10 things truly confident people do differently

10 things truly confident people do differently

  20:25    Unknown

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True confidence — as opposed to the false confidence people project to mask their insecurities — has a look all its own.

One thing is certain: Truly confident people always have the upper hand over the doubtful and the skittish because they inspire others and they make things happen.

"Whether you think you can, or you think you can't — you're right." — Henry Ford

Ford's notion that your mentality has a powerful effect on your ability to succeed is seen in the results of a recent study at the University of Melbourne that showed that confident people earn higher wages and get promoted more quickly than anyone else.

Indeed, confident people have a profound impact on everyone they encounter. Yet, they achieve this only because they exert so much influence inside, on themselves  We see only their outside. We see them innovate, speak their mind and propel themselves forward toward bigger and better things. 

And, yet, we're missing the best part.

We don't see the habits they develop to become so confident. It's a labor of love that they pursue behind the scenes, every single day.

And while what people are influenced by changes with the season, the unique habits of truly confident people remain constant. Their focused pursuit is driven by these habits that you can emulate and absorb:

1. They speak with certainty

It's rare to hear the truly confident utter phrases such as "Um," "I'm not sure," and "I think." Confident people speak assertively because they know that it's difficult to get people to listen to you if you can't deliver your ideas with conviction.

2. They seek out small victories

Confident people like to challenge themselves and compete, even when their efforts yield small victories. Small victories build new androgen receptors in the areas of the brain responsible for reward and motivation.

The increase in androgen receptors increases the influence of testosterone, which further increases their confidence and eagerness to tackle future challenges. When you have a series of small victories, the boost in your confidence can last for months.

3. They exercise

A study conducted at the Eastern Ontario Research Institute found that people who exercised twice a week for 10 weeks felt more competent socially, academically and athletically.

They also rated their body image and self-esteem higher. Best of all, rather than the physical changes in their bodies being responsible for the uptick in confidence, it was the immediate, endorphin-fueled positivity from exercise that made all the difference.

4. They don't seek attention

People are turned off by those who are desperate for attention. Confident people know that being yourself is much more effective than trying to prove that you're important. People catch on to your attitude quickly and are more attracted to the right attitude than what, or how many, people you know. Confident people always seem to bring the right attitude.

Confident people are masters of attention diffusion. When they're receiving attention for an accomplishment, they quickly shift the focus to all the people who worked hard to help get them there. They don't crave approval or praise because they draw their self-worth from within.

5. They don't pass judgment

Confident people don't pass judgment on others because they know that everyone has something to offer, and they don't need to take other people down a notch in order to feel good about themselves. Comparing yourself to other people is limiting. Confident people don't waste time sizing people up and worrying about whether or not they measure up to everyone they meet.

6. They get their happiness from within

Happiness is a critical element of confidence, because in order to be confident in what you do, you have to be happy with who you are. People who brim with confidence derive their sense of pleasure and satisfaction from their own accomplishments, as opposed to what other people think of their accomplishments.

7. They listen more than they speak

People with confidence listen more than they speak because they don't feel as though they have anything to prove. Confident people know that by actively listening and paying attention to others, they are much more likely to learn and grow. Instead of seeing interactions as opportunities to prove themselves to others, they focus on the interaction itself, because they know that this is a far more enjoyable and productive approach to people.

8. They take risks

When confident people see an opportunity, they take it. Instead of worrying about what could go wrong, they ask themselves, "What's stopping me? Why can't I do that?" and they go for it. Fear doesn't hold them back because they know that if they never try, they will never succeed.

9. They aren't afraid to be wrong

Confident people aren't afraid to be proven wrong. They like putting their opinions out there to see if they hold up because they learn a lot from the times they are wrong and other people learn from them when they're right. Self-assured people know what they are capable of and don't treat being wrong as a personal slight.

10. They celebrate other people's successes

Insecure people constantly doubt their relevance, and because of this, they try to steal the spotlight and criticize others in order to prove their worth. Confident people, on the other hand, aren't worried about their relevance because they draw their self-worth from within. Instead of insecurely focusing inward, confident people focus outward, which allows them to see all the wonderful things that other people bring to the table. Praising people for their contributions is a natural result of this.

Bringing it all together

Building confidence is a journey, not a destination. To become more confident you must be passionate in your pursuit of a greater future.

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5 Signs Your Personality Is Intimidating To Others

5 Signs Your Personality Is Intimidating To Others

  06:54    Unknown

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Malcom X once said, “Why am I as I am? To understand that of any person, his whole life, from birth, must be reviewed. All of our experiences fuse into our personality. Everything that ever happened to us is an ingredient.”

