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  <title>Motivation</title>
  <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.improvingyourworld.com/motivation/" />
  <modified>2009-11-20T17:30:30Z</modified>
  <tagline>Motivation tips to help you stay motivated and improve your world.</tagline>
  <id>tag:www.improvingyourworld.com,2009:/motivation/6</id>
  <generator url="http://www.movabletype.org/" version="3.2">Movable Type</generator>
  <copyright>Copyright (c) 2009, K</copyright>
  <entry>
    <title>Love the Inner Child</title>
    <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.improvingyourworld.com/motivation/love_the_inner_child_005152.html" />
    <modified>2009-11-20T17:30:30Z</modified>
    <issued>2009-11-20T11:18:25-06:00</issued>
    <id>tag:www.improvingyourworld.com,2009:/motivation/6.5152</id>
    <created>2009-11-20T17:18:25Z</created>
    <summary type="text/plain"> Are you afraid of what others think of you? Do you want to succeed but don&apos;t want to step on toes to get there? Do you find it hard to express you opinion or ideas, often holding back when...</summary>
    <author>
      <name>K</name>
      
      <email>don@greatresults.com</email>
    </author>
    <dc:subject>Children</dc:subject>
    <content type="text/html" mode="escaped" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://www.improvingyourworld.com/motivation/">
      <![CDATA[<p><img alt="hug19210047.jpg" src="http://www.improvingyourworld.com/motivation/hug19210047.jpg" width="83" height="125" align="left" style="border:3px solid #e7e7e7;margin-right:10px" /></p>

<p>Are you afraid of what others think of you? Do you want to succeed but don't want to step on toes to get there? Do you find it hard to express you opinion or ideas, often holding back when you could bring a solution to the table? Business is full of people that could be better, but who hold back in the face of fear, or people who have killed their imagination until they are just one more zombie. Your personal life suffers from the same inhibitions. </p>

<p>When you look at a child, they don't suffer from the same fears as an adult. Most children don't care what others think about them. Most children speak before they think and don't have bars on their imagination. Get motivated to release inhibition and be a better you by bringing out the inner child that longs to be free to be yourself. <br />
<strong><br />
Step #1: Sing like no one is watching!</strong></p>

<p>The first step to getting motivated to release your inhibitions is to bring down the walls you have built. Guess what? It is okay to be vulnerable with people. Remember that being hurt emotionally by someone else is a choice.</p>

<p> You can choose to care what they think or you can choose to care what you think. You build walls around you to protect you from what others think. If what others think is no longer important, you have no need for walls. There are many activities that can help you let down your walls.<br />
</p>]]>
      <![CDATA[<p><br />
<strong>Example: </strong>Start by doing some karaoke. Karaoke even if you are the worst singer or the most tone-deaf person in the world. Sing it from your soul. Get in touch with your feelings through music and sing it as loud as your can. Sing like no one is watching. You are doing it for you, so don't worry about what other people might think. <br />
<strong><br />
Step #2: Love the moment you are in.</strong></p>

<p>The second step to releasing inhibitions is to live in the moment. A child doesn't think about the future and they don't worry about the past. They love the present for all it is worth and live each moment to the fullest. Have you ever heard the phrase, "Live each day like it's your last"? Try living that way and see what it does to your inhibitions. You won't have any if you are truly living. Secure your moments in life.</p>

<p><strong>Example:</strong> Start by noticing everything about the moment you are in. What do you see? What do you hear? What do you taste? What do your feel? What do you smell? Use each of your five senses to discover something about the moment and you'll find something that you love about it. It will also help you be one-hundred percent present in the moment rather than worried about the past or future. <br />
<strong><br />
Step #3: Find passion in the mundane.</strong></p>

<p>The third step to getting motivated to release inhibitions is to find passion in everything you do. Live your life in your passions and your inner child will never be lacking. When you live in your passions you find joy and wonder in every moment. The mundane becomes extraordinary and you are the best you that you can be.<br />
<strong><br />
Example: </strong>The next time you are having a mundane moment, take a second and figure out what you can love about it. What's great about taking a shower? A clean warm towel at the end of it to wrap in you in the scent of blossoms. The mundane can be extraordinary if you find passion in everything you do. </p>]]>
    </content>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Knowing your motivational style</title>
    <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.improvingyourworld.com/motivation/knowing_your_motivational_style_005151.html" />
    <modified>2009-11-19T17:30:33Z</modified>
    <issued>2009-11-19T11:16:55-06:00</issued>
    <id>tag:www.improvingyourworld.com,2009:/motivation/6.5151</id>
    <created>2009-11-19T17:16:55Z</created>
    <summary type="text/plain"> Motivation is different for everyone and can be approached in many different ways. Most people have a main style or theme that helps them to find motivation and determines what ways will be the most effective to drive them...</summary>
    <author>
      <name>K</name>
      
      <email>don@greatresults.com</email>
    </author>
    <dc:subject>Motivation</dc:subject>
    <content type="text/html" mode="escaped" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://www.improvingyourworld.com/motivation/">
      <![CDATA[<p><img alt="sideview32994967.jpg" src="http://www.improvingyourworld.com/motivation/sideview32994967.jpg" width="83" height="125" align="left" style="border:3px solid #e7e7e7;margin-right:10px" /></p>

<p>Motivation is different for everyone and can be approached in many different ways.  Most people have a main style or theme that helps them to find motivation and determines what ways will be the most effective to drive them to accomplish more.  When you know what your motivational style is it will be easier for you to motivate yourself and understand how to get yourself to do more.  Here are some insights in to different motivational styles to help you learn more about how to get your goals accomplished.</p>

<p>There are many different types of systems for determining motivation, but they are fundamentally the same.  One system splits people up into groups of those that are goal oriented, those who are relationship oriented, those who are learning oriented and those who are thrill oriented.  The general rule is that most people have a dominant category of way they are motivated and often have some overlap into other categories.  <br />
</p>]]>
      <![CDATA[<p><br />
People who are goal oriented are often very logical and have a need to follow a logical and set path to achieve something.  The next step is always either obvious or will become clear with a little searching.  To these people, the best way to accomplish something is through the most direct and obvious route.  They don't necessarily need to accomplish their goals immediately but are very concerned about finding the path that will lead them to the ultimate accomplishment of their goal.  They are good at leveraging other resources when they are not sure about the best path and will rely on the expertise of others to help themselves define the best path to take.  These types of people also prefer to address problems head on and to meet with people in person to discuss issues rather than using more indirect means.  </p>

<p>Another group of people are more relationship oriented and are more concerned about the differences they can make to others along the paths leading to their goals.  The process is just as important as the result to people and they are often characterized by the saying "the journey is the destination".  These types of people tend to work better in groups than individually and are more comfortable with a team interaction to reach their goals.  They tend to be more collaborative and to seek the help of others before they run into trouble themselves while solving a problem.  Interaction is very important to relationships oriented people and they are sometimes satisfied with an end result as long as they feel like they did their best along the way.  </p>

