Blog is Changing

Many thanks to all of the readers of this blog.  Your interest and support has been greatly appreciated!

Effective September 27, 2012 I will be posting to a new blog.

Here is the link:
www.dennisegilbert.com/blog

So the author will be the same, but the look, feel, and name has changed.  This blog (Appreciative Strategies) will remain live for now.

Please join me at the new blog site! (Subscribe when you are there!)

Dennis

Shortcuts and Quick Fixes

It often seems that everyone is looking for a shortcut or a quick fix. Your future success probably will not come to fruition through a shortcut or a quick fix. That is the bad news.

Here is the good news. Having an appropriate focus can help you achieve the next step on your path. You can develop a better focus through three simple steps:

1. What has been successful for you up to this point? Do more of that!
2. What haven’t you tried because it feels too risky? Explore more of that!
3. Use these two questions to hone your focus and stay the course, be persistent!

Typically there are no shortcuts or quick fixes. Persistence will get you through the next step and beyond!

 

- DEG

Excuses or Results?

The brutal truth is that not everyone is cut out to obtain the success that they dream about. In some cases they may have unrealistic expectations and in other cases they just don’t remain focused and committed to their dream. Setbacks are commonplace and may require adjustments in the plan but success still can be achieved.

On your path to success results are what matter the most. Assessing the past is important, but often people drift into the blame game or make excuses for their shortcomings as they consider past experiences. You should only carry forward the lessons that you learned and not dwell on uncomfortable or embarrassing past performance.

Three critical factors separate those with excuses from those with results:

1. visualization
2. patience
3. persistence

Are you on the path and committed to achieving your success?

Are you making excuses or getting results?

- DEG

Persistence or Luck?

Luck may be an opportunity, an opportunity that is seized and something wonderful results, or it may be an opportunity wasted that dwindles away and is never recognized for the possibilities that existed. Worse yet, it may result in something unfavorable and become labeled as bad luck.

Persistence is what makes the difference for most people during their “luck” encounters. Those who discover an opportunity unfolding and make a commitment to the pursuit of that opportunity often may find others labeling their success as luck.

Some argue that they never have any luck. Others argue that we all have about the same amount of luck, but it is what we do with those opportunities that make the difference. Not everyone will win the lottery, not everyone will get the same opportunities, but it seems that those who are the most unlucky are those who are committed to nothing.

Be persistent in your pursuit, stick with it, push hard, be committed, and most of all – give luck a chance!

- DEG

Visualize to Thrive!

Olympic athletes do it, professional football players do it, golfers do it, and you can do it too!

Imagine yourself thriving in your success! Whether it is finishing school and getting that first “real” job, starting a family, or earning a sizable paycheck, if you visualize yourself in that successful place and are persistent you can get there.

Time and time again I hear stories and relate to my own personal experiences where visualization has been one of the factors that contributed to a successful performance. Many factors will contribute to your success and part of the commitment and persistence comes through visualization. Picture yourself with the improved time, walking in the door to start your new job, or shaking the hand of your boss as you receive acknowledgment for a job well done!

Visualize your end result, be persistent in your pursuit – success is in your future!

 

- DEG

Believing Matters

Someone recently asked me: “What is the single biggest thing that makes a difference between those that achieve the success that they desire when compared to those who do not?”

Two significant thoughts immediately came to my mind. One is persistence; most do not obtain the level of success that they seek easily. It takes great effort and the ability to endure hardship while also overcoming adverse conditions.

The other is belief. Belief that you belong and that you are worthy and deserving of the level of success you desire.

Are you prepared to be persistent? Do you believe?

- DEG

Balancing Commitments and Delivery

Assertive employees often raise their hand for new assignments, additional workload, and the opportunity to show their worth. They seek new challenges and expect to deliver; they picture themselves holding up the end result like a trophy and everyone congratulating them for a job well done. This sometimes happens and they become fast-trackers, moving onward and upward faster than anyone could imagine.

What about the others?

Others are sometimes assertive on the front side, they crave opportunities, they willingly offer to take on new tasks and assignments, but the bad news is, they seldom deliver. Perhaps it is over commitment, or a very limited span of attention. Perhaps it is their need for the feeling of belonging, of being visible, or being valued by the group. Sadly their promises often fall short of expectations and the people, teams, and even the entire organization feel let down and dissatisfied.

If this is you, an overcommitted and stressed out employee armed with good intentions but lacking the time and resources to deliver, there is good news. Control your urge to over commit by realizing that it isn’t what you volunteer for that counts, it is what you deliver. Find the balance between commitments and your ability to deliver.

The fast-tracker already figured this out!

