Motivation Articles, Essays, Tips and Advice

To-do lists are effective time-management tools — but only if they’re easy to use. Here are 6 strategies for making your to-do lists work hard for you.

1. Keep it simple - Whether you use a computer-based to-do list or a paper tablet, it must be simple. If it’s too complex, you won’t use it … guaranteed. That’s why I keep my to-do lists on paper.

I use a 5″ x 7″ tablet. I list “major” tasks to be accomplished, with big sub-steps underneath each one. For example, “Edit Golden Thread” is a major task. “Main article,” Quick Tip,” and “Introduction” are big sub-steps.

Note: A major task is not necessarily one that takes a long time.

2. Limit yourself - Small paper tablets work well, because there’s a limit to how much you can write on a page. I stick to a maximum of 10 tasks, all of which can be accomplished within a week of when I list them.

3. Set a due date — and stick to it - Due dates help prioritize what you do and when. Do not work on tasks in the order in which you write them down. Jot down the due date beside each one, and do them in the order of their deadlines.

4. Use a dark marker to reinforce your feeling of accomplishment - Cross off sub-steps as you complete them with a regular pen. Use a dark marker to cross off the major tasks. Boy, does it feel good!

5. Redo the list every workday - Do it when you start your day (or the evening before). This gives you a clear idea of what you have to do right now, and what needs to be done before the end of the day.

6. Add “pop-ups” to your list - When something pops up during the day that has to be attended to (such as an important phone call), add it to your to-do list — even if you’ve already done it. To-do lists not only tell you what you have to do, you can use them to track your productivity and see if you’re using your time well.
_______________
This article appears courtesy of the American Writers & Artists Inc. (AWAI) — the world’s leading publisher of homestudy programs designed to provide members with financial security, independence, and freedom.  The company’s flagship, AWAI’s Accelerated Program for Six-Figure Copywriting, teaches people a skill that allows them to leave their current 9-to-5 job, and start living a “retired lifestyle,” working whenever they want, wherever they want, while still making a six-figure income.  Learn more about the AWAI’s Accelerated Program here!

*brought to you by GetMotivation.com

Create a Big Vision …
To become a motivational leader, you start with motivating yourself. You motivate yourself with a big vision, and as you move progressively toward its realization, you motivate and enthuse others to work with you to fulfill that vision.

Set High Standards …
You exhibit absolute honesty and integrity with everyone in everything you do. You are the kind of person others admire and respect and want to be like. You set a standard that others aspire to. You live in truth with yourself and others so that they feel confident giving you their support and their commitment.

Face Your Fears …
You demonstrate courage in everything you do by facing doubts and uncertainties and moving forward regardless. You put up a good front even when you feel anxious about the outcome.

You don’t burden others with your fears and misgivings. You keep them to yourself. You constantly push yourself out of your comfort zone and in the direction of your goals. And no matter how bleak the situation might appear, you keep on keeping on with a smile.

Be Realistic About Your Situation …
You are intensely realistic. You refuse to engage in mental games or self-delusion. You encourage others to be realistic and objective about their situations as well.

You encourage them to realize and appreciate that there is a price to pay for everything they want. They have weaknesses that they will have to overcome, and they have standards that they will have to meet, if they want to survive and thrive in a competitive market.

Accept Responsibility …
You accept complete responsibility for results. You refuse to make excuses or blame others or hold grudges against people who you feel may have wronged you. You say, “If it’s to be, it’s up to me.” You repeat over and over the words, “I am responsible. I am responsible. I am responsible.”

Take Vigorous Action …
Finally, you take action. You know that all mental preparation and character building is merely a prelude to action. It’s not what you say but what you do that counts. The mark of the true leader is that he or she leads the action. He or she is willing to go first. He or she sets the example and acts as the role model. He or she does what he or she expects others to do.

Strive For Excellence …
You become a motivational leader by motivating yourself. And you motivate yourself by striving toward excellence, by committing yourself to becoming everything you are capable of becoming.

