Here are 3 ways to awaken your inner architect!

Architects Create Vision

Vision is key!

Your vision can literally serve as your blueprint for the future. Your ability to walk into the life that you crave depends on the future you see. That’s because anything exceptional that you attempt is often birthed with a vision. It’s the vision that inspires hope when the struggle gets too hard and when calamity becomes all too familiar. That’s why it’s important to not bankrupt your future with a limited vision. It’s hard to move forward confidently without having a good idea of where you are going. Powerful motivator Zig Ziglar always says if you aim for nothing, you’ll hit the mark every time.

There are numerous reasons for lack of vision. Sometimes it’s the pain of previous failures that halts our progress. In such cases, we have to remember that missteps bring experience and provide insight; moreover, our survival is a testimony of our resilience. You can experience a do over! Other times we’re blinded by complacency with past successes. However, suppose we had stopped with the telegram or the telephone?

Our lives have been so enriched by people who dared to see beyond present circumstances and innovations. These architects changed the future by elevating our visions. According to Seth Godin, they transform our “shared interest into a passionate goal and desire for change.” Just because you are not gifted in design doesn’t mean that you can’t design your life. First, your ability to create the vision for your life necessitates your commitment to learn and look inward.

Second, when you peer into the future, make sure that you are looking with a fresh pair of eyes and perspective. Tired eyes rarely see a bright future.

Third, your vision for your future may benefit from some perspective of the past. History often repeats itself, so ironically, by looking to the past, you can better anticipate the future. Fourth, draw inspiration from what you read, hear, and feel. Then, create the plan that awakens the music inside you. Remember that prosperity and wealth are not beyond your reach. Doing these things consistently will elevate your vision to new levels and give you a sound basis to design an authentic path for your future.

Architects Create Structure

Another interesting aspect of an architect’s job is that they create or restore order. During chaos, the gifted architect is perhaps most appreciated. By creating order, the architect can enhance productivity and decrease stress. In contrast, disorder is costly! For example, how many times have you been distressed and your productivity ruined due to losing your cell phone, important file, or flash drive?

Order also encompasses how we live our lives. An orderly life is one that is aligned with your skills and abilities, personality, dreams and passions. It is rare that someone else will create this authentic fit for you. However, by truly knowing yourself and patterning your life accordingly, you can align your actions with your heart.

Where the spirit does not work with the hand there is no art. Leonardo da Vinci

Career coach Dan Miller has great advice regarding structuring your work in this manner. He recommends work where you are strongest 80% of the time, where you are learning 15% of the time, and where you are weak 5% of the time. A practical example is if you know you are soon bored after learning something new, then structure your business (or choose a job) where your desire for new challenges is a strength rather than a weakness. For all of us, there is an environment where we function best; it’s where our differences are celebrated instead of merely tolerated. If you aren’t already there, then search for or design the environment for yourself.

Architects Oversee Development

Don’t die with your music still in you!
After he or she has created the vision and developed order, much of the architect’s “hard work” is already complete. Some say 85% of the process centers on the creative aspects, but application is still required. Unexecuted great plans mean that the potential will never be manifested, nor will the design be appreciated in its full glory. For example, before Henry Ford and James Cash Penney could give us Ford Motor Company and JC Penney department stores, respectively, they had to build infrastructure and assemble their teams.
It is the architect’s role to oversee the execution of the vision. Overseers know that productivity, or lack thereof, often depends on their recruiting the right talent, incentivizing their participation, and providing adequate resources and direction to bring the vision into fruition.
The personal application is that we must oversee our own development. We must hold ourselves accountable for acting on our visions; otherwise, they may remain pipe dreams. Often this may require enlisting the assistance of others. Perhaps you may hire a bookkeeper for a business or even your household finances to stay on track financially. Alternatively, you could engage a coach to quickly raise your performance to a much higher level. You may choose an accountability partner to call foul when your actions don’t match your words. Regardless of the steps you take, the responsibility for the product is yours. You have already been empowered, but it is what you do with that power that is key.

Closing Thoughts

As an architect, you can create beauty from chaos or resurrect a structure to its former glory. It’s your blueprint of the future that inspires hope in the face of adversity and order during disarray. It’s your seasoned insights that are relied upon to ensure the safety and progress of the project. The personal takeaway is that as the architect of your life, you have substantial power. However, with this power comes great responsibility. It is no longer acceptable to rely on past excuses for lack of achievement. You already have the components and resources needed for greatness, but the key question is: are you ready to produce?

