Reconstructed site and a new blog

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soupornuts is moving!!!  In order to have more control over my blog (how it looks, plugins, etc.) I have decided to move soupornuts.wordpress.com to soupornuts.com.  When you come to soupornuts.com, you will see my new postings along with updated and edited versions of most of my old articles.  Don’t panic if the site looks different the first couple of times you visit.  I am trying different themes to see which I prefer.

Today is Sunday, July 8 and my partner and I have been working for two days to get the Rotater site up-to-date and functional. Plus, we have created a blog ( Shoulder Performance & Rehab ) to help us spread the word about our revolutionary shoulder rehabilitation device. Click over and let me know what you think.

We were very encouraged by the response that we received at the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) conference in Denver last week and hope to continue to get positive responses.

There is a lot of work left ahead of us, but I feel that we can accomplish our dreams. Besides, I just can’t give up. It’s just not in me.

MEDIOCRITY IS NOT ACCEPTABLE!!!

 

Tags: APTA, shoulder+performance+&+rehab, the+rotater

Six obstacles to your success

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soupornuts is moving!!! In order to have more control over my blog (how it looks, plugins, etc.) I have decided to move soupornuts.wordpress.com to soupornuts.com. When you come to soupornuts.com, you will see my new postings along with updated and edited versions of most of my old articles. Don’t panic if the site looks different the first couple of times you visit. I am trying different themes to see which I prefer.

What is holding you back? Why haven’t you achieved your potential? Simple questions – not so simple answers. Here’s a short list of obstacles that prevent you from achieving greatness:

1. You are scapegoating through life.

All of your problems are caused by someone else or something else. Everything (at the very least, most things) are beyond your control.

Man, it depresses me just to write this stuff down. I can’t imagine how someone who truly believes this must feel. Napoleon said, “I create the circumstances that affect me.” This is true. Stuff happens to everybody – You are not special in that sense. The universe is not picking on you. Crap hits everybody. Make up your mind to deal with it and then deal with it.

Accept responsibility for your actions or more likely your inaction. Decide that you are not going to take it anymore. Then don’t take it anymore. The simple fact that you are reading this is evidence that you are searching for direction. Here it is: You have every right to be successful in life. Make it your quest to soar above your present situation. Once you make a decision, begin to search for answers and the help you need will be revealed.

Decide to be the master of your destiny or relegate yourself to being pushed around by circumstances beyond your control. It’s really up to you.

2. You are self-absorbed.

You know who you are. You get bored when someone else is getting the attention. You have the best stories (we’ve heard you one-up everybody). It’s always all about “you”.

Here is a wake up call: You are boring and dull. The only reason we listen to you is because either we are too nice to walk away or we realize that the politics of the organization we are a part of would be violated.

Your potential is diminished because you don’t understand that you cannot influence others when it’s obvious that you don’t care about them. Zig Ziglar said, “You can get anything you want, if you help enough other people get what they want.”

In order to help yourself, you must help others. There’s no better long-term strategy to achieving your success. As Dr. Phil would say, “It ain’t about YOU!”

3. You allow others to make your life decisions.

You know how it goes; someone (Mom, Dad, or whoever you deem as influential) says you should do “this or that” with your life. Why? How do they know what you want? Or how you feel?

The family needs you to become a lawyer, or doctor, or accountant, or football star or whatever. If you want me to pay for your college, then you’ll major in what I tell you to major in.

To some of us, this seems absurd, but it happens. Really. Here’s a secret, if you are not happy, then you will not be able to make anyone else happy. The only thing that is sure is that by compromising you desires for someone else you will be filled with resentment and hurt.

Eventually, those emotions will be revealed. Why not cut to the chase and deal with it now? You’ll be happier in the long run and probably save a heap of money in psychoanalyst fees.

4. You are filled with subconscious self-doubt.

You are filled with doubts and thoughts of inadequacy. You feel undeserving. If you don’t believe in yourself, then why should I? Or anyone else?

The short answer is that no one will believe in you. Therefore, by the simple act of thinking, you have defeated yourself, regardless of your abilities.

Everyday, average people just like you and me have fantastic, original, creative thoughts and ideas. But just as quickly, they are dismissed and discarded for the simple reason that they must be of no value if a simpleton like you thought of them.

People tend to overestimate the talent, ability and intelligence of others and then compound the problem by underestimating their own attributes.

Read “The Power of Positive Thinking” by Norman Vincent Peale. It is a classic and deserves to be. Learn some meaningful affirmations and use them. Become a true believer – in yourself.

5. Your are afraid.

I am not even going to attempt to list the wide variety of fears that hold people back.

You must think of fear as the fence that keeps the herd in the pasture of mediocrity. You were not built for mediocrity. You are unique and you have unique abilities – use them.

