Starting out and Achieving our goals always start with the First Step

Achieving goals by this one great step

Way No.1: 90% Planning and the Rest is execution

It said that a lot of people have really great ideas and plans, but lack of action is what stops them from moving ahead. It's not still the end of the year, so there is always a chance for a new beginning. We must use this as an opportunity to start on our plans. As an IT student, I had learned that success to most projects is 90% planning and the rest is execution. But many of us are just stuck in the first phase and seldom thinking of moving to the next.

(Read here, how I started out blogging, Click Here) Blogging was something that I always wanted to do and now doing it is, of course, a learning experience and a journey by itself. I think more than writing skills, it is being vulnerable that can stop us. A small step to open ourselves to others can take us a long way.

Way No.2: Failing is okay

What is keeping us back? I am sure there are many good reasons. But I think one of them could be the fear of failing and looking bad. Failing is okay, but not trying to work on your goals can be a source of major regret. I once heard this from a motivational speaker and this idea really caught my imagination. He said that imagine you are on your death bed and you start thinking of all the things you could have done to achieve those goals and dreams. 

Imagine all the possibilities of how things could have been. Imagine all those possibilities haunting you and crying to you for concretizing or work on them. Now think that you are going to die with all these regrets someday. (Chriseducator.com)

Is it all worth it or is it worth it to work on those goals or dreams you aspire. I think one must sit down and think about it.

Way no.3: Determined Action

Powerful Quote from Tony Robbins

I would like to leave you with this quote from Tony Robbins. He is a great motivational speaker and he has changed many peoples lives. This is what he has to say about being successful.

Tony Robbins: Take Action

Concluding thoughts:

First steps are difficult and so is the beginning of any new project. But with proper planning and deliberation, we can find our way ahead. Our focus should be on excellence and not just perfection. A right attitude can be a real game-changer.

I think this mantra sums it all up for us.

"Audacious Goals + Massive ( Determined ) Action"

Further Reading:

The Overthinker’s Guide for Taking Action: A Complete Guide
https://startupbros.com/overthinkers-guide-taking-action-complete-guide/

How to Take Action: 12 Habits that Turn Dreams into Reality
https://www.positivityblog.com/how-to-take-action/

Why Is It Important To Take Action?
https://www.seeken.org/important-take-action/

Opportunities & Difficulties

Being an Entrepreneur and working for self can be such a blessing. But Let me tell you, It has its own difficulties. Life is always filled with possibilities ( Check this article I wrote on Choices), like Napolean Hill would say that it is our lack of self-confidence that holds us back, but I would say that it is also not being prepared.

So how does one be prepared, I would say self preparedness starts with a healthy self-evaluation.

Finding your Strengths

One of the basic things that we learn in Management is a SWOT analysis. It is a topic taught under the subject of Strategic Management ( Quite an interesting topic). So basically, starts out with understanding their Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats. This is quite a good starting point, Understanding yourself or your organization. 

Spiritual Masters had their own version of it, but this happened for spiritual growth. They would evaluate their entire day and pray for people. The same can be applied or practiced, by taking a personal inventory of our entire day. Ultimately, Time is one of the greatest assets we have.

So then what next, 

How to decide your Mission? The Guy Kawasaki Way

Set a mission... and how Guy Kawasaki would do it. Set a mantra. 

Mantras are much more effective. Mantras summarise all that you want to do and achieve. It can be very effective as it would constantly remind us of our purpose.

Check this Youtube video, He shares with startups on the importance of having a mantra.

These techniques can also be used for our personal growth too.

Keeping a Plan B

What can be a Plan B? For an Entrepreneur, it can be another income source or leveraging a network. A Plan B can be also pursued as a hobby, It does not need to occupy all your time. 

It can be some that you love doing and are passionate about. And yes it should pay you something. Being resourceful and taking small steps can be really helpful.

So let us summarise some ideas on Being Prepared

1. Understand yourself
2. Have a Mantra
3. What's your Plan B

Here is an interesting quote on Preparedness:

Power Quote by Louis Pasteur

 Friends are like companions that journey with you till they reach their destinations. It would be unimaginable to live without them. I used to have little to few friends, A lot of great books and ideas helped me along the way.

Developing yourself is a life long process and I think friendships can really play a key role in it. The positive side of social networking is the power to connect quite easily, of course, there are many articles on the side effects of it. But we must not forget the benefits too.
It's great having friends.

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Some interesting ideas and quotes that help understand Gratitude

Practicing Gratitude can really make a difference in Personal growth and here are some encouraging words to help you

Check my posts on Gratitude and reasons behind practicing gratefulness. Click here and here.

Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never, ever have enough

     - Oprah Winfrey

Acknowledging the good that you already have in your life is the foundation for all abundance.

        -Eckhart Tolle

The Struggle ends when gratitude begins.

         -Neal Donald Walsh

The roots of all goodness lie in the soil of appreciation.

        - Dalai Lama

I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought, and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.

         - G. K. Chesterton

When a person doesn't have gratitude, something is missing in his or her humanity. A person can almost be defined by his or her attitude toward gratitude.

          -Elie Weisel

Remember the past with gratitude, live the present with Enthusiasm, look forward to the future with Confidence.

          -St. John Paul II

Gratitude is the single most important ingredient to living a successful & fulfilled life.

          -Jack Canfield

Do let me know in the comment section if you find these quotes interesting.

More Quotes on Gratitude:

https://www.success.com/15-thoughtful-quotes-about-gratitude/

https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/gratitude

https://www.inc.com/jeremy-goldman/17-inspiring-quotes-about-gratitude.html

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Master Guide to Resourcefulness: Learn Four Mantras to be Resourceful

What does it mean to be resourceful?

The Dictionary defines resourcefulness as the ability to find quick and clever ways to overcome difficulties. I am sure we all have experienced situations that make us feel the same, All our dreams, plans and work on whether on a pet project or something major, things turn out differently. We all have been there. I think this is the most common thing to our human experience, things turning out different than we expected. This is where being resourceful becomes the only resort and sometimes can be a gamechanger.

Issues or Problem...doing it the donkey's way

Issue or problems can come to us in different forms and can smack us, bring us down. I read this interesting story in an article in the Des Moines Register by Harvey Mackay. It's on the story of a donkey who is narrating to his grandson an incident when he was stuck in a ditch. The donkey mentions a moment when he had fallen into a ditch. After a long wait, a farmer notices the donkey. He later waits until the next morning to tell other villagers. Instead of saving the donkey, they decide to bury the donkey. They start throwing mud at the donkey. The donkey had a choice to panic and die or use what he had. So the donkey decided to use the mud thrown at him. He would climb up the pile of mud and at last, the donkey saved itself. Sometimes life can be like this, it can take such twists that land us in difficult situations. (Read the entire story at the link mentioned above) Imagine if that donkey had not been resourceful, he would have been dead. Sometimes making a difference requires us to use whatever we have, but also to persevere and see the opportunity in difficult circumstances.

Fighting a painful situation

This next story will tell you how. This is the experience of a close friend. He had been through a painful breakup, he had two choices whine about it or just move on. So he moved on, it was quite difficult for him. He concentrated his energy on his studies. It made a huge difference and got him into a good college with a scholarship. He had used his painful situation to help him change his life and help him achieve his goals. He had been resilient and resourceful too.

Resourcefulness can work wonders. But the question is how does one be resourceful. Is there any way or method to help us. I believe there are ideas that help us be resourceful. These ideas I can say have been tested and tried from my experience, I can say it works.

Here are some of them, Check it out:

Stick to your goals

I think the most important thing to be resourceful is not to forget your goals. But sticking to goals would mean also sticking to them when there doesn't seem any way forward. I think this would be really productive in finding healthy solutions. Although going off tangents can sometimes be good, it could lead to good ideas and also great discoveries. But sticking to your goals gives you a focus and helps you to deal with the 'why' behind what we want to achieve.

Think alternatives

Yes, thinking alternatives is important to be resourceful. This could mean start with understanding the position of our current situation and what are some solutions. One could start with brainstorming ideas and then jotting them down. The feasibility of each idea should be considered.

Lose the war, Win the battle

It's okay to fail at the beginning, cause ultimately lack of resources and bad ideas should not stop us from trying and pursuing our quest to achieve our goals ( but the feasibility should help you decide that. Small failures are fine and they give feedback ( It's like healthy to course correct). Ultimately, It's about the vision and goals that one has in minded.

Attitude Matters

 Being open-minded and confident I think is important to be resourceful. I think these two qualities are important. Being open-minded can help you be creative and Confidence can bring in the faith and hardworking required to achieve success. Lack of confidence brings in scrupulousness (that is good), but also self-doubt that can make people not give their best and ultimately force people to give up.

Bonus One

What to do when there are no alternatives

1) Delay
2) Don't choose when you are in difficult situations
3) Confidence doesn't mean being stupid: Learn when to quit

The first one can seem counter-intuitive (I know), but sometimes it's important to not make bad choices thinking they are good and then repenting about it. It is important to have some space to make choices. (That's my take, do let me know in the comment section if you disagree). Being confident is important and learning when to quit is even more important. But this is for another article.:)

Additional Ideas

I think an important key to being resourceful is to build a person's emotional and spiritual quotient. This helps a person to succeed and effective.

