Motivation 2

Do you ever wonder whose life you’re influencing? Look around you. Who do you see? What’s going on in your environment?

Where are you having impact? Do you have the upper hand - carefully measuring and selecting what goes on in your world?

The person who takes charge of his or her environment, diminishes the unexpected outside influence and embraces the effort, energy and time it takes to make it all happen – is a person you need to pay attention to.

Power is the ability to bring about a change in one’s psychological environment.

Does this resonate with you? For someone to have the power to change your psychological environment, don’t you have to give them that power first? Or is this a psychological game people play?

All good questions. But the real question is this: when people attempt to use this power on you, do you recognize it?

The next generation of young leaders is just beginning the process of becoming curious. Looking for what meaning and purpose they will create for their life. Young leaders are now discovering what matters while emerging into the beginning stages of leadership. These young leaders who will be springing into the workplace; the small business, the corporation, and the entrepreneurial stage will need a strong mental and emotional reservoir to make the strides they desire.

The best learned lessons come not from your success, but from your failures. Actually, the biggest failure is not learning from your mistakes.

Mistakes come and go. But certain mistakes remain constant simply because you are circulating the same habits that perpetuate the same mistakes. Then you wonder, “What went wrong” or “Why does this always happen to me?”

Asking for what you want is the necessary first step in getting what you want. That’s the way it works! If you don’t ask you don’t get – simple. Simple. Really? If it was so simple then why are less than 15% of C-level positions in corporate American occupied by women although they comprise 47% of the U.S. labor force? And women only own 1% of the world’s wealth. Are you not asking for or wanting higher level positions? Are you resisting leadership, decision-making and authority roles? Do you shy away from being in situations of power, wealth and influence?

Opportunities are like buses, there’s one coming by every 10 minutes. The problem is you can’t get on every bus and there is no magical formula for knowing which bus is the right one. So, you make the best guess, step out and grab on – only to realize that a different bus would have gotten you there quicker and better. The same goes for opportunities. Not all opportunities pan out to be what’s best for you.

It’s easy being optimistic or maintaining a positive attitude when everything is going well. The real test is keeping a positive attitude when things turn to you-know-what.

The world today is experiencing several changes, most of which are scary. The outcomes are unknown making people feel unsure about what’s next. And these outcomes are basically out of your control.

So, what can you control? Your attitude, your perspective on what is happening, and your thoughts about what you can and will do.

Conventional wisdom has taught us it’s more important to be respected than liked. But there is something to be said about the power of likeability.

The bridge between you and success is built around likeability. Sure, there are successful people who are not liked. But the road to success can be easier, and more profitable, by being likeable.

If you want to earn support from your peers, have the loyalty of your employees, lead your followers to a better future, and finally achieve your life’s dreams, you must first be liked.

Men and women in business are astute when it comes to watching out for integrity. You want to know that everyone you deal with, hire, or promote is working from a space of integrity. The word integrity conjures up images of politicians, business people and individuals in authority. It’s a blue ribbon that people feel a need to conquer.

Knowing when to say no is a major first step in getting to yes. How? Psychologically, when people hear no their immediate reaction is how they can turn that 'no' into a yes. For instance, when you tell the car salesperson, "not today", they begin to figure out ways to make the deal even sweeter - to your advantage. Saying no can open up doors that yes never would. Another example is when you say no to your kids having 20 kids for a sleepover. Then they will begin negotiating to the manageable 6 friends. Saying no leads to better more effective negotiation.