As we discussed in a recent article, there is a massive difference between leaders and managers.  Managers are often promoted into a leadership position because they excelled at their previous role. However, this may not give them the experience needed to be an effective and respected leader. So how can they learn to be one?

Here are three mistakes new leaders usually make:

1. Letting Power Go to Their Heads
It is not uncommon for a new manager to let their ego take over and take on the attitude they can sit back now and direct people.  Something many forget is what got them there – their results.  A strong leader will use their experience, and also keep themselves in the game, by continued involvement in their staff’s challenges and growth.

This helps staff members learn and grow, gain respect for the manager, and also helps the manager “keep their saw sharp”, as they also will continue to learn and grow , as to be able to keep up with what’s happening in their field.

2. Not Taking an Interest In Their Team
A  simple ‘good morning’ or ‘how was your holiday?’, will go a long way and help employees feel valued.  Managers who think they are too superior to be able to be kind and friendly to their staff will eliminate any chance of respect from them. There is no place for ego in leadership.

3. They Stop Walking the Walk
A sales manager that sits back and thinks he doesn’t have to sell tends to believe he is just there to crack the whip. If your employees see you out still making client contact and making the sale, this will give you far more credibility and respect.
Recognize that you have a lot you can teach. Employees that see you in the game will want to learn from you.

Here are nine effective practices that will take you from a manager to a respected leader:

1. Sit Down With Your Staff
Give them tips and work with them to help them live up to their potential. Be willing to teach what you know that brought you to this point, and don’t be threatened by helping others succeed.

2. Congratulate Employees
Let them know they’ve done a good job, praise them when you see them making extra effort, and when they are succeeding in their goals. 

3. Be Open to Suggestions
Some of the best suggestions come from an employee that is in the trenches and has an idea for improvement.

4. Be Committed to Your Personal Growth and Development
Employees will respect and admire a manager that is continuing to learn and improve themselves.

5. Lead By Example
Be willing to do what you expect of others. There have been many successful CEOs who have “picked up a broom and swept up a mess”.

6. Communicate With Your Staff
Communication is essential. Let your team know what is going well, and what needs to be improved. This also goes back to being open to suggestions – listening to your team is part of effective communication.

7. Give Employees Responsibilities
It’s amazing how people step up to the plate when someone is putting their faith in them and counting on them.

8. Let Your Team Make Judgment Calls
Rules are important, but there are exceptions to every rule and in order to develop strong leaders in your organization, they should be able to feel confident in making a judgement call.  This will also build client loyalty when an employee goes the extra mile for them.

9. Help Others Become Leaders
A true leader wants to help develop other people, and they are not threatened by another person’s success.
It’s been said that leaders are born, not made. Although some may be born with natural leadership abilities, leadership can definitely be learned by those that are committed developing and educating themselves.

As published on:  http://aboutleaders.com/respected-leader/#gs.kMBvfhA_

HAVE YOU EXPERIENCE THIS? Someone sends you a social media connection request. We all get them of course. Whenever I accept a connection, I send them a personalized message back to initiate a discussion and start the business relationship. I do not attempt to sell them on anything. They have come to me, and I would think there is a reason of some sort.Something that really gets under my skin, is when someone sends me a social media connection request, I send them back a personal note, addressing them by name, and I receive a bulk message back, asking me to DO something for their business. They don’t know me, they have never interacted with me, they have not looked into what I can offer them, and they haven’t even addressed me by name. A “standard” bulk email asking me to do something for them.

Here is a recent example: Thanks for your follow! Please consider liking & sharing our Facebook Page: We’ll follow back ;-). If you think that I can help you with my (large) network on LinkedIn, invite me here Regards

This is a great way to repulse people! This is comparable to someone walking into your place of business, and asking you to stop what you are doing and come over to their “shop” and do something for them. It is so ridiculous, yet many who promote themselves as some sort of expert, practice this unacceptable behavior.

When I receive a message like this, my first reaction is how desperate they appear. It reduces their credibility, and destroys any trust I have in them. They haven’t even had the decency to use my name! How long does it take to type Hi ______, even if it is a bulk email message?
What is a better way to handle it? Stop handling your correspondence like a machine, and start being human! Tell me why you have reached out to connect with me. If you wouldn’t walk up to someone you just met in person, and ask them to do something for your business, then don’t do it on social media!

Another unacceptable behaviour is automatically adding people to groups. This is a great way to annoy people…they get automatically added and then get bombarded with messages from that group. Today I woke up to over a dozen messages from one person in a group like this. Absolutely send an invite if you feel they would benefit and be a good addition to a group, but do not automatically add them.

Overposting. No one wants to see their feeds full of your posts. Ask yourself if you would like to check your feeds and see 15 posts from the same person? It is a great way to get “unfollowed”.
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Email Lists – Do not automatically add people to your email list and start sending them bulk emails without their consent. People should be opting in, because they want to receive info from you. Otherwise you are going to tick people off and destroy any hope of doing business.
Most of this is common sense, however, it is shocking how many people are not using common sense on social media. Be professional, it will take you further than any of these tactics.

​As published on:  ​http://bizcatalyst360.com/social-media-etiquette-for-entrepreneurs/

DO YOU UNDERSTAND the difference between being busy and being productive? It’s common to have conversations with people that are just “so busy” They run from one thing to another, and talk about how busy they are.
Often these individuals thrive on the attention they get from being “so busy”….they have a false sense of accomplishment. However, are they actually accomplishing what they desire and are they getting ahead?
As an entrepreneur, it is vital that you spend your time effectively, and not waste it on things that are not important to your business growth. It’s important to distinguish the difference between doing things for the sake of doing them, often due to habit, or believing this is the way that “everyone” does it, or, thinking out of the box and eliminating the habits, and only focus on doing things that are actually productive. Many years ago, I learned a powerful distinction – only do things that lead me towards my goal.
How does this look?When arranging my schedule, I look at how much time I have and what my goals are for that day. I only do things that lead me towards those goals. I recognize if I am doing something that doesn’t contribute to my goals, I am making the wrong decisions and am getting stuck in being busy, not productive.
I prioritize the tasks that are most important and do those first thing in the day. I then fit everything else I am responsible for around that.
I use a daytimer faithfully! I have a paper daytimer with a month at a glance, and also a week at a glance, broken down by day in 15 min increments. I schedule everything! My work, my fitness, my family, my dog, my hobbies, everything you can think of. This is a way to know if you have over scheduled and can’t possibly get everything done, or, if you have space somewhere you can squeeze something in. It may sound a bit anal, but I have done this for over 30 yrs and it has been highly effective. I have the peace of mind knowing when I get through my list for the day, I am done.
I also use a diary system to keep track of things I want to remember and things I have to do. Each morning I pull out my file for the day and everything I have to remember is in that file. It works hand in hand with my daytimer, and allows me to stay on top of things, and remember points I wouldn’t normally.
Something else that has been highly effective for me is working ahead on tasks. For instance, when you are in a productive state, it is easier to get more done in a short time, then if you wait to do the task when it is actually time to do it. One way I have implemented this is with my weekly podcasts. When I sit down to do a podcast, I have my equipment all ready to go, and find I am in the peak state of mind to do them. I record 4-10 at a time because I have already done all the set up work. I can then pull from the archives I have filed each week. It takes far less time to do them this way, and if I have a week where I have other commitments or maybe not feeling the right energy to record, I don’t miss a beat….the podcast is already done and waiting to be released. I use this strategy on many business tasks like this, also in keeping my home in order, gift buying, everything you can think of. It’s so simple to implement this strategy into everything we do, but so overlooked by most, including myself until about 4 years ago.
Being productive rather than busy is important to your business growth. Without this awareness, you will be spinning your wheels, wasting time, and missing opportunity because you think you don’t have time. When we are productive, we seem to gain more time, be more relaxed, and are able to engage in things “busy” people just don’t seem to have time for.

As published on:  http://bizcatalyst360.com/entrepreneurs-focus-on-being-productive/_

IN EVERYTHING we do and observe, we find lessons we can utilize to shape our lives in a powerful direction. Do you tend to push through challenges, or give up at the first sign of challenge? Successful entrepreneurs do not give up easily. Situations we encounter can contain powerful lessons, if we are open to the messages.

I came across a post on social media recently. An individual was selling something they bought because they “tried it for 15 seconds and it didn’t work”. This was a new mother selling a bottle of some sort. Apparently after only 15 seconds, the mother determined the baby would not take this bottle. FIFTEEN seconds! She was also selling the bottle warmer for the same reason. She had invested in the equipment (hundreds of dollars) and simply gave up on all of it after only 15 seconds!

There is a powerful lesson in this. I am about to become a grandma and have talked with our daughter about this. I have seen so many new moms give up breastfeeding in a very short amount of time, saying the baby just wouldn’t take it. I nursed both of our children and know from experience that there is an adjustment period for both the baby and the mom. It is natural for the baby to nurse…that’s what babies do. It is something new mom’s have to learn. We have to push through the challenges we face in learning to relax, to adjusting to the initial pain of milk coming in, to sticking with it until we and the baby are in sinc. Once you get through that first week or so, it is the easiest and most natural thing in the world, but sadly so many are just not willing to do what it takes, and are looking for EASY, not EFFECTIVE.

It is much like being an entrepreneur. Everything is new. We don’t know how to do a lot of things. We feel frustrated, we feel like we don’t know what we are doing. It is easy to give up. We want everything to be easy.

I saw another post on social media about a painter. He bought supplies (brushes, drop cloth, etc) to do a painting job. His words were “Got screwed on a painting job and contractor is no one to be found.” He bought the supplies one day and was selling them with this excuse the very nest day! What kind of business is he attempting to run if he has one client back out after only one day of buying his supplies and is already throwing in the towel? Instead of putting up a post about how broke he is and how he “got screwed”, he should put that energy and time into putting up a post to gain a new client to replace the one that backed out. THIS is why new entrepreneurs fail. They make excuses and they GIVE UP!

Success as a new mom or as a new entrepreneur comes by setting your mindset to figure things out. You must be solution oriented. You must stay calm. You must be willing to make mistakes. You must be willing to push through challenges and not get bent out of shape when something doesn’t go as planned. You must learn to take risks. You must be willing to do what it takes, for as LONG as it takes.
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Whether it’s 15 seconds, 15 minutes, 15 weeks, or 15 months…DO NOT GIVE UP! There are always solutions. Those that succeed in life and in business have learned, these challenges are simply part of the process towards success. Your business is your “baby”. DO NOT give up on it because something didn’t work the first time….be solution oriented and be willing to do what it takes for as long as it takes!

As published on:  http://bizcatalyst360.com/entrepreneurs-when-do-you-give-up/_

It is no surprise that each generation has different ideas and views on how things should be done. It is also no surprise that there is often resistance from older generations, believing they know better. Who is right, and who is wrong?


