Andy Stanley, the author who wrote “Fields of Gold”, is the person responsible for the following quote:

Often, stepping outside your comfort zone is not careless irresponsibility, but a necessary act of obedience.

This statement just about says it all with regards to how true financial success can only be achieved when we are prepared to take risks, even if the risk has been calculated. Todays’ entrepreneur well-knows that in an increasingly competitive Global economic community, the discomfort of uncertainty leads to the biggest reward.

The perimeter of the courage zone does not need to expand at the same pace for everyone, but as long as it keeps expanding – the sky, as they say, is the limit. Bigger challenges can be handled in the future, as more confidence is gained. Not everything we are willing to take a risk on works out in the end, but the willingness to make mistakes is what truly matters.

Many successful people tell us that they don’t do what is expected of them, they are driven by what inspires them the most. So, we don’t necessarily have to do what scares us, but rather what inspires us. A willingness to push boundaries, and challenge assumptions may mean we need nerves of steel, and might not be for the faint of heart, but we also learn loads from criticism, and experiencing setbacks. At the risk of being exposed, should we protect out patch of power, and pride, or get out there, toot our own horns, ruffle feathers and get noticed. We think you know the answer to that.

On-going assessment of the decisions we make allows us to manage any fear of failure or rejection. Yes, at times we all feel exposed and vulnerable, but does that mean we should play it safe? No, it means we need to continually and proactively seek out new challenges, move forward, and attempt to take positive action. Doing what we have always done, if this means being safe, secure and comfortable, only leads to the same results.

No failure is ever one cataclysmic event – it is simply making the same mistakes over again without learning from them. Therefore, our failures were never mistakes, they do not determine our future success, but are simply a benchmark for how to move forward into success. Using the discomfort of uncertainty to achieve success, is simply a matter of engaging with the movement of life, stepping onto centre stage, doing whatever it is we have been putting off, and participating boldly in our own lives. This attitude opens up all sorts of possibilities for new ideas, opportunities, relationships, and successes to bloom.

Communication

Communicating, clearly and confidently, enables you to reach your audience (both peers and superiors) in a way that makes it much harder to ignore your contribution. It doesn’t matter whether you’re introverted or extroverted, you have to be able to get your message across.

Relationship Building

“No man is an island.” It’s a cliché but an essential one. No-one can make progress without the support and cooperation of their colleagues. If you alienate the people around you, no matter how good you are, you can’t be effective.

Leadership

This could easily fall into the first two categories. Inspiring and empowering people is key to both. It’s also vital that you know when to lead and when to follow. Just because you have the highest rank in the room, it doesn’t mean there aren’t times when you shouldn’t step back and let someone else lead.

Personal Advocacy

Sometimes you need to blow your own trumpet. Do you know how to portray your agenda in a way that enables others to support you. Can you communicate not just your achievements but your roadmap in meaningful way to your higher management? You’ll be very lucky if during your career you can find one other person to clear the way for you – you certainly can’t rely on it.

Making Decisions

Do you dilly-dally and procrastinate every time a hard (or even an easy) call need making? It can be difficult for many people to even now how they can make a decision that delivers what they want. Ideally your decision making should also enable learning and progress your career by opening up avenues of opportunity too.

Defining Boundaries

Do you find it difficult to divide, work from home? Is it a struggle to meet both social and professional obligations? In that case you’re probably finding it difficult to define and protect the boundaries of your work life. It’s important to recognize what is important to you, particularly what you need and what you want from each are of your life. After that you need to structure your work life around boundaries that you create to protect these needs and wants.

It’s these six most basic of skills that many of us find so difficult to develop in full. Yet, they offer powerful keys to our own development and in turn that development offers great opportunities to employers that harness individuals with these skills. It’s not selfish to want to be better, it’s smart. All of these skills can be developed, and all of us need different levels of help to succeed with each of them. This is an area where coaching can be really beneficial because it allows for a fully tailored approach to personal development – something that most training courses can’t do.

It can be easy to get stuck in a comfort zone and find that life has become an endless round of the same routine. However, once in a while it is good to find a way to break with comfortable daily patterns and deal with life in a different way. By challenging yourself to try a new skill, new mindset or new activity it is possible to get a new perspective on your life and abilities. Taking a new approach to life, work or how leisure time is used, can often bring huge benefits in attitude and energy levels. Challenging yourself and opening up to new experiences will also take you on a journey of personal growth and development which can provide great rewards.

