Every destination requires a journey. How well you travel can be as important as getting to the destination.
So I’m at the airport, I’m just about to leave and Honolulu airport has got this cool causeway that’s actually open to the planes so you can watch them! (See Video)
You know I love coming to airports whenever I am travelling somewhere. There is this sense of excitement about where I am going. Whether it’s off on a new adventure or if it’s heading home to see my family as I am now. There’s that sense of excitement of the new destination and the expectancy of what’s going to happen…. But you know almost as much as I love coming to the airport, I hate long plane rides. I’m about to get on a plane trip that is over 10 hours long and I don’t like it! But that’s life, isn’t it?
Sometimes to get to your destination, you’ve got to go through a long journey…
On a long plane trip, you’re crammed in with other people you don’t know, and it requires patience, it requires tolerance, it requires courtesy. It requires me to eat things I don’t like, it requires me to talk to people I wouldn’t normally talk to… You know there’s all sorts of opportunities for character development that come out on a long journey. Interestingly this is usually your true character emerges when you’re under pressure.
When you’re on the journey towards your destination, that’s when your true character shows. Use that time to grow, use that time to develop your character and internal fortitude, because when you arrive at your destination it’s that character that will carry you through to the next faze of your life.
Increase your positive impact on others and watch your personal and professional success go off the charts.
Ok Listen up! This fourth tip of four easy tips from John Maxwell’s teaching on becoming a person of influence, will take a little bit of practice to do well if you’re not in the habit of doing it, but once you do your ability to positively impact others will take off.
Most people listen with the intent of replying. Don’t believe me? Do a little experiment the next time you talk to somebody and count how many times your mind goes to a story or an experience that you have had that relates to what they are talking about. Or worse, count how many times your mind wanders when someone is talking to you.
The art of becoming a really good listener starts with our ability to suppress the innate (and sometimes very strong…) desire to respond every time somebody talks to us. Unless you spend time really intently listening to others and actually taking the time to delve beneath the surface of what they are saying, you will struggle to build meaningful connections that give you the permission to speak when it is required.
Most people love talking about themselves (I’m no exception). If you take the time to genuinely listen to others and take an interest in them without trying to jump in with your own reply, they will feel more engaged and connected to you. As a result they will have a greater degree of trust in you and when you need to influence them you will find them more willing to hear you out.
What about you? Are you a good listener or is it something you need to practice? I know I need to be aware of my listening all the time. I love to talk, but have seen fantastic results with others when I’ve learned to listen better.
Did you do the experiment? How did you go? Tell us about your experience it in the comments.
To make it easier for you to learn these tips, I have prepared a FREE tip sheet and 4 short videos that you can watch and start applying in your life immediately. Click here to access your FREE tip sheet and video teaching today and start becoming a person of influence.
If you would like to learn more about effectively growing in your leadership, why not check out our FREE Goal setting guide. See below for details.
Increase your positive impact on others and watch your personal and professional success go off the charts.
Alright here it is; tip 3 for becoming a person of influence. If you’ve ever wondered how you can increase your positive impact on other people, then you need to learn how to become a person of influence.
In this post,tip 3 of four easy tips from John Maxwell’s teaching on becoming a person of influence, I want to give you the tip that will enable you to speak into the lives of others and see them rise to the expectations you have for them. A tip so simple you can start applying it straight away, to increase your positive impact on others. If you missed tip 1 go here >>> and tip 2 go here>>>
3. Show Faith in Others
Showing faith in others is all about believing in the potential others, seeing them for what they could be even if they can’t see it for themselves and giving them opportunities to rise to the next level of their growth.
You know, most people don’t believe in themselves and many don’t have someone in their life who believes in them or encourages them to reach the full potential let alone give them opportunities to shine.
When you start seeing others not for who they are but who they could be and give them opportunities to rise to that potential, two things will happen. 1. They will begin to see themselves the way you see them and begin to live up to the potential you encourage them towards. 2. They will begin to open up to you. They will begin to trust and allow you to speak into their life because you show faith in them.