About the Author: I’m Roshawn Watson, and I write at Watson Inc on eliminating debt, investing money, and building wealth. Get my free eBook Your Foundation to Wealth by signing up for my email updates (no spam I promise). Get my RSS feed and connect with me on http://www.twitter.com/roshawnwatson too.

We’ve all been there. We’re out of ideas and nothing new is coming to our tired and weary minds. When these moments strike, I’ve always been a fan of reading quotes to get me out of that funk, whether it’s writing a term paper or coming up with new business ventures.

You could type, “Awesome business quotes” into Google.com and waste a couple hours or if you need just a quick read, then I’ve got you covered. I’ve found several quotes from the people who actually know what they’re talking about. I hope you find one that makes you stop and think.

Direct from the titans of industry,

“As long as you’re going to be thinking anyway, think big.” – Donald Trump

“I think a smart woman can sell the average man anything,” – Leo Burnett

“I will tell you how to become rich. Close the doors. Be fearful when others are greedy. Be greedy when others are fearful.” Warren Buffet

“There are moments in our lives when we summon the courage to make choices that go against reason, against common sense and the wise counsel of people we trust. But we lean forward nonetheless because, despite all risks and rational argument, we believe that the path we are choosing is the right and best thing to do. We refuse to be bystanders, even if we do not know exactly where our actions will lead.” – Howard Schultz (CEO of Starbucks)

“Here’s to the crazy ones, the misfits, the rebels, the troublemakers… The ones who see things differently. They’re not fond of rules. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them, but the only thing you can’t do is ignore them because they change things. They push the human race forward, and while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius, because the ones who are crazy enough to think that they can change the world, are the ones who do.” -Steve Jobs

“Success is a lousy teacher. It seduces smart people into thinking they can’t lose.” – Bill Gates

Give me a stock clerk with a goal and I’ll give you a man who will make history. Give me a man with no goals and I’ll give you a stock clerk. – J.C. Penney

These men have summed up exactly what is important when thinking of new ideas. Don’t think small, think as big as you can and don’t focus on whether it’ll be a success or a failure right away – that’ll come later. Ultimately, you have to trust yourself and your instincts. The critics out there will always find something to complain about, so there’s no reason to worry about them.

As long as you have an imagination and the will to work hard, you’ll be great! Take a deep breathe, go for a walk, just get out of the current mindset you’re in and watch as things fall into place.

Some other quotes to use for another rainy day,

“Success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it.”  Maya Angelou

“It is common sense to take a method and try it. If it fails, admit it frankly and try another. But above all, try something.” – Franklin D. Roosevelt

“Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.”- Thomas Alva Edison

I think defining the word, “success” is one of those words that is impossible to do so. For some people, it’s having a Scrooge McDuck vault of gold coins at their disposable. For others, having money to go out to dinner twice a week is considered a success. Either way, as long as you’re happy with yourself, what you do, and how you did it, you’re a success!

You can’t beat the old standby, “try, try, try again” to get you through those tough times. But it’s so true! Even though your idea didn’t work the first time, that doesn’t mean you’re a failure. It’s really easy to get swept up in that mindset, but resist the urge and try something new the next time.

Don’t forget,

Don’t let those disastrous thoughts of not being good enough or failing at everything you try stop you. You may be right on the path towards greatness and each failed attempt is leading you closer to the successful ending you’ve been searching for.

Just keep plugging away and when you get stuck, consult these quotes and think about the person who originally said them. If they stopped at every bump in the road, they probably wouldn’t have ended up where they did. Now, go get ‘em tiger!

Amy Swanson is a part of the marketing/content department at Quality Logo Products and regularly contributes to their promotional products blog. She is a self-professed newspaper nerd, business buff, and TV enthusiast who cites Parks and Recreation as one of her favorites. But don’t ask her to put in a good word with Ron Swanson – she unfortunately can’t help you there.

When you’re working on something big, you often start off with great intentions … only to find your motivation gradually slipping away.

Whether you’re studying for a qualification, tackling a mammoth project at work, or writing a book in your spare time, you’re only going to succeed if you can stay motivated. (That’s particularly true of goals where you haven’t got a boss/parent/mentor checking up on you…)

So, here’s how to keep going:

Step #1: Break Your Project into Small Chunks

If you get a little way towards your goal then flounder, there’s a good chance that you’ve not broken your project into sensible chunks or milestones.

