Successful Blog

5 Ways to Get to Success

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It’s the week after the official book launch for Anything You Put Your Mind To. For more than a year, Liz and I were working toward September 21, 2016. Toward the day we would get to share Alice, Larry and the dog with the world.

And . . . now we are here — with the published book in hand.

Since then, I’ve been reflecting on success. In particular, I’ve been thinking about the things I’ve been learning and working toward over the last year. Below are 5 of the ways I’ve been using to get to success — not only for the book launch and GeniusShared — but in all areas of my life. Perhaps some of these ways will be helpful for you too.

1. Be Patient

No matter what you are trying to do in life or where you are trying to go — be patient. Getting to success takes patience. Not only with yourself — but with others too. Each of us express our thoughts differently. And we all come from different perspectives. Sometimes our definitions of success are different. From getting our laundry done to completing that big project at work — each of us have different ways of doing things. Be patient with yourself when you are trying to learn new ways, skills or strategies. Be patient with others when they are trying to understand you. And be patient with how you approach next steps and the execution of new ideas.

Understand that patience is an essential ingredient of success.

2. Learn and Keep Learning

Remember when you were a kid and you thought your parents knew everything. And then when you found out they didn’t. Guess what? There’s no one person that knows it all. Every single person has the opportunity to learn new things. It takes curiosity, an open mind and a desire to be better at something. Be open. And do everything you can to keep learning. Expose yourself to new ideas, to new people and to different opportunities.

Learning opens your horizons in a way that allows you to sail toward success more easily.

3. Change the Stories You Tell Yourself — Change Your Life

If you’ve read Anything Your Put Your Mind To — well then you’ll understand why this one matters so much. How many times do we tell ourselves we can’t do something? That we’re not good enough? Or that something is just not meant to be? Getting to success requires you to break out of your old ways of thinking, to take calculated risks and to execute on things that sometimes make you feel uncomfortable. This is okay.

Eliminate the stories that hold you back and you will find success in ways you previously thought impossible.

4. Surround Yourself With the Right People

I’ve written about this before — but it just can’t be said enough. Your success in life, at work and in everything you do is very dependant upon the people you have around you. Let go of the people who don’t believe in you, those who are constantly negative or who have values that are in conflict with yours. When you surround yourself with the right people they will become invested in seeing you succeed. And they will help you get to the places you seek. It takes trust, hard conversations and commitment — but it’s always worth it.

The right people won’t let you fail. They will help you on your journey toward success — however you have defined that success.

5. Know It’s a Marathon — Not a Sprint

Midway through the book launch a wise friend said to me — “Remember this is a marathon, not a sprint.” And how right they were. Now that we’ve launched the book, I know the quest is not over — it’s just farther along. We have met a major goal but — there’s still more to do. More to create. More to understand. And that’s as it should be. It’s important to remember that success takes pacing. And — over time — the way you define success will likely evolve. As will your projects, plans and the people you meet along the way.

Commit to the long haul — the marathon. Spend your time and energy wisely as you seek your definition of success.

Remember . . .

There are many ways we each get to success. Find the ways that work best for you and actively practice them on a daily basis — in all areas of your life.

Put Your Mind To It

Spend some time thinking about just one of the ways listed in this article about getting to success. Choose just one thing to work on over the next week that will move you toward the success you seek in life.

Further Reading on Successful-Blog About Success

Define Success, Then You Can Find It

Why Successful People In Business Lean On Their Friends

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Finding Leadership within Your Business

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Business people in board room meetingAre you truly confident that you have some leaders from within your business?

While some company owners are quick to answer yes to such a question, others no doubt have to stop and think about it.

If you feel like you are having trouble finding leaders inside your company, do you plan to do anything about that moving forward?

If not, this does not mean your business is doomed for failure anytime soon.

What it does mean, however, is that you may want to take a little time to see if you not only do have some leadership talent within your ranks, but also how best to utilize that talent to motivate others inside your business.

Using Outside Examples to Inspire

Even though there are different ways with which to go about finding and bringing out the leaders in your company, it sometimes just comes down to simple things.

For example, you may have some budding leaders within your ranks, but for one reason or another, they are timid about putting those skills to use. If that’s the case, how do you (and should you) bring out those skills?

Always keep in mind that you should never force an employee into doing something they’re not comfortable with or becoming someone they truly are not meant to be. That said it is perfectly fine (sometimes quite necessary) to ask them to take on more authoritative roles if need be.

If you feel like you aren’t quite sure how to go about getting the most out of them, sometimes you might want to think about turning to others to provide sound examples.

For instance, having your employees view and listen to some individuals that have been proven to demonstrate leadership skills is a good start.