Try Something New

Many people are discouraged from trying something new due to a fear of failure or a lack of self belief which leads them to assume they will fail. These are self limiting fears which can be turned around by making the decision to ignore doubts and negative comments. When you make the decision to take a positive step towards a new goal or achievement that is the beginning of a journey away from the limitations that you, or the people around you, have placed on your life. If you do not try, you will never know and, even if the journey does not take you exactly where you imagined, the experience will provide an opportunity for learning and growth. Once that process has begun it builds momentum which can help overcome the barriers that have been previously considered too difficult to overcome.

Take Control Of Your Life

Setting out towards a new level of personal achievement can often be the beginning of a journey towards happiness, more confidence, increased energy and more self fulfillment. Accepting that it is possible to reach a personal goal and finding the initiative to progress towards that target brings new personal growth, a wider perspective on life and a better understanding of the attitude needed for success. The pride you feel from taking control of your own life and taking on new experiences with an open mind will further build the positive energy you are creating for your journey. These changes in perception alone can contribute to a life affirming shift in your outlook. The personal development and growth in confidence from accepting a new challenge can lead to far wider benefits for your life and mindset.

The power of challenging yourself is that it may lead to discovering new skills or achieving things that were previously though to be out of reach. By setting a personal target beyond normal levels of experience or daily activity it is possible to discover a new sense of achievement. Disregard any ideas of your own limits or lack of ability and make a positive decision to achieve something which has previously seemed out of reach. The results from aiming higher can be startling and success in reaching a personal goal will lead to further confidence to go on accepting challenges. Once you start the journey towards a long held ambition or target it can be just one step in an incredibly fulfilling and motivating life experience.

Is there something you always wanted to do? Then make it happen!

Many people are prevented from accomplishing an ambition or life dream by a set of obstacles they create themselves. There are a huge number of people who have overcome great physical, emotional or mental barriers in order to achieve great things. What they all have in common is they knew what they wanted to do and then set about systematically removing the barriers until they achieved their goal. These people do not have special characteristics or different natural abilities; they simply have determination, courage and work hard. If they can do it so can you.

Success leads to more success

The wonderful thing about achievement is that once you have succeeded, you open your mind to a whole new reality in which you can do anything if you set your mind to it. The journey to achieving your goals teaches you about yourself and how to deal with obstacles or anxieties. Once you have started the journey, you are learning all the time and this new knowledge is invaluable for your next voyage towards achieving your personal goals. The sense of pride and accomplishment you feel from completing a personal goal can be a huge motivating factor for taking on your next challenge.

Take people with you on the journey

By enlisting the help and support of people around you it can increase your chances of success enormously. Everybody has days when they are lacking in energy or self-belief. These are the times when a good team of people around you can inspire and encourage you to get back on track. Sometimes we worry about being a burden or find it hard to trust other people to deliver on our behalf. However, most relationships are built on mutual trust and respect so the people around you are likely to want to see you succeed and be happy. If you find it hard to identify people who can give you the support you need then consider if you need more specialist or expert advice and backing. Many personal ambitions require professional tuition or the input of someone who has achieved the specific task themselves. If a lack of confidence or anxiety is the biggest barrier to making your dreams a reality then enlist the help of a counselor or life coach. The important thing to remember is that it is not necessary to do it on your own.

Practice discipline and self-control

Success rarely happens overnight. It takes hard work and a consistent approach, day by day to achieve your goals. A great amount of self-discipline may be needed to keep focused and maintain the effort required. However if you keep your goal in mind and use the support of the people around you to maintain your motivation it is possible to stay the course. Self-control also helps in moments of doubt or anxiety. You can use relaxation techniques to calm your thoughts and emotions and tune out any negative voices. Look after yourself physically to ensure you are in the best shape for achieving your dreams. Eating healthily, getting good sleep and regular exercise can all help by ensuring your body has the energy it needs to pursue your goals. Some people benefit from a daily routine or a sense of order in their environment. This can provide the right structure within which to succeed.

