Archive for category Success
Failing is overrated
Posted by Tristan Rayner in Success on July 28, 2009
Fail
I saw a quote from Tony Robbins on Twitter that went something like: “People may fail many times, but they become failures only when they begin to blame someone else”. That’s pretty good advice in a general sense – if you don’t cop your own failings on the chin and run around thinking that you’re god’s gift – you’re in for heartbreak somewhere down the track.
But hang on just a tick.
There’s a real undercurrent of ‘contrarian’ advice saying to fail is a Good Thing ™. Now I’ll admit I’ve said before that mistakes you make are a good way to learn. I’m not trying to redact those words – but change the sentiment around failing.
Don’t let yourself become too proud of failure.
There’s different kinds of failure. If you never have a go at things in the first place because you’re trying not to fail that becomes a real problem – epic fail – as the internet might say. If you’re taking risks by trying to be the best, that’s good. But don’t believe that by taking risks and failing you’re doing well and you’re on your way to glory:
You need to study what actually has gone wrong.
If you only know which paths not to take, you’re merely working out things not to do, rather than building on your successes. It’s time to understand what brings success and work out what you have done to get there. This is definitely harder to do – it’s a lot easier to pass judgement or comment on why something didn’t work than appreciate the subtleties of success (which are often hard work and dedication – not easy).
Don’t ignore mistakes, they are a key way to learn. But don’t encourage failure so that you can learn a thing or two. Work on success first, then if it all falls apart
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GTG: How to get things going – get a partner!
Posted by Tristan Rayner in Action, Productivity, Success on July 5, 2009
Partnerships and teamwork can lead to success. Flikr: ThinkPanama.com
Just recently I’ve realised that I really flourish in a team environment. I don’t mind doing things by myself, but when engaged in a team or working with someone I find it really works to boost motivation and desire to knock over goals and milestones.
In addition, fnding a partner for something you’d like to do is one of the best ways to get things going. I’ll call this GTG, similar to the well-known GTD (Get Things Done).
Getting things going is a big part of the difficulty that we have when trying to do something new.
Be it a new project, a new business, a new blog, or a personal goal like trying to get fit – it’s tough to start when we’re unsure of what might happen. It’s not easy to keep going when you’re not really getting the results you hoped for initially, especially if you’re out of pocket on the way.
One solution is to do things with a partner or a team. A great example is having a jogging partner, someone who relies on you and someone you equally rely on to go jogging on weekends. It’s a lot easier to face the pavement when you’ve got someone to go with, or when you know if you don’t go you’re letting someone down.
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To buy or to build your success?
Posted by Tristan Rayner in Action, Success on June 14, 2009
Can a system of fostering development and a team culture beat buying talent and bringing in expertise? Img: Dakinho.
What’s the best way to create success?
I’ve been wondering this week about whether or not it’s better to build a culture and a system, or to establish yourself with the best and brightest brought in as hitmen to create value.
We’re spoilt, because this is about to play out in front of our eyes in the football world.
Even if you’re not a fan of soccer, you would’ve probably heard about this week’s latest developments: Real Madrid have bought three of the best players in the world, Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo and David Villa for a money is no object fortune of around US$300m.
That’s big bikkies. Ridiculous sums of money. That much would just about be enough to buy all the players from the other teams and tell them not to show up when Madrid is playing their team!
So what gives? The spending spree is a clear signal that Madrid intend to take back the mantle of the best football team in the world from their local rivals in the Spanish La Liga, FC Barcelona (I’ll relegate Manchester United here after they were torn apart by Barca in the Champions League final).
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What no one will tell you: Create an imaginary friend for success
Posted by Tristan Rayner in Action, Success on June 8, 2009
Image source: Karloswayne
So, you might have heard that children having imaginary friends isn’t a bad thing.
In fact, kids with mysterious companious had far better communications skills at a young age.
Plus, the results of having an imaginary friend were long lasting: university students who recalled having an imaginary companion in childhood were more creative, more achievement oriented, and more emotionally responsive than students who didn’t have one.
The reason for this? When you have an imaginary friend, you have to invent both sides of the conversation. To communicate, you have to understand what a person wants to know and you need to know how to tell them. Acting out both is tricky – and it turns out, it’s good practice for the real thing.
Unseen playmates are teaching kids the art of communication.
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How To Stop Making Excuses And Start Taking Action
Posted by Tristan Rayner in Action, Productivity, Success on June 4, 2009
Never Give Up - What's Your Excuse? Source: JRFeP (Flikr)
How often do you make an excuse, rather than taking action?
