The BEST Inspirational Quotes and Sayings:

It had long since come to my attention that people of accomplishment rarely sat back and let things happen to them. They went out and happened to things. -Elinor Smith

True happiness is not made in getting something. True happiness is becoming something. This can be done by being committed to lofty goals. We cannot become something without commitment. -Ashton

It is terrible to speak well and be wrong. -Sophocles

I do not think there is any other quality so essential to success of any kind as the quality of perseverance. It overcomes almost everything, even nature. -John Rockefeller

THE POWER OF A COMPELLING CAUSE RESTS IN THE SOUL OF ITS CREATOR, because a cause springs from the soul. It is a spiritual statement from one soul that cannot be the result of many. It comes from a deep place of knowing, some conviction that a richly imagined future could in some way, dramatically and positively, change the world. -Lance 

Secretan, author “Inspirational Leadership”

Within our dreams and aspirations we find our opportunities. -Sue Ebaugh

Your aspirations are your possibilities. -Dr. Samuel Johnson

There is no shame in having fallen. Nor any shame in being born into a lowly estate. There is only shame in not struggling to rise. And also shame for not wishing to attain the better. Or not dreaming about it and praying for it. -Samuel Amalu

Not failure, but low aim, is crime. -J.R. Lowell

Ambition is the spur that makes man struggle with destiny. It is heaven’s own incentive to make purpose great and achievement greater. -Donald G. Mitchell

Some of us have great runways already built for us. If you have one, take OFF! But if you don’t have one, realize it is your responsibility to grab a shovel and build one for yourself and for those who will follow after you. -Amelia Earhart

One never learns by success. Success is the plateau that one rests upon to take breath and look down from upon the straight and difficult path, but one does not climb upon a plateau. -Josephine Preston Peabody

Take a look at those two open hands of yours. They are tools with which to serve, make friends, and reach out for the best in life. Open hands open the way to achievement. Put them to work today. -Wilfred A. Patterson

I have always admired the ability to bite off more than one can chew and then chew it. -William DeMille

Think of yourself as on the threshold of unparalleled success. A whole clear, glorious life lies before you. Achieve! Achieve! -Andrew Carnegie

You may be whatever you resolve to be. Determine to be something in the world, and you will be something. “I cannot,” never accomplished anything; “I will try,” has wrought wonders. -J. Hawes

Man ought always to have something that he prefers to life; otherwise life itself will seem to him tiresome and void. -Seume

There is a close connection between getting up in the world and getting up in the morning. -Anon.

The greatest discovery of my age is that men can change their circumstances by changing the attitude of their mind. -William James

To think we are able is almost to be so; to determine upon attainment is frequently attainment itself; earnest resolution has often seemed to have about it almost a savor of omnipotence. -S. Smiles

It is not for man to rest in absolute contentment. He is born to hopes and aspirations as the sparks fly upward, unless he has brutified his nature and quenched the spirit of immortality which is his portion. -Southey

The man who is born with a talent which he is meant to use finds his greatest happiness in using it. -Johann von Goethe

Every year I live I am more convinced that the waste of life lies in the love we have not given, the powers we have not used, the selfish prudence that will risk nothing, and which, shirking pain, missed happiness as well. No one ever yet was the poorer in the long run for having once in a lifetime “let out all the length of the reins.” -Mary Cholmondeley

The man without a purpose is like a ship without a rudder–a waif, a nothing, a no man. Have a purpose in life, and, having it, throw such strength of mind and muscle into your work as God has given you. -Carlyle

Providence has nothing good or high in store for one who does not resolutely aim at something high or good. A purpose is the eternal condition of success. -T.T. Munger

A noble man compares and estimates himself by an idea which is higher than himself; and a mean man, by one lower than himself. The one produces aspiration; the other ambition, which is the way in which a vulgar man aspires. -H.W. Beecher

If you want the secondary greatness of recognized talent, focus first on primary greatness of character. -Stephan R. Covey

The growth of the human mind is still high adventure, in many ways, the highest adventure on earth. -Norman Cousins

Can you think of anything more permanently elating than to know that you are on the right road at last? -Vernon Howard

I am suffocated and lost when I have not the bright feeling of progression . -Margaret Fuller

Success soon palls. The joyous time is when the breeze first strikes your sails, and the waters rustle under your bows. -Charles Buxton

“If virtue promises happiness, prosperity and peace, then progress in virtue is progress in each of these…” -Epictetus

The world turns aside to let any man pass who knows whither he is going. -David Starr Jordan

It is never too late to be what you might have been. -George Eliot

Nothing splendid has ever been achieved except by those who dared believe that something inside them was superior to circumstance. -Bruce Barton

He who wishes to fulfill his mission in the world must be a man of one idea, that is, of one great overmastering purpose, overshadowing all his aims, and guiding and controlling his entire life. -Julius Bate

You are here to enrich the world and you impoverish yourself if you forget that errand. -Woodrow Wilson

People are the custodians of the world’s wealth; if you want them to hand some over to you, you have to be nice to people! -Stuart Wilde

You can easily judge the character of a man by how he treats those who can do nothing for him. -?

