1. Define the goal of the team. A team is gathered together because a larger goal is set that one individual cannot achieve by them self. What is the goal of the team? Why has the team come together—to achieve what goal or objective? Make it clear. Make it known. If you are part of a team and you do not understand the goal, it is your responsibility to clarify it. It is essential that the team be reminded of the goal and the purpose or direction. As legendary Notre Dame football coach Lou Holtz explained, “All winning teams are goal oriented. Teams like these win consistently because everyone connected with them concentrates on specific objectives.”

If I could solve all the problems myself, I would.

- Thomas Edison

2. Pick a team captain. Indecisiveness and chaos ensues when a team does not have a team captain. All sports teams have one because it helps the team. A team without a captain is like a body without a head. The team captain can change from project to project too. This allows each person on the team to learn how to be a team captain and the responsibility that goes with it. A team captain should be chosen on that person’s strength in a given area. If a team is working on solving a computer issue, the best team captain might be someone who is a computer geek, not someone who does not even know how to use a computer. Before engaging on a team project pick your team captain. Then, let that team captain lead.

3. Keep communications open and ongoing. Who is on first base, second base, outfield, etc. Roles change, circumstances arise, contingency plans are in order. Open communications helps everyone on the team to more effectively execute what is expected, and adjustments within those expectations. Open communication allows for idea exchange, comrade, and evolutions. Open also in the sense of: open your ears, not your mouth. The best communicators are those that listen well. Frequent, ongoing, and open communication is what set the good from the great. Henry Ford said it best, “If everyone is moving forward together, then success takes care of itself.”

Teamwork divides the task and doubles the success.

- Unknown

4. Apply the same rules and standards to everyone. What is good for one is good for all. Set the standards, norms, values rules, constitution, milestones, and objectives. As soon as rules and standards apply only to a few is when you create many problems within a team. If some are able to be tardy and others required too be on time, you have a problem. If a select few are relinquished from responsibility, others on the team will relinquish theirs. As the team captain or leader of a team be diligent on holding everyone to the same standards.

5. Foster trust. Trust is the main ingredient to successful teamwork. That’s why entrepreneur and founder of IBM, Thomas J. Watson remarked, “The toughest thing about the power of trust is that it’s very difficult to build and very easy to destroy.” Trust is an undeniable belief or truth or strength of someone or something. If you don’t have trust you can’t create a team, build a team or sustain a team. Think of trust as the Super Glue that binds teams together! If you recall a moment in time that you had unstoppable teamwork on your side, you will undoubtedly uncover trust. How do you create trust? One way to do it is to do or follow through on what you say you are going to perform. Words that best describe trust are confidence, reliability, fairness, honesty, responsible, honor.

Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence wins championships.

- Michael Jordan

6. Measure and evaluate performance. Competency is usually governed by measurement. Team sports are evaluated through a winning score. Can you imagine a professional sports game that does not display a scoreboard? Business is evaluated by revenue. This habit makes the assumption that measurable objectives and performance expectations have already been outlined and clearly communicated. If not, define them. Put it in writing. Communicate performance standards, over and over again. Let the numbers be known! Results are the bottom-line. Keep records of performance. Review them on a regular basis.

7. Keep an eye on recruitment. Inject new blood. Inviting new team members allows for greater strength. Succession is inevitable. Make it work for the greater good. Awareness of new members and recruitment is essential to the growth and development of teams. New effective team members need to be incorporated in order to make this habit bare fruit. Just like the many seeds in an apple. You need plenty to ensure of possible candidates. Succession planning must be at the forefront of every team if it wants to survive and thrive.

Grab onto and implement at least one of these tools, tips and habits to improve your career and personal life.

Best of success to you!

Photo taken by Jeffrey Benjamin, Maui, Hawaii

Our ability to achieve personal and business success is directly related to how well we can break through fear. What fears are holding you back from achieving the things you want to do?

Some common fears are: the fear of poverty, the fear of criticism, the fear of ill heath, the fear of rejection, the fear of success, the fear of failure, the fear of old age, the fear of death, and the fear of the unknown.