6. You have no clear goals.

At least you are not alone. Studies and statistics that have been repeated many times prove that only 3–5 percent of the population have a tangible, written set of goals. Remarkably, this is the same percentage of financial independent people in the U.S. and world.

Do you think there is a correlation? It’s a no-brainer. Write down your goals and go over them daily. It will change your life.

Tags: obstacles, success

Unlock your potential with these 4 “key” skills

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soupornuts is moving!!! In order to have more control over my blog (how it looks, plugins, etc.) I have decided to move soupornuts.wordpress.com to soupornuts.com. When you come to soupornuts.com, you will see my new postings along with updated and edited versions of most of my old articles. Don’t panic if the site looks different the first couple of times you visit. I am trying different themes to see which I prefer.

I have a friend who is a character. You know the type; smart, witty, comical and loud. Loud in an obnoxiously funny sort of way. If you don’t know him very well, then you don’t know whether to take him seriously, or not. But above all, he has the gift of gab. He can grab your attention and hold it.

My friend has had the opportunity to return to school to pursue his degree and as such, has had to take many liberal arts classes that seem to offer very little to an adult already living in the business world. During a recent discussion, he commented that he had to take a public speaking class and did not see the relevance. He asked me what my opinion was and what classes did I feel were important to a student’s future success.

In my opinion it is not necessarily certain classes you must take, but classes that increase your skills in certain “key” skill areas. So, any class that can increase your competence in these “key” skill areas are classes that you should enroll in. The following is a list of the “key” areas that I think are important.

1. Public speaking

I know that no one wants to hear that, but it is true. If you are to succeed in your future adventures, public speaking will almost certainly play a role. If you work for someone else, then at some point, your boss will look to you to make a presentation about some concept, new product or service, how to cut costs or something as equally boring. If you are self-employed, you will almost certainly have to present your goals to a group in order to secure financing for the growth and development of your business or to sell your ideas.

It is to your advantage to do whatever is necessary to overcome your inhibitions and fears of speaking to a crowd and dive into developing this skill. Most people ( the majority ) have this fear. For some it is paralyzing, but it can be overcome.

As a high school student, I was terrified. If I could get the teacher to go along with it, I would take a lower grade to avoid this misery. Later, I realized that in order to convey my message, I would have to develop the ability to stand before a group and explain to them the thoughts and ideas that I had. With much practice and encouragement, I was able to rise above my fears. If I can do it, anyone can do it. That’s a fact!

2. Writing skills

Along with being able to speak in public, you must be able to outline and explain yourself through the written word. Being able to write well enables you to spread your message to people that you may never meet. Perhaps your company has an office or interests on the other side of the world and you need to inform them of some new agenda. How well you write can help you or it can hurt you.

If you are well read ( you read a lot ), then writing is a skill area where you are probably proficient. Most people who read a lot write very well. So, one way to increase your writing ability is to read more. Of course, you can take classes. It is up to you.

3. Human relations

How you deal with people in one-on-one situations is what I consider to be human relations. I guess it can also encompass how you present yourself to a group. Whatever your definition, how you deal with people is probably the most important skill area affecting your ability to reach your potential.

In conversation with others, what is your demeanor? Do you listen well? Do you pay attention? While they are talking, are you preparing your response? Are you ready for them to shut up so you can get to the “important” stuff? Are you empathetic to the speaker? What is your body position? Does it matter?

Most of the time, how we act and react to others will determine the extent of our successes. If you are a “people person” then you will be more highly thought of by your peers and subordinates. This translates into: support for your ideas and projects, help with problems and people speaking to others about you favorably.

You cannot spend too much time or effort in developing your people skills. You can read and/or take classes, but by simple observation, you will learn more than in any other way.

Choose to watch people that you know have excellent people skills. What do they do that is different than what you do? Then watch people with poor people skills. Those people with excellent people skills will show you how to inspire trust, hope, hard work and dedication in others. Observing those with poor people skills will teach you how to develop contempt, anger, distrust and a lack of cooperation in those you deal with.

Become a people watcher – the dividends can be unlimited.

4. Computer skills

There is simply no way around it. If you are to succeed, then you must be comfortable and proficient with your computer. You must know your way around a computer and the internet. You must know how to use computer application software. You must keep up with emerging computer technologies and how you may exploit them.

Fortunately, computer technology and computer application software is becoming more and more user-friendly. This translates into shorter learning curves. Usually, the biggest holdup is our own apprehension. Dive in and get started. You can always reboot and start over if all else fails.