You never will be the person you can be if pressure, tension and discipline are taken out of your life. -James G. Bilkey

Deep within man dwell these slumbering powers; powers that would astonish him, that he never dreamed of possessing; forces that would revolutionize his life if aroused and put into action. -Orison Marden

***People are always blaming their circumstances for what they are. I don’t believe in circumstances. The people who get on in this world are they who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and, if they can’t find them, make them. -George Bernard Shaw***

THE FUTURE OF BUSINESS: 4 WAYS COMPANIES WILL CHANGE

With the currents trends of technology and science and development in the 21^st century, the future of business is changing following the current trends of social communication. Read the 4 ways in which the companies will change in their ways of doing business as explained by Dana Ardi, PHD.

We've shifted to a business world where collaboration and connection are replacing hierarchy and bureaucracy. The outdated "alpha" notion of aggressive management has given way to the modern era of cooperative "beta" leadership.

We're already seeing this take place as some companies take the lead in thinking about how, by giving up top-down control, they can actually get more work done. Here are some examples of what the future has in store for these beta organizations:

1. INCREASED CONNECTIVITY

The changes wrought by the Digital Age will continue to radically reshape our notion of what the workplace is and how we even go about working. Technology will break down geographic and personal barriers in amazing new ways. The traditional office could become obsolete, while home-based video connections become the new norm, and new virtual worlds offer innovative opportunities for collaboration without the limitations of the physical world.

2. COMPANIES AS COMMUNITIES

As work is assigned at more individualized levels, our notion of a company will also begin to change. What today's companies provide—salaries, benefits, education, and security—will change. In tomorrow's beta companies, salaries will function more like incentives while benefits will be more like menus where not everyone will have access to the same options. Education will really be a function of apprenticeship and mentor programs. Because beta organizations will be flatter, every individual regardless of their age will have opportunities to influence change and the direction of the organization. Beta companies will become more like holding companies where people will move in and out, or choose to stay on for a longer period.

3. STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS

Even how companies behave will change dramatically. Beta organizations will take strategic positions or strike partnerships with other organizations that create mutually beneficial relationships. Alpha companies used to acquire companies and try to assimilate their culture into their own—not realizing that they would erase the "special sauce" that other company had in the process. The new beta way of operating is exemplified by an organization like Yahoo, which bought Tumblr with the intent of letting it be run independently and preserving its culture.

4. NEW ECOSYSTEMS

The beta approach will lead to the creation of entire ecosystems where partners, customers, and even competitors will find themselves working side-by-side to solve problems and open up new opportunities for growth. The new beta leaders will be leading or following depending on the role they play. The diversity of these teams will also be crucial in that they will be representative of their customers in terms of age, gender, ethnicity, and nationality.

—Dana Ardi, Ph.D. is the author of The Fall of the Alphas: The New Beta Way to Connect, Collaborate, Influence – And Lead. Dr. Ardi has served as a Partner/Managing Director at CCMP Capital and JPMorgan Partners, and was a Partner at Flatiron Partners.

Grind It Out and Get Better

What a great quote!

The question is, are you looking for the quick fix, the instant shot at fame and fortune, the short-cut to success? 

Or are you grinding it out, constantly developing your skills and working towards long-term, sustainable results?

As they says Easy COME, Easy GO. keep grinding to the things you are doing now as long as you have that vision and focus. That fame, greatness, fortune and wealth you have been dreaming for will come. Keep Going.

Personal Finance Simplified

I was reading an E-book Managing your Money by Robert Kiyosaki and i found these tips to share with you…  

Before you can start on your way to financial freedom, you first have to pinpoint exactly how much bad debt you really have. For many people, figuring out how deeply in debt they are is like going to the dentist. You know it’s good for you, but it’s not always pleasant. Some people have already given up. They know they’re in a big hole but don’t want to deal with it.