Sometimes, your project is already segmented for you – for instance, if you’re studying a degree program, you’ll have a certain number of classes that you need to take in order to graduate. You might want to create a list of these and put it in a prominent place, so you can cross off each one as you complete it.

Other times, you need to come up with meaningful divisions. Maybe you’re trying to write a book. Your “chunks” could be individual sections or chapters – or specific pieces of research that you need to complete.

Do it: Even if you’re not sure of all the steps to get to your goal, write down the next five major ones. You might want to add a deadline – make it a bit challenging, but realistic.

Step #2: Take the Time to Learn – and Implement

Whatever your goal is, you’ll get there faster if you spend some time learning things that can help you. And the more you learn, the more confidence (and hence motivated) you’ll be.

• If you’re writing a book, get a good “how to” guide to help you
• If you’re taking a qualification, learn about good study techniques
• If you’re preparing to deliver a big presentation, take some public speaking classes

Don’t fall into the trap of learning without doing, though. I see this a lot with would-be writers who’ll read about writing – or attend courses and seminars – but who rarely finish work on an article or a short story. Every time you learn something new, look for ways to apply it to your project.

Do it: Find one good book or website that can help you. As you read it, jot down any ideas, questions or new tasks that relate to your project.

Step #3: Keep the Big Picture in Mind …

Whatever your project is, you’re probably motivated by the end result. You’re thinking of how great it will be to see your book in stores, or to get that qualification which will help you take your career to the next level.

Don’t lose sight of that big picture. It can be hard to stay motivated when the tasks on your list seem relatively mundane – editing a chapter of your book, for instance, or memorizing some facts before an exam. Create a reminder of your ultimate goal to keep you going.

Do it: Find an image that represents your goal. Keep it somewhere visible – you could set it as the wallpaper on your computer, or put it in your wallet.

Step #4: … But Focus on One Piece While You’re Working

Once you sit down to work on your project, you need to mentally “zoom in” to look at just one piece. If you keep on thinking about the whole finished thing, it can be hard to concentrate on what you need to do right now – and you might start to get overwhelmed.

For each “chunk” of your goal, write down specific action steps, like “read article X” or “write section Y”. Focus on one of these at a time, and don’t let yourself get distracted. If you can see yourself making clear progress, you’ll stay motivated.

Do it: Write down three – five tasks that will help you meet your next project milestone.

What project(s) are you working on right now? Have you got any motivational tips to share? If so, let us know in the comments!

Don’t Forget To sign up for the PTB NEWSLETTER!

Related Articles:

The 21 Habits of Healthy People

The Benefits of Meditation

The most common question I receive when coaching people is how to sustain motivation and how to let go of stress.

“How do you stay motivated after the initial rush of inspiration has faded and the hard work begins?”
“I have so much to do today, how can I not be stressed?”

Without motivation, producing quality results is near impossible.
With motivation you can accomplish extra-ordinary things and become hugely successful.
I have had times when I have barely been able to get myself out of bed, because I didn’t feel as though I had a reason to get up.

I have been through times when I can’t sleep because there is so much fun to do!

Motivation comes and goes, but there are a lot of things we can do to keep it for a longer time and keep the lowest levels of motivation from getting too low.

Motivation at work
When I got my first sales job I was very, very motivated. I couldn’t wait to get started.
I started working hard from day one and pushed myself harder than I ever had before.

Things went well for me, for about six months. Then I realized that this job wasn’t really for me, there were a lot of reasons I didn’t like the job, but the main one was the atmosphere at the company. The business plan was to “trick” customers into buying, which didn’t sit well with me.

My motivation started to wane and so did my results.

I stayed at the company much too long, over a year before I quit, but when I found a new job with a better culture and product, my motivation came back.

Since then I have learned several techniques that help keep motivation high.

You cannot motivate someone; they can only motivate themselves
This is both a true and false statement (at least in my belief).
Motivation comes from within, it is our own driving force, but there are tools that can be taught to help you increase and focus you motivation.

Clarity

The clearer your goals are the more motivated you will be, you will have a sense of purpose, a reason to work harder and to produce results.

