Websites, automobiles, milk cartons, living spaces. Design saturates every aspect of our lives and the difference between success and failure could be the color purple, could be the person that you talk to every morning when you wake up, or could be the amount of light that streams into your office every day.

These ten steps will support you in revitalizing your environments and will foster an amazing sense of innovation. With these strategies, creativity will become much more than a goal…it will become a way of living.

1. Start by finding out what makes you “tick” with the DISC assessment.

The DISC is a fantastic tool that can provide you with amazing insight into understanding your behavior and will help you create motivational environments and interact more effectively with others.

Are you a high D (Dominance?)- You will thrive in an environment that is fast-paced, buzzing with energy, and somewhat chaotic. A week-end in a busy city like Manhattan, Atlanta, Chicago, or Hong Kong may provide you with the motivation you need to get your juices flowing.

Are you a high I (Inspirational?)- You will thrive in an environment filled with people. A high energy convention, a mastermind group, or a cutting-edge community organization can send you to amazing new levels of success.

Are you a high S (Steadiness?)- You will thrive in a calm and consistent environment. A day in a quiet park by the water can provide you with the balance and peace that you need to get the job done.

Are you a high C (Conscientiousness?)- You will thrive in an environment that is filled with order, facts, structure, and one that focuses on tradition. A day at a wonderful book store or a historical museum will often motivate a high “C” to move to new levels of inspiration.

2. Replace your old 45s by adding Beethoven to your life.

What songs are the old records in your mind playing? “I’m not smart enough. I can’t do this. I don’t have the money. I’m not well-connected enough.” Break this pattern of negative thinking by popping in a CD of Ludwig van Beethoven. The year 1805 was a year of crisis for Beethoven, with his realization that the impaired hearing he had noticed for some time was incurable and would soon grow much worse. Did he let this stop him? Absolutely not! He actually sawed off the legs of his piano so that he could put his ear to the floor to feel the vibrations as he struck the notes of the keyboard. He came through this phase with determination strengthened and entered a new creative phase, during which Symphony No. 5 was born. Beethoven’s music coupled with his heroism can provide you with a powerful source of energy, inspiration, and a sense of pure triumph.

3. Add a punch of Red to your life!

In the practice of Feng Shui it is important to know that Red is the color of fortune as it is a color of confidence. Moreover, it attracts recognition and respect for the person who uses it. Add red candles, red roses, or red paint to your home or office and watch closely as you unleash your creative spirit and as your boldness grows to new heights.

4. Master the Master.

Jack Fields, age 13, has over 22 tournament championships and 2 holes in one under his golf achievement belt. How did he do this? By mastering the master, Tiger Woods. During his free time, Jack reads books like How I Play Golf– by Tiger Woods, In Search of Tiger: A Journey Through Golf With Tiger Woods– by Tom Callahan and Tiger Woods: A Biography for Kids — by Libby Hughes. He pours over Golf World and Golf Digest Magazine to find out what Tiger is up to, is incorporating Tiger’s diet and workout regimen, and he practices putting while watching Tiger on television during his appearances on the PGA tour. Jack’s focused study of this icon of the golfing world has stimulated him to come up with his own innovative style, quality processes, and to make smart decisions when the tournament heat is on!

5. Add an original twist to a traditional business by tapping into a hobby.

As visitors walk through the doors of Donna Lane, in Southern Pines, North Carolina, the aromas of jasmine, citrus, lemon, and roses mixed with the rich smell of coffee and mochas are enticing… making visiting this full service day spa an ideal location for renewing beauty, forgetting stress, and for getting reacquainted with old friends. CEO, Michelle Yow, is not only an expert in the field of extreme self care but is a connoisseur of fine coffees from around the world. By adding The Java Bean Plantation Coffee Company to her establishment, Michelle is able to dabble in a favorite hobby while enticing coffee lovers from her local community to take a closer look at her line of all natural skin care products. This is a clever strategy, and people love doing business with Michelle, because she is resourceful, inventive, and known for adding panache and pizzazz to a traditional business.

