Learning to celebrate success and kiss the past goodbye —

Repost Success # 9 from the 2010 100-Day Challenge was about the BIOLOGY OF SUCCESS.  

We learned that:

You are everything that is,
Your thoughts, your life, your dreams come true.
You are everything you choose to be.
You are as unlimited as the endless universe.
And, something wonderful is coming.
-Shad Helmstetter, Ph.D

Are you created to succeed and programmed to fail?

Congratulations!  This ends our third annual 100-Day-Challenge. We examined ...

COMMITMENT...

"How do you go from where you are to where you wanna be? And I think you have to have an enthusiasm for life. You have to have a dream, a goal. And you have to be willing to work for it."  -  Jim Valvano

I quit being afraid when my first venture failed and the sky didn't fall down.   ~Allen H. Neuharth

Forty-three Days on the Wall... How are you doing on your 2010 goals?  Do you have your ACTION PLAN yet? What one thing you can do today that will get you closer to reaching your goal by the end of the year?

Seventy Days on the Wall... How are you doing on your 2010 goals?  Do you have your ACTION PLAN yet? What one thing you can do today that will get you closer to reaching your goal by the end of the year?

There is a natural tendency to drift and lose focus as we approach the end of anything.  Drift can kill momentum and zaps energy causing you to lose sight of the goal.  This challenge takes stock of where you are (right now) and uses the last 100 days of the year to encourage, clear the clutter and build momentum.  The first 90 Days sets a pace to achieve your year-end goals.  The last 10 days celebrates how far you have come, leaving you energized, setting the stage for 2011 to be your "BEST YEAR EVER!"
 
This year's Challenge is about the BIOLOGY OF SUCCESS.

So far we learned that:

1. Success is not genetic, but rather fueled by your mental energy.
2. Success is not the WIN; it is doing the little things well that sets you up to Win.
3. Success is a strategy not a destination.
4. Success is more about function than it is of genius.
5. Success, the Paradox of

Today we look at: 

Success – Power of Positive Thinking?

A staple story representing the power of positive thought is when NASA developed its mission to the moon.  Everyone interviewed for the program was asked, “Do you believe man can reach the moon?”  As the story goes, only those who said yes were asked to join the team. 

Mental energy alone is not enough to succeed the tough challenges. Success is driven by belief.  According to Dr. Robert Arnot, in his book The Biology of Success, developing positive thought shifts your mental drive into its highest limits.  In his words, it is the difference between:

“CONVENTIONAL WISDOM:  Don’t worry, be happy and THE BIOLOGY OF SUCCESS: Light up the sky.”

Can you feel the energy shift between those two statements?  The good news is that creating positive thought is a skill not genetic trait.  Dr. Arnot gives six steps in building a pattern for success; all backed by science.  These steps create a synergy that positions you toward great possibility in your experiences. From my own awareness as a Christian centered life strategy coach (and the experiences of my clients), here is my take and order of those six steps.

Step 1:  Look to the Higher Power - Developing a deep relationship with God anchors your thoughts, habits and behavior.   It clears the clutter and builds an internal confidence.  Science confirms the strength derived from this important connection.

Step 2:  Be an Optimist – Transforming yourself into a tough minded optimist is the heart of positive mental attitude.  No matter how many no(s) you encounter, keep asking until you get to the yes!

Step 3:  Seize the Moment – Shed your anxieties and distractions.  It does not always come easily, but with “Step 1” give it to God and commit fully to the moment at hand.

Step 4:  Play to Your Strengths – Take the time to know how you are wired and how it helps you as well as where it hurts you.  With this knowledge, you will find yourself with more insight on how to design your success strategies.

Step 5:  Create Your Own Blueprint for Success – You become your mental energy and positive thought.  Design what kind of life story you want to tell?

Step 6:  Learn Emotional Broadcasting – When you “believe” you learn how to attract and build a network of people who support and celebrate the life you create.

Remember those NASA engineers, analysts and team members? Imagine their work environment.  The collaboration and arguments on theory fueled with “Light-Up-the-Sky” imagination.

