Work Harder

Six Ways to Trick Yourself into Working Harder

I suspect that, like me, you've had times when you've thought if only I could work a bit harder...

Maybe you're worried that your only claim to fame is going to be "World's Greatest Procrastinator" or "Biggest Farmville Addict". You've got some great dreams and ambitions – but you secretly doubt whether you can work hard enough to achieve them.

I've got good news for you. There are a bunch of great little tricks you can use to encourage yourself to work harder. No sweat, no tears.

These aren't just for your paid work or your small business: they work for any goal you have in mind, like losing weight or quitting smoking.

1. Use Your Competitive Spirit
   I've got a huge competitive streak. Give me someone to compete against, and I'll find reserves of energy and motivation that I never knew I had.
   
   You might well be wired the same. Perhaps you love the idea of competitions like National Novel Writing Month (just rope in your friends and see if you can beat them to 50,000 words) or maybe you'd be great at losing weight if you were competing with your partner.
   
   Look for a way to turn your work into a competition: this could be something informal with your friends, a competition that you find online, or even something you start up yourself.
2. Tell Yourself "I'm Just Going To..."
   You're keen to write a book. The problem is, you never feel like starting. Every weekend, you promise yourself you'll spend two hours on it ... but somehow, you never find the time and energy.
   
   Instead of trying to make a huge commitment, start ridiculously small. Tell yourself "I'm just going to open up the document," or "I'm just going to spend five minutes writing." Usually, you'll find that initial resistance vanishes once you get going.
   
   This works for almost any goal, too:
   
   • "I'm just going to tidy this one shelf."
     
   • "I'm just going to put my jogging kit on."
     
   • "I'm just going to pick up my guitar."
3. Set a Timer (and Try to Beat It)
   This is one of my favorite methods at the moment (I've got a timer running as I type this!) When you want to squeeze out a bit more work in a bit less time, one of the best ways is to race against the clock.
   
   Give yourself a challenge: if you think that cleaning the kitchen will take a half an hour, set your timer for twenty-five minutes.
   
   Using a timer encourages you to stay focused – partly because you know that time is ticking away, but also because you know that after half an hour (or whatever), you'll be done!
4. Listen to Music (Fast or Focused)
   If you exercise regularly, you'll probably know already how useful music can be. A fast paced, powerful album can get you working harder in the gym than you'd otherwise manage.
   
   The same goes for almost any work that you're doing. If you're trying to power through your emails or get your filing done, fast and energetic music can help you feel awake and energized.
   
   For more cerebral tasks – like writing, designing, programming – you might prefer music which helps you to feel calm and focused. I won't give specific recommendations as my tastes in music may be very different from yours: experiment, and see what works best for you.
5. Be Accountable to Other People
   Have you ever worked hard just because you knew someone else would be checking in with you? Perhaps you hired a personal trainer who asked about what you'd eaten during the week, or maybe you worked with a life coach who helped you set specific goals.
   
   Accountability is a really powerful motivator. It can be incredibly simple to put in place, too: perhaps you're planning to do a certain amount of work on a website you're designing, so you put a quick message on Twitter or Facebook to say what you're working on. You'll find that you want to do the work because the world is watching! It's a great feeling when you can let your friends know that you did do what you said you were going to do.
   
   You can go further with accountability, too; perhaps setting up a small, focused group of friends or colleagues who meet regularly to discuss progress and future goals. By being accountable to one another for the work you're putting in, you'll all find that you're more motivated and focused.
6. Give Yourself Rewards
   Although completed work is often a reward in itself, it's sometimes the case that the pay-off seems a good distance away. If you're dieting in the hopes of being at your ideal weight in a year's time, then it's hard to stay motivated from week to week.
   
   By giving yourself small rewards, you can make difficult tasks seem much more desirable. If you promise yourself a long bath after you've cleaned out the garage, or a new video game once you've lost 15lbs, then you've got a short-term reason to keep going.
   
   (You can even combine this with some of the other tricks – like competing in a competition which has a prize as the reward, or asking a friend to take custody of your reward until you've done the work that you've committed to.)

Do you have any extra tricks to add? If so, share them with us in the comments!

Written on 11/16/2010 by Ali Luke.

Lessons From Isaac Newton

5 Amazing Lessons from Sir Isaac Newton

Sir Isaac Newton was an English physicist, mathematician, astronomer, natural philosopher, alchemist, and theologian. He is considered by many scholars to be one of the most influential people in the history of the world.

His Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica (Latin for "Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy"; usually called the Principia), which was published in 1687, is probably the most important scientific book ever written! In this book, Newton described universal gravitation and the three laws of motion, which dominated the scientific view of the physical universe for the next three centuries.

Newton was responsible for building the first practical telescope and developed a theory of color based on the observation that a prism decomposes white light into the many colors that form the visible spectrum.

Newton also formulated an empirical law of cooling as well as studied the speed of sound.

Newton was also very religious. He was an unorthodox Christian, and during his life he actually wrote more on Biblical hermeneutics and religious studies than on science and mathematics, the subjects he is primarily known for.

5 Amazing Lessons from Isaac Newton:

1. Patiently Think
   
   

   “If I have done the public any service, it is due to my patient thought.”

   
   We don’t spend enough time patiently thinking! Albert Einstein said, “It’s not that I’m so smart, it’s just that I stay with problems longer.” If you would just block out some time daily to “think,” you could solve many of your problems. …You could even solve some of the world’s problems.
2. Labor to be Tactful
   

   “Tact is the art of making a point without making an enemy.”

   
   Solomon said, “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” We can all polish up on our tact, our diplomacy, our discretion, our delicacy, and our gracefulness. Solomon went on to say, “Like apples of gold in settings of silver is a word spoken in right circumstances,” labor to be tactful in all you do.
3. Build Bridges
   
   

   “We build too many walls and not enough bridges.”

   
   Tony Robbins said, “The quality of your life is the quality of your relationships.” This is why you must spend your time building bridges instead of walls. When we “build bridges” we are literally building a better life. When we build walls, we are stagnating our own growth. Joseph F. Newton said, “People are lonely because they build walls instead of bridges.”
4. Chase after Knowledge
   
   

   “If I have seen further than others, it is by standing upon the shoulders of giants.”

   
   There’s no need to recreate the wheel. To make progress all you must do is to build on what others have already done. Commence by learning what others know.
   
   When you chase after knowledge, you strategically position yourself on the shoulders of giants; you are then able to see what others can’t see.
5. Pursue Truth
   
   

   “A man may imagine things that are false, but he can only understand things that are true, for if the things be false, the apprehension of them is not understanding.”

   
   We must pursue “truth!” There’s an anonymous quote that goes, “The truth is heavy, therefore few care to carry it.” Be one of those few who pursue truth both night and day. Blaise Pascal said, “Once your soul has been enlarged by truth, it can never return to its original size.”

Thank you for reading and be sure to pass this article along!

Written on 11/1/2010 by Mr. Self Development who is a motivational author that offers a practical guide to success and wealth; support him by visiting his blog at mrselfdevelopment.com or by subscribing to his feed.

Seven Steps To Increasing Your Financial Peace

Financial peace. Those are two words that don’t typically go together. Money struggles often consume our lives…daily. For example, over 61% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck, meaning one job loss, vehicle meltdown, or sickness could send most people spiraling out of control financially. This doesn’t have to be case though. If you desire to strengthen your financial position and experience calm, then here are 7 tips that will enhance your financial peace.

1. Educate Yourself
   Perhaps not intuitively obvious, but educating yourself can do wonders for increasing your financial peace. Here’s why: many of us have never been taught personal finance. As a result, few of us have a strong basis in it. Some of the financial anxiety that we experience is the consequence of uncertainty and misinformation. If you read even three books on personal finance, you will often understand the mechanics infinitely better than so many people. That’s certainly not because three books is a magic number (although it is a great start!), but rather it’s a reflection of the general disinterest in or even intimidation by the subject. By learning more about personal finance you will:
   
   
   • Decrease your general fear
   • Become more discriminating about what you hear and read
   • Gain more confidence in your ability to handle your family’s finances
   • Become a resource for your family and friends
2. Live on a Budget
   Yes, it’s the dreaded B-word. Budgets are a tremendously powerful tool for achieving financial peace. Your written budget is you telling your money how to behave instead of your money dictating your life. This is critical. So many financial failures are the result of lack of proper prioritization. How else do you explain people who are foreclosed on but wear designer duds? Some people will pay Visa before they pay their electric bills just because Visa has a more aggressive collections division. That’s not in the right order.
   
   Of course, you want to pay everything that you can, but if the resources are tight, you must develop a plan to derive the greatest benefit from your available dollars. Alternatively, some people who have excess funds believe that budgeting is only done to get out of a financial bind. Unfortunately, it really doesn’t matter whether you make $40,000 or $400,000 per year, you can still be broke without a plan. That’s exactly what a budget is: a plan for your money.
3. Have an Emergency Fund
   Your emergency fund is a critical component for your financial peace. It essentially puts distance between you and costly life events. For example, you can imagine that having a sudden and unexpected failure in your HVAC can run you several thousand dollars. If you have already allocated funds for an emergency, although the repair will be aggravating, you’ll be able to make it just fine.
   