 

- DEG

Persistent – Going Beyond Average

We know about averages because we have high performers and low performers. Somewhere near the middle of those two extremes we have the average performers.

People often talk about what could have been, what they knew would work but they never tried, and what they tried but because luck was against them it didn’t work. Let’s face it, not everything will work on the first try, and some things that we try may never work; but successful people are persistent.

Persistence often makes the difference between those that achieve something great and those that settle for mediocrity. While some people may be very happy with being average, many are looking at the top achievers and feeling envy. Those who are average but want to be more are often limited by their focus. Their focus is on being average, not achieving greatness.

If you are an average performer who wants more, stop just doing enough to get by. Being on top doesn’t come easily; persistence and focus make the difference between high achievers and average performers.

Look around – are you average? What are you doing about it?

-DEG

What You Expect

Do you get what you expect? Sometimes we get exactly what we expect.

Consider the outcomes for persons who may make one of the following statements:

• I just want to pass the test.
• I don’t care what I do as long as I have a job.
• I can’t lose any weight.

Certainly not everyone wants to, or will be, the top performer in any particular situation, but those who strive for more often get more. Their expectations are supported by their efforts, they achieve more or reach a higher standard because they expect more. It is easy to say we want more, or wish we had done better, but often our own expectations guide the level of result that we achieve.

Another look:

• If I complete all the assigned work and study hard I will get an “A” on the test.
• If I learn more, work hard, and gain additional experience I will advance to a higher position at work.
• If I exercise more and avoid my cravings for apple pie I will lose at least 3 pounds this month.

Our expectations condition the outcomes. Positive and results driven thoughts are what make the difference between those who dream of more, and those who achieve more.

Are you getting what you expect?

 

- DEG

No Money

Success may sometimes be associated with a collection of money or material objects. Some may believe that the definition of success is wealth, measured by financial resources. This may be true for some, but many people measure success in a much different way. It may be having a family, a modest home, and the ability to earn an honest living. Still others may be striving for personal improvements such as obtaining a college degree, participating in various sports related activities, or making a career shift.

While there may be many factors associated with finding your success the following four I believe are most relevant:

1. Inspiration
2. Motivation
3. Commitment
4. Persistence

You can summarize these four factors with one word – passion. Money is important, but my belief is that no amount of money can replace true passion.

What is your passion?

- DEG

Get Moving!

Have you ever tripped, stumbled, or worse – hit the ground?  During the past three weeks I witnessed three different people in three completely different places – hit the ground. There was a little bit of pain, a little bit of embarrassment, but all three immediately were on their way again. Seeing these three separate events seemed very odd to me, but it made me think of an analogy that we may encounter in our lives or careers.

Things don’t always go as we may expect, but if we stumble, if we trip, if we fall we should get back up and continue our pursuit. Many people are dreaming of their success, and while success is different for everyone, we have at least one thing in common – the pursuit. During our pursuit we need to remain focused. When something unexpected happens we need to quickly check for damage, get up, brush off the dirt, and start moving again.

Have you stumbled? Get moving again!

- DEG

Your Frame – Your Future

We frame pictures. This limits and draws our attention to focus on what is inside that frame. Logically this makes sense, it is what we are trying to achieve. Framing our future is critical for our focus and ultimately for our success. The bad news is that if the frame that we place around our future is too small, we will never discover or accomplish the highest level of success.

Here is the good news – we control the size of our frame. Successful people in business, top performing athletes, and even rock stars never allow their frame to be too narrow. When their current picture is nearing capacity of the frame, they reach for more, they expand the frame. Many top performers develop the attitude that they are most comfortable when they are expanding the frame and feel discomfort when they are operating in the status quo.

Is the size of your frame fluid? Does it flow and expand, or do you get delayed (achieve less) with finding comfort in the status quo? 

Expect to be Tested

Learning new behaviors or replacing bad habits with good isn’t necessarily that difficult. Making them stick sometimes can be.

Depending on your tolerance for relapse or your level of confidence sometimes small setbacks can feel like change failure. Nearly everyone exploring something new or reaching for higher levels of achievement will face unexpected setbacks.

The good news is that just like reaching for more you can also condition your response to the unexpected. Expect the unexpected. Expect to face some relapse or setbacks. Expect to be tested. When you expect to face challenges and you are prepared to push through them suddenly it seems to feel like part of your fate, your destiny.  These “tests” prepare you for the next phase of your journey.

Will you pass the test?

When Wishing Isn’t Enough

People sometimes wish, spiritual people sometimes pray, but successful people will find their path regardless of the obstacle. There is nothing wrong with extending a good wish, nothing wrong with prayer, but at the same time there are often forces that are both unknown and uncontrollable that leads you to a different outcome.