Your ability to influence and impact others positively will grow as you encourage them to grow into their full potential.
A great place to start is to see everybody as a 10/10. No matter where they are in their life journey, get into the habit of seeing the very best in everyone you interact with and focus on who they can be not who they may be.
What about you? Have you had someone who showed faith in you and helped you become the person your are today? Tell us about it in the comments.
To make it easier for you to learn these tips, I have prepared a FREE tip sheet and 4 short videos that you can watch and start applying in your life immediately. Click here to access your FREE tip sheet and video teaching today and start becoming a person of influence.
If you would like to learn more about effectively growing in your leadership, why not check out our FREE Goal setting guide. See below for details.
Increase your positive impact on others and watch your personal and professional success go off the charts.
If you’ve ever wondered how you can increase your positive impact on other people, then you need to learn how to become a person of influence.
In this post I want to give you tip 2 of four easy tips from John Maxwell’s teaching on becoming a person of influence that you can start applying straight away, to increase your positive impact on others. If you missed tip 1 go here >>>
2. Become a Nurturer of Others
Becoming a nurturer is two fold. First it is about showing others respect, regardless of if they deserve it or not. In a world where respect is so often withheld until others show respect to us, being a nurturer and showing respect to others even if they don’t deserve it will make you stand out like the proverbial sore thumb.
When you can show the people you work with, lead or work for that you respect them not for what they do for you, but because they are a fellow human being that deserves to be treated with value and dignity, people will respond to you positively.
The second aspect of being a nurturer s showing others that you genuinely care about them. Take an interest in their life, find out what’s important to them and how can you add value or show care to others without expecting anything in return.
With so many in life out for only what can benefit them, your genuine care respect of others will give you a level of influence and positive impact on others lives that you would have never believed possible before.
Most people start with the question what’s in it for me or what can you do for me? When you flip that and start asking how can I add value to you, people will respond with enthusiasm and genuine engagement to you. What’s more they will often respond in turn by wanting to assist you in what matters for you.
What’s one way you can show genuine respect and care to somebody in your sphere of influence. Share it in the comments below.
To make it easier for you to learn these tips, I have prepared a FREE tip sheet and 4 short videos that you can watch and start applying in your life immediately. Click here to access your FREE tip sheet and video teaching today and start becoming a person of influence.
If you would like to learn more about effectively growing in your leadership, why not check out our FREE Goal setting guide. See below for details.
Increase your positive impact on others and watch your personal and professional success go off the charts.
Have you ever wondered how you can increase your positive impact on other people?
Maybe you’re trying to get a promotion but can’t seem to get anyone to notice. Perhaps you’re a manager and you’re struggling to connect with your team or you’re a leader trying to inspire others but it just feels like pushing bricks up a hill.
The great John Maxwell says; Leadership is Influence, nothing more, nothing less. If you want to increase your impact on others, you need to learn how to become a person of influence. Everything else in your journey of leadership and personal development pivots off this core principal…
Become a person of influence and you will see your personal and organisational success go off the charts… I guarantee it!
Managers will see their employees respond with new enthusiasm
Coaches will see players/clients blossom
Salespeople will break records
Leaders will reach more people
Parents will connect with their children on a deeper level
To help you increase your positive impact on others I have put together a FREE tip sheet and 4 short videos to get you started on your development of influence.
So how do you do it? Become a person of Influence?
Many a book has been written on the topic, so I’m not going to try and re-create them but for those of you just getting started in this realm, I want to give you four easy tips from John Maxwell’s teaching on the topic that you can start applying straight away, to increase your positive impact on others. You don’t have to be an expert, just pick one thing and start making the change..
1. Integrity.
The first key to becoming a person of influence is to become a person of good character and integrity. Integrity is choosing to do right even when nobody’s looking. Conducting yourself in a way that even if those around you are willing to; let it slide, over look the details, blur the line a little (“cos nobody cares or nobody will notice…”) choose to be the person that doesn’t.