As we progress through this book we will be working more and more on bringing clarity to your goals, this will bring you the greatest burst of motivation and the strength to achieve them.
Before we get to that stage though I want you to read these 5 exercises on how to increase your motivation, by using these before and after you have set your goals and made your plans, you will get an even stronger effect from it.

Write down all your projects
To get a better overview of why you are stressed it is important to know where you should start.

Two years ago I was having an introductory meeting with a new student and she told me something very interesting:

“I really want to become better at time management and I have worked at it a lot, I have a weekly plan, I prioritize it, but still when I get ready to start I just feel like there are so many other things I should do. I feel overwhelmed and start running in circles in my mind. All of a sudden an hour has gone by and I haven’t done anything, is there any way to cure this”

This is a very common problem, I am sure you have felt it yourself at one point or another.

Know everything that needs to be done
Keeping an overview of everything that needs to be done makes it easier to focus at one at a time.

This might feel stressful
The first time my wife listed everything she needed to do it was because I had told her to do it about 2000 times, too shut me up she finally did it. The reason she didn’t want to do it was that she was afraid that looking at that list would make it all more real and make her even more stressed.

It is keeping it in your mind that makes you stressed.

When you have to constantly think about and remind yourself about everything that needs to be done you become stressed, you can never put anything away.
Getting it onto a list makes it a lot easier, you can put it aside for the time being knowing you will come back to it soon.

You know what you are working on
Listen to your mind, what are you thinking about? What projects need to be done?
Write down everything, small and large on a list.

Identifying next actions
By identifying next actions you will have an easy actionable list. Things become smaller; you can do these small things to move the project forward. It also helps you from having to think about what needs to be done every time you pick up a new task.

You know you aren’t missing something
When you know you aren’t missing anything you can focus and start working on task number one. This will make you much more efficient and make that list smaller making you even less stressed.
Quickly you can start to get into a positive spiral and become more and more efficient.

Daniel M. Wood is a personal development coach and trainer. He has a background in Psychology, Sales, marketing and sports. Through his work with students around the world he has created the course “The Time Management Expert Course” that has helped hundreds of people decrease stress, increase their motivation and become a lot more efficient.

The course teaches you how to get control over your life and make room to be both spontaneous and relaxed.

Check out the course and see how it can help you.

Don’t forget to sign up for the PickTheBrain NEWSLETTER!

Related Articles:

Why You Shouldn’t Care What Others Think About You

How To Choose The Right Goals For You

I hear it all the time from clients and people that I meet: they’re not motivated. They say they’re lazy and wish they could do this or that but…

I’m not big on excuses or labels, especially “lazy”. So, when I hear “I’m just not disciplined,” I almost always ask:

Have you ever been disciplined to do anything?

What was it that helped you?

What got in the way?

Identifying obstacles helps you build a sustainable foundation for perseverance in the face of adversity.

Motivation is personal. Discipline is a muscle.

You can learn to be motivated.

You HAVE to want to put time into it, to create a new habit, to make it part of your lifestyle.

Before your rebellious inner child starts an ‘I DON’T WANNA!’ tantrum, keep reading. One of these 5 poisons may be getting in your way of your heart’s desire.

The Top 5 Poisons of Motivation:
1. Perfectionism

Become a recovering perfectionist. Oh, yes, I did say that.

When you get caught up in ideals, you create resistance that gets in the way of your motivation. You’re stuck focusing on the ideal and think “If its not perfect, why bother?” We’re so addicted to this in our society. We feel that getting the best grades, getting the awards, getting all these accolades defines us and holds the basis of our self-worth.

And if we don’t get the gold star, we beat ourselves up and miss the point. If you get caught with in achieving perfect results, you’re never going to start anything. You’re paralyzed.

Thomas Edison invented 3,000 duds before he invented the lightbulb. He himself did not call it failure. Instead, he said: “Any of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.”

Taking imperfect action is the best starting point.

2. Comparing yourself to others

This is another potent motivation-zapper. Even worse, it can prevent you from finding your own path. Motivation is truly personal.

Study what motivates others as inspiration, but if it  gets you stuck or moving backwards with doubt, then why bother? It’s easy to get lost in someone else’s life, wishing that it was your own.

Trying to be ‘like’ ANYONE is a total waste of time.

Yes, we’re all guilty of it. Remember: there is only one of YOU.

The universe made you perfect. Ignoring that and trying to emulate someone else is a slap in the face.

