Avoiding Criticism and Blame

"Criticism of others is futile and if you indulge in it often you should be warned that it can be fatal to your career."

Without friendship and assistance, the successes you enjoy will be few, if any. Don't harm your existing friendships with criticism and blame. Criticism and blame are dangerous since they wound a person's pride and raises their resentment.

It seems that criticizing and blaming anyone and everyone except yourself is a trait of human nature. We can do better. As Benjamin Franklin said, "I will speak ill of no man, and speak all the good I know of everybody." If you feel like someone really needs to change, the person you should first decide to change and improve is yourself.

When you need to work out an issue with another person, and you will, you must make sure to focus on what is correct and right, rather than just being right. It rarely helps to argue another person's position against yours because it puts the other person on the defensive and hurts their pride, so much so that they will dig in their heels even harder to justify their emotional connection to their position.

It is so much better to lead by example rather than criticizing and/or blaming other people. A great book to read on this subject is How to Win Friends & Influence People by Dale Carnegie.

In summary, don't criticize or blame others, look at your own life first, lead by example, and value the perspectives of others.

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Post inspired by the Ultimate Success Program and Og Mandino's University of Success.

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How's the Quality of Your Work?

"The quality of your work, in the long run, is the deciding factor on how much your services are valued by the world."

Let me ask you an important question. Are you ever tempted to deliver less than your best? My current coach and mentor Mark Hendricks says "Good enough, isn't".

I would suggest that you dedicate yourself to high quality work versus just average (or good enough) work. Did you know that the habit of accuracy and precision improves a person's whole character?

Your work reputation is one of your greatest assets, and you should know that it precedes you wherever you go. Remember, potential employers or clients will speak with those who know you and ask them about you.

Remember that your words speak loudly, but your actions speak louder than your words. Be careful what you are saying with your actions.

People in positions to help will take notice of those who are dedicated to quality, excellence, honesty and integrity. Those same people are also looking for similar people to associate with in their own activities.

John D. Rockefeller said the secret of success is to do the common duty uncommonly well.

The world is full of people who start things, but the world is always wanting people who can finish things. Decide to be a finisher, finish what you start. Accept nothing less than your best work and make your life motto "where only the best is good enough."

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Post inspired by the Ultimate Success Program and Og Mandino's University of Success.

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A Three Part Formula to Success

"Three short rules that can help you become as great as you want to be."

In 1935, Will Rogers shared the profound rules to 1) know what you are doing, 2) love what you are doing, and 3) believe in what you are doing.

1. Know what you are doing.

Always appreciate and treasure the value of continuing education. Continually be in the pursuit of knowledge, understanding and wisdom. There is no force in the world that has a greater impact than the statement of a knowledgeable person fortified by confidence and experience. If you are going to be successful you must first know what you are doing.

2. Love what you are doing.

What are you working for? Hopefully, it's for the love of what you are doing. When you love what you are doing you naturally become an optimist. Don't you prefer to be around an optimist more than a pessimist? Commit to looking for the brighter side of things and love what you are doing.

3. Believe in what you are doing.

People are persuaded more by the depth of your conviction than by the height of your logic - more by your own enthusiasm than any proof you can offer. Persuasion is not converting people to your way of thinking, it is converting people to your way of feeling about things. People make decisions emotionally and justify them with logic.

Do you know what you are doing? Do you love what you are doing? Do you believe in what you are doing? If you can answer "yes" to those 3 questions you are truly a success.

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Post inspired by the Ultimate Success Program and Og Mandino's University of Success.

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The Most Effective Way to Wealth

"It is true that money cannot buy happiness but it does help you to enjoy what the world has to offer."

With wealth many things are made possible. Fine home furnishings, travel, nutritious food, jewelry, charity and gratification.

Three big mistakes un-wealthy people make is 1) spending all of their income without saving any for future needs, 2) taking advice from those not qualified or experienced, and 3) expecting government or others to support them with handouts.

Alternatively, the wealthy have decided a part of all they earn is theirs to keep. Or stated another way, the proven path to financial success is to make sure you live on less than you earn.

Keep a long term perspective about wealth and focus on net worth growth versus just what is coming in and going out in the short term.

(In case you didn't know, the term net worth refers to the value of all assets minus the value of all liabilities.)

Do you have a plan to keep a part of all you earn? Have you implemented your plan? Are you on the road to wealth?

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Post inspired by the Ultimate Success Program and Og Mandino's University of Success.

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