Part IV: Principles That Can Help Your Personal Growth And Development

5 Principles of Attraction for the Entrepreneur

By: Katie Mattson

Some things come to us naturally. For instance, breathing is habitual, eating is a necessity and sleeping is a needed rejuvenation from a hard day. We seldom think about how we perform these activities. For most, they are effortless.

Similarly, each of the Principles of Attraction could be accessed with lucid, internal reflection. Fortunately, with our busy lifestyles, others have helped us by sharing them in cohesive thoughts.

In starting, or maintaining, a business they can be used to propel us forward. All in all, there are 28 Principles of Attraction (Copyright © 2005 by Coach U. Inc. www.coachu.com) available for you to utilize in demanding a fantastic future.


Below you will find five to begin working with. Keep in mind that these start in your personal life first and then spill over into the business world. Unless they are well practiced and ingrained into who you are, they will never translate successfully or authentically in business. Creating a vision is the first principle of attraction for the Entrepreneur.

Principle #1:

Creating a vision allows you to see what is coming, which means you don’t need to create a future

Instead you are creating an intention and becoming really clear about what you want and how to get it. The theory behind this is that once you state your intention, it begins to manifest itself.

Michael Gerber, author of The E-Myth, argues that this is the most important step. His book outlines the importance of knowing what you want and the type of lifestyle you want to create. From there, he suggests you build your business to fit your ideal lifestyle before your life has no choice but to surrender to your business needs. Sounds like a good plan, right?

Remember to have a big vision. Michelangelo says: "The greater danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it." You deserve the best this world has to offer. The question is – will you be courageous enough to make it happen?

In order to follow your vision, you have to be committed. When you work toward what you really want, you are far more likely to achieve your goals. If you find yourself missing the mark, take ownership. Stop making excuses and stop blaming other people. Look inside, evaluate if you really want it and then figure out what you need to do to get it. Our second principle is about how to get past the hurdles that pop up along the way.

Principle #2:

See how perfect the present really is…even when it clearly is not

Some days you just can't win and everything seems to go wrong. Imagine this: you wake up to a seemingly normal day until your shower is cold, your coffee doesn't taste right, your dog is pulling the stuffing out of one of your couch cushions and your car dies on the way to work. Perfect moments, huh? Admittedly, sometimes it is hard to see our lessons.

One wise business owner once shared that they thought these moments served as the Universe testing our commitment to our goals. By forcing us to stop and face reality instead of barreling forward uninhibited towards our goals, we have to re-evaluate if we really want it bad enough to keep going. Each moment serves as a lesson and it is up to us whether we listen or not.

Jack Canfield, author of The Success Principles and co-author of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series, came up with this equation for success: Event + Reaction = Outcome. Depending on your reaction to a particular event determines your outcome. You can choose to let an unfortunate incident ruin your day, or you can learn your lesson from it and go on with your day unaffected. Maybe it serves as a reminder that you need to slow down, maybe it's a reminder to get organized or to be more patient. Whatever the lesson, listen up and make the most of it!

Principle #3:

Become irresistibly attractive to yourself

By living authentically according to your purpose, your vision and your choices, you become a magnet for others who have similar viewpoints. Personally, this means you surround yourself with people who understand you and can help you fulfill your needs. In business, this means you are attracting your ideal clients.

Have you ever thought about your ideal client? What if you were working with people everyday that you loved working with? It can happen! By knowing yourself and what type of people you enjoy being around and work best with, you can start attracting those personality types to you. Try to decipher whom you know that inspires and challenges you. Seek out those types as you move forward.

We tend to attract people who are similar to ourselves, who make us feel safe. Remember to add some to your list who really challenge you as well. Once you are comfortable in your own confidence, you will exude a personality that people want to be around. Soon, you can't help but draw others in who want to be around you! Once you've become irresistibly attractive to yourself, then you can market your talents shamelessly.

Principle #4:

Market your Talents Shamelessly

Take a moment and write down 2 talents that you are most proud of. What made those two come to mind immediately? How can you (or do you?) utilize those skills each day personally and professionally?

