The topic they assigned me was “Simply the Best.” So as I prepared, I asked myself, “What characteristics would help someone pass the “Best” test? That is, what are the characteristics of those who become the “best” at what they do?

Here are the thoughts I shared with them:

The Best are optimists. You can’t get to the top if you don’t think that there is a top or if you think you can’t make it. One characteristic of those who reach the peak is that they always believe that things can get better or be done better. This pushes them on to be their best.

The Best have vision. They can see ahead of the pack. Their eyes aren’t locked into the here and now. They see the bright future and what things will look like when they reach their destiny. While working hard for today, they live for the future! They do what Stephen Covey calls begin with the end in mind.

The Best relentlessly pursue excellence. The status quo is not for them. They want to be the best and experience the best. And that means giving their best. They go the extra mile so that in everything they do, in everything they say and think, they are striving for excellence.

The Best have a life long habit of personal growth. They don’t want to stay at the level they are at. They want to grow in their work, their intellect, their spirituality, their relationships, and in every area of their life. And they discipline themselves to put themselves in situations wherein they grow. Personal growth doesn’t “just happen.” You choose to grow. I always suggest what Zig Ziglar does and that is to enroll in “Automobile University.” Whenever you are driving around, listen to a personal or professional growth tape or CD. Over the long run you will grow. Also, read more. The old saying is true: Leaders are readers. So are those who pass the “Best” test.

The Best understand that the will be pushed by the competition – and the welcome it. Like the lead runner in the race who has someone on his heels, the best know that the competition is right behind them. They love it though because they know that the competition keeps them from becoming lazy and resting on their laurels. Instead, the competition pushes them to go faster and to achieve more – to remain the best by forging ahead.

The Best have a quest for leadership. Someone has to lead – it may as well be the best! Those who attain it get there because they want to. They want to lead and help make a difference. And they want to be equipped with the skills necessary to lead others on to a better place.

The Best leave a legacy. They aren’t in it just for themselves, though they will surely reap the rewards of being the best. Rather, the build things that last beyond themselves, things that can be enjoyed by others as well.

The Best are adept at the two most important pieces of time and personal management: Prioritize and execute. Just like weight loss boils down to eat right and exercise, personal management boils down to prioritize and execute. First, prioritize your activities. The important stuff goes on the top. Then, execute: do them. The best have habits and discipline that get them to the top by doing the best things and doing them first.

The Best focus on building relationships. Success does not come alone. Everyone who achieves much does it with the help of countless others. How do the Best get others to help them? They treat them right. They embrace them and help them. People become the best because they help other people, and people like them.

The Best make no excuses. When they fail they admit it and move on. They get back up and do it right the next time. They let their actions speak loader than their words. They stand tall and do the right thing the next time. No excuses, just results.

The Best understand that the good is the enemy of the best. Yes, they could say, “this is good.” But that would mean they have settled for less than the best. Many people think that good is good. Good is not good. Good is the enemy because it keeps us from the best. Choose your side: the good or the best. The Best choose, you guessed it, the
Best.

The Best Dare to Dream. While others live the mundane and settle into a life they never bargained for, a rut, the Best dream of a better life. And then they take the risks necessary to achieve their dreams. They live by Teddy Roosevelt’s quote: Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs though checkered by failure, then to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much because they live in the grey twilit that knows neither victory nor defeat.

Want to be the best at what you do? Take inventory on the above characteristics and then start moving to bring your life in line with the characteristics of the “best.” Then when you get to the top you will know that you have passed the “Best” test.

About The Author:

Chris Widener is a popular speaker and writer as well as the President of
Made for Success, a company helping individuals and organizations turn
their potential into performance, succeed in every area of their lives and
achieve their dreams.

To see Chris “live” at the upcoming Jim Rohn Weekend Event as he speaks on
the subject of Secrets of Influence go to
http://Chris-Widener.InspiresYOU.com/ or call 800-929-0434.

1. Know your roles, purpose, boundaries and resources. Teams need to first know their purpose, the role of each team member, what they are responsible for (and what is outside their scope) and what resources they have at their disposal. Once they know these things they need to remember them! Team Leaders can help by setting a clear purpose up front. The team can build processes to keep their roles and scope in focus. And as a team progresses, the resources required may change. Teams should try to succeed with their original resources, but should engage the team leader to provide additional resources when needed.

2. Assume the best about people. People on teams will do and say things you don’t understand or agree with. Always start from an assumption that their motives are team-based and their goals are consistent with team goals. Too often a comment or action will be misinterpreted leading to rifts, factions and dysfunctional behaviors. If you don’t understand a person’s perspective or comments, ask them for clarification rather than making your own assumptions based on your biases.

