The Formula Successful People Follow Every Day

Many successful people follow a similar formula every day. They share similar ideas and routines that play an intrinsic part in their success. Does this happen by coincidence?

Of course not!

“I can give you a six-word formula for success: Think things through – then follow through.” – Eddie Rickenbacker

This success formula, you might call it their everyday routine and beliefs sets the foundation for their success. So here are the eight routines and beliefs, the success formula that high-achieving entrepreneurs use every day.

Formula 1.  A Morning Routine

The schedules of various high achievers were extensively studied by author Laura Vanderkam. They all had one thing in common. They got up early, and to a person, they also had a fixed morning routine.

Richard Branson, the CEO of the Virgin group, advocates embracing the morning. And he is right to do so as getting up early has lots of benefits.

When you start early, you get the chance to be present and available before other demands are placed on you. As you feel more in control of your life, your mood tends to improve. Pretty cool!

“You can do anything if you set your mind to it. We get taught all sorts of things in school, but I believe the most important formula we can learn is courage plus goals equals success.” – David Brett-Williams

Getting up early and completing your morning routine also helps you to feel more in control. That boost of confidence makes you ready to handle the challenges that the day throws at you.

How To Adjust Your Schedule:

Consider swapping some of the tasks you would typically do in the evening to the morning instead. A great one to start with is to try exercising before you go to work to help you feel revitalised and energised at the start of your working day.

Formula 2.  The Important Work Gets Done First

If you are like most people you ease your way into your work day. Most people start their day with little tasks, like trivial admin or emailing.

The problem with that is that our brains are sharpest earlier in the day. So this is the best time to tackle the more creative work that challenges you.

“In living life at 90 percent, the formula is life is 10 percent of what happens to you and 90 percent of how you react to it.” – Diamond Dallas Page

If you don’t get the opportunity to work on your chosen tasks first thing, take matters into your own hands; do the work from home, or come into work early.

How To Adjust Your Schedule:

Set your schedule for the next day while you are still at work, plan your most important tasks for first thing in the morning, and then respond to your emails before lunch to guarantee a productive day.

Formula 3.  When Things Go Wrong Stay In Control

When things don’t go exactly to plan, many of us start to feel stressed and anxious. But let’s face reality, these things can happen on a daily basis. Successful people realise they cannot control everything and anticipate mistakes.

Dealing with problems is a big part of being a successful entrepreneur. Plan for mistakes, and you will deal with them rationally and efficiently as they arise.

How To Adjust Your Schedule: Factor In time every day to help you deal with any problems that arise. Half an hour at the end of your working day is ideal, as it means you can focus on the tasks you want to complete during the day.

Formula 4.  Work Even When You Don’t Have To

There are times when the vast majority of people are not working. They aren’t even thinking about working.

Realistically, the first thing in the morning, evenings and the weekends are all times that most people are doing their level best to avoid working. I hear you loud and clear, but you could be wasting your productivity.

“You should never lose the formula that worked for you from the beginning, no matter how big you get.” – Ozuna

We have all woken up from a deep slumber when that lightning bolt of inspiration strikes us. Successful entrepreneurs harness that lightning strike of inspiration and get to work right away.

They know that whenever inspiration strikes they will be more productive at that moment than later. Strike while the iron is hot and even if you’re not in work, get working,

How To Adjust Your Schedule:

Schedule one to two hours of work that you will do during your free time. It can be replying to emails to making important calls, anything that will help you to get ahead and stay ahead.

Formula 5.  Understand The Benefits Of Teamwork

While the thought of doing it on our own is appealing, you might have to develop a team to help you achieve your goals.

If you consider the most successful companies in the world, they were started with teamwork. Consider that Larry Page and Sergey Brin founded Google, Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak founded Apple, and a team of five started Paypal.

Only in infrequent occasions is being successful about being completely independent. Successful people can work with others, able to compromise and accept other ideas.

How To Adjust Your Schedule:

If you work in a team alongside others, schedule an email chain with your co-workers. Make a note to email your co-workers at lunchtime if you do work on a project for feedback.

This will help your team to feel involved, encouraging them to share their opinions and get involved.

Formula 6. Keep Your Full Schedule In One Place

“It’s crucial to make sure you record all your meetings and appointments in one place instead of having them scattered throughout different calendars, notebooks, and apps,” says Alexandra Weiss, a partner at CA Creative in New York.

“Formula for success: rise early, work hard, strike oil. – J. Paul Getty

When you gather everything together on one device, it won’t seem quite so daunting or intimidating. To often do we fall into the trap of planning parts of our schedule on your phone, and your notepad, and your laptop, and your work computer.

When it is clearer, it is easier to understand. And you won’t have to stress about how to fit everything in when you have the luxury of seeing your full schedule and being able to arrange it as you please.

How To Adjust Your Schedule:

You need to select one device. Choose the one you use the most are most comfortable with. It can be a notebook or your smartphone. Keep it on you the entire day while you are at work so that you can adjust your plans accordingly throughout the day.

Formula 7.  Take Your Work Seriously

Successful entrepreneurs believe genuinely and passionately in their work and see immense value in what they do. You have to believe in your work, or you will find it difficult to work productively and become successful.

“I know of no single formula for success. But over the years I have observed that some attributes of leadership are universal and are often about finding ways of encouraging people to combine their efforts, their talents, their insights, their enthusiasm and their inspiration to work together.” – Queen Elizabeth II

When you believe in your work, you don’t need the reassurance of others. And this is important if you are to stay motivated and not to get sidetracked by the naysayers and those who don’t share your dream or believe in you.

