The Creative Mind: An Exclusive Excerpt from Charles F. Haanel’s The Master Key System

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At least ninety percent of our mental life is subconscious, so that those who fail to make use of this mental power live within very narrow limits. 

1.  The subconscious can and will solve any problem for us if we know how to direct it. The subconscious processes are always at work; the only question is, are we to be simply passive recipients of this activity, or are we to consciously direct the work? Shall we have a vision of the destination to be reached, the dangers to be avoided, or shall we simply drift? 

2. We have found that mind pervades every part of the physical body and is always capable of being directed or impressed by authority coming from the objective or the more dominant portion of the mind. 

3.  The mind, which pervades the body, is largely the result of heredity, which, in turn, is simply the result of all the environments of all past generations on the responsive and ever-moving life forces. An understanding of this fact will enable us to use our authority when we find some undesirable trait of character manifesting. 

4. We can consciously use all the desirable characteristics with which we have been provided and we can repress and refuse to allow the undesirable ones to manifest. 

5. Again, this mind which pervades our physical body is not only the result of hereditary tendencies, but is the result of home, business and social environment, where countless thousands of impressions, ideas, prejudices and similar thoughts have been received. Much of this has been received from others, the result of opinions, suggestions or statements; much of it is the result of our own thinking, but nearly all of it has been accepted with little or no examination or consideration. 

6. The idea seemed plausible, the conscious received it, passed it on to the subconscious, where it was taken up by the Sympathetic System and passed on to be built into our physical body. “The word has become flesh.” 

7. This, then, is the way we are consistently creating and recreating ourselves; we are today the result of our past thinking, and we shall be what we are thinking today. The Law of Attraction is bringing to us, not the things we should like, or the things we wish for, or the things someone else has, but it brings us “our own,” the things which we have created by our thought processes, whether consciously or unconsciously. Unfortunately, many of us are creating these things unconsciously. 

8.  If either of us were building a home for ourselves, how careful we would be in regard to the plans; how we should study every detail; how we should watch the material and select only the best of everything; and yet how careless we are when it comes to building our Mental Home, which is infinitely more important than any physical home, as everything which can possibly enter into our lives depends upon the character of the material which enters into the construction of our Mental Home. 

9. What is the character of this material? We have seen that it is the result of the impressions which we have accumulated in the past and stored away in our subconscious Mentality. If these impressions have been of fear, of worry, of care, of anxiety; if they have been despondent, negative, doubtful, then the texture of the material which we are weaving today will be of the same negative material. Instead of being of any value, it will be mildewed and rotten and will bring us only more toil and care and anxiety. We shall be forever busy trying to patch it up and make it appear at least genteel. 

10. But if we have stored away nothing but courageous thought, if we have been optimistic, positive, and have immediately thrown any kind of negative thought on the scrap pile, have refused to have anything to do with it, have refused to associate with it or become identified with it in any way, what then is the result? Our mental material is now of the best kind; we can weave any kind of material we want; we can use any color we wish; we know that the texture is firm, that the material is solid, that it will not fade, and we have no fear, no anxiety concerning the future; there is nothing to cover, there are no patches to hide. 

Charles F. Haanel was an American businessman, author, and philosopher who implemented the financial and mindset principles he shared to great success. His most famous work, The Master Key System, was originally published as a 24-week correspondence course in 1912 and first collected into book form in 1916. A reprint of the original edition is now available from Sound Wisdom and can be purchased from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or wherever else books are sold.

Controlling the Creep by Jim Stovall

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You may have heard it said that something imagined in one generation can be considered possible in the next generation and can become a reality in the third generation. I would define this as culture creep, and it can be either good or bad. My late, great friend and colleague Paul Harvey often said, “Not all that we call progress is progress.” Everything that is new is not necessarily new and improved. We need to be aware of and control this type of creep in our own personal and professional lives. 

When you consider someone who is guilty of a horrible crime and is in prison today, it is invariably a fact that they didn’t just wake up one day and decide to commit a horrible crime. It’s likely that, at one point, they considered lowering their standards, and then they probably committed a less severe infraction. Over time they found it somehow acceptable to commit a major crime.  

Significant changes in our lives rarely come instantly. They originate from imagining the possibilities and accepting small changes that inevitably result in a new reality. We all have standards that we live by. Some people leave it to organizations or governments to establish rules and laws, but the more enlightened among us establish our own standards that hopefully serve us as we pursue our personal and professional goals.  

I have a number of family members, friends, and colleagues whom I greatly respect. Over time, I have observed their positive standards and have implemented some of them into my own life. I know an individual who has decided that if they’re going out for a big meal and want to enjoy dessert one evening, they commit to doing extra during their workout for that day. I know a businessperson who has a standard involving spending extra time with his family after being out of town for a lengthy business trip.  

The most successful people I know have standards they have reduced to a morning routine or a series of activities they perform during the day. My own mornings involve exercise, meditation, study, and mapping out the activities for my day. This standard routine puts me in the best position to succeed throughout the day and move toward my goals. 

The most successful people I know have standards they have reduced to a morning routine or a series of activities they perform during the day.  

If there’s something in your life you want to improve upon, consider establishing a standard that will control your behavior and let your behavior manage your results. 

As you go through your day today, set your own standards before someone else is forced to set them for you. 

 Today’s the day! 

Jim Stovall is the president of Narrative Television Network as well as a New York Times bestselling author of many books, including the book-turned-major-motion-picture The Ultimate Gift. His latest book, coauthored with Dr. Greg S. Reid, is Passport to Success: Experience Next Level Living. He is also a columnist and motivational speaker. Follow him on Twitter (@stovallauthor) or Facebook (@jimstovallauthor).

The Art of Entrepreneurship by Jim Stovall

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I once again have the privilege of having another book released into the marketplace. Having written over 50 books, you might think I would take a new book for granted, or it might not be as important to me today as it was over 25 years ago when my first book was published. But I can assure you that every book is significant to me and holds a unique place in my heart, mind, and soul. 

The Art of Entrepreneurship is special for several reasons. As a blind person myself, entrepreneurship seemed to be the only career and life path I could take that offered me creative freedom and unlimited potential. Entrepreneurship has given me everything in the world I ever wanted and more. 

This new book is dear to me for another reason. My co-author, Dr. Kevin Schneider, brings his experience and expertise as the executive director of the Stovall Center for Entrepreneurship at Oral Roberts University to our collaboration. In this capacity, he is responsible for training the next generation of entrepreneurs from around the world to bring their talents and visions to the marketplace and create value in the lives of other people. 

The Stovall Center for Entrepreneurship represents the culmination of my career goals and my life’s ambition. In addition to my time, talent, experience, and contacts, starting the Stovall Center for Entrepreneurship involved my donation of $1.5 million. This contribution is significant because when my entrepreneurial journey began, I was going blind and had only $17 to my name. Entrepreneurship has given me both the desire and the ability to make more than a million-dollar commitment to young people the opportunity to travel the road I have been on for decades and has brought me to my destiny. 

In The Art of Entrepreneurship, readers will discover who should be an entrepreneur and who should not, the truth about myths entrepreneurship, and the quickest and most reliable ways to succeed while avoiding the pitfalls that sidetrack many would-be entrepreneurs. The Art of Entrepreneurship offers real-world experience coupled with Dr. Schneider’s cutting-edge research.  

