Category: Entrepreneurship

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Entrepreneurship Personal Development

How to reframe your thinking for a wealth mindset

Do you have a poverty or wealth mindset? How do you create a wealthy mindset?

Mindset around money

Trying to attract abundance from a place of conscious or unconscious scarcity back-tracks to poverty, not wealth.

I have this belief that success is inevitable as long as you don’t quit.

Tomorrow is gon’ be better than today. And in terms of wealth, I feel the most important thing everyone needs is to fix their mindset.

Once you get your mindset fixed; you move from scarcity to abundance, complaining and making excuses to taking action, wishes and dreams to setting realistic goals, having a broke mindset to a wealth mindset.

Rich mindset vs poor mindset

Infact, I get this question a lot – “How much have you made from your writing?”

But I think its backwards to think like that from the start.

The purpose of my writing is beyond making money which I’ve also heard from great writers like James A. but to share my message and as a good side effect attract different networks, opportunities and wealth as a bonus.

Patience is key when it comes to building wealth. You need to be able to wait it out and not give up when things get tough.

How to develop a wealth mindset?

How do you fix your mindset from a broke mindset to wealth mindset?

1: Start small

Most successful Entrepreneurs started small.

Don’t go broke trying to look rich.

How hungry you are for success plus the momentum you can gain and a portion of luck determines how far you’ll go.

Your wealth mindset starts with a single focus– what do you want to achieve?

2: Investing in Yourself and Your Goals

Identify the areas of your life where you have a “broke” mindset, and work on changing those thought patterns to more positive, productive ones.

Well, it’s true that most people don’t have income to invest in more than their necessities of life.

But what differentiates you from having a broke mindset is your mentality. The key is financial literacy.

You can’t afford to wait to make and learn from all the mistakes yourself.

Take the time to get educated from books, courses, coaches that help build your mind.

Wealth is a mindset not a possession.

3: Take daily action

Get used to doing the Boring work.

A broke mindset believes in luck over action and winning the lottery over taking daily action.

By simply taking daily action that aligns to your goals – you are ahead of 90% of people waiting for a big break.

Achieving your goals requires consistent effort and hustle.

4: Use Time to your advantage

Wealthy people have a healthy relationship with their time.

They’ve learned to disconnect time from money. While people with a broke mindset have this backwards.

But at the start – each spare time while you’re actually broke is better spent investing into your mind or taking action.

Ultimately, you have to learn to separate your time from how much you earn – making your money work for you (last point).

5: Focus on your mission

If you’ve ever been hit by one of the big players, such as Google suspending your ads or Facebook blocking your account, you’ll notice how much they care more about you abiding by their policies and terms of service than how much money you have or are willing to spend on their platform.

Stay true to your character, integrity and core values no matter who much you have in your bank account.

You do this by seeing yourself as already wealthy, doing things that you love and enjoying financial abundance.

6: Shift your mindset from Scarcity to Abundance

It doesn’t matter if you grew up poor or come for shitty background. Being Broke is not an excuse.

Complaining has absolutely no strategic impact on attaining any result.

When you start thinking about all of the ways that you can create wealth, rather than what is lacking in your life, abundance will flow towards you.

Learn to see Wealth as an Abundance of Opportunity by stay committed and finding solutions instead of focusing on obstacles.

7: Become Optimistic

Sahil Bloom has a popular saying – “pessimists sound smart, but optimists get rich.”

So do you really think your dreams are possible?

Focusing on end failure instead of a possible success is one way to shoot yourself at the foot.

When you make affirmations – think and say your goals like they’re already in existence.

8: Surround yourself with positive people

Your mindset will be influenced by the people around you.

If you want a wealth mindset, associate yourself with people who have one.

Sometimes in a bid to help others – we want others to move with us at the same time.

One of the worst things you can do for yourself is stay stuck with friends that are not willing to change their mindset while you wait for them before you take any action.

Fact is most people are only going to believe in you once the see results – so why wait for them before taking action.

9: Identify and Solve Problems

Uber came up with the idea of ride sharing to minimize the problem of expensive taxis in big cities and can be used as a side hustle.

No time to spend four years in college? Udacity and several online courses platforms.

Check out more examples here.

Solving problems is the fastest way to fix a broke mindset.

10: Learn how to Invest

Find ways to make your money work for you.

If you ask anyone with with a broke mindset what they’ll do with $1,000,000 today – they’ll still be struggling with buying the new car and consumables than investing in their businesses, assets and properties to make tomorrow better.

This is the reason why most lottery winners, athletes and people who inherit chunks of money without learning how to manage it go broke very quickly.“

The broke are broke because they spend all their money. They wealthy are wealthy because they invest most of their money.

CONCLUSION

Everything we are able to create and make in this material world began as a thought or image in someone’s head.

You must assign new beliefs and eliminate old ones as you work to improve your money attitude.

Thereby make your life reflect a different reality and take appropriate action. So you’ll be able to draw money into your life more readily, and the financial health of your business will significantly improve.

 

 

Categories
Entrepreneurship

9 tips to staying motivated while running your own business?

How are you staying motivated and energized while running your own business?

I stumbled into online business two years ago – during the Covid lockdown. Tried Dropshipping and the likes.

My attention has been a little bit divided due to rounding up my & “long studies” and trying to break through the online space.

Talking about skin in the game – I got experience only in running an Ecommerce and Blogging.

Currently stepping foot in various other fields in the space like publishing Ebooks, Coaching and Affiliate marketing which are still new to me.

I hope to reread this 3-5 years to come and laugh at how much lessons I learned and grown.

The entrepreneur’s guide to staying motivated while starting and running your own business:

9 tips to help Entrepreneurs get Motivated 

1: Be consistent

Stop treating your business like a hobby you work on when you feel like it. The more you work your business like a job, the less you’ll have to work in it eventually.

Focus on Discipline over motivation in all your actions.

Growth, progress and scaling can depend on how much you believe (conviction) and consistency.

2: Take risks

Taking risks doesn’t mean you will be successful every time. But if you don’t take risks you won’t have the chance of succeeding.

Funny story – my laptop got missing earlier this year from a careless move I made along with several important documents.

I could replace it at that moment right away, but I also had and still have this secret urge one day to take a break from all online pursuits – “disappear with the bag” like the Twitter gurus would say.

This was exactly the moment i decided to restart writing online which i shed more light on on my “about us” section.

Glad I took the risk to start again. If you feel something right – commit to it with the actions you take, decisions you make and people you surround yourself with.

Even if taking risks sometimes leads to failure it can help you grow as a person.

3: Invest in yourself

I don’t know any successful person that does NOT believe in investing in themselves through the right resources such as books, courses and coaches.

90% of the time, you either paying with your time or with your money. Combining both can be where the magic is.

So choose wisely and avoid playing pennywise, pound foolish. From what I’ve seen you spend your money either way – so why not invest in yourself.

