Volume#1 / Issue #7This month's featured article focuses on Living with Integrity .
“Integrity is the glue that holds life together.” – Billy Graham “When all is said and done, more is said than done.” – Lou Holtz How do you feel when someone promises you something and then does not follow through? Next time that person promises you something; you probably won’t feel the same because your confidence in their integrity has been diminished. Even worse, how do you feel when you promise yourself something and don’t follow through? On a conscious level we do a fine job of coming up with clever reasons to justify why it’s ok that we didn’t keep our word. Inside we know the truth - and it hurts. Your confidence in your own integrity is damaged. This begins a pattern or habit that can be very difficult to break (in many cases it is difficult to even realize that we are doing it). Resolve not to tolerate your own lies you are telling yourself. Are you one of those people who do what they say, no matter what? Or, more like the majority who say: I will TRY to reach my goals… until my family gets upset or until I get rejected too many times, feel tired or bored. We actually cause more damage by not keeping our agreements than if we never made them to begin with. We loose all credibility especially with ourselves. The difference between people who achieve their goals and the people who don’t is their responseto resistance they accept it as part of the process and respond differently. They are no different than you – they just know that obstacles are part of the process. Example: You want to exercise. You decide that walking every morning before you go to work would be a great way to do it. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday you get up early and keep your commitment. You feel great. More alert during the day, feeling stronger. When you arise on Thursday morning it’s raining so you decide to take a day off. On Friday your child needs a ride to school early. Monday you sleep in and the cycle is broken, your plan falls to the wayside. Do you live with integrity? Step back and take an honest look, at yourself (it’s not easy as our mind does a fine job of convincing us that it is okay not to keep our agreements). Learn to be an observer in your life. Take careful note of all the commitments you make both large and small. Write them down in an obvious place with a deadline so you don’t “forget” them. If you find yourself not able to keep them, write down your reasons for not doing so. Now, this is where you have to step back and take a closer look – how could you have overcome these reasons or excuses and continued on to your goal? Beware - our minds will always find an escape hatch. Example: It was raining. (You own a raincoat and have an umbrella, don’t you?) My child needed a ride (Are you the only person who could do this? If yes, than getting up a little earlier would have worked, right?) You have the ability to justify anything (useful or not). The trick here is to use our minds to mind our goals. Not to use our minds to make up great excuses. Our integrity is everything, our most prized possession. If we loose faith in our own ability to keep our word then how will we ever feel empowered to achieve our goals and the dreams that we desire. Begin by keeping your word daily replace “I will try” with “I will” and live your life with integrity. Don’t say it if you are not willing to make it happen. Start with small things first – this habit you are developing will serve you very well in the future and allow you to achieve larger goals later. The good news… Remember, you are the architect of your own life! You are at the helm, you are in control. You choose what you agree to do or not to do - just be aware of what you agree to do, because from now on, you are going to do it! Every time you honor commitments you will increase your self-confidence. When you live your life with integrity about your word your confidence and faith in yourself will grow stronger and stronger. When you commit to a huge dream or opportunities remember it is likely there will be huge obstacles and challenges to overcome along the way - they are a normal part of the process. Anticipate and welcome obstacles, get past them and achieve your goal.How do you move forward regardless of circumstances or what your head may be telling you? It is human nature to resist change (good or bad) and we have many clever (often unconscious) means to deceive ourselves from moving forward and making those necessary changes. We must live with integrity with an I WILL attitude to succeed. A coach is a valuable tool when making changes. A coach will help keep you on track and accountable for what you say you really want. A coach will stand by your side and help you identify roadblocks and help you find ways to overcome them and reach your goals. “If I set for myself a task, be it so trifling, I shal see it through, how else shall I have confidence in myself to do important things” - George Glasson. Form A Success Team Most of the small business owners I consult with make the mistake of playing the lone ranger in business. Don't make this mistake. You need the benefit of other experts to help make decision making easier and to guide and inform you so that you are making smart decisions. I have always found it useful to work with a success team. What is a success team? Even if you don’t have the cash flow to have these experts on staff you must find experts in those areas in business where you are weak - even if it is family or friends. You may think these are expenses you can not afford but can you really afford to make the mistakes that can cost you your business? Action step: Take a look at your business and see where you may have holes in your support team and commit to filling those hole today - before disaster strikes. Are you tired of struggling with your business everyday?
About Steve Steve Kennedy
is a personal coach specializing in working with entrepreneurs. Copyright (c)
2005, all rights reserved. You may copy, forward or distribute Tools for
WINNING The Game Newsletter provided the copyright notice and full information
for contacting Steve Kennedy are included.
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