January 6th 2010JUST SAY YES!

Posted by Brian Bartes

As 2010 begins, you have probably taken some time already to reflect on last year and to consider what kind of year 2010 will be for you. If you’re like me, January will be a season in which you continue to look forward and make plans for 2010. Ever the eternal optimist, I believe 2010 will be a great year for most people…including you!

 

Typically, I write about resolutions, goal setting, or strategic planning of some sort in this first message of the New Year. While the theme of the message is the same this year, I’m going to suggest you approach your planning a bit differently this time.

 

I’m just returning from eight days at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. My family and I had a wonderful time, although I don’t recommend the week between Christmas and New Year’s, for a variety of reasons. It was not the “warm weather winter vacation” that we had hoped for, with highs averaging in the low to mid 60s. And the parks were jam-packed. Were it not for the Fastpasses that our Disney Vacation Club representative provided when we arrived, we might not have ridden any of the more popular rides.

 

I’m not complaining, though. I am certainly grateful for the opportunity to get away. 60 degrees is certainly better than 20, and I savor the time that we are able to enjoy together as a family…especially now that our son Andy is in college.

 

I always enjoy the business aspects of Walt Disney World. There are so many lessons I could talk about, as I look at our experience there on two levels—one of having fun and enjoying the experience with my family, and also noticing how Disney conducts its business.

 

I’ll talk more in the future about that second level, because Disney does a lot of things very well…things that you can also apply to your business. Today’s lesson originated not in the theme parks, though, but rather in the pool…at Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort.

 

It was Sunday evening, our second night at Disney World. The temperature was in the mid 50s, though the water was fortunately much warmer. Typically my children (who must be part polar bear!) insist on swimming the first night. But somehow they waited until Sunday.

 

For some reason, the older I get, the less enthusiastic I am about swimming in what feels like sub-zero conditions. Any more, I’m perfectly content sitting at the side of the pool, heavily dressed in jeans, a long-sleeved shirt, a sweatshirt, a jacket. A bit cold, perhaps, but not freezing.

 

If you have children, you also understand that part of their enthusiasm for the “vacation swim” involves you being in the pool with them. Kids can’t understand why on earth you wouldn’t want to be in the pool.

 

Throughout the evening, I found myself wanting to say “no” to a variety of things that (looking back) were clearly in my best interest to say “yes” to.

 

First, I didn’t want to go in the water at all. Being the “team player” that I am, I reluctantly agreed to swim with my two youngest children. Once I was in, the water was fine, and I was having a great time with Carly and Caleb.

 

But then, Caleb wanted to go down the slide. Of course, that involved getting out of the water, into the now even colder night air. The slide is 20 feet high and 148-foot long. There are probably 40 steps up to the top. Did I mention that the air was cold?

 

Needless to say, we slid down the slide. Then we went down again. Then a third time.

 

After that, the kids wanted to go in the hot tub. Now, that sounded appealing. Thinking ahead, though, I knew we would eventually come back in the pool. Which, on a chilly evening, would mean that the water that once felt warm would feel much cooler after enjoying the 104-degree water in the hot tub.

 

We enjoyed the hot tub, then went back in the pool.

 

In the end, in spite of wanting to say “no” a number of times, I said “yes” again and again. It was the right thing to do under the circumstances. I’ll soon forget how cold it actually was, but I will always remember swimming with my children in the pool at Bay Lake Tower.

 

I could site numerous other “late night swims” we’ve had during cool nights on vacation. They are engrained as tremendously positive experiences not only in my mind, but also in the minds, and memories, of my children.

 

After reading this story, you might find yourself judging my actions related to the experience. You might be one of those dads that is fully engaged, and would never think of not going in the pool in the situation I described above. Or you might think that I’m an idiot for going in the water at all, and perhaps even for allowing my children to swim given the weather. In a more positive light, you might think I’m a pretty great dad for doing what I did.

 

For me, there’s a bigger issue than the swim itself. As I reflected on the great time I had that evening, the following question occurred to me:

 

What are you saying “no” to that you ought say “yes” to?

 

As you plot your course for 2010, I hope you’ll consider this question. Perhaps there’s a decision you’ve been wavering on. Or maybe you’re pursuing a new direction in your career. You might be thinking about starting a new business. This question might also apply to a relationship you’re thinking about starting (or ending).

