Net Gambling House

What important goal have you set for yourself? What is the most important thing in your life that you have been trying to do for sometime now and haven’t made any progress? Why haven’t you made any progress? Why isn’t the project going forward? Do you believe it can be done?

Try thinking about what you are doing in different way.

There are five basic steps to getting lasting results. We will take for granted that there is first the desire to do whatever it is you have set out to achieve. The five steps are:

1) To have a chance at achieving a goal, one must first have the desire to achieve that goal and your vision must be clear. You must KNOW EXACTLY WHAT YOU WANT.

How specifically did you define what success will look like for you when you finally get what you want? For example saying you want to quit what you’re doing and start your own business, isn’t enough. You must specify it down to the last detail. What kind of business do you want to have? Who will your customers be? What is the market in which you will operate? What will your products or services be? How much will you charge? How do you see yourself getting business? Where will you conduct business? How much money would you like to earn? How many hours a day do you want to work? Close your eyes and visualize every detail around your goal.

If you can imagine it, you can do it!
If you don’t know exactly where you are going, how do you expect to get there?

2) The maker or breaker of any project has to do with how much you believe in it. Henry Ford once said that “Those who believe they can and those who believe they can’t are both right.”

How much do you believe that what you want is really achievable? We don’t always have to know right from the start how we are going to be able to do something in order to be able to believe it is possible. Belief can open many doors for you. Belief works magic! Once you decide that something is possible, even though you don’t have the solution and you put your focus on it, magical things begin to happen. You overhear a conversation gives you an idea about how to achieve your goal. You see something in the newspaper, hear something on the radio, see something on a billboard, think of something, read something! The list goes on. All these things will happen when you really and truly believe!

Do you really believe in your goal?
If you don’t believe in what you are doing, why waste your time?

3) Your belief will inevitably help you bring out the potential that you have inside to achieve that goal. Your potential is inside of you, reach in and pull it out! Your potential is fuelled by your beliefs!
What is your potential to get it done? In other words, what resources do you already have at your disposal (financial, physical, emotional, character, spiritual). Remember that according to studies done on the subject of success, the intangible resources can sometimes weigh more than 50% on the outcome of an attempt to reach a specific goal: drive, determination, curiosity, resourcefulness, discipline, ingenuity, knowledge, decisiveness, are you being proactive.

Are you using all the potential that you already have at your disposal?

4) The consequence of truly believing, which leads to the bringing to the surface of your potential to resolve a problem or to achieve a task leads to TAKING action!

You must ask yourself a crucial question: What actions can you and are you willing to take to achieve your goal? Remember that if you keep doing what you’re doing, you keep getting what you’re getting. You must find new and innovative ways to do things! Some action is better than no action at all.

Do you think you have already tried everything? I’m willing to bet that you haven’t! Try something completely different! Step out of your comfort zone. Think outside the box. Be innovative. How many different ways are there to get what you want?

5) Action leads to RESULTS!

If you go through those steps, you will inevitably get results that will get you closer to achieving your goal. Or you might not always get the results you were looking for this time. Some results are better than no results at all. Results, no matter how big or small are the little motivators that keep us motivated and on our path to success.

Condition yourself to focus on the positive results and not the negative.

6) ANALYSE the results you got and start again if necessary. See what went well and think about why. Look at what didn’t go well and ask yourself why.

Condition yourself to learn from every result, positive or negative. Always ask yourself why this result was positive and why that result was not. Always ask yourself what you should continue to do going forward and what you should stop doing and what you should modify. Every little success is adding up for the big one.

If you haven’t been enjoying the success you desire in a particular aspect of your life that is important to you and you haven’t already gone through these 6 steps and committed to them, I hope I have given you something to think about. If you apply what is written above, then you will be in for a surprise. If this hasn’t been the way you have traditionally approached your goals, then you are in for a treat! You will begin to get results you maybe never dreamed of! And that my friend is the spice of life.

If you are still having trouble, it doesn’t mean that it isn’t possible for you, it could just mean that you need help. If you feel that’s the case, stay tuned for upcoming articles on our journey to achieving extraordinary results or come visit me at www.jolten.com . You can also ask for Anthony to come speak at your event.

JOLTEN Inc. http://www.jolten.com was founded by Anthony Lee Smith with the goal of helping people to improve the quality of their lives, or more specifically, with the intention of aiding organizations, teams and individuals in the achievement of EXTRAORDINARY results.