IT’S TRUE.

Our experiences in life mold us into the people we are. Chances are, if you have a strong personality, it’s because you’ve had to have one- life throws curve balls, and you’ve learned how to throw them back.

It’s not a bad thing to be one of these people, even though you might feel like you’ve done something wrong by the way others react around you. Your career may have had a few hiccups, and your relationships are trademarked by tension, but your independent way of thinking isn’t wrong- it just rubs some people the wrong way.

You might have noticed that people are cautious when you approach, or when they see you, they give a quick hello, smile, and abruptly leave. The sad part of this is that some people don’t even realize that they’re coming off this way. More often than not, these people have a big heart and are very kind, but their strong personality makes them come off as aggressive or even rude.

Defining what a strong, or “intimidating” personality type is, can be difficult since it means something different for everyone. However, there are a couple traits and characteristics that seem to be quite common.

1. YOU DON’T TOLERATE WILLFUL IGNORANCE.

To be honest, it either sparks an anger inside of you (that you can’t keep silent about), or it makes you want to walk away without saying a word. This might be because most strong-willed people are also highly educated. After doing everything they could to understand as much of the world as possible (which requires a mind of openness), when they see someone who is willfully ignorant or judgmental, they simply can’t handle it, and they won’t tolerate it.

2. SMALL TALK IS ANNOYING.

Conversations that invite intellectually stimulating discussion are always welcome, whereas mundane topics of weather and which celebrity is getting married, can leave you feeling frustrated and annoyed.
What Type Of Unique Personality Do You Have?

And yes, those with strong personalities are prone to telling others exactly what they think. This is especially true when the are concentrating on an important task and someone interrupts with small talk. They really just don’t have the patience or time to deal with trivial details.

3. YOU FIND OPPORTUNITIES WHERE OTHERS SEE NONE.

One of the perks of having an open mind, is seeing opportunities where others see closed doors. Anything can happen with the right mindset.

This trait can help you survive (and thrive) when times get tough. The only issue you will encounter is when others show animosity and jealousy of your ability to succeed.

4. YOU FOCUS ON SOLUTIONS- NOT PROBLEMS.

People that have a strong personality are known for getting things done. They keep their nose to the grindstone and work tirelessly to reach their goals. When a problem arises, they focus on solving the issue. Because of this type of mentality, these people do not tolerate the excuses of others.

If someone attempts to whine and complain to a person with a strong personality, with no regard to fixing their problems, they will find themselves alone. Strong personalities don’t pander to weak-willed individuals.

5. YOUR WORD IS EVERYTHING.

If you have a strong personality, then you are one of the few people who really say what you mean, and mean what you say. You’ve never been one to break a promise, or lie to a friend (even if you knew the truth would hurt), and people respect you for your honesty. But they might not appreciate it at the time. In fact, you’ve probably had someone tell you how much they dislike the words you told them, even though you said them with kindness and honesty.

This trait causes you to despise liars and people who couldn’t keep a promise to save their life. They say something you know is false and suddenly there is a fire inside of you. It just happens. Because of this, you pick and choose your friends wisely.

Does this sound like you or someone you know? Just remember, people who have a strong personality aren’t being rude, and they’re not trying to dominate anything or anyone. They simply can’t handle the masks of others anymore- it’s unnecessary and exhausting.

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7 Things All Great Relationships Have in Common

7 Things All Great Relationships Have in Common

  02:44    Unknown

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You know those relationships that drain your energy? The ones that impact your ability to really thrive at home, at work, in life? There are consequences of enduring them and failing to face up to reality that something’s just not right.

And while there’s no point pretending a relationship has a future if it doesn’t, it’s just as important to recognize when relationships are right, when they’re worth investing in.

So whether it’s with your children, your spouse, your parents, your friends or your co-workers, here are seven signs of a good, healthy relationship:

1. Trust.

Great relationships are built on a foundation of trust—something that takes time to build and is hard to regain once it’s lost. Without trust, relationships of every kind will fail. You know you trust each other when you feel safe, comfortable, open, close. It’s reflected in your willingness to listen to the tough stuff—and learn from it.

2. Openness.

You express yourselves openly and honestly. No topic is off limits. Both parties feel heard. You engage in honest and respectful conversations that allow you to understand one another and build a genuine connection. When you have problems and concerns, you share them directly and not with other people. You never complain or criticize behind each other’s backs.

