Motivations and Inspirations

We all have habits, some excellent and some not so excellent. These are behaviors that we’ve learned and that occur nearly automatically. And most of us have a habit we’d like to break, or one we’d like to develop.

For most people, it takes about four weeks for a new behavior to become routine, or habit. The following steps can make it simpler to establish a new behavior pattern.

1. The first step is to set your goal.

Especially when you are trying to stop or break a habit, you should try to phrase your goal as a positive statement. For example, instead of saying “I will quit snacking at night”, say “I will practice healthy eating habits”. You should also write down your goal. Commiting it to paper helps you to commit. It can also help if you tell your goal to someone you trust.

2. Choose on a replacement behavior.

(If your goal is to develop a new habit then your replacement behavior will be the goal itself.) This step is very vital when you are trying to break a habit. If you want to stop a behavior, you must have a superior behavior to place in it’s place. If you don’t, the ancient behavior pattern will return.

3. Learn and be aware of your triggers.

Behavior patterns don’t exist independently. Often, one habit is associated with another part of your regular routine. For instance, in the snacking example the trigger may be late night television or reading. You automatically grab a bag of chips while you watch. Many people who smoke automatically light up after eating. Reckon about when and why you do the thing you want to quit.

4. Post reminders to yourself.

You can do this by leaving yourself notes in the places where the behavior usually occurs. Or you can leave yourself a message on the mirror, refrigerator, computer monitor or some other place where you will see it regularly. You can also have a family member or co-worker use a particular phrase to remind you of your goal.

5. Get help and support from someone.

This is kind of obvious. Any job is simpler with help. It works even better if you can form a partnership with someone who shares the same goal.

6. Write daily affirmations.

Write your phrase or sentence in the present tense (as if it were already happening), and write it ten times a day for twenty-one days. This process helps make your goal a part of your subconscious, which will not only remind you to practice the new behavior, but it also keeps you focused and motivated.

7. Reward yourself for making progress at set time intervals.

Focus on your goal one day at a time, but give yourself a small treat at one, three and six months. The rewards don’t have to be huge or expensive, and you should try to make it something that’s associated in some way with the goal. Doing this provides you with both incentive and extra motivation.
Following these steps is no guarantee of success of course. Depending on the habit it may take several tries to finally make the change. But if you stick with it, you can do it. Excellent Luck.

Originally posted 2009-06-02 11:50:25. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Keeping one’s self going is a hard thing to do.  There are a million distractions that occur every day and that can mean that we do not stay on track with what we should be doing.  Self-motivation is something that does not come simple to a lot of people and that means that there are some steps that need to be taken before you can become motivated to the fullest extent.  Of course there are some other matters that first need to be taken care of.  If there are a lot of distractions that keep you from doing what you need to be doing then you need to make some changes. This is really the first step towards becoming self-motivated in any form.

To be self-motivated means that there is no outside force or person pushing you to become what you want.  The whole concept of succeeding lies within yourself and that means that you will need to make the effort yourself to be who you want to be.  The doing away with the distractions means that you need to be completely self-reliant.  If you have many distractions then you will not be getting the things done that need to be so you are not being self-motivated in that sense.  Take the effort to make sure that you are completely absorbed in what you are doing, especially when it comes to work.  This will mean that everything else takes a back seat and you are working to the best of your ability.

If you are a person that needs a push to get going on something then you will need to devise a plot to become self-motivated.  If you are one that requires the motivation then you will need to be sure to have something nearby that reminds you of what you need to be doing.  For instance, a photograph depicting an event will be sure to go you along whenever you look at it.  The same goes for a saying by a well-known person that has succeeded in the way that you wish to succeed.

To be self-motivated is to be the one person that gets it done without having to be told to do so.  Moving along through the ranks and being the one person that succeeds where others fail is above all the rest.  Take the time to become self-motivated and you will be much more pleased with yourself to say the least.

Originally posted 2009-08-31 18:58:31. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Every day of your life you are selling yourself, nothing happens until you’re successful at doing that.

