9 traits of Successful People

So what is the first trait that successful people have in common?

1.Passion – Do it for the love, the money will follow

Synergize mind, emotions, spirit – be genuine and caring

2.Hard Work - they say it’s all hard work but they have a lot of fun. Most successful people are Workafrolics

3.Get Good – Put your nose down and Get good at it – think win,win – sets example for others, walk the talk and practice what you preach

4.Persistance – Be proactive – go beyond your comfort zone – you will need to persist through failure, criticism, rejection, Fears, doubt, pressure  and annoying people around you – but there is no other way they say

5.Focus – Focus on one thing at a time, don’t try to do too many things at once – be alert – begin with the end in mind

6.Ideas - seek to understand rather then be understood, Listen, Observe, be curious

7.Serve – serve other something of value to your customers, your employees, your colleagues, the community
create leaders rather then followers

8.Making Money – Invite it, plan for it, it but don’t obsess about it

9.Awareness – get to know yourself – your strength, your weakneses, your motivations, fears and predjudice and then look at it all and

That’s it. Those are the 9 traits most commonly cited by successful people. That’s how they do it. And so can you. Good luck!

Are you aggressive or assertive?

During my Coaching sessions I often find that many people confuse assertiveness and aggression. What is the difference you may wonder yourself. Essentially it's your mindset!

Think of assertiveness as being firm, but polite. It's a mindset that says "I want to win, but I'm not going to walk over you to do it - I'm going to respect what you want and work to help you win also."

Aggressiveness, on the other hand, is firm but impolite. The aggressive person says "I'm going to win, and I don't care if you get what you want" or "I don't care whether or not you get hurt in the process or your needs are met."  

Which of those two approaches do you think produces better results in the long run? 

Aggression is rooted in fear. When we act aggressive we have no time to consider other people's needs because we are fearful that we will not succeed if we do. Our whole focus is on achieving what we think is important. We may believe that we are acting like this because we care for others, and yes maybe we are on one level, but if we step on people or if we make them look or feel bad in the process then there is a certain amount of selfishness involved. When we act aggressive we value ourselves and our ideas more then others. We feel competitive.

Assertiveness is rooted in confidence on the other hand. When we feel confident then we do not fear looking incompetent or failing or being rejected. We know what we want and we can be firm about communicating it, but at the same time we will have the ability to consider other people and we will act in a way that they do not feel diminished. In fact we may even help them look good. When we are assertive we value our selves, our ideas and others equally.

Here is a useful check list that may help you identify when you are act aggressive and when assertive: 

Aggressive conduct: Glares or stares at others
Assertive conduct: Makes friendly, considerate eye contact

Aggressive conduct: Intimidates others with body language
Assertive conduct: Shows confident body language that matches the message

Aggressive conduct: Has an air of inflexibly—"my way or the highway"
Assertive conduct: States one's needs, but genuinely considers other perspectives

Aggressive conduct: Strives to control others
Assertive conduct: Strives to listen to and work with others

Aggressive conduct: Considers other's perspectives only when demanded to do so
Assertive conduct: Considers other's perspectives without needing to be asked

Aggressive conduct: Values one's self more than others
Assertive conduct: Values self as an equal to others

Aggressive conduct: Will intimidate or even hurt others to avoid being hurt
Assertive conduct: Tries to hurt no one (including self)

Aggressive conduct: Reaches goals usually on the backs of others
Assertive conduct: Strives to reach goals, and help others reach their goals, too

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Assertiveness is an important component of communication. Assertive people express themselves and stand up for their views without disrespecting the views of other people. Assertiveness improves self-esteem and helps one earn the respect of others. 

If you would like to learn how to be more assertive then a series of coaching sessions can help you succeed. You may be a passive person (not expressing your needs) or have a tendency to behave more often aggressive then assertive. In both cases you can learn through some coaching to adjust your communication style and find middle ground.