You motivate yourself by throwing your whole heart into doing your job in an excellent fashion. You motivate yourself and others by continually looking for ways to help others to improve their lives and achieve their goals. You become a motivational leader by becoming the kind of person others want to get behind and support in every way.

Your main job is to take complete control of your personal evolution and become a leader in every area of your life. You could ask for nothing more, and you should settle for nothing less.

Action Exercises:

Here are two things you can do immediately to put these ideas into action.

First, see yourself as an outstanding person, parent, coworker and leader in everything you do. Pattern your behavior after the very best people you know. Set high standards and refuse to compromise them.

Second, be clear about your goals and priorities and then take action continually forward. Develop a sense of urgency. Keep moving forward and you’ll automatically keep yourself and others motivated.
____________
Brian Tracy is one of the world’s leading authorities on personal and business success. His fast-moving talks and seminars on leadership, sales, managerial effectiveness and business strategy are loaded with powerful, proven ideas and strategies that people can apply immediately to get better results in every area. Visit the Brian Tracy web site

Sponsor Message: If you enjoyed the article above be sure to join our free Motivational Newsletter — Let’s Talk Motivation!

Just a quick note to mention that we’ve updated our collection of Jim Rohn articles and essays. If you’re unfamiliar with the work of Mr. Rohn, you are in for a treat — he is definitely one of the premier business thinkers of our time.

You can also learn more about him in our Motivational Speakers Hall Of Fame.

That’s all for now… and remember…

–It’s your life, LIVE BIG! Josh Hinds

• People who know the most, know they know so little, while people who know nothing want to take all day to tell you.

• Self-improvement can be harmful if you are doing it to look better. If you live your life in helping others look better, you’ll be better without trying.

• If you give to get something, you’re not really giving you are trading. Giving is never to get, because you have it and are not aware of how much you have until you give.

• Big people are always giving someone credit and taking blame; little people are always seeking credit and giving blame.

• Don’t worry about having to make a right decision. Make it and then work to make it right.

• An attitude of gratitude flavors everything you do. Learning to be thankful is the golden thread woven through every truly successful life.

Charlie “T” Jones
___________
Written by Charlie “Tremendous” Jones. In addition to breaking many sales records in the Insurance Industry throughout his career, Mr. Jones is the founder and CEO of Executive Books. For more information on Charlie “T” Jones and Executive books please go to ExecutiveBooks.com

Sponsor Message: Grab your copy of Josh Hinds Motivational Audio Program!

You generally wear your positivity on the “inside.” But your enthusiasm is how you show it to the world by your face, your voice, and your gestures.

Sometimes we feel enthusiastic about our ideas but we’re afraid to show it. But I think the people who influence us the most are those who are able to express on the outside what they’re feeling on the inside.

A friend of mine remembers touring a client’s office and seeing “cute” signs with negative messages plastered everywhere: “It’s hard to soar like an eagle when you’re surrounded by turkeys,” “Even a bad day on vacation is better than a good day at work,” and the like.

Every message that every employee saw every day was negative. No wonder, my friend later concluded, morale there was so low.

Most people like to be around those who radiate joy and interest, whether at work or at play. What’s more, enthusiasm is infectious. It spreads. But so does the lack of it. The choice is yours.

We’ve probably all worked with people who were negative about the job, the firm, their colleagues, the environment, the world itself, and then were further upset when–surprise!–they didn’t get the big promotion. They chose to be problems, not problem-solvers. So was it any wonder that the boss would pick someone who was more positive and enthusiastic?

The response you receive from the world is in large measure a reflection of your own attitude. From the beginning to the end of every meeting with another person, you are on stage: You’re being evaluated by that other person, consciously or subconsciously.

While I’m not suggesting you put on a phony happy face, I am reminding you to be aware that your every word, gesture, expression, and impression is being watched–especially in initial encounters–and will either help or hinder you in fostering honest, open, and trusting communications.