Whether we are selling a service or a product, most of the time we are really selling ourselves. As we are the face and the voice, our customers must relate to us. If you are embarrassed or unclear about your true talents, you can’t sell them personally or professionally. Once you are clear about your skills, you can use them to your advantage.

We each have a challenge everyday to be our best. Often, we don’t measure up. Be it fear that we are not important enough, that we don’t deserve it, or that someone will say the dreaded word “no” to us, we are afraid to be brilliant. If we choose to allow this fear to take over, we do a disservice to ourselves and to others.

By making that choice, you deprive the world of knowing how truly amazing you are and what a truly amazing product you have to offer. If you don’t feel that way about your product, perhaps you are selling the wrong thing! Our final and most important principle is to eliminate delay.

Principle #5:

Eliminate Delay - Time is expensive

"I believe life is constantly testing us for our level of commitment, and life's greatest rewards are reserved for those who demonstrate a never-ending commitment to act until they achieve. This level of resolve can move mountains, but it must be constant and consistent. As simplistic as this may sound, it is still the common denominator separating those who live their dreams from those who live in regret." -Tony Robbins

All of your yesterdays have past and tomorrow might not exist, so why waste today? Start with the thing you fear most. By tackling the big objects first, you free up your mind (and your nerves) for more opportunity. Often, the fearful tasks are not as bad as the imagination creates them to be.

It’s also important to take care of any little tasks that you are tolerating. Each day those tiny “need-to-do” tasks take up room in your mind. Creating an abundance of time by clearing out the small tasks allows for more freedom and less stress. Be intentional about taking care of things as they come up.

Once you have more time, you can dream up bigger goals to add to your vision. This brings us back to Principle number one, which will continue to grow and change. Don’t waste any more of the time you have to market your talents and show the world what you have to offer. Dream big, don’t let your head get in the way and create time to fully go after everything you want. You deserve it!

Katie Mattson is the owner and professional coach of Momentum Coaching. Acting as a catalyst, Katie helps her clients create awareness and motivation. She works with individuals and small groups clarify their vision and goals, have confidence to face their fears and strengthen their core abilities to go after what they want in life.

For more information, to request a complimentary sample session, or to sign up for her FREE newsletter, visit http://www.energizeyourmoment.com.

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

Part III: Principles That Can Help Your Personal Growth And Development

You might not want to change the world, but the following principles can go a long way toward changing your life and improving the effectiveness of your business.

7 Leadership Principles That Can Change the World

By: Steve Farmer

There are seven universal principles at work behind every choice, every interaction, every word that is said and every action that is taken. Understanding these underlying principles will help you grow and prosper as a leader and as a person.

1. Fairness

Fairness is a principle that's understood by children everywhere, but as we grow up, we each may develop our own individual concept of what is and isn't fair. On your team, there needs to be a common understanding of fairness, and it needs to be defined, communicated and demonstrated by you as the leader every day.

When you make decisions, be open and honest with your team about how they were made and why. People may be resentful or mistrusting of decisions that have been handed down arbitrarily or without input and explanation.

2. Honesty, Integrity and Trust

The people on your team want and need to trust you. They want to know that you've given them all of the facts and that nothing is being hidden from them. The way to gain that trust is by being honest and living with integrity.

If you meet this need for them, you'll gain their trust, understanding and faith. This can't be accomplished by what you say; it needs to be proven by how you live. When you do make a mistake or a bad decision, disclose it. Don't blame someone else, lie or pretend it didn't happen. Be honest about it and move forward.

3. Potential

Everyone is capable of being and doing more than they are now. Everyone on your team - whether they're a rookie or a subject matter expert - needs to feel that you see his or her potential to grow, acquire new skills and develop.

People look to a leader to evoke that from them, inspiring and allowing them to grow, evolve and fulfill their potential so they're constantly improving and learning new things. Don't restrict their growth by assuming they'll adhere to your predictions of how they'll act, think or talk.

See each person's potential and not their limitations. Assume they're growing and evolving all the time, and this will empower them to grow into the next phase of their development, instead of stagnating where they are.

