Friday, November 27, 2009

The Art of Self Discipline


Self-discipline is an important skill for any fledgling businessman, and indeed for everyone. The ability to follow through on conscious decisions, no matter what you feel emotionally, lets you keep your business on track and make those important choices in even the hardest and most testing times. Self-discipline can help you avoid procrastination and time wasting, and help you take control of every area of your life. So how do you accomplish real self-discipline? Learning self-discipline is like leaning any kind of new skill. It will take time and involves practice, gradually increasing the difficulty of the task. The more you train, and the further you push yourself, the better self-discipline you’ll have There are various stages in learning self-discipline. The first step you need to take is to work out what your level of self-discipline currently is. This allows you to then know how far to push yourself and work out what you’re current limits are. Of course, these limits will change as you become stronger through your training. In order to establish your current level, think about your life and habits. Ask yourself questions such as how strict you are with regards to your health, weight, appearance, tidiness etc. These things can show you how much self-discipline you already have. For example, if you resist the temptation to eat something unhealthy when you know you shouldn’t, despite a craving for it, then it’s likely you already have good self-discipline, though this doesn’t mean you can’t still improve. There are different areas of self discipline-be it work, diet, exercise or social. Each of these areas needs to be trained separately, though having an overall strong self-discipline will obviously help.Start with an achievable limit Now you need to find things to train yourself with-tasks that you challenge yourself to do. It’s good to start off with something achievable but that will push you. This will vary from person to person, but maybe for you it’s not eating fast food for a week, or not logging on to Facebook while you’re at work for a day. Choose a goal that will test you but is attainable; something too easy won’t help you improve, and something too difficult will make you lose motivation. Once you’ve achieved this goal, try extending it- a week, rather than a day, say. It’s important not to compare your goals and level of self-discipline with others. This won’t help you, and might end up making you feel worse.Take small steps You can try to achieve your final goal through taking smaller steps. For example, perhaps you want to be able to get out of bed earlier in the morning. Instead of setting your alarm 3 hours earlier, and expecting to jump out of bed at that time, try gradually getting up earlier and earlier each day, maybe in 15 minute or half hour increments. Eventually you will get to your final goal. Also, changing your environment may help you find it easier to reach your final goal. For example, making sure you have healthy food, and not junk, in the fridge will make it easier for you to follow a diet, or putting a child block on your computer to make it more difficult to access Facebook will help you avoid wasting time on it.Manage your time better It will help greatly if you learn not to avoid things because they are difficult or boring. Part of self-discipline is doing things that need to be done even if you don’t really want to. By avoiding procrastination and getting on with important jobs, you will manage your time much better and therefore have a more productive day. For example, sorting out and tidying your office may not seem that important, and seem like a boring, tedious task. But it is something that needs to be done, and being motivated to just do it, and not put it off, will mean it’s done much quicker and will no longer be on a long ‘to do’ list. Using your time well to do these jobs will give you more time to focus your energy and concentration on those really important tasks.Be persistentIt is important to be persistent with your goals. This means that, even when you feel like quitting, you can carry on with a task. Your motivation will doubtless have its ups and downs. When you’ve had a tiring day and it’s raining outside, you’ll feel much less motivated to do that extra piece of work or resist that extra biscuit. But it’s important to stop and remind yourself that this is just a temporary feeling, and that quitting now will be a waste of your efforts so far. Everyone has weak moments, so don’t be too hard on yourself, but make sure you keep up your goals. Persistence is what keeps you working even when you least feel like it. Eventually results will make you feel even more motivated, and this in turn will give you more persistence.Lastly, it’s important to reassess your goals from time to time to make sure they’re still valid. You may find that as your self-discipline increases, your goals might change. There is nothing wrong with changing your goals and sometimes this might mean abandoning old goals. But make sure you are not abandoning them just because you can’t be bothered or no longer feel motivated, but are now pursuing a more important goal.
Article By: Jasmine Jaume