<p>Learning oriented people are motivated by the idea of learning and figuring out how to do things.  The concept of education and then using it for good in the world drives what they do and they are also very attracted to just learning for the sake of knowing more.  They are always searching for more knowledge and new ways to apply the knowledge they have attained.</p>

<p>No matter what your motivation style, or combination of styles, is you will be much better at accomplishing goals and finding motivation when you know what will really drive you to achieve results.  Take some time and think about what kinds of thing s you really care about the most and what you will do to accomplish your goals.  Just because you are dominant in one style does not mean you won't ever be motivated by the others.  But if you are having trouble finding motivation to get something done, try the approach that best fits your own motivational style and you will help yourself get it done better and faster.    </p>]]>
    </content>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Kick Your Life into Overdrive</title>
    <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.improvingyourworld.com/motivation/kick_your_life_into_overdrive_005150.html" />
    <modified>2009-11-18T17:15:27Z</modified>
    <issued>2009-11-18T11:14:21-06:00</issued>
    <id>tag:www.improvingyourworld.com,2009:/motivation/6.5150</id>
    <created>2009-11-18T17:14:21Z</created>
    <summary type="text/plain"> Life can be quite boring at times giving you no motivation to be better than you currently are. However, life is only boring when you aren&apos;t living in your passions. If you&apos;ve had a mediocre, boring, average life so...</summary>
    <author>
      <name>K</name>
      
      <email>don@greatresults.com</email>
    </author>
    <dc:subject>Time Management</dc:subject>
    <content type="text/html" mode="escaped" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://www.improvingyourworld.com/motivation/">
      <![CDATA[<p><img alt="glasses33269505.jpg" src="http://www.improvingyourworld.com/motivation/glasses33269505.jpg" width="83" height="125" align="left" style="border:3px solid #e7e7e7;margin-right:10px" /></p>

<p>Life can be quite boring at times giving you no motivation to be better than you currently are. However, life is only boring when you aren't living in your passions. If you've had a mediocre, boring, average life so far, you may need some help with discovering what you are truly passionate about. Here are some steps to help you find what you are passionate about so you can live a passionate life and get motivated to be a better you.</p>

<p><strong>Step #1: Curiosity won't kill this cat.</strong><br />
</p>]]>
      <![CDATA[<p><br />
Curiosity may have killed the cat at one point, but being curious is the first step to finding what you are passionate about. Forget everything that you think you know about a subject and start from scratch. Be like a little child always asking yourself why, how, when, or what. Be curious about everything until you start to develop curiosity about subjects you could find passion in pursuing. Think of when you were in school. Some subjects were boring, but some were really interesting and you didn't mind getting your hands a little dirty or spending a little extra time in the library to figure stuff out. Get back to that, and get interested in life again. If you can allow your curiosity to roam, you'll get motivated to improve your mind and your talents which result in you being a better you.</p>

<p><strong>Step #2: Expression is a way of seeing life.</strong></p>

<p>So some activities that we do are not up our passion alley. That's okay. I guess. What? No! You want to make every activity you do apart of your passion experience. The next step to doing that is expressing your authentic self. Find a way to express who you really are in everything you do. If you have a script you follow on calls for work, find a way to express it so it is really you doing the talking, not the script. If you are doing a presentation for school, make the presentation an extension of you. Expressing yourself in the mundane is important too. Dance while you do the dishes, sing your heart out in the car, invent a new way to fold the towels, and express yourself in every mundane activity that you do. Expression is simply the way you see life and when you see it through your own eyes, you will find passion and want to be a better you.</p>

<p><strong>Step #3: Phone a friend.</strong></p>

<p>Passion generates passion. If you don't believe me, go to a Southern Baptist convention. When the music starts and the minister starts speaking in his passion of religion you can't help but feel your soul stir. You can achieve the same results in generating passion in your life by being around people who are passionate. Find a friend who lives a passionate life. Interview them. Find out what they are doing to generate passion. You don't have to be passionate about the same things, but when people who are passionate get together in the same room, the energy is boundless. You will find yourself coming out of that interview full of motivation to be a better you.<br />
<strong><br />
Step #4: Enjoy the journey.<br />
</strong><br />
If you are still having a hard time finding passion in your life remember that finding passion is not about the end goal, it is about the journey. Enjoy the journey and you'll get your goal of becoming a better you. Use each of your five senses to reach out and find something to enjoy in the process of becoming a better you. The more you life in the moment and enjoy the now, the more passion you will find in your life.</p>]]>
    </content>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>It&apos;s Me Time</title>
    <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.improvingyourworld.com/motivation/its_me_time_005149.html" />
    <modified>2009-11-17T17:15:40Z</modified>
    <issued>2009-11-17T11:12:41-06:00</issued>
    <id>tag:www.improvingyourworld.com,2009:/motivation/6.5149</id>
    <created>2009-11-17T17:12:41Z</created>
    <summary type="text/plain"> Being motivated to be a better version of you today than you were yesterday can be hard. It is especially hard when you don&apos;t know yourself or don&apos;t love yourself. When you love yourself, you can generate the energy...</summary>
    <author>
      <name>K</name>
      
      <email>don@greatresults.com</email>
    </author>
    <dc:subject>Self-Improvement</dc:subject>
    <content type="text/html" mode="escaped" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://www.improvingyourworld.com/motivation/">
      <![CDATA[<p><img alt="facial30459768.jpg" src="http://www.improvingyourworld.com/motivation/facial30459768.jpg" width="83" height="125" align="left" style="border:3px solid #e7e7e7;margin-right:10px" /></p>

<p>Being motivated to be a better version of you today than you were yesterday can be hard. It is especially hard when you don't know yourself or don't love yourself. When you love yourself, you can generate the energy it takes to change. When you don't love yourself, it is hard to even get started. Get motivated to be a better you today by loving yourself. Here are some suggestions to get you started.</p>

<p><strong>Me Time</strong></p>]]>
      <![CDATA[<p><br />
Everyone needs me time. It is the time that you just are and that you allow yourself to just be. You may be a parent part of the time, a boss or employee part of the time, a friend all of the time, a son or daughter some of the time, but do you have time when you are just you? Whether that time is when you are by yourself or when you are with others is up to you and your personality type. Me time is a reward you give yourself just for being you. Me time is the time you take to reward yourself each day.</p>

<p>If you want to find the motivation to be a better you, you must spend part of your day involved in me time. Reward yourself with a massage, a bubble bath, an hour to read, an hour to write, ten minutes to meditate, thirty minutes to shoot hoops, a night out with the girls (or guys), an afternoon away from real life and all that you have to do. Me time is incredibly important to becoming a whole person and loving yourself. If you don't give yourself time to love yourself, you won't be motivated to be a better person.</p>

<p><strong>Fall in Love with You</strong></p>

<p>Do you love certain attributes or characteristics about yourself? Which of your features is imperfect? In blanket weaving it is often the imperfections in the pattern that are the most beautiful part of the blanket when it is finished. Find the imperfection and the perfections in you and love them.</p>

<p>Spend a few minutes every day to fall in love with a piece of you. Love the color of your eyes, the texture of your hair, the way your eyebrows tweak when you laugh, your laugh itself. Love the straightness of your toes or the crookedness of your teeth, your sense of humor or your sense of smell. When you fall in love with pieces of you that are perfect or imperfect it is much easier to love the whole picture. Fall in love with yourself.</p>