4. Growth

When you're tuned in to each individual's potential for growth and change, you can help that along, actively supporting the new skills they have acquired that will fulfill their potential. You can accelerate their growth by offering them concrete opportunities such as training and upgrading of skills or connecting them to a business coach or mentor. Growth will occur through both positive and negative experiences, so encourage your team members to try new things and to learn and grow even through failure and mistakes.

5. Respect and Dignity

Respect is difficult to earn and easy to lose. Adopt the "golden rule" – treat people how you want to be treated. Treat each team member with respect and dignity for who they are and for the work that they're doing. Recognize and embrace their differences and diversity.

Earn respect by acting with dignity and showing that you have respect for yourself. Be a role model and hold yourself to a higher standard on a daily basis. Reward people in public and correct them in private. This will protect their dignity and reinforce that they can take risks. They'll know that if they do make a mistake or fail they won't be publicly disgraced for it.

6. Service

"For he that is least among you all, the same shall be great" Luke, 9:48. A good leader not only leads the group, he or she is also a servant to the group - a champion for their cause; someone in their corner that will back them up, support them and mentor them.

It's about not just being a figurehead leader, but being of service, working WITH the team and meeting their needs. Examples include making sure they have the equipment they need to fulfill their roles or helping them to cut through the red tape of bureaucracy.

In his book, "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People", Stephen Covey advocates that you "seek to understand rather than be understood". Aim to understand the needs of your team members, and to serve them instead of just leading them.

The leader has to create the sense of a team or a family, adopting the mentality that, "We succeed or fail as a team". Leaders who don't understand this are the ones who take the credit when things are good and blame others when things are bad.

In difficult times, teams need to have a leader they can rely on to act as their champion. It is the leader's job to wear the target and shield the team if they come under fire. That may mean taking ultimate responsibility for a failure or mistake, or fighting to keep funds or people.

When the outside world is taking shots at the project, or if there are roadblocks to the project, it's the leader's job to shelter the team, take the shots and get through the roadblocks, so the team can focus on getting the job done, and not get distracted by these outside challenges.

7. Quality

"On my Honor I will do my best". Understand that people want to do their best and put out a good product, no one shows up at work to screw up. As a leader, strive to always exemplify that, "quality is job one".

Establish a culture where going above and beyond expectations is the standard; not just for the products or services you create and deliver, but for how you live and work. "Walk the walk", and exemplify this standard in how YOU live and work, and also in how you lead. Don't cut any corners. Always doing your best is a SACRED PLEDGE that you make to your team.

By recognizing and nurturing these seven universal principles, you'll capture the hearts and minds of everyone that you interact with. We are all looking to have the universal principles of Fairness, Honesty, Potential, Growth, Respect, Service and Quality fulfilled in our lives. If you can fulfill them for your team members, you'll connect at a deep level.

You can achieve anything together if you can connect at this basic human level, and your team will work harder for you when they feel that connection. And vice-versa, you'll connect and feel supported by your team if you recognize these needs in them and in yourself.

Steve Farmer is a leader in the field of Coaching. As a skilled professional coach, inspirational speaker and author he brings the power of individual coaching to everyday living. In our frequently over stressed and under involved society, he empowers individuals to follow their dreams, achieve more in their current careers, and maintain a balance between their personal and professional lives.

A busy entrepreneur himself, Steve understands the many demands and challenges facing today's busy adults. He also knows that amidst the chaos, people sometimes need support in maintaining both their sanity and a balanced life. With his innate listening and problem-solving gifts, Steve helps individuals find solutions to their difficult problems.

Whether through one-on-one coaching, workshops, courses or keynote addresses, he helps people to better develop their personal talents and skills so that their journey to success and happiness is easier, more rewarding and less frustrating.

Learn more about steve at his website http://www.innovations4life.com

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

Part II: Principles That Can Help Your Personal Growth And Development

In Part II of our series on principles that can help your personal growth and development, we found an article that will help you you realize the importance of your mental and emotional health.

