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The best dreams happen with your eyes wide open.  Zig Ziglar

Every little bit helps--every little quit hurts!  Unknown

Okay--so 2010 has arrived. Did you make any resolutions?

“Most New Year's Resolutions have gone by the wayside before January is over and most won't even be remembered six months later. And the reason is pretty simple. Most are made in response to something negative; a habit or situation that the person wants to change or end. And therein lies the problem - it's hard to develop momentum from a negative response. It is always easier to move toward something than away from something.”  Vic Johnson

The most important attribute for a successful person is their attitude. “Our lives are determined by what happens to us, but how we react to what happens; not by what life brings to us, but by the attitude we bring to life.  A positive attitude causes a chain reaction of positive thoughts, events, and outcomes.  It is a catalyst….a spark that creates extraordinary results.”  Anon.

Here is a list of reminders that will help you keep your mind focused on the positive. Please feel free to copy this list, post this list, or give it to colleagues.

Goals:
Keep your mind fixed on your goals.  Why set goals?  There are three reasons for setting goals for the New Year (or anytime for that matter):

1. They provide purpose and motivation
2. They provide specific direction – like a road map or GPS, they help you reach your destination.
3. They keep you focused on accomplishment

Goals should be specific – how much by when – what color, model, make, and other details.  When your goals are not clear, your results will also be unclear.   Most importantly, write down your goals.

Achievement:
Get excited about every small achievement. “Nothing stops a man who desires to achieve.  Every obstacle is simply a course to develop his achievement muscle.  It’s a strengthening of his powers to accomplishment.”  Eric Butterworth

We tell our campers and coaches at the "Yes I Can Sports Camps, “inch by inch it's a cinch, success by the yard is hard.”.

Believe:
Believe in your abilities to succeed--and in yourself!  Too many people dwell on the negative things about themselves.  Find a reason to compliment yourself on a daily basis.  Think of all the positive things going on in your life.  “Belief in oneself is one of the most important bricks in building any successful venture.”  Frank Gifford 

“Whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy –meditate on those things.”  Apostle Paul; Philippians 4:8

Learn:
Learn from those who have what you want to have. Successful people use modeling. They find what makes successful people tick, and then imitate the best qualities. Ever notice that the best students sit in the front of the class? “Success seems to be connected to action.  Successful people keep moving.  They make mistakes, but they don’t quit!”  Conrad Hilton  

Remember--success leaves clues.

Adversity:
Laugh in the face of adversity. "Adversity causes some men to break, others to break records." William A. Ward. 

Og Mandino states, “There is no better than adversity.  Every defeat, every heartbreak, every loss, contains its own seed, its own less on how to improve your performance the next time.” 

Remember, “Setbacks are temporary-- God's delays are not God's denials. “

Read:
Read or listen to books on tape about successful people. Take time to read – It is the fountain of wisdom.   Reading will help you achieve mastery in those areas of your life that are central to your happiness and fulfillment.  If you read one book a week for a year, you will be in the Top 1%.
 
Persistence:
Persistence is one of the commonalities of successful people.  They simple refuse to give up, to throw in the towel.  The longer you hang in there, the greater the chance that something good is going to come your way.  When you can't go one more step--do it anyway. You don't know how close you may be to closing the sale, winning the game, or hitting your goals.  "Never give up.  There’s always a way!"  Kevin Saunders –Nominee for the Chairman of the Presidents Council on Physical Fitness and Sport.

“The power to hold on in spite of everything, the power to endure – that is the winner’s quality.  Persistence is the ability to face defeat again and again without giving up – to push on in the face of great difficulty, knowing victory will be yours.  Persistence means taking pains to overcome every obstacle, and to do what’s necessary to reach your goals.”  Wynn Davis

On the day the first sub-four minute mile was run, Roger Bannister didn't feel well. It was wet, damp, and cool. Not the ideal weather for setting the world record. Yet he became the first sub-four minute miler. The sub-four minute mile has been run repeatedly since that day.

Have a game plan:
A game plan won't guarantee success, but it will keep you focused on the task at hand. It can be called a game plan or a mission statement.  However, in either case it is a written plan of what is important to you.  Believe that it is possible.  Napoleon Hill said, “You can be anything you want to be, if only you believe with sufficient conviction and act in accordance with your faith; for whatever the mind can conceive and believe, the mind can achieve.

As the New Year begins, Take Time:

• Take time to work – it is the price of success
• Take time to think – it is the source of power
• Take time to play – it is the secret of perpetual youth
• Take time to read – it is the fountain of wisdom
• Take time to be friendly – it is the road to happiness
• Take time to love and be loved – it is the nourishment for the soul
• Take time to share – life is too short to be selfish
• Take time to laugh – it is the music of the heart
• Take time to dream – it is hitching your wagon to a star
• Take time to pray –prayer changes everything

Happy New Year 

May you be blessed with unknown gifts already on their way

Need a Speaker for Your Upcoming Event?

A coach, educator, author, and motivational speaker, Tom Hughes has helped thousands of young people achieve new levels of success, not only on the court…but also more importantly in the game of life.   Contact Tom about speaking to your next meeting.  Special pricing available for schools/colleges.

Program topics include:
• Goal Setting for Success -
• Team Building – Teamwork Makes the Dream Work
• Developing a Positive Attitude – Attitude, is yours worth catching?
• Leadership Training – Servant Leadership
• Improving Performance Through Achievement Motivation

Or, have Tom personalize your topic. If you are looking for a speaker that will energize your audience, empowering them to achieve greater success…contact Tom Hughes (229) 630-7820 or email at: tomhughes@motivationnmore.com.

Motivation-N-More strives to provide the tools, strategies, and techniques necessary to empower individuals to become more productive on the court, in the classroom, in the office, and in the game of life.

Contact Tom at: tomhughes@motivationNmore.com

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