My sincere hope is that this new book will help you and those you care about to explore the gifts you’ve been given and discover how you can prosper as you package and present your gifts to the world through The Art of Entrepreneurship. 

As you go through your day today, I hope you will enjoy the practical experience and academic principles in The Art of Entrepreneurship. 

Today’s the day! I once again have the privilege of having another book released into the marketplace. Having written over 50 books, you might think I would take a new book for granted, or it might not be as important to me today as it was over 25 years ago when my first book was published. But I can assure you that every book is significant to me and holds a unique place in my heart, mind, and soul. 

The Art of Entrepreneurship is special for several reasons. As a blind person myself, entrepreneurship seemed to be the only career and life path I could take that offered me creative freedom and unlimited potential. Entrepreneurship has given me everything in the world I ever wanted and more. 

This new book is dear to me for another reason. My co-author, Dr. Kevin Schneider, brings his experience and expertise as the executive director of the Stovall Center for Entrepreneurship at Oral Roberts University to our collaboration. In this capacity, he is responsible for training the next generation of entrepreneurs from around the world to bring their talents and visions to the marketplace and create value in the lives of other people. 

The Stovall Center for Entrepreneurship represents the culmination of my career goals and my life’s ambition. In addition to my time, talent, experience, and contacts, starting the Stovall Center for Entrepreneurship involved my donation of $1.5 million. This contribution is significant because when my entrepreneurial journey began, I was going blind and had only $17 to my name. Entrepreneurship has given me both the desire and the ability to make more than a million-dollar commitment to young people the opportunity to travel the road I have been on for decades and has brought me to my destiny. 

In The Art of Entrepreneurship, readers will discover who should be an entrepreneur and who should not, the truth about myths entrepreneurship, and the quickest and most reliable ways to succeed while avoiding the pitfalls that sidetrack many would-be entrepreneurs. The Art of Entrepreneurship offers real-world experience coupled with Dr. Schneider’s cutting-edge research. 

My sincere hope is that this new book will help you and those you care about to explore the gifts you’ve been given and discover how you can prosper as you package and present your gifts to the world through The Art of Entrepreneurship. 

As you go through your day today, I hope you will enjoy the practical experience and academic principles in The Art of Entrepreneurship. 

Today’s the day! 

Jim Stovall is the president of Narrative Television Network as well as a published author of many books. He is also a columnist and motivational speaker. Follow him on Twitter (@stovallauthor) or Facebook (@jimstovallauthor). His latest book, The Art of Entrepreneurship (coauthored with Dr. Kevin Schneider, executive director of the Stovall Center for Entrepreneurship at Oral Roberts University), is now available to purchase from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other fine retailers.

Small Details and Big Results by Jim Stovall

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The concept of going the extra mile is among the many transformational thoughts that have become the enduring legacy of the author Napoleon Hill. If you watch a horse race, oftentimes the difference between first place, second place, and the other horses in the field is such a slim margin that they have to utilize a photo finish to determine which horse won, as well as which horses finished out of the money. While the difference may be fractions of an inch, the result can be dramatically different. 

The first-place horse in one of the Triple Crown races receives millions of dollars in prize money, endorsements, and future payouts, while other horses in the field—who ran almost as fast over an entire mile—may leave the track with almost nothing to show for their efforts.   

Rarely do we ever make a 100% improvement. We, instead, make one hundred 1% improvements. It’s the small details that produce tiny margins that can make all the difference. If you think about why you do business with the companies and individuals you choose to spend your money with, many times you will realize that their products and services may be no different than their competitors, but you chose them because of some small gesture or minor convenience they offer that made all the difference to you. 

“Real competition begins when most people are ready to quit.”

Shortly after Muhammed Ali became the heavyweight champion of the world, he was asked how many push-ups he did each day. He responded, “I don’t start counting till it hurts.” Ali understood that the real competition begins when most people are ready to quit. My late great friend and mentor, legendary coach John Wooden—during his unparalleled run of winning ten championships in twelve years—taught his teams that while it may appear that basketball games are won or lost on last-second shots, in reality any basket made or missed throughout the entire game could have made all the difference. 

In your personal or professional life, think about the small and insignificant things that can make all the difference to those around you. 

I consult with several real estate firms, and I find the real estate industry to be a great proving ground for success principles because everyone has access to the same listings at the same price. However, with this totally level playing field, some real estate professionals make millions of dollars per year while others are working for less than minimum wage. The difference is not the property or the price. It is the service, the attitude, and the small details that make all the difference.  

As you go through your day today, you can win big victories if you pay attention to small details.  

Today’s the day! 

Jim Stovall is the president of Narrative Television Network as well as a published author of many books, including the Wisdom for Winners series. His most recent book, a collaboration with the Napoleon Hill Foundation, is Dear Napoleon: The Living Legacy of Napoleon Hill and Think and Grow Rich, which collects the stories of real people whose lives have been altered by the work and wisdom of Napoleon Hill. Jim Stovall is also a columnist and motivational speaker. Follow him on Twitter (@stovallauthor) or Facebook (@jimstovallauthor).

The Miraculous Mirror by Jim Stovall

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Here in the 21st century, we take it for granted each morning when we look in the bathroom mirror as we shave or apply make-up, consult the full-length mirror when we check our wardrobe before we leave the house, or glance in the rearview mirror as we back out of our garage. That which we take for granted would have been an absolute miracle to most of our ancestors throughout recorded history.  

As I walk on stage in arenas around the world to share my story with thousands of people, I generally begin by saying, “Please don’t miss the power of this message due to the weakness of the messenger. I have not arrived at the mountaintop I seek, but instead, I am a fellow traveler like you seeking my destiny and higher calling. I do not stand before you today with the answers you are seeking, but instead, I am here with questions. These questions will be as if I were holding up a mirror in front of you. If you will be honest with your assessment, you will discover that you already have been given the answers to the questions that are confronting you.” 

We spend far too much time in our lives worrying about what everyone thinks of us when in reality, it is far more important what we think of ourselves. While a mirror can only give us a basic reflection of ourselves as we are viewed by the world, it can be the beginning of a deeper assessment of who we are and who we can become. As a blind person, I’ve always been troubled to hear people say, “I’ll believe it when I can see it.” Then one day, I realized the fallacy of that statement, and I discovered the divine paradox that, “We have to believe it first, then we will see it later.” Therefore, seeing is not believing, but believing is the first step in seeing on a far deeper level.    

I learned this by living the first half of my life with sight and the second half of my life with vision. Sight is a powerful gift. It tells you where you are and what’s around you. But vision is an infinitely more valuable gift as it tells you where you could be and what’s possible. Without sight, we can adapt and function quite well in the real world, but without vision, we perish. A mirror can be a mere convenience or a powerful tool that allows us to begin to assess who we are and all that we were created to be. 

As you go through your day today, use the mirror’s reflection of your outward image to begin exploring the depths of your heart, mind, and soul. Today’s the day! 

Jim Stovall is the president of Narrative Television Network as well as a published author of many books, including The Gift of Giving, co-authored with Don Green, the executive director of the Napoleon Hill Foundation. He is also a columnist and motivational speaker. Follow him on Twitter (@stovallauthor) or Facebook (@jimstovallauthor).

