Have you thought about your success lately?

Have you thought about your success lately?  Have you reviewed your life, scratched your head and said “Hmmmm”?  Has your definition of success changed since you were a teenager planning your future?  Maybe it’s time to look at what success really, is or can be for you.

No matter where you are in your life, just starting out, getting ready to retire, or somewhere in between, you can still dream.  And, dream you should.

Every individual has the power to become successful by their own definition.  What is your definition of success?

Don't forget to visit us online at www.LdiWorld.com to find out how to get "Your Personal Handbook for Success".

SUCCESS, IT'S EVERYTHING YOU THINK IT IS

Success in life depends on 2 things . . . What you THINK you can do and the amount of EFFORT you're willing to put forth to accomplish it. Everything you do is created twice; the first is in your thoughts. Before it can be created it MUST be dreamed. They are YOUR dreams so you might as well DREAM BIG. There is a book/movie out there titled "The Secret", you may have heard of it, or even watched it. I liked it. It's one of those inspirational, feel good, self-help pieces of work. The "Secret", according to the writer, and the "gurus" who are featured is, "The Law of Attraction". This I also believe. We do attract what we think about. But here is the REAL secret - you have to get off your butt and do something about it.

 Success is like a garden. You can plant the seed, but if that's all you do and don't water and feed the seed or nurture and protect the plants, you will end up with a garden over run with weeds, insects, varmints and other things you don't need - or want. On the other hand, if you till the soil, prepare the earth, add some fertilizer, water it, discard any unwanted weeds and maintain the garden, it will blossom into beautiful flowers, vegetables, etc. The same holds true for our thoughts and dreams, you have to plant the seed (your dream, thoughts, etc). But then here comes the LDI "Secret". Get back out there and do something about it. Get your hands dirty, feed the dream with action. Find the weeds that are choking you, the bad habits, old baggage, haters and others who are happy to see you fail, and pull them out, eradicate them and set boundaries to keep them from taking over your thoughts and dreams. Don't let them over run your garden or ruin your dreams. Next, leverage your dreams and look for opportunities to improve your success, something like adding fertilizer to help it grow. Find a coach or mentor, join a mastermind group, build a dream board, read, and associate with others who share your dreams. Finally get out there. Get dirty, take calculated risk, don’t be afraid to fail. Learn from the experience(s). Believe in yourself. If you don’t, why the heck would anyone else.

Be Extraordinary!

Anthony Tormey
Founder & President
Leader Development Institute

SUCCESS RULE # 27 - Practice Gratitude

As we begin the month of November, we tend to tie gratitude to Thanksgiving.  However, gratitude in November must also be tied to our Veterans.  Those who have devoted themselves to ensure that you and I can enjoy the freedom that we so cherish.  The brave young men and women who have served and continue to serve today deserve our gratitude.  Not just one day a year, but every day.

The rule being shared today, written by Anthony Tormey, speaks of practicing gratitude as a means of attaining success…a way to adjust our attitude by being grateful.  There is so much negativity in the world; it is often difficult to see anything to be grateful for.  May I make a suggestion?  Start by thanking a veteran!

Thank you for allowing me to share this with you.

Cindy Nonnemacher

Executive Assistant

Leader Development Institute

CindyLee@LdiWorld.com

RULE # 27 - Practice Gratitude

The practice of gratitude as a tool for happiness has been in the mainstream for years. Long-term studies support gratitude’s effectiveness, suggesting that a positive, appreciative attitude contributes to greater success in work, greater health, peak performance in sports and business, a higher sense of well-being, and a faster rate of recovery from surgery.

But while we may acknowledge gratitude’s many benefits, it still can be difficult to sustain. So many of us are trained to notice what is broken, undone or lacking in our lives. And for gratitude to meet its full healing potential in our lives, it needs to become more than just a Thanksgiving word. We have to learn a new way of looking at things, a new habit. And that can take some time.

That’s why practicing gratitude makes so much sense. When we practice giving thanks for all we have, instead of complaining about what we lack, we give ourselves the chance to see all of life as an opportunity and a blessing.

Remember that gratitude isn’t a blindly optimistic approach in which the bad things in life are whitewashed or ignored. It’s more a matter of where we put our focus and attention. Pain and injustice exist in this world, but when we focus on the gifts of life, we gain a feeling of well-being. Gratitude balances us and gives us hope.

There are many things to be grateful for: colorful autumn leaves, body parts that work, friends who listen and really hear, chocolate, liberty and freedom, warm jackets, a job, the ability to read, roses, our health, butterflies. What’s on your list?

Some Ways to Practice Gratitude

·       Keep a gratitude journal in which you list things for which you are thankful. You can make daily, weekly or monthly lists. Greater frequency may be better for creating a new habit, but just keeping that journal where you can see it will remind you to think in a grateful way.

·       Make a gratitude collage by drawing or pasting pictures.

·       Practice gratitude around the dinner table or make it part of your nighttime routine.

·       Practice gratitude around the conference table or make it part of your office routine.

·       Make a game of finding the hidden blessing in a challenging situation.

·       When you feel like complaining, make a gratitude list instead. You may be amazed by how much better you feel.

·       Notice how gratitude is impacting your life. Write about it, sing about it, express thanks for gratitude

As you practice, an inner shift begins to occur, and you may be delighted to discover how content and hopeful you are feeling. That sense of fulfillment is gratitude at work.