Public speakers such as Ron Fournier can provide their years of experience in the political world, transferring that knowledge over into the business community, all the while providing your team with valuable leadership tips.

When you stop and think about it for a moment, the political and business worlds have more in common than you may think.

For one, political leaders have to do all they can to amass support from their constituents, many of whom are either business leaders or employees of the former. While finding the true leaders from within your organization is not simply deciding by a vote which individual is the most popular and/or poised to do the job, it does mean identifying those employees willing to take on a more important role.

If you are trying to find leadership from within your ranks, remember to look at:

  • Motivation – First and foremost, which employees within your company seem most motivated to be leaders? This is not always something which is easy to tell, so it will likely take some doing on your part to identify such individuals. Search for those workers who come to their jobs each and every day looking to better than the day prior;
  • Helping co-workers – You know how some employees all but despise the idea of helping co-workers. To them, they have enough on their daily plates, so why ask them to assist others? As it turns out, those workers who are true team players within the office could be tomorrow’s leaders. Such individuals don’t think twice about lifting a finger to help their co-workers. In turn, those are the kinds of employees who will typically also go that extra mile for your customers;
  • Asks questions – Finally, which of your employees is always trying to learn more? While some workers may seem a little over the top when it comes to asking questions, you want those employees who are willing to roll their sleeves up and essentially get dirty. Such workers usually are interested in all facets of how the company works, with an eye on staying and growing with the business. These are typically the people who will stick around with you for a longer period of time than those who just come in and do their jobs, showing little or no effort to learn more about how things work (that is not true in all cases, so never punish or look down on those who are quiet and yet do a great job).

If finding leadership from within your business has been a challenge at times, consider taking a look outside to see how others can assist in motivating your team.

About the Author: Dave Thomas covers business and leadership topics on the web.

How Are You Leading Your Employees?

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Senior Business Man Working On Office Table With Smiling Face HaWhat do you look at as being your assets leading a company?

Some business owners are natural-born leaders, having those impeccable qualities that it takes to oversee others.

Meantime, some business owners acquire those traits over years of working for others, seeing what works and what does not work in running a company.

No matter how you came about being a leader, passing those abilities on to others over the years is one of the best contributions you can make as a business owner.

With that being the case, how are you leading your employees?

How to Be a Great Leader

In your efforts to be the best leader you can be in running a business, remember these tips to help others along the way:

  • Be an example – First and foremost, leading by example is crucial if you want to have a strong business model. When your employees see how it is done, they’re more likely to give you their best. On the flip side, being a yeller and a screamer does you or your employees absolutely no good. Yes, there are times when you will become frustrated in the workplace, but cooler heads should always prevail. If you have a problem with one or more employees, settle those issues professionally and in a private;
  • Be calm – As mentioned a moment ago, being calm under fire is a great characteristic to have as a business leader. When times get tough (and you know they certainly do), work to find solutions. Part of those solutions may come from your days ascending to a leadership role. Whether you took college courses in business management and leadership areas or got first-hand experience in jobs over the years, the ability to design how you want to lead is critical;
  • Be confident – There will be times when your business undergoes some transformations and/or some rough spots. Employees will look to you as the calming force to get them and your brand through it all. Showing a side of confidence (not cockiness or arrogance) is crucial during those times. As you guide your business through some difficult stretches or even unchartered waters, many of your employees will see you as a business owner they will want to be tied to for years to come. In doing so, you accrue loyalty from many of those under you, assuring you that you have a formidable team to go to battle with each and every day;
  • Be open – Do you currently have an open-door policy for employees wanting to vent when necessary? If not, you should consider doing just that. While it is not the job of your employees to complain about this and that in the workplace, they will on occasion want to discuss matters with you, matters that could be impacting their ability to fully get the job done. It could be an issue with a customer or customers, perhaps a matter with another co-worker, or how the overall business model is or is not working. When employees feel relaxed and confident in talking with you, it is a win-win for them and of course for you;
  • Be a future thinker – Finally, while your business is living in the present times, you have to think about where you want your brand to be five years down the road, three years down the road, even a year from now. Having an eye on where things are trending in your industry and how those trends will impact your brand are both important. That thinking towards the future is also important for your employees. If they see you talking gloom and doom about your business and/or your industry, do you really expect lots of them want to stick around? When you talk about growing your business, seizing the opportunities that are out there, you paint a much more positive vision for all.

Being a leader can certainly be stressful at times, but would you want it any other way?

There are many people who end up fearing leadership; many others take the bull by the horns and run with it.

When all is said and done, which one are you?