“The Art of Concentration” by Napoleon Hill

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First: When you wish to be sure of your ability to recall a sense impression, such as a name, date, or place, be sure to make the impression vivid by concentrating your attention upon it to the finest detail. An effective way to do this is to repeat, several times, that which you wish to remember. Just as a photographer must give an “exposure” proper time to record itself on the sensitized plate of the camera, so must we give the subconscious mind time to record properly and clearly any sense impression that we wish to be able to recall with readiness. 

Second: Associate that which you wish to remember with some other object, name, place, or date with which you are quite familiar, and which you can easily recall when you wish,—for example, the name of your home town, your close friend, the date of your birth, etc.—for your mind will then file away the sense impression that you wish to be able to recall with the one that you can easily recall, so that when bringing forth one into the conscious mind, it brings also the other one with it. 

 Third: Repeat that which you wish to remember a number of times, at the same time concentrating your mind upon it, just as you would fix your mind on a certain hour at which you wished to arise in the morning, which, as you know, insures your awakening at that precise hour. 

The law of association is the most important feature of a well-trained memory, yet it is a very simple law. All you have to do to make use of it is to record the name of that which you wish to remember with the name of that which you can readily remember, and the recalling of one brings with it the other. 

Your ability to train your memory, or to develop a desired habit, is a matter solely of being able to fix your attention on a given subject until the outline of that subject has been thoroughly impressed upon the “sensitized plate” of your mind. 

Concentration itself is nothing but a matter of control of the attention! 

Learn to fix your attention on a given subject, at will, for whatever length of time you choose, and you will have learned the secret passageway to power and plenty! 

This is concentration! 

This is an exclusive excerpt from Napoleon Hill’s The Law of Success. This official publication of the Napoleon Hill Foundation offers a condensed version of Hill’s original 8-volume work that established his Law of Success philosophy. Curated by the executive board of the Napoleon Hill Foundation, it is the best distillation of Hill’s seminal work. It is available from Sound Wisdom on March 23, 2021. Preorder your copy now!

The Most Crucial Trait for Success Is Also the Most Underdeveloped One: An exclusive excerpt from Napoleon Hill’s Self-Confidence Formula

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What is the most crucial trait for determining an individual’s success in life? 

• Desire? 

• Definiteness of purpose? 

• Faith? 

• A positive mental attitude? 

What if there were a quality whose presence energized all these other success requisites—and whose absence rendered them innocuous?  

According to Napoleon Hill, there is such a foundational attribute, one that both contributes to and results from all principles of individual achievement that came to form his Law of Success philosophy. As he exclaims: 

Try as hard as you wish and you cannot be happy unless you BELIEVE IN YOURSELF! Work with all the strength at your command and you cannot accumulate more than barely enough to live on unless you BELIEVE IN YOURSELF! 

The one and only person in all this world through whose efforts you can be supremely happy UNDER ALL CIRCUMSTANCES, and through whose labor you can accumulate all the material wealth that you can use legitimately, is YOURSELF! 

Self-confidence might rightly be understood as the backbone of Hill’s success system. But despite how crucial it is for prosperity and happiness, this characteristic is significantly underdeveloped in most individuals. 

The majority of human beings in today’s world move through life aimlessly and dejectedly, casting their eyes on the ground rather than up and ahead to the financial, spiritual, and emotional riches they could claim. They allow external opinions to dictate how they see themselves and how they see the world. Their passivity permits negative thoughts to infiltrate their subconscious mind, which then undermines them by working to translate those dominating ideas into reality. As a result, people without self-confidence drift through life, endlessly dissatisfied with their circumstances and using this unrest as an alibi for their poor self-regard. 

The time for self-doubt and self-criticism is over. Your faith in yourself and your ability to attain your chief desire make the difference between your success and failure. Hanging in the balance are your emotional and financial security. It’s time to begin a journey of discovering, acknowledging, and sharing your strengths so that you can regain the energy and motivation you need to achieve your goals. 

This is an exclusive excerpt from Napoleon Hill’s Self-Confidence Formula. This official publication of the Napoleon Hill Foundation equips you with the strategies recommended by Hill for controlling your thoughts in order to boost self-confidence. It is available from Sound Wisdom on March 16, 2021. Preorder your copy now.

The Wonders of Praise by Earl Nightingale

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One day a few years back, I stopped my car for gas at a service station in Hollywood, California. While the middle-aged owner of the station cheerfully went about taking care of my car’s needs, I noticed the station, although not new, was spotlessly clean. I was particularly surprised at the driveway—it was as clean as if my car was the first to use it.

I asked the owner how in the world he managed to keep the driveway spotless with dozens of cars dropping oil and tracking the dirt of the highways on it. He told me how a common product, sold in every supermarket, was in his estimation the best driveway cleaner in the world. He beamed in response to my comment on the way he kept his place of business. It was a valuable moment for both of us: I learned something of value, and he experienced the pleasure of honest praise. 

The need for praise is basic to everyone. With it, a person blooms and grows. Without it, he tends to shrink and withdraw into himself. 

Praise to a human being represents what sunlight, water, and soil are to a plant—the climate in which he grows best. 

We all know children need constant praise and encouragement. When a child brings home a piece of artwork that looks for all the world like an unfortunate accident, he still expects an encouraging word. But his need for encouragement is no less than his mother’s or father’s. Far too many parents are not getting any praise, or at least not nearly enough. 

Understanding the importance of self-esteem and seeing the never-ending need for reaffirmation of a person’s worth, we should make it our business to watch for honest opportunities to give praise—especially to the members of our families and those with whom we work. 

There is a subtle but enormously valuable byproduct or backfire to this sort of thing: In order to praise others, we need to look for the good. It forces us to concentrate on what’s right with people and the things they do rather than on what’s wrong. It focuses our attention on the positive side of the ledger and, as a result, makes us happier, more productive, and more pleasant to be around. Then, too, people like those who praise them and recognize their value. When we give praise, we attract a larger circle of friends. And finally, giving praise is the best known way to receive it. It’s hard for anyone to compliment a chronic grouch. 

 Whenever you hear someone say, “Nobody appreciates me; nobody gives me credit for all I do,” the chances are he is so wrapped up in himself and in getting happiness from others, he has completely forgotten how to give. 

We should try to find some way to commend those we love every day. Praise to a human being represents what sunlight, water, and soil are to a plant—the climate in which he grows best. He does not just want it; he needs it as he needs the air he breathes. 

Molière said, “The most agreeable recompense which we can receive for things which we have done is to see them known, to have them applauded with praises which honor us.” 

This is an excerpt from Earl Nightingale’s Transformational Living: Positivity, Mindset, and Persistence, an official Nightingale-Conant publication. Known as the “Dean of Personal Development,” Earl Nightingale grew up in California during the Great Depression. Because his family was very poor, Nightingale educated himself in his local library. His main focus: what makes people turn out the way they do in terms of their wealth, their career achievements, and their happiness. After beginning his career in the US Marines during World War II, he was hired as a radio announcer. He eventually became a popular daily broadcaster for CBS. Through his interest in both personal development and audio, he partnered with Lloyd Conant to form the Nightingale-Conant Corporation, the world’s largest producer of audio programs. Sign up to receive free samples from Sound Wisdom’s Nightingale-Conant Collection here.

Why Is Stress a Problem for Your Health and Productivity? by Eliz Greene

Some stress in natural; too much is a problem.  