9 Principles To Live By - To Be Mentally And Emotionally Strong!

By Lucy Wong Moi

Here are 9 principles of purposeful living. We ought to know what are best for us by growing instead of just getting by. Listen first before answering, worry less, fear not, let the Divine's will be done, not us.

Do not take problems to bed, do not wallow in self-pity and count our blessings that all of us have plenty.

[1] You should not worry, for worry is the most unproductive of all human activities.

Worry is a negative state of mind which deals with the same problem over and over again, yet nothing is solved.

[2] You should not be fearful, for most of the things we fear never come to pass.

Fear is the opposite of confidence. It is also another negative emotion where it deals with uncertainty and loses heart easily. How can one win when one feels defeated even before the game has started?

[3] You should not cross bridges before you get to them, for no one yet has succeeded in accomplishing this. Deal with each problem as it comes, you can handle only one at a time anyway.

Let God's will be done, not ours. What will happen will happen for a good cause. One cannot deal with unseen problems though one can learn to troubleshoot.

[4] You should not take problems to bed with you for they make very poor bedfellows.

Problems are not solved when one go to sleep, be rested proper to have our energies and spirits renewed to stand tall to face all challenges the next day..

[5] You should not borrow other people's problems. They can take better care of them than you can.

There are numerous other people's problems beyond one's expectations and understandings. Learn to tackle our own problems before giving a hand to others. Solve our own problems before minding other people's problems.

[6] You should not try to relive yesterday for good or bad… it has already gone! Concentrate on what is happening in your life today.

There is no use crying over spilt milk. Be geared towards moving a step at a time. 'Yesterday was a cancelled check, tomorrow is a promissory note, Today is ready cash, Use it to the fullest!' That was what people used to say.

[7] You should be a good listener, for only when you listen do you hear ideas different from your own. It is very hard to learn something new when you are talking.

We have a pair of ears but only one mouth. Be patient to speak before understanding. Our mouths serve us best when in accord with inner conscience where Truth dwells..

[8] You should not become bogged down by frustration, for 90 percent of it is rooted in self-pity, and it will only interfere with positive action.

Self-pity is the web that spins miseries and traps oneself with their 'self-dug-pits' or dungeons. Slithering snakes and crawling insects will be your friends while in the darkness of frustrations.

[9] You should count your blessings, never overlooking the small ones, for a lot of small blessings add up to a big one!

For every blessings known to you, there are hundreds more that you don't know. Have heart in all you do. Always be grateful in all we have. Gratitude is a virtue for all. Gratitude is a key to peace of mind and heart.

When one seeks to assuage the suffering of others, it is really one's own suffering that one mitigates the relief. When one direct one's attention to the inner-self, which is Truth, one will perceive the same Divinity to be present in all. Thus it makes up these 9 principles to live by.........

Lucy Wong is a health and nutrition consultant. She is keen in sharing the 4 dimensions of health, aiming at attaining total health and happiness for all. She has written many articles on health related issues in her personal column at http://articlesubmission.info Read more about alternative approach of maintaining good health at Health Article Directory where you will discover the secrets of maintaining good health in men, women and teens. Read more from her personal blog.

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

Part I: Principles That Can Help Your Personal Growth And Development

Our next series of post will feature Articles from around the Internet that, we hope, will help all our Associates succeed in their endeavors.

The 7 Principles of Business Integrity

By: Robert Moment

If you have integrity, nothing else matters. If you don’t have integrity, nothing else matters. -- Alan K. Simpson.

If I were to ask you what attribute is the most influential in regard to the success of a business, would you know immediately which one is the most important?

Based on my many years as a business owner and entrepreneur, I have discovered that at the very top of the list is the distinguishing quality of integrity. Without integrity at the helm of a company, a business is usually short-lived. In fact, when business integrity is present throughout the deepest layers of a company and not just at its surface, it becomes the heart and soul of the company’s culture and can mean the difference between a company that succeeds and a company that falters.

The Internet’s Immeasurable Impact on the Marketplace!