3. Be patient and caring. Teams sometimes need time to get going or get unstuck. As a team leader or any member of the team, be patient. Individual members of the team might not get on board with an idea or decision as rapidly as you so be patient and give them some time.

4. Maintain a sense of urgency. Patience is important, but teams also need to maintain a sense of urgency. Too often teams get bogged down in the process, spend too long on small points, or languish for any number of other reasons. Give the team time to work things out, but always keep the timeline in mind – and move towards completion.

5. Take time to plan your meetings. Want the best way to increase the productivity of your team? Spend more time planning your meetings. Meetings cost time, money and emotional and physical energy. Improve the return on that investment by having clear objectives and plans for every meeting – and by letting everyone see that plan (agenda) before the meeting so they can be prepared to succeed.

6. Be willing to ask for and accept help. Being on a team means being a part of the team. Be willing to ask for help on a particular task or decision. When help is offered don’t be proud – let people help. It will build relationships and help the team succeed more quickly.

7. Share. Your ideas, your thoughts, your experiences. Sharing these things are critical to a team developing synergy. Without the willingness to share, a team is just a collection of individuals. And as the work is completed, be willing to share the accolades and success as well.

8. Be willing to give feedback. Sometimes people will do something that bothers you or other team members. Be willing to give the person feedback on their behaviors. Equally important, when people shine or have done something very valuable, let them know that too! Effective timely feedback helps a team avoid breakdowns and provides the information needed for continuous improvement.

9. Fix the problem, not the blame. Problems will occur. Use them as a way to assess progress and as an opportunity for learning, rather than as a chance to assign blame. After learning what can be learned, let the situation go and focus the team’s energies forward, not on the problem or issue.

10. Involve the right people at the right times. Sometimes teams need outside help and expertise. Go get it! Get the right people involved to make decisions and the right people involved to implement those decisions.

11. Keep the big picture in view. Teams often get lost in procedures, small problems or on any other sort of “rabbit trail”. Don’t lose track of the big picture. Remember the goals and purposes for the team and continue to bring yourself and the team back to those purposes. Keeping the big picture in view will smooth out many of the bumps in a team’s road and reduce the time and effort required to reach success.

12. Be proactive. These tips are for team leaders but not just for team leaders. Everyone on a team has a responsibility for team success. Be willing to ask the hard question, encourage the team to have better meeting planning, give the feedback and more. Highly effective teams are made up of highly effective, proactive team members.

As I mentioned at the top of this article, think about which of these tips you could apply with the greatest immediate impact. Resolve to take the appropriate action based on that determination and you will be taking positive step towards more effective teamwork.

No matter what type of business you’re in or what position you hold, you must be able to sell your ideas to others.

If you’re the owner, then you have to sell your ideas to your employees or your board of directors.  If you’re an employee of a business then you must be able to sell your ideas to your boss, your company, or your clients.  It seems that in this life, no matter whether it’s in business, relationships, or parenthood you had better be adept at selling your ideas to others.

It isn’t hard to master this procedure but it takes practice.  The first and most important rule of thumb is to remember that one’s credibility and power to make the desired changes must be earned.  Here are some specific points to remember:

• Be absolutely positive that you understand every aspect related to your proposal.  If there are obstacles within your organization to your idea, find a way around them before you make your suggestions.  Then when they are raised, you can come up with a solution.
• Know who or what sections of your business may be affected negatively by your idea.  Then find a way to modify it so that the organization can get all or most of the benefits without any parties getting hurt.
• Be aware of your own credibility.  Often, it’s the presenter more than what is presented that is judged.
• Limit the number of suggestions made.  This will increase your credibility if you’ve prioritized your ideas before trying to sell them.
• When you want to be taken seriously, you must use the rules for developing influence.  The Four Rs; Role, Respect, Relationships, and Rhetoric.

Make sure your role is that of a clear advocate.  Gain the respect you need through hard work and dedication to your responsibilities.  Form alliances that are based on mutual respect and hard work.  Finally, know exactly what you are proposing and all the implications of your idea.

The ability to sell your ideas to others is a valuable asset to your life and understanding how it’s done is easy.  No matter whether you’re dealing with your peers, your business, your children, or your significant other – your ability to sell your idea will be used so hone this tool well.

Being busy all the time, through necessity, is a curse. Being busy all the time, for the sake of it, is madness.