3. Respect.

Both parties recognize that neither of you is perfect. You accept each other the way you are. Too often we focus on what we expect or hope people will be, and while it’s important to recognize how people can grow or learn, holding onto who you expect someone to become will inevitably lead to disappointment and frustration.

4. Teamwork.

To make the relationships in your life work, you and the other person both have to do your part—because it takes two to tango. You make decisions together and listen to each other’s concerns and preferences. You bring your ideas and opinions together and remain open minded to one another’s point of view. You work with mutual trust and respect to achieve what you each need.

5. Joy.

Healthy relationships are energized by laughter, by fun. While you can’t expect anyone to be happy every minute of every day, good relationships uplift our spirits and make us feel loved and accepted.  Most people are capable of frustrating or annoying us at times, but what matters is the ability to move past petty disagreements and look for reasons to enjoy each other’s company.

6. Kindness.

You treat each other with care, consideration and compassion. You are friendly and speak with warmth and consideration. You are generous toward each other. When we choose to invest in the needs of others, the impact is significant.

7. Forgiveness.

Holding on to baggage weighs heavily on any relationship. Resentment, disappointment and frustration, when left unresolved, erode trust and drain our spirit. You know you have a great relationship when you are able to express how you feel and let it go. You are able to forgive shortcoming and failings. You support one another. You learn from the experiences you face, and you move on. 

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4 Destructive Ways to Waste Your Energy, and How to Stop

4 Destructive Ways to Waste Your Energy, and How to Stop

  01:23    Unknown

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There are 1,440 minutes in a day. Assuming you sleep 7 hours, this means you are awake and able to consciously choose how to spend about 1,000 minutes of energy every day.

Too often, we fall into a reactive mode in life. We all know that juggling 100 balls, and splitting our focus into pieces, is counter-intuitive to our productivity, health, and happiness. We've all been stretched too thin to the point where we know we are not doing anything well.

Did you know that you have the power to take back control of your energy at any moment? It's true. You can decide right now that you alone will determine where you direct your energy.

"No one better than ourselves can guard our energy and be intentional about how it is spent." - Rob Bell

Why do we waste our energy?

All of us at some point we negatively or incorrectly invest our energy into the wrong things is because we have not identified something significant which is deserving of our energy... something bigger than ourselves.

We all have energy to give. Physiologically, we must expend energy. If we don't intentionally select a positive direction, than we will expend it in a negative way.

Understanding the power of our energy, and its impact on ourselves and others, is the core of self-awareness.

Our personal growth expands in direct proportion to how well we understand the power of our own energy.

How do we waste our energy?

Bell shares 4 ways in which we tend to waste our energy:

1. Saying "yes" to everything.

Can you easily answer the question, "What is it that I am supposed to be doing?" If you can't, then you will say yes to too many things, and to the wrong things.

The more clarity you have on what you are supposed to be doing, the more you can say, "That is not my role."

Your Call to Action: Review your "Yes" list. Identify those obligations that were driven by a desire to please others, to fill time, or out of guilt, and are not aligned with your higher purpose. Step away from as many as possible.

2. Talking about what you are going to do, instead of doing it.

Especially in today's world where self-promotion and marketing hype is king, people expend tremendous time, money, and energy promoting what is coming. We are a "look-at-me" society. Imagine if you could re-direct and harness the power of even half that energy into actually doing what you are hyping.

Your Call to Action: Have a project or a goal you've been delaying? Start TODAY. One step. Just start. When you feel the urge to tell someone about it, re-direct the energy into DOING.

3. Trying to enroll people in your path and purpose.

Everyone has their own path. To move forward on your path, you don't require enrollment, support, or even understanding. You are here to invest your energies in a particular way, and that way doesn't include convincing others to buy into your path.

People buy into results. If you want others to support your path, deliver an outcome rather than a promise. Demonstrate how you have transformed the lives of others. People will support you because your results are aligned with their personal path. They will not support you simply for the sake of supporting you.

As Simon Sinek explained in his TED Talk, "How Great Leaders Inspire Action," Martin Luther King Juniors' supporters didn't travel across the country to Washington, DC in blistering heat for him. They showed up on the National Mall for themselves because his message aligned with their personal dreams and path.

Your Call to Action: Remind yourself that you don't need approval to follow your path. Again, stop talking and start doing.

4. Picking the wrong battles.

When we aren't aligned with our higher purpose, and we aren't focused on issues or outcomes of significance, it's easy to get worked up over trivial issues because we have to
care about something. All of the nonsense sucks up our energy, and distracts us from focusing on people, experiences and outcomes that really matter.