If your overall approach is cheerful, hopeful, and tolerant of differences, you send out a positive message. On the other hand, if you’re critical, pessimistic, and intolerant of anything unfamiliar, you convey a negative outlook. Guess which attitude gets better results when you’re trying to influence people?

Here’s to more personal insight,
Tony Alessandra
__________
Dr. Tony Alessandra has authored numerous books, recorded over 50 audio and video programs, and delivered well over 2,000 keynote speeches since 1976. If you would like more information about Dr. Alessandra’s books, audio tapesets and video programs, or about Dr. Alessandra as a keynote speaker, visit his website at www.Alessandra.com.

Sponsor: WHAT IF YOU HAD THE SAME MINUTE-BY-MINUTE THOUGHTS AS THE SUPER SUCCESSFUL? Mike Brescia has developed the ultimate mental conditioning programs that can help anyone wipe out intense fears and enjoy huge successes in all areas of life… Learn more about these powerful programs here.

Complaints have become an epidemic in our world today. Complaining is the latest and most popular full-contact sport in our society. Unfortunately, when you constantly and aggressively complain about poor performance and bad service, your verbal assaults and admonishments often fall on deaf ears.

This is a result of the scales being out of balance. Your complaints are piled on top of everyone else’s complaints, creating a constant stream of complaint-filled conversation.

The people with hotels, restaurants, airlines, and all manner of businesses that hear these complaints are not able to distinguish them from all the other noise around them, because this is all they ever hear. Too often, we feel pre-programmed to catch people doing something wrong and tell them all about it.

I am on an ongoing quest to catch people doing something right and let them know about it. This makes me feel better. It makes them feel better. And I have been surprised to learn that it actually makes my complaints, suggestions, and constructive criticism more  valid when a difficult situation arises.

When you find someone doing a menial, clerical, or service job well, be sure to tell them. Yours may be the only compliment they have received in weeks or even months. You will make their day, and I assure you that you will feel better. The serendipity will come into play when you find that if you require anything extra or have a situation you need corrected, these people will go out of their way to promptly and professionally serve you.

Recently, I had a flight attendant greet me by name as I walked onto a jet. Immediately my ego kicked in, and I assumed she recognized me from television, one of my convention or arena speeches, or possibly one of my brief appearances in a movie. It turns out it was nothing quite that grandiose.

When I inquired how she knew my name, she informed me that I had been on a flight of hers several weeks previously, and I had complimented her on the meal and on the service. I will admit to you that I do not even remember the occasion that she referred to as it has become my practice to catch people doing something right.  I did find it fascinating that,  out of the thousands of passengers she encountered throughout a month, she remembered me simply from a brief compliment.

As you go through your day today, if you want to stand out from the crowd, don’t complain the loudest. Just catch people doing something right.

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. He may be reached at 5840 South Memorial Drive, Suite 312, Tulsa, OK 74145-9082, or by e-mail at JimStovall@aol.com. Visit www.JimStovall.com

Sponsor: WHAT IF YOU HAD THE SAME MINUTE-BY-MINUTE THOUGHTS AS THE  SUPER SUCCESSFUL? Mike Brescia has developed the ultimate mental conditioning programs that can help anyone wipe out intense fears and enjoy huge successes in all areas of life. Learn more about these powerful programs here.

I’ve done a lot of research on the topic of conflict resolution in recent months, and here are a few tips I’ve come up with for resolving conflict in your workplace and professional life:

Don’t be afraid of conflict. Too many of us become agitated when we encounter conflict or disagreement out of concern and fear. It’s odd when you think about it, because conflict is a part of nature, a part of life.

Unless you are a hermit, odds are that conflict is inescapable. And so, you need to approach conflict calmly, as an expected part of dealing with others. Consider conflict a way of learning to see things more clearly.

Abandon the concept of winning and losing when faced with conflict. Instead, adopt a strategy of resolution. Unless you are on a battlefield, chances are the person you come into conflict with is not The Enemy, but instead is probably someone whose goals are generally the same as yours, or at least interrelated with yours.