Anthony Lee Smith realized that inspite of the immense benefits the corporate world provided him as an executive in two multinational companies, there was something much more meaningful burning inside him. Since 2003 Anthony has founded his own business and is now a successful motivational speaker, seminar leader, host and actor. Read his story and about the services of JOLTEN Educational Events at http://www.jolten.com

Is your Graduation near? How can you make it special?

So, High School is about to finish for you, you are about to get graduated and you want everything to be perfect, you want it to be a memorable day for you, and for everyone you know. Graduation is a real milestone in a person’s life. A graduation party celebrates both a job well done and a very bright future. It is a special day, and there are plenty of suggestions to help you make it special. Let us see some of the many options you have, in what refers to accessories, for that once in a lifetime day. Graduation Accessories

Accessories abound these days, memorabilia, stationery, Keepsakes and many other. Let us check out some accessories.

Graduation Tassels to make your cap look better.

A tassel is a binding of plaited threads, which at one end has a cord from which the tassel is hung. On the other end, it may have loose, dangling threads to give it better movement and appearance. Tassels, or “liripipes”, are found on mortarboards (caps) during graduation ceremonies.

Nowadays, you can find a large variety of graduation tassels for the graduation caps, whether their plain colored or in two or three colors, these will give a special touch to graduate’s looks. A bold representation of your school colors and graduation year date, tassels proudly proclaim your school spirit.

At the beginning of the ceremony, before the diplomas are given out, it should be worn to the left, some schools will ask the graduates to change it to the right after receiving their diploma, or will have the class wait to do it all together as a group.

How about Graduation Stoles?

An academic stole is a vestment used by various schools to show academic achievement, a high school valedictorian award, and as the graduate regalia. Nowadays, you will be able to find stoles made of high quality fabric, mostly satin. Imprinting is also available to make your special students feel appreciated. Usually, stoles are about 4 inches wide and hang 30 from the center neck seam on each side. You can get them in custom colors or with a personalized imprint such as Valedictorian, Honor, or a set of class officers, (President, Treasurer, etc).

In our online store, you can find everything you need and want for your graduation, a milestone event, significant occasion, noteworthy achievement, and every other adjective you can think of, for such an important day.

Baseball, Basketball, Football, Hockey, Soccer and Referee Uniforms

Doing anything creative often brings up fears, anxieties, insecurities. Courage may be defined as going ahead in spite of fear. But many creators not only live with their fears, they welcome them.

Fear is perhaps the most basic emotion we have. As Leonardo da Vinci reportedly said, “Fear arises sooner than anything else.” Writer Julia Cameron has commented that artists are often terrified. Being creative is venturing into the unknown, and it sets off emotional alarms.

Fear can show up, in various forms, at any stage of a creative project, and regardless of our level of talent or experience.

When she was told that Scholastic Press was paying a huge advance to publish her first Harry Potter book, J.K. Rowling said, “Most of me was just frozen in terror.”

Actor Nicole Kidman admits she has tried to get out of almost every film she has done “because of sheer terror. I can always come up with a list of actresses who would do better.”

Meryl Streep said she identified with “Adaptation” screenwriter Charlie Kaufman’s insecurities. “You realize that everyone is just eaten up by that feeling,” she said.

Many writers and coaches talk about the destructive and limiting effects of fear, and what to do about it.

Dr. Judith Orloff, author of the book Positive Energy, says we are addicted to fear. and cautions it is “the biggest energy thief there is.” She counsels acknowledging any voice of fear in our head – “Thanks for sharing” – then moving awareness back to our heart.

Sandra Ford Walston, author of the book Courage: The Heart and Spirit of Every Woman, points out the cowardly lion of “The Wizard of Oz” actually had tremendous courage but was unable to perceive that quality in himself. She notes that people often do not recognize their everyday actions as courageous, especially women.

But is it always in our best interest as creators to “fight” fear?

Director Steven Spielberg has said, “I still have pretty much the same fears I had as a kid. I’m not sure I’d want to give them up; a lot of these insecurities fuel the movies I make.”

Many actors and other artists say they are drawn to projects that make them feel scared. Meryl Streep said of insecurity, “Maybe it’s a good thing. I hope it’s some sort of breaking down of whatever is familiar to you. Whatever is complacent, whatever is easy.”

American Buddhist nun Pema Chodron writes in her book The Places That Scare You: “To the extent that we stop struggling against uncertainty and ambiguity, to that extent we dissolve our fear.”