Invest time, money and energy in learning from the right experts/mentors and then focus on implementation.

4: Learn marketing

Aim to creating a unique brand identity and marketing your business effectively.

One of my first mentors used to say “don’t get attached to any product or idea.”

I had a site and products for over 6 months at first.

It was a hot product that I myself was buying online and I knew the product had much potential but no perfect estimation.

I decided to invest some time to learn ads such as Facebook ads, Google ads and Copywriting.

I didn’t know which exactly would be perfect for my product. But luckily for me – the ad I was seeing the most for that product was always on Google.

I’ve been running Google ads for over 2 years now for that Ecommerce – nonstop, wrote all the Copy myself and it’s been my primary side hustle and income.

5: Focus on one thing at a time

Jumping from one niche to another every now and then would not help you grow.

Stop focusing on 3-4 business ideas at a time.

Focus on one at a time and you’ll go further than anyone around you.

6: Learn to manage your Energy better

Protect your energy.

Optimize work towards the times you have the most energy so you can devote them to your highest goals.

First you have to stop hustling backwards. Keep active and Eat Healthy

Hustling without caring about your health is hustling backwards.

Whether it’s going for daily walks or going to the gym, staying fit and healthy must be a priority.

If not it will reflect on your mental fitness and further into your business.

Avoid the environments that drain your energy, ⁣

7: Stop comparing yourself to others

The right association can open your eyes to the biggest opportunities you had never dreamt of.

E.g. when I talk business with a brother of mine, we unveil exploits each of us could hardly do alone – that’s the power of iron sharpening iron.

Commit daily to taking action to achieve your goals and learning from others. But quit comparing your situation to other people you see online.

You could be on stage 1 of your journey and they could be on stage 6, everyone’s on their own journey and mission.

8:  Focus on the widely important

Scaling a business is 90% about being focused on the 10% of things that are actually important.

E.g. if you’re building a blogging business and you have less than 50 contents – then writing SEO optimized content is the most important thing you should focus on.

Not marketing, not ads, not affiliate products.

Why because you need to get clear on your niche and the message your passing across first than getting making money.

9: Don’t let Failure or rejection weigh you down

Most times when I try organic marketing through Facebook DMs, I quit for the next one week or so due to rejection. But I know a friend online who has made over $1M together with his team through the same DMs, Group and Coaching online.

The difference is in the Offer, Conviction and also going past rejection.

Failure is nothing more than a chance to revise your strategy. It may be easy for you or may take a while to do this.

But use them as fuel; crucial experience to move forward in a better direction rather than losing momentum.

“You’re not obligated to win. You’re obligated to keep trying. To the best you can do every day.-Jason Mraz

CONCLUSION 

The ability to sacrificing all trivial things and have ONE goal is a life hack to staying motivated running your business.

Then we must develop the capacity to identify and work on things that matter (important issues can be recognized and addressed like a muscle with practice).

Also the fact that in order to grow profits, it requires some personal development on your part.

This definitely encourages me to reflect more deeply on who I’m becoming as a person and not simply a “business.”

This I think is the ultimate motivation to running your business.

Categories
Entrepreneurship

9 things you must Give up to be successful

What do you have to give up to be a successful Entrepreneur?

Success may mean different things to different people.

And we might have various metrics to keeps score e.g. Money, Happiness, Our level of impact to the world.

First we must acknowledge success is a journey not a destination. Then we must be willing to give up things that don’t serve us. Success requires sacrifice!

9 things to give up to be successful 

1: Limiting beliefs

These could be beliefs about yourself or the world around you.

Whether you believe you have what it takes to be successful, confident, and fulfilled or not, you’re right.

Give up your self-doubt and limiting beliefs! In order to achieve anything, you must first believe that you can do it.

When you say, “I am unlucky,” “I don’t come from a wealthy home so I can’t go this far” “If only I had x,y,z, I could…” you identify yourself with failure.

Empowering beliefs, combined with inner certainty, is the force that drives you forward when your brain wants to quit.

Live the life you want by overcoming your limiting beliefs.

2: Excuses

Until we decide to commit to our goals we only make excuses.

The problem with excuses is everything you give as an excuse is someone else’s strength somewhere.

For example, when you say “I don’t have capital so i cant do X.” Someone somewhere is working their ass off and doing big things while also teaching others how to “start from zero.”

The first step is to become aware of our excuses and avoid making them because they close our minds and limits our opportunities.

3: Dwelling on the past

There are people who dwell on past glory and those who hold on to it to limit their progress.

The fact is your past doesn’t define your future, the only thing that matters is what choices and actions you make from today forward.

Nothing stops you from learning from your past but don’t let it be a stumbling block to reaching the goal you set for yourself and where you want to go in life.

4: Bad Habits

It doesn’t matter how “great” you are right now – bad habits can limit your growth and even shorten your life.

Everyone would benefit from making effort to get rid of their bad habits. It’s not a one step or one-off process. It’s something that has to be worked on daily.

What bad habits do you have that is stopping you from reaching where you want to be in life?

For Hunter, it was drugs, that lasted for several years until he found his freedom:

“Days would turn into weeks as I would fade in and out. My reality had become drug infested hotels, sleeping in the back seat of my car or random drug houses. It was a constant state of paranoia and psychosis…I wanted desperately to be sober but I just couldn’t figure it out.

It’s like I was drowning and couldn’t get my next breath of fresh air. I would have periods of sobriety but I couldn’t maintain it for long. I would often fall victim to myself.

Now, i have allowed sobriety to consume my life like the drugs did. Even though I haven’t had to live like that for a long time I will never allow myself to forget the pain that I experienced. It makes the life I have today even better. I wouldn’t trade what I have for anything. Family, friends, happiness, love, sobriety and freedom. Freedom is priceless.”

Take the time to get rid of your bad habits especially in your 20s.  Successful people focus on developing good habits and rituals that keep their body, mind and soul in check.

5: Avoiding Responsibilities

The more you shy away from responsibilities, the more excuses and complaints you make and blame game you resort to. This is a recipe for failure.

Give up your excuses! If you want to be successful, you must learn to take responsibility for your actions and stop making excuses.

Quit blaming everyone and everything for your problems. Hold yourself accountable and when you say you will do something you do it.

How many successful people have you seen complain a lot? Limit your time for whining and surround yourself with people who tolerate minimal excuses.

Successful people realize early no one cares about your problems. If you don’t like your situation then make effort to change it.

6: The need for approval

Sometimes we walk around wondering what other people think about us.

How about learning to make moves without seeking approval from anyone. The key is to learn to trust your guts and have faith to figure things out in the process.

Ask smart questions, make adjustments and still trust your judgment without relying on external validation or other people’s approval of your choices.

Give up your need for approval. People will always have different opinions, so it’s important to learn to value your own opinion over others.