We can’t alleviate all stress, and we wouldn’t want to even if we could. Some stress is natural and necessary; it is what gives us the zing of energy to get things done. The zing is the result of the hormone cortisol flooding the system when the body detects danger or stress. Cortisol quickens reactions, increases pulse and blood pressure, and even thickens the blood (to prevent bleeding to death in case of injury). 

Trouble comes when that zing becomes a constant thrum, continually triggering the cortisol response rather than allowing it to ebb and flow as we need it. Thicker blood, higher blood pressure, and increased pulse all make the heart work harder, which is why prolonged high stress doubles the risk of heart attack and stroke. 

Cortisol isn’t the enemy. 

Keeping my heart healthy and protecting it from stress aren’t abstract ideas for me—they’re literally life-or-death skills. When I had a massive heart attack at the young age of 35 while 7 months pregnant with twins, I underwent five hours of open-heart surgery after delivering my daughters prematurely via emergency C-section. The surgeon repaired my heart, but a small part of it doesn’t beat anymore. Even though my pregnancy caused the heart attack, I am at a higher risk of having another, so controlling my risk factors is essential. I can manage my diet and be physically active, but stress is an exponential multiplier of risk I simply can’t afford. To reduce my heightened risk of having another heart attack, I’ve spent the 17 years since then honing practical and implementable strategies to manage stress for myself and the thousands of audience members and readers I reach each year. 

High cortisol levels caused by stress reduce productivity and limit critical thought. 

Our hardwired reaction to feeling unsafe is to protect ourselves and avoid pain. One of the most disastrous effects of chronic high stress is that it blocks critical and creative thought. In other words, the part of the brain responsible for critical thinking is busy dealing with the perceived risk of an unpredictable situation. Our brains don’t multitask; they focus on only one thing at a time and then have to switch to the next task. This task-switching not only impedes productivity, but it also creates a paralyzing loop of anxiety. 

All of that is bad. But there is good news: 

Your body is naturally equipped to process cortisol out of your system if you let it. 

Effectively processes cortisol, reducing it to normal levels, which in turn protects the heart, helps you feel better, and even allows your brain to function better. 

Stress isn’t good or bad. It just is. 

Engaging in person and virtually, Eliz Greene delivers data-driven insights on stress and leadership. Whether it is a webinar on coping with uncertainty or a day-long workshop to delve into stress caused by overwhelm, Eliz's humorous stories, energetic style, and implementable solutions deliver memorable content and motivation for change. Her most recent book, Stress-Proof Your Life: High Performance Under Pressure, will be released by Sound Wisdom on February 2, 2021. Preorder now on Amazon, Bookshop.org, Barnes & Noble, Books-a-Million, Porchlight Book Company, or other fine retailers. This article was originally published on ElizGreene.com.

Keeping the Luster in Your Life by Earl Nightingale

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Have you ever thought much about newness? You know, it’s the quality people talk about when they say, “A new broom sweeps clean,” or “Turn over a new leaf.” Well newness, like most things, has its good side and its bad, depending on how we look at it.  

A person in a new job, for instance, may feel he’s at a disadvantage. He may be nervous, uncertain of just what he’s supposed to do and just how to do it. Sometimes he’s bewildered by all that’s going on around him. Maybe he’s even a little scared. Even so, the person who’s new to a business has a unique advantage over some of the other, more seasoned women or men in the company. His job has a sparkle about it. There’s a luster, a challenge in a new job that isn’t always present once that position becomes familiar. 

A rut is little more than a grave with both ends knocked out. 

 Do you remember your first day at work? I do. I can remember the first time I sat down in front of a microphone as though it were yesterday, instead of a good many years ago. Even though it was a radio station so small they used an old walk-in refrigerator for a studio, to me it was one of the most exciting days of my life. I was scared and nervous, and I sounded like a man with his neck caught in a car door, but I was thrilled, too. 

How about your job? Does it still hold the excitement it did that first day? It should and it can, but does it? One of the most common mistakes we make is to let the luster fade from our lives. As it does, we gradually lose our enthusiasm, and if we’re not careful we’ll settle down into a worn, tired groove of boring habits. We become like oxen yoked to a mill, going around in circles with our eyes fixed only on the worn path of our feet. 

People who allow themselves to get in a rut usually don’t realize that a rut is little more than a grave with both ends knocked out. Now how can we stay out of this deadly rut? How can we keep our enthusiasm and maintain the luster in our lives instead of allowing it to fade with time and familiarity? The answer lies in reminding ourselves of things we already know but sometimes tend to forget.  

A Chicago executive once told me how he maintained the luster in his job, how he charged his batteries during the early days of his career. Whenever over-familiarity with his product and service or the negativity of some of his prospects or associates began to undermine his enthusiasm for what he was selling, he’d simply make a service call on one of his best customers. There he could reassure himself of the excellent results being realized through the use of his company’s products. Then my friend would head out again with renewed confidence in himself, in his ability to be of service, and in the benefits he could deliver to every new prospect.  

You see, even though the everyday details of our work may seem old hat to us, we should remember that those we serve look forward eagerly to the product or service. A person may be indifferent about many things, but the things he spends his money on aren’t among them.  

We shouldn’t be indifferent either, and we won’t be if we look at our product or service through the eyes of a happy customer.  

People are on stage every day. Like the actors in a Broadway play, they’re sometimes required to say the same words and go through the same basic actions day after day and week after week. The professional actor learns his lines and movements and then performs the part every day, often twice a day, for as long as the play will run. He can never allow himself to become bored with the role any more than we can afford to become bored with our work. The actor knows his audience is a new one for every performance. What he is doing isn’t boring to them. 

What does the actor do to main enthusiasm, to keep excitement in his acting? He studies and works. He continues to improve his role. He lives his part, constantly refining his timing and movements, forever finding ways to put even greater meaning into the words he must say. 

All of us are in the people business. Each day we have the opportunity to learn firsthand one of life’s most valuable lessons: how to get along well with people, how to make friends with those with whom we work, and how to persuade them to make decisions that will benefit both them and ourselves. Our success in most any type of activity will always be in exact ratio to our ability to influence people. 

And the best way I know to influence people is to care enough, to know enough, to serve them well. Sometimes we lose sight of the value of our work and when we do, we lose the luster—not just from our work, but from our lives. So here are some more luster-restoring ideas you can use right now and every day from now on. 

1. Understand that anything, no matter how exciting in the beginning, will grow—not may grow, but will grow—stale in time if we’re not careful.  

2. Keep in mind that fighting off staleness in our lives is a daily job. There’s something you can—something you must do—every day in order to keep vitality in your performance. It is simply the actor’s technique: live the part. 

3. Realize that there’s no such thing as a job without a future. Every job has a future just as every person has. Whether or not that future is great or small depends entirely upon the person holding it.  

4. See the big picture. See your work in relation to the whole scheme of things. Your work is important to those you serve. Your success will depend on how well you provide that service. 

5. Finally, keep developing your ability to see yourself and your work through the eyes of that most important person, the recipient. And remember, don’t ever lose the luster. 

