Fear

September 16, 2009

This is article looks at success roadblocks in general that mostly come under the banner of fear and related topics. There are 11 points here to consider as examples of what you can change in order to succeed. Many people have experienced these but the good news is that they can be removed from your path to success.

  • Thoughts that cause doubt about proceeding further

    These are thoughts that cause doubt about whether or not to pluck up the courage and proceed.

    Example: “This task will take too long before I see success.”

    You really just have to go for it regardless. Think of the positives and not the negatives. If you want to knock on some doors to find out about the application process for a job you may not normally consider for some reason, for example, but you feel a bit embarrassed asking in front of people, just do it. You will develop more confidence and try it repeatedly until you line up more interviews and succeed at finding work. It is the same with a business from home or an office, just do not let any doubts about your confidence or the length of time it will take get in the way.

  • Fear emotion

    The fear emotion itself is like the plucking up courage emotion but stronger. Fear of failure, of negative reactions from family and friends (maybe based on pride), or fear of public ridicule even may all cause fear and completely stop you from proceeding with your pursuit of success in your chosen endeavor. Just ignore the fear and get on with it. You will be the one quietly laughing when you succeed.

  • Comfort zone

    You can get used to your current approach to a task and that comfortable way of going about it can stop you from proceeding to take another alternative approach or additional tasks that will lead to success. Sometimes you have to get out of your comfort zone. Give it a try!

  • Perseverance

    Just when you think about giving up because you are not succeeding, do not give it up! Success is usually just around the corner. You cannot see it now obviously but it is there waiting. Persevere and you will succeed. Quitting is not an option!

  • Pessimism

    If you are a bit negative sometimes you need to look at the positives and follow those only. You will never succeed and live a happy life with pessimism.

  • Take responsibilty

    It is your life. Own it, rule it! Simple! The negativity of others is no excuse so do not listen to them because they do not know anything. They only become your alibi for failure. Also, dream, do not wish. Follow your dreams to the desired outcome. Set your goals and start.

  • Hang around the right people

    If you have friends that are creative types then that will rub off on you. You will think of ways to overcome roadblocks to success.

  • Procrastination

    Never think about doing something you really want to do and then wander off and do something else. Just get on with it!

  • Pride

    Sometimes you have to take a job you may not like or do something else you do not want to do on the path to success. You might be concerned that friends will laugh at you or that you can think of a better way to do something other than what already succeeds. Just stick to what succeeds and you will be laughing!

  • Other roadblocks

    It always seems that wherever you turn there is a wrong answer to queries and plans related to what you want to do. These roadblocks always have a (legal) way around them that you need to explore.

    It is usually money that stops people and that requires thinking about ways to raise more. Do you need to find a second or third job to pay college tuition fees? Do you need to borrow money for a vehicle to use for delivery work of some sort? How will you raise the money (legally, of course)?

  • Vision of the future

    See your future success and work toward it now. If you have to take small steps then do so. Everyone has different circumstances and small steps are always a good start.

If you overcome negative thoughts and emotions, set your goals and find the answers to obstacles then you will be well on your way to succeeding. Do it today!

Your opinion?

What are your greatest fears on the road to success? Have your say in the forum in this board.

Written by SuccessMotivational.com · Filed Under Fear, Success Roadblocks 

10 famous movie quotes to inspire or motivate and start your day with

September 10, 2009

Here are 10 famous movie quotes to inspire or motivate and start your day with. More movie quotes can be found on the movie quotes page.

  • Do or do not. There is no try. – “Yoda” in The Empire Strikes Back
  • Find a truly original idea. It is the only way I will ever distinguish myself. It is the only way I will ever matter. – A Beautiful Mind Movie Quotes, spoken by Russell Crowe
  • There are only four questions of value in life, Don Octavio. What is sacred? Of what is the spirit made? What is worth living for, and what is worth dying for? The answer to each is the same: only love. – Don Juan De Marco, spoken by Johnny Depp
  • Let me tell you something, Mark. You humans, most of you, subscribe to this policy of an eye for an eye, a life for a life, which is known throughout the universe for its… stupidity. Even your Buddha and your Christ had different ideas, but nobody seemed to want to listen to them. Not even the Buddhists or the Christians. – K-Pax, spoken by Kevin Spacey
  • Inside each and every one of us is our one, true authentic swing. Something we was born with. Something that’s ours and ours alone. Something that can’t be learned… something that’s got to be remembered. – Legend of Bagger Vance, spoken by Will Smith
  • My father was very sure about certain matters pertaining to the universe. To him, all good things, trout as well as eternal salvation, came by grace and grace comes by art, and art does not come easy. – River Runs Through It, spoken by Robert Redford (narration)
  • Every man dies, but not every man really lives. – Mel Gibson in Braveheart
  • You get what you settle for. – Susan Sarandon in Thelma and Louise
  • You got a dream, you got to protect it. People can’t do something themselves, they want to tell you that you can’t do it. You want something? Go get it. Period. – Will Smith in The Pursuit of Happyness.
  • There’s a difference between knowing the path and walking the path. – Laurence Fishburne in The Matrix