I’m hoping you might see this as a little wake up call.
I think you can do it. You can push past the comfort zone and find your power within.
Are you settling for something that’s less than you really want just because you’re making excuses? You can achieve. You can get fit, eat better, start a business, take action. Start living.
Have you caught yourself saying these before?
“I’m too busy”
“I can’t”
When excuses become a way to justify your lack of action, you’ve really stopped seeing the big picture and don’t have your priorities in place. No matter how hard, what do you need to do that’s really worth doing? What are you neglecting even though it matters the most?
I’m going to present some methods to help you stop making excuses. There’s two main reasons: how you convince yourself not to do something; and a lack of organisation & priorities that stumps progress.
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Timeless Business Fundamentals Applied To You. Personally.
Posted by Tristan Rayner in Action, Success on June 1, 2009
.jpg "Be Ambitious")
Be Ambitious (Cedrics_Pics)
Great organisations are based on timeless fundamentals that have enabled them to survive and thrive. Big business are experts in self-improvement and development.
So why are we so often lost on a personal level?
We crave new methods for founding ideas, stimulating growth, and assisting personal development without knowledge of the core features that distinguish success.
An idea: Why don’t we apply what great companies use for ourselves?
Jim Collins and Jerry Poras spent six-years evaluating exceptional companies (such as 3M & Disney) to unearth the core reasons as to why they are exceptional and published Good to Great and Built to Last
A number of the underlying guiding concepts explored by Collins and Poras can be applied to our own personal growth and development with potentially amazing results
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Six ways to escape analysis paralysis
Posted by Tristan Rayner in Action, Productivity, Success on May 10, 2009
Image source: Jake Botter
Rushing blindly into a project is a great way to understand the old adage: Failing to plan is planning to fail.
You’ll get knocked around. You’ll realise you made a ton of mistakes, and that’ll learn ya’. You’ll definitely do better next time.
But we rarely get the opportunity to take another shot, or a second chance. If we do get that chance, it can be expensive or a big waste of time, or both.
Then there’s the other side. Governments and councils know about planning. Committees can be formed at the drop of a hat to dwell on important matters. There are meetings. Studies. Big unwieldy plans are made. Nothing happens for years. It’s a case of analysis paralysis.
Planning is just as important and necessary as taking action, but moderating the two is essential.
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Five Ways To Beat Procrastination
Posted by Tristan Rayner in Action, Productivity, Success on May 4, 2009
(Time Lost by gothick_matt @ Flickr)
You are wasting your valuable time through procrastination. Feel guilty? It happens to the best of us. It’s not necessarily bad either. Procrastination can be great for you. Some people would never have a clean house unless they had a report due. Others delay about buying something and don’t make a decision which saves them money (but they possibly never really get what they want – something I’ve talked about here).
Now I’m going to keep this short. This text is small, and you’ve probably got 100 other things to do. Even right now you’re probably thinking I’ll bookmark this to read it later. Well, I’m here to tell you about taking action, and you’re here reading so you might as well keep going…
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Book Review: Everything is Negotiable – How to get the best deal everytime by Gavin Kennedy
Posted by Tristan Rayner in Action, Book Reviews, Success on April 10, 2009
Everything Is Negotiable
I’ve always loved books and found that for a few years during University and studies that I’d really cut down on the number of books I’ve been reading. I hadn’t stopped reading – I was just spending more time surfing the net or reading textbooks and coursework. And often frittering away my time!
I’ve also decided to read more non-fiction books related to personal development and an understanding of the world at large. Last week I mentioned the Personal MBA and since then I have brought a few copies of starter books (thanks Booko) and ones that looked most interesting to me as of right now. More of them as they come.
A book that I picked up awhile ago and have been perusing carefully has been Everything Is Negotiable – How to get the best deal every time by Gavin Kennedy.
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From zero to hero
Posted by Tristan Rayner in Success on March 24, 2009
Grow. Hope. Push the boundaries.
Making it to the top is the dream for many. Right now, you might be stuck ordering coffees when you’d much rather be the CEO. Or you’re printing copies, running between managers, and taking minutes for those who are too busy.
Too many are overlooked or overworked with unchallenging administrivia and never make it – but you have to start somewhere. I’m going to explore how to make it, especially for those with the talent, ambition and drive to make it to the top.
Progressing a career from the backdoor to the boardroom won’t happen by sitting there being busy and organised and waiting for someone to notice. You can be trapped in the adminisphere for what seems like ever – wanting and waiting to get out.
Change will not happen unless you are the driver.
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