I suggest you change the question to, “What can each generation bring to the table and learn from each other?”. When we are willing to look at things differently, instead of simply being stuck in our ways, we can see different perspectives, and learn from each other.

I am speaking as someone from the baby boomer generation. I agree that we have experience and knowledge on what works and what doesn’t. However, it would be unwise to think we have all the answers. If we are not learning and growing, we are falling behind. There is a world of information at our fingertips to learn.

When we look at the millennial generation, it is evident they are more educated than any previous generation. They have grown up in the digital age, and can find answers to questions as quickly as they can enter it into their phone.

Millennials are quickly becoming the biggest portion of the workforce. With this in mind, it is important for companies to understand what is important to retain these talented young people.

Learning and Growing
They want to learn and grow, and they will do it with or without you. If the opportunity for learning,development and growth within a company is not possible, they will move on. Most will only stay 2-3 years, and if these opportunities are not provided, they will have no loyalty to your company. They will then find an opportunity that will allow them to get to the next level in their career.


As many millennials have devoted time to their education, they have already waited to settle down, buy a home, and start a family. It is not uncommon to see couples waiting until their early 30’s to marry and start a family.

They know what they want and if they can’t see it happening where they are, they are ready and willing to move on to find what will help them take the next step forward. They don’t have time to waste. They are willing to work hard, but not waste their years working somewhere that doesn’t utilize their potential and support their growth.

Value
They want to feel valued. There are so many ways to help employees feel they are valued. A simple thank you can go a long way! When you see people doing things that make a difference to your customer, thank them! Think of how little effort it takes to bring someone that is going the extra mile a coffee in the morning when you are picking yours up. Get creative, and show your appreciation for those that are building your company.

Working from Home
Millennials want to work from home around their families. Today there are so many  options that allow many work roles to be performed at home. This is a win/win for companies. With less employees in the office, the company doesn’t require large office buildings and less furniture, thereby reducing their expenses.


An employee that works from home obviously needs the self discipline to get the work done. However, in many cases, the employee that works from home will be able start earlier, work later, work when they are not feeling well, or if they have a sick child.

Snow days will also not be an issue in getting work done. How many companies lose several days per year to weather related issues because people can’t travel? Imagine that the roads are all closed, but your staff is able to work because they don’t have to leave home to get the job done.

To insist that the employee is sitting in a chair in the office building so you can monitor their work performance is an outdated management style of control and ego. This is increasingly becoming more and more important to today’s workers. If you don’t provide the opportunity for employees to work from home when it is available, they will likely move on to somewhere else.

Motivation
They also want to be a part of something meaningful. Even if your business is something routine, and not really earth shattering, you can implement ways to be the company that is making a difference. As Richard Branson says, “Doing good is good for business”. How is your company giving back? It creates goodwill with your clients and your employees.

It’s important to treat them as equals by collaborating and working together, not as superiors with threats over their heads. People perform better when they are motivated and feel like they are contributing, not by living in fear.

The bottom line is you either recognize and embrace what is required to retain top millennial talent, or the companies that do will be welcoming them with open arms.

As published on:  http://aboutleaders.com/millienial-generation/#gs.Q31toNY_

THERE ARE MANY things that contribute to gaining referrals to grow your business. I’ve listed a few below, but keep in mind, this is just the start. The key to success in business is tapping into your own creativity…there are ideas there you haven’t even considered.
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This list will help get you started. Ask yourself, what else can I do? What haven’t I thought of? When we ask ourselves better questions, we allow ourselves to tap into our creativity to find new solutions.

Join a networking group – It could be the local chamber of commerce, or a meetup group, or a niche group within your area or even on social media. Network with other business owners, and get to know what they offer. Refer them whenever given the opportunity and you will find them reciprocating….

Over deliver – When we receive more than we expect, it is exciting and we naturally want to tell others. Ask yourself what you can do either in bonus items, or in bonus add value that will leave your client impressed and wanting to refer you?

Provide value – A lot of value can be added just in simple education of your service or product. For instance, start a blog on your website, and post valuable articles that educate your present and future clients on what you offer. It isn’t just about the sale. After the sale, go the extra mile and provide valuable knowledge they would not normally get. This sets you apart from the competition. The good news is there is no competition at this level! Those that provide extra value are among the minority…this will make you shine.

Testimonials – Social media is a wonderful platform to show testimonials from your already satisfied customers. Have people write up a short testimonial in their own words and post it on your social media channels, and on your website.

Give a referral fee – This could be a gift certificate for future purchases, or a gift from another business. You could also partner with local businesses to provide these gift certificates, so that you are collaborating with other businesses with the same goal in mind.

Volunteer and make yourself known in the community – This could be in a number of ways. When clients see you giving back, it is a reminder you care about your community. As Richard Branson says, “doing good is good for business”.

Ask – think about this….if every customer gave you just 2 referrals, you are doubling your business every time! Unless you ask, often people will not think about giving a referral, even though they know a couple of people that would be interested in and benefit from what you offer.

Remember it is YOUR business and up to YOU to create success. The more you take personal responsibility for your success, and the more committed you are long term, the more you will think of ideas that benefit the growth of your business.

As published on:  http://bizcatalyst360.com/7-ways-to-get-referrals-for-your-business/_

I'm sure many of you have heard this phrase before.  Yet, although many have an awareness of this, they are not acting on it.

A story about a celebrity being in massive debt was posted all across social media recently.  One article I read, suggested that this individual is just like "everyone else" in America...spending more than they make.  

We hear stories as well about people that win the lottery, and despite their new found wealth, find themselves broke a couple of years later.
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How can this be?  How can people either win millions, or earn millions of dollars in a short amount of time, yet end up broke?  The reason is simple.  These individuals have not changed the way they think and make decisions.  If your thinking prior to the new found wealth, was to live paycheck to paycheck, you would be a person that tends to spend everything you make.  If you do not change this thinking, when there are more funds made available to you, you will run out of money just like you always did prior to the wealth.

This also applies to relationships, and other aspects of our lives.  How can a person end up in more than one divorce?  It can happen that you do not make the right choices first time around.  However, repeating those same choices in the next relationship will not produce the type of relationship you truly want.  You cannot choose a new partner with the same bad qualities you left your last partner for.

As Einstein said, "insanity is doing the same things, expecting different results". YOU are the common denominator.  If you are not happy in your work, your relationships, or your financial situation, start observing and recognizing the choices you are making, and how these choices are creating the life and results you have.  This is the first step.  Until you do this, nothing will change.

Once you have gotten authentic with yourself, and identify where you are steering wrong, you are ready to start creating the life you WANT to be living.

Make a list of everything that is important to you - do NOT compromise.

Ask yourself what needs to change - This reveals things or people that may be holding you back.  Have the courage to do what it takes.  Focus more on your desire and let that guide you.

Make a commitment to do whatever you need to do to get the result you want - Big change requires a commitment to do what it takes for as long as it takes, period!  You cannot expect to read a book, put it down and expect everything to change overnight.  It takes long term commitment.

Only make choices that lead you towards what you want.  Too often people will say they want something, but their choices and decisions are not leading them towards what they want.  Very simple...you cannot go left if what you want is to the right.  Keep this vision in mind and only make the choices and decisions that support the direction you truly want.

Work on yourself and realize that you have the potential within you to bring about change and live the life you truly want.  Recognize you have years of past conditioning and beliefs that have brought you to this point.  In order to make changes, you must be willing to learn to override your past thoughts and beliefs, and spend time daily in reprogramming your mind for success.  Commit to reading, watching inspiring videos, TED talks,  and surround yourself with people that have created the type of success you want.  This thinking CAN be learned for those WILLING to put the time and effort in.
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Click HERE for my FREE e-course:  

As published on LI:  https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/change-your-thoughts-life-debbie-ruston?published=t​

Debbie Ruston has been an entrepreneur and trainer since 1986. She works with individuals, and groups interested in developing their entrepreneurial leadership mindset.Was this article of value to you? Feel free to share it on your social networks and with your contacts, join in the discussion below, and FOLLOW her on the top right corner of this pg.
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We have all had times in our personal and our business  lives where we feel we are in a rut.  It could be in relationships, grief, change or many other things. How long do you stay in that rut?  How long do you allow yourself to be a victim, to suffer?  How do you snap out of it?

One thing that is absolutely certain in life and in business is nothing stays the same.  As much as we want it to, we can't control certain things that happen. What we CAN control is how we deal with it and whether we are a victim of the circumstance, or a victor.  The key is to understand that we have CHOICE.  The choices we make determine our outcomes.

I am not saying it is easy.  I am saying it can be done, and when you are willing to put the effort in, it will accelerate the healing process in the situation you are in, and allow you to stop being victimized by it long term.

Maybe you have been downsized, and wonder who will hire you.  You have been putting out resumes and not getting any response.  It's easy to feel like a "victim" and feel like the rug has been pulled out from under you.  Something people often don't recognize is they have knowledge, skills, experience, passion, and interests that can be utilized in starting their own businesses.  You do not need to rely on an employer to hire you.  You can take control and take a new direction and start your own business.  You choose whether you are accepting "poor me" thinking, or, "I have so much to offer, I am going to embrace this opportunity to ______"   thinking.

Disagree with your circumstances.  This is not to say "something" unwanted hasn't happened.  It is carrying on, and not allowing circumstance to define and control us long term, falling deeper into that rut.  Recently we had to do one of the hardest things I've ever had to do in my life...put our beloved little dog down.  It was just heartbreaking and I felt absolutely numb.  I work from home, so she had been with me 24 hrs/day for almost 12 years.   I removed all of her beds and toys etc., so I wouldn't have to look at them, but it didn't help.   I couldn't imagine feeling this pain long term, so I did something totally unexpected by everyone around us.  That same day I found a new puppy and brought her home.   Over a month later, I still feel the pain of the experience we had, and still feel that grief we feel when we lose someone we love.  But what I did was take control and allowed myself to love a new little fur baby and start making new memories.  This dramatically accelerated the healing process, and gave me new happiness and laughter to focus on, so I didn't keep dwelling on it.

