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Turn Your
Habits into "Have-its"By Cathy Fothergill, Copyright 1999, revised 2000
When you hear the word "habit", what kind of image comes to mind? Is it negative or positive? Chances are, if you are like most people, the image that comes to mind is negative. You see a picture of a person who indulges in various excessive behaviors. Bad habits are easy to spot. They can destroy bodies and businesses.
In networking, it is the not so obvious habits that can keep most from achieving success. Solomon said, "Catch us the foxes. The little foxes that spoil the vine." You see, "little foxes" destroy grape vines by chewing them off at the root. Indeed, it's the "little foxes" or seemingly small habits, that cut the "vine" of success off at the root. Procrastination, watching too much TV, taking too much "time off" are all habits that can derail your business before it ever gets off the ground.
There have been many books, talks and tapes on the subject of "The habits of highly successful people." In a nutshell, they all say the same thing, "Look at what successful people do consistently, develop those habits and success will come your way." In other words, if you spend more time developing good habits, the bad ones will give way. Accentuate the positive!
A habit is like a winter coat. It is something you either put on or take off, depending on the situation. Obviously, if it's 20 degrees outside, you need that coat, but if it's 80 you don't. A habit is the same way. If it's killing or stunting the growth of your business, you need to take it off. If it will make you successful, you need to put it on. So how do you change? It's actually very simple. Do an examination and make the appropriate changes. Here are the steps to follow when turning habits into have-its.
1. Identify: Examine your life and determine what negative habits are holding you back. Is it procrastination? Watching too much TV? Fear? Also look at what positive habits you must develop that will make you successful. Is it making more contacts? Using your products? Following the system? Negative habits have to go! Positive habits must be developed and strengthened.
2. List: On a piece of paper, make two columns and list all of your habits, negative and positive. Then prioritize them according to which ones you feel your business would benefit most from developing or losing. This list should include any personal traits that you feel project a poor image.
3. Commit to change: Once you have identified the habits you need to change, begin the process. It is not a good thing to try to change everything at once, so look at your prioritized list and pick the one or few that you are going to work on first. You will find that there are things you should learn NOT to do and some you must learn TO do. Bear in mind, that depending on what "expert" you listen to, it takes from 21 to 30 days to develop or break a habit. Therefore, when you've identified the habit(s) you are going to work on, be prepared to make at least a 30 day commitment to your changed life pattern. Once the new habit is developed, it is no longer something you work on, but something that just happens, every day.
3. Reward: Once your habit of success has been developed, you will begin to see the reward for your hard work. Enjoy it, but don't get lazy and complacent.
4. New Action (Continued growth): Go back through your list and identify the next most important habit(s) you must develop, and begin working on them. If you sit back and wallow in the reward stage, you'll never go any farther.
In summary, developing successful habits is a repeating process. You must constantly identify, commit to change and receive the reward. If you concentrate on changing all your habits to successful ones, then you will change your life pattern of habits into "have-its"!
**Article by: Cathy Fothergill, Copyright 2000. Do you write articles? Great! Webmasters and ezine publishers are just dying to hear what you have to say. Get on over to: http://www.connectionteam.com and start submitting.
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Just
Focus!By: Cathy Fothergill, Copyright 2001
When I was still a child at home, my Saturday chores included cleaning my bedroom, one of our bathrooms and dusting the living room. These tasks all had to be performed before I could go anywhere or do anything else.
As most children will do, I would drag around and put off doing the inevitable. Sometimes it would be well into the afternoon before I finished my responsibilities and could go out of the house.
One particular Saturday, a strange thing happened to me. I got up that morning, determined to get all of my work done quickly so that I could do whatever I wanted to do. Amazingly, I was finished with my chores by 10 am. It felt so good to have the rest of the day without the pressure of "I have to do this" hanging over my head. I actually felt "free"!
I had just learned the benefits of focus. You see, I had focused all of my attention and efforts on my chores for a short time. I was rewarded with a sense of accomplishment and also, more precious free time to "be a kid".
How many times do we drag through our mundane chores, just prolonging the inevitable AND the agony? We all have chores in our business that we absolutely hate to do. Because we dread these tasks, we either put them off or work very slowly, allowing interruptions and having trouble getting "on task".
If we would all learn the important benefits of focus, things would be much easier. When going through our "to do" list, if we would just focus all of our efforts and attention on accomplishing as much as we can in a short period of time we would actually have much more time to do some of the things we want to do.
A few tips on "focus":
1. If you haven't decided what you want to do or where you want to go with your business, then you don't have anything on which to focus your attention and efforts. Make these decisions, then set out your daily, weekly and monthly activities to get them accomplished.
