Wednesday, November 5, 2014

10 Powerful Habits of The Ultra Successful

10 Powerful Habits of The Ultra Successful

stylish man super ultra successful business man

“Successful people are simply those with successful habits” – Brian Tracy

We often run through life, envious of all the people who “made it”. Not being able to recognize exactly why they are where they are in life. We’re confused as to what trickery or black magic these people have applied in their life that has enabled them to rise to the top of their industry. Unfortunately we’re never able to distill this “special ingredient” or “secret” that has kept us in doubts for so long. Eventually it can even drive us to the brink of insanity But I’d say we’re searching for the wrong things.. How so?
  • What’s the one thing that made him so much money?
  • What’s the one thing that allowed him to have so many friends?
  • What’s the single source of his great health?
We’re primarily focused on certain events whilst almost every (if not all) successful aspects we recognize in a person is the sum of different processes. These processes are basically different habits that have been built up over time which have compounded in the results they’re experiencing in their life. I call this habit-stacking Habit-what? ——————————————————————————–

What Is Habit Stacking?

Habit stacking is the process of incrementally (meaning gradually) implementing new, empowering habits in your day-to-day life. These daily, high-leverage tasks will “stack up” over time which will in turn improve what I call your “success-level” For illustrative purposes, here’s fancy infographic I made; Untitled Report (1)   The quantity and quality of every success habit performed, will define the altitude of your success-level. I’ve seen this pattern recurring in many different successful people I’ve observed the past years. People like Warren Buffet, Anthony Robbins, Elon Musk, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Owen Cook and many more. The people who obviously “have their stuff together” The stacking of these habits creates an immense amount of control over their life and therefore yields the compounding results they have acquired.
By analyzing and defining their different habits, I’ve compiled a list of what I believe are the 10 most potent habits to implement in your life.

Ten Essential Success Habits

(Speed) Learningold-books-436498_1280

I’ve seen this habit recurring time and time again. The wealthiest people of the world are avid learners. In an interview , Warren Buffet and Bill Gates were asked if they could have one superpower in the world, what would it be? They both argued that being the worlds fastest reader would be HUGE Why is it so effective?
Reading allows us to skip (partially) the process of trial and error by simulating the future in our mind, based on the knowledge we’ve acquired from other peoples’ mistakes. Why make your own when you can learn so much from others?
It allows us to “stand on the shoulders of giants” by acquiring information that enables us to avoid many failures.
How to start? Start by reading 15 pages every day (non-fiction)

Visualization

Often in life we harbor dis-empowering thoughts in our head;
  • I’m not good enough
  • I’m not good with women
  • I don’t deserve to be rich
  • I’m not able to lose any weight
These are all perfect examples of limiting beliefs that become self-fulfilling prophecies and basically rob ourselves of everything we want out of life. People are not limited to these perceptions and are actually able to change these for the better (however, not many realize they can do this) How you perceive yourself and your surroundings literally sets the boundaries of your individual accomplishment. It basically defines what you can and cannot do. This is a social theorem defined by W.I Thomas and D.S. Thomas;
“People react not only to the situations they are in, but also, and often primarily, to the way they perceive the situations and to the meaning they assign to these perceptions. Therefore, their behavior is determined in part by their perception and the meaning they ascribe to the situations they are in, rather than by the situations themselves. Once people convince themselves that a situation really has a certain meaning, regardless of whether it actually does, they will take very real actions in consequence.”
So what should I do? Improve your self-image and your image of the world and likewise will your accomplishments grow to greater heights. The way I do this is by writing down how I want to perceive myself and visualize in detail how I will act in certain situations. Repetition is key! Eventually it will become real. This might sound like the black magic I referred to earlier, but it goes much deeper than that. You could argue that this is yet another pseudo-scientific trick to justify positive thinking but I personally believe (from several experiences and observations) that this “trick” works.
How to start? Read books like “Psycho-Cybernetics” by Maxwell Maltz, “Think and Grow Rich” by Napoleon Hill and “As A Man Thinketh” by James Allen (FREE DOWNLOAD)

Exercise & Dietstrawberries-272812_1280

Our body is probably the single most important investment we can make in our life. And the only one we’re 100% convinced off that we’re always going to need it. Yet I see so many people gulping down fast-food, copious amounts of alcohol and neglecting any form of exercise. Everything you operate needs maintenance from time to time. You can compare your body to driving a car. If you don’t take care of your car, guess what’s going to happen? Buy a new one? Nope, game over buddy!
How to start? Make sure you get the recommended physical activity every day (if you can do more, do so!). Do this first thing in the morning and just get it over with. The consequences are far more detrimental.