Psychologist Robert Maurer has worked with many successful writers and other creative people, and thinks fear may be an indispensable part of the creative process.

“Fear is good,” he says. “As children, fear is a natural part of our lives, but as adults we view fear as a disease. It’s not a disease.” He points out that a creative achievement, such as publishing your first novel, does not make fear go away.

He adds, “Your skill at being able to nourish yourself and give yourself permission to make mistakes and learn from them is your single greatest attribute as an artist and as a human being.” Philosopher Mary Daly notes we “learn courage by couraging.”

Doing what scares us can enable us to do more and be more.

Douglas Eby writes about psychological and social aspects of creative expression and achievement. His site has a wide range of articles, interviews, quotes and other material to inform and inspire: Talent Development Resources
http://talentdevelop.com/

Warming winter thoughts

The air is getting crisper and the leaves have almost finished falling. Winter is almost upon us. The changing of the seasons are timely reminders of the cycle of life and the need for change.

What exactly is the message of winter? The message is that some times we need to let go. Some times things finish serving their purpose. Some times we no longer have need for the things that we have. Some times, the time comes to ‘out with the old’.

Winter is all about creating space. A space for the new and exciting things that will be coming our way in Spring – the season of embracing the new and of rebirth. We create space now so that the universe can fill it.

So it is officially ‘clear out’ time. Time to clear out all the clutter and baggage and things that no longer serve us. Time to make space for some exciting new things. Here are some things to consider in your clear out:-

Materialistic Items: Clean out the kitchen drawer, throw away the keys you have whose locks are long forgotten, the used batteries, empty matchboxes, spare screws and washers that do not belong to anything, the rusty something you can no longer identify, the ‘just incase’ this and the ‘just incase’ that. Bag it all up and throw it in the bin.

Clean out the first aid kit, throw away the band aids that will no longer stick and the medicines that are out of date or missing their instructions. Bag it all up and take it to your local pharmacy to dispose for you.

Clean out the wardrobe, throw away the clothes you no longer wear, the clothes you will wear when you are thinner, the clothes you keep incase you get bigger, the clothes with missing buttons or broken zips, the clothes that have faded and lost their shape. Bag it all up. Throw away the useless items and take the rest to your favourite charity shop.

Ladies: shoes, toiletries and cosmetics bag. I will say no more. You know what you need to do!

Gentlemen: Garage. I will say no more, you know what you need to do!

Spiritual/Emotional: It’s not quite so easy to ‘bag up’ the spiritual and emotional items. However they may too have served their purpose and come to the end of their days.

Friendships: Are all your friendships two-way truly mutually beneficial? Is there anyone who has been dragging you down, holding you back or draining your energy? When would now be a good time to let this friendship go or to restate your terms and boundaries for friendships?

Career: Are you doing what you love? Do you wake up Monday morning will passion thrusting through your veins? Is now the time to find the career you want and deserve?

Relationships: When you look in their eyes do you know with absolutely certainty that you are their every thing? Have you showed them how much they mean to you lately? Have you told them how much you cherish having them in your life? When would now be a good time to take your relationship to the next level?

Health and Vitality: Do you love what you see in the mirror? Is your body, your temple, in the best shape it possibly can be? Have you given your body all the love that it deserves? Is now the time to revisit your nutrition and exercise regimes?

Beliefs: Are there any beliefs that are holding you back? Do you spend each day thinking and knowing ‘I can’? Do you truly appreciate how gifted, special, magnificent and wonderful you are? Have you realized yet how much potential you have? Have you realized yet how much more of you there is to give and how many of us are eagerly awaiting you to do so? When would now be a great time to write a top ten list of awesome rocking beliefs that will propel you forward into the life you deserve and were destined for?

Have fun as you ‘declutter’. Know that anything you hang on to is a space you take up which prevents something new from entering your life. The space in your life, like you, is valuable and precious. Be sure to only fill it with the things you love.

Grab your warm clothes. Feel the hug of your scarf and winter jacket. Take a long walk and decide all the things that need to go. There’s a new beginning around the corner and its waiting for you.

Let go………… and let the universe fill the space.

I was a fifth grader the first time I flew on a commercial flight. I remember being amazed that I could get all the soft drinks I wanted for free. I remember the wonder of looking out at the clouds and the topography far below. I remember watching us land. The entire thing was a great adventure and I was full of wonder.

