CAREER DEVELOPMENT, GOALS, SUCCESS UNIVERSITY

People always want to improve themselves - physical fitness, a better outlook in life or simply enhancing interpersonal skills. These help you perform better and achieve more. Who would not want that?

For example, you may not be a very athletic person, but engaging into sports is something that you know your body needs. Improving your physical fitness will definitely give your body and the heart a good boost. Playing sports is more than just physical consideration. Being good in sports helps one feel good about him or her self.

You may also consider yourself as not that competent when it comes to solving math problems or finishing trick puzzles. These are ordinary activities that can frustrate you when left unaccomplished. Improvement on these matters will definitely help your performance.

Deciding to improve your self is definitely a good first step. However, there is more to know. To do this, you must know just exactly how.

Improvement basically means making better of something. This needs serious considerations to utilize something for a good purpose.

There are various ways by which you can improve on yourself.

There may be facets in your life that you want to enhance. However, you may not be able to improve on all of them at the same time. You may have to settle for one or two things at a time to accomplish something.

For example, you can practice your math skills and physical prowess at a given period. However, you may end up getting confused later if you add another hobby to the menu like learning to play an instrument. Take one endeavor at a time. You may want to be holistic as much as possible, but do not sacrifice the quality of learning with the quantity of things you want to improve.

Another thing you can do to enhance your performance results is to know your weak areas. You cannot improve completely unless you know the aspects that pose a problem to your situation.

You will also benefit from developing a good sense of discipline. This entails coming up with a set of rules so that you concentrate on your actions to those that will lead you to your desired goal.

Discipline yourself. Improvement does not happen overnight but you can at least make sure that you maintain yourself in the right path.

You can also consider other ways to learn about a particular field. Reading books may be helpful but there are other options to stimulate the mind and challenge the body. Try looking for a mentor to help you. You can also find a challenger to whom you can exercise your skills with, like having a friend to compete with when you do sports activities.

Finally, you must be able to read your actions and see how you are progressing according to your goal. This way, you know how well or how bad you are doing and you can make adjustments to your performance. Give yourself a push if you are lagging behind or give rewards to yourself whenever you do well.

Aiming for a better performance means that you are on your way to excellence. This is a good thing as you get to become a better person. Just take these techniques seriously and you will go far and succeed in your endeavor.

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Leon Edward helps people improve in Leadership Development, Goal Setting, Success, Motivation, Self-Improvement, Happiness, Memory Improvement, Stress Reduction and more through his articles, blogs, reports and self-help success roladex-on-line. Visit his Success-Leadership Library, Articles  at http://www.AwesomeSuccess.org

Leon Edward also helps people improve  IQ, focus, memory, concentration, creativity, speed reading, public speaking , time management and reducing stress.
Download his IQ Mind Brain Memory Self-Help library at his website http://www.IQMindBrainLibrary.com

Posted by Leon Edward at 09:09 PM | Permalink

The movie called Patch Adams it the perfect example of a person who failed at the one thing he wanted to do most. After suffering from severe depression and hospitalization, his eyes were opened.

He realized that there were different types of psychiatric illnesses and that with the power of positive thinking, he could heal himself and others as well.

With a positive attitude he was able to help not only himself, but also the patients around him. Using these techniques also brought him the success he always wanted. He became an excellent doctor and changed the way the medical community treated its mentally ill patients.

In order to use self-improvement methods you have to sit down and take a good look at yourself. You need to understand, really understand that you are not a failure. Everyone has limitations, and being aware of that is strength, not a weakness.

The models and actors with perfect bodies that you see on television and movies are a result of strict exercise routines that often include starvation diets and hours upon hours at the gym. This is not what real life is all about. If you want to get in shape or improve your self, then sign up at a fitness center. Personal trainers are available to assist you with a routine that is right for you. Don’t try to become a size one because you see it on TV. See the beauty within yourself even if you are a size ten, everyone else does.

No matter how you are how down you are feeling about yourself, if you find someone who is in the same situation, try and cheer them up. You will not believe how good you will feel about yourself when you help others.

When you make mistakes it is important that you do not feel like you are stupid or a failure. Everyone makes mistakes, some bigger than others. What is important is that you take the experience as a learning experience.

If you feel that there are several areas in your life that need improvement, it is important that you take them one at a time. You have to be realistic, if you try to change too much at once, you are bound to fail and throw yourself back into depression.

In order for self-improvement techniques to work, you will need to be strong. Self-confidence and self-esteem are very important factors when you are trying to build a positive image.

You need to set goals for yourself. Be realistic; don’t set your goals so high that they are not attainable.

The old adage little things mean a lot holds true in everyday life. Letting someone at work know that they did a good job on a project, or a simple hi with a smile on your face can do a lot for the morale of your co-workers.

Take the time to appreciate all the things around you. Stop and smell the flowers once in awhile, you will be surprised at how the sweet fragrance cheers you up.

In order to be respected, you need to respect others. The world is full of people with different likes and dislikes, and different tastes. When you respect someone else’s rights, then it is more likely that you will be respected in return.

Posted by Leon Edward at 05:23 AM | Permalink

The popularity of self-improvement books, tapes, and seminars is a reflection of the universal interest in overcoming limitations. We all want to "be the best that we can be" and achieve our full potential.

Popular applications of self-improvement programs include motivation and confidence, personal relationships, sales and job performance, enhancement of sports performance, public speaking, weight control, and controlling bad habits such as smoking.