How To Adjust Your Schedule:

Set aside thirty to sixty minutes to review your goals and dreams, and see how you are progressing towards them at the end of each working week. Most importantly, it will encourage you to believe in your goals truly, and it will also help you to achieve your goals.

Formula 8.  Relax When You Are Done

Worrying about work while you’re not there is emotionally and physically draining. Not only does it run you down, it even make reduces your productivity when you start again.

Try writing down your working goal for tomorrow when you finish work. Tim Ferris suggests this will increase your motivation for the next day.

So when you are done, you can switch off, for now, enjoy your evening and recharge for a productive tomorrow.

How To Adjust Your Schedule:

Write down three goals you want to achieve during your next working day. Write down how you will achieve them too, as this will help you to feel focused so that you can switch off and enjoy your downtime.

Over to you, now it is your turn to take this eight step formula and use it to generate the success that you desire.

Getting Started Is The Key To An Outstanding Life

What does Getting Started mean? It means not putting off what you need to do today to realise your dreams in the future. It means taking action.

One big challenge with making changes in your life is that sometimes getting started is so darn hard. In fact, many people never seem to be able to get started.

“When you have a dream, you can spend a lifetime planning, studying, and getting ready for it. But what you should be doing is getting started.” – David Brett-Williams

Many of us have dreams, but sadly very few of us take action to realise our dreams. Rather than getting started, we fail to plan, or we fail to execute our plan.

You might say to yourself that there is never the right time to do this.

Procrastinating

And sometimes that is true, but most of the time we are just postponing getting started for some reason. We call that procrastinating.

Admittedly, there is often quite a lot of inner resistance when trying to make changes. And that is why developing the skill of getting started is so valuable.

The fundamental step in getting started is understanding what your dreams are. Then from that foundation, you need to form a plan that has good possibilities of realising your dreams.

Realise Your Dreams

Sometimes what sounds easy is hard to accomplish. And if you are like most people and have trouble getting started, here are some tips that will help with the process.
 The intention is that you find them helpful.

“I don’t care what you label me or how many times you come for me. I am fearless, and I’m just getting started.” – Tomi Lahren

And we will start you thinking about what you want to do with your life by asking you three questions:

• 
What are your dreams?
• Better still, what are your daydreams?
• What is it that you start to think about doing when your mind wanders off?

Your answers to these three questions are going to be a good start on what you want out of your life.

Follow Your Heart

Sometimes we get started because our heart is not in it. Imagine that you set a goal, but it isn’t truly your goal, then, I am sure you will agree that it will be hard to even get started let alone achieve that goal.

If you realise that it is not your goal but a goal set by people around you then, when possible, eliminate the goal and set a few goals, you would like to achieve.

We can have goals set for us by parents, teachers, bosses or even society in general.

“However, don’t let perfectionism become an excuse for never getting started.” – Marilu Henner

Alternatively, find your own motivation and reasons for achieving that goal. This could put the goal that the people around you have set in a different light. And suddenly you will feel a whole lot more motivated to get started.

Getting Started Tip #1

Time to start framing your dreams in more concrete terms. 
Specifically, we need to move from our dreams to an actionable plan to realise them.

So instead of imagining what it would be like if you were working on your dreams, focus on the tasks and goals that you believe can get you there.
You don’t have to start them at this point. But think about the steps you will need to take.

The problems and downsides we imagine before getting started often exist only in our heads. They are a bunch of opinions or excuses based on something you heard from someone else at one time or another.

Research

So why not do a bit of research on your own instead. If you don’t like to read books, then do some Googling. Or find who have actually been where you want to go and ask them questions.

When you do that bit of research, you will often reduce your anxieties and inner resistance and anxieties. And you will find more positive benefits to getting started.

“I’ve always been a late bloomer, so I never feel like, Oh, I’m getting older; I guess everything is gonna stop. I’m the opposite: Oh, I’m just getting started.” – Megan Mullally

So, you have done your research and know a lot more about the road towards achieving it, now is the perfect time to create your plan.

When creating your plan, write down when you have to do this. Think of that as your deadline. Setting a deadline can also help to calm you down.

It tends to lessen the fear and fuzzy anxiety that can hold you back from taking action and getting started.

When you have a clearer image of what you can do and how you should go about it, then you make a large chunk of your negative feelings less powerful.

Getting Started Tip #2

Time to stop putting off those little tasks. You know those 
tasks that you keep putting on the back burner with the intention that you will get to them at a later date. But, you never do.

When you start the process of doing the little tasks, you are setting up your mindset to accomplish goals, no matter how small. And that habit comes in handy when you tackle your bigger goals.

“There’s a plaque on our wall that says we’ve sold over 65 million albums, and I don’t feel I’ve accomplished anything. I feel like I’m just getting started.” – Eddie Van Halen

Are sitting around and procrastinating day in and day out? Then you need to stop over-thinking things. Procrastination is your mechanism to deal with stress. Time to shut off your brain.

Get dressed, sit down at the phone, laptop or wherever you need to be and just do it.

Just Do It

When your feelings and thoughts are continually holding you back, then you just need to stop listening to them and take action.

This is easy to say of course. It is harder to do and to develop it into a consistent habit. But it is possible.

Thinking most definitely has its place, but thinking is not taking action.

No matter how much thinking you do, you will still need to take action to achieve your goals.

Developing a just do it mindset will make taking action much easier. And it will stop you from wasting a lot of time going over different negative scenarios over and over in your head.