Written by SuccessMotivational.com · Filed Under Famous movie quotes, Quotes 

Success story: Stephenie Meyer – author of the Twilight vampire romance book series

September 10, 2009

Stephenie Meyer

Stephenie Meyer

Look at the Wikipedia page for Stephenie Meyer and you will see the story of a former “average person” who went on to make millions as an author. Despite having an English degree she only ever worked as a receptionist after her graduation in 1995, until she started writing Twilight in 2003.

By the end of that year Meyer had signed a $750,000 three-book deal with Little, Brown and Company, according to that Wikipedia page. The first in the series of books, Twilight, was published in 2005 and was a hit. Other novels followed in subsequent years.

Twilight, the first movie adaptation of the series was released late last year and became a huge worldwide hit. Another, New Moon is due out in November and the third, Eclipse, is now filming. In addition to this, a new clothing line was recently launched to promote The Host, another book from last year.

There is a line of The Host t-shirts and skateboards available to order online. The line offers three designs and they all have the name The Host on them. The book is Meyer’s only adult novel and has been on the best seller list for weeks.

She has come a long way in the last 13 or so years and is listed on the Forbes Celebrity 100 list of the world’s most powerful celebrities in 2009, entering at #26 with annual earnings exceeding $50 million. It is a great success story.

Link:

StephenieMeyer.com – official site

Written by SuccessMotivational.com · Filed Under Celebrity success, Literature 

Self-help book: How to Win Friends & Influence People by Dale Carnegie – a brief introduction

September 8, 2009

How To Win Friends & Influence People

How To Win Friends & Influence People

This book – a classic best seller of all time, having sold over 15 million copies – was first published in 1936 and the copyright was renewed in 1964. The revised edition was first published in 1982 by First Pocket Books.

You have probably heard about this book, as its title has become part of the cultural lexicon. It floats around the edges of the pop-culture ether, easily recalled but little read.

It has many practical strategies described from observations on coherent interaction with other people all concentrated within this book. Written in a highly personalized, colloquial style that is reminiscent of a lecture it presents a common approach that would work for anyone.

The core of the book accomplishes four, overarching objectives:

1. Three fundamental techniques in handling people

2. The six ways to make people like you

3. The twelve ways to win people to your way of thinking

4. The nine ways to change people without arousing resentment

Readers will learn the following:

“Speak ill of no man and speak all the good you know of everyone.”

People react very badly to criticism; don’t do it, not to their face nor behind their back … especially not behind their back.

Say “Thank You”.

Express appreciation. People yearn, yearn to be appreciated.

Talk about what people want and help them get it.

“Arouse in others an eager want.”

Corollary: let others take credit for your ideas; they’ll like your ideas a lot more if they believe them to be their own.

WAYS TO MAKE PEOPLE LIKE YOU

Be happy to see people.

Greet everyone you meet and show an interest in them. Remember the things that are important to them.

Smile!

Remembers peoples’ names!!

Remember it, use it when talking to them. A person’s name sounds beautiful to them.

Draw people out.

Encourage them to talk about themselves and their interests.

Actively research the other person’s interests.

Every person you meet feels themselves superior to you in some way.

Strain to find out what that is and recognize their importance. Talk to people about themselves and they will listen to you for hours.

WIN PEOPLE TO YOUR WAY OF THINKING

Don’t argue!

Give in! Agree that the other person is right; often they are and if they aren’t, you’ll never convince them of it by arguing.

Don’t ever tell a person they’re wrong.

They may be but telling them so is always counterproductive. It is difficult for a person to admit to themselves that they are wrong; harder still to admit it to others.

If you know you’re wrong, admit it.

Openly and freely admit whenever you’re wrong. And always leave open the possibility that you’re wrong even of you think you aren’t.

Friendliness begets friendliness.

Always begin that way. Don’t accuse.

Never neglect a kindness.

Look for ways to do or say something nice.

Start out by emphasizing areas of agreement.

When a person has said “no” it’s hard to get them to change even if they know they’re wrong.

Let the other person do most of the talking.

Listen patiently and don’t interrupt. Let your friends be better than you.

Let people come to your conclusions.

First, tell me what you expect of me; then tell me what I can expect of you. People will generally live up to the commitments they make to you as long as they came up with them on their own.

Think always in terms of the other person’s point of view.

Where they stand depends on where they sit; figure out where they’re sitting.

Some of the people you will ever meet are dying for sympathy.