Here are some basic principles to help you determine whether such products or programs are worthy of your time and money.

You may have a difficult time finding a book or program that will provide an exact fit for your needs and interests. Books and group programs are mostly general in nature. Some of the ideas and concepts may apply to you, but others may be irrelevant or just plain inapplicable to your own personality and life situation. Use good judgment and discrimination in following advice offered in any self-improvement program.

Be wary of any program that is highly authoritarian and attacks other people who question what is being done. Some self-improvement programs enjoyed a temporary burst of popularity over the years that have been extremely damaging to some participants.

Of course, the most effective program or tape would be one that is designed specifically for the individual, which addresses his or her unique goals, motivation, and personality.

Obviously, this can be achieved by having a personal consultation with a professional person. However, this involves greater cost for the individual attention required in designing a program tailored exactly to your needs.

Do not worry. The internet provides an answer. Help is on its way. Here are some links that may help you achieve your goal:

• Psych Web by Russ Dewey:

http://www.psywww.com/

The content of this awesome and well-organized site might be described as half-way in between the sites "Self Improvement Online" and "Mental Health Net." It describes itself as a web site that contains lots of psychology-related information for students and teachers of psychology.

The links on its self-help directory page alone are worth the time of the trip to this site: http://www.psychwww.com/resource/selfhelp.htm.

• Internet Mental Health:

http://www.mentalhealth.com

Stated in their side is this information:"Internet Mental Health is a free encyclopedia of mental health information. It was designed by a Canadian psychiatrist, Dr. Phillip Long, and programmed by his colleague, Brian Chow..." Internet Mental Health is for anyone who has an interest in mental health:

Mental health professionals

Patients who want to learn more about their illness

Friends and families of patients

Mental health support groups

Students

Members of the general public who want to learn more about mental health

This is an impressive site with many helpful articles and resources. If you are interested in mental health from any point of view, you'll be happy you visited this site.

• Life Mentoring:

http://www.lifementoring.com/

"Because of the demand from our clients we started this site Life Mentoring for individual visitors, in 1998. Its mission is to provide you with the best collection of thoughts, ideas, philosophies, and practical concepts for leading a truly meaningful and successful life. It is not linked to any school of thought, but rather wants to give you an overview of all different approaches - and so you to choose and pick whatever suits your needs best."

The site has a number of very good articles, excellent collection of links, a free newsletter, a bbs/forum.

A group program or a general tape is, of course, less costly. Nevertheless, it may prove to be a useful self-improvement tool.

Posted by Leon Edward at 06:20 PM | Permalink

Self-hypnosis is a great tool for goal setting and self-improvement. Most people are surprised at how easy it is to learn self-hypnosis.

When people hear the word "self-hypnosis" they imagine a person listening to an audio tape, mp3, or other mass-produced media. Such activity is perceived to induce a willingness to absorb suggestions centered on a specific behavior such as weight loss, smoking, etc.

Unfortunately, this kind of hypnosis is generally prepared by someone who has never met the person being hypnotized. This often results to unwanted and even unpleasant imagery and suggestions. For example, if you sunburn easily, the last thing you want to hear about is a slow walk on a sunny beach.

In self-hypnosis, you listen to the audio material by yourself. How do you incorporate self-improvement to hypnosis?

With hypnosis, the negative aspects that serve as obstacles to improvement are eliminated. A true self-hypnosis program would be designed and created by the very person who will ultimately use and benefit from it.

Unlike the mass-produced hypnosis products, self-designed program is made for the exact purpose the person wishes, including the precise words and phrases that mean the most to that particular person.

The true self-hypnosis is crafted by the person to suit his or her own needs. The benefits derived could only be accomplished with such a personal and one-of-a-kind hypnosis. In this case, the "self" in self-hypnosis really means that you are hypnotized by yourself!

Below is a short view of the self-hypnotic process. Although there are variations of this method, these are the basic steps you have to go through in order to hypnotize yourself to accomplish self-improvement.

1) Create a hierarchy of goals. Arrange it from the most important goal to the less important. If possible, your goals should be measurable.

2) For each goal, you should formulate fitting suggestions. This means you have to convert your goals into specific instructions to your subconscious mind on how to achieve each goal.

3) Do some relaxation exercises. Use the first minutes of your self-hypnotic session to achieve total relaxation. Try to forget all your worries and problems.

4) Start your hypnotic initiation phase by saying and repeating out loudly the hypnotic words you have chosen.

5) You can either think of these words or listen to a hypnotic tape or CD customized for your goal fulfillment needs.

Before you start self-hypnotic exercises, set a regular time schedule. Do your hypnotic sessions every day, five minutes a day is enough. Repeat your suggestions as often as possible during the day.

Measure your progress. Are you closer to your goal now than you were before? If you answered "no" to this question, you have to rethink and reorganize your train of thoughts.

Try it! Self-hypnosis is one method that can help you achieve your self-improvement goals.

Posted by Leon Edward at 05:12 AM | Permalink

What works for one does not necessarily work for another.

If what your friends say and what you read does not seem to inspire you to improve yourself, then it is time to consider self-improvement videos.

There are people who can comprehend things better when they see it on screen. That is the psychology behind these videos. The trick is to get the focus of the person watching the video.