From CEOs to celebrities to salespeople, and everyone in between, we all suffer from fears that hold us back from getting what we want. If you’re ready to break through your fear, then consider practicing some of these proven and practical habits to live the life you are capable of.

1. Discover what fears are holding you back. Research shows that we are born with only two fears: the fear of falling and the fear of loud noises. What that means is every other fear we have is learned. Unfortunately, we seem to acquire too many unhealthy fears that end up holding us back from living the life we deserve. It is essential to become more aware and to identify when we are fearful, how we respond to that fear, and how to break through it. Write a list of things you fear and then list ways you can overcome the fears that are holding you back.

Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goals.

- Henry Ford

2. Focus on what you desire, not what you fear. Focus your mind on what you want to do, so that you have no time to focus on what you fear. To make sales calls you must focus on the opportunity and reward for making sales calls. Focusing on rejection and criticism will only paralyze you. We generally experience whatever it is we focus on, so you might as well center your thoughts and actions on what you desire. Your focus will become your reality. Bill Cosby had great insight into this when he said, “In order to succeed, your desire for success should be greater than your fear of failure.”

3. Take baby steps. Inch your way to conquering fear. If you have a fear of climbing a ladder, try climbing two rungs only. Once you feel more comfortable, then try three rungs. Within time you’ll have the courage to climb all the way to the top. Develop your courage by slowing expanding your comfort zone. Take the advice of Mark Twain, “The secret of getting ahead is getting started. The secret of getting started is breaking your complex, overwhelming tasks into small manageable tasks, and then starting on the first one.

4. Establish a relationship with a mentor. Leaders know they don’t have all the answers. It’s extremely important to seek help from successful leaders since we can learn from their experiences. You can accelerate your progress and avoid possible pitfalls to your eventual success. After you find a credible mentor, consult with your mentor on a regular basis. Make sure to report your activities and success to your mentor. Keep in mind that your mentor will continue to help you as long as you respect his or her time and knowledge, and you consistently progress toward your goals.

I learned that courage was not absence of fear, but the triumph over it.

- Nelson Mandela

5. Tackle challenges immediately. A broken water valve can cause enormous damage if it’s not attended to immediately. Running away from challenges will never make them disappear. James Baldwin was correct when he wrote, “There is never time in which we will work out our salvation. The challenge is in the moment; the time is now.” Challenges are part of life and must be viewed as opportunities to learn and grow or life will surely offer only defeat. Keep in mind that challenges are like schoolyard bullies who end up shrinking when confronted.

6. Create your own mental movie. Carl Sagan shared, “Imagination will often carry us to worlds that never were. But without it we go nowhere.” Become the director, the actor and the audience of your own movie. You can create a mental movie in which you see yourself overcoming your fear. You can use a mental movie to create and reinforce any desired behavior. Play the movie over and over until your new behavior emerges.

7. Use your body to control your frame of mind. When you want to feel confident, you need to stand up straight, throw your shoulders back, breathe deeply and look slightly upward. The same is true if you want to be courageous; simply adopt a keyed up and courageous body posture. You can use your body to feel happy or sad, love or hate, energetic or lethargic. You have the power to feel any way you like simply by adopting the proper physiology. So, stand up straight and walk with certainty in the face of fear.

If you are tired of living your life in fear, then now is your best hour to do something about it. You can practice these powerful tools today to help you break through fear. If not, your option is to continue living a limited life.

Best of success to you!

Photo taken by Jeffrey Benjamin, Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

Great amounts of precious time is spent on wading through clutter. It can be frustrating. If you want to be more effective, you need to remove the clutter.

How can we clear clutter from our life? In the era of abundance in which we live it is easy to create clutter. It almost happens on it own, like weeds growing in your garden. Clutter can cost us money but it can also cost us our sanity.

Here are 3 tools to help clear clutter from your life:

1. Think small to get you moving. Organizing even small projects or areas can save a tremendous amount of time. Don’t wait to do it all at once. Waiting around for a nice five-hour block of uninterrupted time to drop in your lap is like waiting around for the perfect stress-free time to quit smoking. It ain’t gonna happen. So start small. At home, pick one corner of the house to start in and tackle a small project per week, working clockwise, until every cabinet, drawer, and closet is organized. Use the same strategy in your office using one hour per week for clean up.