<p><strong>Keep a Journal</strong></p>

<p>You will love you when you remember who you are and what you've done with yourself. Keep a record of your successes big and small and what makes you who you are. A journal is a wonderful thing to help you look back at how far you've come rather than always looking to the future to see how far you have to go. When you can appreciate your successes you can love yourself and get motivated to be a better you. </p>

<p>Set aside a time each day to record your activities, thoughts, feelings, and successes in a journal. This journal is for you to reflect on so be honest in it. You can be as cocky as you want in your journal about how awesome you are. The more you love yourself on those pages the more it will be reflected in your life. Get motivated to be a better you by loving yourself.<br />
</p>]]>
    </content>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>I Met Him Online</title>
    <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.improvingyourworld.com/motivation/i_met_him_online_005148.html" />
    <modified>2009-11-16T17:15:32Z</modified>
    <issued>2009-11-16T11:10:05-06:00</issued>
    <id>tag:www.improvingyourworld.com,2009:/motivation/6.5148</id>
    <created>2009-11-16T17:10:05Z</created>
    <summary type="text/plain"> If you are focused on self-improvement you know that there are lots of ways to be a better you. This article is focused on being a better you by making new friends. New friends motivate you to put your...</summary>
    <author>
      <name>K</name>
      
      <email>don@greatresults.com</email>
    </author>
    <dc:subject>Relationship</dc:subject>
    <content type="text/html" mode="escaped" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://www.improvingyourworld.com/motivation/">
      <![CDATA[<p><img alt="laptop37701778.jpg" src="http://www.improvingyourworld.com/motivation/laptop37701778.jpg" width="83" height="125" align="left" style="border:3px solid #e7e7e7;margin-right:10px" /></p>

<p>If you are focused on self-improvement you know that there are lots of ways to be a better you. This article is focused on being a better you by making new friends. New friends motivate you to put your best foot forward and turn over a new leaf when it is needed. Meeting new people helps you always look and feel your best. When you know you are meeting someone new don't you pick the right outfit, make sure your teeth are in the clear, and try to calm the butterflies? Meeting new people is all about being confident and when you are confident you are a better you. For some people, meeting new people and making new friends is frightening. Take the edge off by meeting new people and making new friends online. Here are three ways to make new friends online any time.</p>

<p><strong>Social Networking</strong><br />
</p>]]>
      <![CDATA[<p><br />
One of the fastest ways to make friends online is through social networking. Social networks such as MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, and local social networks allow you the opportunity to make friends in an affable and interesting pre-built environment where making friends is the social norm. Get motivated to make friends online by joining at least one of the available social networks or by starting your own.</p>

<p>Joining a social network is easy if you aren't building a new one from scratch. All you have to do is put in the information the administrators ask for, then you get a page that is all your own that you can customize to reflect who you are. You can search for existing friends, meet new friends, join social groups, join causes, and meet people in a hundred different ways through online social networks.<br />
<strong><br />
Online Gaming</strong></p>

<p>The advent of the internet saw a huge influx of online gaming. Whether you are sitting around a cyber poker table or running through the streets of Azeroth you have vast opportunities to make new friends who already have something in common with you. You are both interested in the same online game, so there is a chance you could be friends.</p>

<p>Joining an online gaming community is one step further than just joining an online game. Online gaming communities keep in touch through the game, through forums, through live chats, through blogs, and in a number of different ways. You can get involved in each to make new friends. Just playing the game will motivate you to make new friends. Go ahead and give it a try, but don't forget to play with your real life friends too.</p>

<p><strong>Blogging</strong></p>

<p>Another way you can make friends online is by following bloggers and responding to their posts. A blogger's job is to write frequently about whatever their blog is based on. The more frequently you post replies to their posting, the more likely they are to recognize you as a friend and put a link to your personal web page or blog on their blog. </p>

<p>If you are a blogger, you can make new friends by being sure people know you are reading and responding to their posts. The more involved you are in your blog, the more people will follow it and see what you have to say next. Making friends through blogging may take a little bit more work than through social networking but the fruits of your labors may be more worth reaping.</p>]]>
    </content>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>How to motivate yourself to be a healthier person</title>
    <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.improvingyourworld.com/motivation/how_to_motivate_yourself_to_be_a_healthier_person_005147.html" />
    <modified>2009-11-15T17:15:39Z</modified>
    <issued>2009-11-15T11:07:54-06:00</issued>
    <id>tag:www.improvingyourworld.com,2009:/motivation/6.5147</id>
    <created>2009-11-15T17:07:54Z</created>
    <summary type="text/plain"> There are a lot of different ways that a person can become a better person. One way is for a person to become healthier. Becoming a healthier person can take a lot of motivation. This article discusses ways to...</summary>
    <author>
      <name>K</name>
      
      <email>don@greatresults.com</email>
    </author>
    <dc:subject>Motivation</dc:subject>
    <content type="text/html" mode="escaped" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://www.improvingyourworld.com/motivation/">
      <![CDATA[<p><img alt="jogging19168100.jpg" src="http://www.improvingyourworld.com/motivation/jogging19168100.jpg" width="83" height="125" align="left" style="border:3px solid #e7e7e7;margin-right:10px" /></p>

<p>There are a lot of different ways that a person can become a better person. One way is for a person to become healthier. Becoming a healthier person can take a lot of motivation. This article discusses ways to help a person be motivated to become a healthier person.</p>

<p><strong>Make the commitment</strong></p>

<p>The first step a person needs to take to motivate them self to be a healthier person is for them to commit to it. Becoming a healthier person will take a lot of hard work. It is not easy for a person to change bad habits that they have had for many years. But if a person really makes the commitment to themselves that they are in it for the long haul and are ready to make the changes they need to make, they will be more motivated to become a healthier person.</p>]]>
      <![CDATA[<p><br />
<strong>Have a plan<br />
</strong><br />
Another step to help a person be motivated to become a healthier person is for them to make a plan. The more time and effort a person puts into their plan the better chance that they will stay motivated and be able to follow the plan.</p>

<p>Each plan to help a person become a healthier person will be different because each person needs to do different things to become healthy. Here is an example of a plan to help a person become a healthier person. Attend yearly check up, cut out junk food, exercise four times a week, meditate for 15 minutes each day, and go to dentist appointment every six months.</p>

<p><strong>Set your goals</strong></p>

<p>After a person has created a plan to help them become a healthier person, the next step would be for them to set some specific goals that will help them follow their plan. Setting specific goals is a terrific way to encourage and motivate a person to become a healthier individual.</p>

<p>When a person's long term goal is to become a healthier person they will then need to break down that goal to several smaller goals. Most people will have already done that when they create their plan. For example, cutting out junk food, exercising four times a week, and attending yearly doctor exams are three smaller goals that have been broken down from the larger goal of becoming a healthier person.</p>