In college, as I flew once in awhile, I always got a window seat – I wanted to be able to watch the ground pass below me. The wonderment of it all – the patterns and beauty of looking out the window was overwhelming. Yes, I would sometimes read or do something else, but much of the flight I would sit… and stare… and be in wonder of it all.

Soon after I started working, I found myself flying a bit more, and it became clear that during my business life that I would fly. I mentioned once to my Mom, who loves to fly, that I’d never lose that great feeling that an airplane flight brings – and that I would always get window seats.

Somewhere along the way from flying once every couple months to flying 100,000 miles per year I moved to the aisle. I lost the wonder of it all. Last week, I had a window seat and stopped working or reading long enough to spend some time looking out the window. Today, as I write this, I have just finished 20 minutes of window gazing. Some of the wonder is back! There are many things in our lives that we once considered wonderful (full of wonder). Many of those things we now take for granted. All of this makes me wonder, where the wonder has gone.

Where’s the Wonder?

I believe seeing the wonder in things around us is one of the ways we make our lives more meaningful and enjoyable. This is one of the reasons we go on vacations. Yes, some people’s vacations consist of little more than a beach (which can be wonderful in many ways!). But many more people take time to learn new things on vacations, by going to museums and art galleries. Many of us travel to exotic places to marvel at sites, and cultures and foods. Wonder plays a big part in the allure of these trips and the satisfaction gained from the experiences.

You may be thinking, is wonder really such a big deal? I would say a resounding yes! Why? Think about it, the absence of wonder, is often called boredom, or worse, cynicism. These are not things that people aspire to!

While we can all certainly experience wonder in new things – new locations, new experiences, new books, new ideas, I believe I found an important key to a more enjoyable life outside the plane window. That key is to add more wonder to life by re-capturing past wonder, and finding new wonder in the things I do each day.

Re-discovering Wonder

There are several things we can do to add to the wonder in our lives – to make our lives more wonder-full.

1. Look at things with fresh eyes. Think about things that have become habit for you. The next time you do them, do them as if you were a beginner again. Start with your drive or commute to work. Make it an exercise in finding wonder. For example, perhaps you go by a school on your way. Spend some time thinking about things from your kidhood days in school. Then try this “fresh-eyed” approach to other routine tasks.

2. Make a list of things you found wonderful at different stages in your life. If you write a journal do it there. If not, make these lists instead of watching TV one evening. Once you have the list, spend some time reveling in those wonders. Think too about how you could re-experience those things again.

3. Make a list of wonders you find each day or week. Again, a great journaling task, or a great routine to add to your planning for a new week.

4. Plan a mini-vacation or a day trip to someplace wonderful for you. I grew up on a farm, so a drive in the country in spring or fall is particularly helpful in restoring my sense of wonder in the growing process. Others might find your mini day to be boring – help them see your wonder – and in turn you will experience your own at a deeper level. Then go with them when they try to recapture their own.

5. Go to an old event, focused on different things. The next time you go to a ball game, focus less on the action, and more on the spectators, or vice versa. Go shopping and shop for something entirely different than you usually would. You get the idea.

These are just a few ideas to help you re-infuse your life with wonder. This idea is really taking hold in my life, in small ways each day is more wonder-full and more meaningful as well.

I believe when you choose to rediscover your wonder, you’ll benefit in the same ways.

You know, the Mississippi River is an awesome sight from 31,000 feet.

Do you have a dream? I bet you do.

And I also bet you have a long list of reasons why you aren’t pursuing that dream.

But you CAN start turning your dream into a reality – no matter what your current circumstances are.

Take Jewel, the American pop singer. Even as a child, Jewel knew she wanted to be singer.

After high school, she decided working dead end jobs was an unbearable way to live, so she moved into her VW van (and I think her mother also moved in the van with her). There she lived on peanut butter and carrot sticks, wrote songs and performed at a local coffee shop in San Diego. Eventually, while still in the van, she was “discovered.” With her first advance, she rented a house with her mother, bought a “new” car (a used Volvo) and a new guitar.

And the rest is, as they say, history.

Jewel knew she wanted to pursue a dream and she did, even though she had no money and no connections. She overcame her lack of money and eventually became a huge success.

But even without becoming a huge success, you can still take steps this very day to start living your dream. No, I’m not asking you to quit your job and move into your car. But there are small steps you can take each day to bring you a little closer to living your dream.