The need for self-improvement is now an issue many people are focusing on. There are already many self-improvement articles out there. Not only that, some experts are also lending their talents and expertise in helping people develop themselves.

With the internet came the easiest means of looking for self-improvement advice from other people. For those who take pleasure in reading, they turn to articles and other forms of writing. However, for those who just like to sit back, watch, and listen, self-improvement videos are the ones chosen.

There are websites that are capable of providing you with all the self-improvement videos that are necessary to get your commitment power out and utilize it to whichever change or improvement you want to make within you.

These videos consist of information and exercises. When you start these readings and exercises, you will immediately feel the desired change inside yourself.

With repetition of exercises, the change or improvements become automatic. Repetition is the key to a life long improvement of your personality.

These videos aid in achieving everlasting self-improvement and personal growth in all areas of life. Some are concentrated on a few areas that many people may feel important and had to work on.

For example, the people behind you can help you with your effort towards self-improvement. Low self-esteem and confidence are the causes of many personal as well as inter-personal difficulties.

Self-improvement videos will assist you in taking command of your career, as well as, your financial freedom and independence. You can get the career you wish and the wealth and prosperity that you decide you deserve.

These can also help in building positive relationships and finally show you how to apply the tools inherent for you to change habits.

These videos may not come cheap for some who would rather have free self-improvement tools. The only advantage in getting self-improvement videos is that it will be available anytime you want to watch them.

Videos on self-improvement are not the only tools you can use if you are intent on achieving personal improvement. There are also e-books and e-courses available.

Try to look at the other self-improvement tools offered by other sites. Most of the time, the products offered are well researched and known for their quality and effectiveness.

When is the best time to get a self-improvement video? When advices you get from family, friends, and even on the internet are not getting through your head.

Chances are, if you have seen these self-improvement videos twice or thrice, you have probably memorized all the things it had to say and show. Repetition can lead to longer lasting results!

Posted by Leon Edward at 10:08 PM | Permalink

According to statistics, around 75% of the people working today are unhappy with their current jobs.

One reason is that they feel that their talents are wasted because it is not applicable in their current jobs. That’s just one problem.

Another is having unreasonable demands placed upon you. You have to work long hours to get anywhere. The paths to promotion may be blocked. You cannot get to where you want to be because of the view that people have of you and your experience or job performance.

Maybe a little self-improvement will help you out with that problem. You can start by appreciating your job if you want to succeed in life.

If you are always late to your job, can you really expect a promotion? Why don’t you try to wake up early or try to find other route in order to avoid traffic? Improving your habits will help you succeed.

There might be some uncalled criticisms leveled against you. There could be too much politics or backstabbing, you have to grease the right palms to get ahead. The job may just not be what you expected. You boss promised one thing, but it turned into something else.

One thing that you should do about backstabbing is always retain your composure. Do not try to argue with your officemates for it will be another reason for firing you.

You have to get to the root of what is causing your unhappiness. Look at where you are and what you are currently doing. The easiest way is The Five Whys. Ask, "Why?" five times.

"Oh, I’m not happy."

Well, why?

"Because I got passed up for a promotion."

Why were you passed up for promotion?

"Because they didn’t value the project I was working on."

Why not?

"Because management changed and they changed the objectives."

Well, why was that?

You really sort of drill down the root cause and find out what the problem really is.

Once you decide that you need a change, that is where the real fun begins. Now is the time to go about finding a new job or change careers completely.

Watch out for the Top Ten Signs That Tells You That You Need a New Job. They are a bit tongue-in-cheek, but there’s a bit of truth in all of them.

10 - Your income cannot support basic necessities. You just need more money.

9 - The most rewarding thing you did this week was sharpen all 12 of your pencils to the same length.

8 - You’re reluctant to be a Career Day speaker at your kid’s fourth grade class.

7 – You need to bribe your self to go to the office.

6 - Everyone in your workgroup got a raise except you.

5 - You were late for work three times this week, but you don’t care.

4 – There is a meeting at 3:00 to talk about the upcoming reorganization and you are not invited.

3 - Your boss keeps forgetting your name.

2 - You constantly daydream about being a forest ranger.

1 – There was a merger in your company and you spent two weeks worrying that you would be laid off. After that, you are worried that you wouldn’t be.

Remember, finding a new job nowadays is tough. So, before you decide to look for another job, always resolve your problems first with your current job. Self-improvement will really help you achieve that.

Posted by Leon Edward at 06:24 AM | Permalink

Have the determination to improve your self-esteem and you are on your way to great achievement!

Do not let low self-esteem ruin your life. The way you think about yourself determines how you interact with others.

What are some examples of low esteem that you need improvement on?

1. Everything you do seems to go the wrong way.

2. You believe that most people do not like you.

3. You believe that you are not attractive.

4. You choose something and it turns out to be the worst one.

5. You are afraid to converse with others for fear that what you say might not make sense.

6. You feel swallowed up in a whirlpool of frustration.

What’s wrong with you? Your thoughts, actually.

Stop thinking that the world is closing in on you. Be determined to achieve what you desire. Stop blaming other people for your misfortunes. The world is not your problem, you are your own problem.

From this moment on, begin the process of self-improvement. Think the right way, be determined to win, and win you will. Just remember that success never comes easily and that is why determination is its counterpart.

Oftentimes, one reaches the brink of success and with just a little disappointment or setback, he loses heart and gives up too easily and too soon. He is a surefire candidate to self-esteem improvement. Who knows what great things might have been achieved if only he had persevered.

