A Guide to Achievement and Success

Decide what you want and the life you prefer, then focus your time, energy and effort to that end. Use resources wisely and create a Personal Eco-System that supports you perfectly, then out-perform and out-last the competition. There are no alternatives. Extraordinary achievement is the result of those four simple steps.

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Each of us has the potential to achieve far more than we have imagined. We know that human beings use only a tiny percentage of our potential. We waste time, we get distracted, we “spin our wheels”, and we get frustrated. Yes, accomplish many good things, but only a small portion of what we are capable of achieving.

At the same time, other people are reaching huge goals and achieving vastly more than us. I find it humbling that Bill Gates, Julia Roberts, Oprah Winfrey and Tiger Woods are so young! Whatever you think of him or his politics, isn’t it astonishing that Barak Obama is our president? With all due respect, he’s still a “kid”!

What are the secrets to that level of achievement?

After studying thousands of highly effective people over the years, I believe it comes down to only four key essentials. Here they are:

1. Self Discipline. Self discipline has a terrible reputation because most people think of it as pain and deprivation, but nothing could be further from the truth!

Self discipline is the key to ultimate freedom! It means taking charge of your life, being an adult and deciding how you will live. It means you are not dependent on circumstances or convenience or other people’s opinions. It means choosing your own course, taking responsibility and going where YOU want to go and DOING what you want to do with your life. It means doing what makes sense in the long run, rather than what is popular or comfortable or easy. Self discipline is the first essential for massive, extraordinary levels of personal success.

2. Effective Resource Allocation. High achievers don’t waste time, squander opportunities, or “wish their lives away”. They use their talents and abilities wisely. They focus their efforts on their most important next steps.

We have limited resources. High achievers concentrate their best efforts on their most important projects. They are very careful about time, because life is short. They are careful about money, knowing that if they spend it, it’s gone forever, but invested wisely, even a few dollars of “seed money” can create literally millions of dollars over time. High achievers use resources wisely.

3. Environmental Perfection. To a remarkable degree, our surroundings determine our results and high achievers create environments that support them all day long, every single day. They care about their offices, and they take care of their bodies. They dress well and keep their tools sharp and well-maintained.

There is a reason extraordinarily successful people have elegant offices, and live orderly, structured, simple lives. These are the habits that MADE THEM SUCCESSFUL!

4. Hard Work. Extremely successful people work harder than the rest of us. Yes, sometimes they simply work more hours and stay more focused, but sometimes it’s the subtle things. They pay attention and listen to the people they meet. They network effectively. They read and use what they learn to achieve better outcomes. They get more and better results!

Self-made millionaires routinely work 50, 60 or even more hours per week. Often they are doing work they love so it doesn’t feel like “work,” but they show up early, stay late, and work all day long. They take care of the “little things” and it shows up in their results and in their bank accounts at the end of the year.

Set your course. Decide what you want and the life you prefer then focus your time, energy and effort to that end. Use resources wisely and create a Personal Eco-System that supports you perfectly, then out-perform and out-last the competition. There are no alternatives. Extraordinary achievement is the result of those four simple steps.

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“The question is not whether we will die, but how we will live.”

– Joan Borysenko

“It is our duty as men and women to proceed as though the limits to our abilities do not exist.”

– Pierre Teilhard de Chardin

“There is no chance, no destiny, no fate that can circumvent or hinder or control the firm resolve of a determined soul.”

– Ella Wheeler Wilcox

“What we think, or what we know, or what we believe is, in the end, of little consequence.  The only consequence is what we do.”

– John Ruskin

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As the owner or leader in your business, you wear many hats. You are probably the chief innovator, and certainly you are a role model for your team. They watch you, and they follow your lead. You are directly involved in sales, and you are responsible for finances and a multitude of other critical items. So, what’s your MOST important job?

That’s easy; to get your employees to come back tomorrow morning.

I recently saw a case-study of SAS, the software development company, and it was remarkable. On average, turn-over at similar companies runs about 20% per year. At SAS, it’s less than 5% per year! Think of the thousands of hours that saves in recruiting, training and management time! Not to mention the savings in direct costs! What’s their secret?

The boss understands that for all his land and equipment and systems, his most essential assets “walk out of the building every night, and it’s my job to see that they walk back in tomorrow morning.”

Even in this tight economy, there are jobs to be had. People can make money, or start their own company and compete with you over night. What people want, what they have always longed for, is respect, fulfillment, satisfaction and recognition. Research has shown that, in general, you cannot pay people enough to stay on the job if they don’t like the work, the environment, or their co-workers, and those things are YOUR job!

As the “boss” (even if you are your only employee!), your key task is to see that your people are well served, well maintained, well trained and well respected. Without that, everything else is just a pause until they move on.

If you would like help to make your office and your team the best ever, get a coach! Get the focus and perspective you need to be the BEST! Contact me and let’s get to work. rodger@rodgerblaker.com

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This little ditty has been around for a while, but I don’t think I’ve ever run it before so I thought it was time to pass it along. Some people are incredibly clever and whoever put this together has my undying respect – it’s a talent I can only envy. Enjoy!

Eye halve a spelling chequer

It came with my pea sea

It plainly marques four my revue

Miss steaks eye kin knot sea.

Eye strike a key and type a word

And weight four it two say

Weather eye am wrong oar write

It shows me strait a weigh.

As soon as a mist ache is maid

It nose bee fore two long

And eye can put the error rite

Its rare lea ever wrong.

Eye have run this poem threw it

I am shore your pleased two no

Its letter perfect awl the weigh

My chequer tolled me sew

Rodger Blaker works with executives, small business owners and professionals who want to grow in their business and create an extraordinary life!

For info on resources for your success, visit: http://www.BlakerBusinessCoaching.com or call me at 214-485-2238.

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