If you need other people to give you all the answers or tell you that what you’re doing is right then you set yourself up for failure.

Start trusting yourself and avoid needing approval from others before doing anything.

In fact, when we seek approval from the wrong people – it can lead to them using it as a means to manipulate our minds.

7: The need to impress other people

In a social media age, it takes a snap of a finger to share each other’s status and progress.

We try to impress ourselves and even people we don’t even know.

Real success is You Vs You.

The only person you should be trying to impress is YOURSELF.

8: Fear of failure

Fear is the culprit behind most of our enemies of success:-

  • Procrastination
  • Playing small
  • EgoAnd
  • even some part of Addiction.

Give up your fear of failure. You must be willing to fail in order to succeed

Take that risk. Start that business!

Everything you’ve ever wanted is on the other side of fear!

9: Give up perfectionism:

Perfection is an impossible standard to meet, so learn to accept imperfection and move on.

You must give up your preconceived notions of how things should go in order to be successful.

CONCLUSION

The trends I’ve noticed about what makes an entrepreneur unsuccessful are summarized above; in order to succeed, we must give up these things.

If you don’t give up those things, don’t be surprised if your business stagnates for months and months and months if you don’t.

Categories
Entrepreneurship

How to put skin in the game in business and in life?

How would you go ahead and get some skin in the game in your business and life?

Put skin in the game meaning

Skin the game is a phrase made popular by the renowned investor Warren Buffett referring to a situation in which high-ranking insiders use their own money to buy stock in the company they are running.

In the very first investment fund he set up, he raised $105,000 ( when that was a lot of money ) from 11 doctors. As a token personal investment he put in $100 to give himself credibility, build confidence and trust, and as an incentive for himself.

Skin in the game meaning origin

The adage is frequently used in politics as well as in business, banking, and gambling. It originated in conversations by race horse owners in the southern USA.

The skin was their horse or investment and the game was the annual gee-gee racing derby.

How making a small commitment can lead to big results:

1: Use skin in the game to increase your chances of success:

When we put skin in the game in any endeavour, we show that we are committed and are willing to risk something important to achieve our goals.

Starting out- you may have to invest every single penny back into the business and your education to develop thick skin. Learn to take Risks when you’re young – especially calculated risks.

“I came to a point where I was fed up and decided to go all-in, invested literally everything I had into the business into a set of skills. Fast forward another 2 years, things started to pay off.”

2: The downside of not putting skin in the game:

Avoiding risk can lead to missed opportunities and failure. You take more ownership of something when you have some skin in the game.

It takes dropping everything that is holding your back include self-doubt and limiting beliefs.

I did start from nothing but I had skin in the game and had been studying various different business models and people who were crushing it in the space.

3: Skin in the game fosters Consistency

To get real skin in the game, figure out what you’re good at, double down on it, and stick to it.

Your first task is to pick a niche and stick to it. How do you pick a niche? By doing your Research and staying consistent.

E.g. in Writing, you need to put in the reps. 40 -50 posts and you’ll gain clarity to what you like.

“Its important to bounce around to figure out what you like, but equally as important to stick to something. Master patience and wait 3-5 years for this to happen.”

4: Use skin in the game to get out of your comfort zone

Sometimes the best way to learn and grow is by putting yourself in uncomfortable situations.

When we put skin in the game, we force ourselves to step outside of our comfort zones and face our fears.

To have “skin in the game” is to have incurred risk (monetary or otherwise) by being involved in achieving a goal.

You might need to test your systems and models on your initial clients in exchange for testimonials or charging the bare minimum.

5: Surround yourself with people smarter than you

This includes Coaching and taking courses. One of the most effective ways to grow in your business and self-development is investing money and time in people ahead of you in the game.

It doesn’t only help in accelerate your learning and implementation at a fast rate, but also builds connections with these individuals

6: Use skin in the game as a form of self-care:

The biggest game you play is …. the game of life.

How big a risk are you taking with yourself?

Putting skin in the game can be a way of showing ourselves that we are worth investing in. We take care of ourselves by taking calculated risks.

SPONSORED: Writing online is building a portfolio of work and collecting like-minded people around you: Build an Audience on Twitter

7: Skin in the game helps you stand out

Results differentiate people into high performers and the rest.

Typically 80/20 rule – the significant majority of people are amongst the rest while 20% stand out.

And in reality, real competition becomes a hell of a lot smaller.

The goal is to Refine your frameworks and systems and turn them into a fully-fledged business that rakes in 6 figures a year plus.

8: Attract your Ideal Clients

Because most people are mediocre in what they do. Once people sense your level of mastery as one who has skin in the game they tend to be the ones looking for you and sending customers to you.

The key is to create frameworks and systems to get people to come to you.

Then Refining the frameworks and systems and turning them into a real business that generates high-income a year.

“I got really good at creating frameworks and systems to get people to come to ME instead of the other way around.”

9: Enjoy the Process

We are defined by every moment, process and system we put ourselves in.

So take the time and enjoy the process while making progress.

P.S: This post is inspired by one of my friends & Mentors in the business game, Josh Cousins on lessons learned generating over $1M for his business at 22 (with affiliate marketing & coaching).

CONCLUSION

Use consistency and practice to get skin in the game.

No substitute for practice in anything you want to do. The more you practice, the easier it will be.

Categories
Entrepreneurship Personal Development

10 rules of Happiness to find your Bliss

What are some golden rules of happiness?

The world today promotes more of Dopamine.

How to achieve this?  Learn how to make six figures in 60 days?

Grow your Titkok or Twitter account in 30 days? – get more followers and likes.

Nothing wrong with it. Pleasure is linked to dopamine; serotonin is linked to happiness. Serotonin regulates mood and its presence is what keeps you happy.

10 Golden rules I found that make you happy:

1: Be grateful for what you have:

Expressing gratitude has been linked with increased levels of happiness. Being thankful for the good in your life can help increase satisfaction and contentment.

Start everyday with 3 things you’re grateful for.

2: Live in the present moment:

According to some reports, up to 80% of our worries are about things that either don’t exist or that we can’t do anything about.

Most things we worry about are a creation of our mind. We worry about problems even when they’re not yet problems. It’s all a matter of perspective.

You think you have it all worse – someone is wishing to be in your shoes. Your biggest obstacle can be your stepping stone. Worry can come from fear, ego, pain etc – whatever is driving your worry – if you make effort to become aware of it e.g. through journaling and take action – then you can develop a better perspective and it can go away.

Here’s how Sean Anthony, of Email Side Hustle put it:

“If you don’t have your first client? Don’t worry about managing 10.

If you haven’t sent out any cold messages yet? Don’t worry about what to say when someone responds.

If a client hasn’t asked you about specific tech yet? Don’t worry about trying to learn every one.

We only worry about problems when they’re actually problems!”

Remember, actions brings clarity! Not worry! Learning to live in the present moment can help reduce stress and anxiety and increase happiness.