“I’ve got so many mountains to climb and goals to conquer. I’ve got so many scars I want to leave on the planet. I just feel like I’m not there yet. I feel like I am just getting started.” – Nikki Sixx

The art of getting started becomes more natural if you have a small list of positive benefits. These can be in your head or better yet on a piece of paper. Especially when your thoughts and feelings want to hold you back.

Positive Benefits

This list of benefits provides the reasons why you should get going even if you don’t feel like it. And is essential to counter the self-defeating and negative thoughts and feelings that you might have at that moment.

Can you recall a time in the past when you at first felt hesitant? If you think back to those times, you may remember that those negative feelings can be replaced pretty quickly with more positive ones.

And remember how happy you were that you got started. If it happened before then, chances are that the same thing will happen this time too.

If you just need a boost in motivation to try out something new, for example heading down the gym for the first time, there are a bunch of techniques you can use. Some of my favourites are guided meditation CDs, changing your physiology to change how you feel and listening to inspirational music or watching inspirational videos.

Getting Started Tip #3

Time to find people who share your vision. 
Get them on board. People who are experienced in what you are trying to accomplish can give you a good start and can help guide you along the way.

Find people who will serve as accountability partners. These people share similar goals and dreams as you and the group can keep each other on track.

You help to motivate each other to get going and maintain that habit. You should discuss what goals you want to accomplish as a group. Then, map out the tasks that it will take with milestones.

Milestones

If you can get together when the milestones hit, that would be beneficial. However, if you don’t have the time, you can use instant messaging online.

Make rules for the team so that everyone participates and let go of people who don’t take it seriously. Try to keep the group small, maybe two or three people.

For instance, you may find a buddy (sounds nicer than accountability partner) who also wants to start working out in a gym.

But don’t let the lack of an accountability partner stand in your way. It is easy to let this become an excuse.

You can find that motivation you need from others in other places. Why not join an online group or forum to find the support and help you may need. If it is exercise you want to start, then ParkRun is fantastic.

Alternatively, you can start reading workout blogs to get involved in that community. Or you might even start a blog of your own and chart your journey.

Getting Started Tip #4

Sometimes, you hold back on getting started because you don’t have the right skills. 
Find courses on those skills and begin training.

The web has made self-training much more comfortable, and you can explore this avenue further. Try to create a budget that allows for training.

Getting Started Tip #5

Conversely, don’t overtrain. 
You will never feel truly ready when trying out something that isn’t known.

Therefore, you need to try it even when you feel there is more to learn. People learn much with experience. This can never be replaced by the training you receive.

You don’t have to overcomplicate things. If you do there is a more significant chance that you’ll give up before what you started before you repeat it enough, so it becomes a habit.

Simplicity Is Key

The more simple it is, the greater the likelihood it will get done. If you make it easier on yourself, then you make it easier for you to get started.

“The tragedy of life is not that it ends so soon, but that we wait so long to begin it.” – W. M. Lewis

Thinking of buying an expensive gym membership that is located 15 minutes away from your work to improve your anaerobic capacity? Why not invest in a decent pair of trainers and start walking.

And start walking or jogging while listening to music that you like. Make the whole experience simple and more enjoyable.

Commit to regular training every week. This can be online training, or you can find a physical location that specialises in the areas you want to learn.

It’s better to learn in small chunks of time. But, do it consistently. For instance, you can study 15 minutes per day while having your coffee, and you can take an online class during your lunch break.

Getting Started Tip #6

Find a mentor or coach. When you have someone who has gone through what you are looking to accomplish, they can help you map out a plan.

This plan should help you to realise your dreams, and the mentor can get you back on track when you stray. You should find a qualified mentor and be willing to pay him or her.

Take these six getting started tips and make them your own so you move from getting ready for it into getting started.

How Do I Push Out Of My Comfort Zone?

The first step to push out of your comfort zone is to not act like an elephant.

You would be stunned and a little confused to see that elephants, these huge creatures, are only held by a tiny rope when in captivity. In theory, they are able to break free from this tiny rope at any time.

The trick is, when the elephants are very young and much smaller, they are tied up with the very same rope. At that young age, it is enough to restrain them.

As they grow up and get much larger and stronger, they still believe they cannot break away. The elephants get conditioned to believe that they cannot break free.

They believe the rope can still hold them, so they never try to break free.

But I am a human, not an elephant. What would I learn from that?

Your comfort zone is your enemy!

It is essential that you push your own comfort zone every single day, despite what you may have been taught in the past.

Ever sang and a friend told you to stop, it sounds terrible? Do not stop, keep on singing and focus on improving yourself.

“As you move outside of your comfort zone, what was once the unknown and frightening becomes your new normal.” – Robin S. Sharma

Ever did maths and the teacher told you that you seem to be more of a “language person”? If you have been conditioned to believe that you are not a math genius, keep practising and focus on improving yourself.

The key to continually keep pushing your comfort zone is to realise that failure is part of the process. Stay positive. Don’t get discouraged. At least don’t get discouraged too quickly.

Take Opportunities

Life starts beyond your comfort zone. So, when the opportunity comes to get out of your comfort zone, take it and see the growth beyond your comfort zone.

It’s not so easy to get out of your habitual home and start a new life outside of it. But, if you follow certain things, it will be easy for you.

Suppose, you feel comfortable speaking your native language and try to avoid places where you have to speak English or another foreign language as you are not strong in that language.

So, your weakness is speaking that language. When you recognise your weakness, you can work on that. Nothing is impossible.

Your efforts to eliminate your weakness will help you to start living beyond your comfort zone.