Initially people around you may think you’re being a stiff or square, but very quickly you will start standing out, people will notice you for your high moral character and unwillingness to compromise on standards of integrity.
You will also begin to build trust with those around you. They will know they can count on you to do what you say you will do, when you say you will do it. No exceptions.
Start on the little things, the things that most people wouldn’t notice or even care about. As you develop the habit in the small stuff, you will find that it comes very naturally with the big stuff that everyone notices.
Become a person of integrity and watch your influence and respect with others increase.
What do you think? Comment below and tell me about one small area of your life that you think you can grow your integrity.
To make it easier for you to learn these tips, I have prepared a FREE tip sheet and 4 short videos that you can watch and start applying in your life immediately. Click here to access your FREE tip sheet and video teaching today and start becoming a person of influence.
This week I was a guest on the Changeability podcast hosted by Julian and Kathryn from Brilliant LIving HQ. We had a fantastic chat about goals, why so many people struggle to achieve their goals and what you can do about keeping your goals on track.
Some of the topics we talked about were:
Why you can give up on your goals so quickly
How important mindset is to achieving your goals
How to stay on track, re-engage or maintain enthusiasm and motivation to achieve your goals
How to learn from your failures
The value of short term, measurable, incremental goals to achieving your bigger vision for life
The satellite navigation (GPS) goals analogy
Why the SMART goals acronym is helpful if it’s helpful to you
The stuff psychologists are talking about now to retrain our minds
The link between self-esteem and goals
The mistakes we make around money goals
Turning what helps you grow into a habit
And more ?
If you would like to learn more about effectively growing in your leadership, why not check out our FREE Goal setting guide. See below for details.
I was recently interviewed by Dave Jackson from the School of Podcasting. What was planned to be a conversation about becoming a person of influence turned into much more. We ended up talking about a range of helpful topics for start-ups and entrepreneurs. Some of the other topics we covered were; goal setting, maintaining motivation and avoiding burnout. It was a great chat and David also has some very helpful tips on podcasting if you’re that way inclined. You can listen to the interview here. Play Interview >>>
Below is Dave’s summary of our conversation. You can check out Dave’s blog here.
Avoiding Burnout
When you lose hope it’s a very dark place to be and want to quit. Business without purpose can lead to you throwing in the towel. We look at where we want to be, and then look at where we are, and instead of feeling gratitude for what you have, you get discouraged. You have to value your current situation so your attitude can stay positive and allow you to make it to the next step. An App that Dave has been using is Gratitude Journal .
Take A Look At Yourself
Look at last year and figure out what worked, and what could be done better. What experiences help you grow more? When we develop small habits they can lead to giant success.
Goals
Be sure to have specific goals, and make sure the goals push you out of your comfort zone. Make sure they are realistic. Instead of focusing on the goal, focus on the actions that will lead to achieving the successful goal.
Instead of focusing on our stats, focus on the actions that will lead to more downloads.
Anything of value takes time and effort. A garden of weeds takes no time or effort. Your successful podcast will require time and effort, but it will be worth it.
Becoming a Person of Influence
Operate with integrity
Help other people, and deliver value.
Listen to people, and be interested in other people.
Let me know what you got out of the podcast. Comment below. Share it with a friend you think needs to hear it.
Recently Dr. Jin from Healthy Positive Lifestyle Podcast interviewed me about setting New Year’s resolutions and goal settings. We had a fascinating conversation covering a whole range of reasons about why 92% of people don’t stick to their New Year’s resolutions and only 8% ever realise their goal setting for the new year.
If you, like many have been setting goals for the coming year and wondering how you can ensure you actually stick to them this year. Have a listen to our conversation and then download the FREE resources to help you get the most out of your goal setting and New Year’s resolutions in 2016.
Now it’s your turn: Action steps
Share with a friend who you think needs help in this area
Comment below; share with me one of your goals for this year and the steps you are going to take to make sure you achieve it.
