20 Awesome Things to Say That Will Radically Improve Your Life The biggest problem with deciding to do something is deciding to wait to do it. Why put off doing something you really want to do? Anything worth doing is worth doing now. Here are 20 things you need to say to yourself this week – not because you plan to do something but because you’ve already done it. And each is a lot easier to accomplish than some grand, sweeping, hopefully-life-changing-but-in the-end-you-never-manage-to-accomplish pledge. So let’s get started I finally got started! You have plans. You have goals. You have ideas. Who cares? You have nothing until you actually do something. Every day, we let hesitation and uncertainty stop us from acting on our ideas. Fear of the unknown and fear of failure often stops me and may be what stops you, too. Pick one plan, one goal, or one idea. And get started. Do something. Do anything. Just take one small step. The first step is by far the hardest. Every successive step will be a lot easier. Its totally my fault. Everyone makes mistakes. That makes it easy to blame others for our problems. But we are almost always also to blame. We did (or did not) do something we could have differently or better. Instead take full responsibility, but not in a masochistic, woe is me way, in an empowering way. Focus on being smarter or better or faster or more creative the next time. Youre awesome! No one receives enough praise. No one. Pick someone who did something well and tell them. And feel free to go back in time. Saying, I was just thinking about how you handled that project last year can make just as positive an impact today as it would have then. Maybe a little more impact, because you still remember what happened a year later. Surprise praise is a gift that costs the giver nothing but is priceless to the recipient. That wasnt nearly as bad as I thought... The most paralyzing fear is fear of the unknown. (At least it is for me.) Yet nothing ever turns out to be as hard or as scary as you think. Plus its incredibly exciting to overcome a fear. Youll get that I cant believe I jumped out of an airplane! rush, an amazing feeling you havent experienced for too long. So go do something you were afraid to do. I promise it won’t be as bad as you thought. Ill show you. One of the best ways to motivate me is to insult me -- or for me to manufacture a way to feel insulted. I use rejection to fuel my motivation to do whatever it takes to prove that person wrong and, more importantly, achieve what I want to achieve. Call it childish and immature. I dont care -- it works for me. And it can work for you. So next time dont turn the other mental cheek. Get pissed off, even if your anger is unjustified and imaginary -- in fact, especially if your anger is unjustified or angry -- and use it for fuel to shake you out of your same thing, different day rut. Can you help me? Asking someone for help instantly recognizes their skills and values and conveys your respect and admiration. Thats reason enough to ask someone to help you. The fact you will get the help you need is icing on the achievement cake. Can I help you? Then flip it around. Many people see asking for help as a sign of weakness so they hesitate. Yet we can all use help. But dont just say, Is there anything I can help you with? Most people will automatically say, No, Im all right. Be specific. Say, Ive got a few minutes, can I help you finish that? Offer in a way that feels collaborative, not patronizing or gratuitous. And then actually help. Youll make a real difference in someones life and take a solid step towards creating a real connection. I did something no one else is willing to do. Pick one thing other people arent willing to do. Pick something simple. Pick something small. Whatever it is, do it. Instantly youre a little different from the rest of the pack. Then keep going. Every day do one thing no one else is willing to do. After a week youll be uncommon. After a month, youll be special. After a year youll be incredible, and you wont be like anyone else. Youll be you. I dont care what other people think. Most of the time you should worry about what other people think -- but not if it stands in the way of living the life you really want to live. If you really want to start a business but youre worried that people might think youre crazy, screw em. If you really want to change careers but youre afraid of what people might think, screw em. Pick one thing you havent tried simply because youre worried about what other people think -- and just go do it. Its your life. Live it your way. Im really sorry. Weve all screwed up. We all have things we need to apologize for: words, actions, failing to step up, step in, or be supportive. Pick someone you need to apologize to -- the more time thats passed between the day it happened and today, the better. But dont follow up your apology with a disclaimer that in any way places even the tiniest amount of blame back on the other person. Say youre sorry, say why youre sorry, and take all the blame. Then youll both be in a better place. Im the king of the world! According to Harvard professor Amy Cuddy, two minutes of power posing -- standing tall, holding your arms out or towards the sky, or standing like Superman with your hands on hips -- will dramatically increase your confidence. Try it right before you step into the next situation where you know youll feel nervous, insecure, or intimidated. (Just make sure no one is watching.) It may sound strange... but it definitely works. Yes. Youre busy. Your plate is full. There are plenty of reasons to sit tight, stay safe, keep things as they are. But that also means tomorrow will be just like today. Say yes to something different. Say yes to something scary. Say yes to the opportunity youre most afraid of. When you say yes, youre really saying, I trust myself. Trust yourself. No. Still, you cant do everything. You cant help everyone. You may want to but you cant. Sometimes you just need to say no: to a favor, to a request, to a family member. Sometimes you really need to be able to focus on what is important to you. Say no at least once before the end of the month -- the harder to say, the better. And dont worry if you feel selfish: When your heart is in the right place, what you accomplish by spending more time on your goals will eventually benefit other people too. Youre fired. Maybe theres an employee you really need to let go but havent. Or maybe theres a customer, or a vendor, or even just a friend. Sometimes the best addition starts with subtraction. Pick someone who is dragging you down or holding you back, and let them go. Its not perfect... but thats okay. Yeah, you only get one chance to make a first impression. Yeah, perfection is the only acceptable outcome. Unfortunately, no product or service is ever perfect, and no project or initiative is perfectly planned. Work hard, do great work, and let it fly. Your customers will tell you what needs to be improved -- which means youll get to make improvements that actually matter. You cant find out until you let go. You cant really do anything until you let go. Thats not my job -- but who cares? Job descriptions are fine until they get in the way of getting things done. No matter what your role or what youve accomplished, youre never too good to roll up your sleeves, get dirty, and do a little grunt work. No job is ever too menial, no task too unskilled or boring. The next time you see something that needs to be done, just do it. Not only will it get done, youll feel better about yourself for doing it. Im really glad I tried their way. Sure, we’re all individuals. (Okay, Im not.) Most of the time we should set our own courses and follow our own paths. But sometimes the best thing to do is copy what made someone else successful. Pick someone who has accomplished what you would like to accomplish and follow that path. Dont always try to reinvent perfectly good wheels. Wow that was stupid. We should do that again! Sometimes the dumbest things result in the fondest memories: The time you and two employees stayed up all night loading trucks and listening to every Zeppelin album in order, the time you and a crew stayed in the plant all weekend during a snowstorm cranking out orders... each happened over 20 years ago but my memories are still vivid. Do something seemingly stupid or outrageous or crazy; the harder the better. You probably wont love it while youre doing it but the result will be a memory that will always make you smile Hi mom! Your parents love you. They want the best for you. They will always be there for you. But they wont be around forever. Call them. Nothing Self talk is awesome, but sometimes, at the end of a day when youve worked incredibly hard and kicked serious ass and still made time for friends and family and done everything possible to make sure all the important pieces of your world are in place and taken care of... and then look in the mirror, smile, and nod at the person looking back. Sometimes the best way to end a great day is with a silent acknowledgement of achievement and, more importantly, fulfillment.
Posted on: Sun, 10 Aug 2014 05:41:19 +0000
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