Suzy Graven is a Professional Speaker, Women’s Transformational Life and Business Coach. Her unique experiences provided a doorway to work and learn from amazing leaders, CEOs and entrepreneurs, to the sage and wisdom of those who work closest to nature. This perspective serves as a catalyst for women wanting to grow their professional and personal lives. It leads to a thinking (anchored in real possibility) that generates vision and translates into effective action. You will gain power in dealing with every-day issues, and be free to live a major league life.   For information on Suzy's coaching or to book a her as a speaker, send your requests to:  Suzy Graven .

Seventy Days on the Wall... How are you doing on your 2010 goals?  Do you have your ACTION PLAN yet? What one thing you can do today that will get you closer to reaching your goal by the end of the year?

There is a natural tendency to drift and lose focus as we approach the end of anything. Drift can kill momentum and zaps energy causing you to lose sight of the goal. This challenge takes stock of where you are ...

Eighty-Five Days on the Wall, how are you doing on your 2010 goals?  Do you have your ACTION PLAN yet? What one thing you can do today that will get you closer to reaching your goal by the end of the year?

I am forwarding you a wonderful article from Mimi Meredith. A friend and coleague of whom I hold great respect, Mimi's words below come from a wisdom that fits our  Biology of Success series for this 100 Day Challenge. Enjoy the Read! 

1.  Success is not genetic, but rather fueled by your mental energy.
2.  Success is not the WIN; it is doing the little things well that sets you up to Win.
3.  Success is a Strategy, not a destination.
4.  Success is more about function than it is of genius.

Today we see that...

“Beliefs that carried us here may be holding us back in our quest to go there.”
– Marshall Goldsmith

I remember a novice horse trainer who took his first two-year-old colt to break and train.  The colt easily grasped his ground work.  Over the next few months, the colt responded to its trainier progressing through the movements from ground work through to riding circles, figure-eights, reining, sidesteps, gates, lead changes and all the subtle queues used between rider and colt; building trust and consistency in the relationship.   Eager to show his work, the novice trainer took his colt through its paces as his mentor watched.  Knowing he had reached all the goals he had set for the colt, the novice turned to his sage mentor who grinned and said, “Nice work; be thankful for the ones that make you look good.” 

On the ranch, you learn early that the good ones make you look good, others make you work hard for the money with undistinguished outcomes.  It is a humbling process.  You are only as good as the last horse you trained, the last yield you harvested (whether in grain, grapes, wine, hay, cattle or foals) and the last deal you dealt. 

It was easy for me to translate that to the corporate structure.  One of my favorite books on coaching interpersonal relationships and success growth strategies is, WHAT GOT YOU HERE WON’T GET YOU THERE by Marshall Goldsmith.  Read it!

Goldsmith explains that while success builds our confidence, it can become delusional in terms of achievement, status and contributions.  Further, our delusions may become a serious liability as it relates to change.  When asked to change, we think… I do not have to change; who do they think I am?  Goldsmith breaks it down to a three part response:  1) We believe the other party is confused.  2) If they are not confused, they must be misinformed so the criticism does not apply to us.  3) When all else fails, we attack the other party.  After all, we are smarter than they.

According to Goldsmith, there are four key beliefs that help us become successful.  Each can make it tough to change:  (a) our confidence from our past performance, (b) our ability to influence our success rather than luck, (c) our optimistic belief that our success will continue, and (d) Our sense of control over our destiny (as opposed to being controlled by external forces). 

Thus is the paradox of success: “The beliefs that carried us HERE may be holding us back in our quest to go THERE.”

Suzy Graven is a Professional Speaker, Women’s Transformational Life and Business Coach. Her unique experiences provided a doorway to work and learn from amazing leaders, CEOs and entrepreneurs, to the sage and wisdom of those who work closest to nature. This perspective serves as a catalyst for women wanting to grow their professional and personal lives. It leads to a thinking (anchored in real possibility) that generates vision and translates into effective action. You will gain power in dealing with every-day issues, and be free to live a major league life.   For information on Suzy's coaching or to book a her as a speaker, send your requests to:  Suzy Graven .

95 Days on the Wall, how are you doing on your 2010 goals?  Do you have your ACTION PLAN yet? What one thing you can do today that will get you closer to reaching your goal by the end of the year? There is a natural tendency to drift and lose focus as we approach the end of anything.  Drift can kill momentum and zaps energy causing you to lose sight of the goal.  This challenge takes stock of where you are (right now) and uses the last 100 days of the year to encourage, clear the clutter and build momentum.  The first 90 Days sets a pace to achieve your year-end goals.  The last 10 days celebrates how far you have come, leaving you energized, setting the stage for 2011 to be your "BEST YEAR EVER!" 
 