<p>From those goals many people may want to break them down even farther. A smaller goal like cutting out junk food is still a little vague. How does the person plan to cut out junk food in their diet? Does this goal include all junk food? A person could break down this goal and have a goal not to buy junk food at the store so that that type of food is not even in the house.</p>

<p><strong>Tell someone</strong></p>

<p>After a person has set their goals to help motivate them to be a healthier person, they should tell someone their goals. Telling a close friend or family member the goals they have to be a healthier person can help them stay motivated because if they fail they will not just let them self down, but anyone else they have told will also be let down. Sometimes this type of motivation is just what a person needs to work hard.</p>

<p><strong>Reward yourself</strong></p>

<p>Rewards are a great motivator. A person should have rewards that they plan to give them self when they reach their goals. Obviously a person should be careful to ensure that the rewards themselves do not counteract the goal they have reached. For example, if the person has gone for three months without buying and eating junk food, they should not reward themselves with a large popcorn and soda when they go to the movies!</p>

<p><br />
</p>]]>
    </content>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>How to be more self-motivated</title>
    <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.improvingyourworld.com/motivation/how_to_be_more_selfmotivated_005146.html" />
    <modified>2009-11-14T17:30:28Z</modified>
    <issued>2009-11-14T11:16:51-06:00</issued>
    <id>tag:www.improvingyourworld.com,2009:/motivation/6.5146</id>
    <created>2009-11-14T17:16:51Z</created>
    <summary type="text/plain"> Finding motivation is sometimes a difficult thing to do, but there are steps you can take to make it easier to get there. You will need to teach yourself how to be more self motivated and this is something...</summary>
    <author>
      <name>K</name>
      
      <email>don@greatresults.com</email>
    </author>
    <dc:subject>Motivation</dc:subject>
    <content type="text/html" mode="escaped" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://www.improvingyourworld.com/motivation/">
      <![CDATA[<p><img alt="bike34927706.jpg" src="http://www.improvingyourworld.com/motivation/bike34927706.jpg" width="83" height="125" align="left" style="border:3px solid #e7e7e7;margin-right:10px" /></p>

<p>Finding motivation is sometimes a difficult thing to do, but there are steps you can take to make it easier to get there.  You will need to teach yourself how to be more self motivated and this is something that can't be forced on you but has to be a conscious decision you make.  </p>]]>
      <![CDATA[<p><br />
Self motivation is a skill that can be developed by employing the right steps and by making a sincere effort each day.  On one can force you to be motivated and it is something that you have to convince yourself to do on your own and then follow through.  Others can help motivate you to take the steps necessary, but it ultimately your responsibility to be self motivated.  </p>

<p><strong>1.	Step out of your comfort zone</strong></p>

<p>Setting and accomplishing goals is something that should be difficult and that should push you past the actions you do every day.  Stepping out of your comfort zone doesn't mean that you have to do ridiculous things or go against your moral beliefs, but it does mean that you should try and do things you have never done before and then work very hard to achieve those goals.  There will be times when you aren't sure if you will actually be able to get everything done and this should drive you to keep going and to do more than you ever thought possible.  The objective of stepping out of your comfort zone is to help you realize that you really are capable of a lot more than you probably think.  When you come to this realization, you will find it easier to stay motivated and to continue the positive cycle of goal setting and accomplishment.</p>

<p><strong>2.	Be willing to take a risk</strong></p>

<p>Doing only things that are very easy will never help you get the best results.  If you want to really get somewhere in life, you will need to be willing to do things that most others wouldn't even every try.  Taking a calculated risk in your business life is sometimes difficult to do but can bring tremendous rewards in the long run.  It is also essential to be smart about the risks you take and never do anything that is illegal or unethical.  It's also important to keep a long term perspective in this matter to realize that taking risks doesn't always pay off immediately, but will in the long run if you stick to your guns and keep going.  <br />
<strong><br />
3.	Think positively</strong></p>

<p>One of the keys to getting and staying motivated is to have a positive outlook on life and everything that will happen to you.  It doesn't make sense to have the expectation that your life will never have any kind of problems or that you will be immune to hardship when you are working on motivation, but you can realistically learn how to see the positive in every situation and to make every mistake or difficulty into an opportunity.  The cycle of self motivation is a positive cycle and will continually build on itself.  The more you are able to be motivated and to achieve your goals, the better able to set and achieve new goals you will be.  This will be and upward spiral that continues to lift you throughout your life.</p>

<p>Life will never be predictable and will always throw some kind of challenge at you, but understanding how to set goals and to be self motivated will help you to meet the challenges that come your way.  Motivation will become part of your life and won't just be something that you think about on New Year's Day only.  </p>

<p></p>

<p></p>

<p><br />
</p>]]>
    </content>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>How basic desires affect motivation</title>
    <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.improvingyourworld.com/motivation/how_basic_desires_affect_motivation_005145.html" />
    <modified>2009-11-13T17:15:26Z</modified>
    <issued>2009-11-13T11:03:24-06:00</issued>
    <id>tag:www.improvingyourworld.com,2009:/motivation/6.5145</id>
    <created>2009-11-13T17:03:24Z</created>
    <summary type="text/plain"> Have you ever wondered why you are really motivated to accomplish some goals but not excited at all about others? You probably figured that goals that are more important to you are the ones that you are going to...</summary>
    <author>
      <name>K</name>
      
      <email>don@greatresults.com</email>
    </author>
    <dc:subject>Motivation</dc:subject>
    <content type="text/html" mode="escaped" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://www.improvingyourworld.com/motivation/">
      <![CDATA[<p><img alt="massage37471736.jpg" src="http://www.improvingyourworld.com/motivation/massage37471736.jpg" width="83" height="125" align="left" style="border:3px solid #e7e7e7;margin-right:10px" /></p>

<p>Have you ever wondered why you are really motivated to accomplish some goals but not excited at all about others?  You probably figured that goals that are more important to you are the ones that you are going to fight for right?  So how do you determine what is important to you and are these important motivating factors consistent?  Professor Steven Reiss has proposed a theory that there are 16 basic desires that guide nearly all of human behavior.  It is the perceived importance level that each of us has in these basic desires that dictates what we are and are not motivated by.  Of course this list is not all inclusive and there are certainly factors not listed here that serve as strong motivators for individuals.  Here is a brief introduction and explanation of Reiss's 16 basic desires.<br />
<strong><br />
Acceptance -</strong> the desire for acceptance is also referred to as the need for approval.  There are individuals who have a need for the extrinsic motivation that comes from other people who encourage you and who you want to please.</p>]]>
      <![CDATA[<p><br />
<strong>Curiosity </strong>- the curiosity desire is the need to think things through and find an answer to a problem that may not be obvious.  Some individuals are motivated by the prospect of exploring the unknown.<br />
<strong><br />
Eating -</strong> the need for food and water is one of the most basic of all needs.  If there were a goal that hinged on being able to provide yourself or your family with the food they needed, this desire would definitely be a compelling motivator.<br />
<strong> <br />
Family -</strong> the desire to raise children and have a family of your own.<br />
<strong><br />
Honor -</strong> the need to remain loyal to the traditions and principles that are considered part of one's upbringing.  <br />
<strong><br />
Idealism -</strong> those who have a need for idealism will fight for causes that they feel are social injustices, regardless of whether or not that individual is the victim.<br />
<strong><br />
Independence -</strong> the need for individuality is particularly strong for most individuals in their youth, however, adulthood often also presents situations that motivate individuals to fight for a clearer sense self.</p>