Believe in yourself

Some people find it hard to take on a new challenge without fear and anxiety overcoming their desire for change. Others experience difficulties in achieving personal goals which discourage them from persisting. If you find it hard to be positive about your chances of succeeding at something then it can help to change your perspective. Be purposeful and do not let past experiences or frustration distract you. If you experience anxiety then try relaxation techniques or get some help from friends or family who are positive and can offer support. If you are still finding it difficult to find the confidence to reach your goals in life then enlist some professional help and consult a coach or therapist to help you discover your self-belief.

No need for narcissism

There is a big difference between the type of self-confidence which enables people to achieve in life and the type of confidence shown by people with narcissistic personalities. People who exhibit narcissism are usually self-obsessed, show little concern for other people, have a sense of entitlement and have an unrealistic view of their own abilities. This type of over-confidence often results in failed relationships and an inability to work well with other people. Try not mistake the outward appearance of confidence with genuine qualities for success.

Review and move on

It always helps to take time out, step back from what you are doing and reflect on progress so far. By checking if you are still on-course you can take control of your personal growth and development. If things are going to plan reward yourself and feel pride in a job going well. If things have shifted and you have been knocked off-course or distracted then you have a chance to get back on track. If you are unhappy with what you have achieved so far do not get preoccupied with regrets or guilt. Make a decision to draw a line under any negative experiences and move on with your plans.

Compassion and perspective

By treating the people around you with compassion and respect you demonstrate a form of mature confidence which elicits respect in return. It may sometimes seem as if people get what they want by treading on others and belittling their work. However this approach does not encourage people to feel good about themselves or the culture they are operating in. By taking a calm, thoughtful and considerate approach to your relationships with other people you will feel good about yourself and encourage a culture of respect around you. To develop a sense of compassion and patience in dealing with others it can help to get a different perspective. By helping less fortunate people you can benefit from greater insight and a broader view of the world. Working for a charity, community project or offering your time as a volunteer can help you discover new skills while expanding your horizons and getting a better perspective on your own skills and life experiences.

I can achieve my goals

The first step towards achieving your goals is to believe in yourself.  Taking a positive attitude to reaching your personal targets will bring them a step closer. By refusing to let apparent obstacles or barriers stop you from starting on a journey towards happiness and fulfillment you are already half way there.  Once you have decided that you can achieve something there are a few steps you can take to make the journey easier and increase your chances of succeeding.

Prioritize

Identify the goals you most want to achieve and start with those.  By prioritizing your ambitions you minimize the chances of getting overwhelmed by the task ahead and ensure you focus on the important matters first.  Try not to get over excited and take on too many things at once or expect huge success quickly.  Be patient and be prepared to tackle the challenge in small steps.  Pace yourself and try not to pour all your energy and enthusiasm into the first stages, as you may run out of steam further down he road.  However take care that being patient and calm in your approach does not encourage a tendency to procrastinate.  Remind yourself not to put things off if they can be tackled today and if you give yourself a break for a day make sure you pick things up the following day before you find you have taken too much time out and lost momentum.

Focus

Try to keep your focus and not be distracted by self doubt or other easier tasks.  To help maintain the necessary concentration on the task at hand have an incentive for completion at each step of the process.  Remember to reward yourself for any achievements or completed steps, have something to show for each stage and celebrate it.  When your energy, enthusiasm and concentration are waning get support from the people around you.  Make public statements about your intentions and use other people’s enthusiasm to build on your own.  Once you have committed to achieving something publicly the pressure from people around you can spur you on, however take care not to let it overwhelm you.

Persevere

To reach your goals and enjoy the success and happiness that comes from achievement takes tenacity.  This is where being stubborn can be a very useful, rather than negative, trait.  If you can keep going and not let small obstacles stop you then you have the ability to overcome any barriers, even those that may be perceived as too big to conquer, along the way.  Keep reminding yourself of what it is that you want, how far you have come and what the benefits will be once you have achieved your goals.  Sometimes the end point does not look exactly as you imagined when you set out, however the experience and what you have learned along the way will be enormously useful and empowering.  People who are happy and positive about life are often those that can take a bad situation and turn it into a positive one.  If the journey towards your goals takes you into unexpected territory then simply change your reference points and move on.  Happiness is not always where you expect to find it but by enjoying the journey you will be most of the way there.