Action Steps:

1. Write down your dream.

2. Now write down all the steps that need to happen to turn that dream into a reality. Not sure about all the steps? Make researching the steps the first thing on your action plan.

3. Make the commitment to spend 15 minutes every day working on your dream. That’s all you need to do — just spend 15 minutes on a task (more if you can fit in the time).

Fifteen minutes may not seem like a lot of time, but trust me, even something that small makes a huge difference. I guarantee that if you religiously spend 15 minutes on your dream, before you know it, you’ll start to see it manifesting right before your eyes.

Verdetecnica is located 1 Km. out of town on the top of a small height with an extensive view over the countryside and the coastline.

The property dates from the 18th century during the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies is owned by our family since 1830.
Excellent touring base for the whole of the Western part of sicily.
Our self-catering accommodation offers travelers peace and quiet within minutes of busy sandy beaches
Our Holiday Home is in fact a panoramic terrace overlooking a wide range of mountains on one side and the sea coast on the other.
It is the perfect way to have total access to the city whilst still being able to escape in an oasis of green tranquillity.
A large lawned garden in the rear for sitting out, extensive view, independence, privacy and comfort.
Some of the island’s best fish restaurants are minutes away whilst the best sandy beaches are within 15 minute drive.
Within 2 kms is Sciacca Town Centre with its superb shopping, quiet squares, bustling harbour, morning street market, and a wide variety of excellent restaurants and bars.
The common garden 2500 sq.mts is made out of our green house, palms, cacti, olive and citrus trees and many Mediterranean flowering shrubs.
A relaxing shady area is equipped with barbecue and a dining corner (chairs, tables, hammocks and fountain ).
The property is gate-accessed, so privacy is assured.
All apartments have parking spaces and are served by urban bus service # 1 & 5.
Our self-catering accommodations are furnished like an authentic Italian home, with a mixture of comfortable contemporary pieces and pretty antiques.Central heating, air conditioning, DVD, Hi.fi,CD player,Sat.TV and fans.
Kitchens are fully equipped with a good supply of crockery, cutlery, pans, etc.
Each accommodation has private bathroom with shower and private garden.
Bedrooms are equipped with wardrobes, chests of drawers, bedside tables, bedside lighting, and radio.
Housekeeping is provided prior to arrival and after departure. (including linen, towels and blankets).
Welcome basket on arrival (our organic olive oil, salt, sugar, coffee, tea, fruits, bread, fruit juce, ,jam and honey).
At no extra cost, free ample parking, mountain bikes, iron and board, and washing machine.
Internet access, children playground and a comprehensive selection of books, toys, board games and free phone calls for most countries in Europe, USA and Canada (ground line).
We are landscape gardeners, we are resident in the premises but never in your way. (my wife Pascale (French), myself Salvatore (Italian) and our two sons. We grow Olive and Almond trees and a variety of fresh herbs of which guests may help themselves for cooking.

Looking for budget Hotel in Sciacca? Pls visit our catalogue of Hotels, where you can find also a wide range of Tours in Florence and compare price for double room in Sciacca.

Every person has his or her desires in life. These desires must be in one way or another be directed by a common goal. But do you ever know that there is an effective tool in writing down your desires? Yes, there is.

The very elementary and primitive way of taking down notes of your target goals has a very satisfying aftermath with regard to the outputs of your desires. Taking down notes or listing down on a piece of paper your desires in life is the most basic tool in achieving your desires in life. Have a clear plan at hand on what is it to do for tomorrow. You may never know what will happen tomorrow or what it has to offer, but you can still make plans on how do you want tomorrow may happen.

The tool that I have mentioned above is the one, I, myself have tried and still doing until now. Believe me but having clear and definite track of “what-to-do” tasks is proven effective by yours truly. So, I encouraged you, too, to start listing your plans ahead of time. This way, you are not only going to have a clear track at hand but also a clear view of your destination ahead. You can easily determine if you’re getting near to your desires or not. Take it from me, I give it to you. Try it to believe it people!

Aside from making a list of “what-to-do” task, I am going to give you additional checklist that will really help you in organizing your list. Check these out!

Below are the Three Compatibility Checklists that will help you decide whether your desires are for go or no-go desires. Let’s take them one by one.

Three Compatibility Checklists

1. Know your personality. If you enjoy talking to people, then you will definitely be comfortable in sales, marketing or other frontline functions. If you are more of a silent worker, them you may be more effective with administrative work.