2. Use your desk as a work area not a storage shed. A cluttered desk creates a cluttered mind. Keep it clean and neat. Don’t waste time rummaging through the fallout of a cluttered life just to find a stapler. What is your impression of a person with a messy desk and work area? Does it create or diminish their personal credibility? Set aside a few minutes each day to organize your desk and work area. You’ll find it easier to get things done with fewer peripheral distractions.

3. Keep a garbage can near your work area and use it. Don’t let procrastination bury you under a mound of paper. Take action on every piece that enters your space. Deal with it, put it in an “in” basket, file it or throw it away! The majority of clutter is related to a reluctance to throw things away. Get in the habit of tossing non-essentials, or recycle it. Not only will it clean up your environment, it will make way for new and better things to enter your life.

Grab on to at least one of these habits for success to help you clear clutter from your life.

Best of success to you!

Photo taken by Jeffrey Benjamin, Maui, Hawaii

Avoid being a victim of the debilitating affects of stress. Here are a few stress-busting strategies you can use.

1. Use auto-suggestion. An easy and effective technique for body relaxation involves auto-suggestion. Doctors and psychologists have been using this internal verbal instruction technique for centuries. You simply give yourself a command such as: “I am relaxed and at ease,” or “I am calm and relaxed.” Repeat the command until your body accepts it.

2. Maintain a regular exercise program. Numerous studies conclude that exercise results in measurable improvements in relieving depression and anxiety due to stress. Studies show physical activity is positively associated with good mental health, especially positive mood, general well-being and less stress overall. Exercising three to five times a week can serve as a buffer for stress. Try jogging, walking, racquetball, basketball, swimming, aerobics, dancing, weight training — whatever works for you.

Our deeds determine us, as much as we determine our deeds.

- George Eliot

3. Distinguish what is trivial and what is important. To lead a tranquil life, learn to differentiate between trivial and important. The way you perceive and react to situations determines whether you’ll be stressed or relaxed. Use this question to get a handle on the difference: “Is this going to matter 10 years from now?”

4. Use the power of breath. Whenever you feel anxious or nervous, take a few deep breaths, inhaling through the nose and exhaling through the mouth. When breathing out, say to yourself, “three.” On the next out-breath, “two.” Continue to “one” and repeat the cycle. This will send a message to your brain and body that it’s time to relax and calm down.

5. View crisis as an opportunity to grow and expand. If you were to recall an experience you had in the past that was at the time a “crisis,” it is quite possible, in hindsight, that it was one of the best and most rewarding learning experiences you’ve had. Look for the lesson in all challenges.

6. Make time for recreation. The average human heart is beating only nine of 24 hours a day. For each beat there is a rest. Design each day, week, month and year with time to rest. Protect this time as though your life depended on it — because it does.

A sense of humor is part of the art of leadership, of getting along with people, of getting things done.

- Dwight Eisenhower

7. Laugh often. Keep a book of jokes in your personal library, a video of your favorite slapstick comedy and an audiotape of your favorite comedian. Use these as tools to make you laugh when you feel your stress level rising. Laughter cleanses the system and needs to be part of your daily regime.

8. Rejoice in your successes. Keep a simple chart of successes for each week and update it daily. At the end of the week, review the chart to see how many successes you achieved. When you are feeling challenged, look back through these charts and remember how successful you truly are and have been. Go ahead. Use at least one of these proven stress-busting strategies to live a more relaxed, tranquil and fulfilled lifestyle.

9. Take a day off. Clear your schedule for the day. No work, no kids, no one but you. This will give you the chance to step away and get centered and rejuvenated. Go to the spa for a day, take a hike by yourself, read a book, go skiing, etc., whatever juices you. The point is to enjoy a day of solitude.

Go ahead. Use at least one of these proven stress-busting strategies to live a more relaxed, tranquil and fulfilled lifestyle.

You can use at least on of these habits right now. Choose one. Put into practice and feel the benefits.

