Don't Give Up!

People that quit because of failure are being shortsighted. It’s not their fault. They’ve bought into the popular idea that failure and success are opposite ends of the scale. You either achieve one or the other. This kind of thinking ignores the fact that they can actually be part of the same, longer-term process. A process that eventually, inevitably, results in triumph. Failure is just another step closer to your goal. Edison knew that every time one of his light bulb prototypes blew up, he was that much closer to success than to ultimate failure. He knew that if he had enough failures (and he had thousands), that he would reach the right answer. And in the end, he is famous for that one right answer and his failures may well have never existed. So don’t give up on your dreams. You never know when you might hit on that right answer.

You've got to Think about 'Big Things' while you're doing Small Things, so that all the Small Things go in the Right Direction

Do you ever think about your “big picture” goal? Are your small daily tasks helping you get there? It is important to know what you want to accomplish and to periodically check to make sure that your daily actions are helping you reach success. Goal setting is an important part of being a great leader. You must learn how to set a long-term goal and break it down into medium and short-term goals. Once you start breaking things down into manageable daily actions, your big goal becomes easier to achieve.

Stand For Something Or Fall For Anything

Have you ever thought about the power of having a purpose? Everyone needs something that gets them moving in the morning, keeps them going through the day, and makes them continue to work toward a goal. Take some time to think about the activities you are involved in and how they relate to your personal purpose or how they do not relate. For the activities that don’t relate ask yourself why you are participating. Perhaps you need to reevaluate your commitments and renew your conviction toward your purpose?

You Can't Do ANything About the Length of Your Life, But You Can Do Something About Its Width & Depth

Life is a funny thing. It’s an ever-going marathon, yet no one knows where his or her finish line is. We just keep running and running, hoping we still have a long way to go. We do whatever we can to prolong the run, but sometimes despite our best efforts, the marathon is cut short. So many of us are only concerned about the distance we are traveling, we lose focus of what’s going on during the run. And this is the important part, so take advantage. Stretch some personal boundaries, work outside of your comfort zone, try something new. There will be bumps along the road, shortcuts, and paths that lead into dead ends. These are all parts of the journey; how you deal with them will determine where you go in life. Remember, we don’t always determine the distance, but we can determine the path.

If Stupidity Got Us Into This Mess, Then Why Can't It Get Us Out?

Everyone makes mistakes. Everyone is capable of doing something immensely stupid. (Some of us may feel more “capable” than others). But everyone is also capable of learning from their blunders and making a fresh start. Yes, even the most thick-headed person has hope. Have you ever bungled something so bad that you actually felt ashamed? You might still wish that you could have that moment back to do things differently. We all have those moments. And even the smallest mistakes can be upsetting. There is a way to recover. It takes learning and it takes smarts. If you use that error to make your future better, you just got a little smarter. So you might say that part of your intelligence and success comes from stupidity. Just don’t be stupid in the same way twice.

Are You Curious?

Curiosity is a skill that leaders need to have. In order to be a leader a person must be able to ask questions and develop new ways to solve problems. Sometimes we let our lives become habitual and predictable and we let curiosity fall by the wayside. If you have fallen into a rut, start asking questions. Let your curiosity work magic and allow you to see your life through a new perspective.

We Cannot Become What We Want by Remaining What We Are!

Do you ever talk about what you want or need out of life? Perhaps you need a better job or you want to lose some weight? Are you setting goals to get you there or are you simply talking? Sometimes we forget that in order to change something, we ourselves need to change. For example, you cannot get a new job by not looking or not developing your skills and you cannot lose weight if you continue doing no exercise or by not eating nutritiously.

Be Not Afraid of Going Slowly, Be Afraid Only of Standing Still

Do you ever get frustrated because things are going too slow in your life? Many people don’t realize that building a Foundation that will lead to success does not happen overnight. It is a slow process in which you are constantly building and learning. It is extremely important to create a Foundation that will remain strong even in times of failure or crisis. This takes time! You may have to remind yourself that failing is only failure if you quit…otherwise it is a learning opportunity. So, don’t worry if your life seems to be in slow motion. Concentrate on building a solid foundation and learning from your steps back.