Your #1 Success Attribute...

Martin Luther King, Jr. once stated that “All progress is precarious, and the solution of one problem brings us face to face with another problem.”

Dr. King’s observation is as true today as it was in his. These past several years have clearly been quite precarious and problematic. No sooner had my last post been published, that more adverse economic news broke in the media informing you that the manufacturer of Hostess Twinkies and Cupcakes had filed for Bankruptcy and that the Food Lion Grocery Chain (like Sears/K-Mart) had announced that they were also going to close 100+ stores.

As well, retail sales for December were below expectations and first time unemployment claims were again on the rise. It is mid January and the time for ceremonial resolutions has now passed. The time has come to have true resolve and commit to undertaking real goals, real plans and pursuing real outcomes.

If there is one success attribute that you need to personify in 2012 and beyond, it is that of “Self-Discipline”. For it is self-discipline that serves as the glue of life – in that it connects and holds every facet of your life together. Self-discipline is what keeps your life from becoming fragmented into unmanageable pieces of chaos.

Your ability to develop self-discipline as a dominant habit will enable your achievement of success (as you define it on your own terms) more than any other single aspect of your character. Following are 10 key areas on which you would be wise to focus if you are to become better self-disciplined.

» Discipline yourself to have clarity of mind about precisely what it is that you want to accomplish and why.

» Discipline yourself to have clear written priorities with regard to what you are going to do tomorrow – before you put your head on your pillow tonight.

» Discipline yourself to devote the majority of your time on your top money making activities.

» Discipline yourself to work and live more confidently with the knowledge that you have highly developed skills and abilities that will serve you well if you use them appropriately.

» Discipline yourself to avoid distractions at all cost and to stay on task and on target… all day, every day.

» Discipline yourself to have consistent habits (not just good ones), such as going to bed at the same time every night and getting up at the exact same time very morning.

» Discipline yourself to be properly motivated. Just like your body requires breakfast lunch and dinner for nutrition, so does your mind and attitude. Set the tone for your day with inspirational scriptures, videos or quotations. Have a mid day motivational snack, and at end of your day prepare your mind for quality rest with soothing inspiration.

» Discipline yourself to not only work hard at your work, but to work every bit as hard on yourself and build a better you.

» Discipline yourself to persevere with persistence. Times are tough and life is hard… so what? Planes fly into strong headwinds every day and still get to their destinations. You can too.

» Discipline your personal leadership of self. The more accountable and responsible that you make yourself in every area of your life – the more self disciplined you will become.

As you become more and more adept at developing these aspects of self-discipline, the more aware you will become that you are accomplishing more in less time and that you have an enhanced sense of self control about both your life and your future.

Copyright © 2012 Developing Forward Thomas H. Swank, CBC All Rights Reserved.

Tom is an author, speaker and trusted advisor to business entrepreneurs worldwide. Jump-Start your New Year with Tom’s newest book “NOGGIN NUGGETS~ 365 Days of Exceptional Motivation" get your copy at www.NogginNuggets.com

A Small Business Revolution

As you return from your holiday season and begin your New Year… the question is how much of your work and life is actually going to be “new” for 2012?

Are your business expectations and self expectations genuinely optimistic, guarded or rather uncertain? Your answer to this question lies entirely in your beliefs of what is possible for you in the coming year. Whether you choose to believe for a little or a lot is entirely up to you. The key point to realize is that it is first and foremost a conscious “choice”.

Moreover, will you make the choice to become part of the economic solution?

I would ask you to consider that again in 2011 the casualty list for “big business” has been enormous. Just last week Sears/K-Mart announced the closing of 100+ locations. The other brand names that went out of business or closed retail outlets in the past year include Blockbuster, Borders, GAP, Anchor Blue, F.Y.E., Foot Locker, Talbot’s, Friendly’s, Pier One and Lowe’s. Even Macy’s, J.C.Penny, Walmart Marketside and BJ’s found themselves having to shut down many store locations and substantially reduce their staffing.

The obvious media storyline revolves around how bad the economic recession has been, how so many workers have lost their jobs and the resultant impact on both the uncertain economy and the wary consumer. However, there is a whole other not-so-obvious side to these big business events than you may be missing and which the main stream media is not covering.

What I’m driving at it this… big business is exactly what it says it is… BIG. In many ways too big for its own good. It’s all in how you choose to look at it. Big business is cumbersome in that it is slow in being able to deal with and respond to change. Its decision making processes are complex and slow. Retooling costs a fortune and takes time. Big business is laden with heavy debt and economic structures. Its ability to innovate is bogged down in lengthy and often questionable research and development projects. What’s more customer service, satisfaction and loyalty are continuing to decline.

Conversely, small business owners are agile and lean by comparison, and are therefore far better able to respond to changing markets and trends. You are able to make more expedient business decisions that are free from the procession of endless management and committee meetings. Small business has always been able to innovate and bring new products and ideas swiftly to the consumer market. The garage based small business start-ups like HP and Apple have clearly demonstrated this ability and the innovation capability of the budding entrepreneur.

Of equal significance is the fact that small business is historically responsible for creating 60% - 80% of all new jobs. The reality is that it is you the small business owner that holds the key to economic growth and future prosperity.

There has never been a more perfect time than now to raise your business expectations and performance bar to the extreme. This is not the time to hang back and wait for things to turn around in their own good time. Especially with the fact that there are more no cost and low cost ways to promote your business than ever before! So, why not get more aggressive about the results that you want to achieve in 2012?

The other important factor that you need to realize as a small business owner is that you have the direct ability to build and maintain meaningful relationships with your prospective customers and existing clients. As well, you have the capability to provide a level of personal service that big business for all intents and purposes is incapable of delivering.

When you take the time to really consider the big picture for business in 2012 and beyond… It is the small business enterprise that is going to fill the void of the big business organizations that have gone under or have been forced to downsize.

It is small business that is going to create the jobs, reshape the business landscape, invigorate the economy and fuel future prosperity.

I encourage you to make the conscious choice to be part of the economic solution and become a vibrant member of the small business revolution that radically grows their business in 2012!


Copyright © 2012 Developing Forward Thomas H. Swank, CBC All Rights Reserved.

Tom is a trusted advisor and mentor to business entrepreneurs worldwide. Jump-Start your New Year with Tom’s new book Noggin Nuggets ~ 365 Days of Exceptional Motivation order your copy at http://www.developingforward.com/Noggin_Nuggets.html