Life’s Irony

One of life’s biggest ironies is that when you try to stay comfortable, life sends you more discomfort.

It’s true when you make every effort to stay within your comfort zone, life will send you more challenges. Life will keep taking shots at you. You will encounter more resistance, struggles, and issues.

“You need to be willing to step outside your comfort zone. To take the risks in life that seem worth taking. The journey will be less predictable and it will be a heck of a lot more interesting.” – David Brett-Williams

And we are so focused on staying comfortable that we miss the opportunities to grow and reach higher. The way we grow is to address our limitations and move beyond them.

If we do not, we continue to struggle.

What Are You Here For?

Realistically, you are not on this planet to sip pornstar martinis on the beach and get a tan each and every day of your adult life.

You are here to grow.

And if you don’t make the conscious choice to get out of your comfort zone, life will provide plenty of opportunities to push you out of your comfort zone.

The way that I see it, you have one of two options.

You consciously commit to constant growth and feeling discomfort, and you take control of your own destiny. Or you hand over the keys to the car, and you let life happen to you by default as you become the passenger in the journey of your life.

Two Paths

The two paths lead to different places. One leads to success. And the other path leads you to struggle and pain.

It’s your choice, so choose wisely.

Did Steve Jobs start Apple feeling comfortable about it?
How many top athletes sleep their way to personal bests and high performance?
Do Oscar-winning actors procrastinate preparing for a role?

NO.

So why give in to wasting time with Netflix marathons? Why are you running to the pub the moment your mate texts you to come out?

To achieve more, you have got to be willing to make the hard decisions. You have got to be willing to feel uncomfortable. To feel pressure, to feel awkward, to face rejection, and to fail.

Necessary For Growth

You have got to face those things because that’s what is necessary for you to grow.

“I wish I knew back then what I know now. I would have lived my life differently.” How many times have you reflected on your life and said that?

If you have, then it is possible that the life you currently have is not the one you should be living. You would be living differently if you developed the awareness that you did not have back then.

“I’m continually trying to make choices that put me against my own comfort zone. As long as you’re uncomfortable, it means you’re growing.” – Ashton Kutcher

Surprise! The sure-fire way to develop awareness and knowledge is to undertake things you have not done before.

For you to develop things you have not yet developed. To visit places you have not yet explored. To undertake things you have not yet tried.

How You Grow

And my friends, that is how you grow!

That is the way you become the person who is worthy of sitting on the beach with their pornstar martini. Life only rewards you with those experiences AFTER you do the work.

Yes, there is a real price for success. And LIFE collects the payments from everyone, life does not offer interest-free credit or accept payment plans.

And you pay upfront with your discomfort.

Life does not let you experience things that you have not yet earned. So you need to get out of your comfort zone.

You must pay upfront and in full with your sacrifice. And that is the only way you will achieve the life you want.

So start making those calls, start approaching that person. Begin practising kindness and compassion, over jealousy and greed.

Start Doing

Confront your anxiety. Hit the gym. Study harder. Wake up earlier, even if you’re not a morning person. Destroy your procrastination.

Start doing the things, that you KNOW, deep within your heart, you should have started doing a long time ago.

Do all of that, so you begin to build the knowledge and the experiences that you need to succeed.

“The further you get away from yourself, the more challenging it is. Not to be in your comfort zone is great fun.” – Benedict Cumberbatch

Here are my suggestions for you.

Now is the time for you to get uncomfortable. It is time to start dreaming again. Time to start going after what was rightfully yours, but you ignored for far too long.

When you push yourself into discomfort, your colleagues will take notice, your friends will take notice, and your family will take notice. Most importantly, LIFE will take notice, and LIFE will respond by beginning to back you up.

Doors Will Open

When life begins to support you, doors will open for you. And you will be introduced to the people who will take you to the next level.

But YOU need to take the first step!

TAKE IT.

Take it and watch your life expand into greatness. Watch as you develop into the person you have always wanted to become.

It is all waiting for you. It is all waiting for you OUTSIDE of your comfort zone.

GO FOR IT.

Neale Donald Walsh quipped, “Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.”

His quote draws our awareness to the point that to move out of the safety of our comfort zone is to experience the richness of life.

Self-Imposed

Your comfort zone is a self-imposed safety net where your anxiety levels are at a minimum, and the status quo is preserved. It is your safe harbour of contentment.

Humans have an inherent drive for safety. It is wired into our DNA to seek food, water and shelter for survival and to stay safe.

“I don’t like to be out of my comfort zone, which is about a half an inch wide.” – Larry David

Once those needs are met listlessness and apathy set in. Our minds become accustomed to certainty.

Staying comfortable suits some people. In fact, it probably suits most people. The phrase, “..nothing ventured, nothing gained” serves as a reminder that being contented does not yield the success we search for.

The Negativity Bias

Our mind is designed with a negativity bias that meets any attempt to move out of our comfort zone with unease.

It is a normal response to experience anxiety when we are feeling uncomfortable. The body responds to this perceived threat with our inbuilt precautionary survival mechanism.

You will label it as fear, or FEAR!

This anxiety impairs our ability to gain new information. Our mind cannot be logical and reason when in a stressed state.

Fight, Flight or Fright

Our nervous system alerts us to impending danger if we move out of our comfort zone. And this impairs our performance. We stop thinking rationally and become driven by the urge to fight or take flight.

When that happens we are less receptive to external cues and react based on internal cues. We get real dumb real fast. We simply miss too much information.

Being comfortable might also be age-related.

