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Professional Development

How to End 2015 Strong – Part Three Proven Keys to Fulfill Goals and Live an Extraordinary Life

Published

9 years ago

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BY KEISHA JOHNSON

In this issue we continue with Part 3 of our series on tried and proven keys that successful people have adopted to produce extraordinary results in their business and personal lives. You may also view Part 1 and  Part 2.

Discipline and Self-Control

Self-discipline and self-control could be the most boring and unsexy things we ever have to deal with in life. Yet Michael Lee Chin says that control of emotions is among the top three keys in his proven model to create and replicate success.

“Our behavior today is our history tomorrow,” the business mogul said in an interview.  “We have control over the history we are writing for ourselves because we have control over our behavior, so the only question is what I want my legacy to be. Once you define that then let your behavior give you your goals,” he coached.

“Successful people make sure that everything they do in the short term is consistent with where they want to end up in the long term. They practice self discipline at all times,” Brian Tracy writes in No Excuses: The Power of Self-Discipline.

The ability to resist short term temptation to fulfill a long term goal is how the American Psychological Association (APA) defines self-control or willpower.

It is the ability to delay gratification. It is a discipline; the mastery of which redeems many rewards on the personal and professional levels as demonstrated by Walter Mischel’s marshmallow experiment in which preschoolers who employed self control and delayed immediate gratification of a treat in lieu of having two later consistently maintained better life choices and outcomes over fifty plus years.

Follow-up studies on the participants from the 1960’s to the 2000’s revealed that those who had delayed gratification longer as a child, had also later in life performed better academically, earned more money, were healthier and happier and were less inclined to engage in certain deviant or self destructive behaviors.

The initial response of the children illustrated not only the internal fortitude and creativity it takes to exercise self control under pressure and in the face of temptations but the impact delayed gratification has on our other executive functions over time.

So how do you delay gratification and become more disciplined to advance your goals? Here are three suggestions:

  1. Meditation

Have you ever heard the saying we are transformed by the renewing of our mind? In other words, behavior is more likely to change when our thinking changes. If battles are won first in the mind then infuse your mind and thoughts with whatever information will confirm and affirm your desired end. Create affirmations with this information and consistently verbalize them frequently. Since the advent of the pillow speaker, my husband for example, sleeps with one that plays motivational messages into his subconscious nightly. Overtime, as your belief changes it triggers corresponding changes in your behavior. Leadership guru the late Miles Munroe said his car was a university on wheels as he was always learning and growing from audio books or messages when driving. He also read four books per month.

  1. Nutrition, Sleep and Exercise

Balanced nutrition, adequate sleep and regular exercise are reputed to help the body function optimally. This puts us in a better disposition to control our emotions. I won’t go into it here but there are several foods that you can research that help with self control. In regards  to sleep, Daniel Kripke who established one of the first sleep centers in North America, deduced from a 2012 sleep study that “people who sleep between 6.5 hr. and 7.5 hr. per night, live the longest, are happier and most productive”. Sleep depravity impairs the brain function, which dulls our ability to focus and thus retards our control of our emotions.  

  1. Manage Stress

As you journey towards your goal avoid or minimize the temptations that could derail you. Psychologists suggests two approaches to fortify your resistance: The out of sight out of mind approach and the Implementation Intention approach.

Out of Sight Out of Mind

This technique suggests that you distance yourself (physically or figuratively) from the temptation or divert your attention to something else while keeping your long term goal in mind. This was the tactic the kids who were able to delay gratification longest employed in the Marshmallow experiment.

Doing so Mischel says mentally “cools” the “hot” aspects of your environment, i.e. the things that pull you away from your goal and this is a significant key in delaying gratification.

I’ve had to rely on this approach oh so often from choosing not to buy certain foods that I love when I’m detoxing to turning off my phone or internet so as not to be distracted when I’m pressing to meet a deadline.

Implementation Intention

Planning ahead on how to deal with certain temptations is the genius of Implementation Intention. “Usually these intentions take the form of “if-then” statements that help people plan for situations that are likely to foil their resolve,” an APA article on Strengthening Self Control noted.

