What Is Your Definition of Success?
If you want to create balance in your life, it is important to know how you define success. The following list is a place to start. Cross off those that don't seem important to you and add your own. Next, identify which of the items on your list are the most essential to your success definition and which items present the greatest challenge to you.
1. Being able to move on when a situation is no longer productive or positive
2. Being satisfied with your work situation
3. Enjoying the present, not putting off the good things until some time in the future
4. Expressing your creativity
5. Fulfilling your potential
6. Holding yourself with esteem separately from your work
7. Being authentic
8. Identifying your values and basing your choices on them
9. Managing your money well
10. Not feeling envious of others
11. Paying attention to your spiritual life
12. Spending time in fun ways away from your workplace
13. Spending time with people you cherish and enjoy
14. Taking good care of yourself
15. Understanding when to fight for something and when to give in
What would you add? Which items present the greatest challenge to you?
The 80/20 Rule
The 80/20 Rule, also known as the Pareto Principle, says that 20% of what we do produces 80% of the results. Some examples of this principle are:
? 20% of the people sell 80% of the widgets.
? 20% of the salespeople earn 80% of the commission.
? 20% of the parts in your car cause 80% of the breakdowns.
? 20% of the members of an organization do 80% of the work.
The 80/20 principle can help anyone create balance in their life. Here's how:
1. Identify the times when you are most happy and productive (i.e., the 20% that produces the 80%) and increase them as much as possible.
2. Identify the times when you are least happy and productive (i.e., the 80% that produces the 20%), and reduce them as much as possible.
Your Seven Habits of Success
You have probably heard of Stephen Covey's Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. As you create balance in your life, think about your own list of success habits. What seven things would lead to more happiness in your life if you did them every day? Here are some ideas to get you started:
1. Do something you love doing for at least part of the day.
2. Get some physical exercise.
3. Get some mental exercise.
4. Stimulate yourself artistically.
5. Stimulate yourself spiritually.
6. Do something for someone else.
7. Do something just for fun.
8. Acknowledge yourself for something you said or did.
What ideas would you add?
Dealing with Workaholism
What if a person needs more than just self-help in dealing with a lack of balance in work and family life? An organization called Workaholics Anonymous can help.
Workaholics Anonymous is a 12-step recovery program similar to Alcoholics Anonymous. It is a "fellowship of individuals who share their experience, strength, and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others recover from workaholism. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop working compulsively."
How Do You Know if You Are a Workaholic?
Ask yourself these questions if you think you might be a workaholic:
1. Are you more comfortable talking about work than anything else?
2. Do you become impatient with people who do things besides work?
3. Do you believe that more money will solve the other problems in your life?
4. Do you get irritated when people ask you to stop working and do something else?
5. Do you get more energized about your work than about anything else, including your personal relationships?
6. Do you look for ways to turn your hobbies into money-making endeavors?
7. Do you often worry about the future, even when work is going well?
8. Do you take on extra work because you are concerned that it won't otherwise get done?
9. Do you take work home with you? Do you work on days off? Do you work while you are on vacation?
10. Do you think about your work while driving, falling asleep, or when others are talking?
11. Do you think that if you don't work hard you will lose your job or be considered a failure?
12. Do you work more than 40 hours in a typical week?
13. Do you work or read while you are eating?
14. Have your long hours hurt your family or other relationships?
Garrett Coan is a professional therapist,coach and psychotherapist. His two Northern New Jersey office locations are accessible to individuals who reside in Bergen County, Essex County, Passaic County, Rockland County, and Manhattan. He offers online and telephone counseling services for those who live at a distance. He can be accessed through http://www.creativecounselors.com or 201-303-4303.
As the last day of school arrives I feel the... Read More
Small talk used to be really hard work for me.... Read More
Many of us will do anything to avoid another's anger,... Read More
Most people suffer from stress at some time during the... Read More
Playing Our Part:Sir Michael Costa was conducting a rehearsal, in... Read More
"Part of what motivates me to write this book is... Read More
My name is Steve Brummet and my business is to... Read More
I know what you're thinking? "Here I am, completely stressed... Read More
Perhaps no one better than a former U.S. president has... Read More
Coaching is perhaps the most effective method of increasing performance... Read More
When I started my sales career over 25 years ago,... Read More
I wrote you about four years ago, when my eight... Read More
Excerpt From The Relationship Handbook: How to Understand and Improve... Read More
There is a point at which everything becomes simple and... Read More
One of the ironies of mindfulness is that it's still... Read More
Most of us find coaching employees to be an effective,... Read More
An awful lot of fantastic coaching has been coming out... Read More
1. Get a life purpose statement.A well thought out life... Read More
If you feel the heat of burn-out, it is possible... Read More
"Fortune befriends the bold." - John DrydenI regularly work with... Read More
I've told people for a long time that one of... Read More
Imagine stepping into the gym for the first time in... Read More
If you are anything like me, you may have noticed... Read More
Let me quote something you wrote. "When you reach the... Read More
I think that we're all probably familiar with the fairground... Read More
When coaching, it's all about the client, be that as... Read More
IntroductionThe question for leaders in organizations today is how do... Read More
With life coaching becoming "the" career choice in this millennium,... Read More
Signs of Self-ConfidenceLet's explore the meaning of self-confidence by taking... Read More
Who is the Best Coach For Achieving Your Goals?A friend... Read More
Can you hear your compassion? It's time to crank it... Read More
Obviously, there are many wonderful things about having a personal... Read More
As a healthy business owner or independent professional, how do... Read More
I always do a lot of thinking about good intentions... Read More
When I started my sales career over 25 years ago,... Read More
Signs of Self-ConfidenceLet's explore the meaning of self-confidence by taking... Read More
If you feel the heat of burn-out, it is possible... Read More
If you need to put on boots and grab a... Read More
Of the 60,000 people who lived to be over 100... Read More
"How can I become a better and more effective coach?"... Read More
It is my personal opinion that there are two words... Read More
Anybody who has visited my website at Motivation & Self... Read More
You are going to meet a very important client for... Read More
Do you often feel lonely, anxious, or even depressed? Is... Read More
How many people do you know who, in January, enthusiastically... Read More
The scenario?The company has decided it needs to eliminate costs.... Read More
Helen Keller once remarked that there was one thing she... Read More
Okay, you have read some books on body language and... Read More
Although many of us use self-help tools like affirmations, visualizations,... Read More
Thoughts are real things. As soon as you realize how... Read More
Dogs distrust hot air balloons. I gathered this tidbit as... Read More
What can we learn about careers from watching Donald Trump... Read More
There's a famous song lyric that asks: "Is that all... Read More
Over the years I've worked with very many coaches and... Read More
At a recent networking meeting Jana asked for a recommendation... Read More
Ever since the Internet bubble and the 9/11 terrorist attacks,... Read More
H. Jackson Brown Jr. once wrote, Your mind can only... Read More
Coaching is a hot trend at a growing number of... Read More
Personal missions statements (PMS) are just nothing but the winning... Read More
Ten years ago I was fortunate enough to be heavily... Read More
None of us like to think of ourselves as victims.... Read More
Seems like a gal always learns something out on the... Read More
How to Control Your Anger: Retreat and Think Things OverJim... Read More
How often do you hear a parental voice in your... Read More
For adults with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), details are a... Read More
Teachers enter the profession with the desire to help others,... Read More
Coaching |