Society as a whole is guilty of this behavior. We've transformed insignificant events into meaningful information, as evidenced with our obsession with the Kardashians, and Brad Pitt's divorce. Is that really worth your limited and valuable energy?

Your Call to Action: Before engaging in a battle or focusing on someone else's drama, ask yourself, "Is it REALLY worth my energy? Does it REALLY matter? How is this distracting me from my higher purpose?"
Restoring your energy

Remember: how you allocate your energy is a reflection of how well you understand the power and worth of your energy. If you find yourself depleted of energy, conduct an "energy audit" to assess where your energy is going.

Your personal growth is directly related to your understanding of the power of your energy. With a heightened awareness of the power of your energy, your understanding that you are in control of your energy, and a desire to take back your power, you will continue to evolve.

Good luck!

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Stop Procrastinating, Get More Done

Stop Procrastinating, Get More Done

  01:17    Unknown

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Tons of time management strategies have been developed over the years by hundreds of people to help you get more done in less time. Here are 6 of my favorite task management tips to help you stop procrastinating in your work and personal life.

Think about which one of these ideas could be most helpful to you right now, in your current situation.

1) Manage and Organize Your Tasks on Paper

Prepare thoroughly if you want to get things done. List every step of the job in advance. Break the job down into its constituent parts before you begin. Simply writing out every detail and thoroughly preparing in advance will help you to stop procrastinating.

2) Fully Prepare for Each Task

Second, come fully prepared for each task you work on.

When you sit down to work or to begin a task, make sure that you have everything on hand so that you won’t have to get up or move until the task is done. Being fully prepared is a powerful motivator for staying with the task until it is finished.

3) Take Small Steps to Manage Your Tasks

The 80/20 rule says that 20% of the task often accounts for 80% of the value of that task.

This is probably what Confucius meant when he said that, ‘‘A journey of 1,000 leagues begins with a single step.’’
Once you have taken even one small step to start the job, you will often find yourself continuing on with the task to completion.

4) “Salami Slice’’ Your Tasks

Just as you would never try to eat a whole loaf of salami at once, don’t try to take on all of a job from the start. Sometimes the best way to stop procrastinating and complete a major job is to take a small slice and complete just that piece, just as you would take a single slice of salami and eat it.

When you select a small piece of the task and then discipline yourself to do it and get it behind you, it will often give you the momentum you need to counter inertia and stop
procrastinating.

5) Select a 5 Minute Task and Start There

Just as a block of Swiss cheese is full of holes, you treat your task like a block of cheese and you punch holes in it.

Select a five-minute part of the job and do only that. Don’t worry about the whole job.

For example, if you want to write an article or a book, break the task down into small pieces that take an identifiable amount of time to complete and do just one small piece at a time whenever you get a chance.

Many authors begin by writing one page a day. If you are doing research, you can read one article per sitting. Many people write complete books on airplanes or complete their
college degrees with snatches of time between other activities. If you wrote one page a day for a year, you would have a 365-page book by the end of the year.

6) Do the Task That Causes You the Most Fear or Anxiety

Often, it has to do with overcoming the fear of failure or rejection by someone else.

In sales, it may be associated with prospecting. In management, it may be associated with disciplining or firing an employee. In relationships, this may have to do with confronting an unhappy personal situation.
In every case, you will be more effective if you deal first with whatever is causing you the greatest emotional distress or fear. Often this will break the logjam in your work and free you up mentally and emotionally to get things done.

7) Start Your Day With the Most Unpleasant Task First

Get it over with and behind you. Everything else for the rest of the day will seem easier in comparison.

A recent study compared two groups of people. One group started an exercise program in the morning. The second group started an exercise program in the evenings after work.
The researchers found that the morning exercises were much more likely to still be in the program six months later.
Starting the day with exercise was much more likely to lead to the habit of regular exercise than putting it off until the end of the day when it was easier to make excuses and procrastinate.

8) Think About the Negative Consequences if you Don’t Finish

What will happen to you if this job is not done on schedule?

Both fear and desire are great motivators of human behavior. Sometimes you can motivate yourself by the desire for the rewards of task completion. Sometimes you can motivate yourself into action by thinking about the negative consequences and what will happen to you if do not get things done as promised.

Before we wrap up, I’d like to leave you with a thought to share with you friends and followers: Start with the end in mind. What would your project look like if it were completed and excellent in every respect?