This is an excerpt from Earl Nightingale’s Transformational Living: Positivity, Mindset, and Persistence, an official Nightingale-Conant publication. Known as the “Dean of Personal Development,” Earl Nightingale grew up in California during the Great Depression. Because his family was very poor, Nightingale educated himself in his local library. His main focus: what makes people turn out the way they do in terms of their wealth, their career achievements, and their happiness. After beginning his career in the US Marines during World War II, he was hired as a radio announcer. He eventually became a popular daily broadcaster for CBS. Through his interest in both personal development and audio, he partnered with Lloyd Conant to form the Nightingale-Conant Corporation, the world’s largest producer of audio programs.

The Year 2020 by Jason Hewlett

“Worst year ever!”  

“Can’t wait until this one’s over!”  

“The dumpster fire that is 2020.” 

 Plenty of lines and ways to describe a most indescribable year. 

We’ve heard them all, and said most of them, in an effort to put into words what has been experienced. 

I believe it is justified, so don’t think I’m not on the bandwagon as well, since I’ve shared my version of all of these, too. 

And as we come into the final month of this year it is ironic, because when I think of years past where I have also thought similar things, including 2019, 2018, 201… (for example, I once wrote a song with opening lyrics, “2009, Oh it wasn’t a pretty year, all I can say is I’m glad it’s no longer here…”), my fear is that this kind of thinking is becoming a trend in our way of looking at the year that has passed…no matter the year…and our hope next year is that much better. 

But especially 2020. 

It will be hard to top the bottoming-out that encompassed 2020. 

Or… 

Or, we could see it for what it’s helped us create of tragedy, suffering, and being backed into a corner. 

Having not been on an airplane and traveling the world, as has been my work for 20 years, 2020 has forced me to regroup, rethink, recreate my entire way of life, making a living, and delivering what I still can for an audience that is starving for connection, engagement, entertainment, and education…but without a budget! 

Yes, my bank account went from one of health and abundance to a storage unit I opened weekly with one eye open, as it dwindled to single digits. 

Yes, my prospects and clients bailed one by one on a year that was set up to be pretty epic, and suddenly wiped clean a calendar filled to the brim to create an empty white board of lost opportunity. 

Yes, my family asked if we were still going on the road trip across America and Canada we have been planning for years, only to see us put the RV on the market for need of selling it or making our house payment, and then putting my car and all else on the chopping block. 

My friends, your stories are as real and painful as mine—perhaps more!—be it in health, wealth, or “simply” inconvenience. It is all relative. And I am so sorry you have been through what you’ve been through! 

But, and this is a BIG BUT: Can we see that MUCH GOOD has come from this necessity to reinvent? 

A dwindling bank account will see you cut expenses like few things can, going only for necessity and finally getting under control what has been perhaps an illusion in the Keeping Up with the Joneses phenomenon. 

A job that is no longer a way to make a living can open up new possibilities to create, serve, give, and offer value in ways you’ve never had time to explore. 

A trip of a lifetime that now doesn’t happen allows for introspection and more time with loved ones in the home, togetherness, reliability on those closest to us, exploring the beauty of the world immediately around us. 

As a family we were still able to go to Moab, Utah, a short four-hour drive from our home, and most beautiful & otherworldly kind of place. Thankful for that! 

I know I’m a person who relies on the comedic side of things, and that’s important as well now more than ever—to laugh—but I also want to point out what good has come of this most interesting year, from the perspective of someone who really acknowledges it has been profoundly impacting. 

Try this little simple exercise— 

List three things (or more if so inclined) that were awesome for you in 2020. 

You could start with phrases like: 

2020 has taught me… 

In 2020 I was forced to… 

I am grateful for 2020 because… 

And then list out a few of the positives. 

Here’s mine— 

2020 has forced me to: 

Be Brave. To watch it all go away (events, cashflow, stability) and believe I could still make it, and then prove that I could. 

Be Fearless. To try things (video, virtual, launching a book with a publisher) I never have before and succeed! 

Act Quick. To be ahead of the curve while watching peers and heroes waiting for things to get better. 

I’d love to see your thoughts, in the comments below, if you’re willing to inspire me as well. 

I know 2020 will always be a year with an asterisk, but perhaps it could be a tipping point for all of us in living our Promise at another level.  I know that’s what it will be for me. 

Jason Hewlett is a leadership expert, author, Hall of Fame speaker, and award-winning entertainer. His book The Promise to The One is available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-a-Million, Porchlight Book Company, Google Play, Apple Books. This article originally appeared here on The Promise blog and has been edited for inclusion on The Sound Wisdom Blog. Subscribe for more inspiring content from Sound Wisdom.

The Mystery of Life by Jim Stovall

Photo by Cristian Escobar on Unsplash

Control is an illusion. We seek to plan, organize, and manage every area of our lives. While I am a big advocate of financial plans, exercise and health habits, as well as managing the various areas of risk, life is often chaotic and unpredictable. The poet Robert Frost said, “The afternoon knows what the morning never suspected.”   

In psychological studies of happiness and satisfaction, researchers found that people with predictable and mundane lives were unhappy, but, ironically, people with some of the most adventurous and unpredictable lives were also unhappy. As in most things, the researchers found that people with a moderate amount of adventure combined with periods of stability were found to be the happiest and most fulfilled.  

The only things we can control are our efforts and our attitudes. We cannot control what happens to us, but we can always determine what we are going to do about it. Recently, I’ve undertaken a study of stoicism, and I’m finding that the philosophy has a lot of merit. Stoics are people who endeavor to face life without emotional swings. Mr. Spock of Star Trek-fame comes to mind. Stoics understand that the best of times are fleeting and the worst of times are often filled with great opportunity.  

Success is more about making the whole world a better place than trying to improve our own world. 

There’s an element of faith in finding the silver lining within every raincloud. I had the privilege of interviewing the legendary football coach Lou Holtz. He expressed his faith and optimism by saying, “I don’t know what the future holds, but I know who holds the future.” 

Long-time readers of these columns know that I believe we need only three things to be happy: something to do, someone to love, and something to look forward to. We can find all of these elements in the best of times as well as in the worst of times. Success is more about making the whole world a better place than trying to improve our own world. Happiness and joy are much more of a decision than a condition of life. We must enjoy the good times, remain optimistic during the bad times, and celebrate it all. 

As you go through your day today, accept every mystery of life as a grand adventure. 

Today’s the day!  

Jim Stovall is the president of Narrative Television Network as well as a published author of many books, including The Gift of Giving, co-authored with Don Green, executive director and CEO of the Napoleon Hill Foundation. He is also a columnist and motivational speaker. Follow him on Twitter (@stovallauthor) or Facebook (@jimstovallauthor).

The Importance of a Good Morning Routine by Jennifer Janechek

Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash 

When COVID hit and the schools moved online, I found myself trying to homeschool my then-four-year-old while working from home. This was difficult on its own, but the emotional weight of navigating my own fears and anxieties while managing my children’s concerns, while taking care of a home, while preparing nutritive meals, while performing well at my job, while trying to find time for self-care, while trying to locate Lysol wipes, paper towels, burrito shells, and English muffins (the items that disappeared from the shelves were often quite random)—the list goes on—often felt debilitating. Speaking with other working parents, I recognize that my experience was not unique. Stresses about the economy, our children’s well-being, and our productivity colored every day, making it difficult to manage everything on our plate. People without children struggled too. The level of overwhelm and uncertainty was intense.  