2. Observe your passion. Do you really like what you’re doing? Is it something you enjoy doing? If not, then you are depriving yourself the ability to excel in of what you do best.

3. Hype your potential. Now that you got the job, what is your career path? Will it create an opportunity for you to become manager someday? How do you see yourself after 3 or 5 years? If you don’t see any potential for growth, then it is not the right job for you.

Now people, if you happen to realize that you are not motivated enough to pursue you desires in life, in general, then take this. I have provided below Seven Motivational Factors that will guide you in motivating your desires. You may not be sure for your desires today, but who knows, for a little time you might decided after reading this. Read now.

Seven Motivational Factors

1. Relationships.

You should also consider relationship in knowing how to easily obtain your desires. So what is the connection to that?

When at your best with the family, co-workers, friends, loved ones or other people, then your motivation and performance are at its highest.

2. Ethics. Respect for other cultures, norms and governing laws, proper conduct and demeanor, and sensitivity to other people’s feelings begets same reverence for self.

3. Language Enhancing your ability to communicate, particularly in the English language, creates definite advantage in the global market.

4. Logic. The way you see, accept, and react to different situations and events as they occur separates potential leaders from perennial laborers.

5. Energy. Physical, mental, emotional and spiritual conditions will reinforce your ability to accomplish most, if not all, of what you expect to achieve.

6. Vision. Being results-oriented, setting goals and having a clearly defined direction set the journey to a fulfilled career and a well-lived existence.

7. Enthusiasm.. The lifeblood of all motivational factors, it is what makes everything happen, whoever you are, wherever you may be.

Through all these, as you build your list of desires; you will realize that the only thing constant in life is change. Do not be so caught up in a goal when you know it won’t work. Be flexible about your aspirations and the means by which you hope to achieve it. For every setback, obstacle or difficulty always be guided by the question, “Is there a better way?”

Remember, “You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars. You have a right to be here.”

“Lord give me patience – and hurry!”

Have you ever prayed this prayer? You’ve had plenty of opportunities to, haven’t you? I don’t know about you, but I tend to overestimate what I can accomplish in the hours I have, and underestimate the hassles that will accompany those tasks that seemed simple when I took them on. Patience is an essential skill for both organizational leaders and team members.

The good news is…patience can be learned.

The bad news is…patience is only learned through opportunities to practice it!

THE IMPORTANCE OF PATIENCE

Why is patience so important in the Magnetic Workplace? As you well know, hassles are the stuff of which daily schedules are made. The ability to stay calm and to adjust quickly when plans are thwarted is a necessary tool in every individual’s repertoire of coping skills.

A manager’s patience is especially important. If a person in a leadership role blows up easily, everyone else will be “invited” to do the same. Patience is also essential as the manager coaches and develops people. Growth does not occur in a smooth, upward pathway. Even in the best of cases, there are setbacks, disappointments, and struggles. There will be occasions in which the manager has invested time and energy into a team member, only to have him or her bail out or even betray the leader.

Everyone’s patience is challenged when major organizational changes are attempted. An organizational culture is a powerful force, and positive changes in the system take time. (It seems, unfairly, that negative changes can occur almost instantly!)

FIVE STRATEGIES FOR DEVELOPING PATIENCE

1. Become more realistic in your expectations. “Stuff happens”, and the sooner we acknowledge that, the more accurately we can plan the tasks in our lives. Optimism is good, but unrealistic optimism about uninterrupted smooth sailing can sabotage the completion of important tasks. Expect and plan for delays, complications, and setbacks. You’ll be better prepared if they happen, and delighted if they don’t!

2. View setbacks as temporary. Research shows that the most resilient people are able to view problems as temporary. They often use the adage, “This, too, shall pass.”

3. Keep the mentality of the problem-solver, not the victim. The theme song of people with the victim mentality is, “Gloom, Despair, and Agony on Me.” They see themselves as unfortunate pawns of negative forces and other people who control their destinies. Problem-solvers, on the other hand, look at negative situations to discover what they can do. They are able to distinguish the things over which they have control vs. the things that they can’t change. Within the conditions they face, they stay involved and active in doing the little things that make a difference. They work especially diligently in keeping their own internal reactions positive and constructive.

4. Reject bitterness. Bitterness is the result of anger that is not resolved. It’s a killer…psychologically, relationally, and physically! Bitter people are anything but patient. They have short fuses, overreacting when even unrelated situations remind them of the person or event they resent. Resolve conflicts promptly, and/or choose to forgive and move on!