Some may argue that a pet is no comparison to losing a loved one, and it isn't, however, it is still painful.  Another example I can share is losing my mother in law a few years back.  We had spent the last month at the hospital every single day.  For anyone that has experienced this, it is emotionally draining. Afterwards, my husband, understandably, didn't want to do anything.  We have a very vibrant circle of friends and family we spend a lot of time with and laughter and fun is such a big part of our lives.  We had not seen our friends during this time of her illness.  A few days after her funeral, I convinced him we needed to out and be with our friends and re-inject some fun and laughter into our lives....which of course, is the last thing you think you can do at a time like that.  Reluctantly, he agreed to go.  We attended a halloween costume party.  His words to me coming home were "I didn't realize how much I needed that".  It was another example of disagreeing with our circumstance, and getting ourselves back to living on purpose.  We were still grieving, but, when you force yourself to go out and keep LIVING, laughing, and enjoying the company of those you love that are still here, you have something you can hold onto and lean on.  You realize that you can laugh again.  you can have fun, and you can carry on.  We can't change the fact we lose someone.  We have a choice whether we die inside with them, or, carry on, treasuring and being grateful for the life we have.
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Gratitude - Much has been written about the power of gratitude.  When we are grateful for what we have, or what we have had, we open ourselves up to new possibilities.  Many years ago, my business of 18 years was falling apart.  I had spent the last 5 years working harder than I ever had, attempting to turn it around.  There were factors that were beyond my control.  When you have done something this long, it is also a loss when you decide to move on.  You are not just leaving the work, you are leaving the people you have worked alongside for so long, some of which have become more like family to you.  

Whenever we take a new path, we leave behind the old.  I realized that it was time for change, I had outgrown what I had been doing.  It had allowed me to be home with our children their entire childhood and they were now ready to leave home.  Lot's was changing.  I was very grateful that business introduced me to entrepreneurship, provided the financial rewards and time freedom while our kids were growing up, and most importantly gave me the greatest gift I could ask for - never missing a single special  moment with our kids.  Everything has a time frame...instead of having regrets, anger, or blame when change happens, find the good and recognize whatever it is, has served it's purpose and it's time to move on to the next chapter.  Gratitude for everything that you learned, everything that you benefited from will help you keep your mind in a positive state.

Recognize when you are in a rut - You may feel depressed, angry, confrontational, or some other emotion.  We cannot bring about good in our lives in this state of mind.  It's important to understand we choose whether we continue to give energy to these feelings, or are going to take action to move forward.  No one wants to be frozen, in an emotion where you can't do anything. It takes effort to move on and create a new or different diversion to get your mind out of that rut.  We have to make a CHOICE, and those choices can take us in many new directions.....

Start a new hobby - With a new hobby, we will always learn something new, which keep our minds occupied, challenge us, and creates a diversion.

Keep yourself busy - When we are busy, we are not focusing on the challenges, we are focusing on the task at hand.

Learn something new - Learning something new creates a diversion, something new and exciting to think about, despite the challenge.

Do something for someone else - Doing something for others takes the focus off of ourselves.  Very often others have something much bigger they are dealing with, but this doesn't have to be the only reason we are reaching out to help others.  There is a fine line...don't dig yourself into a deeper rut because you are getting too involved in others challenges when you are attempting to push through your own challenges.  Simply find ways to help someone else....it could be doing the grocery shopping for an elderly neighbor, or taking on someone elses workload at work because they are going through something.     Or, plan a birthday party for someone, or, watch a new mom's baby while she gets a massage.  There are a million things we can do that provide that diversion so that we allow time to do it's job to help us get out of the rut we find ourselves in. When we shift the focus to others, we take the focus off our own challenges.  It also brings about positive emotions when you are doing good things for others.
One more thing regarding gratitude.  Be aware that the brain cannot think of two thoughts at the same time.  When we focus on everything we are grateful for, we cannot simultaneously think about our challenges.  Set up a gratitude journal and commit to it daily.  When we purposely focus on everything we are grateful for, it produces positive endorphins within our bodies.  Our brains believe what we tell it and what we think about.  Gratitude is a daily exercise you can implement to purposely pull yourself out of the rut you are in.  Sadness, stress, worry, etc., cannot live in a grateful heart.  Fill your day with gratitude...be aware of it in everything you do.  

The only person that can get you out of a rut is you.  It starts with making a choice, and taking pro-active actions to turn your life around.  The benefits are greater than the obvious.  You will find through this, you also build your confidence, self worth and your self esteem, and will recognize what you are truly capable of.

Click HERE for my FREE e-course:  
Things They NEVER Taught You in School

As featured on Linkedin:  https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/you-rut-debbie-ruston?trk=prof-post

​
Debbie Ruston has been an entrepreneur and trainer since 1986. She works with individuals, and groups interested in developing theirentrepreneurial leadership mindset. Was this article of value to you? Feel free to share it on your social networks and with your contacts, join in the discussion below, and FOLLOW her on the top right corner of this pg.
Debbie's also on:
FB
Twitter
YouTube
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G+https://plus.google.com/+DebbieRuston-TheSuccessEducatorAnd now on iTunes

ONE OF THE biggest mistakes I see people make in life and in business, is to accept the thinking “that is what everyone does”.

Stop for a moment and really think about that phrase. If you are of this mindset, ask yourself why does that matter? Why do you believe you have to be like everyone else?

• Ask yourself does “everyone” have the result you are seeking?
• Ask yourself what successful people do, say, think or take action on?
• Ask yourself what makes successful people different from the masses?
• Ask yourself why you believe you have to be like “everyone”
• Ask yourself if this is holding you back?

Think about the types of things the phrase “that is what everyone does” covers. Everyone has a car loan, everyone has a mortgage, everyone struggles to pay the bills, everyone hates their job, etc., etc. Where is the hope, the possibility, the belief that it doesn’t have to be this way if you are willing to make different choices. What if you changed the message you are giving yourself? How can I buy a car with cash, how can I pay my mortgage off quickly, how can I eliminate my debt and start creating wealth, what can I do that will fulfill me in my work. We believe the conversations we have with ourselves. If we are feeding our minds negative messages, we will never achieve the life we want to be living. When we learn to start asking better questions, it puts our minds to work to find better solutions.
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I’m sure most of you can remember growing up, and hearing your mom or dad say to you “Well if everyone jumped off the bridge, would you?” There is a clear message in this that people miss. Jumping off a bridge is obviously a negative, life threatening action. If we don’t want to be a statistic, even if everyone around us is jumping off a bridge, we have to DECIDE to take a different action. Are you going to settle because everyone else does, or are you going to DECIDE to create the life you truly want?

As published on:  http://bizcatalyst360.com/successful-entrepreneurs-carve-their-own-path/

This article is about music, but, the message is not actually about music....it is something much deeper.  My husband and I are big music lovers.  It's a big part of our lives and something we share with our family and friends.  Music gives us such a natural feeling of joy and fun and brings about great memories.  Think of the times you have danced the night away, or, when music was a huge part of an event you were at, and the happy memories you have.

Recently, we were listening to some documentaries about the music of the 50's....the impact it was having on people and the way they were embracing it and the fun they were having.  You could clearly see the pure joy and the natural love of what music does for us as human beings.  It seemed to give people in this video a new found sense of freedom of expression, which they were just RE-discovering.

I say rediscovering because we are born with this natural form of expression. Have you ever watched a small child?  As soon as music comes on, they FEEL it and can't stand still....it is a natural part of being human to feel the beat and sway to the music in whatever way moves you.  They don't have to be taught...they just naturally feel the rhythm.  Have you ever asked yourself why that gets knocked out of us and why there are only "appropriate" places to express this natural pleasure?   Have you ever thought about how different a workplace could be for example, if people felt comfortable enough to "break into a little dance" if a great song came on?  How could this impact a workday?  Just a little side step, jig, or two step....how would that bring a positive vibe to their work and co-workers?

This goes much deeper than music.  Rock and roll represented change, and those in "power" couldn't tolerate it.  It meant people were starting to EXPRESS themselves, have fun, listen to their hearts in doing what brought them joy.  This meant a loss of control for those "in charge".  They didn't want people to listen to their hearts and do what brought them joy....it would mean they would start to make different choices.

As the music grew fans, those in control started to feel threatened and started using media to attempt to punish and destroy.  It was a disgusting display of control and prejudice, and a true eye opener for anyone that wants to look back and recognize how this type of control continues to shape our world.  A great summary is in this article.  

As I watched this documentary, it was a reminder that society continues to be controlled by decision makers, and how people give in and accept what is being fed to them by government, media, and the masses.

This isn't just an article about what happened with rock and roll music in the 50's.  It is a reminder that society has been and continues to be controlled by government and the media, and why it is important to think for yourself, and make your own informed decisions. We are fortunate to live in a free country in Canada and the U.S., and most other countries in the world, yet, freedom is something that starts with our thinking.  If we allow ourselves to be controlled by the messages of business, government, masses thinking, we are not free at all, we are conformists living lives that mean nothing to us. We are following along like sheep believing and doing what we are being directed to do.  When we lose control of our own lives, and are living to fit into what is "acceptable" to business, government and society thinking, it leads to depression, unhappiness, being unfulfilled  and we find ourselves just going through the motions, just existing as another cog in the wheel.  As human beings, we are here to create, love, share and live into our potential.  That cannot happen if we fit into the box of unified conformity.

The first step is to create a personal awareness.  Are you just conforming, doing and thinking and taking the same actions as "everyone else", or do you think and make decisions for yourself?  Take the time to really reflect on this, watch the videos and inform yourself.  It's quite eye opening when you look back from today to how people were manipulated into conforming through something as simple and natural as music.   Now ask yourself, how is this concept still prevalent in our world today, and am I a victim of it, or am I living my life by my own choices....

Debbie Ruston has been an entrepreneur and trainer since 1986. She works with individuals, and groups interested in developing their entrepreneurial leadership mindset. Was this article of value to you? Feel free to share it on your social networks and with your contacts, join in the discussion below, and FOLLOW her on the top right corner of this page.  
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Debbie's also on:
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SO MANY PEOPLE dream of starting their own businesses. Why do so few act on it?
A few things stop people from turning their ideas into a successful enterprise.

Belief in job security – Think of everyone you know…family friends, neighbors, etc. How many of them are employees and how many are working as an entrepreneur? Most people believe the only way to work is for an employer, and by doing so, they will have “job security”. Back in the industrial age, job security was promoted through a weekly paycheck, benefits, 2 wks vacation time, etc. Society was conditioned to believe they needed companies to provide work for them to gain this “security” and peace of mind. This has been instilled in our belief system for centuries now, through generations, education and society in general. As soon as children can walk and talk, we hear adults asking them what they want to be when they grow up. Very often they are prompted with suggestions such as policeman, fireman, nurse, etc. Children are conditioned to go to school, get a degree and get a “good, secure” job. They are not taught to explore their interests, find a need and fill it, pursue their passions, by developing their own business. It is considered too risky with a high failure rate. Instead of continuing to buy into this fear based belief, recognize that YOU are the only one that can provide your own job security.

Conformity – is a big one. People generally don’t like to do anything outside of what is perceived to be “normal”. People like to “fit in” with those they are surrounded with. If “everyone” around them is working as an employee, most will believe this is the only way, the right way, the “safe” way to work. Instead, recognize the high % of people that are disengaged, unhappy, stressed out, bored, etc. because they have conformed and are living an unfilled life of mediocrity. Choose to step out of the box of conformity and follow your heart.