Tags: key+skills+for+success, key+skills, potential

Definitions, plans and excuses for success

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soupornuts is moving!!! In order to have more control over my blog (how it looks, plugins, etc.) I have decided to move soupornuts.wordpress.com to soupornuts.com. When you come to soupornuts.com, you will see my new postings along with updated and edited versions of most of my old articles. Don’t panic if the site looks different the first couple of times you visit. I am trying different themes to see which I prefer.

Everyone wants to be successful. However, if you ask 100 people to define success, most of the time, 95–97 of those who answer, will be extremely vague. This is not unusual since studies have shown time and again that only about three to five percent of the population will ever define what success means to them and then map out a goals program with the associated plans for attaining their goals.

1. How do you define success?

Success is unique to you. How you define success is based on:

• your dreams
• your hopes
• your present situation
• your past experiences
• your knowledge
• your passion
• your drive to do or be
• your family situation
• your age
• your belief system

…and there are probably a host of other things that can and will influence your definition of success. The point is for you to begin to think about what you want. Make notes when a thought “pops” into your head. Then, set aside a quiet time to go through your thoughts, taking into account your unique situation, and then develop a definition of success that suits you.

2. Develop a plan to achieve your definition of success.

Since your definition of success is unique to you and your situation, then your plan must be unique. Points to consider:

• do you need more education?
• is it formal or informal education? (do you need to return to school or do you need to do research?)
• is your spouse/family on board with your new goals? (if so, great. if not, how will you deal with the situation?)
• are you willing to devote the time needed to grow? (growth requires change – you can’t grow and stay the same)
• can you see problems? (how will/can you deal with them?)
• can you live in the minute? (what can you do “right now”, “this minute” to achieve your goals?”
• do you deserve success? (if you don’t feel that you deserve success, you will do things to sabotage yourself)

3. Excuses: our illogical reasons for lack of success

The first response to any program of personal growth and development is the production of a number of excuses of why you can’t become successful. Here is a short list of often expressed excuses:

• I’m too old. Really? Grandma Moses was in her 80’s before she ever painted. Colonel Sanders was in his 60’s when he began trying to market his “original” recipe.
• I’m not smart enough. Really? The fact is that most people are within single digits of the vast majority of the world’s population when it comes to a measurement of intelligence. We tend to overestimate the intelligence of others while at the same time underestimating our own intelligence.
• I don’t know where to start. Really? You don’t have to know where to start, you just have to start. You determine where that is. The point is to just begin, the way will reveal itself once you begin to look.
• I’m worried about what my friends and family will think. Really? If they really care about you, they will stand behind you. If they don’t, you have to wonder what their motives are. Are they jealous? When you succeed, what will that say about their efforts?
• I’m just not that kind of person. Really? What kind of person are you? The kind that is destined to fail? The fact is that most people are more alike than they are different. We all deserve success, but we each determine our own destiny. We are where we are today because of the choices we made yesterday. We made our choices based on our thoughts. Therefore, it stands to reason that if we can change the way we think, we can change our choices and thus change our future.

These are not valid excuses for you or anyone else because someone has faced these situations and overcame them. If they can be overcome, then you can also overcome them.

Get your mind right —– Mediocrity is not acceptable!!!

Tags: definition+of+success, plans+to+achieve+success, excuses

Children don’t fear failure: a lesson for would-be entrepreneurs

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soupornuts is moving!!! In order to have more control over my blog (how it looks, plugins, etc.) I have decided to move soupornuts.wordpress.com to soupornuts.com. When you come to soupornuts.com, you will see my new postings along with updated and edited versions of most of my old articles. Don’t panic if the site looks different the first couple of times you visit. I am trying different themes to see which I prefer.

Ask any person who has ever considered becoming an entrepreneur, why they have yet to launch their business enterprise and you will hear a litany of excuses. When boiled down to the basics, the majority will admit that it is due to a fear of some sort; fear of ridicule, fear of what others may think or say, fear of success, fear of the unknown. The list of fears can be endless, but the overwhelming majority will say that the number one reason for their inhibition is the fear of failure.

Have you ever stopped to consider where these fears originate? Were you born with them? The answer is no, with the exceptions being; the fear of falling, the fear of loud noises and in some people, the rear of snakes. All or our other fears are learned, ingrained and habitual.

As a child, we had no fears of failure. We tried to walk, we fell, made adjustments and then tried again and again and again. We kept trying and making adjustments until we found we could take one step and then two steps, all the while adapting our technique. This trial and error procedure allowed us to become proficient and we used the same techniques when we learned to ride a bike, swim, play sports or anything else we learned as a child.

Our parents never shook their heads and said, “Poor Johnny, he’ll never walk”. They picked us up, dusted us off, gave us some encouragement and told us to give it another try. Failure is nothing to be ashamed of. We’ve all failed (no one ever learned to walk, swim and so forth, on the first try ).