Give it to them and they will love you.

A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.

Dramatize your ideas.

“Don’t use logic; tell stories.” Make your ideas visible, concrete. Bear in mind that people don’t know until you show them what you mean.

Stimulate in others their innate desire to excel (perhaps through a friendly challenge or through competition).

BE A LEADER

Don’t go sailing into difficult interpersonal situations with guns blazing. You’ll always get a negative reaction.

Change “but” into “and”.

Be indirect in your criticism. Praise before you condemn.

Ask questions rather than giving orders.

Be very careful to help others preserve their dignity.

People crave recognition: praise the smallest improvement and praise every improvement.

Treat people as though they had the virtues you wished they possessed.

Give them a reputation to live up to and they will work like crazy to live up to it.

Praise the good; minimize the bad: encourage.

Make achievement seem possible. Take and encourage little baby steps. Seek out even the most insignificant of successes.

Napoleon: I could conquer the world if only I had enough ribbon.

The contents of this book are:

Part One

Fundamental Techniques in Handling People
Don’t criticize, condemn or complain.
Give honest and sincere appreciation.
Arouse in the other person an eager want.

Part Two

Six ways to make people like you
Become genuinely interested in other people.
Smile.
Remember that a person’s name is to that person the sweetest and most important sound in any language.
Be a good listener. Encourage others to talk about themselves.
Talk in terms of the other person’s interests.
Make the other person feel important – and do it sincerely.

Part Three

Win people to your way of thinking
The only way to get the best of an argument is to avoid it.
Show respect for the other person’s opinions. Never say, “You’re wrong.”
If you are wrong, admit it quickly and emphatically.
Begin in a friendly way.
Get the other person saying “yes, yes” immediately.
Let the other person do a great deal of the talking.
Let the other person feel that the idea is his or hers.
Try honestly to see things from the other person’s point of view.
Be sympathetic with the other person’s ideas and desires.
Appeal to the nobler motives.
Dramatize your ideas.
Throw down a challenge.

Part Four

Be a Leader: How to Change People Without Giving Offense or Arousing Resentment
A leader’s job often includes changing your people’s attitudes and behavior. Some suggestions to accomplish this:
Begin with praise and honest appreciation.
Call attention to people’s mistakes indirectly.
Talk about your own mistakes before criticizing the other person.
Ask questions instead of giving direct orders.
Let the other person save face.
Praise the slightest improvement and praise every improvement. Be “hearty in your approbation and lavish in your praise.”
Give the other person a fine reputation to live up to.
Use encouragement. Make the fault seem easy to correct.
Make the other person happy about doing the thing you suggest.

Your opinion?

Some of the book may come off as phony, but I think it is how you read and apply it. If you apply this in your life and you truly do care about other people and use these techniques with authenticity, you are not being phony.

This book is informative and helpful for anyone who wants to enjoy an even more enhanced connection with other people and or develop better conflict resolution skills when the need arises.

Well worth a read? Have you read this book?

Would you like to express an opinion in the forum or write a review? The link to the forum board for this is the Success/self help book opinions.

Written by SuccessMotivational.com · Filed Under Self help book guide 

10 life quotes to start your day with

September 3, 2009

If you could do with a reminder or two about what to keep in mind throughout today for your own personal achievements, happiness and success, here are 10 life quotes that may help.

  • The best day of your life is the one on which you decide your life is your own. No apologies or excuses. No one to lean on, rely on, or blame. The gift is yours – it is an amazing journey – and you alone are responsible for the quality of it. This is the day your life really begins. – Bob Moawad
  • I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel. – Maya Angelou
  • There’s a boundary to men’s passions when they act from feelings, but none when they are under the influence of imagination. – Edmund Bourke
  • It doesn’t matter how one was brought up. What determines the way one does anything is personal power. – Carlos Castaneda
  • Freedom & security are found not so much in what we have, but what we know we can create with confidence. – Robert T. Kiyosaki
  • It may be that those who do most, dream most. – Stephen Leacock
  • Character is like a tree and reputation like its shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing. – Abraham Lincoln
  • There is a wonderful mythical law of nature that the three things we crave most in life – happiness, freedom, and peace of mind – are always attained by giving them to someone else. – Peyton Conway March
  • The only limit to our realisation of tomorrow will be our doubts of today; Let us move forward with strong and active faith. – Franklin D. Roosevelt
  • For an average man, the world is
    weird because if he’s not bored with it,
    he’s at odds with it. For a warrior, the
    world is weird because it is stupendous,
    awesome, mysterious, unfathomable.
    A warrior must assume responsibility for
    being here, in this marvelous world, in
    this marvelous time.
    - Carlos Castaneda

Written by SuccessMotivational.com · Filed Under Life quotes