Fear of failure – No one wants to fail at anything in life. There is a fear instilled that most new businesses fail. Although this is true to some extent, it is not the business that fails. It is the individual behind the business that is attempting to run the business with the MINDSET of an employee. We are generally not taught to be solution oriented, to build resilience, to think out of the box and to find opportunity within challenge. We don’t fail….we give up. Change the perception you have of failure. Failure seems final, something we don’t have choice over. Instead be the person that will not give up and will be determined to find solutions to succeed. A very different mindset to come from.

Lack of belief – You don’t have to have all the answers to launch a business. If you take the time to study successful entrepreneurs, you will learn that many didn’t have a clue on how they were going to make their businesses work. However, a common trait, is to take the first step you know to take. You don’t have to have the whole puzzle figured out. Often the next step to take, is only evident and revealed to you once you take that first step. It leads you to the next logical step to take, and so on. You do not need all the answers in advance. Believe in yourself enough to take the first step, and you will learn and grow as you go, building your confidence, knowledge and learning about the huge potential you have within you.

Not taking action – No one can do it FOR you. Lack of action = lack of results, and leads to living a life of regrets.

We only get one run through this life. What are you waiting for? If you have the entrepreneurial dream inside of you, don’t let it die with you….live the life and the dreams you have within you.

As published on:  http://bizcatalyst360.com/do-you-have-an-entrepreneurial-idea-you-havent-acted-on/

We all have experiences that shape our lives.  When we do, we then have knowledge that we can share with others to help them positively shape their lives.  This really applies to all aspects of our lives, so follow the message and apply it to what resonates most with you.

I have been a big fan of personal development for over 30 years now.  The first book I read was by Napoleon Hill, Think & Grow Rich.  When I first read this book, my head was in a much different place than it is today.  Initially, I started applying the knowledge I was gaining to my career.  I find that when we are introduced to personal development for the first time, we tend to apply the knowledge to the area of life we want to improve upon the most at the time.

Throughout my 30 year journey, I have read hundreds of books, listened to tapes, cds, heard countless numbers of amazing speakers (some several times), both live and recorded.  I have been self employed for over 30 years now, and twelve years ago,   I was at a crossroads, career wise, and decided to find a new path to take in business.  Interestingly, I had never thought of combining my work with my passion for learning and development, but I fully understand now that is the key to success in business.  Again, at that point, my continued interest in and commitment to personal development was business related.

What I didn't realize was that was the starting point of significant change in every aspect of my life.  Although I was applying the knowledge of what I was learning in my business to building my career, I started to notice how every aspect of my life was improving.  The knowledge I was gaining was absolutely changing my thinking, not temporarily, but permanently.   Why was this?  Because I changed something that seemed so minor I didn't even think about it being important.  I was immersing myself in personal development every single day, while previously I was dabbling in it here and there.  It is like learning something new today, and then defaulting back to your old thinking for the next 6 months, and then learning a new better way to think, but again defaulting back to your old thinking because you are surrounded by people that don't get it...they have settled into mediocrity and do not challenge their thinking.  If you are simply dabbling in new  success concepts and principles and do not make it part of your daily study, you will default back into the thinking you have had for 30, 50, 6o years because those are your dominate thoughts.  The good news is, you can absolutely change those thoughts to gain the results you want.  Just as you would need to commit time every day to learning to play an instrument, if you want better results in other parts of your life, you must be willing to commit to learning and practice what you learn each day.

Through my daily study, my business results improved, but I realized that  relationships with everyone around me was strengthening, I was becoming more patient, less judgmental, more compassionate.  I was learning to let go of fear, limiting beliefs, and the need to "fit in" with the masses thinking.  I was learning to trust myself, tapping into my intuition to listen to my own heart and not let my head get in the way.  I found myself stepping out of my comfort zone regularly, embracing risk, yet not feeling like risk was "risky".  That was huge to me, and a realization that being afraid of risk is so much more risky than what we perceive risk to be, because being afraid of risk holds us back from reaching our true potential.

I also found myself taking more personal responsibility for everything in my life and taking on a higher level of leadership, which I had always been afraid to do previously, as I had been a very shy person my whole life.  I learned how to gain clarity on what I truly wanted in my life, and how to make bold, powerful decisions that support that.

I learned how to forgive, and learned that forgiveness is something we do for ourselves.  We cannot be at our best, if we are carrying resentment, hate, and anger in  our hearts.  When we learn to let that go and forgive, we lift a wall of burden from our shoulders.

I also learned how to deal more effectively with grief which is something we all deal with at different times in our lives.  I don't mean I don't feel the massive pain we all go through, but I have learned that with time we can carry on and start our lives over, making new memories while being grateful for the old ones.  There are specific things we can do to accelerate our healing so we are not numb and frozen and not able to carry on.  The pain is always there, but we can learn to live and love again, which we all deserve to do.

My self esteem, self respect and confidence have all grown.  Not in an egotistical way, but in a way that I recognize the gifts I have been given and do my best to share those gifts with others to help them learn and grow.  I have learned that when we have success in any aspect of life, it is our personal responsibility to reach back and help others learn and grow.

I have discovered a part of myself I didn't realize I possessed - creativity.  I thought other people around me were highly creative, but hadn't recognized it in myself.  I am so grateful I have discovered my creative side, and embrace it in everything I do.

Most importantly I have learned to find happiness within me.  I no longer require "something" to make me happy.  I too used to be one of those people that was always waiting for "something" to make me happy.  When we start living our life on purpose and make choices that support the life we truly want to be living, it creates a happiness within that is not based on results or things...it is there without those requirements.  It is an incredible spot to get your mindset to, and once there, you never go back.  I am so grateful I have learned to be happy, regardless of challenges, regardless of what is happening around me, and regardless of pain I may be going through....I am happy even when I am experiencing these normal life things.  That is such a gift!

Something really important to understand is you can't improve something in your life without seeing improvements in other areas!  I took on this learning to improve my business results, but I have achieved improvements in all these other areas as a result of the knowledge I gained.  

The big key change for me was in 2004, when I started making personal development part of my daily routine, and really committed to being a lifelong learner.  I realize that although I had been studying this area for 18 years prior, I was not committing to it daily.  I would read a great book or hear a great speaker, but would then go back to default...back to work I didn't enjoy, spending time with people that didn't resonate with the new thinking I had, needing to fit in with the masses, being brainwashed by media messages, etc.  It is somewhat like putting your foot on the gas and the brake at the same time, and wondering why you are not moving forward.

Einstein has a famous quote - "The Definition of Insanity is Doing the Same Things, Expecting Different Results"  Most of us have heard this, yet how many actually take it to heart and live their life by this advice?  I was one of those people living out this message.  I knew better, but I wasn't doing what I knew, because I was allowing the past conditioning and default messages in my head to direct my life, instead of taking the new information I was learning and making my decisions based on this.
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As with anything in life, we often don't know the profound benefit of something until we experience it personally.  Once we do, it is our responsibility to share that knowledge with others to help them move forward in the direction they want to take their lives.  Not to do it for them, but to help them learn  to do it for themselves.  This is one of the greatest gifts we have to give.  Everything starts in our mind....we have the choice whether we are putting positive information in our minds that move us forward, or settling for the limitations we are surrounded with.


Debbie Ruston has been an entrepreneur and trainer since 1986. She works with individuals, and groups interested in developing their entrepreneurial leadership mindset. Was this article of value to you? Feel free to share it on your social networks and with your contacts, join in the discussion below, and FOLLOW her on the top right corner of this page.  
Debbie's also on:
FB
Twitter
YouTube
Pinterest
G+https://plus.google.com/+DebbieRuston-TheSuccessEducatorAnd now on iTunes


As posted on Linkedin:  https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-personal-development-has-changed-my-life-debbie-ruston?trk=prof-post

WHEN YOU THINK and behave differently than those around you, people can label you a black sheep, as if it is a negative thing. Society is conditioned to believe we must all fit in a box, living and doing things the same way “everyone” else does. If you stray from this formula, you often meet with resistance, and this is actually what stops a lot of people from living the life they want to be living. This thinking was actually instilled in the industrial age, when corporations needed people to work to fill the assembly lines. They made big promises of job security, secure weekly paychecks, benefits, etc. However, as we all know, today there is no such thing as job security. The only security there is, is the willingness to create your OWN job security through self employment. This is something that everyone should be considering in today’s economic climate. Think for example all the work that is being done in robotics, which will replace a lot of jobs.
So why haven’t you started your own business?
Have you fallen into this pattern of thinking and believe you must only do things others consider as “normal”? Those that are considered “normal”, follow this type of pattern….. Go to a job everyday, have a mortgage, a car loan, 2.5 kids, etc. As soon as someone goes a different direction than this, they are considered abnormal, black sheep, or sometimes even crazy. You may have had someone say to you “why would you leave a secure job/great job/this job to start your own business…what if you fail, you are throwing away everything you have worked for”. This type of well-meaning advice has held so many people back in life. They end up second guessing themselves, and accept that maybe they are crazy to be thinking of such a move.
So how do you avoid this mindset and take on the mindset of a successful entrepreneur?
Recognize that all successful entrepreneurs think differently than the masses. They don’t fit in a box. They don’t do what everyone else does. They don’t need other people’s approval. They trust their own hearts and are willing to go against the grain of “popular” opinion, regardless of who approves and who doesn’t. Successful entrepreneurs follow their inspiration, not the advice of other’s that have no credibility or experience to give that well-meaning advice.
Know what is right for you and don’t be swayed by the opinions of others. If you are not happy and fulfilled in the work you are doing, you are wasting your potential, and missing out on the power of your own intuition, which is there to guide you in the direction you should and want to be taking. Be empowered to take the direction you know is right in your heart. When you live your life following the path that is in your heart, you feel happy and in control.
People around you don’t want to be left behind and will often attempt to hold you back where they are. You will hear things like, it’s not normal, it’s too risky, what if you fail, etc.


Ask yourself DIFFERENT questions

• Is it normal to leave the people you love every day for a paycheck or is there a better way to work?
• Is it normal to drive through stopped traffic, snow storms, long commutes to pay for a house I am never in?
• Is it normal to work hard and still have trouble making ends meet?
• Is it normal to carry a car loan of $500-1,000 per month to go to a job I hate?
• Is it normal to take our children to daycare for someone else to raise and experience their firsts?
• Is it normal to have to work “mandatory overtime”
• 
  

I could go on and on. The last thing on earth I would ever want to be is NORMAL! When I lived a “normal” life, I was unhappy, stressed out, miserable, and I brought that home with me every day. It wasn’t until we had our first child that I stumbled upon entrepreneurship, simply as a way to be home with our child. My desire to be with our children was stronger than my desire to go the “normal” job route, so I was willing to go against the grain, to be the black sheep and to carve my own path. Get totally clear on the REASON you want to be an entrepreneur.
If I am considered a black sheep, or a square peg, or whatever other label could be put on me, I am GRATEFUL for it! It is because of this mindset of finding my own truths, my own solutions and being self-reliant and self responsible for my own life that has allowed me to be in love with every aspect of my life, living a life of purpose, on purpose.