As children, we never worried about failure until we reached an age when we became concerned that others would think we were inferior if we failed in our current quest. The truth is that everyone must first fail in order to learn how to succeed.

The point is to let you inner child run free. Think like a child. Experiment. Attempt new things. Spend less time occupied with what others think and more time on freeing your spirit and expanding your mind. Try. Fail. Learn. Try again. Succeed.

It’s not like I’m asking you to hold a snake.

Tags: fear+of+failure, fears, failure

Building a successful life

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soupornuts is moving!!! In order to have more control over my blog (how it looks, plugins, etc.) I have decided to move soupornuts.wordpress.com to soupornuts.com. When you come to soupornuts.com, you will see my new postings along with updated and edited versions of most of my old articles. Don’t panic if the site looks different the first couple of times you visit. I am trying different themes to see which I prefer. 

A couple of years ago, my wife and I built our dream home. A 3200 square foot, timber framed, hybrid over a full basement. It’s beautiful. We love it. But, as anyone who has ever gone through this process will tell you, it takes patience, commitment, perseverance and teamwork.

There are reams of documents that must be filled out and submitted to bankers, lawyers and contractors. There are hordes of decisions to be made, analyzed, corrected and then remade. There is the constant juggling of your schedule to accommodate contractors, sub contractors, appraisers, bankers, suppliers and more. There is the never-ending need to coordinate the sequences of events. Do we need the plumber first or the electrician? What about the sheet rockers and trim carpenters? Then of course, you have to constantly be mindful of quality and cosmetic issues.

But now, we are living our dream life in our beautiful dream home and all the stress and hard work seem insignificant. It was worth it – every drop of sweat, every agonizing decision, all the missed sleep – it was all worth it.

In retrospect, it’s seems very clear to me how similar the process of building a house is to building a successful life. Like building a house, building your successful life involves a number of decisions prior to the actual construction process.

Make the decision to have a successful life

My wife and I own a beautiful twenty acre tract of land that we envisioned would be more beautiful with our dream home on it. But nothing really happened until we made the decision to make it happen. You can tour as many model homes, open houses and home shows as you like, but until you actively decide to build your dream home, nothing will get done.

The first step is deciding that you want to build your dream home and then determining the actions you need to take in order to make your dream a reality. How big is it to be? Where will you build? What style? Financing? Blueprints? Contractors? It all starts with your decision to start.

Creating a successful life occurs in the same way. You see friends or acquaintances who seem to be enjoying a fuller family experience, a better career or greater financial security and you wonder, “why does their life seem to be more successful than your own”? Most of the time we’ve been lulled into the rut of complacency by default and inaction. We don’t realize we are in a rut and we don’t realize that there is more available to us if we will only seek it out.

Do you want a more successful life? What does “a more successful life” mean to you? Is it career advancement and more compensation? Closer family relationships? Financial prosperity? Entrepreneurship? All of these? Just like building your dream home, these are the types of decisions you must make.

It all begins with you acting on the vision that you hold in your mind of what you want and deciding to pursue your dream life.

Your blueprint for success

What will it take for you to reach your vision of success? If you are building a house, you start with a set of blueprints, assembly drawings, lists of necessary materials, spec sheets and architectural elevations. These are the documents that specify the materials, sizes and placements, functionality and appearance of your dream home.

Just as it would be impossible to build your dream home without a blueprint and the associated documents, you can’t build a successful life without a plan. No one ever wakes up one day and discovers that while they were asleep, they were selected to be the CEO of a Fortune 500 company. It just won’t happen. But if it did, how long would you last in that position if you had made no preparation for the job? I’m sure you’ll agree that it wouldn’t be long.

Your plan must define what success is to you, the steps you plan to take to get there, the skills you feel must be developed, the knowledge required, plus allow for contingencies along the way.

Develop your goals

You must develop your goals system. No one can do this for you. This is a stumbling block for everyone and this is where almost everyone falters on the path to success. For whatever reasons, most people (95 – 97%) cannot, do not, or will not set goals for themselves. I am referring to actual written, recorded goals and the plans ( action steps ) necessary to achieve their goals. If you cannot make yourself focus long enough to record your goals, is it any wonder that your life is one of unrealized potential?

According to statistics that are repeated time and time again, three to five percent of our population is considered financially free and financially successful. Ironically, this is the same percentage that take the time to develop goal programs for themselves and then dedicate themselves to achieving their goals. Is there a correlation?

Develop a set of goals. Define what it is that you require, then get busy taking the necessary actions to achieve your goals. Don’t wait. Don’t hesitate. Focus on your goal. Develop a plan and take action. Do it now.