Best of success to you!

Photo take by Jeffrey Benjamin, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

Leadership is more about getting yourself to take action. If you think leadership is about controlling or dominating others, you’re wrong. Here is a small list of habits leaders share in common:

1. Have a vision for the future. Leaders have a vision, a purpose, and goals to achieve. They are not wondering which direction to head because they have established a direction in which to go. Leaders have a written blueprint to follow, too. Great leaders also know how to articulate their vision to those that choose to be on their team. Helen Keller nailed it by sharing, “The most pathetic person in the world is someone who has sight, but has no vision.”

2. Practice the art of constant self-improvement. A hallmark of leadership is always upgrading your skill set. A leader that is not learning is a leader that will fall behind. What skill do you need to improve on or to strengthen your leadership? If you have not asked this question, your leadership might be slowly deteriorating.

3. Think in terms of opportunity. Henry Ford articulated, “When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it.” Too many people are conquered by perceived negative experiences. But there is no such thing as a bad experience. Every experience we’ve had serves us for the betterment of our lives and well-being. People such as Oprah Winfrey, who were abused and who grew up in some pretty scary environments, were able to use their so called “awful experiences” to grow and excel. Often the adversities in our life are disguised as terrible misfortunes, when in hindsight they are our greatest opportunities. Leaders search for the good in seemingly negative experiences.

4. Establish a relationship with a mentor. Leaders know they don’t have all the answers. It’s extremely important to seek help from successful leaders since we can learn from their experiences. You can accelerate your progress and avoid possible pitfalls to your eventual success. After you find a credible mentor, consult with your mentor on a regular basis. Make sure to report your activities and success to your mentor. Keep in mind that your mentor will continue to help you as long as you respect his or her time and knowledge, and you consistently progress toward your goals.

Being an example is not a way of influencing others, it is the only way.

- Albert Einstein

5. Be a mentor to others. Yes, you need a mentor. Yes, you need to be a mentor. Establishing your self a leader means you are willing to help other people become leaders too. How can you coach, mentor and train those on your team to improve their own personal leadership? The late Sam Walton knew this by saying, “Outstanding leaders go out of the way to boost the self-esteem of their personnel.

6. Make tough decisions. Leaders are often the ones that can move forward with making tough decisions that other are afraid to make. Our decisions affect every aspect of life. Our decisions also affect everyone else in our life, too. Our kids, our coworkers, our friends—everyone! Making tough decisions is one of the most important things you can do. You might have to discontinue a product. You might need to eject or severe a relationship with someone that is on your team.

7. Make integrity a cornerstone. Integrity is the quality of being whole or undivided. Quality buildings, space rockets, boats and cars are known to have structural integrity. Great computer software programs are known to have data integrity. So, when we live a life of human integrity we create confidence, credibility, dependability and trust—not only with others, but with yourself. Integrity is always doing the right thing, even when no one is looking. Integrity is when our actions are congruent with our values. Good friends of integrity are honor, truth, reliability, wholesomeness and honesty. Integrity is following through on what you say you are going to do and doing it right.

8. Share your enthusiasm. Enthusiasm is the fuel that ignites your soul and illuminates the lives of others. Throw a bucket of cold water on enthusiasm and it will turn to vapor before reaching its fire. People want to be associated with enthusiastic people because enthusiasm truly is contagious. It creates an energy and excitement that dissolves adversity and brightens everyday life. Share it freely. German philosopher and historian Johann Friedrich Schiller has a super perspective saying, “Enthusiasm is that kindling spark which marks the difference between the leaders in every activity and the laggards who put in just enough to get by.”

9. Stand up and speak up. Have you ever been afraid to express your opinion? Have you ever believed your opinion would just fall on deaf ears, that your opinion or ideas were not important enough? What fearful words or phrases are you saying to yourself about your opinions’ validity? We can turn our fears into confidence if we choose. Make the choice to stand up for what you believe in! Don’t allow other opinions squelch your vision, dreams and goals. Follow what Walt Disney said and lived by, “When you believe in a thing believe in.