A lot of people find that as they mature, they become more set in their ways and less likely to take risks. Beyond a certain age, the lure of perceived rewards may not be as appealing.

The pleasure-pain principle refers to our motivation to seek gratification and to avoid pain. So to venture beyond your comfort zone is greatly influenced by how you relate to pleasure and pain.

Be Curious

When you choose to be curious, you choose to be vulnerable because it requires you to surrender to an element of uncertainty.

Oddly, to be curious wasn’t always a choice because we were born curious. And over a period of time, we learn that curiosity, like vulnerability, can lead to pain and hurt.

As a result, we turn to self-protection. We choose armour over vulnerability, certainty over curiosity, and knowing over learning.

“I think the biggest advice that I could give people is to actually try and live beyond your dreams by pushing yourself, challenging yourself to do things a little bit outside of your comfort zone.” – Peggy Whitson

The paradox is that taking risks is shown to enhance self-esteem and self-worth.

Even if we don’t succeed, we are likely to gain wisdom related to our strengths and weaknesses or discover a new horizon. And the benefit is that we create an internal reference point the next time we enter uncharted waters.

To push too far past our comfort zone not just inhibits performance it can cripple it.

The Tipping Point

We must safeguard our personal interest so as not to move beyond the tipping point of stress and anxiety. Think of it as walking a tightrope while striving for balance.

Bear in mind that optimal performance is attained on the outside your comfort zone.

Success is seldom achieved when we are comfortable because everything is too familiar. When you are in your comfort zone, there is little need to draw on your mental faculties.

If we are to become the finest version of ourselves, then we must commit ourselves to take bold risks.

Moving beyond your comfort zone requires smaller steps to confront your fears. All the while managing your feelings of discomfort.

Comfortable With Uncertainty

We need learn to become comfortable with uncertainty.

It is hardly surprising that personal growth resides beyond our comfort zone. When we extend ourselves, we have the opportunity to celebrate our gains as we accomplish new skills and emotional resiliency along the way.

“You can only grow if you move out of your comfort zone and are willing to feel awkward and uncomfortable trying something new.” – David Brett-Williams

Stephen R. Covey wrote in The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, “It takes an enormous amount of internal security, to begin with, the spirit of adventure, the spirit of discovery, the spirit of creativity.

Without a doubt, you have to leave the comfort zone of base camp and confront an entirely new and unknown wilderness.

You become a trailblazer, a pathfinder. You open new possibilities, new territories, new continents so that others can follow.”

Emotional Intelligence (EQ)

The cultivation of these new thoughts leads to a rise in our awareness. So when we venture beyond our comfort zone, our Emotional Intelligence (EQ) is reinforced.

If we dare to venture beyond our comfort zone, we can find a place which leads to improvements, our optimal anxiety zone. Exactly where this lies will vary according to each individual, but the key is to resist complacency.

You don’t need to stay uncomfortable to reap the rewards. You need to realise that long-term discomfort can put the brakes on performance and damage your self-esteem.

Baby Steps

The solution is to focus on making baby steps towards your goals until you benefit from the experience.

As humans, we are resilient and can withstand most circumstances. The benefit of evolution is that it has allowed us to endure in harsh conditions. This has engineered our biology with the tools to sustain life.

“The best things in life are often waiting for you at the exit ramp of your comfort zone.” – Karen Salmansohn

Depending on our actions, that adaptability can work for or against us. If we are inactive, we run the risk of rusting out and impairing our personal development.

John C. Maxwell wrote in The Difference Maker: Making Your Attitude Your Greatest Asset, “However, if you were rarely exposed to growth experiences or taken outside of your comfort zone, then you may have to work harder to cultivate a positive attitude toward positive personal growth.”

We Fear The Unknown

We fear the unknown that comes with change, and It is this fear that frightens us, not change in itself.

Stephen R. Covey suggests we can mitigate this uncertainty by reframing it. “Create an internal “comfort zone.” Then, when you get into the situation, it isn’t foreign. It doesn’t scare you.”

Covey refers to creating an inner sanctuary for the times when change overwhelms us. Within the space of our inner sanctuary is the reassurance that whatever may happen cannot disrupt what is familiar.

Knowing that life begins at the end of our comfort zone, then what lies beyond our perceived security is far greater than our habituated environment.

Our lives undergo constant change, and we must celebrate the challenges in our journey if we desire a more enriching life.

So let’s accept and embrace the unease that comes with moving outside of our comfort zone. And unlike the elephant, let’s test the boundaries and limitations that are placed upon us.

How To Make Your Struggles With Adversity Matter

You never want to face adversity. Unfortunately, the reality is that you will encounter adverse situations.

It’s not a matter of if you do, but when. As my Mum would say, “Every cloud has a silver lining.”

And if there is to be a silver lining to adversity, it’s that you will learn from it. That is if you are willing to learn.

The deeper the adversity you face, the more it tests your resolve. You will learn much about yourself in how you deal with your situation.

“People can grow from adversity.” – David Brett-Williams

Of course, if you are not willing to admit you have the situation to deal with in the first place, then you won’t draw from those lessons learned.

You will learn to reassess your priorities. Suddenly, you will discover what is truly important in your life.

Find a new job

For instance, you may think your job is the most important aspect of your life. Then, you face your adverse situation and realise that your family and friends are much more important.

You can always find a new job.

You will learn that change is the one aspect of life you can depend on most.

People have a difficult time accepting change. The trouble is that change continually happens.

When you find yourself in a situation where you have no choice but to deal with something, you will accept the change.