We’re all in the selling business whether we like it or not. It doesn’t matter whether you’re a lawyer or an accountant, a manager or a politician, an engineer or a doctor.

We all spend a fantastic deal of our time trying to persuade people to buy our product or service, accept our proposals or merely accept what we say.

Before you get better at persuading or influencing other people – you need to get better at self-motivation and selling yourself.

Here are 10 simple steps to self-motivation:

#1 – You must believe in the product

Selling yourself is pretty much like selling anything. Firstly, you need to believe in what you’re selling. That means believing in “you.” It’s about lots of positive self-talk and the right attitude.

The first thing people notice about you is your attitude. If you’re like most people then you’ll suffer from lack of confidence from time to time.

It really all comes down to how you talk to yourself. The majority of people are more likely to talk to themselves negatively than positively – this is what holds them back in life.

It isn’t just about a positive attitude; it’s about the right attitude – the quality of your thinking.

Successful people have a constructive and optimistic way of looking at themselves and their work. They have an attitude of cool, confident, positive self-expectation. They feel excellent about themselves and believe that everything they do will lead to their inevitable success.

If you’re in a sales job or a business owner or a manager then you need to continually work on your attitude. You need to listen to that small voice inside your head. Is it saying you’re on top, going for it and confident, or is it holding you back.

If you’re hearing – “I can’t do this or that” or “They won’t want to buy at the moment” or “We’re too expensive” then you’d better change your self-talk or change your job.

Start to believe in yourself and don’t let things that are out with your control effect your attitude.

Avoid criticising, condemning and complaining and start spreading a small happiness.

Remember the saying of Henry Ford, founder of the Ford Motor Company – “If you believe you can do a thing, or if you believe you can’t, in either case you’re probably right.”

#2 – The packaging must grab attention

Like any other product we buy, the way the product is packaged and presented will influence the customer’s choice to buy.

Everything about you needs to look excellent and you must dress appropriately for the occasion. And don’t reckon that just because your customer dresses casually, that they expect you to dress the same way.

The style and colour of the clothes you wear, your spectacles, shoes, briefcase, watch, the pen you use, all make a statement about you.

#3 – Smile

No need to get carried away, you don’t need a huge cheesy smile, just a pleasant open face that doesn’t frighten people away.

#4 – Use names

Use the customers name as soon as you can but don’t over do it. Business is less formal nowadays but be careful of using first names initially. Make sure your customer knows yours and remembers it. You can do the ancient repeat trick -”My name is Bond, James Bond” or “My name is James, James Bond”

#5 – Watch the other person

What does their body language tell you? Are they comfortable with you or are they a bit nervous? Are they listening to you or are their eyes darting around the room. If they’re not comfortable and not listening then there’s no point telling them something vital about your business.

Far better to make some small talk and more importantly -get then to talk about themselves.

It’s best to go on the assumption that in the first few minutes of meeting someone new, they won’t take in much of what you say. They’re too busy analysing all the visual data they’re taking in.

#6 – Listen and look like you’re listening.

Many people, particularly men, listen but don’t show that they’re listening. The other person can only go on what they see, not what’s going on inside your head. If they see a blank expression then they’ll assume you’re “out to lunch.”

The trick is to do all the active listening things such as nodding your head, the occasional “UH-HUH” and the occasional question.

#7 – Be interested.

If you want to be FASCINATING then be INTERESTED. This really is the most vital thing you can do to be successful at selling yourself.

The majority of people are very concerned about their self-image. If they sense that you value them, that you feel that they’re vital and worth listening to, then you effectively raise their self-image. If you can help people to like themselves then they’ll LIKE you.

Don’t fall into the trap of flattering the other person, because most people will see right through you and they won’t fall for it. Just show some genuine interest in the customer and their business and they’ll be much more receptive to what you say.

#8 – Talk positively.

Don’t say – “Isn’t it a horrible day” or “Business is pretty tough at present” or any thing else that pulls the conversation down. Say things like (and only the truth) – “I like the design of this office” or “I’ve heard some excellent reports about your new product.”