As Published on:  ​http://bizcatalyst360.com/do-you-have-an-entrepreneurial-drive-but-afraid-to-start/_

I recently read an article describing the distribution of wealth.  Unless you read between the lines into what is really going on, most will continue to be the victims of declining wealth.
I found this to be the most powerful paragraph in the article:

"The first is the disconnect between work and earnings.  The share of national income going to workers has been falling while the share of income given to owners and top executives is rising, a phenomenon that can be seen in the stagnant wage figures of workers around the world despite growing corporate profits and productivity."

Companies downsize and layoff.  Most are not concerned with the workers this affects...it is all about the bottom line.  Like it or not, you are either accepting this as your truth and doing something proactive about it,  or fooling yourself that it won't happen to you.
The share going to workers is falling, while the share going to OWNERS is rising.  So, which side of this fence is actually working and which side of this fence would you rather see yourself on?

There is no such thing as job security in a job.  It is gone.  The key to move forward is to understand every individual must start thinking of themselves as personally responsible for creating their own work, and find ways to create their own work being self employed.  This does not mean you have to invest millions and start the next tech success.  You may find your success in a simple hobby, or utilizing the knowledge, skills and experience you currently have. You can be the victim of falling wages and jobs, allowing the wealth to continue to go to the owners of corporations or even small businesses,  or be the creator of taking control of your future and starting to create your own wealth.  Being the OWNER of your own business is something that anyone can make a choice to do.

Even with this knowledge, most people will not take that step into entrepreneurship because of fears and limiting beliefs instilled in society throughout the industrial age, when corporations needed employees to meet their production goals.  This was a time when society was sold on believing they "need" an employer to have "security".  We are conditioned to believe the only way to work is for an employer.  We are conditioned to believe we couldn't possibly make it on our own without corporations/employers to "look after us".  We are conditioned to believe we need security, benefits, etc.  We are conditioned to believe the only thing to do when we are looking for work is to put out resumes and apply to companies to "grant" us work.   We are conditioned to believe it is too hard to start a business of our own, too risky, and that most new businesses fail.

Most businesses do fail, that is correct.  However, it is not for the reasons that most believe, such as too hard, too risky, too expensive, etc.  It is mainly because most that take that step into entrepreneurship are bringing their outdated beliefs with them.  They are attempting to run a business with the mindset of an employee.  They are afraid of risk, they are not solution oriented, they are not committed long term, they expect overnight results, they are not leaders.  They do not know how to make powerful business decisions that support the long term goals they have.  They give up at the first sign of challenge.  They are not willing to do what it takes because they have been so conditioned to be paid immediately for hours worked.

Successful entrepreneurs think differently.  They are willing to do what it takes for as long as it takes.  They are solution oriented, and if they can't find a solution, are willing to think out of the box to create one.  Challenges do not stop them...they realize it is simply part of the process towards success.  They do not put a "time frame" on their success and are committed for the long term.  They make decisions that support their goals, even when it is uncomfortable.  They learn and grow and mastermind with other successful people.  They think about risk much differently.  While the employee is afraid of risk, the successful entrepreneur believes it is more risky to put your eggs in an employers basket and allow them to dictate your life.

95% of people make the other 5% successful. Which % do you want to be in?  We are NOT in the industrial age any longer!  Success is created by our thoughts and our actions, which can be changed at any moment you identify your thoughts have brought about the results you currently have.    It is our choice which side of the wealth distribution fence we are allowing ourselves to be on.

Debbie Ruston has been an entrepreneur and trainer since 1986. She works with individuals, and groups interested in developing their entrepreneurial leadership mindset. Was this article of value to you? Feel free to share it on your social networks and with your contacts, join in the discussion below, and FOLLOW her on the top right corner of this page.
Debbie's also on:
FB
Twitter
YouTube
Pinterest
G+https://plus.google.com/+DebbieRuston-TheSuccessEducatorAnd now on iTunes



As published on LI:  https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/wealth-distribution-debbie-ruston

It's interesting to speak with people around us and have conversations about what they want in their lives.  I have observed so many times, people lacking clarity on what they truly want.  So many are just going through the motions in life and their careers, without any plan of action, and wonder why they feel a lack of control and dissatisfaction in their lives.  So many are just living on auto pilot....going to jobs they hate, complaining about their long commute, then come home and sit in front of the TV with nothing positive to discuss with their families, only to repeat this same pattern every day, and wondering why their relationships are growing apart.  We see people drinking out of coffee cups with quotes such as "We owe, we owe, so off to work we go".  They believe they don't have choice.  They believe this is the norm. They believe that is just the way it is, and "everyone" does it.  Many complain about this and that, but are not doing anything to change it.  As Einstein said "the definition of insanity is doing the same things, expecting different results".
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How do you gain clarity on what you really want and remove the LOCKS you have in your life? It starts with asking yourself better questions, and being WILLING to be fully authentic with yourself.

Here are some examples to get you started.  If you are at a crossroads, print this off and set aside the time to really go through this in detail, with full authenticity to yourself.  Get a journal or a notebook and start writing your answers to these questions to discover what you really want in life, what is holding you back, and find your own solutions.

How much do you want to be earning?  Don't hold back on this.  How much would you really like to be earning if there were no limits placed on you.  Let's say that number is $100,000 per year, and you are currently earning $45,000 per year.  Ask yourself, if I keep doing this work I have right now, do I ever have a chance of earning my target income?  If the answer is no, ask yourself how committed are you to the target income.  How much will I be earning in 10 yrs, 20 yrs, 25 yrs if I stay where I am?   25 yrs from now, if I am only gaining small increases and end up at $60,000 after 25 yrs of service (if you are not downsized before then) will I regret not making a change?    If you are not satisfied at the lower amount, it is only going to get worse.  Ask yourself what you need to change in order to hit your target income.  Do you need a second income?  Do you need to change careers?  Do you need to upgrade your education?  What is necessary to hit the target income?  How would this change your life?  Why is this important to you?  Are you committed to doing what it takes, or are you going to settle for the rest of your life?  What has been stopping you from taking action?  How are you going to change this?

What's important to you in your ideal career?  So often people never stop to ask themselves this question.  Working isn't just about making money.  You can find work that meets the needs you have inside of you.  For example, do you want work that is meaningful and makes a difference?  Is what you do meaningful to you?  Do you believe in the product or service you are providing now?  Is it making a difference in the lives of people you serve?  Do you feel a sense of satisfaction and pride in your work?  Will you ever be able to in this role?  What type of work would you really like to be doing?  Do you have all the knowledge necessary to do this work?  What do you need to learn?  How important is this to you to make this change?  What is stopping you?  What are you going to do about it?

What's important to you in relationships?  Are you happy in your relationships?  This includes spouses, friends, family, co-workers, etc.  We do not have to spend time with people that we don't resonate with.  We spend a massive part of our lives working...why are you settling and exposing yourself to people that are bringing you down?  Is this how you want to spend this massive part of your life?  Unhappy, stressed and unfulfilled?  Do you realize that if you are a parent, you are actually conditioning your children to believe this is the only choice they have.  They will grow up believing you can't be happy in your work.  Is that what you want for them?  Do you want them to repeat the mistakes you have made?  Why are you settling?  Is the money worth it to experience the stress and unhappiness you are experiencing?  We work about 45 years...are you willing to commit 40 hrs wk (90,000 hours of your life) to something that doesn't fulfill you?  What a waste!  Could you find or create your own work, that would allow you to surround yourself with like minded people?  If work colleagues are stressing you out, go find work where you can surround yourself with like minded people.  If you are stressed at work, you will bring that stress home and take it out on your family...even if you don't realize there is a connection.  That affects your family relationships.  What type of people do you want to be working alongside?  If you are not working with these type of people, it will only get worse.  Where can you find the type of people you want to be working with?  What do you need to do to change this?

Are you happy with your friends?  Do they lift you up or bring you down?  Are they  healthy relationships or destructive?  Do you share the same hobbies and interests, or do you find yourself going in a new direction in what interests you?  If you are not surrounded by the type of friends you truly want, realize there is a world full of people that you haven't even met yet.  What do you need to change in order to put yourself in the company of these type of people?  Where can you go to meet them?  For instance, you may find your friends are very negative, or they are in party mode and you are not.  A new mom for instance, may find priorities changing once the baby is born.  She doesn't want to party all night.  Going to baby related groups, swimming lessons, reading groups, craft lessons, yoga for new moms, etc., will introduce her to other moms with the same interests.  We become friends with people that we have things in common with.

Are you happy with your partner?  As we learn and grow ourselves, we discover what is important to us.  We are either growing and learning together, or we are growing apart.  Do you have open communication about what is important to each of you?  Are you talking about your dreams and goals?  Are you supportive of each other?  Is there something missing?  Could your current work be causing a strain on your relationship?  What can you do to rectify these things?  Is this relationship going to support the life you want to be living?  What do you have to do to support it, or, if change is needed, what are you going to do to change it?

Do you need to change anything in order to achieve your goals?  Don't be afraid of change!  Change is where growth happens.  Instead of thinking about change as something to be feared, think of change as growth.  Changing your perception of a word, can positively change your feelings into a more positive, exciting adventure to take.

What fears are holding you back?  This is the number one thing that holds people back from change.  FEAR is like a terrible four letter word society allows to control their lives.  And we are fed it through media constantly!  But, it isn't real!!!!!  As so many of you have most likely learned, FEAR is False Expectation Appearing Real.

I had a conversation recently with someone that wanted to change their career, which is something I assist people with.  One of the most basic things you would want to have clarity on, is the level of income you want to make when you change careers.  This individual had no idea.  We spoke about it for a few minutes and they threw out a number, yet when we spoke about that further, they changed the number to a higher amount.  I asked them why that wasn't the first number they gave?  The answer was, they were afraid it wasn't possible.  POSSIBLE has nothing to do with it!  If you don't get REAL with yourself, you keep these dreams buried deep inside and will never achieve them.  You MUST have clarity on what you want, if you ever expect to find what you are looking for.  For instance, if you are earning $30,000 per yr., and are not satisfied with this, and would ideally like to be earning $100,000 per yr., you cannot state you would be "happy" with $50,000 per yr.  Although $50,000 would be an improvement,  if deep down inside you want to be earning $100,000, you will still be dissatisfied with $50,000, and will still find yourself searching, and will not see the opportunities around you to actually earn $100,000.  You will slow down your progress because you are afraid to get real with yourself on what you really want.  Stop selling yourself short, in your career, and in your life.  Go after what you truly want, get authentic with yourself and stop settling.