<p><strong>Order - </strong>for some, the need for order, organization, stability, and predictability provides them with an environment that they feel safe in because they feel in control.</p>

<p><strong>Physical activity - </strong>the need for exercise and movement can really make the difference in motivation to do such things as excel on sports teams and stick to a regular work-out routine.</p>

<p><strong>Power -</strong> the need for influence, even influence over one's will, can be a strong motivator.  Some individuals are motivated to work their way up the corporate ladder because they desire to have this kind of power.  </p>

<p><strong>Romance -</strong> many famous psychologists and psychotherapists agree that the need to be loved and the need for a physical manifestation of that love, is one of the strongest motivators we have, even on par with the need for food.</p>

<p><strong>Saving -</strong> for all those pack rats out there, there is actually a basic need that some people have that motivates them to collect.</p>

<p><strong>Social contact -</strong> the need for relationships with peers, neighbors, and friends is motivator for those who value social interactions and contact.</p>

<p><strong>Status -</strong> the need for social standing and importance exists in varying degrees, some individuals are happy with occasional verbal recognition, while others are not satisfied until their status is recognized on a wider scale.<br />
<strong><br />
Tranquility -</strong> the need to be safe is also one of the most basic of needs.  Few people lack the motivation to remain safe and to protect that which is most valuable.</p>

<p><strong>Vengeance -</strong> the need to strike back and to receive vindication for a wrong that was done to us personally can become a desire for motivation to do that which we may not normally do.</p>]]>
    </content>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Getting Over the Food Craze</title>
    <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.improvingyourworld.com/motivation/getting_over_the_food_craze_005144.html" />
    <modified>2009-11-12T17:30:47Z</modified>
    <issued>2009-11-12T11:19:05-06:00</issued>
    <id>tag:www.improvingyourworld.com,2009:/motivation/6.5144</id>
    <created>2009-11-12T17:19:05Z</created>
    <summary type="text/plain"> You only know how hard it is to stick to a diet if you&apos;ve been on one. Diets are usually punishing to your appetite and to your pallet. Some diets make you eliminate food that your body craves on...</summary>
    <author>
      <name>K</name>
      
      <email>don@greatresults.com</email>
    </author>
    <dc:subject>Decisions</dc:subject>
    <content type="text/html" mode="escaped" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://www.improvingyourworld.com/motivation/">
      <![CDATA[<p><img alt="icecream32254768.jpg" src="http://www.improvingyourworld.com/motivation/icecream32254768.jpg" width="84" height="125" align="left" style="border:3px solid #e7e7e7;margin-right:10px" /></p>

<p>You only know how hard it is to stick to a diet if you've been on one. Diets are usually punishing to your appetite and to your pallet. Some diets make you eliminate food that your body craves on a regular basis. There are a lot of foods out there that are addictive and will bust your diet if you eat them like chocolate, cheese, meat (in some cases), processed foods (unhealthy carbs), or refined sugar (candy). The problem with these types of foods is when you eat them you can never just stop at one. Stay motivated to diet by eliminating your cravings for addictive foods from your diet with these simple steps:</p>

<p><strong>Step #1: Fast for a full 24 hours.<br />
</strong></p>]]>
      <![CDATA[<p><br />
Fasting helps cleanse your pallet and reset your body's natural preference for healthy food, so any time you are going to start a diet, fast for a full 24 hours before. Also fast periodically throughout your diet to keep your body's pallet cleansed, especially if you've had a food that will bust your diet if you keep craving it.<br />
<strong><br />
Step #2: Eat foods that steady your blood sugar.</strong></p>

<p>Cravings are caused by a dip in blood sugar. When your blood sugar is low your body automatically craves something that will boost it quickly. Rather than waiting for that to happen, keep your blood sugar level by eating foods throughout the day that naturally steady your blood sugar. Foods such as raw fruits, green vegetables, legumes, and foods containing healthy natural fats such as avocadoes and nuts all help keep blood sugar levels steady so you don't get the dips that lead to cravings that can make you bust your diet.<br />
<strong><br />
Step #3: Stay away from television.</strong></p>

<p>Television and computers are known to be one of the most powerful triggers for appetite. If you really want your diet to be a success, stay away from the TV while you are dieting. Instead, develop those other hobbies you have been sitting on waiting for time and they'll be a lot more inducing to your diet.<br />
<strong><br />
Step #4: Plan ahead.<br />
</strong><br />
Eating out is one of the number one diet killers because it not only gets your diet off track, but it also makes you crave oils, salts, fats, and processed foods that will bust your diet. Rather than eat out or eat on the go, plan ahead. Take a snack bag with you to work or on the road. If you are going to be traveling, remember that most restaurants (not fast food) will cater to dietary requests. Don't go out when you are hungry. Make a meal plan for every day of the week. Planning ahead keeps you out of trouble with your diet a lot better than flying by the seat of your pants.</p>

<p><strong>Step #5: Eat enough.</strong></p>

<p>Under normal circumstances your body actually produces an appetite controlling hormone called leptin. However, if you are not eating enough calories, your body will stop producing leptin making your appetite get out of control. Guess what happens when you appetite isn't in control? You eat foods you shouldn't and you bust your diet. Be sure to eat at least ten calories per pound of your ideal body weight and never eat less than 1200 calories in a day unless you are fasting.</p>

<p><br />
</p>]]>
    </content>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Get out of the Zone</title>
    <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.improvingyourworld.com/motivation/get_out_of_the_zone_005143.html" />
    <modified>2009-11-11T17:30:38Z</modified>
    <issued>2009-11-11T11:15:32-06:00</issued>
    <id>tag:www.improvingyourworld.com,2009:/motivation/6.5143</id>
    <created>2009-11-11T17:15:32Z</created>
    <summary type="text/plain"> We get stuck in a day to day routine living our life as we always live it and not varying in case it gets uncomfortable. Sound familiar? You live in your comfort zone. But your comfort zone isn&apos;t really...</summary>
    <author>
      <name>K</name>
      
      <email>don@greatresults.com</email>
    </author>
    <dc:subject>Motivation</dc:subject>
    <content type="text/html" mode="escaped" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://www.improvingyourworld.com/motivation/">
      <![CDATA[<p><img alt="stretching30463585.jpg" src="http://www.improvingyourworld.com/motivation/stretching30463585.jpg" width="83" height="125" align="left" style="border:3px solid #e7e7e7;margin-right:10px" /></p>

<p>We get stuck in a day to day routine living our life as we always live it and not varying in case it gets uncomfortable. Sound familiar? You live in your comfort zone. But your comfort zone isn't really that comfortable is it? If you think it is, you're probably wrong. Ask yourself these questions:</p>