Most likely you will not find success in the status quo. There are no secret formulas and no magic potions. When the path develops into something unexpected successful people may wish, and they may pray, but they will definitely face the obstacles head on, take risks, and make the best possible choices.

When your path takes an unexpected turn – what will you do?

 

- DEG

Discipline Delivers

Achieving success requires discipline. People often start off great, they are dedicated, enthusiastic and goal oriented. Along the way things sometimes start to change, they get off track, accomplishments fail to reach expectations, they become discouraged and even the smallest success starts to wane and ultimately they give up.

Here is the good news, you can discover more discipline and persevere through five simple steps:

1. Recognize and accept the gap between where you are now and where you want to be
2. Assess the steps required to close the gap
3. Visualize accomplishing each step
4. Evaluate progress by measuring accomplishments not short comings
5. Be flexible in your approach – make changes as necessary to keep moving forward

Desire to achieve the goal is critical for discipline. If you want something you have to reach for it, often pushing beyond your comfort zone in order to achieve it.

Success is knocking at your door, it arrives via delivery, the driver is discipline.

 

- DEG

Discovering Worth

Do you want a pay raise, job promotion, or better personal (or professional) relationships? How do you know if you are worth it?

Discovering worth is not that difficult, the real challenge exists in the risk. You will never achieve the success you are seeking without risk. Play it safe or stick with the status quo and nothing will change.

You can discover your worth through three easy steps:

1. Honestly assess your goals. Your goals should be a stretch but realistic, they should represent the gap between your current worth and where you (realistically) see yourself in the future.
2. Seek and LISTEN to feedback (coaching) from people you trust and respect.
3. Recognize that every opportunity doesn’t mean it is “the” opportunity. Practice patience.

Overstating or understating your worth, dishonesty about who you are, and unrealistic expectations are often a problem. Stretching is good, but fraudulent representations by you, about you, or by someone else on your behalf will likely result in disaster. Properly managed your worth will continue to grow.

Remember you are worth it!

 

- DEG

Values That Fit!

Goals and values represent foundational elements for your success. Here is the question you should be asking yourself, “Do my values fit within the framework of the path necessary to achieve my goals?”

Non-profits or for-profits, social work or investment banking, traditional construction or building green, harvesting trees or growing them, many people could make arguments for either side. What are your values? Do they align with your path for success?

Success and abundance are not always measured through money. Many experts believe that your passion is the foundation for your success. Values that don’t align or fit within the framework of your goals will cause confusion. Confusion causes hesitation, and hesitation may create fear. Fear is one of the roadblocks in the way of your success.

What are your values? Do they fit within the framework of your current path?

 

- DEG

Stay Focused

Unexpected things happen. Circumstances and situations may sometimes anger us. Staying focused is the key to achieving your success.

When we replay thoughts from past negative experiences or are preoccupied with finding evidence to support negativity we tend to find what we are looking for – negativity. In this scenario our view shifts from seeking the positive to discovering reinforcement for new negative experiences.

The good news is that you can control what you see through your lens. If you stay focused by looking for positive situations and outcomes you can find them. You can resist anger and irritation and replace any negative thoughts with positive thoughts that support forward motion on your path to achieving your goals.

Take control of your state of mind – stay focused. 

What do you see?

 

- DEG

Finger Licking Good? No BAD!

On a recent visit to the grocery store I noticed something terrible. It made me think about big mistakes we may be making that we don’t even realize we are doing.

While shopping I noticed a lady selecting raw packaged meat from the refrigerated section and placing the packaged meat into the sanitary bags that are provided in that section. My understanding is that those additional bags are to help prevent the spread of nasty germs (bacteria, virus) from raw meat. What’s the problem here?  She was touching the packages, grabbing the sanitary bags and separating them by first licking her fingers. Nice.

Rolling this into our lives or careers, we should ask for feedback on performance. Recognize that you may not always like what you hear but take a risk and get some feedback. Even hard working, good upstanding employees are sometimes oblivious to critical errors.

Don’t give a lick discover how to do the trick! 

- DEG

Create Opportunities

“The early bird gets the worm.”

Many of us have heard this and some of us have shared this as an analogy, but how many of us are looking for more opportunities? Many people are looking for more opportunities; opportunities for sales, financial freedom, or for new levels of personal or professional success.

Based on news reports and evidence based analysis many would likely agree that the world economy is shifting. This isn’t the bad news, it is the good news. A shifting economy creates change, change creates more opportunities.

Do you want more good news? Opportunities are created when we are persistent in our efforts and work both smart and hard. Simply put, being persistent and engaged in our pursuit of continued success creates more exposure for our desired outcomes. More exposure creates more opportunities.

Do you want more opportunities? Create them!

 

- DEG