By Mike Monahan, Executive Director and CEO of Life Success Seminars
When we think of our dreams, we often think about all the benefits we will gain once we have accomplished our goal: "When I am rich and successful, I can take more vacations and buy the things that I want." "When I find that special someone, I will be in love and have fun all the time."
People often fall short on their dreams because they didn't factor in the "I-didn't-sign-up-for-this" part.
We all would like to have the benefits of success without the hard work that goes with a dream. Even the lottery winners don't have it made!
As you write down your dreams, make sure you have a column for what you will have to sacrifice to have what you want. Then be sure to celebrate each step you take toward your dream!
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
What We Can Learn from March Madness
By Tony Miltenberger, Director of Leadership and Outreach for Life Success Seminars
Every year, millions of men and women succumb to the draw of “The Tournament” or “The Brackets.” Every year, there are thousands of office pools, trips to Vegas and trash-talking about what seed your team is ranked.
In fact, this time of year has become such an event that the opening of March Madness creates a spike in elective surgeries for men so they can sit at home and watch basketball.
So what’s the draw? What’s all the hype about? I believe it’s about the Cinderella story, the underdog. It’s the idea that one team made up of potential unknowns has the same shot as anyone else. It’s the idea that during the course of one game, anything can happen--and usually will.
The Cinderella story is epic, and everyone loves the idea. Unfortunately, people don’t believe in the Cinderella story. 4.8 million brackets were filled out on ESPN.com and, after last weekend, no one had a perfect bracket.
Cinderella is fun, but she isn’t very practical.
I tend to think about this in my own life. How many times have I not believed in myself and instead took the practical route? What dreams have I given up on because I wasn’t supposed to be there?
What I realized from this past weekend’s games is that every Cinderella story started out the same way, by the team who never thought they were the underdog. Each team believed in what they could accomplish, even if society disagreed.
If we just take the time to believe in ourselves, then why wouldn’t our dreams be possible? This year I’ve decided that I deserve the proverbial glass slipper--practical or not.
Every year, millions of men and women succumb to the draw of “The Tournament” or “The Brackets.” Every year, there are thousands of office pools, trips to Vegas and trash-talking about what seed your team is ranked.
In fact, this time of year has become such an event that the opening of March Madness creates a spike in elective surgeries for men so they can sit at home and watch basketball.
So what’s the draw? What’s all the hype about? I believe it’s about the Cinderella story, the underdog. It’s the idea that one team made up of potential unknowns has the same shot as anyone else. It’s the idea that during the course of one game, anything can happen--and usually will.
The Cinderella story is epic, and everyone loves the idea. Unfortunately, people don’t believe in the Cinderella story. 4.8 million brackets were filled out on ESPN.com and, after last weekend, no one had a perfect bracket.
Cinderella is fun, but she isn’t very practical.
I tend to think about this in my own life. How many times have I not believed in myself and instead took the practical route? What dreams have I given up on because I wasn’t supposed to be there?
What I realized from this past weekend’s games is that every Cinderella story started out the same way, by the team who never thought they were the underdog. Each team believed in what they could accomplish, even if society disagreed.
If we just take the time to believe in ourselves, then why wouldn’t our dreams be possible? This year I’ve decided that I deserve the proverbial glass slipper--practical or not.
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Luck or Opportunity?
By Tony Miltenberger, Director of Leadership and Outreach for Life Success Seminars
Every year around St. Patrick’s Day, we hear stories about luck--luck of the Irish, treasure at the end of the rainbow, little green men who can change your destiny.
I have to be honest--I don’t believe in luck.
As a disclaimer, I’m not Irish. And aside from my 4-year-old son (whom my wife loves to dress up), I’ve never seen a little man dressed in all-green.
What I have seen is a successful person. Success comes from hard work and finding the one thing you want in life more than anything else. When you find that one thing, hold on to it and don’t let go.
Dictionary.com defines luck as “good fortune; advantage or success, considered as the result of chance.” I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to leave my success to chance. I’d rather go get it myself!
Life is full of unfair opportunities; successful people know that and constantly take advantage of it.
I hope you had a Happy St. Patrick’s Day--and take the opportunity to find your own pot of gold at the end of the rainbow!
Every year around St. Patrick’s Day, we hear stories about luck--luck of the Irish, treasure at the end of the rainbow, little green men who can change your destiny.
I have to be honest--I don’t believe in luck.
As a disclaimer, I’m not Irish. And aside from my 4-year-old son (whom my wife loves to dress up), I’ve never seen a little man dressed in all-green.
What I have seen is a successful person. Success comes from hard work and finding the one thing you want in life more than anything else. When you find that one thing, hold on to it and don’t let go.
Dictionary.com defines luck as “good fortune; advantage or success, considered as the result of chance.” I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to leave my success to chance. I’d rather go get it myself!
Life is full of unfair opportunities; successful people know that and constantly take advantage of it.
I hope you had a Happy St. Patrick’s Day--and take the opportunity to find your own pot of gold at the end of the rainbow!
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
One Voice
By Mike Monahan, Executive Director and CEO of Life Success Seminars
It only takes one voice to change a life--your life--and the one voice is your own. We often can lose our voice for various reasons. The reasons frequently don't matter, but what really matters is that we find our voice again.
Finding your voice can be tricky. That being said, once you find it, things get even trickier.
Finding your voice usually comes out in the form of blame and anger. Truly finding your voice is like finding your power.
In your relationships, would you rather have power or resolution? The path to resolution is very different than the path to power.
It only takes one voice to change a life--your life--and the one voice is your own. We often can lose our voice for various reasons. The reasons frequently don't matter, but what really matters is that we find our voice again.
Finding your voice can be tricky. That being said, once you find it, things get even trickier.
Finding your voice usually comes out in the form of blame and anger. Truly finding your voice is like finding your power.
In your relationships, would you rather have power or resolution? The path to resolution is very different than the path to power.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Who's the Expert?
By Mike Monahan, Executive Director and CEO of Life Success Seminars
If you watch the news, I'm sure you've seen the so-called experts who predict the future. In fact, there are experts for every problem that we face, from the economy to world hunger to global warming.
We often want to call in the experts when making important decisions. The question each of us needs to answer is: "When am I the expert?"
Do you trust your ability to make good decisions so you can be the expert in your own life? Practice trusting your decisions and you may be the expert on the morning news one day!
If you watch the news, I'm sure you've seen the so-called experts who predict the future. In fact, there are experts for every problem that we face, from the economy to world hunger to global warming.
We often want to call in the experts when making important decisions. The question each of us needs to answer is: "When am I the expert?"
Do you trust your ability to make good decisions so you can be the expert in your own life? Practice trusting your decisions and you may be the expert on the morning news one day!
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