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PERSONAL GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT
Good Life Principles – Why They Are Important
Now is the time to seek out the information you need to get to the next level. Then choose to outlast the negatives that will try to stop you. Proven principles, also called “secrets of success,” are at the heart of all successful actions. Since ancient times, people have sought to reveal and articulate these principles. Few have discovered them; fewer still have developed the disciplines to consistently use them. But those who succeed have been able to create a consistently high level of results.
Each principle on its own will yield some positive results; but when used in conjunction with each other they create a continuous journey of success. These principles marshal a truly unfathomable power to bring your life to the next level.
The circumstances in which you apply these principles may change constantly, but the principles themselves always remain the same. They are truly time-tested to produce results in your life. Once you understand why these principles are so important, you will apply them with your full attention and desire. Afterwards, your unwavering belief in yourself will reach its highest level, moving you directly toward realizing your dreams and finding the energy needed during your personal success journey.
These principles are as follows:
- Take charge of what you seek in life, and find the information needed to move yourself forward with your dreams.
- Apply the information within 48 hours of learning it.
- Be persistent when moving toward your focus; know why you are seeking it.
- Understand the power of the heart and how it leads to success.
- Be willing to teach what you have learned. The best way to learn something, to internalize it and truly make it part of you, is to teach it to others.
I wrote this article to remind you how these proven principles can help you succeed beyond your wildest expectations. I want you to begin sharing these concepts right away with everyone in your life that is depending on you. True joy and fulfillment come from giving and making a difference in the lives of those you love. It is the only real legacy we leave when our time on earth is over.
I truly wish you, and all the people depending on you, the best that life has to offer.
PERSONAL FINANCIAL TIP
Is There a Crisis?
More and more studies, articles, and television stories are stating that the American worker is not saving enough for retirement. More and more corporations are moving away from pensions into 401(k) plans. People are continuing to live longer. People are sabotaging their retirement funds to pay for their children’s college education. The conventional wisdom of saving 10% of your gross monthly income is probably becoming outdated for these very reasons, especially if a person is older and has less time to save.
So what is the answer? We have to save more. To achieve this, we have to either increase income while keeping our standard of living the same or decrease expenses. The good news is that everyone has a golden opportunity to recapture the money they need to fund their retirement. Ask yourself, “How much of my hard-earned money is going out the door every month to debt payments?” Most people in this country are making enough money to create unbelievable wealth for themselves but there is a huge portion of it tied up in debt.
What if you were completely debt-free? How much could you then allocate to retirement wealth? My guess is that it would be 3 or 4 times more than you are saving now. Once you get compound interest working for you solely, it is staggering what it can do. If you are currently working your debt plan, you already know that you can use your debt as an investment vehicle because interest saved is interest earned. Also, if you have implemented your debt Investment account strategy, you are already teaching yourself the habit of diligent investing. For more information on how you can start your own Debt Investment Strategy, visit www.debtwork.com.
QUOTE OF THE MONTH
“Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other one thing.”
Abraham Lincoln, 16th President of the United States (1860-1865)
BECOMING AN EFFECTIVE LEADER
Empower the Individual – Empower the Organization
Leadership is all about empowering an organization and the way you empower an organization is to empower the people. The “Catch 22” is that empowerment comes from the individual. So the first step toward empowering an organization is getting the right people in the right positions. After you get the right people in the right positions, there are many ways to empower them.
Meeting the individuals’ physical needs is the most obvious empowerment practice that leaders should address first. Leadership must provide adequate work space such as an office or building and an environment such as the area the position requires to enhance productivity. This also includes other tangible assets like equipment, tools, vehicles and a budget with enough freedom to inspire creativity. Leadership must establish parameters, but not make them so tight that they stifle individuals’ ability to generate newer and more productive ideas and results.
Opposite the physical spectrum of empowerment is the emotional aspect. Everyone needs encouragement and praise. Allow your people to be the heroes. Assure them of the importance of their contributions. Listen to them. Do not undermine the authority that you have given them. Use every opportunity to build their confidence. Reward them for above average performance. Most importantly, always let them know that you need and appreciate them. Leadership results improve as followers accept responsibility for their actions.
In our ever-changing world, continued education and new skills training are essential to your employees’ success. Empower your employees with necessary information and open communication; a person kept in the dark cannot be proactive and productive to the organization as a whole.
Empowerment is the process of enabling individuals to think, behave, take action, and control work and decision-making independently. Stephen Covey, author of “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People,” describes it this way: “An empowered organization is one in which individuals have the knowledge, skill, desire, and opportunity to personally succeed in a way that leads to collective organizational success.”
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