3: Get plenty of exercise:

Apart from what you put in your body, exercise is a key ingredient to happiness. Exercise not only benefits our physical health, but also our mental well-being.

Numerous studies have shown that exercise can help reduce stress, improve mood, and promote feelings of calmness and well-being. Walking is the simplest activity that can elevate your mood.

4: Connect with others:

Social connection is a key ingredient of happiness. Whether it’s spending time with loved ones, participating in community activities, or simply connecting with others online, relationships are essential for happiness.

One way to connect with others that works every time is via Food. Share meals with others. This was the principle in the book, “Never eat alone.” I may hardly cook but I can take you out for a “healthy meal.”

5: Do something meaningful:

People who have a sense of purpose in their lives tend to be happier than those who don’t. Never get stuck doing what makes no meaning to you.

Doing something that is meaningful and contributes to something larger than yourself can add purpose to your life and lead to true happiness. This may mean finding your passion or just filtering things you do by how much meaning you feel they contribute to the world.

6: Don’t Hate

Let go of what’s dragging you down. Unfortunately by just being yourself, sometimes people don’t like you. You can’t control to an extent – “haters”.

Infact, haters are your confirmation that you’re doing something right! It’s easy to wake up angry about someone and tag them with something unforgivable.

But realize that feelings are just data, you don’t have to act when they come. They send a message e.g. the person said something disrespectful etc but when you think of it or react aim never to hate.

Some of those people who hurt you were healing too. Stop hating the old them forever. You can limit your association with “toxic” people, but don’t be holding onto hate. People are going to love you or hate you, but don’t let either bring you down or put you too far up on a pedestal.

Lead with love.

7: Simplify your life

No matter how boring it sounds – it takes being proactive to live a simple life. This is something most people learn the hard way. We allow burnout and devastating situations to make us realize how much we need less than what we had convinced ourselves prior.

Living simply doesn’t in anyway shorten your dreams – just don’t confuse your goals to trying to impress others.

Warren Buffet is known to have lived in the same house for over 10 years. It doesn’t just apply to lifestyle.

Want to get better at writing? Look at your sentence structures. Identify complicated sentences… and simplify them. This is top reason editing is what makes writing great.

When I was learning ecommerce for the first time – I was shocked to learn the most successful startup stores are “Single product stores” as against general stores. Simplicity wins and increases happiness to yourself (by reducing stress) and for your audience/customers (by reducing friction).

8: Give back to others

Giving is a life hack to be happy. You create experiences for yourself and those that benefit from you.

And remember, its more fun to give than to receive.

Today I received a gift from someone at work who I hardly get along with. To pull her legs, I said “for what?” She smiled and responded “you don’t like X (the gift)?”

Lead by giving and growing, and most importantly have fun.

9: Expect less

Each time you raise your expectation from others you put your happiness in their hands. Your high expectation may be a way to control others in disguise.

You may not be consciously aware of your expectations, but they are there nonetheless.

Lower your expectation on others and be kind to yourself.

Stress is nothing more than the gap between expectation and reality, tighten that gap and the stress will naturally drop.

My friend, Coach Maxim, put it perfectly and gave a solution to expecting less from others at the end:

“The way to become truly happy – is not to have any expectations from anyone. Think about it – every time you got angry or upset is because you expected something to happen and it didn’t.

Be it with a client that supposed to sign up with you , a meeting with a friend that was suddenly canceled , a planned date that needed to be rescheduled or expecting having things fall into place – so you can take action.

If you will live like that – you will always expect something to happen and you will lose the edge of being proactive to create what you want and make things your way.

So instead of expecting things to happen – make them happen!”

10. Do something that brings you Joy

Do something that makes you happy every day, no matter how small.

For me its:

  • Writing
  • Reading interesting books
  • Taking walks
  • Engaging in fun conversations with loved ones.
  • Helping clients achieve their next level of transformation through coaching.

Conclusion

I figured out the Golden rules that makes me happy. And then I do most of those things on a daily basis.

You too can start today, jot down right now what makes your happy. It could be:

  • Looking after your body eg workout, exercise.
  • Doing meaningful work that helps  others.
  • Cherishing your relationships and the time you have with loved ones.
  • Listening toy favourite music to change your state.
  • Enhancing your personal development by reading or learning.
  • Being in an uncluttered environment.

Hopefully these ideas 💡 will spark some of your own. Beyond sticking to your rules of happiness, ensure that you have clarity around your mission & purpose & start living it right away.

Categories
Personal Development Entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurs: How to have a clear and focused mind: Techniques for better focus

What steps can you take to produce results and eliminate an anxious mind. The most calm and productive people are those that have taken time to develop a clear and focused mind.

Some of those techniques like journaling, deep breathing or setting clearer goals can help to calm a racing mind.

They all play a big role in our Emotional and physical fitness which affects our energy and creating a clear and focused mind.

10 techniques for better focus: How to get a clear focused mind?

1) Meditation

A simple and effective way to clear your mind and focus on the present moment. We live in a time of plenty distractions from various trends and socials and it’s easy to get distracted and overwhelmed.

Mediation can be used as part of a healthy morning routine which creates a possibility to set yourself up in the best way for the day and gives you time for yourself before everyone wakes up.

Plus, starting the day with some healthy habits can set the tone for the rest of the day.

Meditation is the antidote to an anxious mind.

2) Journaling

Writing down your thoughts and feelings can help you to organize them and feel more in control. Journaling as a routine helps to establish a sense of structure and discipline, and it can also help to increase productivity.

Having a habit to write down your thoughts is one of the most powerful things you can do to clear your mind and be focused on your goals.

Rituals define our standards and daily habits of journaling your goals and intentions will all improve your energy.” We become what we THINK about and the 1% of people take advantage of this which separates them from 99%.

3) Focus on the widely important goals

Spend more time on things that move the needle and little time on trivial details. For example in nutrition and dieting it is so important to shop only for foods that support your vision!

In building new habits find people that keep you accountable! It will make a huge difference in where you end up!

You are always deciding what to focus on, what to invest in, how to do things, and where your time should go…⁣remember 20% of actions would produce 80% of the results.

There’s also the principle of Inversion which you can apply to know is important. Thinking about what you DON’T want, in order to better identify what you DO want.

4) Time Management

Planning out your day or week in advance can help you to focus on what is most important and let go of unimportant tasks.

Steve Covey talked about in his book “7 Habits of Highly Effective people” why weekly planning is more effective than a to –do list. Since then my life has changed every time I commit to planning my week in advance.

Managing your time better would help clear your mind and focus.

5) Creating your Environment

If you don’t surround yourself with people aligned with your goals you make it difficult for you to have a clear and focused mind.

For example, going out with friends that boast on how many crates of alcohol they can binge on every weekend is a sure way to remain addicted to alcohol.