If you would like to learn more about effectively growing in your leadership, why not check out our FREE Goal setting guide. See below for details.
Why avoiding pain might be holding you back and how learning to push through will set you up for success…
I’m a teacher by profession and, one of the most disturbing trends I have observed among students today is their aversion to attempting or pushing through anything that might appear remotely difficult or challenging. On an almost daily basis I would get call outs (as the Behavior support teacher) to attend children who had run out of the classroom…
Why?
“…because I didn’t want to do the work…” or “it was too hard so I didn’t want to try it…”.
All too often I will ask; “Did you look at it? Did you have a go? Did you ask for help?” and the answer is almost always the same; “No! I just know it’ll be hard so I’m not going to try…”
No, I don’t blame the children, I believe children are a product of the environment they are raised in. Sadly we have school systems and parents that seem totally committed to helping children avoid all pain or discomfort at any cost. Tragically though, children raised in this way frequently turn into adults that are equally unwilling to do the work required to achieve their dreams or be the best they could possibly be.
The simple fact of life is; life is challenging. Period! To achieve anything in life always requires a level of pain, discomfort and adversity while you’re developing the expertise to reach your goal. Just ask any athlete, musician or academic who is at the top of their game how much “work”, “effort” and “determination” had to go into getting them to the top.
If you have dreams and goals to achieve beyond your present place in life then it’s going to take some persistence to push through the pain of learning. It’s not a question of if you will experience adversity, it’s how you face it that will determine your success in the end.
5 tips for overcoming achieving through adversity:
Often the biggest blocker to pushing through the pain of learning is first knowing where you’re heading and taking the first step. Unless you have somewhere to aim then understanding the purpose and point of your challenges will be lost.
What sort of person do you want to become? What do you want to achieve? Hold that in your mind when the challenge of getting there becomes too much.
Often the fear of failure can prevent us from ever taking the first step. Find one task you can do to move you forward towards your goal. Never starting is always worse than having a go and failing.
Don’t try do it all in a day. Just take one step closer, then another, then another…. soon your stride will become more confident if you just keep putting one foot in front of the other.
3. You don’t have to like it, you just have to do it!
It’s the daily grind, personal discipline, practice and time spent in repetitious training that takes you forward. You don’t have to like it, but to achieve, you have to learn how to stay committed to it. I’m not a morning person but I realized that to move to the next level in my development I had to become one. So every morning when that alarm goes off at 4:45am, I remind myself why I’m doing it and what the reward will be at the other end. I also give myself a small reward for getting out of bed each day; I make myself a cup of chai.
Keep your goal in focus, remind yourself of the reward at the other end of the pain and give your self a small achievable reward for turning up each day. Very quickly it will become habit and you will start doing it with out a thought.
Check out this video: The life of an Entrepreneur in 90 seconds. It illustrates this point well.
Set-backs, losses, and disappointments are a given in any endeavour. They can either become a tombstone and cause you to give up or your can learn, regroup and keep going. Those who learn from their setbacks almost always come through stronger than before. Life is learning and growth is pain.
3 simple questions that can help you process and learn from setbacks are:
What went wrong? Stop doing it
What did I do well? Keep doing it
What could make it better next time? Try something new
Too often people give up on their dreams just before they have a break through. It’s frequently the case that those who succeed weren’t better than the others they started with, they just hung in long after everyone else quit.
Yes, you need to know when to quit sometimes, but it is equally important to know when to keep going. Find where your Passion, Skill, Income and the Needs of Others align. It is there you will find you purpose. Stay in that zone and keep going. If the activity takes you out of that zone, re-adjust. If you’ve just hit a rough spot but you’re still in your sweet spot, don’t quit!
Your Turn:
Share your story or tips for overcoming adversity in the comments below
If you liked the post please share
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Thanks for reading, I look forward to reading your replies.
Need Help? If you’d like help to clarify your direct and map out a plan to reach your goals, book in a FREE coaching session with me. I’d love to help you get on your path to success.