My niece for example has two years remaining in college that she would like to finish without a student loan. But she is also a shopaholic. Fully aware of her weakness she has this past summer decided to only purchase essentials and resolved that if invited to go shopping she will leave her bank cards at home and only travel with limited cash if and when she goes.

The first time we went out without her purse she said it was the most frustrating experience and that it took all the fun out of shopping. It also did not help that she wore her “I shop for exercise” T-shirt. But she has so far finished the fall semester debt free and is reveling in the pride of ‘having done it’. That sense of accomplishment is motivating her to continue with the plan in the New Year. This leads me to the final nugget for helping you to meet your goals in 2016.

Celebrate along the way

As you make strides, take time to celebrate the small victories. Reward and encourage yourself to continue to the next milepost of the journey. Have you ever noticed that people are strategically positioned along a marathon route to give the runners water? This keeps them from dehydration and fuels them for continuing on the journey. Likewise, intentionally celebrate the victories along the route to your vision in 2016. Celebration is like a refreshing drink of water, it will trigger production of the happy hormones that help to keep you motivated towards your goals and fuel you to finish the year strong and empowered.

Cheers to your success in 2016!

 

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Professional Development

As a community we lack unity. How are we supposed to rebuild the Black Wall Street?

Published

3 years ago

on

February 9, 2022

By

Photo Credit: Christina @ wocintechchat.com

BY DAVID ANDERSON

Do you know what the problem is? We can never stand up as one and unite for change. I am getting really sick and tired of this crab in a bucket mentality. As a community, we have not done enough. We have not built enough. Instead of correcting history, we have chosen the path of repeating it. I mean it is true we cannot hide from who we are but grow and learn from who we were. We cannot be afraid to let our brothers and sisters continue to separate.

As a community, we lack unity. How are we supposed to rebuild the Black Wall Street? How come it has never been remade since the tragic Tulsa race massacre that took place May 31st and June 1st 1921? City officials, to attack Black business owners, and residents gave the people weapons. They destroyed homes in Tulsa Oklahoma. What was once a flourishing community in Tulsa Oklahoma was reduced to nothing but campfire stories. This left a negative impact on the Black community.

Have you ever heard the phrase crabs in a bucket? This is a metaphor for people who either live in the same environment or are after specific goals. What we all get confused about is that there is enough for everyone.

I used to hate the saying “Let’s get this bag,” because it puts one trophy at the top of the pedestal. Humans are so competitive that they would rather sabotage their future as long as they beat you or finish first. This is how you burn bridges that you will have to cross again in life.

Working towards one goal usually is beneficial to each individual or as a collective (team). Every sports team makes it clear what their goals are in the pre-season. This allows coaches and players to develop a relationship that is based on trust and personal development. Each time they step out on the field or court they have their teammates’ best interest at hand. This will create chemistry, which only strengthens relationships and performance. We have to be able to depend on and trust one another. We need to learn from our mistakes and be proactive in correcting them.

As an entrepreneur, you need to be able to build strong relationships and communities. This might not be easy, but it is beneficial for you, family, business and community. As a leader you must have the ability to rally people in your community towards a cause. You have the ability to start a community organization. You possess the skills to make a change in your life, for your family and community. Don’t let opportunities pass you by. We need to learn more about our history, or it will repeat itself. We need to learn from other great cities, villages, and kingdoms.

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Professional Development

How to Boost Your Marketing Agency’s Growth in 2022

Published

3 years ago

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November 24, 2021

By

Want to boost your marketing agency’s growth over the course of the next calendar year? If so, you’ve found the right article. Below, you will find insightful information regarding the current scalability of the advertising sector, as well as comprehensive advice on what you can do to play an active role in this ongoing development.

Here are three things you can do to boost your marketing agency’s growth in 2022:

Home in your niche market
You aren’t going to grow your marketing agency until you showcase your skill, credibility, and reliability. In order to cultivate this type of reputation for yourself, you need to offer a specific service incredibly well. Distracting yourself with unnecessary service ranges will detract from your ability to build this authority, which is why you are advised to home in on a niche market segment. This will entail you providing a narrow yet effecting promotional service until you are capable of taking your agency to the next level.