Words and images play a powerful role in autosuggestion – the kind of music and movies you listen/watch influence how clear and focused your mind is towards your goals.

6) Exercise, Diet and Sleep habits

It’s easy to get burned out in going all means to achieve our goals and let go of the standards you had for yourself. These are the secrets to managing your energy.

Getting your body moving can help to release built-up tension and stress, clearing your mind in the process.

Sleep deprivation has a big impact on the clarity of your mind. Prioritize sleeping 7-8 hours each night. Naps can be helpful also.

7) Set clear and big goals

Set goals that are meaningful and tractable. Measure yourself on the repeatable actions taken. Improve daily. But how can you make sure that your goals DON’T end up in the “goal graveyard” before their time.

Having a PLAN to make them happen. Creating a well thought out plan with clear action steps. Commit yourself to staying focused on the outcome you want. If you firmly believe in your goals, you can be unstoppable. Write them out somewhere you can see them every day.

9) Take consistent action

Ensure the actions you take fall into a simple system, so you can ensure that you are implementing them consistently.

“I set goals and then work out how to achieve them. Anything I want to do in life I want to do well and not half-heartedly. It’s never a bad thing to have a dream, but I’m practical about it” – Richard Branson (Screw it, lets do It)

Coach Xian, stated it perfectly on her “5 Tips to have a clear and focused mind” post on how she rebuilt her business as a single:

“No more theory only action: No I made sure that I was not getting back into the ‘stacking theory’ loop, and that each solution had to be 100% practical and show me fast, substantial results for how to better handle myself, life and work.

It had to be easy, clear and painless, because I did not want another thing I needed to do or worry about or find time for.

Apply to life immediately / Experiment actively: I immediately practiced everything that seemed useful in everyday life.

I wanted a solution that was truly sustainable, so I radically deleted any practice that I did not excitedly or consistently use, or that did not show me a large impact quickly.

I figured out exactly what worked great for me, and that I did more of!”

9) Practice Mindfulness 

Be mindful of the story you tell yourself each day. If you cling to limiting beliefs or those that promote blame and self-defeat – you become a victim of your own thoughts. This would lead you to take lower level decisions.

Stop believing the myth that you need someone else to complete you or have a clearer mind. No one else except yourself can make you focused. Not a boss, spouse, not a significant other, not your girlfriend.

If you feel incomplete it’s because you’re not living to your full potential. Eat better, workout, learn something daily and stop looking elsewhere for someone to complete you, instead, look inside.

10) Use Affirmations

Repeating positive affirmations can help to clear and focus the mind. Uplift yourself with daily affirmations that will help you feel happier, stronger, and more worthy.

Use positive “I am” statements like “I am strong” and “I am confident.” Each time you face difficult and become anxious – say words like:

“This too shall pass”

“I can do everything i put my mind to”

Repeating powerful affirmations for success can help you eliminate negativity and limiting beliefs that are keeping you trapped in mediocrity and dramatically understand what’s possible, and what you’re truly capable of achieving – Jack Canfield.

CONCLUSION 

These techniques would help you develop a clear focus and undistracted mind. Then you can take the right actions, hit your goals and make good decisions daily.

This confidence and calmness helps you keep emotional outbursts at bay at work, home and in your business allows you to keep having greater impact.

Categories
Entrepreneurship Lifestyle

How to have more energy after work as an Introvert

Do you always wonder why you’re so tired after work everyday? Do you want to have high energy after work even as an Introvert?

Energy is our vital life force and we Introverts prioritize “Recharge.”

I used to come back home feeling completely exhausted and in less than 3 hours I had a brain fog (which I could not explain at that time) that left me feeling sleepy and only wake up in the middle of the night trying to get back to sleep.

Its one thing to wake up strong and motivated but it’s demoralizing when you come back home drained. It gets worse when it happens every single day and you think it’s beyond your control.

What I did to break this cycle of low energy after work was a combination of my efforts against burnout and what I’m about to share with you now.

11 ways to regain energy after work? Break the Exhaustion cycle as an Introvert  

1) Eat healthy foods

What you eat can really alter how you feel. Eating nutritious foods helps your body to function at its best.

If you eat white bread or processed cereals before work because you want “something light” your energy levels can go out of balance. Junk food consumption is the easiest way to feel fatigue during and after work.

Refined carbohydrates high in insulin can easily spike your blood glucose levels which leave you with low energy within a few hours. They’re also big culprits to eliminate if you’re always feeling brain fog after working hours.

Eat healthy foods that will give you sustained energy throughout the day.

2) Get a Good Night’s Sleep

Sleep is the one of the greatest factor that determines how you feel before, during and after work. And a poor sleep habit – makes it harder to retain your energy after work.

Be sure to get at least 6-8 hours of sleep each night in order to feel well rested and have more energy during the day.⁣⁣⁣ Otherwise you were not really sleeping well or not enough.

Poor sleep habits can impact your energy levels during and after work.

3) Exercise

Exercise releases endorphins, which can improve your mood and energy level. Introverts gotta workout to feel good, get stronger and increase their energy to stay sharp and alert after work.

But sitting too long, standing too long or even sleeping too long are the biggest culprits in draining your energy at work. You might think you conserve energy by not being active but the exact opposite happens.

Morning workouts are great and effective if you enjoy it and are consistent with it.

Watch you stress levels before engaging in strenuous exercise first thing in the morning so you don’t come back home exhausted after work.

4) Take a Nap

Not everybody can afford naps these days at working hours. Especially when you work in an environment you don’t have control of.

But if you work for yourself or are working from home especially as an Introvert– taking a 30mins – 1hr nap is a smart way to regain energy during and after working hours.

5) Focus on being Productive over being “busy”

While you’re working during the day always remember being busy is not what achieve results but being productive is.

My Coach Friend Michael Yeung would say on Productivity and Performance:

“Focus on conserving your energy from trivial tasks and energy suckers and manage your energy for optimal focus, vitality and performance”

Its as simple as:

  • Working while you work
  • Avoid unnecessary unproductive chatters
  • Stop trying to impress anybody with crazy “long work hours” that leaves you burned out.

5) Take a break

Find a way to take a break during work hours to relax. This way you don’t burnout easily and retain your energy levels after work.

Meditation could be a life saver here. There’s nothing wrong with staying idle to think or plan things out than always being busy to the point of exhaustion.

6) Limit caffeine and soda addiction

Energy comes from many things. Not just from drinking caffeine…When I felt the most burnout after work was when I was regularly consuming soda and energy drinks during work.

Caffeine may give you a temporary energy boost, but it can also lead to dehydration and an eventual crash.

The key is natural energy from healthy foods, supplements and focused work. Take supplements that are known to increase energy levels.

7) Breathe properly at work

Do you work to a point where you start breathing from your mouth instead of your nose?

When you feel stressed, breathe in slowly for 5 seconds through your nose, then exhale slowly for 7 seconds through your mouth.