Goal Setting (In Writing)

Writing down your goals has been proven time and time again that they can make a huge impact on your life altogether! A study about goal setting at Harvard University in the book “What They Don’t Teach You in the Harvard Business School” by Mark McCormack discovered the following truth about goal-setting and performance;
“Only three percent of the graduates had written goals and plans; 13 percent had goals, but they were not in writing; and a whopping 84 percent had no specific goals at all. Ten years later, the members of the class were interviewed again, and the findings, while somewhat predictable, were nonetheless astonishing. The 13 percent of the class who had goals were earning, on average, twice as much as the 84 percent who had no goals at all. And what about the three percent who had clear, written goals? They were earning, on average, ten times as much as the other 97 percent put together.”
The truth is simply this; without goals you don’t have any direction in life and nothing really tangible to work towards. Result? You get nowhere. Pretty obvious stuff, right?
How to start? Set some goals! Here’s how I do it.

Planning & Prioritizationhook-76785_1280

Do the most important things first. This is such a simple concept talked about by many high-achievers. I’ve read about this in “The One Thing” by Gary Keller, “The 7 Habits Of Highly Effective People” by Stephen Covey and “Think And Grow Rich” by Napoleon Hill What they all basically say is that you should find your one, most important focus for every single day (aligned with the goals you’ve set out for yourself) and consequently annihilate that goal in the morning until it is finished – everything else is a distraction. Simple, yet not easy.
How to start? Find your one, most important task for the day and execute accordingly. Also set a time limit on these goals, so you don’t get stuck in saying things like; “I’m done at x hour” or “my work gets done when it’s done.” Limitations create urgency. Urgency gets things done.

Money Management

Another big pillar in success is shifting from the consumer mentality into the investor mentality. See your little dollars as seeds. By spending your hard-earned money in a smart way you’ll be able to grow your investments into bigger pay-offs over time
  • Don’t buy ridiculously overpriced smartphones
  • Don’t amass great amounts of debt
  • Don’t live above your means
Basic stuff like that makes a huge difference over time.
How to start? Read some great books on financial beliefs and money management like “Rich Dad, Poor Dad” By Robert T. Kiyosaki, “The Millionaire Fastlane” by MJ Demarco and “The Intelligent Investor” by Benjamin Graham.

Waking Up Early

clock-20013_1280 Our time on earth is limited. With our average life expectancy of 78.6 years (as of 2014) we spent 25 years of that sleeping! Tai Lopez (who became a self-made millionaire in his 20′s) says that we only have 50 000 valuable hours to really dedicate to doing our greatest work. The rest of the time is spend in disability, sickness, sleeping, old age, young age and so-forth.
Imagine that I give you a check of $50 000 in the beginning of your life, how scarcely would you spend those dollars?
How to start? Start waking-up an hour earlier everyday! That’s 365 hours extra a year which equals more than two weeks! What are you waiting for? Tick-tock.

Build On Strength

We’re all born with our unique sets of strengths and talents yet we rarely develop those to our natural capacities. We fall into the trap of believing the “you can be anything you want” fairy-tale that has been fed to us by our surroundings. The truth (IMO) is this: We can only perform optimally from strength. Talent and investment serve as amplifiers for your achievement level. TALENT X INVESTMENT = STRENGTH Investment can be self-generated whilst raw talent is incredibly difficult to add.
While it may be possible, with a considerable amount of work, to add talent where little exists, our research suggests that this may not be the best use of your time – Strengthsfinder 2.0 by Tom Rath
My take on strengths is the following; Build your life on what you’re good at, but improve your weaknesses to the degree that they don’t hold you back.
How to start? A great way to get started and gain some priceless self-knowledge is by taking the personality test at 16Personalities.com. I found the results disturbingly accurate yet amazingly insightful.