Every time that you are faced with a decision, ask yourself, “Is this the best use of my time?”, “Will this action/decision take me closer to or farther from my goals?” Then, act accordingly. If you will take the time and make the effort to do this every time you face a decision, you will increase your chances of becoming the success you dream of, exponentially.

Character & Integrity: Your foundation for a successful life

Webster’s dictionary defines character as “moral strength” or “reputation”. How would your friends and co-workers describe your character? Are you honest? Sincere? Trustworthy? Loyal? Friendly? Helpful? Caring?

These are some of the characteristics of people who are considered “strong of character”. If you demonstrate these traits, then you don’t have to tell the world what you believe and stand for. Your life will show it.

Webster’s says integrity is “firmness of character”, “honesty”. How firm is your character? Will you stand up for what you believe in? Will you oppose the majority even if you have to stand alone? Will you defend the oppressed? Even if the oppressors are your friends?

Our integrity and character define what we believe in and what we stand for. The way we talk, the people we associate with and the places we frequent all tell the world in a much louder voice than our own, what we truly believe in.

You would not build your dream home on a faulty foundation and cannot build a successful life on a weak character or a lack of integrity. Your new life would never be able to withstand the storms or trials you are bound to face along the way. Begin today to always stand for what you believe in, fight against opposition to truth and always, always keep your word.

The walls of your successful life

The walls of your home provide you with protection for the elements, security from intruders, and provide support for your roof system. The first wall of your successful life is a positive mental attitude.

Your first wall: A Positive Mental Attitude

All successful people are highly motivated and possess a positive attitude. They know inherently that they are destined to succeed. Every event and every action is seen as a means to deliver them to their goal. These individuals believe that the universe is conspiring for their benefit in all things. Furthermore, successful people have an optimistic view, believing that the glass is always half full.

An action that does not go according to plan is not a failure, but a learning experience – the elimination of a theoretical solution and not an indictment of them or their abilities. Their positive mental attitude is demonstrated by the confidence with which they attack the obstacles standing between them and their destined success.

Successful people are reminiscent of Henry Ford, Thomas Edison, Colonel Sanders and all the rest who stumbled along the road to success but refused to quit because they courageously maintained a positive mental attitude.

Your second wall: A Strong Work Ethic

All successful individuals demonstrate a strong work ethic. Their mantra could be – “If it is to be, it is up to me.” In their mind, this is not an optional or part-time trait. Generally, they work long, long hours.

A truly successful life can only happen when you realize that in order to have it (success), you must get off your butt and go get it. You will not find it in front of you television, down at the bowling alley, over at the local bar, or out in your hobby shop. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying there is anything wrong with any of these means of killing time other than that is what they are doing – killing your time and they do not contribute in any way to acquiring the successful life you desire.

To achieve a goal worth having requires hard work. Ask any person whom you consider to be successful how they achieved their status. I don’t believe any will say, “ I just wake up one day, went to work and they made me president of the company” or “My business just took off one day while I was watching TV” or “ The kids came and got me out of the bar and gave a Father or the Year party.”

No, every successful person realizes that his/her effort brings about the desired result. The buck stops here. You must take responsiblity for your own success and happiness. Truly successful people have the ability to clear their minds of the common distractions that we all face and focus on their goals. This ability to focus results in the development and implementation of plans that produce the achievement of their goals.

The successful person is action-oriented. They don’t take a wait and see approach. More than likely, they will start whatever it is they wish to accomplish and then make adjustments along the way based on feedback they are monitoring. I’ve heard it described as the “ready, fire, aim” approach. The point is, there comes a time when you’ve got to take action.

Your third wall: Passion

Few successful people have ever reached their status without passion. Passion is what drives you. It’s what you lie in bed and think about at night, examining new ways of approaching pertinent issues that you are faced with. Passion is the fuel that powers your engine. If you desire to be successful, find out what it is that you are passionate about and then develop a way to exploit your passion.

Your passion is anything that constantly occupies your thinking. It may be a hobby (woodworking, restoring antique automobiles, computers, entrepreneurship), your family, or any combination of things. Only you know where your passions lie.

Based on what your passion is, embrace the fast-changing landscape of the internet to research innovative ways to capitalize on your passion. All successful people understand that the future of technology is all about the proliferation of information via the internet. It is to your benefit to embrace this fast-moving technology and try to keep up with emerging advancements and how you can apply them to your passion.

Use your passion, be innovative and embrace new technology (it’s not going away). This will help you to welcome change which is just another way of saying, “be progressive with your passion”.

Your fourth wall: Perseverance

The last wall of your successful life/house is perseverance. The never-say-quit, refusal to give up attitude. Sometimes we see these people struggling and we wonder why they even bother. I know people have asked that about me. The reality is we set our eyes on our goals and nothing will deter us from achieving it.