Continual busy-ness eventually leads to stress, particularly if results are minimal. You see, it will get to a point where something has to give way. It’s like filling a balloon with air. Eventually no more air will fit inside the balloon and it will do the only thing it can. It will burst.

It’s OK to have busy periods through each day, each week, each month and each year. However, you also need time to relax. Time to re-charge the batteries.

People who are continuously busy over long periods suffer from two main problems:

Let’s look at each in turn.

First, those who cannot say “no.” I have a saying: “You can’t save the entire world.” No matter how good your intentions are, you cannot be everything to everyone.

Make a list of those who need and deserve your time. They are the one’s you should give priority to. Anyone else comes next – if you have the time to spare.

A wise man once said, “work always expands to fit available time.” It’s true. But it is only true if you allow it to happen.

You can always do the odd favor for someone on the odd occasion. Learn to say no in a nice way. Here is one such way: “If I get all my own work done, I will consider your request.” What does that really say? It says your work is important. If you get it done you will help. Naturally, if you cannot get it done you cannot help. It’s a soft way of saying no. Usually the asker will then go and find another person to ask.

By saying no you actually help other people to grow. Imagine if you always said yes to tying up your daughter’s shoe laces. If you never said no she would still be asking you to do it at twenty years of age. By saying no you make her learn to do it for herself. Remember the old saying about giving a hungry person a fish to eat versus teaching the hungry person how to catch their own fish to eat?

By saying no we can free up more time for ourselves and those who need or deserve our time the most. Do not become a slave.

Turning to the second problem, delegation – learn to enlist others to perform tasks that they are better equipped, or have more time, to do.

If you run all over the place attempting to do everything yourself you will never have sufficient time to do anything properly. Delegation is the art of a true leader. The secret to successful delegation is to build the importance of the task into the mind of the person you are delegating it to. Then, when they do it, thank them and praise them sincerely for the things they did well.

Don’t ever think you are irreplaceable, particularly at your employment. Somebody gave me a definition once of irreplaceability in the workforce. It went something like this: “Get a bucket of water, roll up your sleeve and thrust your arm into the water. Now pull your arm out. The time it takes for the water to settle back into position will be about the same time it will take to replace you!”

Learning to say no and being able to delegate will allow you to perform the tasks you really want to do and really need to do yourself at a much higher level of proficiency.

When a customer visits your website, you have roughly ten seconds to capture their attention, so you better think carefully about what you want to include.  Some websites go directly into the navigation and content of their websites on their first “index” page.  Customers can surf around the site and decide if they want to buy the product or service.  This is not really the wisest option available.  Of course, every site does need the standard index page chock full of frequently asked questions, testimonials, order form, etc.  But there is a better way to “capture” your visitors by using a squeeze.  A squeeze page captures your audience with a screaming headline and brief key points about the customer’s problem and how you intend to solve it.  Sometimes a squeeze page offers a free report or newsletter.  Either way, all squeeze pages purpose is to retrieve the customers name and email address, or sometimes they ask the customer a burning question.So what is the point in retrieving the customer’s name and email address?  Have you heard of opt-in lists?  An opt-in list is gold to an internet marketer because you can send your customers information which will hopefully attract the customer back to the website to either purchase a product or service being offered. Spamming is illegal and having a great opt-in list is really necessary to any Internet marketer.  You can also use your list to make money as an affiliate with another company.  You can send customers an email from the site you are promoting and make profits as an affiliate.  This is a great way to earn extra income indeed.

Squeeze pages are sometimes the first page found on a website.  Sometimes they are pop ups on the index page of a website.  They are very crucial to any Internet marketer’s business.

Strange as it may seem, our life is made up of a series of “sales presentations“.  Sales may not be your gig, but if you’re the boss you’re making  presentations everyday.  Be it a pitch to your Board, announcing a policy change to employees, selling an idea to  your spouse, or just trying to win others over to your point of view – you need to punch up your people skills for winning pitches.

Human nature is such that people support solutions that they help create, so involve them by allowing your audience to participate with questions or ideas. It goes without saying that to not involve key people is risky, because messages can be misunderstood.   Your plans may be derailed before they begin if sufficient “buy-in” is lacking.  Use lots of open-ended questions in your presentation to draw out the silent type.

Preparation is a key to success.  Prepare your listeners to what’s coming during or before your presentation.  Try these pre-meeting tactics:

• Assign task-related pre-work. This could be pre-reading or study of a problem, and the preparations of possible solutions.  An example could be, “go and visit three kinds of accounts before the meeting.”
• Make pre-meeting contacts with those invited by email, phone, or in person.  You might want to try an informal survey to get people’s position on the issues at hand.