6. Create a feeling of warmth, comfort, and of “being home.”

Accessories reflect a highly personal touch, and they are of paramount importance in the design and décor of not only a home but a place of business. No one knows this better than David Woronoff, President and Publisher of The Pilot Newspaper (www.thepilot.com.) Breaking away from the traditional publishing design schemes, David chose hard wood floors, corian countertops, and Oriental rugs for the renovation of The Pilot, adding an element of surprise, an intimate touch, and a homey feel to the interior of this growing community newspaper.

7. Create relationships that inspire you.

Are your relationships chipping away at your creativity and your zest for life? Or, are they simply supporting you to live a life of mediocrity and of living with the status quo? Hmmm…not quite enough. By developing relationships with people and colleagues who not only support you but actually inspire you, the vacuum of success can pull you forward in a flash! Dan Askins of (www.danaskins.com) is living proof of the profound affect that positive relationships can have on your life. Dan believes that success is all about making connections with high-energy colleagues, friends, customers, and companies. By forming a marketing mastermind group and opening a full concierge service in his executive office center, Dan is quickly advancing in the world of commercial real estate development, and he is finding the courage to try innovative ways of problem solving and of approaching the challenges of both his business and personal life.

8. Play Chess.

Chess is not simply a game…it is an amazing tool for the development of the mind, and it just so happens that it is a “board game.” By adding a chess board to your home, small business, or corporation, this game can challenge you and your team to think fast, think under pressure, and to think several moves ahead. It is a fantastic game for developing vision, elements of strategic planning, and for anticipating a potential change from a customer or competitor.

9. Use your gifts and talents shamelessly.

One of the keystones of high achievement and happiness rests in your ability to exercise your talents, strengths, and gifts. As an attorney and President of a new chemical company, BenTech, Bob Friesen is a shining example of how building your life around a talent can translate into personal and career success. Bob has accessed his musical talent in a highly compelling way. With the support of a digital keyboard and his guitar, Bob has been able to use his talent to add extraordinary joy to his life, and he will soon be recording a demo of one of his many compositions. This exceptional use of talent has allowed this forward-moving professional the opportunity to play out his strengths to their fullest, which has resulted in an increase in his bottom line profits.

10. Build spaces of delight by merging the indoors with nature.

Whether it is a sun-filled breakfast or conference room, a beautiful potted plant, or a hummingbird feeder placed outside a common window, you can boost your spirits and create extraordinary joy by bringing nature into your home or office. After being challenged by the dark spaces of his basement office, Dr. Timothy Dey (www.deygroup.com) created a solution to this challenge by adding a Florida room to his home in Detroit, Michigan. Timothy now uses this room as his home office, and by filling his day with natural light, birds, trees, and all that nature has to offer, he has truly created a living and breathing environment that is warm, inviting, and truly inspiring.

About The Author
Bea Fields is an Executive Coach and a Certified Guerrilla Marketing Coach. She is also a Consultant, Trainer, Public Speaker and author of the Five Star Leader e-course. Her area of expertise is that of Leadership Development and Marketing for Executives, Managers, Small Business Owners, and Political Leaders.

Many people are paralyzed by the fear of failure. Many people never take steps toward their dreams because of a fear, often times a figment of our minds, of not being able to make it or of failing while on the path. We need to banish these thoughts from our minds and move forward regardless of how big the chances of failure may or may not be. Remember that fear is nothing more than an indicator of where our mind is directed and our thoughts are focused. For some reason as adults we have picked up the concept that failure is a horrible thing, so many people settle for much less than they are completely capable of. This will never lead to a life of freedom and abundance.

In 1914, a great inventor that you may have heard of by the name of Thomas Edison lost his manufacturing facility in West Orange, N.J. to a fire. He lost over $1 million dollars worth of equipment and most of the records of his work. The biggest down side for Edison was the fact that he had no insurance on the building, not to mention that he had to start anew with many of the projects he was working on. The following morning, the 67 year old inventor was walking through the charred remains of his hopes and dreams looking at what was left when he said: “There is value in disaster. All our mistakes are burned up. Now we can start anew.” It is this kind of mindset that allowed Edison to create the inventions that he did. That allowed him to get back up time and time again after failing time and time again. The heart of a lion to carry on even when all the odds are against you and the world has dealt you a crappy hand.