2. Once you have decided on your focus, you have to have discipline. You must be able to say, "I can't talk now." to the friend who calls to chat. Be determined to say, "I'm not interested at this time." when someone calls wanting you to look at another opportunity. This list could go on forever. Only you know exactly where you need more discipline.
3. Don't allow anything to cause you to get sidetracked. Use whatever you really want to do as a reward for completing the "have-to's".
Whenever I need a "focus" adjustment, I look back to my youthful experiences. I try to revisit the feelings of accomplishment, freedom and reward that I gained from just a few hours of true focus. As Benjamin Franklin said, "Employ thy time well if thou meanest to get leisure." Thank you, Mr. Franklin, that's some great advice.
**Article by: Cathy Fothergill, Copyright 2001. First published, You Plus Two, 01/20/01. Do you write articles? Great! Webmasters and ezine publishers are just dying to hear what you have to say. Get on over to: http://www.connectionteam.com and start submitting.
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Unfinished BusinessBy: Cathy Fothergill, Copyright 2000
"I have so much to do, I'll never get caught up." Have you ever said that? Are your thoughts scattered? Do you have trouble focusing on current important projects? Do you finish your day wondering, "Where did the time go?"
If you answered, "Yes" to any of the previous questions, then you probably procrastinate. If you procrastinate, then you have a clutter of unfinished projects or "unfinished business". If you have unfinished business, you have a time management problem. One of the greatest "thieves" of our time is incomplete projects. You know, the little jobs that pile up because we procrastinate.
Webster's Dictionary defines procrastinate as: "to put off intentionally the doing of something that should be done." We put things off to save time today or at this moment. Actually, this practice robs us of valuable time. This happens in 2 ways: 1. Our mind will always return to our unfinished business or project. This steals thought time from our current task. 2. We repeat manual tasks or they take longer.
Some examples:
You put off straightening your work area. You lose time looking for things and thinking about needing to straighten up.
Your mouse isn't working smoothly. You put off cleaning it. You lose every second you think about fighting with that mouse *and* you lose time shaking it and trying to get it to go where you want.
You put off making an important decision. You spend time worrying about that decision while you're trying to do something else.
You put off getting started on or finishing a project. You lose time thinking about needing to get it done.
You put off an unpleasant phone call, so your mind returns to the need to get that done...all day long.
You get the picture....Every procrastination, every incomplete project, every piece of unfinished business steals thought time from current projects. Finish the unfinished and capture precious seconds.
Here are some quick tips to finishing your "unfinished business":
1. Make a list of all your unfinished projects.
2. Prioritize the list.
3. List the steps to completion for each item.
4. Set a time frame for completion for each project (be realistic).
5. Pick out the most important project.
6. Make a daily "to-do" list for your project.
6. Get Started...one step at a time.
Some additional tips:
Don't let your mind become overwhelmed with the number of tasks you need to complete.
If at all possible, work on only one project at a time.
In your daily list, get the unpleasant tasks out of the way first. This will free your mind to "be there" for your current projects.
Give yourself a reward for completing a project.
Do you have "unfinished business"? Finish it! Start today! Don't tolerate one more second of lost time.
**Article by: Cathy Fothergill, Copyright 2000. First published in You Plus Two, 10/1/00. Do you write articles? Great! Webmasters and ezine publishers are just dying to hear what you have to say. Get on over to: http://www.connectionteam.com and start submitting.
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Just Another Goal Setting Article...NOT! By: Cathy Fothergill, copyright 2001
Once upon a time, I did a talk to members of the team. The subject of that talk was setting goals. At the time, I was just beginning to experience the power of written goals and their achievement in my own life.
I remember that day vividly. I felt sure that I had found the solution for my own life. I was certain that all I had to do was share what I had learned and others would be changed in the same way I had been. I filled their heads with facts and figures. I tried to motivate them to write down their dreams, goals and plans. Hey, I even had a theme song, "I Believe I Can Fly".
Almost five years have passed since that day. A lot of water has passed "under the bridge" so to speak. The network marketing company I was experiencing success with at the time is no longer in existence. My boys are adults now. I have 3 grandchildren. I am different. My family is different. The networking company I am involved with is different. The house I live in is different. The list goes on and on.
There is an old adage that says, "The only guarantee in life is change". There is no statement with more truth. I've changed. You've changed. Business has changed. We all know that the meaning of patriotism has changed for those of us in the U.S.
I know, you've heard it all before. There are some things that don't change. I don't care what anyone tries to tell you, there are SOME constants in life. One of those is the need to develop written plans and goals.
