How to hold yourself accountable.

Why do we fail?

Sustained interest, that’s what always gets me. Too often we get fired up to do something, invest our time in research trying to figure out what fundamental tools we need, and then lose interest a few weeks later.

I have a folder full of unfinished writing projects. Why? I ask myself this often and the answer is always the same: Accountability.

A Shortcut to Forming New Habits

Did you know that 40% of what you do throughout the day is based on your habits.  This was found in a study published by the Society for Personality and Social Psychology.  

This confirms what Aristotle knew thousands of years ago.

“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.”

Whether you are successful or not in establishing a new habit or getting rid of an old habit will depend on how important it is to you.  

If you find it important enough, you will find a way, if you don’t you will find an excuse.

This, in a nutshell, is the driver of most of our actions.  You want to workout but you have not made exercising important enough.  Instead you value free time, relaxing or being lazy more.  That is why you are never able to establish a consistent workout routine.  You want to quit smoking but you haven’t because it’s not important enough to you yet.  Instead you value the feeling of smoking that cigarette more than quitting.  You want to be wealthy but you are not, that is because being wealthy is not important enough to you.  Instead you likely value consumerism more, buying the newest clothes, cars, or technology or maybe you value your free time so you refuse to commit and work long hours to help you earn more income.

What is on the other side of Fear?

Your relationship to fear is the single greatest factor that will determine the kind of life you live.

Fear is the driver of the vast majority of anxiety and stress that we experience in our lives.  Fear limits our thinking, puts us into a negative state, and prevents us from growing.  Worst of all, fear prevents us from taking action. It stops us from introducing ourselves at networking events or having that difficult conversation with a friend.  It stops us from taking that project on because it requires a public presentation or from starting that business or writing that book.

Collaborate Right By Knowing When

Sam Zemurray was a Russian immigrant that came to the U.S. in the early 1900s with nothing. From there he raised an empire, becoming one of the most successful, and powerful, men in America by peddling bananas.“From his first months in America, he was scheming, looking for a way to get ahead. You did not need to be Rockefeller to know the basics of the dream: Start at the bottom, fight your way to the top.” This is precisely what Sam the Banana Man did, he fought his way to the top. Overthrowing South American governments, avoiding the FBI and CIA, and even playing a hand in politics in Louisiana Sam Zemurray built his empire almost entirely on his own. When speaking of success many people in America refer to stories like Sam Zemurray’s.

A Simple Technique for Achieving your Goals

People who set goals in life are more likely to get what they want.  The reason is simple. When you set a goal, you are devoting your attention to some future state you want to create.  This focused attention is what allows you to navigate the bombardment of choices and information that come at you each and every day. Instead of getting caught up in the minutia of day to day living, goal oriented people are able to focus on the actions that are going to get them closer to getting what they want.

How a few past experiences could be ruling your life.

Taken by 2brains1mind.

Edwin Catmull has said, “Hindsight is not 20-20.” It’s a counterintuitive statement, but an accurate one as well. We tend to use our past experiences to guide our present decisions. It’s how the mind works. However, sometimes one experience, or a handful of them, can dictate the trajectory of our entire lives. When this happens hindsight becomes our enemy.

Strengthen Your Relationships By Seeking Solitude

We are social creatures. You’d be hard pressed to find someone to disagree with you on this point. However, for all our longing to be with others, or more specifically with that someone, solitude plays a pivotal role in our development and well-being. Without it we are likely to go mad, and yet today our culture fights for our attention on a moment to moment basis making it more difficult than ever to get some alone time.

How to Make 2016 Your Best Year Yet

The new year is upon us and this is, scientifically speaking, the best time to plan and prepare for what you want to achieve for 2016. The fresh start effect takes hold and allows you to more easily engage in high-level thinking about where you want to go in life, areas you want to improve, and goals you want to achieve.