Process ain’t sexy, but your business is in big trouble without it:

I like to share with you this article from Donald Cooper's Newsletter. Donald speaks internationally on management, marketing and innovations and is the champion of straight talking. Here is his take on the importance of process. If you want to know more about how Donald works you may like to visit www.donaldcooper.com

"Creativity and innovation are ‘hot topics’ right now. They’re all the rage, and

I applaud that. But, in the end, it’s boring, unsexy ‘process’ that actually gets

things done. Even ‘creativity’ is most often a process. Sometimes it’s just

dumb luck…but mostly not.

In fact, most successful companies have developed a disciplined ‘creative

process’ that delivers innovative products, more efficient operations,

consistent quality, employee safety and an amazing, perhaps even tailored,

customer experience.

'Process' is what keeps airplanes from falling out of the sky. It’s what makes

a Big Mac exactly the same in Montreal as it is in Moscow. Process is what

gets cars designed and made and gets a spacecraft launched and safely back

home. Process is what allows a hotel chain to know that you want a nonsmoking

room on a low floor, near the elevator, with a king size bed, foam

pillows and a USA Today at the door. Process is what gets priority luggage

onto the airport baggage carousel before all the other luggage. Okay, so

clearly that’s not the best example.

In fact, everything that happens between ‘intent’ and ’delivery’ is process. As

a business, you can have the greatest intentions in the world for your

customers and staff, for the environment and for your bottom line. But

without clear, effective and well-communicated processes, these wonderful

intentions will be just that…’intentions’.

To quote the late W. E. Deming, the internationally renowned authority on

quality and efficiency, "If you can't describe what you’re doing as a process,

you don't know what you’re doing."

So, exactly what is a process, anyway? Simply put, a process is…

1. An effectively communicated sequence of activities,

2. Supported by the necessary resources,

3. Designed to deliver a consistent, efficient and effective result,

4. To a specific standard.

OK, so it's not so simple. But that's what a process is...and there are no

shortcuts. Re-read the definition above and, while you're at it, rate your

business’ performance, on a scale of 1 to 10, on each of the four elements.

Then, using that info, determine what needs to be done to improve your

processes.

Emmanuel Kelly The X Factor 2011 Auditions Emmanuel Kelly FULL

Leading Without A Title - Robin Sharma

In many ways, the whole idea behind Leading Without a Title is the democratization of leadership. Yes, positions are important to the smooth running of any organization (whether that organization is a business or a community or a family). Having said that, the new model of leadership (leadership 2.0) is all about every single stakeholder showing leadership in the work they do. This is really all about distributed leadership. Every single person who works within a business, for example, owns the responsibility of showing leadership at their craft. Every single teammate is the CEO of their own small business unit called their job.

Tactic #1: If you can’t lead yourself, you can’t lead others. We have no business leading others into greatness if our own personal lives are a train-wreck. Being successful in the game of life precedes great leadership. Face whatever personal issues you’ve been avoiding head on and clean up on all fronts.

Tactic #2: Never make anyone feel as if there isn’t room in the life boat. No matter the mistake, no matter what mile a person is at on their road to mastery, always be ready and willing to throw a life line – lend a hand, offer insight, donate your time, run out for coffee. The winners understand that strengthening capacity at every level, in every person, is the way to win.

Tactic #3: Watch Invictus. Clint Eastwood’s excellent and entertaining reminder of great leadership. Morgan Freeman performs as Nelson Mandela. The film, teaches us how to eloquently execute astonishing acts of forgiveness, compassion and moving upward when circumstances and people hold the potential to yank you into victimhood.

Tactic #4: Stay Strong “secure your oxygen mask first before assisting others.” Do you know where your oxygen comes from? Routine challenging exercise, healthy eating habits, sleeping deeply, and doing what makes me feel alive and excited is my oxygen. It’s what keeps me strong.

Refuse the lifestyle, the habits and the circumstances that weaken you. Great leaders don’t just own their full potential on the floor or in the field; they claim their potential in all domains of their life. You can’t be great in one arena and mediocre in another. Mistrust will sniff you out and turn you in. Make it an immediate goal to get connected with your oxygen supply.

Keep Leading Without A Title.