That hot Texas day in 1997, over the sound of dogs barking and children playing, I talked to the team about the need for setting goals and developing plans. In the course of that talk, I passed out a goal setting booklet that I had designed myself. On the front cover of that booklet were the words, "People don't plan to fail, they fail to plan." However trite that statement has become, the fact HAS NOT CHANGED.
So, as I study the prospects of another year, I'm still dreaming. I'm still setting goals. I'm still planning. That won't change till the day I die.
** Article by Cathy Fothergill, copyright 2001. First Published, You Plus Two 12/28/01. Do you write articles? Great! Webmasters and ezine publishers are just dying to hear what you have to say. Get on over to: http://www.connectionteam.com and start submitting.
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Wishes or Resolutions? By Cathy Fothergill
During December, January and February of every year, we hear a lot of people discussing resolutions. It doesn't matter what time of year, resolutions and good planning are still important. Most of us do make New Year's resolutions. As we do so, we tend to start with a great attitude. After 30 to 60 days, most of them have already fallen by the wayside. Resolutions are broken so often that it has become a joke.
The root of the word resolution, is resolve. According to Webster's dictionary, the verb tense of the word resolve means: "To reach a firm decision about". The word resolution means, "the act of determining". Webster's goes on to say, "Resolution stresses firm determination to achieve one's ends. Tenacity adds to resolution implications of stubborn persistence and unwillingness to admit defeat."
As you can see, according to these definitions, the word resolution implies the making of a definite decision, coupled with determination, persistence and tenacity. Using these definitions, it would seem that people fail to keep resolutions because there was no true resolve in the first place. Their resolution was nothing more than a wish or a hope.
If we have truly made a firm commitment, it naturally follows that we will take whatever steps necessary to see the task through to completion or manifestation. In order to achieve any goal, there must be a determination to see it through. Without true resolve, there will be no manifestation. If there is no determination, there is no true resolution.
Is this your time for making resolutions? If so, whatever you resolve to do, set the goals, make the plans and then do it! Don't make wishes.
**Article by: Cathy Fothergill, Copyright 2000. First published, You Plus Two, 12/16/00. Do you write articles? Great! Webmasters and ezine publishers are just dying to hear what you have to say. Get on over to: http://www.connectionteam.com and start submitting.
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The Team and the Loser's
AttitudeBy Cathy Fothergill
For several years, I coached youth sports. During that time, I identified a common attitude among players and coaches. I call it the "loser's" attitude. Does possession of that attitude mean a team loses every game? No, but it does guarantee that you will lose the important ones. There are many parallels between building a sports team and building a network marketing team. Below, I list a few of the characteristics that I use to define the "loser's" attitude. Do you see any of these in your network marketing team?
1. Not teachable: This is the "I don't care what you tell me, I already know it all." attitude.
2. Not a team player: These people will ALWAYS make decisions based on what benefits them the most or makes them look good. There is never any thought given to what is best for the team.
3. Playing the blame game: "But, Johnny did so and so and I couldn't..." (Blaming others for their mistakes.)
4. Making excuses: "I couldn't do that because..." (Blaming circumstances.)
5. Not willing to pay the price. (Lazy) These folks do not want to work at practice. They just want to sit back and reap the benefits of victory on game day. Other players resent them. They'll sit on MY bench. THEY DON"T SUCCEED!
6. Critical of others: Always pointing out and openly criticizing the failures and weaknesses of others. This is not a team attitude. As a matter of fact, this will divide a team.
7. Not willing to change: "But, I've always done it this way." They think that their ideas or what last year's coach taught them is the best way. They will not adapt their thinking to match the coach and the rest of the team.
8. They don't trust their team mates: They won't pass the ball because they are afraid their team mate will lose it or miss the shot. How can weaker team mates get better if they're never given any responsibility?
9. "I can't...": There is an old saying, "Can't, can't DO anything" That's exactly right.
10. No focus: Every obstacle distracts them from the primary goal of the team.
11. Dirty play: They try to "cheat the system" by doing illegal or questionable things behind the referee's back. Others see it and therefore, don't trust that player.
Did this list make you stop and think about your own attitude? How about someone on your team? The only way to overcome a "loser's" attitude in a youth sports team is:
1. Don't let yourself (the leader, coach) possess these negative characteristics.
2. Don't tolerate them from your team members.
3. Emphasize the positive characteristics in your team members.
4. REWARD accordingly!
Stay positive at all times and in all situations. Turn losing attitudes into winning attitudes. Good luck!
**Article by: Cathy Fothergill, Copyright 2000. Do you write articles? Great! Webmasters and ezine publishers are just dying to hear what you have to say. Get on over to: http://www.connectionteam.com and start submitting.
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Last Updated: February 26, 2004