Without high self-esteem, your life could be boring. Change your thinking and begin to see yourself on top of the world. Make an effort to be what you really want to be.

You have to seriously decide whether to remain in a miserable state of low self-esteem or pursue self-improvement and develop a high self-esteem with good character and positive self-image.

You may be wondering where low self-esteem originated.

A low self-esteem may have its roots way back in childhood when children are made to believe that they are worthless. Their self -confidence is eroded and subscribed to the idea that they can never achieve success in anything that they do. They were picked on, laughed at, pushed around, called ugly names, and treated with disdain. No wonder they grew up to be full of resentment.

If this was your experience, it is time you cut yourself loose from that mindset and do self-esteem improvement. Start reading about the life of successful persons and you will soon discover that many of them had low-self esteem that they could not even complete an elementary education.

Most of these successful people decided to override their low self-esteem and improve their attitude, whatever it took. They became some of the greatest men and women that ever lived.

Low self-esteem has never helped anyone else and it sure will not help you. It can only drive you into depression, anger, grudge, fear, and all the other evils that it can generate.

Re-program your thinking and control your state of mind. You must believe that you are worth more than you think or you will remain at the foot of the ladder and never climb it.

Do not waste your life away with feelings of inadequacies. Instead, think of ways to go about self-esteem improvement. Success is yours. Just reach out and grasp it!

Posted by Leon Edward at 08:27 PM | Permalink

How do you know if a person is willing to go for self-improvement?

This is a question with no definite answer. It will all depend on the individual.

Many people have goals, dreams, or ambitions but do not know how to go about achieving them. They may have thought about what would make up self-improvement and their ideal life, but have no idea how to begin to make a plan and take the actions required.

Some people have a vague idea on how to go about self-improvement. Some believe that if only they had a better job, or had been given better opportunities, or met the love of their life, or whatever else, everything would be fine and they would be happy.

They feel that their happiness or lack of it is dependent on external factors and their thoughts and actions are of little consequence.

Some believe that if only they had more money they could have whatever they want and be on their way to self-improvement.

They may have spent little time thinking about what they actually want from life. They may not really believe that they can do something to create their fuzzy version of utopia. That is, apart from buying more lottery tickets.

Other people do not even know what they actually want from their lives and may even have little idea what would really make them happy. They just drift from day to day, week to week, month to month, and year to year, and do little more just to get by.

They may have seemingly secure jobs and are earning enough to live relatively comfortable lives. They seem happy enough and have no great ambition to achieve anything more from their lives than they currently have.

Is self-improvement important?

The reality is that throughout our lives we are all constantly growing and developing. Circumstances make us grow and develop, even if we do not make the conscious decision to do so.

Up to a certain age, we learn through formal education and we continue to learn through our experiences for the rest of our lives. We have to learn and grow to deal with everything that life throws at us. We all have to go through self-improvement.

Modern life moves at a dramatically faster pace than at anytime in history. In modern society, there are more opportunities available to make our lives better than ever before.

But, there is also more competition than ever before. Ever changing technology means that there really are few, if any, ‘jobs for life’ anymore. It is now normal, not only to change jobs quite often throughout our working lives, but even to completely change careers and industries.

Because the workplace is so competitive, people who are ambitious and hungry for success know they need to learn new skills and knowledge to keep ahead of the pack. To attain this, we need self-improvement.

These are people who will be most likely to keep their jobs, or progress within their chosen field, or will be readily employable in different organizations or industries.

A commitment to self-improvement and personal growth may well be the deciding factor in how anyone’s future will turn out.

Posted by Leon Edward at 08:18 PM | Permalink

Once you have decided on a self-improvement course, you will face moments along your journey where it seems that you are not making progress toward your goal. It is but natural.

Staying on course when the results do not seem to be coming can be challenging. However, you must not give up when you are pursuing a dream.

Stay on your self-improvement course. Do not jump overboard. If you believe in your dream and are willing to see it through, you will surely enjoy the sweet reward of success when you arrive at your destination.

Below are four tips in staying the self-improvement course:

1. Stay positive.

Your mental attitude towards your situation is very important. If you think possibilities, you will be able to focus on the opportunities that are present in setbacks or delays.

Try to become your own dictator when you surrender your will to negative thoughts. Keep a positive attitude. You know that you have what it takes to succeed.

Tell yourself to think thoughts that will lift your spirit and renew that desire to succeed.

2. Pull versus Push.

It is not possible to push a rope. Neither can you make any progress by pushing and forcing it to move to your liking.

Experts will tell you that you need to make yourself "attractive" so that you can effortlessly draw to yourself what you want in life. This will also move you away from seducing or pushing in order to produce the outcome that you desire.

What have you been attracting to your life? Are you the one doing the pushing or the pulling?

3. Be persistent.

Continue on taking daily action toward your dreams and goals. Patience and persistence are the crowning qualities of confident champions.

Think of the gardener who plants a seed and then waits for it to sprout and grow. He waters and nourishes the seed even when he does not see immediate results, having faith that the seed will develop into a beautiful plant.

Like the gardener, do not think of what you see and what is going on today. Look ahead in the future and the results of your actions.

What can you do today to achieve your plans?

4. Have a success partner.

Having a success partner to encourage and support you especially when you are down or frustrated can make the difference in achieving a goal.