You must be willing to pay the price for everything you want. A car costs a certain amount of money. Love costs the possibility of heartache and sorrow. Success runs the cost of possible failure. If failure happens accept it, learn from it, and move on. A lack of failure suggests a lack of effort and the probability that little will be achieved. Be willing to put yourself out there and risk failure. No one in history who has accomplished anything worth while has ever not failed. But there are millions of people who have never accomplished anything who have never failed. They were even successful at not accomplishing anything. A football coach gave this advice on how to deal with failures. “When you’re about to be run out of town, get out in front and make it look like you’re heading a parade.”

Life is a leaf of paper white
Whereon each one of us may write
His word or two, and then comes night.

Greatly begin! though thou have time
But for a line, be that sublime—
Not failure, but low aim, is crime.

James Russell Lowell

To never have tried is to the true sin in life. To never give oneself completely to a worthy cause. To commit to something that is bigger than yourself. To never put yourself on the line where failure lie on one side, and amazing success lay on the other. These are the things that sin are made of. These are the things that kill people slowly in life. These are the things that great people realize, and use as a motto, and continue to create and move forward regardless of the possibility of failure.

About the Author

Dwayne Gilbert is the founder of http://www.wealthylifesecrets.com and has been helping people in the area of self-protection and personal development for 10 years. He has authored some of his own books and currently teaches people self-defense and personal development strategies and tactics. To get more information on the law of attraction and how to apply it, visit http://www.wealthylifesecrets.com.

Motivation (a few definitions):

(1) A psychological concept with no single universally accepted definition, but which organisational sociologists believe concerns the determinants of intent, effort and tenacity, factors that push or pull us as individuals to behave in a particular manner.

(2) Feelings that drive someone toward a particular objective.

(3) The push of the mental forces to accomplish an action. Unsatisfied needs motivate. On the biological level basic human needs of food, shelter and survival are powerful motivators. On the psychological level people need to be understood, affirmed, validated and appreciated. On the business level motivation occurs when people perceive a clear business reason for pursuing a transfer of knowledge or practices.

If you look up the word Motivation you’ll find many contrasting, and almost contradictory definitions of what it is (I found over fifty in five minutes). It seems that even those who define it aren’t exactly sure what it is. It is definitely (in my opinion anyway) the most over-used (and mis-understood) word on the personal development landscape.

We all kinda know what it is… but at the same time, we don’t. It seems that motivation is (represented by) different things for different people.

I just asked someone (a random person in the gym) what their definition of motivation was and they said, “something which makes us do stuff”.

I said “well fear can make us do stuff… so is fear motivation?”
“Er yeh, guess so.”
“Well vanity makes us do stuff… so what about vanity as a motivator?”
“Yeh.. guess so.”
“Food, sex?”
“S’pose.”

The reality is that we are motivated by many things. Different things. And the same things.

But what we’re talking about in this post is the motivation that helps us create that forever change, that amazing life, that incredible body, that spectacular relationship, that new and improved reality… not the motivation that sees us standing in front of the fridge an hour after our dinner.

For many people, motivation is an emotional state which helps them get certain things done (for a while).

“I felt motivated to go for a run this morning.”

“That experience gave me the motivation (changed my thinking and emotional state) to create new habits.”

“Whenever I read Craig’s amazing, incredible, insightful, clever, witty, life-changing posts (okay, I over did it), I feel inspired and motivated to turn my life around.

The problem with motivation being (essentially) an emotional state (or a place we get to in our head) is that it’s temporary. And when the motivation disappears (which it will because our emotions and mental state fluctuate from day to day and moment to moment), then so do the new-found (desirable) behaviours.

In other words, we lose momentum. We stop doing what we need to do to create the outcomes (realities) we so desperately desire.

For others, motivation is simply a reason to (have to) do something.

“I’ve gotta work ’cause I have five kids…. I’m not particularly excited about that… don’t love it… just needs to be done.”

“I exercise three times a week because I don’t want to die from a heart attack like my father did.”

The truth is that most of us alternate between can’t-be-bothered, kinda-motivated and totally-in-the-zone… for much of our lives. Many of us step in and out of ‘motivation’ on a daily (if not, hourly) basis.

“I can’t be bothered today” is a line I’ve heard thousands of times in my job.
“Do it anyway” I say.
“But I’m not motivated!”
“So do it… despite your lack of motivation.”
“Perhaps in the doing… you’ll get motivated!”

“It’s not normal… but it is possible.”