Writing in a journal is a powerful way to gain clarity.  The key is to really be authentic with yourself.  I remember when I was new to journalling, I was writing what I thought would be the "right" answers, and was not writing about what was really in my heart.  This does not allow us to have the breakthroughs that come from journalling.  The power is in the raw authentic conversation you have with yourself.  Take this opportunity to set time aside to go through all of these questions, and journal about your authentic, heartfelt answers.  You have within you what it takes....you just have to uncover it, and make powerful decisions and actions that support it.  

Debbie Ruston has been an entrepreneur and trainer since 1986. She works with individuals, and groups interested in developing their entrepreneurial leadership mindset. Was this article of value to you? Feel free to share it on your social networks and with your contacts, join in the discussion below, and FOLLOW her on the top right corner of this page.
Debbie's also on:
FB
Twitter
YouTube
Pinterest
G+https://plus.google.com/+DebbieRuston-TheSuccessEducatorAnd now on iTunes

As posted on LI:  https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-do-you-gain-clarity-what-want-your-life-debbie-ruston?published=t

A visionary leader sees something that others can't.  Often as people are sharing their vision with others, it is shot down because they can't see what the visionary can see.  There is always a strong opinion of who is right and who is wrong, and there is only one way to look at everything.  It is so fascinating to understand perspective, both from your own and others.  I have had several very powerful examples that demonstrate and remind me that there is more than one way to look at things, and don't allow yourself to get sidetracked or discouraged by what others can't see, and, when others CAN see something you can't, be open to see their perspective.

My husband and I were driving in the evening during a rain storm recently, he was driving.  He had the wipers on the delay setting.  I was having such a hard time seeing....everything was such a blur from the rain.  I kept suggesting he turn the wipers onto a higher speed so we could see better.  He kept insisting he could see fine.  About an hour into the ride, after nagging him about the ability to see clearly,  I actually looked through his side of the glass. It was perfectly clear, and mine had sort of a film across it.  It was the same piece of glass, and we were sitting about a foot apart.  We were both experiencing a totally different view, looking out the same window, seeing two different things.

Another time we were on a houseboat.  I saw some boats come into the little cove we were stopped at.  My husband insisted there were no other boats there.  I could clearly see the other boats, and he couldn't.  Again we were standing about a foot apart.  As it turned out, what I saw was a reflection from the water onto the window, and the boats were actually behind us, not in front as it appeared.  From where he was standing, the reflection was not showing.

Who was right and who was wrong?  Well from each of our perspectives we were both right.  It is a reminder that there is always more than one perspective to take into consideration.  When my husband was driving through the rain, it was important for him to hold his vision of what he could see with his eyes...and not be swayed by  what I could see from my perspective.  He could see it with his eyes, however, sometimes it is the vision in our minds that we have to clearly see and hold on to.  

When you are looking to create something that you can see as a visionary leader, understand it is part of the process to receive "well meaning" advice from people around you that believe what they see or believe is correct.  Your vision of what is possible may not be within their perspective yet, and they will attempt to change your mind or discourage you, instilling their perspective on you.  It's important as a visionary leader to consider other's perspectives, but at the same time,understand that the vision you can see may not be within the vision of those around you.....yet.  Your job is to see your vision through without being discouraged or giving up on the vision you have.

Debbie Ruston has been an entrepreneur and trainer since 1986. She works with individuals, and groups interested in developing their entrepreneurial leadership mindset. Was this article of value to you? Feel free to share it on your social networks and with your contacts, join in the discussion below, and FOLLOW her on the top right corner of this page.
​
Debbie's also on:
FB
Twitter
YouTube
Pinterest
G+https://plus.google.com/+DebbieRuston-TheSuccessEducatorAnd now on iTunes

As published on LI:  https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/perspective-how-propels-visionary-leadership-debbie-ruston

What is the difference in creating a powerful, growth oriented organization and one where disengagement is the norm?  Let me ask you a few questions to put you in the employee’s shoes.


When you were an employee, did you ever:

• Have a boss that you were afraid of or intimidated by?
• Leave a job because of an ego driven manager?
• Feel frustrated and feel you were not valued?
• Feel like you were just a number or cog in the wheel?
• Have a boss threaten you with fear based tactics?
• Feel you didn’t have any control?
• Feel the morale was low?
• Feel the employees were resisting change?
• Feel physically sick going into work?
• Have work stress you out at home and affect your family relationships?

All of these things lead to disengagement in the workplace.  Yet, many companies are still using old management styles of control and fear.  As we see the boomer generation starting to retire, and millennials starting to be a larger part of the employee demographic, it is important to recognize the difference of leading vs managing.

Are you instilling fear? Fear does not motivate. Fear does not gain respect or engagement. Treat your employees with respect and teach them. Successful people reach down the ladder and help others live into their potential.

Value and Flexibility  
Today’s workers want to feel valued. They want to learn, grow and be a part of something meaningful. They want to collaborate, create, have independence, flexible work schedules, and contribute. Let’s look at some solutions to go from managing to leading.

Today’s employees are more educated than ever. They are tech savvy, have ideas, and education to back their ideas. They want to be involved and have new ideas that can benefit the company that older workers may not be aware of. Encourage open dialogue and be open to what they bring to the table.

Is it possible for your staff to perform their work duties from home? Give them the opportunity to do that whenever possible. Obviously, they need to be able to prove they are capable of the discipline it takes. However, employees today place a very high value on being able to work from home around their family, and with all the technology that is available, it is more do-able today than ever.

Create a Vision
Don’t get stuck in “managing” and force people to sit in the office where you can see them to make sure they are doing their work. These are educated adults, not children.
Remember that actions speak louder than words. It is not enough to talk from theory.  True leaders create a vision and walk the walk. It is not beneath a true leader to pitch in and do something that is not in their job role. A leader is the example that others can follow.  A leader gains respect, trust, credibility, and loyalty from their employees.

Is morale low?  Get to the underlying reason and address that.  Perhaps there has been downsizing and employees are down because they are afraid they are next. Keep an open dialogue and let them know the plans for the future and how it involves them.

Get to know your employees – their names, their family, and so forth.  Let them know you care about them. It doesn’t take much to ask how their weekend was as you start the week, or ask if they have any exciting plans for the weekend. If they were off work with a sick child, ask how the child is when they return. Ask them how their holidays went. These don’t have to be long conversations. Simple questions such as, “How was your weekend?”, “How was your holiday?”, or “Is your little one feeling better?”. These types of conversation starters can go a long way to create an environment where employees feel like they are cared about, and not just another cog in the wheel for management.

Innovation and Being Open  
People resist change when they feel threatened. They are often afraid of what change will bring.  You cannot “force” change.  A better approach is to share new innovative ideas and create the excitement and reason for change.  You want your workforce embracing the change because they are excited about what it will do.

When people feel they have no control, they become unhappy, stressed, confrontational,  and disengaged. Keep an open door policy where suggestions and ideas are welcomed. The more employees feel like they are a part of the company, the more they will engage and feel comfortable in sharing their ideas. Keep in mind that some of the best ideas could be lying within the employee that doesn’t say much.

Learn and Grow
Employees today want to learn and grow. They are not satisfied to stay in the same position. Typically, every 2-3 years they are ready to move up, or move out. If you don’t recognize this, you will continue to have high staff turnover.

If you don’t have a position for them to move up into, it is a good investment to keep helping them learn and grow. Invest in training and support them in bettering themselves. Down the road, you will have a more educated workforce than you do today, and that opens the door to new possibilities for your organization.

For example, if you have a graphic designer that wants to take a copywriting course, then support them. You may not have a copywriting position for them right now, but it would be in your favor to have someone that can take on some copywriting work for a raise in pay, rather than hiring a separate person for that position. If you do have someone in that position, then it’s always good to have another person that can overlap those responsibilities. The other benefit is it will add strength to the original role they are performing.

There is no place in today’s work world for ego.  This is an outdated management style. Leave your ego at the door, or better yet, get rid of it all together!  Work together, lead through your own example, teach from what you know, support employees’ growth and encourage them to be all they can be.

In today’s workplace, the most successful organizations understand this, and lead their teams to greatness. This results in higher engagement, higher profits, a happier workplace, and a loyal workforce.
​
How Do You Use Leadership vs Management?If you have ideas that you feel like sharing that might be helpful to readers, share them in the comments section below. Thanks!

As published on:  http://aboutleaders.com/leadership-vs-management/#gs.BZDo560_

What is the difference in creating a powerful, growth oriented organization and one where disengagement is the norm?  Let me ask you a few questions to put you in the employee’s shoes.


When you were an employee, did you ever:

• Have a boss that you were afraid of or intimidated by?
• Leave a job because of an ego driven manager?
• Feel frustrated and feel you were not valued?
• Feel like you were just a number or cog in the wheel?
• Have a boss threaten you with fear based tactics?
• Feel you didn’t have any control?
• Feel the morale was low?
• Feel the employees were resisting change?
• Feel physically sick going into work?
• Have work stress you out at home and affect your family relationships?

All of these things lead to disengagement in the workplace.  Yet, many companies are still using oldmanagement styles of control and fear.  As we see the boomer generation starting to retire, and millennials starting to be a larger part of the employee demographic, it is important to recognize the difference of leading vs managing.
Are you instilling fear? Fear does not motivate. Fear does not gain respect or engagement. Treat your employees with respect and teach them. Successful people reach down the ladder and help others live into their potential.
Value and FlexibilityToday’s workers want to feel valued. They want to learn, grow and be a part of something meaningful. They want to collaborate, create, have independence, flexible work schedules, and contribute. Let’s look at some solutions to go from managing to leading.
Today’s employees are more educated than ever. They are tech savvy, have ideas, and education to back their ideas. They want to be involved and have new ideas that can benefit the company that older workers may not be aware of. Encourage open dialogue and be open to what they bring to the table.


Is it possible for your staff to perform their work duties from home? Give them the opportunity to do that whenever possible. Obviously, they need to be able to prove they are capable of the discipline it takes. However, employees today place a very high value on being able to work from home around their family, and with all the technology that is available, it is more do-able today than ever.
Create a VisionDon’t get stuck in “managing” and force people to sit in the office where you can see them to make sure they are doing their work. These are educated adults, not children.
Remember that actions speak louder than words. It is not enough to talk from theory.  True leaders create a vision and walk the walk. It is not beneath a true leader to pitch in and do something that is not in their job role. A leader is the example that others can follow.  A leader gains respect, trust, credibility, and loyalty from their employees.
Is morale low?  Get to the underlying reason and address that.  Perhaps there has been downsizing and employees are down because they are afraid they are next. Keep an open dialogue and let them know the plans for the future and how it involves them.