10. Delegate! The art of delegating enables you to expand the number of tasks you can complete in a day and allows others the chance to learn and experience ownership in a project. The best leaders and achievers are those who surround themselves with competent people to whom they can assign projects and tasks. Practice these three key ingredients to effective delegation: make sure your instructions and desired results are clear, give the person to whom you delegate the freedom and authority to complete the task and make sure you don’t get the same project delegated back to you through your own attitude of: “it’s easier to do it myself?”

These are just a few ways to strengthen your leadership. Being a leader is a choice. Choose to put into practice a few of these habits for success to strengthen your leadership.

Best of success to you!

Photo taken by Jeffrey Benjamin, Yosemite National Park, California

You’ll need powerful tools to change whether you want to start a new job, to open your own business, to create a new circle of positive friendships, or to get physically fit. I’ve helped thousands of people create the changes they desire.

Here are a few tools you can use to create what you want in your personal and business life:

1. Set fewer goals! Goal setting will help you achieve more but remember that over-commitments are for under-achievers. Success comes from not spreading yourself too thin. There are only so many hours in a given day, and there are unlimited amounts of opportunity as well.We can’t achieve everything yet we can achieve the things that are the most important to us. If you find that you are not able to achieve the things that you want, then it’s time to reduce the number of things you want to achieve. Focus on the goals that are the most important to you. Move forward on new goals only after you have achieved the ones you already set for yourself.

You will become as small as your controlling desire: as great as your dominant aspiration.

- James Allen

2. Write a contract with yourself. Contracts hold agreements intact.Write a contract with yourself describing what you are willing to do in order to achieve what you want. What actions will you take, what behaviors will you engage in to achieve your goal and by when? Sign your name and add the date. Have a witness do the same. Give this contract to someone who will hold you accountable to following through. Follow a proven process.

3. Don’t reinvent the wheel is a useful tool. Most inventions are slight improvements upon previous products or ideas. Car manufacturers are notorious for making slight improvements to previous models every year. Research what you want to achieve and find models you can learn from. Pick up a book, jump on the Internet, and talk with successful people. Grab paper and pen to record your findings. F. Scott Fitzgerald said, “Vitality shows not only in the ability to persist, but in the ability to start over.”

4. Realize that delays are not necessarily a denial. It would be nice if all of our goals were completed on time. Perseverance is often the difference between success and failure when it comes to achieving goals. Many people give up when they are only steps away from their goal. You should always work vigilantly toward completion dates, but avoid wallowing in discouraging thoughts if the target date is not met. Evaluate your delay and then keep chipping away at the stone.

In union there is strength.

- Aesop

5. Get help from others. Achieving goals can be overwhelming at times, so get some help when you need it. Using this tool will allow you to achieve your goals at a faster pace. Seeking the help from a professional can save you tons of time and energy, too. Employ the services of a good accountant, contractor, fitness trainer, lawyer, business coach, doctor, plumber, etc. Too many people attempt to do-it-themselves only to find that their performance is mediocre or less than adequate.

You have the power within you to change. You have the power to create whatever you want. The question is: “Will you use your power?” If so, use some of these practical tools to help you build whatever you want.

Best of success to you!

Passion is a commanding emotion. It’s a boundless enthusiasm of devotion to a cause, a tireless diligence, a compulsive interest marked by strong desire. One common denominator of successful people is that they are passionate. Passion moves people.Whether you are successful in giving a speech,writing an article, leading people or selling a product is directly related to your intensity of passion.

Passion has the power to move mountains. You can amplify your passion by implementing the same tools successful people apply. Practice these habits to ignite your personal passion:

1. Live the feeling that you are worthy of happiness and deserving of success.What’s preventing most people from enjoying a passionate life is that they feel unworthy; they feel undeserving. This attitude breeds and slowly begins to deteriorate your chances of experiencing more happiness and success. Note the feeling of passion that is associated with the experience, and relive it often.

2. Answer the passion question. If you could rub Aladdin’s Lamp what wish would you ask for? Successful people ask themselves: “What would I do if I knew I could not fail?” If you could have anything, be anything or do anything, what would it be? If you knew you could not fail what would you succeed at? Contemplate your answers and begin to think about and take action on realizing your aspirations.Remember, nothing is more invigorating than doing what you enjoy!