If you would like to learn more about effectively growing in your leadership, why not check out our FREE Goal setting guide. See below for details.
If there was any doubt this week (it got warm again!), last week’s cold snap well and truly confirmed that winter has arrived in the Southern Hemisphere, and to top it all off our heater packed it in on the coldest week of the year. I suppose it shouldn’t come as any surprise, winter comes every year at the same time. While it never really gets seriously cold here in Brisbane, getting out of bed on a cold morning is not any easier.
I find life’s often like this. There are seasons that feel like winter. Productivity slows down, we might not be able to do what we wish we could and getting out of bed each day is plain tough.
Like the seasons, we don’t always get a say in the places we find our lives in, but there are some thing’s we can do to make it more enjoyable.
It’s never a question of if winters will come, it’s how you handle the winter that counts.Share on Twitter
4 tips for navigating the winters of our life.
Before I get into them I want to acknowledge that these four tips are not my own thoughts but have been adapted from a business management book called Fish,by Stephen C. Lundin, Harry Paul and John Christensen. It’s a really easy read and I highly recommend it.
1. Choose your mood.
We can’t always choose our situations but we can choose the mood we take into each day. Approaching the day with an attitude of gratitude and thankfulness alters the way in which we handle the challenges we face.
Psalm 103:1-2 says Bless the Lord oh my soul and forget not his benefits. The writer is commanding himself to be thankful and focus on the good. Take the time each morning to examine your life and learn to acknowledge the things you can be thankful for, then make the choice to approach the day with a positive outlook.
We can’t always choose our situations but we can choose the mood we take into each day.Share on Twitter
2. Have Fun
It’s easy in winter seasons to get focused on the challenges, and miss the moments for enjoyment, fun. If you’ve ever watch children around snow in winter, you’ll know that they don’t look at the drudgery of cleaning the paths, or heating the house or how hard it is to get around. All they want to do is play in it and have fun. Sure there are responsibilities and you can’t muck around all the time, but if you can find ways to add some enjoyment or humour to your mundane tasks, the tasks start to feel less mundane. Ecclesiastes 5:18 says – find joy in all you do! Not everything is fun or enjoyable, but fun and joy can be found if we seek it.
Not everything is fun or enjoyable, but fun and joy can be found if we seek it.Share on Twitter
3. Make someone else’s day!
Prov 11:25 Those who bless others will be blessed, refresh and you will be refreshed!
I was on a ferry boat with my family once and I was asking myself how the ferry boat captain handled the mundane routine of his job. Same route back and forth, everyday. Almost as if he read my mind, he stopped the boat mid river and called my 5 year old son up the front to steer. All the passengers gasped in excitement as they watched this 5 year old boy have the experience of his life. They shared my son’s excitement, it put everyone in a great mood because the ferry boat captain made a little boys day. And I bet it broke up the mundane of his day too.
Find a way to give someone else a boost in their day, you’ll be amazed how much it can affect your day also.Share on Twitter
4. Involve others in your experience
The old saying; a problem shared is a problem halved, couldn’t be truer in challenging times but the opposite can also be true. Sharing your progress and experiences with others can also bring greater enjoyment and satisfaction. Human beings always do better with others than in isolation. It is prudent though to be wise about who you invite into your challenges. Choose friends, mentors, guides or coaches who will actually give wise counsel and even challenge you occasionally to keep perspective. Friends who just tell you what you want to hear are nice but are never really much help when you’re facing a challenge, they’ll usually tell you to stay in bed rather than get up.
Friends who just tell you what you want to hear are never really much help when you’re facing a challenge Share on Twitter
Proverbs 19:20-21 – Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future. Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand!
Winters aren’t always easy but they don’t have to be miserable. Go out and try these tips and let me know how you go. Lead well no matter where you find yourself.
If you would like to learn more about effectively growing in your leadership, why not check out our FREE Goal setting guide. See below for details.