Now I’d love to hear from you, so my question today is: What do you do to help get motivated and stop procrastinating?

Leave a comment below, and I’ll be sure to follow up with you.

What do you think about these task management tips? Have you tried any of them yourself? If you know other effective ways to stop procrastinating please share and comment below!

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Body Language Secrets of Successful People

Body Language Secrets of Successful People

  03:44    Unknown

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Our bodies have a language of their own, and their words aren’t always kind. Your body language has likely become an integral part of who you are, to the point where you might not even think about it.

If that’s the case, it’s time to start, because you could be sabotaging your career.

TalentSmart has tested more than a million people and found that the upper echelons of top performance are filled with people who are high in emotional intelligence (90% of top performers, to be exact). These people know the power that unspoken signals have in communication and they monitor their own body language accordingly.

What follows are the 15 most common body language mistakes that people make, and emotionally intelligent people are careful to avoid.

1. Slouching is a sign of disrespect. It communicates that you’re bored and have no desire to be where you are. You would never tell your boss, “I don’t understand why I have to listen to you,” but if you slouch, you don’t have to — your body says it for you, loud and clear.

The brain is hardwired to equate power with the amount of space people take up. Standing up straight with your shoulders back is a power position. It maximizes the amount of

space you fill. Slouching, on the other hand, is the result of collapsing your form — it takes up less space and projects less power.

Maintaining good posture commands respect and promotes engagement from both ends of the conversation.

2. Exaggerated gestures can imply that you’re stretching the truth. Aim for small, controlled gestures to indicate leadership and confidence, and open gestures — like spreading your arms apart or showing the palms of your hands — to communicate that you have nothing to hide.

3. Watching the clock while talking to someone is a clear sign of disrespect, impatience, and inflated ego. It sends the message that you have better things to do than talk to the person you’re with, and that you’re anxious to leave them.

4. Turning yourself away from others, or not leaning into your conversation, portrays that you are unengaged, uninterested, uncomfortable, and perhaps even distrustful of the  person speaking.

Try leaning in towards the person who is speaking and tilt your head slightly as you listen to them speak. This shows the person speaking that they have your complete focus and attention.

5. Crossed arms — and crossed legs, to some degree — are physical barriers that suggest you’re not open to what the other person is saying. Even if you’re smiling or engaged in a pleasant conversation, the other person may get a nagging sense that you’re shutting him or her out.

Even if folding your arms feels comfortable, resist the urge to do so if you want people to see you as open-minded and interested in what they have to say.

6. Inconsistency between your words and your facial expression causes people to sense that something isn’t right and they begin to suspect that you’re trying to deceive them, even if they don’t know exactly why or how.

For example, a nervous smile while rejecting an offer during a negotiation won’t help you get what you want; it will just make the other person feel uneasy about working with you because they’ll assume that you’re up to something.

7. Exaggerated nodding signals anxiety about approval. People may perceive your heavy nods as an attempt to show you agree with or understand something that you actually don’t.

8. Fidgeting with or fixing your hair signals that you’re anxious, over-energized, self-conscious, and distracted. People will perceive you as overly concerned with your physical appearance and not concerned enough with your career.

9. Avoiding eye contact makes it look like you have something to hide, and that arouses suspicion. Lack of eye contact can also indicate a lack of confidence and interest, which you never want to communicate in a business setting.

Looking down as you talk makes it seem like you lack confidence or are self-conscious, causing your words to lose their effect. It’s especially important to keep your eyes level if you’re making complicated or important points.

Sustained eye contact, on the other hand, communicates confidence, leadership, strength, and intelligence. While it is possible to be engaged without direct, constant eye contact, complete negligence will clearly have negative effects on your professional relationships.

10. Eye contact that’s too intense may be perceived as aggressive, or an attempt to dominate. On average, Americans hold eye contact for seven to ten seconds, longer when we’re listening than when we’re talking. The way we break contact sends a message, too. Glancing down communicates submission, while looking to the side projects confidence.

11. Rolling your eyes is a fail-proof way to communicate lack of respect. Fortunately, while it may be a habit, it’s voluntary. You can control it, and it’s worth the effort.

12. Scowling or having a generally unhappy expression sends the message that you’re upset by those around you, even if they have nothing to do with your mood. Scowls turn

people away, as they feel judged.

Smiling, however, suggests that you’re open, trustworthy, confident, and friendly. MRI studies have shown that the human brain responds favorably to a person who’s smiling, and this leaves a lasting positive impression.