A picture is an intermediate something between a thought and a thing.

- Calvin Coolidge

3. Use your mental imagery.Visualize your achievements. A great achiever will testify that habitually she saw her goal in her mind’s eye before accomplishing it. Let the images between your ears incite your passion. You can do this by programming your brain with visual imagery. Create a picture in your mind of you achieving your goal. Be specific.What does it look like? Who is there? What are you wearing? You can run your visual image before you retire at night, upon waking or whenever! The more you visualize it the more energy you will have to make it come true.

4. Ignore people who say it is impossible. Successful people don’t let others rain on their parade. Wilbur and Orville Wright decided to do what others thought impossible. Columbus was going to sail off the end of the earth. Flying in outer space used to be science fiction. The world is full of people who discourage possibility thinking. When someone tells you what you are doing is impossible use it to rouse your passion.

5. Select the right partner. All sorts of chaos and challenges arise when we develop relationships with people we should not have got involved with in the first place. One of the biggest decisions you’ll make in life is choosing the right partner: a person who does not stand between you and your goals but rather a person who supports you. It’s a good idea to share your personal life and business career with people who have similar goals and values. Develop a list of qualities you’d like to see in your partner. Then do your part to create the relationship.

That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.

- Neil Armstrong

6. Keep your eye on the prize. The fact is a rocket that makes it to the moon is off course the majority of the time. Base your decisions and actions on how they relate to the big picture. Don’t step over a dollar to pick up a dime. To get a perspective on this ask yourself this question the next time you need to make a decision: “In regards to my passion, how will this decision affect my life one, five, 10 or 20 years from now?”

7. Remove negative people from your life. Negative people can suck the life force right out of you. They require energy you could be using to passionately take action on your goals. Spend little or no time with these people unless you are willing to go down like the Titanic. There are plenty of passionate people out there in the world with whom you can have optimistic relationships.

8. Focus on your strengths. Focusing on your weakness can dissipate your energy. Each of us is born with a distinctive ability.What’s yours? Spend the majority of time doing what brings you enjoy. Delegate or outsource the things which give you less satisfaction. This enables you more time to what gives you the most pleasure. Action seems effortless when you engage in your strengths, and your performance is energizing and exhilarating.

You are capable of achieving whatever you want. But you must involve yourself! Re-ignite and re-kindle your passion. Choose at least one of these simple habits to brand a measurable difference in your passion echelon.

Best of success to you!

Photo taken by Jeffrey Benjamin, Alaska

1. Use the power of story. Story has been used to convey teachings since the dawn of Man. The Bible is full of stories. The stories of Aesop still flourish today. George Lucas incited generations through the story of Luke Skywalker. Stories move people and create memories. Shorter stories work better than longer ones when used in a presentation.

2. Let your purpose be known. Why are you speaking? What is your intent? State your purpose to your audience. Tell the audience why you are speaking to them. If your subject is the importance of recycling, your purpose may be stated as, “I’d like to share with you why and how you can recycle so we can save the planet.” This tells the audience what you want to achieve as a result of your presentation. Perhaps that is why Groucho Marx proclaimed, “Before I speak, I have something important to say.”

To become what we are capable of becoming, is the only end of life.

- Robert Louis Stevenson

3. Join a public speaking group. Toastmaster International is among the most prominent public speaking organizations. It offers a safe place to learn how to enhance your speaking skill set. Most cities have several different chapters. The cost is nominal and includes all workbook materials. You can learn more and find a group near you by visiting toastmasters.org. You can also join other public speaking training and coaching forums that are offered through private training companies. Or, take speech classes at your local community college or university.

4. Use statistics and facts. Interject logic into your presentation. Back your main points with empirical data, research studies, polls, and the like. People tend to embrace what is said when it appeals to both emotion, and logic.