   Typically, a fully funded emergency fund consists of 3-6 months worth of expenses. Of course, if you know of an imminent emergency, the fund can be increased. This money should be liquid: easily accessible without penalty. This is important because many will borrow on a credit card in an emergency to avoid the penalty of cashing out a c.d. or a selling stock during a down market.
   
   Remember, it’s not an issue of “will an emergency happen?” but rather “when will an emergency occur?” An emergency fund helps you be prepared!
4. Track Expenses
   Do you know how much you spend on clothes and groceries annually? According to Thomas Stanley (The Millionaire Next Door), most millionaires do. It is important to know where your dollars are going to see if you are sticking to your plan and if not why? It could be that the plan is unreasonable or incomplete and needs to be adjusted. Knowing your expenses can tremendously decrease your stress over money because you know in advance your household operating costs. Running an economically productive house is one of the hallmarks of millionaires. Not only is it hard to assess productivity without tracking your expenses, without looking at your numbers it’s hard to plan for the future. Thomas Stanley said it this way: “most millionaires look to the future. They are very likely to compute the lifetime costs and benefits of various activities that have some potential in saving money. This type of behavior is a high correlate of accumulating wealth…” There’s no need to become obsessive, but do educate yourself with your real numbers. This is one of your best opportunities to grab hold of your household finances.
5. Plan Big Expenses
   Christmas, birthdays, and anniversaries come at the same time every year, so plan for them financially! Big expenses that aren’t a surprise should be planned for, so that your emergency fund and budget can remain intact. It is no fun to still be paying for Christmas into February, yet without a plan it is certainly possible.
   
   According to the National Retail Federation, Americans spend an estimated $832 on average for gifts, food, and decorations each Christmas. That means that it is prudent to anticipate such costs and adjust your household budget accordingly. Planning decreases stress because you focus your energy on solving a problem rather than being caught off guard.
   
   Dr. Steven Covey’s classic discussion of the Time Quadrant is relevant here. He clearly distinguishes between “urgent” and “important” tasks. For optimal performance, you should focus your effort on non-urgent, important tasks. If you value your holidays and celebrations, why not plan for them in advance (while non-urgent) to make sure that they are stress-free successes.
6. Money Ratios
   Managing your money ratios well is among the most important things one can do financially and can substantially contribute to your financial peace. In his book Your Money Ratios: 8 Simple Tools for Financial Security, Chris Farrell discusses eight of the most important money ratios. Here are some that you should consider monitoring.
   
   
   • The Savings Ratio – What percentage of your income do you save? This should at least be 12% and typically increases as we age. (It’s okay if you are not there yet, but it’s something to be working towards). Chris says the savings rate should be 15% by the time you are 45, but I personally think that is too low. It is a great start though!
   • The Capital to Income Ratio – How productive are you at accumulating wealth? Your capital ratio to income ratio is your: Net worth (not including home equity) / annual income. Prodigious accumulators of wealth typically are worth (excluding homes) at least twelve times their income by age sixty five. If you are closer to 40, then Chris argues you should have 2.4 times your income.
   • The Debt to Income Ratio – Are you over-leveraged overall? This ratio will tell you. Now ideally, you should be working aggressively towards becoming debt free (discussed later); however, if you want to know where you stand, calculate this ratio.
   • The Mortgage to Income Ratio – Do you want (or have) too much house for your income? In Will Mortgage Rates Really Drop to 0%?, I discuss two formulas that you can use to gauge where your house falls with respect to fiscal conservatism.
   • Life Insurance Value- Financial ruin can occur in less than 24 hours. Is your family protected from financial crisis? In 5 ways to protect your cash flow like the rich, I discuss five vital but often overlooked types of insurance that you should seriously consider.
7. Eliminate Debt
   More than anything, I believe eliminating debt can dramatically enhance your peace. It is so easy to spend your entire life working for the bank. While you are mired in debt, the creditors are getting rich and simultaneously diminishing your chances of achieving financial independence. Your debts are their assets, and every penny spent on interest goes towards making them wealthier. This is why 75% of the 400 richest Americans (Forbes 400) believe that "the best way to build wealth is to become and stay debt-free."
   
