How can I make the most of this situation? What can I learn from it? What are the facts underlying this problem? How can I avoid this situation next time?
3. Acknowledge: Setbacks are part of life – they happen to everyone. When they happen to you, it’s important to understand you are not being singled out. Don’t take it personally, deal with it, and move on.
4. Perspective: View setbacks as a challenge to overcome rather than an issue or problem. Just as a diamond cannot be polished without friction, neither can you fully develop your skills without them being tested by adversity. Use obstacles and failures as an opportunity to polish your skills. I think Winston Churchill said it best when he noted, “The pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; the optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.”
Thoughts?
Wait! Before you go…
Choose how you want the latest innovation content delivered to you:
Mike Myatt, is a Top CEO Coach, author of “Leadership Matters…The CEO Survival Manual“, and Managing Director of N2Growth.
Related Posts
Leadership Means Facing Challenges Head-on
by Mike Myatt
Many would say if you’re in the leadership business, you’re also in the business of dealing with adversity. Regardless of where you are in your life and your career, I can promise you one thing; you will consistently be faced with challenges and obstacles along the way. In today’s post I will take a brief look at the beliefs that cause some to succeed where others fail.
Life isn’t easy, it’s not fair, and it’s certain to challenge even the best of leaders. You will face physical, mental, financial, relational, and resource challenges among others. Instead of beating yourself up or giving in, it is critical you develop the ability to learn from setbacks. In a nutshell, dealing with barriers, obstacles, and setbacks requires both attitude and aptitude. So, do you have the skills and perspective to thrive under pressure and to succeed, or will you implode when faced with a challenge?
Sir Edmund Hillary was unsuccessful on three different occasions in his attempt to climb Mt. Everest before his successful summit in 1953. People who lauded the praises of Sir Edmund’s ascent said, “You’ve conquered the mountain,” and Sir Hillary said, “No, I’ve conquered myself.” The bitter experiences of the three failed attempts did not hold back Hillary from a fourth one. With a focused vision, a clarity of purpose, a passionate outlook, and a great team, he pursued his goal and achieved it.
Anyone who has ever launched a new initiative understands the inevitability of running into numerous barriers over the life-cycle of any project. The difference between those who succeed, and those who fail, is their perspective on how to deal with the barriers they encounter along the way. People often stumble over even the smallest of obstacles, while all too easily considering these routine speed-bumps as rational excuses for their failures.
Setbacks and difficulties are an inevitable part of life. While they will often challenge your skills and temperament, it is those who are willing to spend the time assessing the obstacles as they arise, and who refuse to submit to their various trials who will succeed. The ability to blow through barriers must become a passion if you want to achieve sustainable success in the business world.
I could certainly paint a more complex picture of what it takes to overcome challenges by citing esoteric theories, but the truth of the matter is the only thing required to get beyond barriers is to stop complaining about the challenges and obstacles, and spend your time solving problems & creating outcome based solutions. If my objective is to get to the other side of the wall, I don’t really care if I go over the wall, under the wall, around the wall or through the wall… I just care I get to the other side. While I might spend a bit of time evaluating the most efficient strategy for getting to the other side of said wall, it will ultimately be my focus on the tactical execution of conquering the challenge that will determine my success. A bias toward action is always a better path than falling prey to analysis paralysis.
Generally speaking, there are only really two ways to address difficulties:
1. You can either change the circumstances surrounding the difficulty, or;
2. Change yourself to better deal with the circumstances or the difficulty itself.
You can deal with difficulties properly and leverage your experience (or better yet the experience of others) to enhance your confidence, or you can deal with them incorrectly and let them seriously damage your confidence, performance and ultimately your reputation.
Following are 4 things to consider when setbacks do occur:
1. Recognize: Be honest enough to acknowledge what has happened. Don’t hide from the reality of the situation at hand. Setbacks happen – don’t be discouraged, learn from them, deal with them, and move on.
2. Learn: Turn setbacks into development opportunities by asking positive questions such as: What are the positives surrounding this situation? How can I make the most of this situation? What can I learn from it? What are the facts underlying this problem? How can I avoid this situation next time?
3. Acknowledge: Setbacks are part of life – they happen to everyone. When they happen to you, it’s important to understand you are not being singled out. Don’t take it personally, deal with it, and move on.
4. Perspective: View setbacks as a challenge to overcome rather than an issue or problem. Just as a diamond cannot be polished without friction, neither can you fully develop your skills without them being tested by adversity. Use obstacles and failures as an opportunity to polish your skills. I think Winston Churchill said it best when he noted, “The pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; the optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.”
Thoughts?
Wait! Before you go…
Choose how you want the latest innovation content delivered to you:
Mike Myatt, is a Top CEO Coach, author of “Leadership Matters…The CEO Survival Manual“, and Managing Director of N2Growth.
Related Posts
Thursday, January 3, 2013
New year new school
Yesterday marked a new phase for the life of my two sons boy and the younger adzeem. Both went to different school, boy is in maahad Tahfiz alquran wal qiraat (mataqsa) in section 3 and adzeem to bahtera ilmu.
I 'd say that I missed boy already, we spent a lot of time together, either fly fishing or going to the masjid Negeri. He was the one that always obey me and fulfill whatever I requested of him. In the primary, without failed he would greet and hug me every time I came back from work. I can say that not only he's been the good son but also a friend. I thank Allah for his rahmah installing my fondness and love to all my children .
I know, sending their children to Tahfiz is any parents dream ( well , mine anyway) but to be away from someone who is close to you really made me feel concern for his well being. I have been warned that Shaitan would try his best to ensure the hafeez and his family face with trials as he knows once the Quran is engrave in someone's heart and way of life, he's defeated
All I can do in this feeling of helplessness and apprehension is for Allah almighty to protect rifaai from the evil of this earth and its beings, the evil of hereafter, for Allah to grant rifaai the wisdom and knowledge of the Quran, to be a hafeez , and to achieve whatever his vision is.. Ameen ya Allah..
And the current situation also teaches me why the dua of parents are potent coz only parents can be sincere in their prayers for their kids and only parents know the feeling of helpless and what it means to be dependent on Allah with regards to the well being of their children..
O Allah , please love nurqistina, rifaai, ukasyah and adzeem as I love them and love them more... Ameen
I 'd say that I missed boy already, we spent a lot of time together, either fly fishing or going to the masjid Negeri. He was the one that always obey me and fulfill whatever I requested of him. In the primary, without failed he would greet and hug me every time I came back from work. I can say that not only he's been the good son but also a friend. I thank Allah for his rahmah installing my fondness and love to all my children .
I know, sending their children to Tahfiz is any parents dream ( well , mine anyway) but to be away from someone who is close to you really made me feel concern for his well being. I have been warned that Shaitan would try his best to ensure the hafeez and his family face with trials as he knows once the Quran is engrave in someone's heart and way of life, he's defeated
All I can do in this feeling of helplessness and apprehension is for Allah almighty to protect rifaai from the evil of this earth and its beings, the evil of hereafter, for Allah to grant rifaai the wisdom and knowledge of the Quran, to be a hafeez , and to achieve whatever his vision is.. Ameen ya Allah..
And the current situation also teaches me why the dua of parents are potent coz only parents can be sincere in their prayers for their kids and only parents know the feeling of helpless and what it means to be dependent on Allah with regards to the well being of their children..
O Allah , please love nurqistina, rifaai, ukasyah and adzeem as I love them and love them more... Ameen
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