Allow change to occur

If you don’t, the problem may not correct itself. You will become miserable by not allowing change to occur.

Seek the opportunities that may exist from your adverse situation. You may find that you are good at something you hadn’t realised.

“You have to develop an inner philosophy to deal with adversity.” – David Brett-Williams

The situation forced you to use skills you didn’t know you had. It’s difficult to think in this capacity because you are dealing with your situation.

But, try to recognise the opportunities.

You are going to meet people as part of the process. These people may be vital in helping you through your situations.

Adversity brings people together

More importantly, a few of them may become close friends. Adversity has a way of bringing people together.

Some adversity lies in dealing with others who don’t agree with you. That allows you to learn about how others approach a situation.

You will see what kind of character those people possess. Try to learn about their feelings and their motivations.

When you do, you can see their perspective on the issue.

Although you may see their point of view, it doesn’t mean you have to agree with them, nor does it mean you should back down. However, you will be in a better position when dealing with them.

It’s Natural for People to Make Mistakes

Have you ever made a mistake? It’s not likely that you went as far in your life without making any mistakes.

Most people (if not all) make them. Also, they will continue to make them. It’s part of the human experience.

“Humans are not quitters. We are designed to endure a lot of physical adversity. It’s in our nature to be battlers.” – David Brett-Williams

Sometimes, people make mistakes that will put you in awkward positions.

For instance, suppose you own a company and one of your workers mistakenly misrepresented your company. You know that your company is responsible for that misrepresentation.

The person may not have known they made a mistake.

You’re fired

Your first reaction may be to fire the person. In some cases, you would be justified in doing so.

However, did the person have the necessary knowledge to prevent him or her from misinforming others? If not, you need to consider that regarding the situation.

But if people deliberately took adverse action, then that is a different situation.

If they did know what they were doing, but they had malicious intent, then you are within your right to let them go. You should make sure that they were acting maliciously, however.

There are no easy answers when people make significant mistakes. They may not be able to make it right, either.

An opportunity to rectify

You will be left to deal with the consequences. It is easy to lash out at the person responsible. Of course, you should give them the opportunity to rectify it if they can.

The way some people deal with the situation of others making mistakes is to reflect on their own mistakes. This way, you can empathise with them.

“Goals keep you motivated when you face adversity.” – David Brett-Williams

When that happens, you’ll be less likely to lash out at them and make the wrong decisions.

There are situations where people make the same mistakes repeatedly, even when you give them guidance on how not to make those mistakes.

That is tough as these people may not be acting maliciously but may not have the ability to change. For instance, not everyone is cut out with their chosen vocations.

Small impacts add up

In these situations, you need to weigh whether the mistakes they make have a serious impact. Even small impacts can add up when repeated.

When people make mistakes, and you forgive them, they will be appreciative. Many of these people will use your forgiveness as a means to grow.

They become better people because of it. You will feel good knowing that these people have used the situation to their advantage.

Learn the Facts Before Passing Judgment

Adversity often occurs when people react without having all the facts. Sometimes, they will think they have the facts but learned the wrong information.

These situations can be avoided altogether by just getting the facts and making sure they are correct.

“Adversity is a great teacher because it allows you to see so much. It really allows you to see things in a different way.” – David Brett-Williams

When you have the facts on your side, you can present your argument. Further, you will be less likely to make a judgment about a situation because the facts back it up.

That will prevent you from getting yourself and others into adverse situations.

The internet has given us a vast pool of information. However, people are too willing to trust any information they find.

False sense of security

They get a false sense of security by believing that the first set of results on a search engine are the most qualified results.

That just is not the case. Search engine results change rapidly, and you could produce different results from one search to the next on the same search engine.

When searching for your facts, try to find multiple sources that you believe carry authority.

Not the only source

For instance, when you look for medical advice, don’t stop at a site such as WebMD.com and call it quits. While this website may have qualified advice, they aren’t the only source.

See if you can find research to back your findings on the website in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).

“Prosperity attracts friendship, adversity tests it.” – David Brett-Williams

When you find other websites, look for sources that the articles cite. Are they valid sources? Check to make sure they are from authoritative people.

If you come across a blog that isn’t citing any sources but is making claims that appear to be facts, you should treat this with suspicion.

Anyone can create a blog, and have it published in minutes. They are free to post whatever they like.

Critical of every source

That is why readers must be critical of every source they treat as fact. If a blogger publishes a piece that is purely an opinion piece, there is nothing wrong with this.

But, don’t accept the post as fact. It can be a good starting point for your research.

You will hear people cite Wikipedia.org as a source for their facts. While the resource has gotten better at fact checking, don’t lose sight that anyone can add and make changes to it.

Still, it does have some uses. At the end of most articles, there is a wealth of resources and links that authors often include. Use these for further research.

Successful People Deal with Adversity

Did you know that successful people deal with adversity? It’s true.

If you read the stories or profiles of most successful people, you will be surprised at just how adverse their situations were. They often tell the stories for others to learn and use to overcome adversity.

“Staying calm in the face of adversity, that’s what my mother taught me. It’s an invaluable lesson. There is no shortage of errors and adversity to be dealt with.” – David Brett-Williams

You should read the profiles of successful people. They contain gems of information and can act as a resource for everyone else.

The story is one aspect of reading about them. However, how they dealt with the situations is often a source of inspiration.

Inspiration doesn’t last forever

When you become inspired, you increase your chances of dealing with your problems.

Inspiration doesn’t last forever, unfortunately. You need to reinforce the message.