5. Create and share your credibility. Listeners will be most influenced by a person whom they perceive is knowledgeable and qualified. You are more likely to take financial advice from a millionaire than you are from a street-corner bum. Make your credentials known with such things as academic degrees, awards or successful experiences. You can do this in your introduction as well as throughout your presentation. You can also show the disadvantages of your point of view to demonstrate your ability to see it as it is. Another way to create credibility is to demonstrate your confidence, enthusiasm and sincerity when speaking.

6. Draw on your personal experiences. When you speak from experience you are not reciting words, you instead are recalling a memory. People like to hear experiences and stories from other people’s lives. Make sure that the experiences you share relate to your content.

7. Use emotional appeals. Advertisements use emotional appeals to persuade their audiences. They involve the audience by associating a positive feeling toward buying and using their product or service. The key is to appeal to the emotions. Useful examples that promote an emotional appeal could be: “Imagine how that would make you feel if…” and “If that happened to you…” Here are some emotions you can tap into when addressing an audience: love, fear, guilt, joy, excitement, pride, hope, and gratitude. Stuart Elliot was right when he wrote, “The only way to get people to remember what you’ve said is to make them feel.”

It usually takes me more than three weeks to prepare a good impromptu speech.

- Mark Twain

8. Practice, practice, practice!  You can practice your presentation while driving in the car, while standing in front of a mirror, while walking down the street, whenever. Grab a small group of friends, family members or coworkers and practice with them. Practice conversationally with one person (after all, there is little difference than doing it in public, just a few more people). Proper practice is really the only way to get better, and of course, just giving the presentation is a form of practice. The more times you do it the easier it gets.

Certainly there are many more ways to improve your public speaking skills, but this is a great list to conquer. If you want to make a difference in your quality of communication, get started today.

Best of success to you!

Photo taken by Jeffrey Benjamin, Yosemite National Park, California

If so, asking the right kind of questions will be your best guide. Basically, thinking is nothing more than the asking and answering of questions. All discoveries, both great and small, are realized by asking questions. You’ll need to continually ask questions and be inquisitive if you want to expand your consciousness and increase the quality of your life.

Ask yourself these questions in order to improve the quality of your life:

1. What is the lesson? Living life with an open mind is easier than living with a closed mind. With an open mind you are much more likely to learn from your mistakes, become aware of new ways of doing things and discover wondrous things about yourself and others. If you are in constant search of learning, you will see the lessons in every event rather than shutting down or becoming self-absorbed.

2. Who can help me achieve my goals? This question will give you the focus needed to target the people who can help you. No one climbs the ladder of success without the aid of someone else. Brainstorm on paper a list of people whose assistance and cooperation you want or need to achieve your goals. Choose the top three names. Then approach each one and ask them this question: Will you help me?

I do not think much of a man who is not wiser today than he was yesterday.

- Abraham Lincoln

3. Am I living an honest life? Do you ever find yourself twisting words and thoughts with the intent to deceive? Or worse, did you realize it only after the fact? How much time and energy did this cost you in the end? The adage, “The truth will set you free” is not meant for the benefit of mankind but for the benefit of you. Being truthful to yourself and others saves you time and reputation. Truthfulness will bring you a sense of peace. And it will save you all that time and effort of backtracking, re-spinning or trying to keep your stories straight. Perhaps that is why Thomas Paine wrote, “It is necessary to the happiness of man that he be mentally faithful to himself.”

4. On a scale of 1 to 10, what is the rate of my current performance? Have the courage to examine your daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly progress. If you regularly write out your goals it will be easier to rate your performance. If you don’t write your goals, start. You will find that accomplishing anything long-term is easier when you take the time to see how your short-term steps are progressing.

5. What am I grateful for? A great place to begin the process of improvement is to reflect and be grateful for the things we already have. It is easy to lose sight of all the blessings we experience while on our journey through life. Few people take the time to think of all the things they are grateful for and appreciate.

6. What are my strengths and weaknesses? This can be a scary question. The trouble is that most people are afraid to look within, fearing what they might find. If that describes you, get over it! “Know thyself” is a mantra that has been echoed for thousands of years. Grab a piece of paper and draw a line down the middle. On one side list your strengths, the other your weaknesses. Be honest with yourself. Examine your list when you are finished, then resolve to accentuate your strengths and compensate for your weaknesses.