The obstacles we encounter are only opportunities to display creative problem solving skills. Nay sayers only make us (me) want it more. Those who truly believe in us motivate us beyond words.

Those who succeed thrive on pressure, embrace deadlines, are committed to overcoming obstacles and are determined to succeed. They won’t quit. The don’t quit. They can’t quit. Think Rocky Balboa and his refusal to stay down in the original Rocky movie. That’s perseverance!

Your roof: Continual Learning

To protect the interior of your dream home/successful life, you need a roof. That roof is a commitment to continual learning. Someone said, “If you’re not growing, then you’re dying.” I am in full agreement with that statement. Our minds thrive when we stimulate them and provide them with challenges.

Subconsciously, we limit ourselves when we say, we can’t do something or “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks”. This sets us up to fail. The truth of the matter is we can and will learn anything we want to learn if we are given the right motivation.

Twenty five years ago, few people considered the long-range impact the PC would have on every aspect of our lives. Consequently, most people did not rush to learn how to use them. However, everyone now realizes that computers are an integral part of our lives. To survive in our present world, we must adapt and adopt this technology.

What you know today will not be enough tomorrow. It is as plain as that. Don’t be left behind. Commit to learning. Everyday.

Maintenance

Finally, in order to enjoy your new home/successful life, you must maintain it in good working condition. Do periodic self-evaluations. Try to stay humble. Give back something. Mentor someone. Be introspective. Remember to thank those that helped you along the way. No one becomes successful without help.

 

 

 

Tags: success, a+successful+life

6 small steps for daily growth and long-term personal development

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soupornuts is moving!!! In order to have more control over my blog (how it looks, plugins, etc.) I have decided to move soupornuts.wordpress.com to soupornuts.com. When you come to soupornuts.com, you will see my new postings along with updated and edited versions of most of my old articles. Don’t panic if the site looks different the first couple of times you visit. I am trying different themes to see which I prefer.

This blog (soupornuts) is written to inspire, motivate, educate and help you become the person you can be. I believe in goals and the power of goal setting. The first step in the journey to becoming a “new” you is to have in your mind a clear picture of the person you want to become. Without a clear picture of what you want in your mind it is like traveling down a road that divides into a number of different options. How do you choose which option to take? If you don’t have a goal, It really doesn’t matter. Does it? If we don’t know where we are going it really doesn’t make any difference which road we take to get there because they all lead to the same place – the land of lost dreams, lost hope, missed opportunity, and regret.

I also believe that we are the sum total of the past decisions we’ve made. All those little and not so little decisions have resulted in placing us right where we are today. The point? Change your perspective from one of passivity to activity. Make up your mind that today you have a purpose and a goal. And your goals are whatever YOU determine the goals to be. Realize that starting today you can actively determine your future by making decisions today that are in line with achieving your goals. If you can make only a small step in the direction of your goals, you have something to build on tomorrow and you begin to gain momentum.

Be easy with yourself. Here are some of my goals for today.

1. Today, I will make it a point to smile at everyone I meet.

Not a sly or seductive smile, but a “happy, How’re you doing” smile. Researchers say that one of the first things people notice when they meet another person is the presence or absence of a smile. If you smile, 99 percent of the time they will smile back. They can’t help it. Someone has to actively force themselves not to smile.

A smile puts people at ease. It comforts them and is welcoming. The vast majority of the time your smile causes the recipient to smile in response to you. The simple act of smiling causes the release of endorphins in the brain resulting in a pleasureable feeling of happiness. The simple act of smiling can cause someone to physically feel happy. What power.

2. Today, I will engage someone in conversation.

I’ll ask, how they are doing. An then I’ll actually take the time to pay attention and listen to their answer. People like to talk. This is my opportunity to give some what they want. People need to talk. People want to talk to a willing and attentive listener. This will provide me with the chance to allow someone to vent their needs and emotions. Or maybe just communicate. Maybe they want my opinion, maybe they don’t. If they do ask for my thoughts, I can spread a little good news, offer a suggestion or provide them with a source of information they might find helpful.

3. Today, I am going to assist someone.

I’ll help a little old lady with her groceries or my daughter with her homework. By offering assistance, we show others that they have value to us. Because we value them, we want to help them.

Who can you help today? Does someone you know need a ride? Can you pick up something for your spouse on the way home from work? Do your kids need some specials one-on-one time with you? Take them to the park or play in the yard. Get involved in their lives. Give them you most precious commodity – your time.

4. Today, I will embrace the opportunities a new day presents.

Today, I have the opportunity to start fresh and handle every situation independently of every previous interaction. Today is a “do-over”. I can attempt to correct or modify my previous mistakes or learn from them what “not” to do again.