Be Inclusive

If you always talk about “I” or “Me” doing something or achieving something – you’re leaving out the people who matter. Your team deserve to be recognized for their efforts, sharing a vision means sharing the rewards too. Great leaders acknowledge the contribution of the people who got them there. Start using “We”.

Paint an Inspirational Picture Together

Take the time out to talk to those around you about your vision. Be both specific and detailed, give people a reason to want to share in that future. Most importantly offer them an opportunity to shape that future – don’t just talk, listen. Invite feedback and input and let your team take ownership of their destiny.

Succeed in Advance

One of the simplest ways to make things easier for your team – is to act like you’ve succeeded before you’ve begun. New tasks can be daunting and the unfamiliar can be scary. If you send the message of 100% trust and belief in your team – they’ll believe in themselves too.

Be Congruent

What does that mean? It means “walk the walk, don’t just talk the talk”. People respect leaders who actually embody their message. There’s no use driving your team to be punctual if you’re going to waltz into the office an hour late with a cup of coffee in your hand. If you want people to do as you say, you’ll have to start by doing it too.

Be Clear

In true Alice in Wonderland style; “Say what you mean, and mean what you say.” That means clarity and honesty in your speech. This serves two purposes. The first is to enable your team to understand your instructions. The second is for them to have faith in those instructions.

Try not to Assume

It’s easy to get carried away with power. Leaders don’t forget that the people who work for and with them have schedules and workloads. By asking if something can be done, rather than assuming it can be – you give someone the opportunity to highlight any issues that might get in the way of delivering.

Two-way communication makes an order into a request. People like to help. They really don’t like to be told what to do.

Leadership requires communication that inspires and brings people with you willingly. Simple changes to the way you act and speak can bring enormous benefits to you. Many new leaders actively seek coaching (and mentoring) in order to develop these skills. Working through new challenges supported by someone who understands where you are in your career is a great way to rapidly develop your skills to lead.

Here are some key ideas to make this work in practice:

Coach and Train For Success

Customers are human beings, a well trained and fully empowered group of customer care representatives reflect the truth of that. They’re able to make decisions in the interests of the business that deliver a great experience – there’s no need for a handbook or manual, it’s a matter of common sense.

Honesty and Integrity

No cheap tricks, no sleight of hand. If you have a returns policy – honor it. If you have a special promotion, tell your existing customers when they place a repeat order, don’t let them find out from another source and leave them feeling cheated. Treat people with respect and fairness, both inside the business and outside of it. If your staff work in a backstabbing, dishonest environment don’t be surprised when this carries over to the customer. In short a great place to work, delivers great benefits to customers.

Lead from The Front

This ties in with the last point. Your leaders must embody the philosophy that the customer counts. A disconnect between; “Do what I say not what I do.” is a recipe for disaster. They (your leaders) develop the culture and promote the positive business model.

Reward Excellence

If you have superstars on the phones, or on the shop floor – recognize them for it, and not with gimmicky employee of the month programs, pay them more and offer genuine career advantages like more training or flexible working arrangements.

Shout Out About Your Care

Make it easy for clients to get in touch, don’t bury your customer care number in small print. Make it a prominent addition to every piece of marketing material and branded collateral you have. Encourage unhappy customers to get in touch, don’t wait until they’ve moved to the competition and then try and win them back.

Remove Complexity

If your customers need to push 12 buttons before they talk to a person, that’s way too much. Make it easy for your clients to talk to someone as soon as they call. There’s nothing more frustrating than endless automated options and it’s better to reduce the level of upset facing an already unhappy customer.

Apply Common Sense

If you hire people you trust (and you should). Then you should trust them to do their jobs. Don’t set individual targets for call length or face-to-face time, let your people decide how much time is “enough”. Measure customer happiness and make that the basis of reviews and rewards. Then elevate the very best in front of their peers, and encourage them to meet those standards.

Building the right environment for client satisfaction is essential to win over business. It’s also the critical path to retaining that business and turning your clients into ambassadors for your brand.

In this podcast, Debbie will help you realize why the qualities you admire in others already exist in you.

[private_basic]

[/private_basic]

For more information about Debbie Ford, visit her website: www.debbieford.com.

In this video, he will show you how to ignite both your motivation and your success to live your BEST life possible!