This activates the parasympathetic nervous system, which has a calming effect and allows your body to better use oxygen.

8) Stay Hydrated at work 

It’s important to stay hydrated throughout the day!

Drinking plenty of water throughout the day will help to keep you hydrated and energized.

9) Intermittent fasting

I’ve noticed I hardly even need a nap on days where I skip breakfast. Intermittent fasting has proven to be very effective in weight loss as well as overall health including high energy after work.

10) Focus on meaningful work

You could eat healthy, limit alcohol, take breaks etc and still feel zero motivated after work because all the moment you spent at work was more of a draining activity rather than one that gives you life.

If you don’t love what you do – it won’t be long before you’ll resent it and feel worse after work.

Find something that adds meaning and purpose to your life and you naturally shine and blossom during and after work.

11) Have an Evening Routine

Evening routines are a hack to have more energy after work.

You could be reading a book, cooking a healthy meal or engaging in a meaningful conversation that’ll keep you energy level up after work.

10 Key strategies to have more energy after work

  • Consider going to bed and waking up at the same time each day to help regulate your body’s natural sleep rhythm.
  • Getting some exercise in after work is an alternative that can boost your energy levels on such days.
  • Replace processed junks with high-energy foods such as whole fruits, smoothies, rice, high protein foods such as eggs, healthy fats and unrefined carbs such as yams or plantains.
  • Avoid overdoing naps as longer naps >1hr may disrupt your bedtime routines and impact sleep quality.
  • Know your peak productivity hours. There’s no need exhausting yourself if you know you’re more productive at the later period of the day – you might as well preserve that energy to put after work.
  • Meditation is one of the most effective way to reduce stress in your life.
  • Avoid caffeine after 2pm, as it can interfere with sleep and make you feel more tired during the day.
  • The simplest way to stay hydrated throughout the day is to drink water after waking up and after every meal.
  • Upgrade your energy and passion. Its not all about making more sales or getting your next client but it’s about loving what you do and truly serving others.
  • Something as simple taking a walk after work can help you to clear your head and increase your energy levels.

CONCLUSION

Low energy after work as an Introvert affects your health and how you feel about yourself.

If you don’t have the energy or confidence to work and push your limits you can’t push your business to the next level.

Start taking action and create the positive energy to ripple effect on people that surrounds you!

Categories
Entrepreneurship

10 Lessons from Richard Branson’s Autobiography: “Losing My Virginity”

The world-famous entrepreneur shares his wisdom on what it takes to be successful in business.

In his autobiography, Richard Branson details how he overcame a number of challenges in his early life to become the successful entrepreneur he is today.

10 Lessons From Reading Richard Branson’s ‘Losing My Virginity’

1) Failure is not fatal

Richard Branson persevered through difficult times to achieve success – Branson’s story is an inspirational tale of never giving up, even when the odds are against you.

The first project he gave his heart to “Student” at 16 right from high school died a quiet death with no one to purchase it but yet that didn’t stop him.

His other business failures include Virgin Cola, Virgin Cosmetics, and Virgin Brides, in addition to having to sell Virgin Records.

At a point he noted in the book:

“Every successful businessman has failed at some ventures, and most entrepreneurs who run their own companies have been declared bankrupt at least once.”

One of the biggest lessons Branson learned is that failure is inevitable, but it’s what you do after a setback that really matters. You can always find a way to succeed no matter how many times you fail especially when you’re young.

2) Success can take off without warning

The record industry which he switched to later on the business started making hits with artists like Mike Oldfield with the album “Tubular bells.”

He saw big time success he couldn’t have predicted. Other factors contributed to this success – like the technology of Compact disc and Virgin becoming an undisputed record label in the music industry.

There is no one-size-fits-all approach to success. It’s possible that what works for you won’t work for someone else. The same way failure can teach you lessons; if you stick with it and keep making progress – success can take you off by surprise.

The trickiest thing about quitting is when things get “really hard” they are about to get easier. Getting through this specific time is where most people fail and can’t make it through. ⁣⁣

3) Follow your Guts and Instincts

Richard is known for following his guts in making business decisions. He let Simon (a record business partner and employee) make key decisions according to his taste in the choice of their products and signing people on the record which led Virgin Music dominating the top-ten singles and albums charts.

When he wanted to go into the airway industry – the same Simon said he’ll go ahead with the plan “over his dead body.” Guess what? It affected the business relationship but Richard still followed his heart and this also resulted to success.

Remind yourself how bad you want something! Start slow and build up to the momentum. Once there don’t stop..

4) Take Risks

Throughout the book, Branson shares stories of how he took risks from when he was young and didn’t let fear hold him back, which led to some of his biggest successes.

Branson was not afraid to take risks. He believed that if you don’t take risks, you will never achieve anything great. Nothing ventured; nothing gained.

This mindset led him to accomplish some amazing things.” The most interesting question he asked himself when going into Airline was “what’s the biggest risk?

The most Virgin would lose would be £2 million. It was a risk Virgin could afford and to their surprise was not a regret.

Taking risks doesn’t mean you will be successful every time. Even if taking risks sometimes leads to failure it can help you grow as a person. If you don’t take risks you won’t have the chance of succeeding!

5) Focus on what gives you Internal joy

Branson filled his life with things he was passionate about, whether it was music, business, or philanthropy. This led to him being incredibly successful in all areas of his life.

All the Balloon travels, his business choices in terms of partners and risk taking was all based on what give him the most joy.

“My interest in life comes from setting myself huge, apparently unachievable, challenges and trying to rise above them. But another part of me is driven to try new adventures, and I still find that I want to push myself to my limits.”

To be successful, be passionate about your work. The goal is to build a business with something you’re passionate about.

Hard work isn’t hard if you are passionate about it. On the flip side of that, even easy work is hard when you hate what you are doing.

6) Choose your Unique angle yet Never Lose sight of your dreams

Branson always tried to do things differently from everyone else. He didn’t want to be like other businesses; he wanted to be unique. This helped him stand out and become one of the most successful entrepreneurs.

However tight things are, you still need to have the big picture at the forefront of your mind. Think of all the confrontation and evil plots from British airways, the challenges of the business – one of the lessons is to never lose focus.

It makes no difference if you don’t have all the answers just yet. Downgrading your dreams devalue your passions and motivation. You cannot be excited for an extended period of time chasing small goals.

Therefore if you have big dreams, double down on them! With the right plan, you can get a clear picture of how to get there.⁣ Believe in yourself and have confidence in your abilities.

7) Blow away your competition

Richard has a principle of making sure he’s doing something that stands out from the competition. That way you’ll be in a better position to attract your ideal clients.

This was behind going after British Airways as a competitor and and finally signing big artist like Janet Jackson and Rolling stones. When it was done he acknowledged in the book regarding Janet Jackson “she could not be missed” based on what it meant to Virgin over other records.