3. Thinking that you’re not ‘good enough’

If, like me, you grew up hearing “You have to prove yourself to the world!”, that mantra probably still follows you. It can run you to the ground.

I understand that in your work you have to show your abilities or your skills to prove you can deliver. But you shouldn’t rely on that for self-validation.

If you’ve been told you’re not good enough, I understand the programming. It hurts and digs deep. But make no mistake: it’s a LIE.

You have to be motivated to fulfill your soul’s desire, to create your own happiness, healing and harmony.

If you were born, then you are good enough.

You must change the theme song in your mind from You SUCK to You ROCK.

4. Doing too much at once.

Bitten off more than you can chew? That might be sabotaging your progress. You’ve got to pull back a little bit and really look at what’s going on. Don’t be a slave to your ego.

I get snagged by this one and always have to step back to make sure my choices are in alignment with my soul. If you feel that it’s too overwhelming, take one step at a time.

Baby steps.

The solution here is to hone in on your goal, desire, or dream. Life will happen. It will always take more time, more money or more anything than you anticipated. Don’t let it stop you, and remember to check in with your WHY.

It’s about setting goals that stretch you outside of your comfort zone and you believe, on one level, that you can achieve.  Go for a C+, good enough and I promise you will do better. It’s a great way to trick the ego and make it right. This may keep you motivated to do more.

Being aware and taking passionate action keeps you on the level and open to enjoying the adventure.

5. Excusitis.

There is always an excuse – why you can’t do it, why today it didn’t happen, how you’re going to do it tomorrow. When we find excuses for not doing things, we’re rebelling. We just want to stay in a comfort zone.

See how this comes up again?  A part of it is that your ego feels threatened by moving forward and wants to protect you.
But really, you’re totally safe.

When you do something you haven’t done before, your ego goes into a state of alarm: “Watch out! Danger!” and then fear kicks in.

But my answer to that is “No. FEAR is  f*cking exciting and rewarding.” This reframe changes the game.

We say “I can’t,” but really we’re afraid to try something new. That’s the truth and we’re afraid to admit it, or to even prove ourselves wrong. You are capable of more. You can handle more, even in the midst of a challenge.  Try it, you may be surprised, and bust a limiting belief.

What excuses are you living with?

Ready to release the need to live in your perfectionism, low self esteem and excuses? Then ask yourself this question.

What’s holding you back ?

Take your time, and don’t think about it – feel into it. Be kind with yourself. Your power is in your choices.

Now, go get’em warrior soul!

After a harrowing diagnosis, Multiple Sclerosis, Hillary Rubin ditched her glam job at Prada and set off on a wellness quest that spanned the globe. Today, she is symptom/medication-free, and has dedicated her life to helping thousands of women achieve profound, unbridled freedom from trauma, abuse and disease.  A Spiritual Life Design Coach, wellness pioneer and yogi, she has been featured on Fit TV, in The Los Angeles Times, The Independent, Yoga Journal and contributes to the Huffington Post and Origin magazines. Hillary is also writing her first book to help women alchemize adversity into action, with the forward by Agape Founder Michael Bernard Beckwith. Visit her here or join the conversation @hillaryrubin.

Don’t Forget To Follow PickTheBrain on Twitter!

Related Articles:

How To Bust Stress With Mindfulness

5 Simple Ways To Beat Stress

The motivational book industry is one of the biggest and bestselling printed materials industries not just in America, but around the world. While this is completely understandable, as many books out there have the potential to actually change the course of people’s lives, it behooves us to look at some claims with a skeptical eye. Here are a few themes that are played out in motivational books that you should think about carefully before buying into:

1. 1. Things could be a lot worse, so accept your fate.

This is one of the most bogus arguments that I hear from many motivational speakers and writers. Of course, things could be a lot worse. Things could be worse in any instance, as natural disasters, crippling poverty, and armed conflict going on around the world can attest to. At the same time, however, these problems do not, in any way, affect or connect with problems that you are going through. To say that you should just accept life as it is, is tantamount to never striving for change.

1. 2. Money and/or status are the most important things in life.

Although not all motivational books are guilty of this assertion, many of these books are underpinned by the idea that we are aiming for “success”, which means money and status, and that our problems are simply obstacles to this idea of success. As Portnoy states in the iconic novel “Portnoy’s Complaint”:

“American society [...] not only sanctions gross and unfair relations among men, but it encourages them. Now, can that be denied? No. Rivalry, competition, envy, jealousy, all that is malignant in human character is nourished by the system. Possession, money, property–on such corrupt standards as these do you people measure happiness and success.”