5. Remember your successes in other difficult situations. When you find yourself in a mess that seems unending, and you wonder if you’ll ever make it…take heart! Remember that you’ve been in tough situations before, and you’re still here. Recall times that looked impossible, but you found a way. Have faith that this time will be no exception.

Dr. Bev Smallwood is a psychologist who has worked with organizations across the globe for over 20 years. Her high-energy, high-content, high-involvement Magnetic Workplaces (r) programs provide dozens of practical strategies and skills that can be put to work immediately to:

1. build strong leaders who influence and develop others through serving;
2. energize, motivate, and retain team members;
3. successfully accomplish important organizational transitions; and
4. impress customers and build their loyalty.

Review a complete list of her programs available for your convention or corporate meeting at the website, www.MagneticWorkplaces.com.

Recently, I was interviewing Paul Hartunian, the master of free publicity, who successfully juggles several very different careers. Paul commented:

People don’t act because a lot of things are in front of them.

I’ve gone to lots of seminars where there was so much information you were on information overload. The vast majority of people then froze; they wound up doing nothing.

All this information and all these experts were right there, willing to help the seminar participants do what they want to do, accomplish what they want to accomplish.

They may have been given lots of great products to sell; they were given SO MANY options in that one day that they froze.

Paul’s point was that when we’re confronted by too many possibilities, we can freeze up.

Trying to decide which of 15 or 20 options to pursue can be frustrating, especially if all of them appear to be good choices.

My granddaddy used to say, “A dog that chases two rabbits won’t catch either one.” He’d pause for a second, then add, “And he’ll go hungry tonight.” He was trying to get me to realize how important it is to just pick one thing and do it.

Let’s take an example that we often see here on the Internet. How many eBooks have you bought within the last six months? Of that number, how many of them tell you how to do marketing or to make money online?

If a book is any good, you’ll be impressed; you’ll say, “Yeah, I can do this.” But then, after a few days, you’ll read another really great sales letter, you’ll feel that you really, really need the knowledge in this new offering. Then you’ll buy yet another eBook, and you’ll again be impressed: “Yeah, I can REALLY do THIS.’

This cycle is being repeated over and over every day all around the Internet.

This may have happened to you. I’ve done it. Lots of people have.

So there you sit with perhaps dozens of books, all good, dozens or even hundreds of affiliate offerings, some excellent, and page after page of website ideas, all interesting.

In fact, you’ve got so many options that you may not know what to do first.

My granddaddy ran one of the biggest plumbing shops in his town, and when he’d spy one of his men dithering over what to do next, he’d simply say, “Son, you can’t do everything first.”

And neither can you or I. If all your options are good, then it doesn’t really matter which one you choose first. Throw a dart if you have to, but move. Make a decision. Get yourself into motion.

For many people, getting into motion means you’ll be stepping into unfamiliar territory, doing things you’ve never done before. So what? At least it’s interesting and exciting. But never terrifying.

If you think starting your very first business is terrifying, you need to think again.

Wrestling a grizzly bear is terrifying. Falling from an airplane without a parachute is terrifying.

But starting a business? Nah… that’s not scary; it’s just unfamiliar.

And right there we have the main reason most people lock up when they face a long list of options. It’s unfamiliar ground, so they think they don’t know how to choose. (They do, but they THINK they don’t.)

Here’s a strategy for taking the terror out of decision-making. Take that long list of options. Say there are 15 items on it, and you’ve never done any of them before.

Once you’ve examined all the items on the list, do this: Decide if all the items are REALLY about equal. If there are any that clearly don’t measure up, cross those off. You’ll still be left with lots of choices.

Let’s say you’re left with only 10 items on your list.

Take out a new sheet of paper.

Write item number one on it, the first item from your original list.

Okay, that’s it. That’s your new list of options – just one item.

We’ve already agreed that all the choices are more or less equal.

So now you’ve got your action agenda. One item. No more indecision.

Now just go do it.

And those other 9 items? They’ll be there waiting when you get done with the first task.

See how easy decision-making can be?

Charles Burke is the author of Command More Luck, the book that shows you why all those things keep happening to you. Learn why “luck” doesn’t work the way you’ve always been told. Not even close. The bad news — There’s no such thing as luck. The good news — There’s something even better. Learn how it works at www.moreluck.com