Photo credit: BigStockPhoto.com

About the Author: Dave Thomas covers business topics on the web.

Is a Leader Emerging Within Your Company?

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Old New Life Future Past Goals Success Decision ChangeHow do you know if you have a budding leader or leaders within your company ranks?

In some cases, that individual or individuals will emerge from the ranks right before your eyes in no time at all. In other instances, the employee will take time (perhaps even years) to fully blossom.

No matter how leaders emerge under your guise, it is important that you give as many employees as possible the opportunity to work their way up the company ladder.

In doing so, you enable them to chart their courses for not only leadership opportunities within your company, but perhaps elsewhere.

So, as 2016 nears the halfway point, is a leader emerging within your company?

Why Leaders Are Important to Your Brand

Some employers may look at their rosters and feel like there is no one willing to step up to the plate and become the next leader within the ranks.

Others, meantime, see the talent they have onboard and note that any number of candidates could easily be a department manager in no time.

So, how do you encourage your staff to take their work games to the next level?

Among the ways to go about this:

  1. Encouragement – It is so easy at times to point out the wrong things that your employees do. Instead of taking a pessimistic view of things in the workplace, always do your best to be positive. Sure, constructive criticism is always necessary and should always be part of your company’s blueprint. That said don’t allow the criticism to take on negative tones. When you encourage your employees to strive for excellence, you will typically get more effort out of them than if you always pinpoint the bad stuff;
  2. Incentives – When employees are incentivized to strive for things in the workplace, they typically will provide you with even better efforts on a daily basis. Even though it is fine to offer a little friendly competition amongst employees, don’t turn it into a knockdown brawl. Encourage teamwork (see more below) and putting heads together to solve problems, especially as they relate to customers and their needs. One of the incentives you can offer is taking a customer problem, then bringing all company heads (in that related department) together to fix it. For example, if you have a customer feeling like the accounting team is not working with them on a payment issue, sit down as a team and figure out the best response. It could be someone lower down on the accounting totem pole that actually comes up with the best means to solve the problem. Make sure he or she is rewarded in doing just that. All voices in a select department should be heard, not just the individual who is wearing the title of manager or supervisor ;
  3. Speakers – Remember when you were in school and you would have guest speakers come in to speak to your class on a wide variety of topics? Business owners are best-served when they do the same. Whether it is someone like Michelle Stacy, a woman who has been focused on putting together first-rate cultures in companies, or Dana Perino, a woman who knows all about the importance of communication having served as a White House press secretary, make sure you tap some of the best minds out there. Bringing this kind of talent to speak to your employees can not only benefit them, but also allow them to hear from outsiders as to why their roles with your company are in fact so important;
  4. Unity – Finally, how much of an effort do you put into encouraging unity and teamwork in your business? If you’ve been a little lax in this department as of late, alter that thinking as you move forward. Your team is just that, a team. Yes, some individuals will shine more than others (there is nothing wrong with that). That said always do your best to stress unity in the office. This is not only true while everyone is working, but it can carry over outside the workplace too. From get-togethers after work to even an occasional weekend retreat, treating your employees as one big family can go a long way in making your brand the best it can be.

Photo credit: BigStockPhoto.com

About the Author: Dave Thomas covers business topics on the web.

 

 

As Healthcare Evolves, Professionals and Patients Must Too

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Young Intelligent Female Doctor Talking To Elderly PatientHave you stopped to look at the ever-changing world of healthcare in recent years?

If not, you’ve missed a number of happenings, some of which may very well have impacted you whether you acknowledged them or not.

While many people have heralded Obamacare as being the answer to their healthcare nightmares, others sport a different opinion.

No matter which side of the coin you fall on, it is important to do your best to stay abreast of the changes taking place.

For those who do not stay in touch, it can prove to be a financial and healthcare nightmare for that matter.

Changes in the Making

Given there is an evolving role of transitional leadership in healthcare, both professionals and patients must adapt.

For example, nurses are being asked in many instances to do more than ever before.

From working longer hours to being in on what maybe once were not considered traditional nursing roles, the women and men working in the nursing field have to adapt. Without adapting to the on-going changes in the healthcare field, they can easily get left behind.

As mentioned earlier, the implementation several years ago of Obamacare has changed the landscape not only for thousands and thousands of patients, but also many in the medical profession, notably doctors.

With more and more doctors not wanting to deal with the insurance fallout from Obamacare, the answer for some has been to leave their practices and work elsewhere in the medical field.

Less doctors in practices and for that matter hospitals means nurses are being asked to step up and take on more defined roles.