He who knows others is wise; he who knows himself is enlightened.

- Lao-tzu

7. What is the No. 1 obstacle that is preventing me from achieving my goal? In football, your goal is to score a touchdown. Your obstacle is the other team. Professional sports teams study video footage of their opposing team in order to gain insight as to how to better overcome their obstacle. What potential challenges or obstacles stand between you and your goal, and what can you do to overcome them? Practice overcoming the obstacles in advance and then perform better, as a sports team does, when the real game is on.

8. What can I not change? Many people needlessly worry about things over which they have no control. The Serenity Prayer is a great reminder. We all know how it goes: God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. It is easy to dismiss such platitudes. Ponder the question again and take it to heart.

To fear to face an issue is to believe that the worst is true.

- Ayn Rand

9. What do I fear? This question freaks most people out. They avoid it like the plague. How many times have we lamented over doing something? The concern, worry or terror continued to grow bigger until we were immobilized by the fear. When you really want to do something and it is the fear that is holding you back, then acknowledge that you are fearful and do it anyway. The only way to conquer fear is to push through it by taking immediate action. Feel the fear and go for it! Eleanor Roosevelt said it best: “You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you look fear in the face. You must do the thing you think you cannot do.”

Remember that a question not asked is an answer not given! When you take the time to ask the right questions you are already on the road to self-discovery and unlimited self-improvement. The process of asking the right questions will undoubtedly increase your overall personal value. And there is only one person that can ultimately improve the quality of your life—and that person is you. Wouldn’t you agree?

Best of success to you!

Photo taken by Jeffrey Benjamin, Maui, Hawaii

Here are some networking habits to help increase and strengthen your personal network.

1. Go strike up a conversation. You can just sit there among a group and wait for people to come to you, but that is not effective networking. You have to take responsibility to strike up a conversation. If you feel intimidated or fear rejection, approach the person as if they want to meet you and they are waiting for you to take the first step. Remember to keep it positive and focus on the other person instead of yourself. This habit applies to all group functions whether it is a dinner social event, party or standing in line at the grocery store.

2. Fulfill the commitments you make. Or, don’t make a commitment you won’t keep. If you promise someone something, do it. A great way to weaken you network is to say you are going to do something and not do it. If you promise to call to get a lunch set up, do it. If you promise to forward certain information, do it. You want to be networked with dependable and reliable people, right?

3. Close the conversation on a positive note. “It was good to see you. Thank you for your time. I look forward to seeing you again. It was nice talking with you.” All of these and other positive phrases are great ways to end a conversation. It is especially important to utter positive statements at the close of a conversation if opposing perspectives are shared. Let the person know that you appreciate them.

4. Keep the appointments you set. How is this an effective networking habit? When you cancel an appointment it can communicate that you think your time is more important than the person’s time you canceled on. You networked your way to an appointment, and you are canceling? Reserving a time and not showing is even worst. Avoid inconveniencing your friends, family, and business associates by calling off what was already set in your schedule.

5. Diversify your network Accept others for who they are, not for who you want them to be. This is far easier said than done. You might not want to sport purple hair, but other people might. You might enjoy reading books while other people prefer to watch television. One of your co-workers talks real slow and you speak fast. A key to increasing your acceptance is to remind yourself of how boring life would be if we were all alike! A diverse network allows you to expand your thinking and your opportunities.

More business decisions occur over lunch and dinner than any other time, yet no MBA courses are given on the subject.

- Peter Druker

6. Stay in touch. Grab a business card or at least make sure you get their first and last name so you can record or data base who they are. You can send them “nice to meet you” cards or holiday cards, emails, phone calls or personal meetings. You can make it a point to speak with them at networking functions or eat lunch or get coffee together. Networks that don’t stay warm usually die off. There are thousands of ways to stay in touch.

Expand and strengthen your network. Practices a few of these applicable tools, tips or habits to enjoy the many benefits a strong network produces.

Best of success to you!

Photo taken by Jeffrey Benjamin, Maui, Hawaii