Some Interesting Ideas

https://www.edutopia.org/blog/8-pathways-why-resourcefulness-matters-marilyn-price-mitchell

https://in.pinterest.com/erin_wing/teaching-resourcefulness/

For Teams

https://www.resourcefulmanager.com/team-building/

NLP Exercise to be Resourceful

http://www.oakdust.com/Resourceful_states.htm

Summary

Further Read

Prepare yourself with these 7 Strategies to a Highly Effective Presentation

Speeches and Presentations

In India, we have just had a General Election and we have chosen the leader to guide us into the future. One very striking quality of Narendra Modiji, our Prime Minister-elect is that he is a very good orator and politician. He has a well-seasoned personality and captivating side to him, his presentation and thoughts are put forth quite clearly and succinctly.

I believe that a good presentation depends on various factors. They all combine to bring the message to the audience. Of course like anything else, practice and proper feedback will help you master it. That's the thing about skills regular practice and good feedback helps you succeed.

My Personal Experience and Boring Speeches

As an educator, I have been more into teaching young adults and presenting to people from the industry. It was quite an opportunity to deliver training at a School to students of Grade 4. I just used less lingo and adapted the topic to their needs. My delivery was quite similar to what I have been used to. I got good feedback and experience. Let me be clear, I am a good speaker but not the best. I strive every day to be better. Here are 7 highly effective strategies that I have noticed good Speakers use. One thing amazing about good Speeches they not only inform you but also have the ability to move you to action.

So Let me start with some of these powerful but simple ideas.

Use Pointers not paragraphs:

Choosing better over Best

Here is a quote from Nelson Mandela on Choices to guide us on the same...

Hopes vs Fears

Wish you all the best and May you make good choices with your hopes as a guide.

5 Reasons to Blog and why I started blogging

Communication is exciting and fun, although it can be challenging for a lot of people. I used to be quite shy as a person, but after a long effort, it helped me deal with this challenge in a more structured way. I faced a similar challenge while trying to start with a blog.

Why Chris Educator?

Purpose & Prose

Learning Curves

Starting your Blog...

Why Blogger

Wordpress is awesome and the Benefits of Blogger

Blog Identity: The difference it makes

The Basics

Naming your Blog

Why People Blog? Hobby, Money and much more

Perks of  Blogging

Categories & Types of Blogs

The Price to pay: Is it Expensive or Cheap

Pain areas of Blogging

Resources for your blog and related costs

Enhancing your Blog: How to spice it up

Marketing your Blog: Getting Heard

Purposeful Blogging: Intent, Intentions...

There is always something to learn in Life

There always some insight we can get from life, people and Circumstances.

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The Essence of Being Positive...What is Positive Thinking and What it's not.

Life is never like a straight line graph, everything going fine all the time. There are ups and downs, rises and falls, twists and turns. In a way, this adds fun and pain to the journey we call life. So it's a given that we are going to be negative or at least have phases when things don't go as expected.

Understanding Pessimism

So how does one become more positive? It's just not about seeing the glass half full. Become more positive is like an addition sum where add something to what we already know. It's not an escape. So, I am not saying that negativity is wrong. Here is a quote on Pessimism which shed some light on the matter,

"We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars." by Oscar Wilde

In a way, we are all in a metaphorical gutter, muddled in our situations. It is that hopefulness that is the essence of being positive. So if we take pessimism as a kind of Reality seeing exercise, Being positive is just adding a tadka to it. Just a dash of hopefulness to spice it up. This adds flavor to this guttery dish called life- now suddenly things are different and better.

Benefits of Positive Thinking

Of course, There are Benefits of positive thinking and advantages of it as well. Let's list some of them. According to an article by Mayo Clinic, The health benefits of Positivity are tremendous.*1 These benefits touch various areas of one’s life, right from the common cold to improved cardiovascular health. It seems it can also increase one's life span. Personally, I initially thought of it as something that was obvious, but I was wrong. But it’s quite a long story- it has helped me tremendously in my workspace. As an Entrepreneur and Educator, Sowing times when we are waiting for projects and dreams to materialize, it can be quite stressful. A small amount of Faith and loads of positivity have helped move ahead quite successfully.