   By avoiding and eliminating your debt, you place yourself in an awesome position to build wealth because you are no longer borrowing from tomorrow’s prosperity to finance today. Even if you made the median income in North America, which is $50,000, with no debt and reasonable expenses, you could build some substantial wealth over the long-term. More importantly, because you have no debt, your expenses are significantly lower. Your dollars go a whole lot further when you don’t have to pay Master Card, Discover, GMAC, and Sallie Mae. Quite simply, becoming debt free can revolutionize your finances.

In aggregate, I have outlined 7 ways to tremendously increase your financial peace. Financial peace doesn’t have to be elusive. It’s totally achievable and with some work. Remember, these wise words from Thomas Paine.

Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom, must undergo the fatigue of supporting it.

Written on 11/7/2010 by Roshawn Watson. Roshawn writes at Watson Inc. on eliminating debt, investing money, and building wealth. Get my free eBook Your Foundation to Wealth by signing up for my email updates (no spam I promise). Get my RSS feed and connect with me on Twitter @roshawnwatson too.

Great Quotes From Zig Ziglar

7 Powerful and Amazingly Motivational Quotes from Zig Ziglar

Zig Ziglar was born in 1926 in Coffee County, Alabama, United States. He is an American author, salesperson and a motivational speaker. He is over 80 years old and still travels around the world attending motivation seminars to help people get stuff done.

Sometimes, a simple quote can change the way you see something, and that is what Zig Ziglar does so well.

With all that said, enjoy the 7 quotes below and think about how you can apply them to your own life. Is there something that can be improved? What steps can you take today to improve what you already have?

1. "You can have everything in life that you want if you will just help enough other people get what they want."
   Being selfish in life might make you happy in the short-term, but sooner or later you’ll realize that what really matters is helping others.
   
   It is what brings joy into your life and gets you up in the morning. As I went from a professional poker player to a more service oriented business, I started feeling a lot better.
   
   I am by no means saying to neglect yourself, because if you do not help yourself, you cannot help others, so there’s always a fine line of balance.
2. "The greatest good we can do for others is not just to share our riches with them, but to reveal theirs."
   Everyone has at least one gift and one passion in this life, usually more. Sometimes we’re blind to what’s in front of us, and we need someone else to point out the obvious.
   
   It took me a long time to realize that I really liked writing. Writing is something that comes naturally to me, and I love it. If it is one of my riches I do not know, but for now it certainly seems like it.
3. "Your attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude."
   It is not your inherent ability that determines your success, but your attitude. I’ve seen people have everything delivered to them on a silver platter and fail miserably. They gave up at the first sign of trouble.
   
   I’ve also seen people succeed with very little. If you’re determined to succeed, you won’t stop until you do. That’s the way I learned to play poker, and that’s the way I’ve learned to make a living online.
   
   I didn’t see myself having any other option than to succeed. I really like what I do, and I wasn’t going to give it up easily.
4. "Every choice you make has an end result."
   What kind of choices are you making today, and how will they affect your life one day, one month, one year, or ten years from now?
   
   Are you constantly avoiding going after your passion because you’re afraid of what might happen? Are you waiting for the stars to align so you can go after your dreams?
   
   The decisions you make today are the ones that shape your life, so choose wisely.
5. "If you learn from defeat, you haven't really lost."
   I failed a lot before I succeeded and started making a living online. Although failing hurts, I no longer look at it as defeat. I learn from each failure, and from each mistake I make.
   
   It may not be obvious what I’m learning all the time, but sooner or later it dawns on me. When you’re starting out with anything new, such as going after your passion and your dreams, you will make a lot of mistakes, and it will feel like you’re failing, but in reality, you’re making progress.
6. "If you wait until all the lights are "green" before you leave home, you'll never get started on your trip to the top."
   This is an excellent quote, because a lot of people want to wait until things are perfect until they start going after their dreams.
   
   If you’re one of them, you most likely will be waiting your whole life. If you want to do something other than you’re doing now, then go after it, and start doing it in any little way you can.
   
   Stop waiting for permission. Stop waiting for things to work out. Start doing what you can do today, conquer your fears and take things from there.
7. "Sometimes adversity is what you need to face in order to become successful."
   Adversity doesn’t feel nice, but it is sometimes just what you need in order to be successful. We don’t have a crystal ball, so we can’t really see that today’s adversity is tomorrow’s success.
   
   Don’t judge the mistakes you make, the failures you have and the adversity you run into, because you never know if all of those things lead to something wonderful.

Written on 10/24/2010 by Henri Junttila. Henri is addicted to living a free and passionate life. He runs the Wake Up Cloud, where he shows you how you can learn how to find your passion and live consciously.