Networking & Social Skillsteam-386673_1280

Many successful people are not where they are solely because of their many skills and talents (which they have) but because they made themselves known to others. Ever heard the statement; It’s not about what you know, it’s about who you know? In terms of success this certainly rings true. Mostly it’s not you that rises trough the ranks by your own effort. People rise to success by others lifting them up.
Additionally, by surrounding yourself with these “high-achievers” your own performance level will be increased. This is because the people we see regularly set the standard for what is appropriate and therefore we’ll adjust to that environment.
How to start? Read some books on basic social skills like “How To Win Friends And Influence People” by Dale Carnegie and get some great resources on networking! One website I’d definitely recommend is SmartBusinessRevolution.com by John Concoran (he has a GREAT free ebook).

Character

And last but certainly not least important: Character! By setting for ourselves a certain standard for acceptable behavior, we’re able to connect with other people on a genuine level. Things like; being honest, keeping secrets, having integrity, not cheating, not stealing and so-forth. People automatically want to connect with the ones who don’t have hidden agendas and are pure of heart. Immorality breaks relationships.
How to start? Write down for yourself a certain set of rules (a code of conduct) you will live by that will lead to a successful life (whatever that means to you). Be sure to include the essentials like integrity, honesty, responsibility and so-forth. Read these values when you get out of bed and live accordingly.

Essence

I know this can be a lot to take in and therefore I highly recommend building up each habit until it has become a natural part of your day-to-day routine. (don’t take on more than one at a time – two at max) New research shows that the formation of a new habit can take anywhere from 18 to 254 days (66 on average). So consistency is key here. Start with small steps and slowly build them up. Notice also that almost all the habits I’ve mentioned above are short-term sacrifices that will result in long-term benefits.
By overcoming forms of instant gratification like cheating, watching tv, splurging money, binge-eating and whatnot we set ourselves up for a great future. Delayed gratification is your ticket to success! (Which doesn’t mean you’re not allowed to enjoy life – within reason ;) ) Anyway, that’s all I have to say on success habits for today. I hope I’ve been able to spike your curiosity to try out a new habit (or improve the quality/quantity of an old one) So, that leaves me with just one more question;

Courtsey of Simon Somlai http://addicted2success.com/success-advice/10-powerful-habits-of-the-ultra-successful/

Wednesday, October 29, 2014

How Successful People Handle Toxic People

How Successful People Handle Toxic People

Toxic_people

This article from Forbes highlights how to deal with those that are becoming toxic in your life. A great read with some key points about how to rise above these situations while also reminding you not to let the fight take you down completely. Here at Taylor Made, we have a team that will help you accomplish whatever obstacles you may encounter whether it be the situation or the people involved. Our success is measured as a team.

Thursday, October 23, 2014

Atypical Success Story

Hard Work Leads to Success

The article above speaks about the Alibaba co-founder, Jack Ma, who once earned $20 a month. He is currently the richest man in China. It is fascinating to learn how hard work doesn't have to have monetarily benefits immediately. This is definitely a concept that we try to encompass here at Taylor Made. Just because success does not come immediately does not mean that it will not come at all.

Monday, October 20, 2014

Advice on How to Create Opportunities for Yourself!

Opportunity Won’t Fall In Your Lap: 5 Ways To Go Out And Get What’s Yours

Opportunity Won’t Fall In Your Lap: 5 Ways To Go Out And Get What’s Yours
            
Opportunity knocks on all of our doors; we just aren’t always home to receive it.
I’ve always found the old adage of “right place, right time” to be something of a flawed theory. Sure, I believe in some element of circumstantial luck, but there has to be something more.
There has to be some element of this equation that gifts us some control over the whole thing. You can be in the right place at the right time, with opportunities all around you, but if you aren’t open to it on every level, then it’s really just a waste.
In this life of the unexpected, we simply cannot (nor should we try to) control everything. However, if you find yourself sitting in all the “right scenarios” and always coming up short, it could be true that you are unwittingly sitting there with blinders on. Here’s how to take them off:

Know What You Want

This one sounds obvious, but in actuality, most of us have yet to figure it out. And there’s nothing wrong with that. In all likelihood, if you’re doing it properly, what you want will never be a constant. You will always find yourself tweaking the dream, adding frills and trimming fat.
However, it helps to establish mini goals and successes. Look to short-term plans for guidance and motivation and ensure that some aspect of each day, no matter how small, is dedicated to achieving the goals.
Knowing what you want, on any level, sets coordinates in your brain and triggers action and thoughts, even if just subconsciously. You will always be headed toward what you want if you have some clue as to what that is.

Visualize Getting What You Want

Take the time to find a peaceful space to reflect on what you want.  You can know what you want with every fiber of your being, but if you can’t visualize having it and living it, then it’s all just an out-of-reach pipe dream.
See your finish line in your mind; taste the success and relish the moment as if it is just around the corner.

Embrace Hidden Opportunities

While there’s something to be said for maintaining focus and staying on course, never forget to keep a corner of your mind open to the unknown. Take every chance you can and turn over every stone that piques your interest and explore every possibility.
Not every opportunity that presents itself will seem like an ideal fit to the master plan, and that’s okay. Try it on for size and find out for sure. Never pass something over simply because it doesn’t meet the ideal criteria – doing so might be the biggest mistake you ever make.
As we journey through our lives, it’s often the long shot that completes the picture.

Get Up And Go Get It

Most great success stories don’t start with, “So there I was, sitting around, doing nothing, and the chance of a lifetime fell into my lap…” While putting yourself in positive situations with some advantageous timing can certainly help, nothing beats going out into the world and consciously seeking out opportunities.
No one has more to gain from your success than you do. No one will ever work as hard to see you get what you want in life because, quite frankly, everyone is busy working on him or herself. Create your own “right time, right place.”
Know in your heart what you want out of life. Picture yourself on the right path, enjoying the fruits of your labor and seeing it all come together. You have everything you need to chase a dream — after all, you designed it.

Maintain A Positive Attitude

Smile — it’s simple. I suppose it’s also a little over-stated in motivational literature, but it’s the truth. When you exude positive energy, people cannot help but be drawn to you. There are zero benefits to a negative attitude.
Carry yourself with the same joy you envision yourself feeling when it all comes together. Every day you wake up is a gift, so stop looking for the receipt and make the most of it.

Courtesy of Susy Alexandre from elitedaily.com

Wednesday, October 15, 2014

Welcome Kaitlyn Benson to the HR Team!

We welcome Kaitlyn Benson to the Human Resource Department of Taylor Made. Just a little bit about her is that she is a recent Rutgers graduate with a communication and marketing degree who loves a good adventure whether it be outdoors or inside on a Netflix binge. Kaitlyn started her career with Taylor Made in July as an Account Consultant and since then has been promoted into our Human Resource department.  New responsibilities that Kaitlyn is taking on includes; talent acquisitions, branding, and new employee onboarding.   We are extremely excited for Kaitlyn and are thrilled to have her on the HR team here at Taylor Made!

Here are some questions to get to know her better!
 
Favorite part of the job?
I love the “work hard, play hard” aspect – especially with how there’s always music playing in the lobby. I also love the relationships I’ve made here at Taylor made- we have a great team!
 
What do you like to do in your free time?
There’s nothing better than spending as much as time possible with family and friends. I definitely love attending sporting events and going on random adventures as well.
 
What makes you get up for work?
Knowing that I will always be greeted with a smile and a high-energy environment. It helps a lot.

 
 

Thursday, October 2, 2014

Advice from Our Fellow Workers!


It never hurts to get some advice when you’re working in the field no matter how long one has been in the field. Here are some recommendations from our fellow employees…

”Give it 100% and have confidence in yourself.”

“Keep a positive attitude no matter what you encounter in the field”

“BE POSITIVE! Don’t let one negative person get you down!”

“Stay positive and work hard. Hard work will pay off in the end.”

