11. CREATE A BUDDY SYSTEM
Find a buddy who you can share goals with and keep each other accountable to help you both produce your career and goals. You will each serve to motivate the other, offering words of encouragement and helpful reminders as you both progress towards your particular goals.
12. FIND A ROLE MODEL
Choose a role model to learn from. You won't have to reinvent the wheel when you can follow an exemplary trait of someone you respect.
13. TAKE A WALK OR DRIVE, EXERCISE
Take a walk around the block or a short drive through the neighborhood to relax, reflect, and enjoy some quiet time. We all need a break now and then, and a quick walk or drive is the perfect solution. Release tension by working out, and releasing endorphins.
14. READ SUCCESS STORIES
Read the success stories of those around you. In the daily newspaper alone there are dozens of small success stories that can serve to motivate and inspire you to action. The library is filled with autobiographies and biographies of ordinary men and women who have done extraordinary things.
15. LISTEN TO MUSIC
Music can calm, excite, sadden, and even motivate. Think about the theme song from Rocky and what it conjures in your mind.
16. READ MOTIVATIONAL QUOTATIONS
Located on the Internet and in books are thousands of quotations that inspire, motivate, and cause us all to think about our lives in a different way. Search the Internet for quotations and you will find millions of pages that match just what you are looking for. Select quotations to put on your vision board.
17. NEVER STOP LEARNING
This is the most important lesson of all. Never stop learning about the world around you. Read, listen, and learn about the things that interest you. Instead of asking a question and being satisfied with an “I don't know” answer, go out there and find the answer. Be curious, and always ask WHY!
18. USE GOALS IN YOUR LIFE
This is the most important tip about goals - use them! Without goals you will have a difficult time improving any area of your life. Leaving your future up to chance isn't a good way to get what you want. Make use of goals throughout your life and enjoy the success and happiness they bring.
19. BRAINSTORM
Get out a clean sheet of paper and a pen. Sit in a quiet, well-lit area, and think, think, think. Write down any ideas that pop into your head - career goals, financial goals, personal goals, relationship goals, health goals, etc. Write down every idea, and when you're finished you'll have more than enough goals to work with.
20. WRITE YOUR GOAL DOWN ON PAPER
Once you select a goal to work towards, write it out on paper. This makes it more tangible and concrete. A goal that is left to float around in your head may be forgotten before you have had a chance work on it.
21. MAKE YOUR GOAL SPECIFIC
Goals must be specific in order to be effective. Creating a new portfolio is an important and worthwhile goal, but it may be too broad. Instead, your plan could include a new self assignment every two weeks, with a specific style and direction. This plan has a greater chance of success.
22. USE ACCOMPLISH BY DATES
Procrastination is deadly to your goals and objectives. A great way to leapfrog that problem is to give your goal a deadline. As with the goal itself, make your deadline specific. And rather than using the term “deadline” think of it as an “accomplish by” date.
23. USE A START DATE
Accomplish by dates and deadlines are very important to goal setting, but we can't forget about their counterpart - start dates. Once a goal is created you may have many reasons for putting it off. Give your goal a start date and stick to it.
24. MAKE YOUR GOALS CHALLENGING
In order for goals to be effective, they must be challenging. If your goal is too easy to achieve, your motivation and dedication will decrease. Your goals should make you reach and extend your current abilities and skills.
25. MAKE YOUR GOALS ACHIEVABLE
Setting a goal that is out of your reach completely will cause frustration, anger, and self-doubt. Be sure to set goals that challenge you, but are also reasonable.
26. MAKE A DETAILED PLAN OF ACTION
Create a detailed step-by-step plan of action for each part of your goal. One of the main reasons many goals are not accomplished is the lack of understanding of what needs to be done. Plan your work and work your plan.
27. DON'T OVERDO IT
Don't set too many goals at once. One to three is a good amount to start with. Spreading yourself too thin will create a situation where no single goal will receive the attention it requires.
28. MEASURE YOUR PROGRESS
Measure your progress as you work on your goal. You may wish to write a 200 page novel. Don't set 200 pages as the only goal. Break it up into 25 - 50 page increments and keep a daily tally of the pages you complete. Measuring your progress keeps your motivation peaking during your goal's life-cycle.
29. WISH LIST
Make a list of ten things that you must do in life. Starting a business, running a marathon, visiting Europe, learning French, etc. Put the list in a drawer in your office or home, revisit it from time to time.
30. QUICK REMINDERS
Post-it notes are a great tool to help you remember your daily tasks and goals. Just don't overdo it. You don't want so many notes taped to your computer screen that you can't read what's on it.
31. REWARD YOURSELF
Set a reward for yourself. If you accomplish a small step or your entire goal, celebrate. You've worked hard and you deserve it. Go out to dinner with your family, take a short vacation, or do anything else that makes you happy.
32. WIFM?
Why are you setting this goal? Write down 'What's In It For Me' for each one of your goals. You must be able to state clearly the reasons why you are setting this goal. If you cannot, delete the goal from your list and move to the next one.
33. USE THE RIGHT WORDS
Use statements like, 'I have a positive attitude,' or 'We'll find a solution,' in daily conversation. The words you use on a daily basis have a major impact on your attitude and moods.
34. STRIVE FOR OPTIMISM
I have spoken with many people who see being a pessimist or an optimist as a 50/50 chance, believing one is just as good as the other. That is a trap! Having a positive attitude is something you should strive for. It isn't something you are or are not, it is something you can become. Science has proven that the brain creates connections based on our thought patterns, that further strengthen the thoughts – positive begets positive, negative begets negative.
35. WHAT COMPANY DO YOU KEEP?
Do your friends have negative attitudes? Does it rub off on you? Many times the company we keep can affect our attitudes. If your group at work or at home negatively affects your attitude, take the necessary steps to change the situation.
36. WHEN YOU KNOW YOU NEED A CHANGE
When you know you aren't happy, admit it to yourself and take action to reverse it. This is a very difficult thing to do, especially when you aren't in the mood to admit things to yourself. It may be hard, but it is worth it. When you are being negative, realize it and change it.
37. GIVE YOURSELF A BREAK
Give yourself a quick time out now and then when you are becoming stressed or upset. Often a short break can help you to put things in perspective and return to the situation with a positive demeanor.
38. REACT VS. RESPOND
These two words are the difference between a happy, enthusiastic, positive person and a sad, frustrated, negative person. When anything happens in life that affects you, both directly and indirectly, respond to the situation. This means you think about it, use reason to find a solution, and take the appropriate measures. When you react, you skip the reasoning stage and do what comes naturally in the moment. This only serves to cause more problems and frustration. Respond, do not react.
39. YOU DON'T ALWAYS HAVE TO BE HAPPY
Being in a down mood is okay, sometimes. You don't always have to be upbeat, excited, and outgoing. This could lead to burnout or a blow-up. There are days when things aren't going right, or we just feel a little out of it. These days are okay, and the problems will pass.
40. START IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION
Wake up with a smile and with energy. You have a lot to accomplish and enjoy today. Life is short, and you are going to make the most of this day, and every day after that.
[For #s 1-10 send an email to info@fotoprojx.com]