The importance of integrity has always existed among the business community, but in recent times has been shown as falling short. It is the Internet’s immeasurable impact on the global marketplace that is now making the expression of integrity, reliability and credibility extremely important. Furthermore, the consequence of global competition means that customers will simply not consider a company that shows any less than the highest level of integrity. Since there is a wealth of competitive companies easily available and accessible via the Internet, there is in fact no need to accept anything less than the best.

Where Does Integrity Start?

In an effort to build upon a foundation of integrity, the first requirement would be to establish excellent rapport with clients. Based on many years of study, the best and most practiced method for achieving rapport is by way of Relationship Marketing. Just as it sounds, Relationship Marketing is founded on the single and most critical characteristic, known as “Integrity.” However, achieving true integrity with clients often leaves many an entrepreneur bewildered, grasping for techniques and strategies that guarantee their futures. But integrity is not something that can be grasped and then simply used. Integrity in its essence must be so ingrained within the nature of an individual, its company and the team members, that it remains steadfast no matter what. Without question, others sense it and find it very attractive.

The True Nature of Integrity!

Now you are probably asking yourself, what is the true nature of integrity? There are in fact some very basic principles that surround the qualities of business integrity. At its core, integrity begins with a company leader who understands the qualities of integrity which then filters down throughout the company into every department and every member’s approach and attitude.

In recent research performed by the Institute of Business Ethics- an organization which is among the world’s leaders in promoting corporate ethical best practices, it was found that companies displaying a “clear commitment to ethical conduct” almost invariably outperform companies that do not display ethical conduct. The Director of the Institute of Business Ethics, Philippa Foster Black, stated: “Not only is ethical behavior in the business world the right and principled thing to do, but it has been proven that ethical behavior pays off in financial returns.” These findings deserve to be considered as an important tool for companies striving for long-term prospects and growth.

The following 7 Principles of Business Integrity are the basics of integrity and a good starting off place to consider. By integrating each of these principles within a company environment, the result will be nothing short of a major rebirth of the enterprise.

Principle #1: Recognize that customers/clients want to do business with a company they can trust; when trust is at the core of a company, it is easy to recognize. Trust defined is assured reliance on the character, ability, strength, or truth of a business.

Principle #2: For continuous improvement of a company, the leader of an organization must be willing to open up to ideas for betterment. Ask for opinions and feedback from both customers and team members and your company will continue to grow.

Principle #3: Regardless of the circumstances, do everything in your power to gain the trust of past customer’s and clients, particularly if something has gone awry. Do what you can to reclaim any lost business by honoring all commitments and obligations.

Principle #4: Re-evaluate all print materials including small business advertising, brochures and other business documents making sure they are clear, precise and professional; most important make sure they do not misrepresent or misinterpret.

Principle #5: Remain involved in community-related issues and activities thereby demonstrating that your business is a responsible community contributor. In other words, stay involved.

Principle #6: Take a hands-on approach in regard to accounting and record keeping, not only as a means of gaining a better feel for the progress of your company, but as a resource for any “questionable “ activities; gaining control of accounting and record keeping allows you to end any dubious activities promptly.

Principle #7: Treat others with the utmost of respect. Regardless of differences, positions, titles, ages, or other types of distinctions, always treat others with professional respect and courtesy.

While it is most certainly an integral and positive step for a small business to recognize the significance of integrity as a tool for achieving its desired outcomes, that is only the beginning. What must truly be recognized for true success is that while certain precise universal principles lead to business integrity, it is in the overall mindset of the company and the unfailing implementation of these key elements that an enterprise is truly defined.

A small business that instills a deep-seated theme of integrity within its strategies and policies will not only be evident among customers, associates and partners, but its overall influence cannot help but to result in a profitable, successful company. By recognizing the value of integrity, and following each of the aforementioned 7 principles for achieving integrity, your success cannot be far off.

Robert Moment is a best-selling author, business coach, strategist and the founder of The Moment Group, a consulting firm dedicated to helping small businesses win federal contracts. He just released his new book, It Only Takes a Moment to Score, and recently unveiled Sell Integrity, a small business tool that helps you successfully sell your business idea. Learn more at: http://www.sellintegrity.com

or email: Robert@sellintegrity.com