<p>	<ul><li>Am I making as much money as I want to?</li><br />
<li>Do I have the level of relationships that I want?</li><br />
<li>Do I enjoy my work?</li><br />
<li>Do I have passion in my life?</li><br />
<li>Am I truly happy?</li></ul><br />
</p>]]>
      <![CDATA[<p><br />
If you answered "no" to any of the above questions you are not comfortable in your comfort zone. You know you can be a better you and you want to be a better you. You just haven't found the motivation to actually be a better you. Get motivated to be a better you by stepping outside your comfort zone and obtaining the life that will make you truly happy. Here's how to get started:</p>

<p><strong>Step #1: Draw a picture.</strong></p>

<p>You won't know what you want until you choose it. Sit down and write in detail what your ideal life would look like. Drinks on the beach? Traveling the world? Write down exactly how much money you would ideally like to make. Don't just say enough money to be comfortable or you won't know what you want. Are you comfortable now? No.</p>

<p> Are the rich comfortable? Yes. Write down a specific dollar amount and be specific in every area you approach in your ideal life. Write down what your relationships would look like if you were living your ideal life. What would you be doing for work or would you even work? Write down the emotions you would feel. Paint yourself a detailed picture of what your ideal life looks like. It may make you stretch and feel uncomfortable or guilty to write down some of what you really want. That's good! You're already stepping outside your comfort zone and becoming a better you.<br />
<strong><br />
Step #2: Make your "To Do" list.</strong></p>

<p>It may scare you to look at your ideal life. Why? Because you are going to have to change what you are doing now to really get there. Acknowledge the fact that things are going to change and you're half way there. Make a list of things that will have to change in order for you to achieve your ideal life. This is your "To Do" list. Prioritize it to what you can change right now (i.e. quit your job) to what will take a little more work to achieve your ideal end result (i.e. pay cash for your dream home). Work at your "To Do" list every day. Your "To Do" list will make you stretch, it will scare the pants off you, and when you achieve it, you will be a much better you and you will have achieved your perfect end result. When you achieve your perfect end result, you will be comfortable and be able to answer "yes" to each of the above questions.<br />
<strong><br />
Step #3: Review it.</strong></p>

<p>Review periodically what you've written as your ideal life. What you want may change as you move closer to your ideal life and get outside your comfort zone more and more. You may discover you have a passion for something you didn't know about. Revise your ideal life with your new discoveries and revise your "To Do" list to reflect the changes and keep working at it. In the end you won't only be motivated to be a better you, you will be a better you. <br />
</p>]]>
    </content>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Fit and Sexy</title>
    <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.improvingyourworld.com/motivation/fit_and_sexy_005142.html" />
    <modified>2009-11-10T17:15:29Z</modified>
    <issued>2009-11-10T11:12:28-06:00</issued>
    <id>tag:www.improvingyourworld.com,2009:/motivation/6.5142</id>
    <created>2009-11-10T17:12:28Z</created>
    <summary type="text/plain"> Let&apos;s face it. A lot of people don&apos;t like how they look. You&apos;re overweight, your skin is blotchy or you&apos;re having acne attacks, you&apos;re sagging in places that aren&apos;t sexy, or you generally just have a problem with the...</summary>
    <author>
      <name>K</name>
      
      <email>don@greatresults.com</email>
    </author>
    <dc:subject>Goals</dc:subject>
    <content type="text/html" mode="escaped" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://www.improvingyourworld.com/motivation/">
      <![CDATA[<p><img alt="weights33276767.jpg" src="http://www.improvingyourworld.com/motivation/weights33276767.jpg" width="94" height="125" align="left" style="border:3px solid #e7e7e7;margin-right:10px" /></p>

<p>Let's face it. A lot of people don't like how they look. You're overweight, your skin is blotchy or you're having acne attacks, you're sagging in places that aren't sexy, or you generally just have a problem with the way you look to others. As a result, you don't feel good about yourself, you loose confidence, you withdraw socially, and you get depressed. Another result is the loss of hope and motivation to be a better you. Get your motivation back by changing the way you look. You can be a better you and get your body looking great. There are lots of ways to accomplish this. Some are more conventional, and some are more mental. Give yourself a chance to become a better you.</p>

<p><strong>Diet and Exercise</strong><br />
</p>]]>
      <![CDATA[<p><br />
The most conventional way (and one of the cheapest) to change the way you look is through diet and exercise. Increasing your activity and decreasing your caloric intake is a good combination to loose unwanted weight. It also has the added benefit of clearing up skin problems, keeping you looking younger longer, and if done vigorously, you can get toned so you aren't sagging anywhere. Start by getting educated on what it means to be healthy and the best way for you to change what you currently have through diet and exercise. Once you know what to do, make a commitment and do it. Make it a lifelong pursuit. It is a long standing truth that when you look good you feel good and when you feel good you are a better version of you.</p>

<p><strong>Surgical</strong></p>

<p>If you don't want to put in the effort to make yourself look better through the conventional method of diet and exercise, surgery may appeal to you. Cosmetic surgery, liposuction, laser hair removal, chemical peels, permanent makeup, and all sorts of new methods are becoming available to help you loose unwanted weight, get your skin looking good, get your hair back (or loose it), and achieve the results that you want. Get slim and sexy without hitting the gym. Surgery can be expensive, but if you save your pennies, you can look better which means you can feel better about yourself, which means you'll be motivated to be a better you.</p>

<p><strong>Surrender </strong></p>

<p>By far, the most cost effective and the most effective way to look better overall is to simply surrender to how you look now and love what it. Surrendering to what you look like now is a mental process and a choice. For example, if you are an average height woman, weigh 155 pounds, and feel like you're lumpy and saggy you will look like an average height woman that is thirty pounds overweight that is lumpy and saggy. When you surrender to your 155 pounds though and love it, you don't beat yourself up about being thirty pounds overweight. You love your lumps because they make you more curvaceous and your sags because it give you the opportunity to buy new clothes that fit the sags right. You can be thirty pounds (or more) overweight and still love the body that you are in. </p>

<p>Surrender means you love the stretch marks because that means you are a mom, you love the wrinkles and gray hairs because it means you get to pay senior citizen prices, etc. Surrender to how you look and you will love yourself. When you love yourself, you automatically look and feel better. When you love yourself you will be motivated to be the best version of yourself you can be.</p>]]>
    </content>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Finding your personal motivation</title>
    <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.improvingyourworld.com/motivation/finding_your_personal_motivation_005141.html" />
    <modified>2009-11-09T17:30:30Z</modified>
    <issued>2009-11-09T11:20:35-06:00</issued>
    <id>tag:www.improvingyourworld.com,2009:/motivation/6.5141</id>
    <created>2009-11-09T17:20:35Z</created>
    <summary type="text/plain"> Personal motivation is one of the most important aspects of our lives and drives most of the things that we do each day. Even if we are not always conscious of it, motivation is driving our actions and helps...</summary>
    <author>
      <name>K</name>
      
      <email>don@greatresults.com</email>
    </author>
    <dc:subject>Motivation</dc:subject>
    <content type="text/html" mode="escaped" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://www.improvingyourworld.com/motivation/">
      <![CDATA[<p><img alt="eye36180828.jpg" src="http://www.improvingyourworld.com/motivation/eye36180828.jpg" width="175" height="117" align="left" style="border:3px solid #e7e7e7;margin-right:10px" /></p>