Make it your goal, to set aside time to read one story of a successful person every month. It will help you with your inspiration, and it will feed ideas on how to use their stories to make your life easier or better.

The stories of some people are dated. However, their techniques may be timeless.

A perfect example of this is Dale Carnegie’s How to Win Friends and Influence People. The stories themselves describe people and occupations of days long gone.

Valid techniques

But, his techniques are as valid today as they were back then.

You can read all about the stories of successful people and get inspired. But, if you don’t take action, it will be of little help to you.

When you do that, you become nothing more than a dreamer. Having dreams is good, but you need to make sure you take action on those dreams.

Reading the stories of successful people shows that they are just like the rest of us. There isn’t anything superhuman about them that led them to their successes.

You will find a strikingly common theme among those facing adversity. They had persistence and kept a positive attitude. Those two attributes will take you far when facing any situation.

Find stories

You can choose to read stories online or find material in your local library. You can also choose to find stories on the internet.

“Adversity is a great education, but this education makes us pay dearly for its instruction,” – David Brett-Williams

As I wrote earlier, you need to be careful of the resources you find online. Anyone can publish whatever they like and sound convincing on their authority.

When you get in the habit of reading material of successful people, you will shift to a successful mindset yourself. You will have a memory bank of stories to draw inspiration.

Life Mentors Can Help You Deal with Adversity

When you discover an excellent life mentor, they can help you with several aspects of your life. They will show you methods to overcome aspects of your life that are holding you back.

And they can also help you when you face adverse situations and can give you the guidance you need to help you pick up the pieces and get back on track.

They may start by teaching you to be positive and use techniques such as affirmations to retrain your brain to think positive thoughts. That is one of the most significant means to deal with adverse situations.

It won’t prevent you from dealing with them, but it will help you focus on what is important. You need to practice these affirmations for them to be effective.

A daily habit

It’s not a casual exercise that you do whenever the mood strikes. Make it a daily habit. Your mentor will know if you are not practising them.

Prepare for your life mentor to be truthful. The truth hurts, but it may be what you need to get past your situation.

“Strong people overcome setbacks because adversity only makes them better.” – David Brett-Williams

When you get caught up in blaming others and not taking responsibility, they will be quick to point this out to you. A good coach will present it in such a way that you will come to the conclusions yourself.

And that makes it easier for you to accept and counter the action.

Take the right steps

When you decide to use a life mentor, don’t blame them if it doesn’t work out. It’s not difficult to find a good mentor if you take the right steps.

Ask friends and family. Do some research, you can call it digging into their history, to learn about their background.

Mentors are going to encourage you to step outside your comfort zone.

Most mentors will use this to help the people they work with break away from bad habits and form new ones. Remember, it is called a comfort zone for a reason.

It will be challenging, and at times, you may get angry at their suggestions. Persevere, and you will get there.

We all face adversity and will continue to as long as we are breathing. Best to buckle up and learn from each episode, so we are better able to deal with the next episode because it is coming.

10 Ways To Overcome A Lack Of Support

You have been working smarter and harder than ever but have now hit the obstacle of a lack of support.

You are naturally hardworking, and you believe in yourself. And maybe you work that little bit harder because you want others to believe in you.

That is a why the lack of support hurts so badly.

Your ability to make positive progress can be hampered by people who don’t share the same dream, passion, perspective as you.

Or it might be that they cannot consider options beyond their own reality.

“I grew so depressed from the lack of support that I considered quitting. No one understood me.” – Shinya Yamanaka

Success does not happen overnight. It can be a very long journey with many obstacles in your path. Mine was no different.

You Make A Choice

I am often asked, “How do you continue to make progress despite overwhelming odds and multiple failures?”

Most of the time, I respond by saying, “You make a choice.”

The response is simple. And it usually creates frustrations. But before getting frustrated, take a moment to think about it. In reality, nearly all actions begin with a choice.

We make a decision to take action. Then, of course, the action follows from that choice.

The points on the infographic aren’t absolute ways to make forward-progress, be resilient, or to be successful.

They provide a solid starting point to begin your quest toward your goals. And when you start and then persevere it will hopefully lead you to your desired outcome.

The Elements That You Can Control

It can be a daunting task to maintain a positive focus in the face of a lack of support. At times like these, you need to focus on the elements that you can control.

“Choose to focus your time, energy and conversation around people who inspire you, support you and help you to grow you into your happiest, strongest, wisest self.” – Karen Salmansohn

Know that any outcome worth achieving requires a positive focus if we want the best chance of success.

If you are willing to exert the effort, then don’t give anything less than your very best.

How do you handle a lack of support?

Firstly, realise that we cannot control how people view us. We can only influence how they view us.

We could approach the subject with, “You know, it would mean a lot to me if you acknowledged my results.”

My Success Will Happen Regardless

Alternatively, we can get defiant and say, “To hell with what they think of me. My success will happen regardless.”

“At the end of the day, life is about being happy being who you are, and I feel like we are so blessed to have the support system and the best family to really just support each other no matter what we’re going through.” – Kim Kardashian

I believe that acknowledgement is a subtle form of acceptance. And yes, we can adopt the “to hell with you” attitude, but don’t we all want a little support, understanding and love?

Most of the time, people don’t realise the impact their words have on us.

My Mum cautioned me with, “If you can’t say anything nice then don’t say anything at all.”

So while they are not saying anything negative, that lack of encouragement feels like negativity.

It’s Not About You

When people don’t support you, we think it is about us. But it might have more to do with them than it has to do with us.