In an effort to frontload my work, I stopped using my morning time—my time alone before everyone else in the house gets up—for self-care out and started trying to pack in more work time. When I experienced burnout, I began wasting the first portion of my morning scrolling Instagram, consuming panic-inducing media, and “browser window shopping.” My mornings unraveled: soon there was very little “routine” in my routine. Everything felt like a haze, and I was drained by the time I began my workday in earnest. I knew I needed to take back control, and it had to start with the way I used my mornings.  

The key to a successful, energizing day is a good morning routine. Not only does it set the tone for the entire day, but it creates physical and cognitive changes that ripple outward, giving you positive momentum. Below are some tips for setting yourself up for success with a life-giving morning routine: 

1. Exercise first thing in the morning.* 
   I used to exercise midday because it forced me to break up prolonged periods of sitting with some physical activity. However, for me, the risk that I would talk myself out of my workout exponentially increased over the course of the day. The benefits of working out in the morning are also hard to ignore. According to Healthline, “A 2019 study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine found that morning exercise improves attention, visual learning, and decision-making.” Morning workouts also boost energy, strengthen focus, improve mood, support metabolic health, and enhance sleep quality. Bonus: if you work out immediately after waking up, your body (and mind) won’t know what you’re doing until it’s too late to talk yourself out of it. 
   * Always consult your doctor before starting or modifying an exercise routine. 

2. Write down your daily goals—but make them doable. 
   While you drink your morning coffee (or other beverage of choice), either before or after your workout, write down the action items you will accomplish that day. Don’t make the list overwhelming or unreasonable; list only the items you can realistically cross off. You might have a second list with all your tasks from which you draw to create your daily to-do list. But by writing down you goals for that day at the beginning of the morning, you will have a clear sense of purpose and direction that will focus your activities. Without this list, it becomes too easy to slip into non-priority items or to find yourself off-track and on social media. (Also, the feeling of joy that comes from crossing off to-do list items is almost as good as exercise-induced endorphins, amiright?) 

3. Limit caffeine and boost your water intake. 
   Caffeine can be a lifeline for the sleep-deprived, but it can also have the reverse effect: it can make you feel simultaneously lethargic and anxious. This is because the overconsumption of caffeine can actually cause fatigue at the same time that it stimulates your fight-or-flight response. According to Healthline, “If you stick to 400 mg of caffeine per day or less and go easy on the added sugar, you should reap the benefits of caffeine and avoid its drawbacks.” I found this to be true: my first cup of coffee revved me up, but a second cup actually brought me down (mood and energy levels). While I felt fatigue, I was on edge and experienced stronger emotions than I did when I had only one cup. An associated issue is that caffeine can cause dehydration, which also impacts energy levels and mood. Swapping that second cup of coffee with a big glass of water will ensure you feel better energized to tackle your day. 

4. Avoid toxic media. 
   Don’t read the news, scroll your social media feeds, or check your e-mail until you’ve completed your morning routine. It’s too easy to get sucked into the negativity and attention-demanding requests that threaten to derail your morning. Give yourself the space to gather your thoughts, take care of your health, and mindfully prepare for the day without allowing the toxicity that is out there to infiltrate your bubble and augment fear and stress. Mindfulness expert and celebrity hypnotist Ricky Kalmon offers a number of mindfulness audio guides through his app, and you can get access to an exclusive audio program within the app for free with your purchase of his new book, Leverage Your Mindset: Overcome Limiting Beliefs and Amplify Your Life! (His book also works incredibly well as a morning mentality primer, as principle #5 below recommends: Kalmon’s Leverage Your Mindset program helps you recalibrate your mindset and update it with constructive thoughts in only 10–15 minutes per day.) If you stick to your morning routine, you will be better able to combat the negativity that comes at you later on—and better equipped to sort through the problems thrown at you and discern which actually require your time and emotional investment.  

5. Read for personal growth. 
   Carve out 20 minutes to read a chapter of a book that will inspire personal growth and motivate you to achieve your goals—yes, goals!—even in the year we shall not name. It is possible to shift from surviving to thriving. One chapter a day—that’s all it takes to get your mind right, focused on gratitude, positivity, and the success that’s in store for you. Sound Wisdom has got you covered on this front. Check out our full list of publications for content that will inspire business development, transformative leadership, well-being, and peak performance. And be sure to subscribe to the Sound Wisdom Blog for weekly motivation delivered straight to your inbox! 

Commit to a morning routine that combines these elements, and you’ll start your day feeling excited and more in control—of your outcomes and your emotions.  

Jennifer Janechek is the director of content strategy for Sound Wisdom and the founder of Work–Home–Life, an online magazine and virtual community for remote and hybrid workers, freelancers, digital nomads, and entrepreneurs with home offices. She is also the host of The Sound Wisdom Podcast, which you can watch on the Sound Wisdom YouTube channel or listen to on Anchor or wherever you listen to podcasts!

The Gift of Giving by Jim Stovall

Photo by Suzy Hazelwood from StockSnap 

This week I am excited about the release of my latest book. The Gift of Giving, which I co-authored with Don Green of The Napoleon Hill Foundation, may be the most important book among the 48 I have authored to date. First and foremost, the privilege of working with Don Green and The Napoleon Hill Foundation is unparalleled. I don’t know of any individual or organization that embodies giving more than Don and the Foundation. 

Giving is one of the many paradoxes we face in our human existence. You may remember your third grade teacher explaining, “If Johnny has four apples and gives one to Mary, that leaves him with only three apples.” While this is mathematically true, it fails to take into account the intangible benefits of giving that far outweigh one apple. The equation fails to explain that Johnny is left with a sense of well-being and abundance that only comes from the process of giving our time or resources. The equation doesn’t explain that Johnny, now with his abundance mentality, will prosper more in the future and have dozens of apples to share that he might have never had without expanding his mind and spirit. Mary is left with a sense of gratitude that causes her to look at the world in more positive ways, and she becomes a success so she can, in turn, follow in Johnny’s footsteps and become a giver. 

Every bit of our time, talent, and resources should be divided into three categories. Some of it is meant to be enjoyed today, some of it should be saved for our future, and some of everything we receive should be responsibly given away. 

In our society, we are over-extending ourselves on spending for today. We have countless people and books wanting to advise us on how to invest for our future, but there is very little said or done regarding organized, intentional giving.  

In The Gift of Giving, I recount my experience of beginning with a ten-dollar seed that grew into a commitment for a single gift of over one million dollars. It might seem outrageous or out of the realm of possibility in your life, but if you read The Gift of Giving, you will discover that you’ve never met anyone less qualified or less likely to ever have—much less give away—over a million dollars. 

During these difficult times, we need to re-evaluate and reset our lives. In a post-pandemic world, there will be many people and causes that need your time, talent, and resources. Determine to become a giver and you will never regret it. 

As you go through your day today, commit to experience The Gift of Giving. 

Today’s the day!  

Jim Stovall is the president of Narrative Television Network, a columnist, a motivational speaker, as well as a published author of many books. His latest book, co-authored with Don Green of the Napoleon Hill Foundation, is The Gift of Giving: Living Your Legacy. It is available to purchase from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-a-Million, Porchlight Book Company, Google Play, Apple Books, and other fine retailers. Follow Jim on Twitter (@stovallauthor) or Facebook (@jimstovallauthor). And be sure to sign up to receive free samples of Jim Stovall’s books and audiobooks from Sound Wisdom! 