Attitudes can affect others

So then, Be positive and understand the effect. It’s just not going to affect you, but like negative thinking affect others. Ideas and thoughts are quite contagious. Imagine a negative salesperson, quite the disaster. It would be quite demotivating when business is bad. When there are no sales and fresh ideas or strategies are required, the negativity can block ideas. So the sales person would need to be hopeful, this would help him generate or at least consider ideas to solve his problem of poor sales. This too would have an effect, but now a much positive one.

Positive Thinking is not being delusional

Lastly, Positivity is not being delusional. Positivity can become delusional if we don't keep our expectations and hopes within a boundary of common expectations. According to Lyndelle Palmer Clarke, Dealing with change requires a balance both Negative and Positive ways of thinking.*2 This balance between negative thinking and positivity can be like that of changing hats.

So here is my take on Positive Thinking, I hope you find it useful. Please Share and comment if you like this article. For any feedback, please do email me. Here are some articles, I found useful.

For Further Reading,

Fours Keys to overcoming negative thinking for Good by Melli Obrien.

The Power of Positive Thinking by Remez Sasson

References:

*1, Mayo Clinic Staff. 2017. Positive thinking: Stop negative self-talk to reduce stress. [ONLINE] Available at: https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/positive-thinking/art-20043950.

*2, Lyndelle Palmer Clarke. 2018. When Positive Thinking Becomes Delusion. [ONLINE] Available at: https://dailygreatness.co/blogs/be-your-own-guru/49767237-when-positive-thinking-becomes-delusion.

Gratitude is the attitude of being Thankful...

In my college days, I invariably used to be quite religious. This would precisely mean going to church regularly and to the confessional very often. There is one possible thing from all this that I undoubtedly learned... the essential virtue, namely Gratitude. I have frequently tried merely employing this personal virtue more like a tactic to improve my life and improve my Spiritual Quotient.

As an Educator, it is tremendous to see so many former students in diverse sectors and positions doing well. I feel indebted for opportunities like this. I feel really grateful. This leads me to think about Gratefulness and How to achieve a more grateful attitude? Simply put by the dictionary, Gratefulness means being thankful. So Let's carefully look at some possible reasons to be thankful. I reasonably think it is significant to properly understand 'Why' before getting to the question 'How'.

My 3 Top reason to be Grateful:

It Feels good:

From my viewpoint, I have been consciously tried practicing Gratefulness. In my personal space, I would often think at length of all the pleasant moments and not so good instances, it has helped me grow abundantly as an Individual and also helped me practice Gratitude. It encouraged me to be more positive and vibrant.

It tracks your blessings:

I can't speak for others, but from my practical experience, People are not Positive at all possible times. There are possible times one gets into the negative zone. Practicing a bit of Gratefulness can be extremely nice. It shifts focus and encourages us to see the best in our circumstances or Life situations.

It builds your Spiritual Quotient:

Merely choosing to be Grateful can open up an alternative view towards life. It’s not easy, I must say earnestly. There are situations and circumstances where it may seem extremely unreasonable. But by solely adopting an alternative approach and choosing to be grateful can open another dimension in one’s life. It can encourage us to gain a considerably deeper meaning to life.

Hence, my top three practical reasons to be grateful. Let's say this whatever may be your worldview, whether you believe in a God or some higher power, we must accept this fact that we are here and conscious. This is enough a reason to appreciate Life and be thankful. Cheers!

Image Source: https://pixabay.com/en/thank-you-thanks-greeting-card-944086/
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Striking the Right Balance...

Around 5yrs ago I moved to the city I currently reside and work, Pune. It's an education hub and as an educator, it was a place I had to go to. This city thought me a lot. Being a Mumbaikar, we tend to not balance our Personal and Professional spaces. This city helped me gain that balance.

There are certain Misconceptions that people have regarding gain that balance. I have listed some of them. It relates to my experience on gain trying to strike that balance.

5 Misconceptions regarding Personal vs Professional Life:

1. Balance can be easily achieved.

Firstly, Each individual defines balance differently. So defining it properly is the first step, but not necessarily the last. Then, It may take planning and trials before succeeding. So defining 'Balance' is the first step before moving ahead.

2. Stress is always the reason for losing balance.

Stress is quite a killer, but it is not always the reason for disruption in balancing personal and professional life. Sometimes it may be an issue of evaluating priorities. Life is always changing and so updating ourselves and our priorities is a necessary part of it.

Come back to the basics, look at how you defined 'Balance' and what goals you set. Let them guide you to set new priorities. They are like a compass they will guide you and help you set your new priorities appropriately.

3. It's not all about your own happiness

So prioritizing other important areas of our lives is also important. This could be time for exercising, spending time with your partner or family. It could also mean taking time out to work on a hobby or a part-time career.