 

Here is a personal quote that I will enlighten you guys with today

“Someone’s sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago.”

 – Warren Buffet

Thursday, September 25, 2014

28 Inspiring Quotes on Leadership in Business

Stay motivated and stay inspired!

28 Inspiring Quotes on Leadership in Business

 
Leadership is a learned skill. You can learn how to lead others by examining leaders you admire, by following their examples and listening to their advice. These quotes can help. Study the words and find out more about the leaders who spoke them-- and whether they lived up to their own advice. See if their words make a difference in your leadership role.
1. "Leadership is the art of getting someone else to do something you want done because he wants to do it." Dwight D. Eisenhower
2. "If everything seems under control, you're not going fast enough." Mario Andretti
3. "There is a difference between being a leader and being a boss. Both are based on authority. A boss demands blind obedience; a leader earns his authority through understanding and trust." Klaus Balkenhol
4. "The best leader is the one who has sense enough to pick good men to do what he wants done, and the self-restraint to keep from meddling with them while they do it." Theodore Roosevelt
5. "The greatest leader is not necessarily the one who does the greatest things. He is the one that gets the people to do the greatest things." Ronald Reagan
6. "Do you know that one of the great problems of our age is that we are governed by people who care more about feelings than they do about thoughts and ideas?" Margaret Thatcher
7. "A vision we give to others of who and what they could become has power when it echoes what the spirit has already spoken into their souls." Larry Crabb
8. "Too many companies believe people are interchangeable. Truly gifted people never are. They have unique talents. Such people cannot be forced into roles they are not suited for, nor should they be. Effective leaders allow great people to do the work they were born to do." Warren G. Bennis
9. "Dictators ride to and fro upon tigers which they dare not dismount. And the tigers are getting hungry." Winston Churchill
10. "Hire character. Train skill." Peter Schutz
11. "Leaders think and talk about the solutions. Followers think and talk about the problems." Brian Tracy
12. "Outstanding leaders go out of their way to boost the self-esteem of their personnel. If people believe in themselves, it's amazing what they can accomplish." Sam Walton
13. "If a rhinoceros were to enter this restaurant now, there is no denying he would have great power here. But I should be the first to rise and assure him that he had no authority whatever." G.K. Chesterton
14. "Great leadership is about human experiences. It's not a formula or a program, it is a human activity that comes from the heart and considers the hearts of others. It is an attitude, not a routine." Lance Secretan
15. "The function of leadership is to produce more leaders, not more followers." Ralph Nader
16. "People buy into the leader before they buy into the vision." John Maxwell
17. "Leaders are visionaries with a poorly developed sense of fear and no concept of the odds against them." Robert Jarvik
18. "A man is only a leader when a follower stands beside him." Mark Brouwer
19. "Where there is no vision, the people perish." Solomon in Proverbs 29:18
20. "The art of leadership is saying no, not saying yes. It is very easy to say yes." Tony Blair
21. "A leader takes people where they want to go. A great leader takes people where they don't necessarily want to go, but ought to be." Rosalynn Carter
22. "No man will make a great leader who wants to do it all himself, or to get all the credit for doing it." Andrew Carnegie
23. "Great leaders are almost always great simplifiers, who can cut through argument, debate, and doubt to offer a solution everybody can understand." Colin Powell
24. "Leadership is not magnetic personality that can just as well be a glib tongue. It is not 'making friends and influencing people'--that is flattery. Leadership is lifting a person's vision to high sights, the raising of a person's performance to a higher standard, the building of a personality beyond its normal limitations." Peter F. Drucker
25. "Nothing so conclusively proves a man's ability to lead others as what he does from day to day to lead himself." Thomas J. Watson
26. "The very essence of leadership is that you have to have a vision. It's got to be a vision you articulate clearly and forcefully on every occasion. You can't blow a weak trumpet." Theodore Hesburgh
27. "A man who wants to lead the orchestra must turn his back on the crowd." Max Lucado
28. "All of the great leaders have had one characteristic in common: It was the willingness to confront unequivocally the major anxiety of their people in their time. This, and not much else, is the essence of leadership." John Kenneth Galbraith