1. 3. You don’t have to sacrifice anything.

This is patently false, and when motivational books promise you that you can have it all based on a following a set formula, know that you are being duped. Life is tough, and we all must sacrifice one thing in order to accomplish or acquire something else. The tricky part is know which battles to pick, what to leave out, and what to compromise.

1. 4. You can handle your problems without help from others.

This is one assumption that runs rampant throughout many motivational books. And I’m convinced it is a direct result of America’s heritage of the puritan work ethic that dictates that we can all pick ourselves up from our bootstraps if we try hard enough. While I’m certainly not disagreeing with some of the themes of this tradition, I will say that, as John Donne put it, “No man is an island.” When the going gets tough, hold on to your nearest and dearest, and learn to ask for help when you need it.

While there is much that we can criticize about the self-help, motivational genre, it does fill a hole that is sorely lacking our lives. The most important thing to remember is to treat everything with a healthy, open-hearted, optimistic doubt.

———–

This guest post is contributed by Leslie Johnson, who writes about health, green living, parenting related articles at masters in health administration.

Don’t Forget To Follow PickTheBrain on Twitter!

Related Articles:

A Smarter Approach To Time Management

Tips For Breaking Bad Habits and Developing Good Habits

Have you ever felt totally filled with enthusiasm, fired up for achieving something new?

Chances are, you felt that way at the start of a big project. Perhaps you were determined that you’d finally lose weight, or that this year, you’d actually start that small business you’d been dreaming about.

Motivation can give you a ton of energy when you’re embarking on something new. The problem is, motivation doesn’t always last. After a few weeks of sticking to your diet, or slogging away every evening at your business, it’s easy to start feeling discouraged.

Don’t Give Up

You’ve already achieved a lot – even if you can’t see that yet. Try asking yourself these three questions. If possible, write down your answers – it’s much more powerful than just thinking about them.

#1: How Far Have You Come?

Look back to the start of your project. What have you already achieved? Maybe:

• Losing weight: You’ve lost 10lbs and established some healthy new habits
• Starting a side-business: You’ve created a business plan and read three books
• Getting out of debt: You’ve paid off your smallest debt

Whatever you’ve achieved, it’s worth something. Perhaps it’s taken a bit longer than you’d hoped – but in the context of your whole life, an extra few weeks isn’t a big deal.

#2:  Have You Learnt On the Journey?

Sometimes, we get too fixated on an end goal and forget that the journey itself is important.

Even if you’ve not yet achieved the results you want, you might still have found a ton of benefits:

• Losing weight: You’ve learnt a lot about healthy eating – helping you to make good food choices
• Starting a side-business: You’ve realized that your original idea for the business was a bit short-sighted, and you’ve been able to come up with a new plan
• Getting out of debt: You’ve found that you’re spending a lot more money than you thought on little things like coffee and lunches

#3: What Will You Achieve Even If You Don’t Reach Your Goal?

Maybe you’re worried that you won’t reach your final goal. There are still plenty of reasons to keep going. For instance:

• Losing weight: You might not get down to your target weight of 150lbs, but even if you weight 170lbs, you’ll be a lot healthier than you are at 200lbs
• Starting a side-business: Your business might never provide a full-time income, but it’s still going to bring in extra money for you every month
• Getting out of debt: You might not manage to pay off all your debts, but you’ll still have massively improved your financial situation

Get Re-Started

Hopefully you’re feeling a bit more positive about your project, and you’ve decided that it is worth continue. So let’s get you through going again:

#1: Where Are You Stuck?

Often, we get bogged down because we’re stuck.

It can be helpful to acknowledge where you got stuck before trying to move on. Perhaps:

• Losing weight: You lost 10lbs in the first three months of your diet, but now you’re finding it hard to stick with healthy eating
• Starting a side-business:  You’re ready to start getting clients, but you’re not sure how to begin doing that
• Getting out of debt: You went on a shopping trip and ended up spending money that was supposed to be used for paying off your debt

#2: What Are Your Next Steps?