<p>Personal motivation is one of the most important aspects of our lives and drives most of the things that we do each day.  Even if we are not always conscious of it, motivation is driving our actions and helps guide what we choose to do.  There are many different ways that we can control what our personal motivation helps us to do.  Here are some things you can do to find you own personal motivation.</p>

<p>One of the most important things you need to have in place when you are looking for your personal motivation is to have a good solid base and to understand what is really the most important to you.  If you aren't sure what your core motivation is, you likely need to sit down and really think about what you do each day and why.  This understanding will help give you more context to what you do each day and how you can best take advantage of your strengths.  Knowing what is most important to you, or at least knowing what you want to be most important to you is essential to finding your personal motivation.  If you don't know what drives you, then you will never be able to leverage that knowledge to get amazing things done.<br />
</p>]]>
      <![CDATA[<p><br />
As you are discovering what your personal motivation is, you should have some kind of goal in your life that you want to work towards.  A goal gives you something to look at and work towards each day and will drive your actions.  The things you spend the most time thinking about you will also spend the most time working to accomplish.  When you set your goals, you need to be certain that they are specific and that you write them down.  A goal isn't really a goal unless it has been written down and you can refer to it often.  Goals don't have to be loft and can actually be quite simple, but should be challenging and push you past what you are currently doing.  When you have a larger goal, it is best to have smaller steps in the process that you can work towards each day and know that you are making progress towards your goal.  If you are able to complete the small tasks each day that you set, you will eventually reach your ultimate goal.  </p>

<p>Another very important part about motivation and reaching goals is to reward yourself when you do things that are great.  If you accomplish your goals, you should be proud of yourself and allow some kind of reward.  Sometimes the accomplishment of the goal is enough in and of itself, but a little extra can't hurt either.  The realization that the process works and that you can accomplish your goals will help you gain confidence and repeat the process over and over again.  It is also important to keep in mind that a goal is not just an event but a process.  Sometimes you need to reward yourself just for making progress on your goal.  Be careful that you don't spend so much time rewarding yourself that you forget about the ultimate goal.  </p>

<p>When you are looking for your personal motivation, you should remember to focus on the positive and to block out negative thoughts.  Negative thoughts and actions will scorch your goals and motivation faster than anything.  This is sometimes the most challenging step for people and they never really move past it because they are too hard on themselves.  Take some time every day to think of positive things and to do something you love doing and won't regret.  This will make it much easier to be positive in general and will help you start the day off right. </p>

<p><br />
</p>]]>
    </content>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Finding motivation each day</title>
    <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.improvingyourworld.com/motivation/finding_motivation_each_day_005140.html" />
    <modified>2009-11-08T17:30:34Z</modified>
    <issued>2009-11-08T11:18:40-06:00</issued>
    <id>tag:www.improvingyourworld.com,2009:/motivation/6.5140</id>
    <created>2009-11-08T17:18:40Z</created>
    <summary type="text/plain"> Motivation is something that many people are constantly chasing and trying to make part of their lives. Many people are always looking for some kind of lofty goal that can motivate them to be their best each day, but...</summary>
    <author>
      <name>K</name>
      
      <email>don@greatresults.com</email>
    </author>
    <dc:subject>Motivation</dc:subject>
    <content type="text/html" mode="escaped" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://www.improvingyourworld.com/motivation/">
      <![CDATA[<p><img alt="meditation30334738.jpg" src="http://www.improvingyourworld.com/motivation/meditation30334738.jpg" width="175" height="144" align="left" style="border:3px solid #e7e7e7;margin-right:10px" /></p>

<p>Motivation is something that many people are constantly chasing and trying to make part of their lives.  Many people are always looking for some kind of lofty goal that can motivate them to be their best each day, but the truth of the matter is that you don't have to be working towards a huge goal to have a great day every day.  Sometimes finding motivation each day is really about all the simple things you can do to make yourself feel better.</p>

<p>Goals are a very important part of motivation and we set goals to keep us motivated to make progress each day and to make progress towards the things we want most.  Setting goals is sometimes a very straightforward process and people are very familiar with the steps that need to be taken to set a goal and achieve it.  But what many people lose sight of in the day to day living of their lives is that goals are not accomplished by leaps and bounds but rather by doing the small things each and every day.  No matter what the size of our goal is, it can almost always be broken down into smaller pieces that can be done each day to help us achieve our goal.  If our objective is to get a Masters Degree, then the logical conclusion is that classes should be attended each day and several hours of study set aside to learn the concepts that need to be learned.  Repeating these small processes each and every day will eventually lead to the accomplishment of the larger goal we have in mind.  So the daily goals and small challenges we face each day are what will really bring us success with our larger goals in life. </p>]]>
      <![CDATA[<p><br />
One of the first things that need to be done each day to find motivation is to just have a good attitude.  There are many people who try and convince themselves that they are a victim of their environment and the actions of other people, but when you come to the realization that you can decide, consciously choose, each day what kind of attitude you will have, you will find you are more productive and get more done than you ever thought you would. </p>

<p> Sometimes physical reminders are necessary to help you have a good attitude each day.  A bad night of sleep or a very long day before can make us want to be in a bad mood, but again, we are the ones who really decide what the day will be like.  If you have to have a blaring horn tell you to be positive, then make a sign that you hang up somewhere you will see it that says "be positive today".  While this idea seems simple and a bit obvious, you will need to determine what will work best to remind you to have a good attitude.  </p>

<p>There are also other things that can be done each and every day to help you feel motivated to do your best.  One of the best ways to accomplish this is to help someone else do something or to provide service of some kind without being asked.  As cliché as it may be, sometimes just giving someone a sincere smile and hello can work wonders for your day and theirs.  Look for opportunities to help other people and you will find that you are more cheerful in general.  And when you are in a better mood overall, you will be more motivated to accomplish your goals.  Living for someone else also makes it easier to get motivated.  When you have a family or someone you care about that is helping motivate you, you will find that things fall into place more readily than if you were alone.  Find another person that helps motivate you each day.</p>

<p></p>

<p></p>

<p><br />
</p>]]>
    </content>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Extraordinary Genius</title>
    <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.improvingyourworld.com/motivation/extraordinary_genius_005139.html" />
    <modified>2009-11-07T17:30:29Z</modified>
    <issued>2009-11-07T11:18:00-06:00</issued>
    <id>tag:www.improvingyourworld.com,2009:/motivation/6.5139</id>
    <created>2009-11-07T17:18:00Z</created>
    <summary type="text/plain"> One of the keys to a successful life is to love what you do and delegate most everything else. You can get motivated to become a better you by finding out where your extraordinary genius lies and moving your...</summary>
    <author>
      <name>K</name>
      
      <email>don@greatresults.com</email>
    </author>
    <dc:subject>Mindset</dc:subject>
    <content type="text/html" mode="escaped" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://www.improvingyourworld.com/motivation/">
      <![CDATA[<p><img alt="labels67958582.jpg" src="http://www.improvingyourworld.com/motivation/labels67958582.jpg" width="83" height="125" align="left" style="border:3px solid #e7e7e7;margin-right:10px" /></p>