Sometimes distraction or discouragement blurs our vision. Having a supportive partner who wants big things for you and believes in you can help you stay the self-improvement course.

You can do it on your own, but you do not have to do it alone. You have a choice. Why not have success partners who will stick with you not only through the good times but also through the bad times?

Elbert Hubbard said, "Know what you want to do, hold the thought firmly, and do every day what should be done, and every sunset will see you that much nearer to your goal."

Nobody told you that the self-improvement course you have chosen to trek is easy. However, with enough willpower and the perseverance to go on, you will finally reach that long awaited destination which is success.

Posted by Leon Edward at 08:11 PM | Permalink

Many programs can aid you in your quest in having a healthy mental life.

If you have many things on your mind and simply want to have the easy way to deal with them, there are many programs. Such programs show you ways to achieve things. These can be an accelerated transformative practice, which the professionals can easily impose on your schedule. It can last for a year or longer, depending upon the program administrator.

There are also lessons that you can follow. Benefits of such programs include increase in energy levels, lose weight, maintain good health, enhance creativity, reduce stress, develop more fulfilling relationships, reach profound meditative states, discover a greater meaning in life, expansion of awareness, stronger immune system, and experience spirituality to new levels.

You can also find a greater sense of self, master universal dynamics and processes, and become the person you want to be. These programs take advantage of the current research and proven practices from nutrition, exercise, and psychology to discoveries in the fields of relaxation and spirituality. Most other self-help programs focus on one system or philosophy, some are holistic which is known as the "big picture approach" that addresses all aspects of a person's well-being.

Most of these go well beyond offering you the theories behind the programs. Programs give you practical tools and activities, which allow you to work in your life. These programs or lessons are easy to follow, quick to implement and fun to participate in.

On a typical self-help tape, you will hear a pleasant English voice, which will guide you into a deeply relaxed state of mind and body. To enhance the therapeutic effect, each tape includes layered echoed background affirmations, which pan from left to right in your headphones and 3D Sound effects.

So at times, you will hear one voice in one ear speaking to the left hemisphere of your brain, while at the same time, other echoed voices address other parts of your brain.

This powerful method of simultaneous delivery of multiple suggestions to the unconscious mind can facilitate positive changes very quickly. In addition to this, the absorption of 60 bpm sound effects and powerful subliminal suggestions enhance the overall effectiveness.

Speaking from a job organization behavioral point of view, let us look at what motivation is all about and how we can improve it. The human brain is a virtual warehouse of energy.

Nothing is impossible once we put our minds to it. However, take note that the brain is easily distracted. In fact, your imagination is probably the one thing that can travel faster than light. So, it is not an easy task to keep the brain occupied in the same task for an extended period of time. If the job is monotonous, the task becomes more difficult. The same goes if the job is demanding and involves a lot of pressure.

Motivation is the process of channeling the surplus energy of the brain towards a definite goal or purpose. If you have a good boss or supervisor, then the task of keeping you motivated rests with them. But even then, you have the responsibility to keep your self motivated. Believe me, self-motivation is the best motivation because it comes from within.

Posted by Leon Edward at 08:00 PM | Permalink

Have you ever wished that your life could be a lot better and more fulfilling than the one you are in right now?

Have a self-improvement worksheet where you can write your plans and turn these into reality.

Here are some of the things you have to plan in your worksheet for a smooth sailing journey towards self-improvement goal.

1. Get up early.

To be able to accomplish this and still avoid losing any precious sleep, you can go to bed just half an hour earlier than you usually do.

What has this got to do with self-improvement?

For some people, the answer can vary slightly. To start with, you need be fully awake and get rid of early morning sluggishness.

After you are completely alert, step outside of your house and watch the sunrise. Nothing beats the view of a fresh morning to set you out on your self-improvement destination.

This simple but immensely satisfying act will lift your spirits and help with self-improvement.

If you are unable to do this, take a brisk walk, jog or run depending upon what you prefer and what you are physically capable of.

2. Eat breakfast.

To start your day out on the right foot and stay in keeping with your self-improvement plan, this is practically a necessity. You need the energy this will provide to accomplish your daily tasks.

If you are pressed for time, you might try cereal and milk or even a few pieces of fresh fruit would do. Any of these are better alternatives than skipping breakfast.

3. Smile a lot.

When you go places, smile more at other people, even if you find it a bit difficult at first. Just curve your lips up as you make eye contact with another human being.

4. Write your goals.

An effective goal is written. This is the primary purpose of your self-improvement worksheet.

This is extremely helpful and essential because there will be times when you will feel uncomfortable and you may lose sight of your goals.

When this happens, you need to have them written down to keep yourself on track and accountable. Posting your goals on the refrigerator, bulletin board, or in your planner are daily reminders for you.

5. Review your goals on a regular basis.

You must review your self-improvement goals in order to stay on track. Check out your worksheet on the schedules you set. Reviewing them causes you to commit to their achievement.

According to studies, only 1% of the population actually understands how to effectively set goals. This is the reason why there are so many broken New Year's resolutions.

This is also why people keep failing at the very same goal. The desire to improve yourself is genuine, but the process you go about while seeking this desire is faulty. Then how can you achieve the self- improvement results you want?

The positive results of achieving any goal are unforgettable. An individual's failure is not caused by their incompetence but because they simply do not know the process of success.