13. Weak handshakes signal that you lack authority and confidence, while a handshake that is too strong could be perceived as an aggressive attempt at domination, which is just as bad. Adapt your handshake to each person and situation, but make sure it’s always firm.

14. Clenched fists, much like crossed arms and legs, can signal that you’re not open to other people’s points. It can also make you look argumentative and defensive, which will

make people nervous about interacting with you.

15. Getting too close. If you stand too close to someone (nearer than one and a half feet), it signals that you have no respect for or understanding of personal space. This will

make people very uncomfortable when they’re around you.

Bringing It All Together

Avoiding these body language blunders will help you form stronger relationships, both professionally and personally.

Are there any other mistakes we should add to this list? Please share your thoughts in the comments below, as we learn just as much from you as you do from us.

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These Lessons People Often Learn Too Late In Life

These Lessons People Often Learn Too Late In Life

  14:34    Unknown

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Life lessons are full of wisdom because they often have to be learned the hard way. However, the hardest part about that process is realizing that sometimes not every

opportunity lasts forever. You finally "get it" long after the fact.

If possible, it's best to learn these things sooner rather than later.

1. If you want to "do what you love," you have to work three times as hard as everyone else.

Most people do not get to spend their lives doing whatever it is they love. Instead, they do what they are told they should do, or what their parents or town or friends or

peers suggest that they do.

Or they simply pursue nothing close to their heart at all. But if you want to "do what you love," you need to see that as a privilege, not an expectation. Those people are

not the majority. So if that's what you truly want, you have to put in the work now.

2. Beneath anger is always fear.

As the wise Yoda says, "Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering." Whenever we suffer, especially for long periods

of time, at first we believe it is because of something outside of us — something we hate. And if we make it past that emotion, we find below that hate is a rumble of anger,

and certainly something we have held on to for far too long.

But beneath all of that is always fear. A fear of loss. A fear of vulnerability. A fear of letting go. But if you can get to the point of acknowledging the fear, you will see

its lighthearted shadow, compassion. And you will be able to move forward.

3. Our everyday habits form our future selves.

What you do today is one more action toward who you will be tomorrow. When that action is replicated over the course of a week, you begin to scratch the surface of change.

When that action is replicated over the course of a month, you begin to notice a slight difference.

When that action replicated over the course of a year, or two years, or five years, you may no longer recognize yourself — you will have changed, in that particular way,

completely. Do not underestimate the power of each and every small habit, replicated over time. For good or bad, your habits determine who you will ultimately become.

4. Your emotions take practice.

When we think about practice, we often talk in terms of skill. You practice the piano, or you practice playing hockey. But the thing is, who you are emotionally also takes

practice. You can practice humility, you can practice forgiveness.

You can practice self-awareness and humor, just as easily as you can practice anger, resentment, drama, and conflict. Who you are, emotionally, is a reflection of the things

you consciously (or unconsciously) practice. You were not "born" upset. You have merely practiced that emotion far more than you have, say, joy.

5. Everyone has his or her own agenda.

This is quite a cliché phrase, and is often said in a negative context. But I am using it differently: It is worth acknowledging that, at the end of the day, we all must

provide for ourselves. We all have our own dreams, goals, aspirations, families, close friends, and significant others, and we all want the same fundamental things.

There are those you can trust, of course, but the best way to keep yourself rooted and at ease is to know that each and every person has his or her own agenda. You cannot

control others. You cannot expect them to put you before themselves. And trying to do so may work for a period of time, but eventually, the truth will rise to the surface.

Instead, make it a point to address and help others move toward their own dreams, as you request their help in moving toward yours. The relationship will more smoothly move in

the right direction this way.

6. Achievement will never be as fulfilling as the journey.

It is one thing to set and goal and enlist the help of others to see its achievement through. It is entirely another to sacrifice your own well-being, and the well-being of

those around you, for that goal and its achievement.

The high at the end is never worth the emotional strain that takes place to get there. If you are not able to enjoy the journey with those around you, then the end goal will

become meaningless.

7. Working hard and laughter are not mutually exclusive.

Building on the previous point, I never understood why people feel that laughing means not taking the matter at hand seriously. The best ideas come through ease. The best flow

happens in moments of joy. The human connection begins with laughter and to laugh while working or solving a problem is to be open to new possibilities.

Some people never learn this — they become grumpy and old. But life is about having fun. And to have fun does not mean, by default, that you are not "getting anything done."

On the contrary. You can have fun and get more done than you ever thought imaginable.

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