I will embrace the changes that a new day brings because all progress and growth involves change. I want change. If I am going to progress on a personal level then it stands to reason that I must change and I will start the changing process today.

5. Today, I will be thankful for all the joy and blessings that are mine.

I choose to see the good in everyone and everything. I will give everyone the benefit of the doubt. I will be appreciative of what I do have and not be upset, saddened or discontent about what I don’t have, because I realize that my happiness is determined by what is inside of me and not what I possess. I will tell those close to me that I love them because I am not promised anymore than the present moment. I don’t want to ever regret a missed opportunity. I will hold my wife and hug my children and be eternally thankful.

6. Today, I will grow.

I will dedicate a portion of today for the purpose of expanding my mind. I will read or research a topic that interests me because I understand that “a mind is a terrible thing to waste”.

I choose not to watch television because I prefer to be in a meditative state of mind and not a vegetative one. I understand that what I allow to go into my my mind will be revealed in my thoughts, words and actions. I will experience life personally and not through the filter of broadcast media.

These are the things I will accomplish today. Each of these steps, though small and insignificant at first look, propel me toward the person I want to become. These are conscious decisions that I make and renew each day. For me, these simple decisions and declarations are the first steps in becoming an enlightened person, a happy person and a productive person with a great life.

Tags: daily+decisions, growth+and+development, goals

Create your destiny through effective time management

Time is the one commodity that we are all given but it is a perishable commodity.  Regardless of what you hear, you will never save any time.  You may do a task in a more efficient manner and be able to move on to something else, but you will never have any more time than your allotted 24 hours in each day.

However, by the effective management of our time today, we can create the future that we desire.  As the old saying goes, “If you don’t manage your time, your time will manage you.”  There must be a commitment to the development of a plan for effective time management.  You do not manage your time by accident.  It is only done through a definite, systematic plan. 

Many people have deluded themselves into thinking that they are committed to managing their time, but they seldom exhibit this by their lives.  Conversations with these people often have the comments like “there just isn’t enough time in the day”, “I don’t have enough time”, or “I am too busy”, sprinkled though out the dialogue.  Perhaps there is a misunderstanding of “commitment”.  Here is a short example that helps me remember what commitment is.

Two men, Bob and Tom were traveling down a small river in a canoe.  It was a nice, simple trip.  Just a lazy day drifting.  But on this particular day Bob and Tom each shifted in the canoe at the same time, in the same direction, which resulted in the canoe capsizing.

Bob, being an excellent swimmer, came up and slowly considered the temperature of the water and how refreshing it made him feel, then slowly began swimming to the side of the river.  Bob was interested in getting out of the water.

Tom did not know how to swim.  When he surfaced, he did not care how refreshing the water felt or what it’s temperature was.  He simply gasped for air and began to fight for something to hold onto.  He pushed, pulled and struggled to breathe.  Tom could see the side and he desperately wanted out of the river.  Tom was going to do whatever necessary to get to the side.  For Tom, getting out of the river was not just a “good idea” or “an excellent theory”.  It was the key to his survival.  Tom was committed to doing whatever is necessary to survive.

Like Bob, most people are interested in time management.  The highly effective, successful few are like Tom.  They realize that their survival, their future, depends on their commitment to a systematic plan of time management.  They are as committed to time management as they are to breathing.

Mr. G: a 3-D success story!

Mr. G is an extraordinary individual. He is an expert craftsman, a highly skilled technician, a college instructor, an entrepreneur, a business partner and my friend. He is active and responsible on all these fronts professionally while at the same time being very conscious of his family’s needs and his responsibilities to them.

Recently, Mr. G has become something of a 3-dimensional success as well. Since the fall of last year, he has been able to reduce his weight by over 70 pounds. Being his friend, I have been able to see his progress and how he tackled this tremendous task. Never once have I heard him complain about the foods he is missing, the extreme effort this has taken, or the time he has devoted to exercising.

Because of his attitude and effort, I have used the term 3-D as an acronym to describe the characteristics he has exhibited during his journey to a healthier lifestyle. The three D’s that set him apart are:

1. Decisiveness

Mr. G is a decisive person. At some point last fall, Mr. G decided that he would change his lifestyle. Now any of you who have embarked on journey of change know that there are many obstacles along the way to success. However, the first step is never taken by many because of they fail to make a decision and then to remain committed to that decision. The first step in obtaining any goal is deciding that your goal is what you want and is worthy of your pursuit.

Mr. G decided to change his lifestyle. Notice that the initial step of his journey began in his mind with a decision. Change your mind first and then your life will change. Your thoughts determine both the quantity and quality of your life.