But if you’re serious about building positive cash flow in your life, you have to start with the fundamentals of financial literacy. Here’s a quick quiz to get yourself going. Put a 1 next to any of the following questions to which you

would answer yes:

___ Do you routinely pay your bills late?

___ Have you ever hidden a bill from your spouse?

___ Have you neglected repairing the car because of insufficient funds?

___ Have you bought something recently that you didn’t need and

       couldn’t afford?

___ Do you regularly spend more than your paycheck?

___ Have you been turned down for credit?

___ Do you buy lottery tickets in the hope of getting out from

       under your debt?

___ Have you put off saving money for a rainy day?

___ Does your total debt (mortgage excluded) exceed your

      rainy-day reserve?

 Add up the numbers in the boxes. ______

• If your score is 0, that’s great! You’re already in control of your

cash flow.

• If you scored in the 1–5 range, you may want to think about reducing

your bad debt.

• If you scored in the 6–9 range, watch out! You may be headed toward

financial disaster.

If you really want to gain control of your cash flow, you’re going to need three

key ingredients:

1. A financial statement to know where you are financially 

2. Personal discipline

3. A game plan that’s going to take you where you want to go

How Floyd Mayweather Spends his Money

Floyd Mayweather, Jr. (born Floyd Joy Sinclair, February 24, 1977) is an American professional boxer. He is undefeated as a professional and is a five-division world champion, having won eleven world titles and the lineal championship in four different weight classes. Mayweather is a two-time Ring magazine fighter of the year (winning the award in 1998 and 2007); he also won the Boxing Writers Association of America (BWAA) Fighter of the Year award in 2007,2013 and the Best Fighter ESPY Award in 2007, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2013, and 2014. Mayweather was honored with The Best Ever Award by Spike TV in 2015.

Floyd Mayweather is now  the world's highest paid athlete. See how the boxer spends his fortune. 

How To Be A Leader People Want To Follow

Just because you’re a leader doesn’t necessarily mean people want to follow you. Anyone can take on a leadership role, but that doesn’t mean you automatically earn the trust, respect and confidence of your followers.

The good news is that almost anyone can hone the skills necessary to become a ‘follow-worthy’ leader. All it takes is a dedication to learning what makes a great leader, and the determination to practice and develop those skills every single day.

Following are 7 ways you can become a leader people actually want to follow — not just a leader people follow because they have to.

1. Show respect to those around you (even when you don’t feel like it).

It’s easy to be respectful when you’re working with motivated employees or favorite clients. But what about with a customer who eats up your time (and patience) with unrealistic requests? Or the employee who showed up late for work – again?

True respect doesn’t depend on the other person doing something (or not doing something). It means recognizing that all people are inherently worthy of respect; even people who drive you crazy or who haven’t done a single thing to earn it. It means treating people in a way that preserves their dignity and honors their humanity.

When you show respect to everyone you interact with, you foster an environment of caring that permeates the workplace. It encourages your employees to treat clients, co-workers and subordinates with the same respect they’ve seen you model.

2. Communicate (in a way that not only informs, but inspires).

Good leaders know that communicating clearly and concisely is important for avoiding conflict and articulating expectations. But great leaders understand that communication is about more than just getting across an accurate message. Communication must be efficient and informative, but it can also be used as a way to inspire, motivate and persuade. When you can communicate in a way that a particular outcome is achieved or a certain action is taken, this is when the true impact of great communication shows. In the words of General Dwight Eisenhower, “Leadership is the art of getting someone else to do something you want done because he wants to do it.”

3. Be generous (with time, encouragement and responsibility).

When we think of being generous, we often think of monetary generosity; of keeping employees happy by giving gifts, bonuses and regular pay bumps. And while this is certainly one aspect of generosity, it can be far more.

True generosity involves being liberal with praise and encouragement; of giving employees the appropriate credit when they have a great idea; of being gracious when people make mistakes. It can also mean letting go of some of the control and giving those around you the chance to take on extra responsibility.

Being generous means giving without thoughts of what someone can do for you in return: “Listen with regard when others talk. Give your time and energy to others; let others have their own way; do things for reasons other than furthering your own needs." — Larry Scherwitz.

4. Express your passion (because that’s how passion spreads).

True passion is contagious. When you’re genuinely excited about what you’re doing, your enthusiasm can’t help but rub off on those around you. But being passionate about something isn’t quite enough; you also need to express your passion to those around you.

When your employees sense that you have a deep and abiding passion for what you do, they get the sense that what they’re doing is worthwhile; that you’re all on the path towards something bigger and greater than yourselves.