When you’re stuck, it’s often because you haven’t figured out what you need to do next. Try to work out a few next steps:

• Losing weight: Keep a food diary, figure out what times of day you’re most likely to snack on unhealthy foods
• Starting a side-business:  Brainstorm possible ways to get clients – e.g. advertise in trade magazines, create a website
• Getting out of debt: Cut back your spending for the next couple of weeks, avoid “splurges” in the future (perhaps by only taking cash when you go shopping)

#3: Who Can Help You?

You might feel that you need to achieve your goal on your own – but that simply isn’t true.  Often, it’s a mark of strength, not weakness, to be willing to allow others to help.

• Losing weight: Get a personal trainer to help you stay motivated to exercise, or ask a friend to come jogging with you
• Starting a side-business:  Hire a website designer to create a professional-looking website for you
• Getting out of debt: Talk to friends who’re good at managing their money, and ask them for advice

So – over to you! What are your big goals right now, and how could you regain your motivation?

Don’t Forget To sign up for the PTB NEWSLETTER!

Related Articles:

The 21 Habits of Healthy People

The Benefits of Meditation

There are many famous quotes out there, but there are only a few with the power to touch your heart.

In this article, I’ve gathered 9 famous quotes that will not only supercharge your day and make you wise, but also inspire you to go after your wildest dreams and aspirations.

The truth of the matter is that you can become and have anything you want in this world. The only person stopping you is yourself.

With all that said, let’s jump right into the famous quotes, shall we?

1. ‘Worrying is like a rocking chair. It gives you something to do but it doesn’t get you anywhere.’ – Van Wilder

We all worry more than we have to. When you think back in your life to the times when you worried excessively, did your worrying actually solve anything?

If you really think about it, I think you will find that worrying doesn’t help nor does it solve anything. In fact, it often makes things much worse and it makes you feel bad.

Whenever you start worrying, instantly shift your focus to what you can do about the problem right now. If there’s nothing to do, let it go.

2. ‘It’s your thinking that decides whether you’re going to succeed or fail.’ – Henry Ford

Most people are more than happy to make excuses and give reasons for why they can’t do something.

It is in their thoughts that most people fail. One of the most common characteristics of successful people is that they are optimistic, positive, and they never give up.

They constantly imagine themselves succeeding and they face and overcome challenges easily. If you want to go after your dream life, you first have to get your thinking in order.

3. ‘Remember that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other.’ – Abraham Lincoln

It is your own resolution and determination which decides whether you succeed or not.

It doesn’t matter if you’ve failed dozens or even hundreds of times, because if you don’t give up, your success is inevitable.

You can be a success, live a life full of passion, and have everything you desire, if you will just make the decision.

4. ‘You can do anything, but not everything.’ – David Allen

You can do anything you want, but not everything at the same time. You have to pick a few primary goals in your life that you want to pursue right now.

Or even better; just pick one.

This will not only help you make more progress, but it will make you feel motivated and inspired to take action.

When you focus on as few things as possible, you give your subconscious mind a solid target to aim at.

5. ‘You miss 100 percent of the shots you never take.’ – Wayne Gretzky

How many regrets do you have? How many times have you wished that you would’ve had the courage to do something?

If you’re like most people, it’s pretty often.

Take that feeling and use it to take action right now. Go after what you want, even though you may not believe that it is possible.

Go take that new yoga class, try painting because you always wanted to try it, or start your online business today.

6. ‘We are what we repeatedly do; excellence, then, is not an act but a habit.’ – Aristotle

Courage, self-discipline, and the ability to get things done is not something you’re born with. You can cultivate the habit of being productive and achieving your goals by constantly doing so.

The people that are living their dream lives are able to do so because they have taken action. They have been where you are, and they have overcome their inertia and started moving forward.

And they have kept moving forward despite their fears and despite any challenges that stood in their way.

You can do the same. You can always make excuses but the truth is that you can always do something, so begin with that.

7. ‘Work like you don’t need money, love like you’ve never been hurt, and dance like no one’s watching.’ – Unknown Author

When you find work that you would do for free, you have found your passion and calling in life. When you have no expectations, your life will be like dance.

Most people love because they want to be loved. And most people don’t dance, because they fear embarrassment.

I say, love because it feels good, and dance even though you may look like a complete idiot if that is what you want to do.

Life is meant to be an adventure full of fun, passion, and meaning. You are the only one that can create that for you.