2. Dedication

Mr. G dedicated himself to learning how to be successful in his endeavor. He did not leave things to chance. He obtained the necessary information from experts in the areas of nutrition, physical fitness, exercise and motivation. He dedicated himself to acquiring and using the knowledge necessary to distinguish himself from the masses who seek to become healthy and fail.

Once he became more educated, Mr. G dedicated himself to developing a plan of attack with subgoals and ways to monitor his progress along the way. He has left nothing to chance. He knows when, what and how to eat. He knows how many calories a certain food has and if it is eaten in combination with another food, how it will affect his insulin levels and thus fat production and storage. He dedicated himself to starting and maintaining an exercise program because he knew this was a mandatory step in the realization of his goals.

Mr. G dedicated himself to obtaining his goals and having produced in his mind the vision of his future self, has not wavered along the path to success.

3. Determination

Determination is the unwillingness to quit, falter or give up, keeping your eye on the goal and forging onward, unstoppable. Mr. G has made steady progress. I have never heard him complain once of the effort this must have taken. I’ve never heard him complain about what he could or could not eat. I’ve never heard him complain that he has to get up a 4:00 a.m. to go workout.

Mr. G’s determination has been an inspiration to me and to many more that have watched his progress.

Mr. G decided that he wanted to be healthier, he devoted himself to learning how to become healthier, he applied his knowledge to the acquisition of his goals and he remains determined today.

Last night, a mutual friend commented to me, “You know, Mr. G seems to hold his head higher. He seems to stand taller.” I agreed with him and I realized that Mr. G may be smaller on the outside, but he is much, much bigger on the inside.

He is a real-life, 3-D success story.

 

 

 

5 traits of highly successful people

Do you ever wonder why some of the people you know have had a great deal of success in their lives while you languish in mediocrity? Why do some people succeed? What are the qualities that distinguish successful people (around 3-5%) from the rest of the pack?

1. Successful individuals have exceptionally strong faith in themselves, their abilities, their prospects and their ability to learn.

These individuals exude confidence which is sometimes mistaken for cockiness and it may be cockiness, but the reality is that this trait alone will do more to guarantee success than all the other traits combined. These individuals are not deterred by what they don’t know because they realize that they can learn. Successful people understand that their minds are better used for thinking than as a warehouse for facts. They are not hindered by complications because they know how and where to find solutions. Henry Ford said that he was not interested in miscellaneous facts because the ability to know how to get information was a more important use for the mind. In effect, they are not stopped by obstacles because they will not allow anything to come between them and their goals.
2. Successful individuals have definite goals.

Ask any successful person what they are working on, and you will likely get more information than you really wanted. These people are not wandering through life. They have goals and they have formulated plans for attaining their goals. Successful individuals have definite goals. They know where they want to go and what they want to accomplish with their life. These goals are not dreams that occupy their thoughts and hopes. These are tangible, written expressions of their dreams. If a goal is not written down, then it is not a goal, but is a dream. In order to translate a dream from the realm of imagination to the world of possibility, you must record it in tangible, written form. Post your goal where you can see it continually. Carry it with you in your wallet or purse and look at it often throughout the day.

3. Successful individuals have the ability to focus.

Successful people are a lot like pitbulls. They grab on to something and they don’t let go until they are satisfied. They are able to look at a plan or an objective and dissect from it the one thing that is most important to the success of the project at the present moment. Then, they concentrate and focus all of their attention and energy on this one important task until it has been accomplished. Having completed the most important task first, they move on to the next most important task and continue as before until all is completed. Contrast this with the other 95% of the population that cannot concentrate long enough to finish a thirty minute sitcom without changing the channel to see what else is on. Decide what is important to you and then develop a plan for attaining your goals. Having done this, focus your energy on the one thing that is most important in attaining your goal. Then move to the next most important thing.

4. Successful individuals work hard.

Successful people know that anything worth having is worth working for and they are committed to doing whatever is necessary. Their motto could be: W. I. N. – Whatever Is Necessary; educating themselves, working long hours, coordinating efforts, brokering deals, negotiating terms, developing distribution and inventory systems, selling themselves and their business, they do it all and they do it willingly. Because they know that it all depends on them – the buck stops here. No work = No pay!

5 . Successful individuals have no fear.

Successful people aren’t afraid of what other people think about them. Their self-worth is not determined by others, so whatever Uncle Bob or Aunt Susie think about their current business venture has no merit. They are not afraid that someone might think their questions are stupid, every successful person knows it is better to operate with all the facts. Successful people are not afraid of failure because a failure does not define them. To them, failure is an outcome or an event. And they use these failures as educational tools to increase the chances of future success. Successful people are not afraid of success because they know it is their destiny.