By Michael Angier

“Betty,” one of my Diamond Club Members, wrote me the other day because she was having trouble keeping it all together.

She told me she understood that success is an inside job, but was struggling with how to be empowered, confident, have a clear vision, stay motivated, keep a positive attitude and supportive beliefs.

It does sound a bit overwhelming, doesn’t it?

She wanted my advice on the best ways to make the internal changes that are so necessary for our continued personal growth and ultimate success.

Good question, don’t you think?

Made ME think, too.

It’s a complex question and one not easily answered.

Nonetheless, I’ll share with you some of my insights into some things I shared with “Betty” you might want to consider. You’ll have to decide for yourself which of these are most adaptable to YOU.

First of all, I believe you can do anything you want–you just can’t do EVERYTHING you want. If you try, you’ll just make yourself crazy, feel constantly overwhelmed and not be able to do a great job at anything.

Correction Without Invalidation
I also think that any self-improvement regimen will work better and produce results faster if we make corrections without invalidation. I know it’s easier said than done, but you decrease your success rate by making yourself wrong for having done something you feel you shouldn’t have or not done something you think you SHOULD have.

There is nothing wrong–it’s just incomplete. To the degree you condemn, you strangle your progress. The more you are upset about where you are now, the more likely you will remain right where you are.

Focus
Ben Franklin identified 13 virtues he wanted to improve. He would focus on one virtue each week and then move onto the next. When he completed his 13 weeks, he started over again from the beginning. This is a great “constant and never-ending improvement”
strategy. It keeps what you want in the forefront of your mind.

Reading Good Books
For me, reading books keeps me focused. It does carry the risk of being introduced to new ideas that you think you should try that may scatter your focus. But that just takes some discipline. Your next great idea can be the enemy of your current project or goal.

Your Journal
I am a big believer in journaling. When we write, we think differently. Not only do we think more slowly, we focus our thoughts in a more productive fashion. By reviewing what we’ve written, we remind ourselves of the things we deem important and we’re able to see our progress.

What Worked, What Didn’t, What’s Next
Our Diamond Club Mastermind Teams use a very simple format when they meet each week. The 5-6 members each share what worked (wins, progress made, etc.), what needs improvement (challenges, things they want to be better) and what’s next (their plans for the next week).

This is a great tool for staying focused and moving forward. An article explaining this process can be found here.

Since I wrote that piece, I’ve modified it a bit by replacing, “What didn’t work” with, “What needs improvement.”

Keep a Win List
This is a list of the goals you achieve, good things that happen to you, serendipities and major wins and events. Update and review this list often to increase your feeling of gratefulness. If you learn to appreciate more of what you already have, you’ll find yourself having even more to appreciate.

Choose Carefully
Be discerning about new ideas and strategies. I see many people chasing after the latest fad, the newest book or the new dynamic guru. Look for principle-driven strategies–those things that don’t change with time–or if they do, evolve very slowly. New tools and tactics are fine, but they often tend to be looked upon as quick fixes. If they promise overnight success, you should beware. Remember, it takes years to become an overnight success.

Trust the Dance
Trust your inner voice. Ask for, expect and LISTEN to your inner guidance. It will tell you what you should be doing. Have faith in yourself, in the Universe and in the flow of abundance.

Forgiveness
Be sure to forgive yourself for anything you feel guilty about. Guilt has no virtue. It’s a waste of time and energy. The point of power is in the present. The path to success is never straight. No one has led a successful life without detours, disappointments, poor decisions and failures. There is no ONE WAY.

Make your road to success like a trip across the country. For a successful trip, you would want a plan, a dependable vehicle, an intended destination and maybe even a time-frame. But you also have to allow for some sightseeing, some unplanned-for events, some new friends met along the way, a few detours, some play and some rest.

Success IS an inside job. Be sure to have fun with it.

Diamond Club Info:

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Michael E. Angier, is an internationally published author and president of SuccessNet. They’ve been helping great people and great companies become even better for over 11 years. Discover how to achieve your personal & professional best. Check out the inspiring flash presentation about being your best.

Tags: Personal Growth, Personal Success, Self Improvement