 

Saying “no” is important, and I’ve written about that before. But for 2010, say “Yes.” To the opportunities that present themselves, both professionally and personally. To the experiences that await you in the coming year. To the possibilities that exist in the world today.

 

Go ahead. Jump in. Say “yes” in 2010.

 

You’ll be glad you did!

 

November 5th 200910 STEPS TO ACHIEVING YOUR GOALS

Posted by Brian Bartes

The ability to set goals and to develop a plan for the accomplishment of those goals is arguably the most important ingredient of success.  Mastering this skill will enable you to achieve your dreams faster than you ever thought possible.

 

The goal-achieving system below is a powerful, yet simple strategy that can be used to help you achieve anything in life that you desire.

 

1. Set your goal. The first step is to find a goal that is big enough to inspire you. Unless you are truly inspired to accomplish the goal, it is just a wish. By calling it a “goal”, you are affirming that (a) you desire it intensely, (b) you truly believe in your ability to achieve your goal and (c) you are willing to pay the price in advance for achieving your goal.

 

2. Write down your goal. Writing out your goal stimulates the “filtering” part of your brain, called the Reticular Activating System (RAS). When you write down your goal, the RAS begins collecting relevant information, then sends results to the conscious part of your mind. It acts “behind the scenes”, causing you to become aware of opportunities that would have otherwise gone unnoticed. Make sure that the goal is positive, is written in the present tense, is action- oriented, and is specific and as detailed as possible.

 

3. Establish a deadline for the achievement of your goal. By setting a deadline, your subconscious is activated to ensure the achievement of your goal within the prescribed time frame. If you follow all the steps in this process, and your projections are realistic, then you will achieve your goal by the deadline.

 

4. Determine how you will benefit from achieving the goal. You will only be compelled to achieve your goal if it is something that inspires you, something that causes such intense desire in you that you are willing to do whatever it takes to accomplish your goal. By writing down the reasons you want to achieve your goal, you’ll discover how intense your desire really is.

 

5. Identify what stands between you and your goal. There will probably be several elements standing between you and your goal.  Make a list of these “challenges”, and rank them in order of priority. Then, begin taking action to remove each of the elements that stands in the way of the accomplishment of your goal.

 

6. Design an action plan for accomplishing your goal. This detailed  plan will encompass everything that you have done in the previous  steps. Write out all the steps that you will have to take, and rank them in order of priority. Assign target dates for each step.

 

7. Visualize your goal as already having been accomplished. Review your goal daily. Also, the more detailed you can make you vision,  more powerful it will be.

 

8. Affirm your goal as already having been accomplished. Every day,  read your goal either silently or aloud. Repeat it to yourself, over and over again.

 

9. Resolve to take massive action toward the achievement of your goal. Persistence and determination will keep you on the success track anytime obstacles try to stand in your way. By taking continuous action, you will eventually reach the point where nothing can stop you.

 

10. Take one specific action every day to propel you toward your goal. By taking continuous action, you develop the necessary discipline and momentum that you will need to achieve your goals.

 

Any worthwhile goal requires sustained effort. By consisting applying the methods above, you will develop the success habits that will enable you to achieve any goal that you desire. 

 

August 13th 2009Why People Don’t Succeed

Posted by Brian Bartes

I know a lot of you want to know what’s holding you back from achieving all that you want in life. While there are more opportunities today than ever, success is sometimes elusive… especially when you’re being held back by the thing I’m going to describe in a minute.

 

Imagine, for a moment, that you could remove the obstacle that’s standing in your way. Since it’s no longer stopping you, you are free to achieve success—however you define it. Like a thoroughbred racehorse when the starting gate opens, you are launched into a new chapter of your life. How will things be different now that you are free to achieve your goals? What will you be, do and have that seemed so elusive before?

 

Like much of personal and professional development, the answer to this question is simple. But don’t let its simplicity fool you. It’s also profound. Once you discover how to overcome this obstacle, all that you desire will be within your reach.

 

What’s the biggest reason people don’t succeed?

 

Because they don’t do the things they know they need to do to be successful.

 

In every area of life, there are about a half-dozen things that make all the difference. Think about it. Let’s take fitness. If you work out five days a week for 30-40 minutes, doing cardiovascular activity three of the days and strength training two days per week, you will be fit, right? Add in some stretching for good measure, and you’re done. You be in great shape in no time!

