Easing Stress

By Mike Monahan, CEO and executive director of Life Success Seminars Inc.

When I'm asked to speak, work/life balance is the most requested topic. Life is so hectic that people are looking for a tool to ease the stress.

The challenge is that most people want to continue doing what they do but change the end result. You've probably heard this, but doing the same things and expecting different results is the definition of insanity!

I believe that the best thing to do is to change your actions. But if you can't, then change your attitude. Decide that you want a busy life and stay in the moment. That alone will alleviate a ton of stress!

What Does "Centered" Mean to You?

"Centering isn't just something to do. Centered is something to be," is a familiar line from Life Success's Basic seminar."

Have you ever taken the time to answer the question, "What does 'centered' mean in my life?" Is it how you treat yourself and the people in your life? Does being centered or not centered affect your attitude?

"Centered" means different things to different people. Defining what centered means to you is important. Once you decide, it's a matter of putting action behind it to make it happen.

I guarantee that your world will appreciate a centered you!

Pictures

By Mike Monahan, CEO and executive director of Life Success Seminars Inc.

I believe that the mind sees information in pictures. If you do, too, doesn't it make sense to envision your goals as more than words?

I have a 4 ft. x 8 ft. whiteboard in my basement. I write my goals on the whiteboard, and I also draw pictures of what I want. For example, last year I had the goal to write my book "From the Jungle to the Boardroom." And I did! My book was published in April 2011.

This year, I had a goal for the book to be a #1 best-seller. So I drew a picture of my book with a BIG "#1" written on it. And I achieved my goal! My book debuted at #1 on Inc. magazine's best-seller list. (BTW, my book is available at Amazon.com and 800ceoread.com.)

Is it time to sit down and play with the ideas that live inside you? Get a notebook or a whiteboard and start to draw. Put your imagination on paper and create a visual map to your future!

Get To

By Mike Monahan, CEO and executive director of Life Success Seminars

In our Basic seminar, I often hear people say they "need to," "have to" or "should" do something.

I immediately know that what they're saying they will do has a high probability of not happening. The failure rate is great when people set goals that feel like a punishment or an expectation of others.

If you set goals that you want and are important to you, your rate of success changes dramatically. When you're accomplishing what is important to you, you "get to" take action.

How much of your daily life are you spending in "get to" activities?

Life is tricky. If you don't pay attention, you could live a life of "have to" preparing to "get to!"

Resolutions

By Mike Monahan, CEO and executive director of Life Success Seminars Inc.

Did you make any New Year's resolutions this year? If so, how well have you kept your commitments?

Did you take the time to write down your goals for 2011 or did you just think about them? Only about 10% of people have written goals. And there's a direct correlation between written goals and success.

If you've kept on-track with your 2011 goals, congratulations and keep up the good work! If you are off-track, why not act like a new year is about to begin? Take the time now to write what you want to accomplish in the next year.

We often give up completely when we miss a day or two, and we fall into the 90% who "wish" life to be different. It's time to join the top 10%!

Happy New Year again!

Plan

By Mike Monahan, CEO and executive director of Life Success Seminars, Inc.

Plans are important. Would you build a house without blueprints? Would you retire without a financial strategy?

But why do so few people have a life plan?

It's common knowledge that only 7 percent of people have written plans for their lives. And most of those people are in the top 10 percent when it comes to financial success. Why? They planned. And they took action.

Do you have a written legacy plan? You're a unique person, so what would you like to do with your individual greatness? How will your individual greatness inspire your family and community? What will be the impact of your life 100 years after you're gone?

Plan. Act. And soon you'll realize, "Wow! I'm important!"

Chance

By Mike Monahan, CEO and executive director of Life Success Seminars Inc.

Have you ever noticed that a word's meaning can change, depending on how you use it?

The word "chance" is a good example. If you leave life to chance, you may miss out on many opportunities. If you don't take a chance, you'll never know if you could've succeeded. Take a chance or don't take a chance?

What really matters is knowing that your legacy will be determined by what you do.

Whether you take chances or leave your life to chance, both options require a set of actions. And that's the way you'll be remembered. Are you a "risk-taker" or a "procrastinator"? Both are a legacy.



Is it time to take action or will you wait?