Today they’ve worked with big artist like Taylor Swift, James Bay, Bastille, Chvrches, Niall Horan, Shawn Mendes and Florence + The Machine amongst many others and celebrating 45years +.

8) In the scariest moment -Trust God

Entrepreneurs are known to be proactive and always making key decisions as regards to their destiny. But at a point during the balloon travels, Richard experienced several moments he could only attribute to a higher power taking control. “I resigned myself to fate, and forced myself to make the best of it.”

9) Always think of how to reinvest your money

When Virgin records become a success and was finally sold – Richard could have retired and go live in a yacht. But he chose to Reinvest the money.

Today Richard Branson according to Virgin is Founder of the Virgin Group. Virgin is one of the world’s most irresistible brands and has expanded into many diverse sectors from travel to telecommunications, health to banking and music to leisure.” –

10) Get Feedback and be open to learning

Richard Branson thought of a way to get feedback from customers and improve his company. He resorted to listening to them casually, writing observations and implementing: “I don’t mind where the ideas come from as long as they make a difference.”

One of the keys to Branson’s success has been his ability to always stay learning and open to new ideas.

Bonus point:

11) Put People first – Focus on the customer

Branson talks about how his businesses have always been about people first and how treating employees well is essential for any company’s success.

Categories
Entrepreneurship Lifestyle Personal Development

Can you have discipline without motivation? The Power of Self Discipline

Focusing on Motivation can help you do things when you feel like doing it but Discipline will help you do it regardless of how you feel. Discipline is the priority, not motivation.

Once you realize you don’t need motivation to get any work done – then it changes a lot for you.

When I was in college – every time I focused on motivation to get work done – my grades suffered. Once I switched to Discipline – they went back up.

Same thing applies to business and skills you want to gather under you belt.

Discipline and motivation are interconnected

We often think that discipline and motivation are two separate things, but they’re actually interconnected. You need discipline to maintain your motivation, and you need motivation to stick.

It’s easier said than done.

  • Going to the gym when you have 0 motivation to go is always the hardest.
  • Writing and posting consistently even when you get little engagement is hard.

But if you stick to it, you improve with time.

How to improve self discipline without motivation

The most successful people I know including Entrepreneurs, health workers, religious authorities, fitness enthusiasts etc. are self-motivated through discipline. It’s the key to:
  • Staying in shape: when your motivation to go to the gym is at an all time low
  • Becoming healthier – saying no to junk
  • Achieving your goals – taking the right action.
  • Sticking to your purpose – amidst 1000 shiny objects.

Discipline is the key to achieve your goals even without motivation

Back to the college story, there were many points where we woke up with 0 energy and motivation knowing but knowing we had tests or exams the next day we had to put in the work.

We knew you never had to rely on motivation or you’ll probably last a few weeks in school. If others could study and graduate with good grades so could we no matter how difficult it seemed.

When Discipline Matters Most:

There are certain times in life when having discipline is essential, even if you don’t feel motivated. E.g.:

  • In your Career & business, so many distractions and when you lose interest.
  • A Parent that is trying to help their teen figure life out.
  • Aged and retired ones that start feeling zero motivation to get up after a certain age.
  • Going to the gym after you’ve had a messed diet or when you’re not making enough progress.

Once you realize you don’t need motivation to get any work done – then it changes a lot for you.

The Power of Self Discipline: even when You’re Not Feeling Motivated

1. Focus on your why

Have a strong WHY. What impact do you want to create? Everyone has their own reason for wanting to be disciplined, whether it’s for personal or professional success. Figure out what yours is and use it as fuel when things get tough.

Without a purpose behind any struggle, you’ll easily give up or resent what you do. The latter is one of the most dreadful moments in an entrepreneur’s journey.

Successful people know that it’s easy to lie in bed at 5-6 am in the morning. But the moment you figure out that Motivation comes when you know what you are working for. You quit the hesitation and start taking action.

2. Build your Character through discipline

Discipline is one of the best ways to build a solid character. If you focus on discipline, you can build a solid character that keeps you grounded and you find it easier to say no to certain things & temptations that are not aligned to your values.

People find themselves into bigger positions where they’re exposed to money & fame and sometimes misbehave. It was not the bigger money, exposure or lack of enough motivation from their organization that made them fall out of their best behavior.

It was because they had not taken time to build their character before getting into such positions. Hence, money & fame exposes their true character and they find it difficult to resist any temptation.

If you focus on discipline, you can build a solid character that keeps you grounded and you find it easier to say no to certain things & temptations that are not aligned to your values.

3. Take Responsibility 

Most forms of external motivation do not last. With discipline you can prove to yourself each day as you wake up what you can do.

Most people need an external force to motivate them into action, or to keep them in check morally. You may still need a form of accountability (next point), but true responsibility starts with following through what you said you would do – through discipline.

Can you have the self-control to do something that’s beneficial even when you don’t want to? To quote Nietzsche:

“He who cannot obey himself will be commanded.”
Freedom is the will to be responsible to oneself.

4. Create accountability

Consider working with a Coach who has expertise helping people in developing self-discipline.

Another way is to tell your spouse or significant other what you’re going to do & add some accountability & social pressure.

Surround yourself with people that help you level up through building self-discipline.

5. Create Routines and form Right Habits

Can you remember when you were a kid? You needed your parents to remind you to brush your teeth everyday. External motivation.

But today why do you brush you teeth everyday. The pain of a bad colored teeth or mouth odour is greater than the discipline of a few minutes of your day.

Focus on developing habits instead of getting motivated.
Once something becomes a habit, does motivation even matter?

6. Plan your day from the night before

One of the best things you can do for yourself to have more discipline is to take a few minutes each night to plan against your next day.

Would you leave your forthcoming day to chance and how much motivation you feel or would you rather have a particular goal you want to achieve?

The latter makes it easier to spring up & win!

7. Delay Gratification and be consistent 

Consistency makes discipline the key to success, even when you don’t feel motivated. Show up every day with a winning mindset and long-term attitude.

One key aspect of discipline is being able to delay gratification. That is, being willing to put off immediate pleasure in favor of long-term gain.

Do the work – it applies to your health, business, gym & sustaining solid habits. Same mindset you need to train is the same mindset you need to maintain a business.

People who are seeking motivation are always asking whether its possible to just do what is required and nothing more? But this is a recipe for remaining mediocre.

8. Stop seeking external validation and/or motivation

When you don’t care about what others think, you experience real freedom.

Trust yourself with a smile when everyone doubts.

Never let the validation of men be your motivation – instead focus on building discipline.

Avoid the chase of motivation and premature dopamine.
Use dopamine to push yourself through rewarding yourself AFTER working.

9. Fall in Love with the process

I’m all for doing what you love and working with clients you like.

But it’s possible to be disciplined without necessarily enjoying what you’re doing.