 

The formula for physical fitness isn’t a secret. If you asked 100 people on the street how to become physically fit, 97 would describe some variation of what I wrote above. So they know what they need to do. But they don’t do it.

 

It’s the same with health. Five fruits and vegetables a day, a proper balance of lean protein and carbs, stay away from junk food and “white poisons” (salt, sugar, white flour), and drink half your body weight in ounces of water each day. No news there, either. Pretty much common knowledge, right?

 

I bet you can make a list of activities required to be successful in your business or career, too. Do you have such a list? If so, how are you doing?

 

The concept is simple, yet we don’t always do the things we know we need to do to be successful. “Stuff” gets in the way, doesn’t it?

 

Salespeople get bogged down in paperwork, leaving them little time for calling on new business. Business owners get to the end of their day, and wonder where the time went because they spent the day putting out small fires. Professionals get to the end of the month thinking surely they must have had more billable hours than that!

 

In my coaching practice, my clients and I invest a lot of time determining their highest value activities. We monitor the extent to which those activities are being performed, and identify the stumbling blocks that get in the way. This process isn’t rocket science, and the truth flushes out pretty quickly.

 

In order to achieve success in any/every area of your life, you need to do the same thing. The trick is to figure out what needs to be done, and how to do it. Then, as they say in the Nike ad, “Just Do It!”

 

August 3rd 2009Dale Carnegie - Six Ways to Make People Like You

Posted by Brian Bartes

The most powerful concepts in personal development are often very simple, and easy to apply. Several examples of this can be found in Dale Carnegie’s classic book, How to Win Friends and Influence People. First published in 1937, this timeless classic is just as useful today as it was when it was first published.

Here are Dale Carnegie’s Six Ways to Make People Like You:

Principle 1. Become genuinely interested in other people.

Principle 2. Smile.

Principle 3. Remember that a person’s name is to that person the sweetest and most important sound in any language.

Principle 4. Be a good listener: Encourage others to talk about themselves.

Principle 5. Talk in terms of the other person’s interests.

Principle 6. Make the other person feel important - and do it sincerely.

(Source: How to Win Friends & Influence People)

July 28th 2009You Asked For It

Posted by Brian Bartes

In the past month or so, I received two emails and one letter from readers who wanted to learn more about me. Not “me the success coach”, or “me the personal development expert”, but me the person.

Each letter approached this topic differently. One reader (and a coaching client of mine) recalled that I had once taken my son Andy to the Super Bowl, and had a question related to an article I had written about that experience. The second letter, from a newsletter subscriber, asked about the work that I had done with Brian Tracy and Tony Robbins.

The third was more general in nature. The woman who wrote that email asked why I don’t talk more about my personal life, and about my family. “I know you have four children,” she wrote. “Since you’re all about LifeExcellence, working less and making more, and living a balanced life, why don’t you talk more about your family?”

I appreciate the questions, and I’ve receive similar questions and comments from time to time.

As I thought about those emails and letters, I realized that I’m guilty of something else. I realized that topic selection for newsletter articles and blog posts involves me and my staff coming up with topics that we think are relevant. I hope we are providing useful information (and the feedback we receive indicates that subscribers are getting value from it), but we should probably get more input from you — our clients, customers and newsletter subscribers.

To change things up a bit for August, I’ve created a theme called “You Asked For It.” Over the next few weeks, I would like you to submit questions that I will then respond to. Your questions can be about me, or they can be about anything else you would like to ask (including the areas of business/career, wealth/finance, relationships/family, health/fitness, spiritual/inspirational, etc.)

You may submit your questions in one of three ways:

1. Send an email to info@jwcgroup.com, with “You Asked For It” in the subject line.
2. Fax your question to our office. (734-254-9973, Attn: Marti)
3. Comment on the Work Less, Make More blog.

I’m really looking forward to this, and I hope you will find it useful, too.

So please so submit your questions now… and then in August tune in to read my response to your questions!
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June 5th 2009Welcome to LifeExcellence!

Posted by Brian Bartes

Welcome to LifeExcellence! If you’ are committed to achieving greater success in your life, then this is the place to be! We hope you’ll find lots of information to help you with your business or career, wealth and finance, relationships and family, health and fitness, and spiritual areas of your life. If life balance is important to you, then you’re in the right place. Our motto at LifeExcellence is “constant and never-ending improvement…in every area of your life!”