Have an effective self-improvement worksheet. Follow what you wrote in your worksheet, be patient, and plan how to celebrate your success to come.

Posted by Leon Edward at 07:12 PM | Permalink

There are different books and seminars that can help you gather some self-improvement guides. All these sources are against the negative factors in your life.

This self-improvement guide intends to offer you the best solutions to reduce or eliminate these factors for good.

Work, meetings, deadlines, appointments, telephone calls, shopping, taking the dogs out etc. – all these are things most people have to accomplish daily. Most of the times, on the waiting list there are other things like: family, friends and even ourselves.

Sometimes we discover too late that the points mentioned on the waiting lists are, in fact, the most important. Unfortunately, we do not realize this at all, so we find ourselves so unhappy.

Time is more than money – time means life and, more than that, it means our lives. We have the obligation not to surrender in stressful situations and to go fighting for the joy of living.

Let us not forget also that deficient management of time can produce tremendous health problems, both at the physical and mental level.

But there is good news! You can manage time. First step is to identify the elements that take much of your time. Normally, these are divided into two groups:

The external factors which include unexpected phone calls, very long phone conversations, unplanned visits, the policy of open doors, not sufficiently trained personnel, frequent meetings, interruptions caused by colleagues, friends and family etc.

The internal factors which relates strictly to our own persons. It includes priorities and objectives that change, the lack of a daily working plan, lack of self imposed deadlines, the tendency to take care of too many things at the same time, disorder, lateness in resolving the conflicts, incapacity of saying no, lack of decision, tiredness, etc.

By reading the above enumeration, you probably recalled similar situations that you went through. Now, all you have to do is to find a way to defeat and eliminate them, so that you can be the master of your own time again.

Here are three possible ways in which you can do that:

1. Write everything down.

Writing is useful, especially if you have a bad memory. Otherwise, you might fail to remember to go to important meetings, to make important phone calls, to answer messages you promised you would answer, etc.

You can also write down great ideas and inspirations that occur to you in the most unexpected moments.

2. Make a list of priorities.

It takes very little time to draw it and you can even do it while you are having your morning coffee. Write down the things you need to do that day in the order of their importance and urgency.

3. Learn to say no.

One big mistake that a lot of us make is that we put other people’s problems in front of ours. By always prioritizing them, we give rise to stress and we find ourselves unable to respect previous engagements.

All these advices are also present in Jean-Louis Servan-Schreiber’s book "New Art of Time Against Stress". He invites us to meditate more and points out the basic fact that time management is also a philosophy of life.

Posted by Leon Edward at 06:43 PM | Permalink

Be all you can be, but it's not always in the Army. I often see myself as somewhat contented with my life the way things are, but of course it's hard to think of anything else when where are real issues to be discussed.

Still I aspire for something deeper and more meaningful.

So we're all pelted with problems. Honestly it shouldn't even bother or even hinder us to becoming all we ought to be. Aspirations as kids should continue to live within us, even though it would be short-lived or as long as we could hold on to the dream. They say you can't teach an old dog new tricks… or can they?

1. What do I really want?
The question of the ages. So many things you want to do with your life and so little time to even go about during the day.

Find something that you are good at can help realize that small step towards improvement. Diligence is the key to know that it is worth it.

2. Should I really change?
Today's generation has taken another level of redefining 'self', or at least that's what the kids are saying. Having an army of teenage nieces and nephews has taught me that there are far worse things that they could have had than acne or maybe even promiscuity. So how does that fit into your lifestyle?

If history has taught us one thing, it's the life that we have gone through. Try to see if partying Seventies style wouldn't appeal to the younger generation, but dancing is part of partying. Watch them applaud after showing them how to really dance than break their bones in break-dancing.

3. What's the bright side in all of this?
With so much is happening around us there seem to be no room for even considering that light at the end of the tunnel. We can still see it as something positive without undergoing so much scrutiny. And if it's a train at the end of the tunnel, take it for a ride and see what makes the world go round!

4. Am I comfortable with what I'm doing?
There's always the easy way and the right way when it comes to deciding what goes with which shoes, or purse, shirt and whatnot. It doesn't take a genius to see yourself as someone unique, or else we'll all be equally the same in everything we do. Variety brings in very interesting and exciting questions to be experimented.

5. Have I done enough for myself?
Have you, or is there something more you want to do? Discontentment in every aspect can be dangerous in large doses, but in small amounts you'll be able to see and do stuff you could never imagine doing.

6. Am I happy at where I am today?
It's an unfair question so let it be an answer! You love being a good and loving mom or dad to your kids, then take it up a notch! Your kids will love you forever. The same goes with everyday life!

7. Am I appealing to the opposite sex?
So maybe I don't have an answer to that, but that doesn't mean I can't try it, though. Whether you shape-up, change the way you wear your clothes or hair, or even your attitude towards people, you should always remember it will always be for your own benefit.

8. How much could I have?
I suppose in this case there is no such things on having things too much or too little, but it's more on how badly you really need it. I'd like to have lots of money, no denying that, but the question is that how much are you willing to work for it?

9. What motivates me?
What motivates you? It's an answer you have to find out for yourself. There are so many things that can make everyone happy, but to choose one of the may be the hardest part. It's not like you can't have one serving of your favorite food in a buffet and that's it. Just try it piece by piece.