Get to know your employees – their names, their family, and so forth.  Let them know you care about them. It doesn’t take much to ask how their weekend was as you start the week, or ask if they have any exciting plans for the weekend. If they were off work with a sick child, ask how the child is when they return. Ask them how their holidays wen.
These don’t have to be long conversations. Simple questions such as, “How was your weekend?”, “How was your holiday?”, or “Is your little one feeling better?”. These types of conversation starters can go a long way to create an environment where employees feel like they are cared about, and not just another cog in the wheel for management.
Innovation and Being OpenPeople resist change when they feel threatened. They are often afraid of what change will bring.  You cannot “force” change.  A better approach is to share new innovative ideas and create the excitement and reason for change.  You want your workforce embracing the change because they are excited about what it will do.
When people feel they have no control, they become unhappy, stressed, confrontational,  and disengaged. Keep an open door policy where suggestions and ideas are welcomed. The more employees feel like they are a part of the company, the more they will engage and feel comfortable in sharing their ideas. Keep in mind that some of the best ideas could be lying within the employee that doesn’t say much.
Learn and GrowEmployees today want to learn and grow. They are not satisfied to stay in the same position. Typically, every 2-3 years they are ready to move up, or move out. If you don’t recognize this, you will continue to have high staff turnover.
If you don’t have a position for them to move up into, it is a good investment to keep helping them learn and grow. Invest in training and support them in bettering themselves. Down the road, you will have a more educated workforce than you do today, and that opens the door to new possibilities for your organization.


For example, if you have a graphic designer that wants to take a copywriting course, then support them. You may not have a copywriting position for them right now, but it would be in your favor to have someone that can take on some copywriting work for a raise in pay, rather than hiring a separate person for that position. If you do have someone in that position, then it’s always good to have another person that can overlap those responsibilities. The other benefit is it will add strength to the original role they are performing.
There is no place in today’s work world for ego.  This is an outdated management style. Leave your ego at the door, or better yet, get rid of it all together!  Work together, lead through your own example, teach from what you know, support employees’ growth and encourage them to be all they can be.
In today’s workplace, the most successful organizations understand this, and lead their teams to greatness. This results in higher engagement, higher profits, a happier workplace, and a loyal workforce.

As published on:  http://aboutleaders.com/leadership-vs-management/#gs.PtLGJk0_

LOT’S OF PEOPLE THINK about starting a business. Few act on it. Those that do, have some distinct mindset differences that allow them to move forward.

An idea – A new business can blossom from the simplest idea. It is some of the simplest ideas that allow the average person to get started in a solo business, without the massive investments of options like franchising or big tech companies.

Enthusiasm – Entrepreneurs with enthusiasm accelerate their results and attract what they require to get things moving and producing. Enthusiasm also allows the creative part of the mind to kick in with new ideas!

Put a plan together – So often when the idea is born, the new entrepreneur has no idea HOW they are going to pull everything together. However, successful entrepreneurs just keep taking the next step they know to take, understanding they don’t need all the answers to get started. It is through taking the next step that the next step after that is often revealed. If one doesn’t take that first step, they never find the many steps that will follow because it is based on taking the first step with enthusiasm and belief. It’s vital to understand you don’t need to have all the answers to get started. Take the first step you can take, and then keep taking each new step as it is revealed to you.

Take Action – Successful entrepreneurs understand the importance of taking action. Nothing happens if the idea simply stays in your head. If you don’t take action, you are just dreaming and wasting the potential you have within you.

Don’t let obstacles get in the way – Be solution oriented – Success is not created without obstacles….it is simply part of the PROCESS towards success. Successful entrepreneurs are solution oriented and find a way where there appears to be no way. The desire has to be stronger than the obstacle. This is a powerful technique – pushing through and treating obstacles with this level of thinking and commitment removes the block that stops you. There is a solution to everything.

Fear – Fear is something we all feel. Successful entrepreneurs have all the same fears. The difference is, successful entrepreneurs have learned to take action despite those fears, knowing this is how you learn and grow. The absence of fear is NOT a requirement to take action.

Embrace Risk – Risk is part of being a business owner. However, it is all in how you view risk. So many people never take action on their dreams and miss out on opportunities of independence and stay stuck working in jobs they hate. Money is the biggest thing people are afraid to risk, along with what they perceive as “job security”. It’s common to be afraid of risking millions of dollars to start a business. It is unbelievable to miss an opportunity for the independence of being a business owner because of an investment of under $10,000! But people avoid the risk of spending $2,000, $5,000, $10,000 to start small businesses. People that “say” they want to be self employed and never take the risk, usually spend more than this on electronics, cars, trips, etc. If this is you, you don’t want self employment bad enough. Stop complaining unless you are willing to start betting on yourself. Risk is also simply part of the process, and understand these small amounts are not going to break you.

There is actually something else that happens within the “mind”. When you are willing to put some capital behind your idea, you are opening up a new world of possibilities for yourself, and you are performing an action that demonstrates to your subconscious mind that you believe in yourself and your decision. Even though you may feel some fear around this, this action builds confidence and will push you to take further actions for success because you actually have some “game” in it. If you have nothing to lose, it will not be as important to you.

Believe in themselves – Very often the belief is only within you. When you study successful entrepreneurs, you learn how many were turned down by many, but it didn’t affect the belief they had in their idea. When you know you have a great idea that can make a difference to people, forge forward and take a stand for what you want to bring to the world.

Don’t look back – There is no plan B. Forging ahead expecting it to work is the mindset successful entrepreneurs have, and do not allow themselves to just “try”. As Yoda said “Do or do not….there is no try” Decide what you want, take the necessary actions, and be willing to do that for as long as it takes to get the result you want. Do not make the mistake of “giving it 6 months, or a year, or two years”. Change that thinking to UNTIL. That ONE word will make the world of difference.

MINDSET is what separates success from mediocrity…..contact me if you want to put yourself on the path to create this mindset of success and transform your results.

As featured on:  http://bizcatalyst360.com/how-do-successful-entrepreneurs-get-started/

​

The stats in this survey indicate the importance of providing leadership training for the millennial workforce.  Unlike older generations, these highly educated and ambitious employees are not going to sit around waiting for what they want in a career. If it is not being provided, they are not afraid to move on and find what they are looking for.

The stat of 40% is bad enough, however, according to this survey, this stat is going up to 64% by 2020.  I would suggest this is not just Filipino millennials.  Leadership training is important globally to this demographic.  Companies that do not provide ongoing learning and development for their employees are going to be left behind.

Learn how we can assist you with developing strong leadership in your organization - http://www.thesuccesseducator.info/

I WROTE A previous article about finding clues for success as an entrepreneur. I can’t stress enough the importance of this simple but powerful concept.

I went to an appointment recently, and there were two great clues I picked up from the entrepreneur I was meeting with. Nothing earth shattering, but when you combine all the clues that are around us every single day, it makes our lives easier, and it creates more success. Successful entrepreneurs are aware and pick up these type of clues regularly.

Clue #1 – As I was sitting in the waiting room for my appointment, I noticed a clock. This clock had 24 hrs. on it. I am in Canada, so we are on a 12 hr clock. However, I do business internationally, and when I am speaking with people in EU, I am constantly converting the time difference in my head. Not only is there a time difference, but I need to convert times such as 18:30 to 6:30 pm my time, and then do the time difference calculation. I have been doing this for years in my head, and never thought of getting a 24 hr clock. Actually, I wasn’t even aware there was such a thing. I came home, googled a picture, and printed it off, promptly sticking it on my office wall. What a simple solution!Before we have an awareness of doing things in a better way, we struggle along with outdated ideas, and solutions. Many times solutions are right in front of us, but if we are not open to learning, and taking ideas to make them our own, we miss so many great solutions. This is such a basic idea, it doesn’t take away from the other professional, yet was incredibly helpful for me.

Clue #2 – I arrived at this office and there was no one else in the waiting room. The professional I was there to see, walked into another area of the office and didn’t come back for 15 min. By then, there were 4 other people waiting besides me. I had now waited 20 min over my scheduled appointment time. When I was called in for my appointment, there was no apology or mention that he had kept me waiting. When we have appointments with those that consider themselves professionals, we are conditioned to be early and not keep these “important” people waiting. We are all important, and we all have commitments. No one’s time is more important than anothers. As a business owner, remember this. Don’t keep your clients waiting. Be on time and respect other people’s time just as much as you do your own. If something comes up, have the courtesy to either let your client know, or address it when you connect. Don’t act like it didn’t happen! It builds respect, trust, credibility and loyalty.

​As I mentioned, everyone and everything is our teacher. The more we observe from others, and the more we share ideas, the more we help ourselves and others move forward to create success. Don’t underestimate the difference you can make in assisting others to achieve success. Share below a recent clue for success you have experienced. Very often it is the simplest of ideas that can make the biggest difference to someone.

As published on:  http://bizcatalyst360.com/clues-for-success-are-everywhere/

Debbie Ruston has been an entrepreneur and trainer since 1986. She works with individuals, and groups interested in developing their entrepreneurial leadership mindset. Was this article of value to you? Feel free to share it on your social networks and with your contacts, join in the discussion below, and FOLLOW her on the top right corner of this page.

Debbie's also on:

FB

Twitter

YouTube

Pinterest

G+https://plus.google.com/+DebbieRuston-TheSuccessEducatorAnd now on iTunes

Would you agree that either yourself or people you know are searching for happiness?  Many search their entire lives, believing it is somewhere "out there" and when the find "it", they will be happy.  Most people are striving for things or people or event, or "something" that makes them happy.  Yet, when you take a look at the choices and decisions they make, they are not being congruent in what they SAY they want, and the actions they take.

This is revealed in all areas of life.  Let's take a look at a few examples.

Work - How many people go to a job they hate?  According to Gallup at least 70% of employees hate their jobs and are disengaged in the workplace.  Yet, how many of these people, keep going in, day after day, week after week, year after year?  If you hate your job, you are most likely stressed, unhappy, perhaps overworked, and feel a lack of control in your life.  This has a domino effect in a negative way in other areas of your life.  No one can have the type of health or relationships they want, if they are unhappy in their work.  Stress, anger, unhappiness, resentment, etc., will flow into these other areas and you will wonder why nothing seems to go right.  If you hate your job, and are serious about being happier in your life, take a stand right now to DO something about it.  Make a list of all the things you dislike about your job.  Make another list of what you want.  Then, have the courage to make a change.  Start searching for work that ticks everything on your list of what you DO want, and when you find it, take action.