Here is a beautiful quote to summarise this point:

"Never get so busy making a living that you forget to make a life." - Dolly Parton

4. Boundaries create limitations

It is wrong to think of boundaries as creating limitations. Some limitations can be good and helpful. So understanding our personal limitations and boundaries can be useful too. Once I had tried night shifts on a new job and did n't work for me. It started affecting my health. So after consulting the doctor, I had to change my shift. This helped me understand myself and the need for setting boundaries.

5. Getting mentored won't help

Many of the struggles in life doesn't need to be alone. Getting a good mentor at work or a professional will really help. Friends and family can also help by their support and their ideas.

I believe some of these misconceptions can be a true deterrent. We all spend a good amount of time at work and of course at life too, so finding the right balance can really be a blessing. But with wrong ideas, it surely can't be achieved. Please share your ideas in the comment section below.

Credits:
https://pixabay.com/en/balancing-chair-fashion-man-model-1868051/

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Find the Best Life Coach in your area

So imagine a time when you needed some advice, a listening ear but someone who could help you towards a fruitful outcome.  A Life Coach is someone who could help you.  

A Life Coach is quite different from a Psychologist, I have written an article that could help you see the difference, Please Click Here.

Now there are various types of Life Coach and the quality of coaching could also change. So before choosing a good life coach, one needs to keep a few points in mind.

Here I have researched 5 Pointers that can help you choose an Excellent Life Coach:

1) Life coach is not the same as buying a product.

Life coaching is a service that helps people achieve their goals and improve their lives.

This is really important to understand before setting expectations. 

A good Life coach will focus on connecting with you. 

He will focus on relating to your situation. A qualified and experienced Life Coach should be effective.

2) Choose your Goals.

A person can help the Life Coach by understanding his goals properly. 

This will help you achieve your goals and make the process of Coaching more effective.

3) The coach should relate with you.

Does the Life coach understand your goals? 

Does he or she share your values? Does he have good listening skills? 

Does the coach ask helpful questions?

These are some of the questions that would be helpful to keep in mind. 

Thinking critically whilst being receptive can be difficult, but it is important.

4) Local vs Global Life coach

This is a personal choice. A local coach would be more acquainted with your culture and may have also helped people in your area. 

This would help you get a good feedback. On the other hand, a global Life Coach should also have its own benefits. But this is for another post.

5) What's your budget.

It is important to keep a budget. It is important to see this process more of an investment rather than an expense.

So here are some tips that should be kept in mind while choosing a good Life Coach. 

In the next article, I will talk about certifications and the importance of choosing a Qualified Life Coach.

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Life Coach... A Mentor and guide

Helping people and hearing their problems have always been something I enjoyed. 

But I never wanted to become a psychologist. So what are the options I always wondered? I came across the concept of a Life Coach.

So I wondered how different could a Life Coach be from a Psychologist. I have been to a Psychologist and even had some psychologist friends. I always wondered if there were any difference between two, a Psychologist and a Life Coach. 

They both look the same. So are they different? Let's see. So today we shall look at the similarities and differences between a Life Coach and a Psychologist.

According to Tony Robbins, the difference between Life Coaching and Psychologist lies in their goals. He says Life Coaching is about helping people with their goals, whereas therapy is about the diagnosis of 'illnesses and pathologies.

So if you are working on Personal Projects, work-related issues and/or major life changes a Life Coach could be someone who could help. 

Generally, a Life Coach is certified by an Institute or International Body, unlike a Psychologist who is licensed and possesses a degree in Psychology. One can be a Psychologist and a Life Coach too.

So though a Life Coach and a Psychologist may have some similarities. Their essential differences define them. A Life coach is more suitable to help guide and motivate people to succeed.  

A good Life coach besides being certified should have relevant experience in coaching.

To become a Life coach one does not need to leave their existing jobs. It can be done part-time. According to Payscale.com, Life coaches can make around $ 27000 to $ 40000 a year. There are a lot of Institutes that offer certifications and training to be a good Life Coach. 

I believe passion and right training can make a huge difference in becoming a successful Life Coach.

Source:*1 https://www.tonyrobbins.com/coaching/life-coach-vs-therapist/

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A Good Start*

It is said that every Successful journey starts with a first step. The 'Not so successful' or the 'Unsuccessful' begins with that first step too.  We tend to spend a lot of time on planning, reflecting before actually starting our journeys, projects etc. So this mantra may seem meaningless to some. 'Just start' or 'Just do it'  may seem meaningless. But is it really without any effectiveness?

Creating Dreams

Finding Gaps

Being Aplomb

Failing to Plan