#9 – Mirror the other person

This doesn’t mean mimicking the other person, it just means you speaking and behaving in a manner that is similar to the customer.

For example, if your customer speaks slowly or quietly, then you speak slowly or quietly. Remember people like people who are like themselves.

#10 – Warm and friendly

If you look or sound stressed or aggressive then don’t be surprised if the other person gets defensive and less than willing to co-operate.

If you look and sound warm and friendly, then you’re more likely to get a positive response.

This isn’t about being all nicey-nicey. It’s about a pleasant open face or a warm tone over the telephone.

Before we can get down to the process of selling our product, our service or our thoughts then we need to be as sure as we can  be – that the customer has bought us and that we have their full attention.

Originally posted 2009-06-04 11:46:27. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

If you’re having distress getting motivated to keep to your fitness program … or if you haven’t even got off the starting block yet, this article could change your life! Not completely … that would be too ambitious! But, there’s a tiny, inexpensive device that can provide you with all the motivation you need to get out and start moving your body around a bit more.

The pedometer, as it’s known, can also make you WANT to do it and can even get you to DELIGHT IN doing it!

What … ? DELIGHT IN exercising??? Surely some mistake?

Well, no really. Please read on.

1. So, what is a pedometer?

It’s a small, compact device used for measuring the number of steps taken.

And, as well as measuring the number of steps taken when exercising in your local neighborhood, it can also measure your steps whilst you’re climbing the stairs, mowing the lawn, or doing the shopping.

2. How Does It Work?

It’s small enough to clip to your belt and is fitted with a pendulum which measures one step each time your foot makes contact with the ground.

3. How Much Does It Cost?

Many pedometers have been given away FREE as part of campaigns by local health authorities to get people moving their bodies more.

If you can’t find such a campaign in your area, you can buy a pedometer with a reasonable number of features for as small as $20.

4. What Exactly Does It Do?

You should buy a model which, at the very least, measures the number of steps taken, calories burned, distance walked, speed you’ve been walking and how long your routine has taken.

More expensive models may include any or all of the following additional features:

- a soothing voice to tell you how many steps you’ve taken
- a pulse monitor
- a stopwatch
- a radio and headphones so you can listen to your favorite radio station whilst out walking
- a step filter to achieve greater accuracy
- a back light so you can see your pedometer in the dark.

5. How Do I Set Up My Pedometer?

First you need to enter your height, weight and average stride length.

To arrive at your stride length, most instruction guides prompt you to measure out a distance of, say 10 meters, and to count the number of steps you take to cover it. Divide this number by the overall distance and this gives your average stride length.

Once it’s set up, just follow the instructions to activate the settings you want to use, clip your pedometer to your belt and you’re ready to go.

6. How Do I Take Readings?

At any point after you’ve started your routine, you can stop, flip open the pedometer and take a reading. Of course, you shouldn’t do this too often as this will interrupt the rhythm of your walk.

But you can get an thought of the progress you’re making by checking the number of steps taken, the distance you’ve traveled, the calories you’ve burned and so on. You’ll be able to go from one measurement to the next at the press of a button.

7. How Does This Provide Me More Motivation?

The fantastic thing about wearing a pedometer is that you start to reckon about the number of steps you’ve taken towards your daily target.

This gets you into a ‘walking mindset’ and you suddenly start to identify lots of new walking opportunities.

If you had to be dragged kicking and screaming to take up a fitness routine, the pedometer is the single most vital device you can use to start enjoying your workouts.

It’s so simple to use and it can transform the way you feel about getting fit. It can take you from resisting the whole thought of doing a daily workout, to your really looking forward to it and wanting to do it more.

Why?

Because, after using it for a while, you start to realize that your daily targets are not only achievable but, with a bit more effort, can be easily surpassed.

Something you thought was going to be such a grind becomes simple, because you know you can do it!

Did you ever reckon that was possible?

Well it is. Just get hold of your pedometer and keep wearing it. It can have a really positive effect on your fitness and health.

Originally posted 2009-07-04 11:43:32. Republished by Blog Post Promoter