Tomorrow Never Comes by Jim Stovall

These weekly columns have appeared in newspapers, magazines, and online publications for well over 20 years. I try to create a variety of topics, themes, and subjects, but every column every week ends with the phrase, “Today’s the day.” The world belongs to the person who will set a course and begin moving toward their goal today. Those timid individuals who over-plan, overanalyze, and conduct the most trivial preparations right up to the point where they fail to launch are a huge waste of human potential.  

I’m reminded of the sign posted in a convenience store that read, “Free cookies and candy tomorrow.” While the sign created a lot of excitement and enthusiasm, it produced no cookies or candy. Here in the age of social media, it is easy to develop feelings of inadequacy as we review other people’s carefully edited highlight reels online. This feeling of inadequacy far too often causes us to never start. 

Not all people who set a goal and begin their quest end up succeeding, but beyond a shadow of a doubt, fully 100 percent of people who fail to begin never reach the finish line. The great author and thought leader, Napoleon Hill, taught us there is never a perfect time to begin, but if we will just get started with the tools we have, better tools will be provided for us along the way. If you have a goal, a calling, or an ambition in your life, you are responsible for it and should be taking action today. Maybe it’s just reading a book, making a new contact, or taking a course, but the roadmap to success never calls for you to sit idly waiting for something you don’t have. There is always something to learn, something to explore, and something to do. 

When you read biographies of great people, you discover that they invariably came from humble beginnings. We often wonder if we could have scaled the heights that these great men and women reached, but the more poignant question is: Would we have begun the journey given meager resources and limited contacts? My late great friend and mentor Dr. Robert Schuller said, “I’d rather attempt to do something great and fail than attempt to do nothing and succeed.” 

As you go through your day today, draw a line in the sand and just get started. 

Today’s the day! 

Jim Stovall is the president of Narrative Television Network as well as a published author of many books, including The Ultimate Gift. He is also a columnist and motivational speaker. Listen to his Wisdom for Winners series on Audible. Follow him on Twitter (@stovallauthor) or Facebook (@jimstovallauthor). 

Three Self-Assertiveness Strategies to Gain More Power and Influence by Adrean Turner

Building assertiveness is the key to getting your seat at the corporate table and enhancing your interactions with others.

During my tenure as a corporate employee in the manufacturing division of a Fortune 500 company, I was often the only female in team meetings. I knew that speaking up and communicating ideas effectively were important for my success. I could never become a member of the “good ol’ boys club,” but I could influence their respect for me and their perception of my contributions to organizational goals.  

As you seek success in business, personal relationships, or any venture, it helps to take stock of your level of self-assertiveness. Assertiveness is the ability to express yourself honestly without undue self-doubt or anxiety. Assertive people are confident, self-assured, and often recognized as leaders. It’s apparent not only in their communication, but in their behaviors as well. 

 While some people are born assertive, for others self-assertiveness is a cultivated skill. I was fortunate enough to attend an all-girls high school that focused on ways to be effective in these kinds of settings. 

If you need solutions to deal with an office bully, overzealous friend, aggressive business partner, or to improve your negotiation skills, implement these three strategies to gain control and enhance your interactions with others. 

 1. Identify your boundaries and set limits.  

Don’t be a pushover. Figure out where to draw the line when dealing with others. How much abuse are you willing to take? Be honest with yourself and avoid letting self-doubt stop you from defining new boundaries. 

Start by writing down your plan to manage various situations. Research suggests that externalizing your thought process improves your chances of making a lasting impact on your future behavior. Pay attention to your internal reactions. Recall past situations in which you let someone go too far. How did you feel? At what point could you have put your foot down? Write it. See it. Say it. And put it into action. 

 2. Eliminate toxic relationships. 

Empower yourself by letting go of individuals and partnerships that drain your energy and stifle your growth. If discussions and collaborations are unhealthy, it’s time to move on. While the split may be painful initially, you will flourish once you’re free of those influences. 

Simply begin by declining meetings, limiting conversations, engaging in other activities of interest, and cultivating new relationships. You don’t have to make a grand announcement or hold a forum. Let your actions speak for you. You’ll build self-esteem and confidence, which will attract individuals who will treat you with the respect you deserve. 

3. Think on purpose. 

As you become more assertive, you’ll need a strategy to deal with individuals who overstep your boundaries. Maintain a calm demeanor for effective communication even if they become defensive. The individual may feel as if they’re under attack, especially if you haven’t taken them to task before. In this situation, they will likely try to derail you by changing the subject. Use the ASSA method to keep discussions on topic and to the point: 

• Alert the person that you would like to speak with them. 

• State your grievance clearly and calmly. 

• Sell the benefits of them altering their behavior. 

• Agree that they’ll do things differently in the future. 

 You’ll likely find that becoming assertive will change your life. You’ll gain the confidence needed to develop beneficial relationships with colleagues, partners, and your management team. And you’ll attract opportunities that facilitate personal and professional success. 

For tips to “Get Rid of Misperceptions about Success,” check out this video below. 

This article originally appeared here on www.coachadrean.com. 

Adrean Turner is an author, certified career coach, speaker, professional development trainer, and business consultant. She leverages 23 years of experience in management, marketing, operations, teaching, and training to partner with individuals, entrepreneurs, and organizations to achieve their maximum potential. For more information and inspiration from Adrean, read her book F.I.T. for Success: Fearless, Inspired, Transformed for Success. You can follow Adrean on Twitter @coachADREAN, on Facebook @coachadrean, on Instagram @coachadrean, and on YouTube @CoachAdrean. 

Change Your Habits with Three Simple Steps by Adrean Turner

Are you spending more time on the Internet and not enough time dreaming or actually “living” your life? Do you shop more and save less? Perhaps you struggle to see the glass as refillable. Bad habits are the easiest to identify because we typically feel guilty either during or after them. 

Often new habits are formed when we make small improvements for our overall well-being, whether that’s healthy eating, positive thinking, or exercising. However, habits are more than just a form of self-care. They can shape our identities and help us achieve major career goals. This is an idea that behavior modification expert James Clear covers in his recent book Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits and Break Bad Ones. When we want to make a career move—whether it’s getting a promotion, changing companies, or starting a business—we’re not just taking actions to achieve a goal; we are becoming a new person. 

To change your habits for greater clarity, productivity, and results, implement these three steps: 

1. REPEAT your new habits. Consistency is key. Studies show that it takes at least 21 days to eliminate a bad habit and create a new, positive habit. Discipline is the bridge between goals and achievement. Repetition will make new habits a reality. 
   Bad habits are powerful because you don’t even think about them. You just do them. 

2. REPLACE your bad habit with something else. For instance, if you’re trying to be more positive, when negative thoughts arise recite affirmations or inspirational quotes. Perhaps your goal is to eat healthier. Substitute those salty, high-calorie snacks with fruit. Think about what your bad habit gives you and find a replacement that provides the same benefit. You have to be purposeful. 
   Habits don’t have a lot of thought behind them—they’re almost like reflexes. 

3. REMOVE your triggers. If you smoke, stay away from the places you always smoke. If you’re trying to save money, avoid the places that tempt you to spend a lot of money. Better yet, automatically send your “shopping budget” to a savings account when you get paid. 