Remember support on key or controversial matters can be established ahead of time by lobbying, if you know where to lobby.

Do your research!  People who make it look easy and are effective presenters have a hidden arsenal.  This is an arsenal of up-to-date, organized material that can be accessed quickly in ready-to-use form when needed.  They have the stats to back up their ideas, and they have a mental arsenal of stories, examples, jokes, and ice-breakers to use when needed.

Your physical presentation could include tangible items relating to the issue such as recent articles clipped from newspapers or magazines, photographs, reports, and demonstration property.  To become masterful in this art learn to maintain resources you can access for just the right thing at the right time.

The next thing you must do is to explain “why?” The single most powerful thing you can do to convince your audience of something is to provide a convincing reason why they should do what you suggest or believe what you say.  People want and need a clear “WIIFM” – “what’s in it for me?” – to be able to react positively to what you want them to do.  It’s extremely important that you deliver a vision of benefits.  Hearing the “why” won’t automatically generate a “yes” to your proposition, but it’ll open the door for receptivity to your idea.

Knowing and accepting the “why” satisfies a basic need that we all have – to understand the purpose of our actions.  Use the words “because” or “so that” in your presentation and then finish the phrase.  When your subject matter is controversial or likely to generate emotions, it is essential that your “why’s” be tested in advance.  Ask some people you trust or that are on your “team” to play devil’s advocate to help you with your logic and arguments.

These are just the first four points for making successful presentations.  There are eight of them in total, and we’ll look at the other four in my column next week.  For now, let me leave you with this thought.

Life is a sales job from beginning to end. From the moment that we discern how to get approval as children, winning friends at school, getting our first beau, getting our first (and subsequent) job, getting engaged and married, achieving our goals, and anything else you can think of in between – we’re selling ourselves or our ideas all along the way.  Who said you weren’t a salesperson?

If your game is a business or a job,you won’t hear a whistle to signal the end of the game. If you keep going and win, you may gain a lifelong prize. If you keep throwing good money and energy into a losing cause, the whistle can blow for unemployment or bankruptcy.

“Should I keep going?” is one of the most difficult questions for anyone, including career counselors and coaches. There is no single answer, but here are some ways to focus the question.

1. How did you get into the situation? Were you encouraged by a spouse, parent, friend or mentor? You have a better chance of fulfilling your own dream than someone else’s.

2. Is there a little voice in your head that whispers, “Maybe you should be doing X instead?” Listen up, as the sports coaches say, especially if you can put a name on “X” ,and if you’ve been playing this game awhile. That “little voice” may be your intuition speaking.

3. Does your new venture refuse to go away? If you try to leave your job, do you find yourself getting caught up in a new project or rewarded with a new promotion?

One speaker, accepting a local “Entrepreneur of the Year” award, told the audience, “I hated this business. I tried to sell it but nobody would buy me out. I was forced to fix it up and, in the process, found success.”

4. What is the universe telling you? Are you getting customers? Is your progress considerably faster or slower than your peers and competitors? Has anything clicked into place for you, seemingly without effort? To interpret these messages, tune in to your own intuition.

5. What is your own historical trend? Do you tend to give up too easily or hang on too long? Often coaching can help you identify career patterns and decide if you want to make changes.

6. Are you still having fun? A loss of enthusiasm can be temporary, especially if you’re fatigued or have just experienced a setback. Long-term discouragement will create negative energy and ultimately destroy your career or business.

7. Must your decision be either-or? Can you continue a business part-time with a manager? Can you look for a new job but also start a business? Multi-tasking can fragment energies but also offer unparalleled opportunities. It’s a key transition skill. I offer one-to-one consultations on career strategy.

TIME IS MY FRIEND,

TIME IS MY ALLY

I HAVE ALL THE TIME I NEED

FOR EVERYTHING I WANT TO DO.

I received a lot of grateful responses and some questions, indicating just how hard it is to balance our time requests these days. I want to respond to a subscriber who said she is “too busy to attend to personal needs vs. work, work, work” and is looking for a way to take care of herself while meeting the requirements of her workplace.

Here are a couple of suggestions for anyone who is struggling to keep work and personal life in balance.

First, don’t judge yourself about where you’re spending your time. Wherever you are, be there 100 percent. If you’re working, try to notice why you said yes to the work and enjoy that part of it. Enjoy the moment.