This year's Challenge is about the BIOLOGY OF SUCCESS.   So far we learned that:

1.  Success is not genetic, but rather fueled by your mental energy.
2.  Success is not the WIN; it is doing the little things well that sets you up to Win.
3.  Success is a Strategy, not a destination .

Today we see that... 

"Success is more a function of consistent common sense than it is of genius." — An Wang

Preparing the Way...

My father-in-law raised Angus cattle and grew wheat on his farm in North Dakota.  It was his family homestead.  Just as his grandfather did each spring, he routinely primed his fields to plant.  First, he removed the rocks that pushed up through the soil and surfaced during the spring thaw.  Further, he marked the immovable rocks to avoid hitting them as he worked his fields.  Thus, he prepared the way toward safely and efficiently working the soil to plant and ultimately harvest the best yield possible each year. 

This continuous process is part of nature’s rhythm; an innate purging and renewing that takes place around the world.  Just as the fields, we find rocks in our life/work environment.  Rocks that surface in our emotions, thoughts, habits and actions 

What rocks keep you from effective and efficiently preparing the way to reaching your goals?  Identify the rocks you must move out of the way and those that you should work around to reach the goal(s) you set? 

Also, check out Mimi's http://blog.thegoodnessgrows.com/.  She is building momentum and making the most of her end-of-the-year challenge! 

Suzy Graven is a Professional Speaker, Women’s Transformational Life and Business Coach. Her unique experiences provided a doorway to work and learn from amazing leaders, CEOs and entrepreneurs, to the sage and wisdom of those who work closest to nature. This perspective serves as a catalyst for women wanting to grow their professional and personal lives. It leads to a thinking (anchored in real possibility) that generates vision and translates into effective action. You will gain power in dealing with every-day issues, and be free to live a major league life.   For information on Suzy's coaching or to book a her as a speaker, send your requests to:  Suzy Graven .

Hours go into creating and refining a business plan or career path; while,little attention is spent on building a life plan.  At some point, you realize that you cannot separate your personal life from work.  What affects one side of the equation affects the other side.   Eliminating stress and finding clarity, balance and synergy are among the top requests from my clients. 

Life can change in an instant; a...Last Breath ...Phone Call ...Knock at the Door ...Divorce ...Career move ...Physical Move ...Promotion ...Demotion ...any Unplanned Consequence.   How you manage the change depends on how clearly you understand YOU.
 
The human spirit seeks security, control, and affection (approval).   Your perspective of life revolves around four stages of growth:  1) Survival, 2) Stability, 3) Success, and 4) Significance. Furthermore, you may confuse significance with privilege.  Privilege speaks to conformity, while significance is the product of transformation.  

Even if your desire to grow a business or career,  your key to balance and harmony into your life begins with your personal life plan. You must put together a plan and build the elements that set actions to your dreams and provide tools to manage and maintain your success cycle.  Remember, success is a strategy... not a destination, and that strategy is defined by you. 

Today, continue writing in your 100 Day Challenge Journal.  Set aside a few minutes at the beginning and end of your day to write in your exercises and thought.  Continue your graditude list, deconstruct and reconstruct the day as you bless the day and let it go.  Starting from where you are right now, begin defining strategies to get you where you want to go; define how you want to live, work and play, and discover what is important to you along the way.  


Think about where you are now in your life.  Consider your work, play,relationships finances and anything that is important to you.

A.    My quality of life on a scale of 1-10 (10 being the best ever) is:  ____________

 

1. What does that mean?
2. Define that:
3. Tell me more:

E.     List ten things that make you happy:
   
F.     Things that make you unhappy:

G.     List 50 things you are grateful for:


Suzy Graven is a Professional Speaker,Transformational Life & Business Strategy Coach. Her unique experiences provided a doorway to work and learn from amazing leaders, CEOs and entrepreneurs and privy to the sage and wisdom of those who work closest to nature. This perspective serves as a catalyst for those wanting to grow their professional and personal lives. It leads to a thinking (anchored in real possibility) that generates vision and translates into effective action. You will gain power in dealing with every-day issues, and be free to live a major league life.   For information on Suzy's coaching and to book a her as a speaker, send your requests to:  Suzy Graven.