“Be strong, be fearless, be beautiful. And believe that anything is possible when you have the right people there to support you.” – Misty Copeland

We all live busy lives, balancing many demands on our time and attention.

That perceived lack of support might mean that they are so occupied with their stuff that they fail to see anyone else’s.

Enjoy the journey and remember to be your best!

You’re exceptional.

Your hard work isn’t in vain.

People are quietly watching.

Related Articles

How To Build Resilience – Boost Your Competitive Advantage

4 Important Steps to Greater Emotional Agility 

9 Easy Ways to Counter Negative Self-Talk

Click on the image to download The 10 Ways To Overcome A Lack Of Support PDF

Share this Image On Your Site

</p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> <p><strong>Please include attribution to https://davidbrett-williams.com with this graphic.</strong></p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> <p><a href=’https://davidbrett-williams.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/10-ways-to-overcome-the-Lack-of-support-.png’ alt=’10 Ways To Overcome A Lack Of Support’ width=’640′ height=’1920′ border=’0′ /></a></p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> <p>

9 Easy Ways to Counter Negative Self-Talk

When you free yourself of negative self-talk, you will free yourself from perfectionism. You will honour and accept the mistakes you make.

Don’t kid yourself, self-sabotage is an actual thing.

We make a mistake, reflect on it, and then feel guilty, and unintentionally dig ourselves into a deeper and darker hole.

And many of us repeat this cycle far too often.

And that negative side of our thinking doesn’t help.

Even if you hear that critical inner voice saying “you deserved that” the real answer is, “No! You didn’t.”

We should all be empowered, fearless and happy when working towards our dreams.

Effects of Negative Self-Talk

Obviously, there is the low self-esteem that comes from negative self-talk. But there are also detrimental physical effects linked to self-criticism.

The world of personal development is filled with teachers who claim that self-critical thoughts are not confined to the mind.

In fact, their effect permeates every cell in our body, and this wreaks havoc on our physiology.

And they are 100% correct. There is now a body of research showing that adverse psychological events raise cortisol levels.

High cortisol levels are associated with anxiety, depression and irritability.

Low immune function, raised blood glucose levels, elevated blood pressure, weight gain, fatigue and muscle weakness are also found to occur in people with high cortisol levels.

This is serious because persisting with daily negative self-talk forces the body to live in fight-or-flight mode.

And this inhibits nearly every natural function.

Causes of Negative Self-Talk

Many people feel that negative self-talk just happens.

However, it is something that you actively do. It is an activity your brain generates automatically. And it becomes a habit.

Think of it as an autopilot response.

Following years of being criticised by a sibling, parent, or another significant figure the habit of negative self-talk is adopted.

For many, this happens as early as childhood.

Psychology has a phenomenon known as an introject. These are internal representations of the people who raised us.

If a child has a critical parent, they begin to internalise that parent.

The end result is the child carries around a self-critical inner voice that behaves exactly the same way the parent does.

That critical parent becomes a part that child.

How to Overcome Negative Self-Talk

Overcoming negative self-talk is straightforward. However, two things are required to happen:

1) Heal the underlying reasons for the self-criticism.

To overcome negative self-talk you need to integrate the introject in a healthy, compassionate way.

When the underlying issues have been resolved, the critical parent naturally fades.

The issues to deal with may have to do with anger, forgiveness, individuation, and learning to dismiss the assessment of others who have an agenda and to trust your own self-assessment more.

2) Develop a strategy to shift out of autopilot.

When you heal the underlying reasons for criticising yourself, you get left with the habit.

And as you already know, some habits can be tough to break.

Here are three ideas that may help.

Most people seek to resist their inner critic. And get caught in a vicious cycle.

They begin to criticise themselves for continuing to be self-critical.

You need to let that go and stop fighting.

The healing process we mentioned earlier starts with greater self-awareness and consciousness.

In summary, just listen. Don’t fight back or resist. Hear yourself out.

And don’t judge. Be patient and listen to that critical inner voice for what it is.

When you do, it loses much of its power.

Say to yourself, “I have a critical inner voice that is saying…” Then you get to repeat what your inner critic said.

Don’t judge, just listen, and repeat.

Prepare to be amazed at the objectivity this simple technique provides you.

Time to turn the tables entirely on your inner critic and ask for more feedback. Yes, more criticism.

And when you get more just do what we suggested earlier.

Listen, repeat and then ask for even more feedback.

The concept centres on raising your conscious awareness of what is actually going on inside your own head.

When you gain conscious awareness, then you can begin to control it and avoid going into autopilot mode.

When your inner critic no longer controls your thought processes, then it is time to move on.

Turn your attention to something outside of your own thinking.

Focus on how the temperature of the air feels.

Or how the weight of your body feels as you walk or sit in a chair.

Embrace the sounds around you by being quiet and extend your hearing as far as you can.

Doing activities like this is inherently calming and helps you embrace greater mindfulness.

Related Article

How To Build Resilience – Boost Your Competitive Advantage

4 Important Steps to Greater Emotional Agility (Infographic)

Click on the image to download The 9 Easy Ways to Counter Negative Self-Talk PDF

Share this Image On Your Site

</p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> <p><strong>Please include attribution to https://davidbrett-williams.com/ with this graphic.</strong></p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> <p><a href=’https://davidbrett-williams.com/counter negative self-talk/’><img src=’https://davidbrett-williams.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/9-easy-tools-to-counter-negative-self-talk.png’ alt=’9 easy ways to counter negative self-talk’ width=’640′ height=’1920′ border=’0′ /></a></p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> <p>