There are plenty of niche marketing markets for you to tap into, eight of which include:

  1. Digital marketing
  2. Outbound or inbound marketing
  3. Content marketing
  4. Social media marketing
  5. Voice marketing
  6. Email marketing
  7. Influencer marketing
  8. Word-of-mouth marketing

Embrace white label SEO
If you choose to go down the digital marketing route in your expansion endeavor, you should seriously consider embracing white label SEO. This will allow you to expand your web-based advertising initiative without draining your time, effort, money, or resources.

To ensure that you receive a substantial ROI from white label SEO, it’s recommended that you partner up with a reputable reseller such as Click Intelligence Canada. This industry authority will help you to generate a new source of revenue, they will offer SEO solutions tailored around your specific expertise, and they will provide a cost-effective platform for your agency’s growth. Ultimately, this level of assistance will allow you to focus on what truly matters — your company’s ongoing scalability.

Simplify your project management
The way in which you manage your projects will have a profound effect on your marketing agency’s success going forward. In this instance, it’s important that you avoid overcomplicating things at all costs. This will only make life ten times harder for yourself, s it will eat away at both your time and effort. Ultimately, this will decrease the likelihood of you meeting your crucial advertising campaign deadlines.

When attempting to simplify your project management process, your first port of call should be to prioritize your daily tasks by level of importance. This will help you to screen out unimportant tasks and subsequently aid you in your attempt to focus on critical marketing matters.

Are you determined to take your marketing agency to the next level in 2022? If so, be sure to heed the growth and development advice laid out above. Home in on a niche market, embrace white label SEO, and simplify your project management — do all of that, and you’ll be scaling the lofty heights of your niche industry sooner rather than later.

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Professional Development

Ergonomic Home Office- Choosing The Best Furniture Pieces

Published

4 years ago

on

June 3, 2020

By

BY ELLA BRAUN

The COVID crisis has brought a sudden transition for the world, particularly in the form of the work from the home switch. The biggest challenge, however, is that most of us are not equipped with a proper working area at home. Like everyone else, you would also want to have a dedicated office space that makes you feel productive. When it comes to creating such a home office, comfort is important. After all, you cannot expect to do your best in the workspace if you are not comfortable enough. If you are planning to create an ergonomic home office, choosing the right furniture pieces matters the most. Here are some tips to pick the best ones.

Assess the available space
Even before you start preparing a wishlist of furniture pieces, assess the available area. Not everyone has a spare room for creating a dedicated office, so space struggles are more real than you think. Measure the area and consider the essential pieces you would want to fit in. You may have to differentiate between needs and wants and skip some things if there isn’t enough room.

Consider the work hours
From the ergonomic perspective, it is important to consider the number of hours you would be working every day. For example, you can give precedence to style if you plan to use the home office for only a few hours in a day. However, comfort is absolutely essential if you have long working hours. You may even consider having a standing work desk apart from the sitting arrangement to prevent the ill-effects of prolonged sitting.

Have a budget to start with
Right now, you may be pressed for cash but a proper workspace is something that you can’t do without. Having a budget before you start shopping is a good idea. You may even look for deals like an IKEA flyer or coupon online to fit the best-branded furniture in your budget. Quality is vital when it comes to ergonomics because good brands go the extra mile to create designs that are easy on the body.

Choose pieces that fit you
If comfort is your top priority while picking furniture for your work area, you need to go the extra mile to find pieces that actually fit your body. Consider proportioned height for your chair and table if you are too tall or too short. Exploring and trying before buying is a great idea. Of course, your office furniture should look great but ease is something that you cannot ignore.

Don’t forget your personal style
Even as you look for pieces that are comfortable, don’t forget your personal style. Also, make sure that it blends with your home decor, particularly when you are creating a workspace in your living room or bedroom. Consider the aesthetic elements such as colour and design. At the same time, invest in durability and quality as well.

Although creating a home office can be easy, you need to be extra sure about ergonomics. After all, an easy space makes you feel more productive and keeps you healthy as well.

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