Start a Business - How many people say they want to start a business and then they would be happy, because they call the shots, don't have a boss to answer to, etc.  Yet surprisingly, most that SAY they want a business are not willing to do what it takes.  Most buy their own excuses - they are afraid to take the risk, they don't have the money or the time, the timing isn't right, etc., etc.  It is never a lack of time or money or the absence of fear....it is a lack of desire and commitment.  When you find the business you want, take action and move forward and stop expecting the timing to be right, or the money to fund it to be sitting waiting in your chequing account.  Make the decision and then make the decision go right.

Relationships - How many people are in relationships they are not happy in?  There are two options...you either figure out what is missing, and then do everything in your power to correct that, or, if it is beyond correcting, then it could be time to move on and find the relationship you really want in your life.  Keep in mind this could be tied to your work.  If you are in a job you hate, and you bring that stress home and take it out on your partner, it may not be the relationship, but the job you need to change.  Making that change, could be starting point of improving your relationship.

Health - Do you feel overweight, out of shape?  Do you seem to feel that way over and over again....starting and stopping the latest diet trends or exercise routines?  It isn't the "right" diet that is the magic solution to improving your health and fitness.  It is the THINKING you have around it.  I have observed for years, people piling into a local diet center every week to get "weighed", to be accountable to someone else.  They pay a membership fee for whatever that club provides.  Yet most going in and out are still overweight and have been going for years.  If it was so effective, they would learn how to get in shape and stay in shape.

It starts in our mind.  No matter what anyone tells you, it boils down to putting nutritious food in your body, cutting out the junk, and exercising regularly.  That's it, period!  Start being accountable to yourself, no one else.  DO what you say you are going to do.  Stop buying your own excuses. Buy healthy food.  Find an exercise style you enjoy.  For instance - I do not buy any junk when I grocery shop.  With no junk food in the house, it forces you to create a new eating style.  More than weight loss, it is a desire to stay healthy and live a long active life, and not end up sitting on the sidelines watching life go by.

Finding an exercise style you enjoy is vital in order to stay committed and SELF motivated.  For years I resisted the idea of going to a gym because I have no interest in most of the exercise offered.  Fortunately, I started yoga many years ago and discovered it was perfect for me.  So the key is to find the exercise that suits YOU.  That is how you stay committed to it.  When you enjoy it, and get results, you want to continue and are SELF motivated to do so.

Hobbies - What?  You don't have time for any?  Life is too short to not do what you love.   Hobbies feed our hearts and when you deny yourself this type of pleasure, you are cutting off an important part of who you are.  If you don't have time for hobbies, it is a sign your life is out of balance.  We work to live, we don't live to work.  Engaging in hobbies is one of life's simple pleasures that just makes us feel happy.

Happiness is within us.  When  we make choices that give us a feeling we are living our life on purpose, it creates happiness for no particular reason.  When we continually make choices that we feel we have no control in, it gives us a feeling of  unhappiness and a feeling that we can only be happy when _____ happens.

Someone asked me once why I am so happy.  The only answer I could think of was "because I am in love with my life".  That was 12 years ago, and was a result of finding work I am in love with.   That overflowed into all aspects of my life.   We spend 40 hrs minimum per week working...this is usually where it starts in creating happiness.  Find work that fills your heart with joy, and everything else falls into place.....
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Debbie Ruston has been an entrepreneur and trainer since 1986. She works with individuals, and groups interested in developing their entrepreneurial leadership mindset. Was this article of value to you? Feel free to share it on your social networks and with your contacts, join in the discussion below, and FOLLOW her on the top right corner of this page.
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As published on Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-happy-debbie-ruston?trk=prof-post

TRUST AND CREDIBILITY are built by Entrepreneurs that LEAD their people, through their vision, thoughts, and their actions.

A mistake that many entrepreneurs make when interacting with employees, is letting their ego get in the way, and coming from the mindset, “I’m the boss, do what I say”. They are not leading, they are managing. This is such an outdated way of thinking, yet many still make this mistake. Trust and credibility are not built from this egotistical mindset. It is built by having vision, being transparent and open in your communications with staff, walking the walk and being willing to set the pace.

Vision, Transparency & Open Communication – There will be times when there are challenges to deal with. Sales are down as an example. The ego driven boss will threaten and instill fear on the employee to perform, improve, or lose their jobs. No one performs at their maximum with this type of fear over their heads. A better approach is to openly share the challenges with your employees. Talk about sales being down, and open the communication for ideas staff may have to make improvements. Being an owner doesn’t mean you have to have all the solutions. There is a wealth of information in the staff you have, if you have surrounded yourself with the RIGHT people.

Walking the Walk – People don’t believe what you tell them if they don’t see it through your actions. Actions always speak louder than words. Doing tasks that may “appear to be” beneath your position speaks volumes to employees. Employees that observe the owner rolling up their sleeves and doing what it takes will gain a ton of respect, trust and credibility with those employees.

Setting the Pace – People naturally want to raise their game when it is the norm in the culture of an organization. People want to fit in with whatever the “norm” for the group is. This applies to both ends of the scale. If one is surrounded by people that are continuing to learn and grow, take courses, go to seminars, read, etc., one would feel out of place if they didn’t get involved. An owner that has a library of great books and encourages staff to read them and talk to them about what they read, will instill an open communication, a mindset of growth and sets the pace for people to continue to want to learn and grow. This type of mindset in an organization creates an engaged, happy, growth oriented organization. It is simple and inexpensive to start a company library, adding perhaps a book of the week to encourage employees to learn and grow.

A great strategy for any business owner is to surround themselves with great people. Never be threatened by someone else’s abilities. The better the people are in your business, the better your results as a company will be, and the better the employees will feel. It feels great when you are surrounded by forward thinking, excited, like minded, supportive, purposeful people. Getting this right will always excel the results of any organization.

As posted on:  ​http://bizcatalyst360.com/three-things-successful-entrepreneurs-do-to-lead-their-organizations/

Debbie Ruston has been an entrepreneur and trainer since 1986. She works with individuals, and groups interested in developing their entrepreneurial leadership mindset. Was this article of value to you? Feel free to share it on your social networks and with your contacts, join in the discussion below, and FOLLOW her on the top right corner of this page.

Debbie's also on:

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G+https://plus.google.com/+DebbieRuston-TheSuccessEducatorAnd now on iTunes

WAS YOUR DECEMBER filled with stress and running around? Did you hit the ground running for the new year or are you playing catch up after the holidays? Would you like to avoid the catch up and figure out a way to enjoy the holidays next year while starting next year with a bang in your business? Ok….1st lesson…be willing to do things differently than you have up to this point. Let me share with you a small change I made several years ago, that has had a huge impact on my life and my business.

Right before Christmas while everyone was stressed out and running around doing the last minute things, I was busy working on my business plans for the new year. Why is this relevant to success in business and how is it accomplished?

First, it’s important to recognize that most in society follow along with what everyone else is doing. Christmas shopping on a weekend, and leaving shopping until days before Christmas, would be examples. We DO have a choice though…to follow along the stress path everyone else seems to be taking, or, to write our own rules.

Several years ago, I set a new goal to reduce the busy-ness and stress of the holidays. I wanted to enjoy the season, and eliminate the stress. I set a date of Dec. 1st to have all my shopping, wrapping and decorating done. I also had all the food and cooking planned out for the holidays early in Dec., and charted in my schedule so I know when I am cooking what – and most of it is done in advance and frozen so that during the holidays, I am not spending the entire time in the kitchen, I am spending it with the people I love. I can’t tell you what a difference this has made. Everything done by Dec. 1st means I never stand in shopping lines, fight traffic, get stressed out, run out of time, or feel like I am missing those precious moments. It also spreads out the “spending”, instead of having it all in Dec. which would be helpful for many. It is a small change that has made a massive difference in my life.

Another big benefit is being able to get into the creative and inspired spot in your mind, which you can’t do if you are stressed out. There are specific things in life that allow us to do this….it’s different for everyone. Some of the things I find most relaxing that allow me to maximize this state of mind are things like, being near water – the beach, or our pool, on a boat, campfires, fireplaces, and beautiful twinkling lights at Christmas. I also decorate my entire yard with little white solar lights in the summer months. The solars are at all different heights, some low, some high, some in trees, etc. They come on at different times during dusk and it is magical as they reflect on the water in the pool. It is also a time of reflection I give myself every night. It’s these type of things when you are just staring at the water, the fire or the lights that allow us to be calm, relaxed, reflect, create, and draw on inspiration. If we are not allowing ourselves to do this during Christmas, and we are running around stressed out, we miss a huge opportunity.

With everything done early, it allows me to use my time in December to focus on my business plans for the next year. I am able to use my time to create, dream, focus, and take action steps that I would never have time for if I was running through a mall. As a matter of fact, I usually have most of the shopping done by mid Nov., by buying things throughout the year as I see them, and tuck them away for Christmas. This means I am only out for about one afternoon just prior to Dec. 1st to finish things off.

I wrote this post in Dec, sitting in front of the fireplace, with the gorgeous decor of the lights on the mantle, the stockings of those I love hung, the Christmas tree all lit up, and my little dog snuggling to get as close to my side as possible. Notice these are all “feel good” experiences which affect our state of mind. It translates into feeling happy, inspired, excited, on purpose, grateful, etc., and this state of mind is a perfect breeding ground for creativity, inspiration and planning for the new year ahead. This state of mind allows me to work ahead and put things in place that kick start the new year in a powerful way. I had work done that normally wouldn’t even be “thought” about until the 2nd wk of Jan, and by the time catch up would be done, and time carved out to get at it, it would be the end of Jan. What a waste of a month that would be! It reduces your chances of meeting your goals by a month!

The environment we surround ourselves with is so important. When we are surrounded with an environment which makes us feel great, we perform better. If I were running around like a crazy person, as I see many people doing, there would be no room for creativity, inspiration or planning for the year to come. It would be a time of just surviving and getting through what is going on. This surviving mindset gives us a negative state of mind, and nothing good can be accomplished. This is partially why people will repeat their same results year after year, wishing things would get better, but never understanding why they are not, and don’t know how to take control in their lives.
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It is often the simplest ideas that can have the biggest impact in our lives and in our businesses. I challenge you to implement this simple strategy over this next year, and observe the difference in makes in your life, and how it allows you to relax, reflect and create for the following year in your business.

As posted on: http://bizcatalyst360.com/entrepreneurial-lessons-from-my-christmas-schedule/_

Debbie Ruston has been an entrepreneur and trainer since 1986. She works with individuals, and groups interested in developing their entrepreneurial leadership mindset. Was this article of value to you? Feel free to share it on your social networks and with your contacts, join in the discussion below, and FOLLOW her on the top right corner of this page.

Debbie's also on:

FB

Twitter

YouTube

Pinterest

G+https://plus.google.com/+DebbieRuston-TheSuccessEducatorAnd now on iTunes