Demand for Nurses Continues Nationwide

Peruse the newspaper or online want ads on any given week and you will almost always see advertisements for nursing help.

While there are a number of reasons for the demand in nurses, two of them are the critical care that more and more of them are being asked to deliver, along with the fact that Americans are living longer. As the population ages, more of them end up at medical practices and in hospitals for healthcare.

Given that nurses oftentimes serve as a bridge between patient and doctor, it is critical that they have a good relationship with both.

Stop for a moment and think about the last time you were in a medical practice or hospital. What amount of time was spent with the doctor versus the amount of time you had conversations and/or assistance from a nurse? Safe to say, you probably had more time and interaction with your nurse or nurses.

While doctors still take the lead role at both their practices and when caring for patients in a hospital setting, nurses will continue to evolve into more of a leadership role now and in the years to come. This will especially be true if there continues to be shrinkage in the number of doctors practicing nationwide.

For those already in nursing or thinking about such a career, it is important to remember these factors:

  • Job opportunities – There are no apparent signs of a lessening of demand for nurses across the country. If you have the dedication and skills for this field, there should almost always be job opportunities available;
  • Increased leadership roles – As more patients come to both medical clinics and hospitals seeking care, nurses will continue to be an important piece of the healthcare puzzle. Along with the necessary medical skills, good communication skills are essential. Given the demands on doctors and/or their absence at times when patients call or stop by a medical facility, nurses must be able to deal with a variety of medical situations. Having the skills and patience to deal with myriad of personalities is nothing short of critical;
  • Continued education – Being open to continuing one’s nursing education (both online and in-person) is all but a necessity. As medicine continues to evolve, nurses will be asked to do the same. By learning more on-the-job skills, along with additional information in the classroom, nurses will be even better positioned to increase their roles and salaries.

As more changes undoubtedly come in the healthcare industry, those nurses willing to embrace and grow with the changes will more than likely prove successful.

Photo credit: BigStockPhoto.com

About the Author: Dave Thomas covers business and medical topics on the web.

Do You Elicit Great Followers in the Business World?

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Young business man standing in front of his co-workers talkingWhen it comes to gaining followers, quality trumps quantity especially in the business world.

Thanks to social media, it’s easy to become fixated on the numbers whether that’s how many employees you have working for you or how many people attend an event you host.

But attracting great followers, the right followers, can pay dividends.

They include:

  1. Right followers make it happen.

If you’re a business owner, your followers are the people on the ground making your vision happen and helping you to realize your goals. Great followers are more than just foot soldiers or cogs in the wheel of your business machine.

Any qualified worker can complete the task they are assigned but loyal followers will fight the battles that go on behind closed doors. When you leave a meeting or log-off of a conference call, you want to know that the people you’ve hired will quash any toxic dissension.

  1. They’ll challenge you to be better.

Quality followers will feel empowered to hold leaders accountable. That sounds dramatic and maybe counterintuitive to the idea that bosses are superiors, but it’s a positive sign of leadership.

Great followers respect your expertise and therefore hold you to a high standard. If they see you or your business slipping down the slope of complacency, they’ll challenge you to be better.

If for example, say you’re a thought leader in your industry with a considerable Twitter following. If you’ve attracted quality fans that care about your brand and reputation, they’re going to tweet at you with constructive criticism and not just blind praise.

  1. They can help you get out ahead of conflict.

As the article “All Engineering Leaders Need Great Followers” points out, followers can teach leaders as much as leaders can teach followers. One of the primary roles of a follower is a responsibility to listen, take stock of situations, and learn from that input.

In a business environment, great employees will communicate to you problems as they happen rather than letting conflict fester.

They’re professional adults that know there’s a difference between “being a snitch” and proactive problem solving.

  1. Passion is the best PR.

As Forbes explains, there’s a difference between a follower and a subordinate.

A passionate follower may not have authority in the form of a fancy title, but they hold a great deal of actual power.

When you are an innovative leader in the business world, you likely won’t need to take out a billboard announcing your talent because your passionate employees or men-tees will be spreading the positive word for you.

  1. Today’s followers may be tomorrow’s leaders.

This isn’t hyperbole.

Industries like technology and media are in a constant state of change thanks to new mechanical innovations and strategic disruption.

Your intern today could be your peer at another company in a year. Taking the long view, that assistant could be your boss at some point. You want to have great followers because your future employment could depend on it.

Great followers can help you save money with positive PR, challenge you to be better, and help prevent future conflict or unemployment.

For these reasons it’s just as important that leaders consider the quality, not quantity of their followers.

Photo credit: BigStockPhoto.com

About the Author: Kristin Livingstone writes on a variety of topics including leadership and business.