<p>One of the keys to a successful life is to love what you do and delegate most everything else. You can get motivated to become a better you by finding out where your extraordinary genius lies and moving your life's activities in line with it. Extraordinary genius is simply the things in your life that you are really good at and that you are passionate about. You can do them all day long and not get bored or frustrated. Once you have found where your extraordinary genius lies, becoming a better you is as simple as making sure the majority of the activities you do are exactly in line with what you love. Here's how to begin:</p>

<p><strong>Step #1: Activity Inventory</strong></p>

<p>Everyone has tasks that they perform on a daily basis. The first step is to write down everything you do in an activity inventory. You can put your activities into lists with headings such as "Business Tasks," "Relationship Tasks," "Hobby Tasks," etc. Pick one heading and write down absolutely every activity you do in relationship to that heading. <br />
</p>]]>
      <![CDATA[<p><strong>Example: Business Tasks</strong></p>

<p>	<ul><li>Open business for the day</li><br />
<li>Take out trash</li><br />
<li>Turn on computers</li><br />
<li>Check messages</li><br />
<li>Return calls</li><br />
<li>Meet with employees</li><br />
<li>New contact calls</li><br />
<li>.etc.</li></ul></p>

<p><strong>Step #2: Rank Activities</strong></p>

<p>Once your activity inventory list is complete with all the activities you do in a specific area, it is time to rank each activity. Rankings are from 1 - 4. What each rank means is as follows:</p>

<ol><li>Great at it / Passionate about it</li>
<li>Good at it / Not necessarily passionate about it</li>
<li>Not necessarily good at it / Tolerate it</li>
<li>Not good at it / Hate doing it, can barely tolerate it</li>
</ol>
Put a rank next to each activity on the activity inventory according to how good you are at it and how much you enjoy it. You can give half ranks to an activity if it falls between two ranks, for example if you are okay at something but you're also really passionate about it, give it a rank of 1.5. Be honest with your rankings and don't just rank it how it "should" be.

<p><strong>Step #3: Separate Activity Inventory Tasks</strong></p>

<p>When you have ranked your activities you can separate them. Write all activities that were ranked as 1's in a new list. This is your extraordinary genius list. All activities you ranked as 3's or 4's put on your delegation list. The activities you ranked as 2's can either be made apart of your extraordinary genius list, or they can be apart of your delegation list depending on how much you actually enjoy doing them.</p>

<p><strong>Step #4: Honing Your Activities</strong></p>

<p>Your lists are now ready for you to go to work. Continue doing the activities you have on your extraordinary genius list. Find the themes of that list and find more activities that you can add to it. For example, a mom may have had on her extraordinary genius list reading to children, playing with children, naptime, etc. all of which fall under the theme of being a friend or a teacher. Activities this mom could add to her inventory that are apart of her extraordinary genius could be giving advice to new moms (blogging), being in charge of a play group or daycare, etc. You want to have all of your activities in line with your extraordinary genius because when they are you are living in your passion and you can be a better you just by being alive.</p>

<p>Your delegation list is the list of activities that you should delegate out to others. These are the things that drag you down so if you are serious about becoming a better you, delegate these tasks or learn to surrender to them.</p>]]>
    </content>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Being a more motivated person</title>
    <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.improvingyourworld.com/motivation/being_a_more_motivated_person_005138.html" />
    <modified>2009-11-06T17:15:23Z</modified>
    <issued>2009-11-06T11:01:30-06:00</issued>
    <id>tag:www.improvingyourworld.com,2009:/motivation/6.5138</id>
    <created>2009-11-06T17:01:30Z</created>
    <summary type="text/plain"> It seems like the most successful people are always motivated to do whatever it is on their plate at the time. However, motivation can be elusive for some people who can&apos;t seem to rise above life&apos;s ruts. The truth...</summary>
    <author>
      <name>K</name>
      
      <email>don@greatresults.com</email>
    </author>
    <dc:subject>Motivation</dc:subject>
    <content type="text/html" mode="escaped" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://www.improvingyourworld.com/motivation/">
      <![CDATA[<p><img alt="elegant30389198.jpg" src="http://www.improvingyourworld.com/motivation/elegant30389198.jpg" width="83" height="125" align="left" style="border:3px solid #e7e7e7;margin-right:10px" /></p>

<p>It seems like the most successful people are always motivated to do whatever it is on their plate at the time.  However, motivation can be elusive for some people who can't seem to rise above life's ruts.  The truth is everyone can be motivated.  Here are a few tips for being a more motivated person.<br />
<strong><br />
Set Goals<br />
</strong></p>]]>
      <![CDATA[<p><br />
Many people fall into the easy ruts that life present:  Go to work, eat dinner, watch television, go to sleep, wake up and do it all again.  Setting goals and working toward them can help people escape these ruts.  Setting and keeping goals requires a few steps.  </p>

<p>First, set a specific goal.  For example, "Be more motivated" is not a specific goal.  Instead, a person should consider setting a goal like "Run thirty minutes right after work and before dinner."  This sets a specific goal with a specific time.  Now, the person will know that when they get home from work they need to run thirty minutes before eating.  At first it will be hard to transition into the new routine, but after a while the thirty minute run will become the best part of the day.  This same method can work with wanting to add anything new to a person's every day routine.</p>

<p><strong>Do what you like</strong></p>

<p>It can be really difficult to stay motivated to do something that is not enjoyable.  A person looking to be more motivated should consider doing things they enjoy.   Most of the successful motivated people that are around have found something they are passionate about.  This makes it easy for them to work hard on it for so long.   Someone who wants to be a motivated business owner but also likes sports should find a business associated with athletics.</p>

<p>Granted, everyone has to do things that they do not like to do, but when a person has a choice, they will likely be more motivated to do things they enjoy.  </p>

<p><strong>Think Positive</strong></p>

<p>Many people have fallen into the habit of looking at everything with a negative perspective.  A pessimistic attitude can be effective when used appropriately, but when it is the dominate attitude, it can cause a person to become depressed and unmotivated.  Thinking positive allows people to solve problems instead of create problems.  Most successful people had to overcome numerous problems in their pursuit of success.  Because problems arise every day, having a positive attitude allows a person to overcome those problems instead of constantly be burdened by them.<br />
<strong><br />
Visualize</strong></p>

<p>Visualization is a technique used to help reach a goal.  The concept is that by seeing the goal everyday will create the motivation to work hard that day to reach the goal.  For example, someone who wants to reach a certain position at the work may write the job title on a piece of paper and display it in their house where they can see it daily.  Then each day as the person goes to work, they will have their goal in mind.  Often the reason people are not motivated is because they forgot what they were motivated about to begin with.  </p>

<p>Being a more motivated person requires effort and determination.  Everyone can be more motivated by implementing a few simple ideas.  A person can be a more motivated person if they set quality goals, try to do things they enjoy, think positively, and visualize their successes.  </p>]]>
    </content>
  </entry>

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