8. ‘Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere.’ – Albert Einstein

Use your imagination to create the life of your dreams. You’ve heard of the law of attraction, which is excellent, but what most people often forget is that there’s also a law of action.

Use your imagination to plant the seed in your subconscious mind about what you want, but after that start taking massive action.

You can have what you want, if you will only go after it. I repeat this over and over because it is true and I want you to understand that.

9.’The journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.’ – Lao Tzu

No matter what you want to accomplish in life. And no matter how long you think the journey is, it all begins with a single step.

For example, building a profitable online business begins with a single step. You can take that step today if you choose to, or you can put it off until another day.

And that day may never come, so you as well get started now.

If you want more information on how to change your life for the better, Henri writes at Wake Up Cloud, where you can get his FREE life-changing course: Find Your Passion in 5 Days or Less.

Don’t Forget To Follow PickTheBrain on Twitter!

Related Articles:

Why You Shouldn’t Care What Others Think About You

How To Choose The Right Goals For You

In my last article we looked at eleven motivational quotes and we discussed how 25 percent of people abandon their New Year’s resolutions after one week, and 60 percent of people abandon their New Year’s resolution within six months.

Today I want to look at 11 more motivational quotes.  Why?  Because motivation is something you need daily.

I like what Zig Ziglar said about motivation, he said, “People often say that motivation doesn’t last. Well, neither does bathing – that’s why we recommend it daily.”

11 More Motivational Quotes for 2011:

“Our plans miscarry because they have no aim. When a man does not know what harbor he is making for, no wind is the right wind.”

–Seneca

“The more difficulties one has to encounter, within and without, the more significant and the higher in inspiration his life will be.”

–Horace Bushnell

“Winning isn’t everything, but wanting to win is.”

–Vince Lombardi

“In absence of clearly defined goals, we become strangely loyal to performing daily acts of trivia.”

–Author Unknown

“Don’t bunt. Aim out of the ballpark.”

–David Ogilvy

“There is only one success–to be able to spend your life in your own way.”

–Christopher Morley

“Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die, life is a broken winged bird that cannot fly.”

–Lanston Hughes

“The ability to convert ideas to things is the secret to outward success.”

–Henry Ward Beecher

“The ability to concentrate and to use your time well is everything if you want to succeed in business–or almost anywhere else for that matter.”

Lee Iacocca

“Success is sweet: the sweeter if long delayed and attained through manifold struggles and defeats.”

–A. Branson Alcott

“Failures do what is tension relieving, while winners do what is goal achieving.”

–Dennis Waitley

Please tweet or stumble to motivate someone else!

Mr. Self Development is an author who teaches a motivational and practical guide to success. Please visit him at Mr. Self Development.com.

Don’t Forget To Follow PickTheBrain On Twitter!

Related Articles:

How To Increase Self Discipline

Do you know that 25 percent of people abandon their New Year’s resolutions after one week, and 60 percent of people abandon their New Year’s resolution within six months?  According to Tony Schwartz, the average person makes the same New Year’s resolution ten separate times without success.

So today I want to give you 11 motivational quotes to keep you motivated in 2011, and help inspire you to achieve your goals.

11 Motivational Quotes for 2011:

“There is no happiness except in the realization that we have accomplished something.”

–Henry Ford

“Men’s best successes come after their disappointments.”

–Henry Ward Beecher

“Men do less than they ought, unless they do all they can.”

–Thomas Carlyle

“Do not wait to strike till the iron is hot; but make it hot by striking.”

–William B. Sprague

“First say to yourself what you would be; and then do what you have to do.”

–Epictetus

“They can because they think they can.”

–Virgil

“Every artist was first an amateur.”

–Ralph Waldo Emerson

“Keep steadily before you the fact that all true success depends at last upon yourself.”

–Theodore T. Hunger

“A failure is a man who has blundered, but is not able to cash in on the experience.”

–Elbert Hubbard

“The greatest results in life are usually attained by simple means and the exercise of ordinary qualities. These may for the most part be summed in these two: common-sense and perseverance.”

–Owen Feltham

“Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out.”

–Robert Collier

Please tweet or stumble to motivate someone else!

Mr. Self Development is an author who teaches a motivational and practical guide to success. Please visit him at Mr. Self Development.com.

Don’t Forget To Follow PickTheBrain On Twitter!

Related Articles:

How To Increase Self Discipline

How To Motivate Yourself