Sometimes we have to do things we don’t like in order to achieve our goals E.g.

  • Working with a client you don’t like for the first time (no one plans for this).
  • Learning to eat healthy foods again (when your taste buds have been f**ked up by sugar)

Smart Employers these days hire for motivation, attitude, and skill set in that order because you can’t teach the other two.

To eliminate your need for motivation – fall in love with the everyday grind and it becomes enjoyable.

The process becomes its own motivation. As focusing solely on the end goal decreases your joy and increases your need for extrinsic motivation instead of discipline.

10. Learn from your failures

It takes discipline to learn from your failures. We naturally want to forget failures and move on to the next big thing. But its only after connecting the dots, can you learn what not to do next time and succeed on your next attempt.

Infact you can use Failure as a motivation. Failure gives us a chance to learn something.

All these points are to remind us to focus on training our discipline to achieve our goals because discipline is more important than motivation.

The Importance of Motivation

If you don’t have motivation, it’s hard to keep up with a disciplined lifestyle.

Even if you’re not naturally motivated, there are ways to find motivation from within yourself.

I like this analogy of matchstick and candle from a thread by Jack Coulson:

CONCLUSION

There needs to exist a healthy balance between discipline and motivation. One doesn’t necessarily work without the other – it’s important to find a balance between the two.

But in all you do, make discipline a priority.

 

Categories
Personal Development Entrepreneurship

9 Tips for Effective Decision Making

Why is effective decision making important? What are some decision making tips?

Life is all about choices and decision-making.

We make decisions every day. From the simple decision of what to eat to the big ones like; career choices and the choice of a life partner.

While it requires little to nothing to make those small decisions, the big ones often seem daunting.

There are various internal and external factors that can influence our decision-making process, such as our values, beliefs, emotions, and cognitive biases.

When decision-making becomes a stressful undertaking, most people avoid making a decision altogether– indecision or end up making a wrong one.

“You are not the victim of the world, but rather the master of your own destiny. It is your choices and decisions that determine your destiny.”
― Roy T. Bennett

9 tips on making your Decision making process easy and Effective: 

1) Avoid Making Decisions When You Are Exhausted.

The process of decision-making is a mental one. It involves a lot of thinking, imagination, and predictions. Carrying out this process when you are worn out can easily lead to making a wrong decision.

I remember agreeing to help a friend with his startup. Unfortunately all meetings he had with his developers and everybody on the team were past 10pm for whatever reasons. I’m not a night person and have never made effort to be one.

I believe hunger, tiredness, fatigue, and lack of sleep shouldn’t go together with decision-making. Instead, postpone deciding until you are of a sound mind and healthy body.

2) Avoid Making Decisions When You Are Highly Emotional.

The average person makes 90% of decisions based on emotions. That’s why more often than not, they choose immediate gratification over long-term reward.

While decision-making shouldn’t be strictly logical, it also shouldn’t be an emotional process. There should be a balance between logic and intuition.

One way to achieve this is to avoid making decisions when your emotional levels are at their peak. Whether it’s a positive or negative emotion, the results are often the same. So pick a time when you can rein in your emotions to make clear-cut decisions.

You can choose to:

  • avoid picking the call
  • walk away when angry instead of saying what you’ll regret for life

3) Get Adequate Information: Research

In the simplest language – Do your homework.

Making decisions with a lack of information would seem tasking don’t you think?

You can see how stressful it is, trying to pick between choices you know nothing, or little about.

Instead of overthinking, get on with researching your choices. Fortunately, in this era getting information is as fast as logging into your browser and typing your questions.

Before you make a decision, ensure you are armed with adequate and correct information on your choices. Research is an important part of effective decision making. By researching your options, you can make sure that you are making the best decision possible.

My friend Bill on NotePD wrote more on this here:

10 Steps to Evaluate Information for Making Effective Decisions

4) Avoid Assumptions And Sentiments

We are humans. That means we can’t help but be sentimental, stereotypical, and assuming. Most people make decisions based on other people.

“My friend did that.”

“He did this.”

“I can’t pick this choice because it looks like…”

“I feel this doesn’t…”

“People who usually do this are…”

Stop assuming. Stop being sentimental and stop being stereotypical.

Approach decision-making with facts! Well researched facts. Not with what you heard or what you feel other people did.

Ad:

5) Weigh The Pros And Cons.

Perception is a tricky thing. A choice may seem less attractive to you because of one negative thing, which will blind you to all the positives of that choice.

To avoid this, it’s advisable to list out the pros and cons of each choice. It means you have to think about the short and long-term consequences of each choice and match them to your values and future goals to see which is most appropriate for you. It is practical.

Get a piece of paper or a diary and list your future goals. Then in a tabular form, write down all the pros and cons of each choice. Make sure you do this after carrying out adequate research on each option. This way, it is easy to eliminate choices until you are left with just one.

6) Seek Opinions

Even if decisions you take only affect you, it’s not wrong to seek other people’s opinions. Some may have had to make similar choices before and can give you advice based on their experiences.

Though it is important to note that the opinions and advice are just that– they don’t make the decisions for you but make your decision-making process easy.

7) Don’t Be Too Worried About Making A Poor Decision

The hardest part of making a decision is the fear of making a poor one. And because of that, most people stave off making a decision. Apart from some decisions that we make once in life– which in my opinion, are very few, you can always correct a poor decision.

Do not avoid the process because you fear making a mistake. It is human to make mistakes. And your response shouldn’t be trying to avoid them but learning from them when they happen.

When making decisions, know that you can always correct your mistakes.“

In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing. The worst thing you can do is nothing.”― Theodore Roosevelt

8) Sleep on it

If you’re still not sure what to do, sometimes it’s best to sleep on it. This gives your brain time to process information and come up with a solution.

As I noted earlier, some decisions have far-reaching consequences that we can’t afford to rush into making them. Having time to think and gather information on your choices is necessary.

But on the other hand, it is dangerous to linger and draw out this process. It can lead to indecision.

9) Try Different Approaches

If you find yourself stuck, try looking at the problem from a different angle. Sometimes, all it takes is a fresh perspective to find the solution.

When I advice people on how to leave their comfort zone, its always start with more “Yes” to different opportunities before you say no more often. I learnt this from the likes of Tim Ferris and other productivity experts.

Be open to new ideas and solutions. You never know where inspiration will strike, so it’s important to be open to all possibilities.

“People who are right most of the time are people who change their minds often.”― Jeff Bezos

SUMMARY

The right decisions are always the hardest to make.

The first step is to understand what’s important to you, and then determine the choices and decisions that represent where you want to be.

Quit making decisions when you’re highly emotional, exhausted or in a hurry. Weigh the consequences, sleep on it at times and seek others opinions when necessary.

Imperfect action beats perfect inaction all the time. If you don’t want to continue in pain, you must make the right decisions everyday and focus your mind and your energy towards achieving your goals.