Be flexible. When the other side senses that you are interested in finding a solution, you likely will have created an ally where a potential adversary once stood. Rather than confrontation and conflict, you can work together in cooperation to find a solution that suits both sides.

Avoid negative or confrontational language. Rather than “buts” and “you’re wrongs” try using positive language that disarms rather than confronts, such as

“I understand your position and…” or “I can see your point and here is where I’m coming from…”

Talk through the situation with a neutral party to gain perspective and clarity from that person, and also to better understand the conflict through talking it out. It is always helpful to get a problem out in the open and to get input from people you trust and people who understand your frame of reference so that they can help you better understand what you are going through and tell you, for better or worse, whether they think you have properly judged or handled the situation.

Rather than approaching the conflict with the attitude of stopping it or overcoming it, think of redirecting the energy toward a common target. Look for similarities in your positions rather than focusing on your differences.

Although war is part of our nature, most successful societies have been built on cooperation. Common goals are great unifiers. How many stories have you heard of strangers acting together in times of emergency? When a common goal is made obvious the natural reaction is to put differences aside.

Make a mutual commitment to the greater good. Whether it is a successful television show that will employ both sides, or the manufacture of a product of a good or the offering of a service that is the source of your mutual wealth, there is undoubtedly a common focus in your lives that should be the center of your attentions.

Find something to distract you from the conflict. Take off on a vacation or weekend getaway, a new project, or a family outing so that you can clear your mind, reevaluate your position, and perhaps come back to it with a fresh vision of what needs to be done to resolve the matter.
____________
Written by Les Brown - As a renowned professional speaker, author and television personality, Les Brown has risen to national prominence by delivering a high energy message which tells people how to shake off mediocrity and live up to their greatness. Visit his web site at www.LesBrown.com

Sponsor: WHAT IF YOU HAD THE SAME MINUTE-BY-MINUTE THOUGHTS AS THE  SUPER SUCCESSFUL? Mike Brescia has developed the ultimate mental conditioning programs that can help anyone wipe out intense fears and enjoy huge successes in all areas of life. Learn more about these powerful programs here.

Dr. John Maxwell of San Diego, California, says that the average person influences 10,000 people - either for good or bad - in the course of a lifetime.  That means all of us are difference-makers.

Miss Amy Whittington would certainly qualify as one who directly and indirectly influenced thousands of people.  At age 83 she was still teaching a Sunday school class in Sault St. Marie, Michigan.  She learned that the Moody Bible Institute in Chicago was offering a seminar to teach people how to be more effective teachers.  She literally saved her pennies until she had the necessary money to buy a bus ticket.  She rode the bus all night to attend the seminar to learn new methods and procedures so she could do a better job.

One of the professors, impressed with her age, enthusiasm, and the fact that she had ridden the bus all night to attend the seminar, engaged her in conversation.  He asked her what age group she taught and how many were in her class.  When she responded that she taught a class of junior high school boys and there were 13 in the class, the professor asked how many kids belonged to the church.  Miss Whittington replied, “Fifty.” The professor, astonished that this little lady taught over 25% of the church youth, responded, “With that kind of record we should have you teach us how to teach.”  How right he was!

I hasten to add that people who are already good at what they do are far more likely to work at getting better than are those who are marginal performers.  What kind of impact did Miss Amy Whittington have? Eighty-six of those boys she taught in her Sunday school class through the years ended up in the ministry.  Can’t you just imagine the thousands of people she directly and indirectly impacted for good?  She truly was a difference-maker.  You are, too, so make it a “good” difference and I will SEE YOU AT THE TOP!
_____________
Zig Ziglar offers a weekly newsletter filled with more of his inspiring stories as well as practical ideas to help you in the areas of sales, marketing, customer service, and related topics. You can subscribe to the Zig Ziglar Newsletter at www.zigziglar.com.

*brought to you by GetMotivation.com