Business Breakthrough InstituteContact Barbara MencerContact Denise Hedges

Life BreakThroughs!

- August 2008 -
In This Issue
Bullet Life and Business ... Focusing On What YOU Need

Bullet 50 Qualities Of Successful People

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Life and Business ... 
Focusing On What YOU Need


One of the things we teach is that you can't be all things to all people.  That goes for newsletters too.
 
At BBI, we work with clients in two primary areas ... life and business.  You were probably attracted to our newsletter because you wanted insights on how to improve the quality of your life or you wanted help in marketing your business ... or both.
 
But not everyone wants both.  And rather than try to make one newsletter be all things to all people, we've decided to write two separate newsletters, starting this month.  Life BreakThroughs will be more personal and inspirational, focusing more broadly on subjects of interest to everyone.  Business BreakThroughs will be more nuts and bolts, drilling down into more specific issues related to marketing and growing a business, with a focus on serving business owners, specifically those of you in professional practice.
 
This gives you a choice each month.  Read 'em both or just one, depending on what YOU need.
 
Everything we do is aimed at serving you.  So, please let us know how the new approach works for you and look for the debut of Business BreakThroughs later this month!
 
Warmly,
Barbara and Denise
 
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50 Qualities Of Successful People

Of all the efforts I've seen to list the keys to success, happiness, health, and wealth, this one created by http://www.lifehack.org  really impressed me.  
 
See what you think and then keep reading to find out what I'm doing personally to develop one of the qualities listed below ... and the challenge I have for you.   
  1. They look for and find opportunities where others see nothing.
  2. They find lessons while others only see problems.
  3. They are solution focused.
  4. They consciously and methodically create their own success.
  5. They may be fearful, but they are not controlled or limited by fear.
  6. They ask the right questions -- the ones which put them in a positive mindset and emotional state.
  7. They rarely complain.  (Read on ... for my personal challenge!)
  8. They don't blame, and take complete responsibility for their actions and outcomes.
  9. They always find a way to maximize their potential, and use what they have effectively.
  10. They are busy, productive and proactive.
  11. They align themselves with like-minded people.
  12. They are ambitious.
  13. They have clarity and certainty about what they want.
  14. They innovate instead of imitate.
  15. They don't procrastinate.
  16. They are life-long learners.
  17. They are glass half full people, while still being practical and down-to-earth.
  18. They consistently do what they need to do, regardless of how they are feeling on a given day.
  19. They take calculated risks.
  20. They deal with problems quickly and effectively.
  21. They don't believe in, or wait for, fate, destiny, chance or luck.
  22. They take action before they have to.
  23. They are more effective than most at managing their emotions.
  24. They are good communicators.
  25. They have a plan for their life and they work methodically to turn that plan into a reality.
  26. They become exceptional by choice.
  27. They work through the tough stuff that most would avoid.
  28. They have identified what is important to them and they do their best to live a life which is reflective of those values.
  29. They have balance. They know that money is a tool and ultimately, it's just another resource.
  30. They understand the importance of discipline and self-control.
  31. They are secure in their sense of self-worth.
  32. They are generous and kind.
  33. They are happy to admit mistakes and apologize.
  34. They are adaptable and embrace change.
  35. They keep themselves in shape physically.
  36. They work hard and are not lazy.
  37. They are resilient.
  38. They are open to, and more likely to act upon, feedback.
  39. They don't hang out with toxic people.
  40. They don't invest time or emotional energy into uncontrollable things.
  41. They are happy to swim against the tide.
  42. They are comfortable with their own company.
  43. They set high standards for themselves.
  44. They don't rationalize failure.
  45. They know how to relax, enjoy what they have in their life and to have fun.
  46. Their career is not their identity, it's their job.
  47. They are more interested in what is effective than in what is easy.
  48. They finish what they start.
  49. They realize that not only are they physical and psychological beings, but emotional and spiritual creatures as well.
  50. They practice what they preach.

Okay, now I wouldn't be a very good coach if I didn't invite you to do something life-changing with this list, so I'm issuing a little challenge.  Choose just one quality you'd like to develop over the next month and come up with a gameplan for doing it.  Then, after the 30 days, share with us how it went.  

Personally, I wanted to further enhance the quality of my life and I know that starts with the quality of my thoughts.

I was inspired by the book, A Complaint Free World.  It's actually more than a book.  It's an entire movement created by a minister from Kansas City named Will Bowen.  His idea is simple.  The world would be a better place if there were a lot less complaining, criticizing, and gossiping going on.  So they came up with a way to help people become complaint free.  They're having great success with millions of people ... everyone from individuals to entire classrooms full of kids to teams at work. Find out more at http://www.acomplaintfreeworld.org

The challenge?  To be complaint free with no criticism or gossiping for 21 consecutive days.  They say it takes the average person between four and eight months to change their behavior enough to get there.  I believe it. 
 
They send you a purple bracelet you're supposed to switch to the other wrist each time you complain, criticize, or gossip.  Trust me.  That band gets a workout.  I started on April 20th and so far the longest I've gone is just under 4 days, which I've done half a dozen times.  The hard truth is that sometimes the payoff for complaining simply beats the pain of having to reset to zero!  Guess I'll have to go into seclusion on day four next time!  By time I report back to you next month, my goal is to go ten days or better. 

I'm looking forward to making it to the 21st day before too long, but I've already gotten a real benefit from doing this, just in the awareness I now have of how easy it is to complain and criticize and how much I do it without even thinking.

So, root for me.  And be ambitious yourself.  Take on something from this list for your own life in the next month that has the ability to do nothing less than transform who you are. 
 
I'm rooting for you.
Denise
 
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