10. What Really Makes You Tick?
So? What really makes you tick? You can be just about anything you always wanted to be, but to realize that attaining something that may seem very difficult is already giving up before you even start that journey. Always remember, that self-improvement is not just about the physical or philosophical change you have to undergo, but it's something that you really want.

Posted by Leon Edward at 05:40 PM | Permalink

Sometimes, when all our doubts, fears and insecurities wrap ourselves up, we always come up with the idea of “I wish I was somebody else.”  More often than not, we think and believe that someone or rather, most people are better than us.- when in reality, the fact is, most people are more scared than us.

You spot a totally eye-catching girl sitting by herself at a party, casually sipping on a glass of Asti Spumanti. You think to yourself, “she looks so perfectly calm and confident.” But if you could read thru her transparent mind, you would see a bunch of clouds of thoughts and you might just be amazed that she’s thinking “are people talking about why I am seated here alone?... Why don’t guys find me attractive? …I don’t like my ankles, they look too skinny… I wish I was as intelligent as my best friend.”

We look at a young business entrepreneur and say “Wooh… what else could he ask for?” He stares at himself at the mirror and murmur to himself, “I hate my big eyes… I wonder why my friends won’t talk to me… I hope mom and dad would still work things out.”

Isn’t it funny? We look at other people, envy them for looking so outrageously perfect and wish we could trade places with them, while they look at us and thinks of the same thing. We are insecure of other people who themselves are insecure of us. We suffer from low self-esteem, lack of self-confidence and lose hope in self improvement because we are enveloped in quiet desperation.

Sometimes, you notice that you have an irritating habit like biting off your finger nails, having a foul mouth, and you – of all people, is the last to know.

I have a friend who never gets tired of talking. And in most conversations, she is the only one who seems to be interested in the things she has to say. So all of our other friends tend to avoid the circles whenever she’s  around, and she doesn’t notices how badly she became socially handicapped – gradually affecting the people in her environment.

One key to self improvement is to LISTEN and TALK to a trusted friend. Find someone who you find comfort in opening up with even the most gentle topics you want to discuss. Ask questions like “do you think I am ill-mannered?”,  “Do I always sound so argumentative?”,  “Do I talk too loud?”,  “Does my breath smell?”,  “Do I ever bore you when were together?”.  In this way, the other person will obviously know that you are interested in the process of self improvement. Lend her your ears for comments and criticisms and don’t give her answers like “Don’t exaggerate! That’s just the way I am!”  Open up your mind and heart as well. And in return, you may want to help your friend with constructive criticism that will also help her improve her self.

One of Whitney Houston’s songs says “Learning to love yourself is the greatest love of all.” True enough. In order to love others, you must love yourself too. Remember, you cannot give what you do not have.

Before telling other people some ways on how to improve themselves, let them see that you yourself is a representation and a product of self improvement. Self improvement makes us better people, we then inspire other people, and then the rest of the world will follow.

Stop thinking of yourselves as second-rate beings. Forget the repetitive thought of “If only I was richer… if only I was thinner” and so on.  Accepting your true self is the first step to self improvement. We need to stop comparing ourselves to others only to find out at the end that we’ve got  10 more reasons to envy them.

We all have our insecurities. Nobody is perfect. We always wish we had better things, better features, better body parts, etc. But life need not to be perfect for people to be happy about themselves.Self improvement and loving yourself is not a matter of shouting to the whole world that you are perfect and you are the best. It’s the virtue of acceptance and contentment. When we begin to improve ourselves, we then begin to feel contented and happy.

To Your Success and Wealth...

Leon Edward

http://www.AwesomeSuccessIT.net

P.S. 

Immediate Access to dozens of Streaming Audio & Video Courses on Success, Wealth, Motivation, Personal Development, Goals, Leadership, Comunication, Intenet & Network Marketing,from the greatest speakers, authors and educators of all time. Free 14 Day Trial - Click Here...

Posted by Leon Edward at 06:01 PM | Permalink

When we look at a certain object, a painting for example – we won’t be able to appreciate what’s in it, what is painted and what else goes with it  if the painting is just an inch away from our face. But if we try to take it a little further, we’ll have a clearer vision of the whole art work.

We reach a point in our life when we are ready for change and a whole bunch of information that will help us unlock our self improvement power. Until then, something can be staring us right under our nose but we don’t see it.  The only time we think of unlocking our self improvement power is when everything got worst. Take the frog principle for example –

Try placing Frog A in a pot of boiling water. What happens? He twerps! He jumps off! Why? Because he is not able to tolerate sudden change in his environment – the water’s temperature. Then try Frog B: place him in a luke warm water, then turn the gas stove on. Wait til the water reaches a certain boiling point. Frog B then thinks “Ooh… it’s a bit warm in here”.

People are like Frog B in general. Today, Anna thinks Carl hates her. Tomorrow, Patrick walks up to her and told her he hates her. Anna stays the same and doesn’t mind her what her friends says. The next day, she learned that Kim and John also abhors her. Anna doesn’t realize at once the importance and the need for self improvement until the entire community hates her.

We learn our lessons when we experience pain. We finally see the warning signs and signals when things get rough and tough. When do we realize that we need to change diets? When none of our jeans and shirts would fit us. When do we stop eating candies and chocolates? When all of our teeth has fallen off. When do we realize that we need to stop smoking? When our lungs have gone bad. When do we pray and ask for help? When we realize that we’re gonna die tomorrow.