5. Be humble (this doesn’t mean being a pushover).

Being humble in the workplace doesn’t equate to not taking credit for your work or ideas, or to letting others walk all over you. What it does mean is taking responsibility for your mistakes, and acknowledging when your followers can do something better than you.

6. Be decisive (and take responsibility for your decisions).

Great leaders make tough decisions, and then take responsibility for the outcomes of those decisions. No matter how carefully a decision is analyzed and the resultant impacts weighed, poor decisions are bound to be made, and someone has to be accountable.

A ‘follow-worthy’ leader isn’t afraid to make these decisions, and knows that avoiding risk also means forfeiting potential opportunities. She seeks out the opinions of those around her in order to make an informed decision, but then takes the final responsibility for the outcome squarely on herself.

7. Show courage (even when you’re scared).

All leaders will be scared from time to time – scared of risk, failure and competition. But inspiring leaders forge ahead in spite of this fear, and show courage in the face of adversity.

Mark Twain wrote, “Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear – not absence of fear.” Great leaders find ways to harness the energy produced by fear, and turn it into something that propels them forward. They show courage, and encourage those around them to do the same.

Courageous leaders know they’re nothing without their team, and are willing to admit they don’t know everything. They understand that sometimes their decisions will be unpopular, and yet they choose to lead regardless.

Conclusion

The skills needed to be a ‘follow-worthy’ leader may not come naturally to all of us, but they can be learned and practiced over time. And when those around you witness your efforts, you unwittingly create a culture of generosity, respect and loyalty.

Read more from source: http://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-be-a-leader-people-want-to-follow-2014-10#ixzz3cjYGjlvm

Five Steps to Understanding & Using What Motivates You

By Sharon Mikrut 

Do you get frustrated when you lack the motivation to start a project or activity and put it off so you don't have to tackle it? Do you wonder why your friends or colleagues don't appear to be motivated when you are raring to go? This article explores the origins behind a lack of motivation; getting to the root of the problem; discovering what motivates you and others, personally and professionally; and how to incorporate those items that motivate you into your daily life.

1. It is important to first examine why you may be lacking motivation. Could there be a physical problem that needs to be addressed (e.g., chemical/hormonal imbalance, lupus, chronic fatigue syndrome), are you burned out from taking on too much (at home and/or work), are you feeling stressed out, or do you feel you never have sufficient time for yourself? Itemize the reasons why you may be lacking motivation and explore each of those in depth. Are there certain behaviors, patterns, or events that seem to make you unmotivated? Take note of what happens prior to those times when you lose motivation.

2. Once you have an idea of what might be causing your lack of motivation, take steps to address it. If you are not feeling right and need to see a doctor, then do so. If you feel that you need to clear your schedule so that you have time for yourself, then commit to setting aside a specific day and time each week. Any action you can take to increase your level of motivation will help you to accomplish more in your personal and professional life.

3. Be clear about what motivates you at home and at work. Some people are motivated by doing what is right or helping others, some are motivated by praise/recognition, others are motivated by money, some are motivated by wanting to be alone or with people, and others are motivated by food, exercise, sex, or love. Think about what motivates you at home and work; what gets you to tackle those home or work projects? Make a list of your motivators and try to use them when you are feeling unmotivated. In addition, make every attempt to incorporate these motivators into your daily life, as they might help to reduce the frequency of those times in which you experience a lack of motivation.

4. It is important to understand that what motivates you might not necessarily motivate your spouse/partner, friend, or colleague/coworker. Observe those around you, watch what motivates them, and make a mental note regarding their respective motivators, as you might be able to use them in the future to reward people or entice them to help you with a certain project or activity. This is especially important for employers who have seemingly unmotivated employees. They should observe their employees to see what motivates them, but it may be best if the employer simply asks each employee what his/her motivating factors are. Once the employer understands these motivating factors, s/he can use them to motivate people do their best.

5. Once you are clear about what motivates you, use this knowledge to implement significant changes in your personal and/or professional life, such as creating a more positive/balanced life, seeking a new job/career, or developing or terminating various types of relationships. For example, you may be extremely creative but unmotivated at work. You realize that your lack of motivation comes from not being listened to and the inability to take risks. If you approach your employer and express your concerns and needs, you might get the freedom you need to be creative and implement your ideas. This would be a win-win situation for both parties, as your employer will undoubtedly notice an increase in your motivation level.

By examining and addressing what might be causing your lack of motivation and identifying and using those factors that motivate you, you will be in a better position to increase your motivation level, at work and home. As a result, you will find yourself achieving more goals, completing more tasks and projects, and watching your "to do" list shrink.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sharon_Mikrut