Second, use your calendar or daytimer as a tool to give you what you want. Mark it with work and personal time, and attend to it. For example, I’m writing a book, and it’s very easy for me to let that time slip into something else, like answering email or returning calls. I’m getting better at blocking out the time in advance and sticking with what I said I was going to do with it.

Lastly, prioritize your values around time. If personal time is the highest priority, mark the personal time into your calendar first. Then fill in the other stuff in around it.

I hope some of this helps. Please write and let me know if any of the suggestions work for you. And let me know your ideas, too, because I need them!

it also helps to not have the wrong habits. What are these?

Seven Effectiveness-Killing Habits

1. Short term thinking. I knew a man who paid $700 rent instead of $550 per month for a nicer place. The landlord didn’t require a deposit, so he could move in for $300 less. Now he pays $1,800 more per year in rent. Borrowing from a loanshark to get into the other place would have made more sense, even at 200% annual interest.

2. Waiting for opportunities. Don’t we all know people who are “waiting for their ship to come in,” while others are out there building ships? Work invites opportunities – waiting doesn’t.

3. Blaming. This is a favorite habit of many bitter people. When has blaming others ever motivated you to improve your situation? Talk about an effectiveness-killer.

4. Looking outside for answers to inside problems. Similar to blaming, this habit is based on misunderstanding why we are in our current situation. In our free and wealthy society, it’s usually due to what’s going on inside our heads.

5.Procrastinating. Actually, I like this habit. Just stop applying it to things you need to do, and apply it to picking up that cigarette, eating that cake, or getting into that argument.

6. Laziness. I don’t know what to say about this bad habit, except that I don’t know of anyone who has suffered greatly from forcing themselves to get up and do something. Try something easy first.

7. Acting on impulse. I met a guy at the bus stop this week who within five minutes mentioned that he had bought a $200 hat and that he was hoping

they would approve his welfare application. Do you think he might have a problem with impulse control?

If “creating a new you” seems daunting, just start correcting your bad habits, one-by-one. This alone will increase your effectiveness in any pursuit, and your success in life.

Recent research indicates that 67 per cent of Australian professionals spend at least 20 hours a week thinking about their job when they should be relaxing, and less than half take their entitled annual leave.

Why is juggling work and life priorities an increasingly difficult challenge for many people?

Could it be we are trying to pack more and more into our busy lives?

Or is it the fact we are now so overloaded with information that our attention span is getting shorter and shorter as we strive to wade through the deluge of messages now coming at us in a range of forms.

The Gartner group has found that we spend on average an hour a day dealing with emails and that only includes work related communication.

We are creating unnecessary stress for ourselves, which is taking a heavy toll on our families, not to mention our health.

Is this due to the information rich society we now live in?

Marketers in the US now know the average teenager is exposed to more than 3000 discreet advertising messages each day and by the time they have reached 18 they will have seen more than 10 million.

How do you manage family commitments while enhancing your career and dealing with all this increased clutter?

Well, most people are aware of their tendency to overload on work or information but simply don’t know what to do to get their life back to a healthy balance.

Being successful isn’t only about your career and your possessions, it’s about waking up every day and feeling good about the person you are and the life that you have created.

Many people are searching for ways to achieve positive and lasting change both in and out of work.

As Paul Valery said early in the last century “the trouble with the future is – it isn’t what it used to be”.

The reality is many people are now living out someone else’s life dreams without leaving the comfort of their own lounge room. Why renovate your house or makeover your garden, when you can fantasise and watch someone else do it on TV for you?

If you find yourself in this twilight zone you are not alone. Perth has more sunshine than any other capital yet Western Australians watch on average 14 hours a week of television.

Most people spend more time watching TV than taking time to create positive changes in their lives.

Life is not a rehearsal so why not step up and make a difference?

Take the example of two Perth primary school girls; Sarah Duff and Sarah Poggioli both aged 11 years. They raised enough money to hire a plane to fly over their school pulling a banner with the following message: “believe you can reach your goals, then you can”.

It is amazing how children can help put life into perspective.

So what are the secrets to a healthy work life balance in a busy and demanding world? Here are the Top 5 ways you can get the life you deserve.

1. Work at being an optimist and take action. Take a positive attitude to life, get out and do things. Make things happen and take action.

2. Have strong self-belief. Believe in your potential to create the life you really want for you and your family.

3. Exercise regularly and eat well. Your physiology directly influences the quality of your life.

4. Visualise happy endings, schedule fun, and keep life simple. Make time to enjoy life. To laugh. To take time out.
5. Find perspective. Take the helicopter view to see the big picture and delegate if you can’t do it all yourself.