How To Get The Mindset To Take You From Broke To Rich


Most of us dream of having a successful business and of being the perfect entrepreneur. Most of us also know that realising this dream is not all down to talent. A large part of being successful is thinking successful. If you have confidence and a positive outlook on yourself and your ideas, then you will have the drive to persist and put in that hard work. It also helps to persuade others of your potential. If you don’t feel enthusiastic or confident about your ventures, then no-one else will either!A successful entrepreneur will have a real passion and enthusiasm for their work, and will put in that extra effort. They will be driven and positive, knowing what they want and having a plan to get it. They will let nothing stop them on the way and be confident enough to make quick decisions about their ideas. Success is, in part, just a mindset.Here are some steps to help you start thinking like a successful entrepreneur:Assess the past.
It is important to look back at past decisions and see how those decisions have affected your life. This way you can assess where you made mistakes, and learn from them for the future. If you see how your past mindset is holding you back, it will be easier to start thinking more positively.Try to improve yourself everyday.
This doesn’t have to be a chore, and doesn’t necessarily mean in relation to work. You could try widening your knowledge by reading lots and talking to lots of different people, not just about business but about all subjects, and you will become a more rounded, interesting person. You could also attend seminars or read self-help books to learn about improving your state of mind and business skills if you feel you need help in these areas.Know your goals.
This doesn’t mean a vague idea of what you’d like ten years down the line. Spend some time thinking, or writing down if it helps, about exactly what you want, both in the immediate future and for the long term. How do you see your home, business, family in the future? For example, don’t just think that you want a nice car and kids; think which nice car, how many kids. Knowing exactly what you’re working towards will help keep you thinking positively and have some real motivation, rather than just a vague idea of where your life might be going. Also, spending the time thinking about it will tell your subconscious that you are really serious about your goals.Don’t expect things to just happen.
A successful entrepreneur will go after what they want, and not stop pushing until they get it. If you just wait for things to happen, life will pass you by and you’ll find that your dreams aren’t realised. Most success is not down to luck, it is down to persistence, hard work and action. Network with like-minded, positive people.
Particularly useful will be those who are already successful in your area of business. They can provide advice, guidance and inspiration.Don’t give up.
Do you think that the world’s successful entrepreneurs gave up at the first sign of defeat? No. You will always face set backs and things will go wrong, but this doesn’t mean you can’t recover. Your new mindset should allow you to keep thinking positively and move on. It’s important to stick to your goals and not give up until you achieve them.Follow these steps and you should be on the way to having the right mindset to get you from broke to rich. Remember to always have your goals in mind and don’t stop until you’ve reached them!


Article Written by: Jasmine Jaume / Contact:
jazj89@hotmail.com

The Eight Most Common Excuses For Not Starting A Business


Anything that holds you back from starting a business is an excuse. The doubts that play back and forth in your mind can easily erase your dreams of becoming financially free.
Take a look at the eight most common excuses people use to justify not starting a business.


1. I’ve not got enough time:
Do you watch TV after work? Why not make one of those major sacrifices and ban yourself from watching TV. You’ll get the extra time you need to start a part time business or money scheme.


2. I’m not smart enough:
You don’t need to be the most intelligent to make money, all you need is the ability to absorb basic information as you go along. Learn by doing and the answers will come as you keep striving. Plus there are many free events and seminars out there to help you.


3. I am waiting for the perfect idea:
If you are waiting for the perfect idea there’s a high possibility that it will never arrive. Instead of waiting for the perfect idea, why don’t you emulate a working business structure and make it better than the competition? Almost all the successful entrepreneurs from Branson to Bannatyne have never had an original business idea.


4. God doesn’t want me to be rich:
Well, I can bet God wouldn’t want you to be poor!
5. Rich people are mean in business:
Ask yourself this question: Would you rather be a little bit tough and get the luxuries you rightly deserve in this world, or would you prefer to beat yourself up for not having the courage to chase your financial dreams? The choice is yours.


6. I don’t need a lot of money:
You might not need a lot of money, but I bet you also don’t need a lot of stress from the bills that continue to mount up. Instead of making a fortune for yourself, why not do it for your family and the underprivileged? One of the most well known formulas for happiness is the ability to have a positive affect on people’s lives.


7. I have to wait until my foundations are right:
If there’s one thing you take from this article it’s this: The time is never ever going to be right. There will always be minor or major obstacles whether it’s not having a significant amount of capital, or some personal problems. So listen to Napoleon Hill’s wise words “Don't wait. The time will never be just right.”


8. I have children:
Having kids might be hard but you can still reach your goals. If Chris Garner can do it, so can you.



by larry Laban