 Bad habits are like a comfortable bed. They are easy to get into but hard to get out of. But IT IS POSSIBLE to achieve what you believe and work for. 

This post originally appeared here on www.coachadrean.com. 

Adrean Turner is an author, certified career coach, speaker, professional development trainer, and business consultant. She leverages 23 years of experience in management, marketing, operations, teaching, and training to partner with individuals, entrepreneurs, and organizations to achieve their maximum potential. For more information and inspiration from Adrean, read her book F.I.T. for Success: Fearless, Inspired, Transformed for Success. You can follow Adrean on Twitter @coachADREAN, on Facebook @coachadrean, on Instagram @coachadrean, and on YouTube @CoachAdrean. 

Five Ways to Free Up More of Your Time as a Small Business Owner by Jennifer Janechek

Far too often, small business owners find themselves in a position where they are spending more time working in their business than on it. They aren’t able to expand or develop their organization because they are losing too much time to the day-to-day tasks that should be delegated to other employees. They miss important family experiences because they have not automated their business operations. They feel like they are chained to their organization, unable to enjoy the freedom that should come along with owning your own business. 

What if there were a better way? 

There is—but it requires you to systematize the functioning of your organization. Below are five ways to streamline your business practices so that you are able to enjoy more free time as a small business owner.

1. Scrutinize your personal and organizational mission.

Everyone who starts or takes over a business has a vision for the future of his or her company. But oftentimes this idea is abstract in nature and never gets ironed out. Or, the owner’s goal shifts over time, and the language of the organizational mission is never revised to reflect this change. Without both a clear personal mission and a concrete organizational mission, it’s easy to get wrapped up in the mundane details of daily tasks and not make the larger moves necessary to improve your company’s efficiency and profitability. Take the time to spell out—in as detailed terms as possible—your personal goals as a business owner and the vision, mission, values, and beliefs of your organization.

2. Regularly analyze your current operations in the context of your business environment.

It’s common business practice to conduct SWOT (strength, weakness, opportunities, threats) analyses to monitor the performance of your company, though perhaps businesses conduct these less frequently than they should. And yet it’s easy to situate these analyses in the climate in which you started your business rather than the current business climate. Take the time to research the current environmental factors affecting your business so that your SWOT analyses give you accurate data about your company’s performance.

3. Establish make-or-break priorities and develop concrete plans for their implementation.

Make a list of the key issues affecting your business and then prioritize them. For the make-or-break priorities—those action items whose implementation or lack thereof will significantly impact your company’s operation—establish detailed plans for their realization and develop quantitative metrics for assessing the efficacy of these plans.

4. Dedicate time to hiring and developing the right employees.

The right employee in the right position can make all the difference in how a company (especially a small business) functions. To attract and retain the best talent, first outline the needs of your organization and then create positions based on these needs. Next, write detailed job descriptions (which should be periodically updated), determine the skill sets required, and then hire employees based on this data. Finally, structure plans for incentive compensation and employee development. Attention to individual development plans is especially important, as good employees will leave your organization if their talents are not encouraged and their growth not promoted. 

5. Create an outside board of advisors.

It can be difficult for the small business owner to identify his or her company’s needs and areas requiring attention. That’s why it’s important to have objective feedback, which is best provided by an outside board of advisors. Engaging a team of external advisors will help keep one’s company operating at optimum levels.

By implementing these changes, small business owners will make significant headway in systematizing their companies, with the end result being that they will free up more of their time to enjoy the fruits of their labor—within and outside of their organization.

For detailed advice about how best to approach these tasks, enroll in the WOW! Business Advisory e-learning course through Sound Wisdom Learning Academy. This online course will help you take your business to WOW! success by providing detailed instruction in the Five P System of Professional Management. Interested in the course but want to learn more before buying? Click here to claim your free e-book of Five P’s to a WOW! Business, which can be used on its own or in conjunction with the e-learning course.

Get Into Position and Excel! By Adrean Turner

There are certain aspects of success that involve chance or luck. For instance, someone you know has a personal relationship with a hiring manager of a company that you want to join. They provide a referral, and you are able to bypass the cumbersome online application process and receive an immediate interview. That’s a benefit of chance. 

But in many cases, success doesn’t just happen. It is dependent on you! You are responsible for setting the stage and positioning yourself for opportunities that can lead to goal achievement. 

Consider this situation. After being frustrated for months with her job, one of my group coaching clients packed up her entire family and moved to the West Coast for a new opportunity. Although it wasn’t her ideal position, she was confident that it provided an environment where she could fully contribute and excel. Just as luck would have it, three months later, her director resigned, creating an opportunity for a promotion. Because of the work ethic she demonstrated and the relationships she built in that short time period, she was offered the role. She made a choice to take a chance to achieve the change she desired in her career, and it paid off. She positioned herself to succeed. 

“Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.” ~Seneca

No matter what you are trying to accomplish or become successful with—a career transition, a promotion, more time with family, better relationships with others, or a healthier lifestyle—these tips can help. 

1. Pursue Progress and Forget Perfection
   The goal is moving forward, not how fast you go or how well you do it. Small steps forward add up to a lot of mileage over time. As you succeed, you’ll learn and improve along the way. Get your footing and follow through on the tasks you’ve identified that will help you to excel. 

2. Manage Your Time
   If your activities don’t align with your vision or mission, it’s time to make some changes. When you’re bored, how do you amuse yourself? What do you do when you procrastinate? How can you add more time to do the things that are helpful for achieving your objectives? Write them down so you can see the impact of your actions or lack of action. The sooner you’re able to stop yourself from indulging in time-wasting activities, the better the odds of success. 

3. Schedule Time to Get Things Done
   Someday is not a day of the week. Eliminate non-essential tasks that are clogging your calendar. Be purposeful in allocating time to get things accomplished. Begin by starting small (if it’s necessary). Schedule 30 minutes a day for working toward accomplishing your goals. Focus on staying engaged, and record your progress daily to stay motivated. 

4. Meet More People
   You often hear that it’s what you know or who you know that leads to success. Another contributing fact that matters is who knows you. Surveys reveal that personal referrals are the top means of how jobs are filled. One survey conducted in partnership with LinkedIn reveals that up to 85 percent of jobs could be filled that way. Networking helps you connect with mentors, customers, colleagues, and people of influence. Get the word out about who you are and what you are trying to accomplish. Use every opportunity to increase your exposure by sharing valuable information and insights that demonstrate your brand and that supports those who engage with you. 

5. Build a Support System
   Reaching your goals will involve talent, persistence, patience, and other people. According to Nielsen’s Trust In Advertising report, 84 percent of consumers say they either completely or somewhat trust recommendations from family, colleagues, and friends about products and services—making these recommendations the highest-ranked source for trustworthiness. 
   
   In order to sell yourself or a product, create your own advisory board. Surround yourself with people who challenge you, inspire you, make you laugh, add value to your life, and who will vouch for you. The strongest method of success is when others do the work for you, whether that is through encouragement, information, or a recommendation. If you can get others to support you, the chances of your success are multiplied. 

Don’t sit around idling…waiting for success to knock on your door. Move forward and be your best self! Get into position and excel. It’s time! 

Get more information and inspiration in Adrean’s book, F.I.T. for Success: Fearless, Inspired, Transformed for Success, or visit www.coachadrean.com. To receive this e-book, click here and get it now.