The only time most of us ever learn about unlocking our self improvement power is when the whole world is crashing and falling apart. We think and feel this way because it is not easy to change. But change becomes more painful when we ignore it.

Change will happen, like it or hate it. At one point or another, we are all going to experience different turning points in our life – and we are all going to eventually unlock our self improvement power not because the world says so, not because our friends are nagging us, but because we realized its for our own good.

Happy people don’t just accept change, they embrace it. Now, you don’t have to feel a tremendous heat before realizing the need for self improvement.  Unlocking your self improvement power means unlocking yourself up in the cage of thought that “its just the way I am”. It is such a poor excuse for people who fear and resist change. Most of us program our minds like computers.

Jen repeatedly tells everyone that she doesn’t have the guts to be around groups of people. She heard her mom, her dad, her sister, her teacher tell the same things about her to other people. Over the years, that is what Jen believes. She believes its her story. And what happens? Every time a great crowd would troop over their house, in school, and in the community – she tends to step back, shy away and lock herself up in a room. Jen didn’t only believed in her story, she lived it.

Jen has to realize that she is not what she is in her story. Instead of having her story post around her face for everyone to remember, she has to have the spirit and show people “I am an important person and I should be treated accordingly!”

Self improvement may not be everybody’s favorite word, but if we look at things in a different point of view, we might have greater chances of enjoying the whole process instead of counting the days until we are fully improved. Three sessions in a week at the gym would result to a healthier life, reading books instead of looking at porns will shape up a more profound knowledge, going out with friends and peers will help you take a step back from work and unwind.  And just when you are enjoying the whole process of unlocking your self improvement power, you’ll realize that you’re beginning to take things light and become happy.

To Your Success and Wealth...

Leon Edward

http://www.AwesomeSuccessIT.net

P.S. 

Immediate Access to dozens of Streaming Audio & Video Courses on Success, Wealth, Motivation, Personal Development, Goals, Leadership, Comunication, Intenet & Network Marketing,from the greatest speakers, authors and educators of all time. Free 14 Day Trial - Click Here...

Posted by Leon Edward at 05:35 PM | Permalink

I seem to lost count on how many times I've read and heard of celebrity marriages failing almost left and right. Not that I care (and personally I don't), it seems strange that we often see movie and TV stars as flawless people, living the fairytale life of riches and glamour. I suppose we all have to stop sticking our heads in the clouds and face reality.

There are many ways to lose your sense of self-esteem despite of how trivial it could get. But whatever happens, we should all try not to lose our own sense of self.

So what does it take to be a cut above the rest? Here are some of the things you can think and improve on that should be enough for a week.

1. Know your purpose
Are you wandering through life with little direction - hoping that you'll find happiness, health and prosperity? Identify your life purpose or mission statement and you will have your own unique compass that will lead you to your truth north every time.

This may seem tricky at first when you see yourself to be in a tight or even dead end. But there's always that little loophole to turn things around and you can make a big difference to yourself.

2. Know your values
What do you value most? Make a list of your top 5 values. Some examples are security, freedom, family, spiritual development, learning. As you set your goals for 2005 - check your goals against your values. If the goal doesn't align with any of your top five values - you may want to reconsider it or revise it.

The number shouldn't discourage you, instead it should motivate you to do more than you can ever dreamed of.

3. Know your needs
Unmet needs can keep you from living authentically. Take care of yourself. Do you have a need to be acknowledged, to be right, to be in control, to be loved? There are so many people who lived their lives without realizing their dreams and most of them end up being stressed or even depressed for that matter. List your top four needs and get them met before it's too late!

4. Know your passions
You know who you are and what you truly enjoy in life. Obstacles like doubt and lack of enthusiasm will only hinder you, but will not derail your chance to become the person you ought to be. Express yourself and honor the people who has inspired you to become the very person you wanted to be.

5. Live from the inside out
Increase your awareness of your inner wisdom by regularly reflecting in silence. Commune with nature. Breathe deeply to quiet your distracted mind. For most of us city slickers it's hard to even find the peace and quiet we want even in our own home. In my case I often just sit in a dimly lit room and play some classical music. There's sound, yes, but music does soothe the savage beast.

6. Honor your strengths
What are your positive traits? What special talents do you have? List three - if you get stuck, ask those closest to you to help identify these. Are you imaginative, witty, good with your hands? Find ways to express your authentic self through your strengths. You can increase your self-confidence when you can share what you know to others.

7. Serve others
When you live authentically, you may find that you develop an interconnected sense of being. When you are true to who you are, living your purpose and giving of your talents to the world around you, you give back in service what you came to share with others -your spirit - your essence. The rewards for sharing your gift with those close to you is indeed rewarding, much more if it were to be the eyes of a stranger who can appreciate what you have done to them.

Self-improvement is indeed one type of work that is worth it. It shouldn't always be within the confines of an office building, or maybe in the four corners of your own room. The difference lies within ourselves and how much we want to change for the better.

To Your Success and Wealth...

Leon Edward

http://www.Leaders-Success-Wealth.com

P.S. 

Immediate Access to dozens of Streaming Audio & Video Courses on Success, Wealth, Motivation, Personal Development, Goals, Leadership, Comunication, Intenet & Network Marketing,from the greatest speakers, authors and educators of all time. Free 14 Day Trial - Click Here...

Posted by Leon Edward at 04:58 PM | Permalink