And the amazing thing about doing ’stuff’, the stuff we know we should do (even when we’re not ‘motivated to do it’) is that once it’s done, we’re SO glad we did it (and we usually discover we actually are legitimately motivated after we’ve done it)… and then we also discover we’ve developed some new getting-crap-done-even-when-we-don’t-feel-like-it skills!

Good skills to have. Trust me.

If we only do the things we need to do (to create our desired outcomes and achieve our goals) when we feel like it… then we’ll never achieve much because we’ll be perpetually starting and stopping. After all, nobody feels motivated (excited, pumped, positive, focused, in-the-zone) permanently.

Lesson one:
People who succeed are usually the ones who continue to do what they need to… even when their feeling of motivation isn’t there.

It is my (not particularly popular) opinion (based on a lifetime of observation) that most people who start most endeavours don’t finish them.

Great at starting; crap at finishing.
We don’t want to think that we’re like that.
We don’t want to acknowledge it.
But we are.
Often.

Many of us have a history of starting and stopping all kinds of projects and endeavours… might be academic stuff, might be some short-lived, self-improvement journey, might be a potential business or money-making venture, could be a diet or an exercise program or it could be dealing with (or not dealing with) some undesirable habit.

Or a million other things.
You know what they are (for you personally).

We start reading books, we get to chapter two.
We join a gym, we go four times.
We change our eating habits… for three days.
We plan our ‘new’ business venture…. for ten years!
We get pumped… we lose focus.

And while there are always a range of ‘reasons’ why we never finish what we start (some of them legitimate, some not), the truth is, we spend far too much time rationalising, explaining and justifying to ourselves and others why we never get the job done.

Lesson two:
Motivation needs to be a commitment, a philosophy and a choice, not an emotional state.

I consider myself to be a highly-motivated person… but I often don’t ‘feel’ motivated.
I have made the choice to be a motivated individual.
I walk into a room (to do a presentation) and I have already made a commitment and a decision to be (personally) motivated and (publicly) motivating.

This is how it works for me:

(1) I choose to be motivated.

(2) I ‘behave’ motivated… even if I don’t ‘feel’ like it (body language, communication, energy, attitude).

(3) Usually within a short period of time I start to feel genuinely different (excited, positive, happier)

(4) Not only am I ‘behaving’ motivated but now I’m actually feeling motivated.

Tony Robbins calls this ‘changing state’. It’s called different things by the various ‘experts’, but my experience is that if people genuinely make the effort to do this, it works.

Not everyone agrees with my thoughts on this subject. That’s okay. I know what works for me and many others I’ve worked with, so I teach what I know to be true. Some people believe I over-simplify complex issues.

I believe some people over-complicate simple issues.

Wanna be motivated? Then behave like you’re motivated. Talk like you’re motivated. And make the decision to be motivated, irrespective of how you’re feeling.

Doesn’t mean you can’t have a bad day or be down… it simply means that most of the time, you’re doing what most people won’t. By choice.

Lesson three:
Don’t make emotional (or reactive) decisions (when it comes to creating forever results). Spur of the moment, reactive, emotion-based decisions rarely result in life-long change. Make sure your motivation, your passion and your emotion are all attached to a sensible and logical plan which factors in the frailties of the human condition (that is, our ability to run hot and cold).

So while some people consider motivation to be something that’s almost beyond our control; we either have it, or we don’t (on a given day)…. I believe it’s something we (can) have complete control over.

For me motivation is choice.

I choose to be motivated.
I choose to be a motivator.
I choose to create my own (internal) reality.
I choose to be motivated, even on the bad days.
I choose to keep ‘doing’ even when I don’t ‘feel’ like it.

About the Author

Craig Harper (B.Ex.Sci.) is an Australian motivational speaker, qualified exercise scientist, author, columnist, radio presenter, and owner of one of the largest personal training centres in the world.

He can be heard weekly on Australian Radio SEN 1116 and GOLD FM and appears on Australian television on Network Ten’s 9AM.

As a follow up to “Procrastinators Never Have an Easy Day,” let’s talk about steps to take to achieve that easy day – that day when accomplishment and achievement are reached – when the overhang of things waiting to be done is manageable, and guilt and remorse are replaced with optimism and confidence. That sure sounds good – and it can happen – starting today.

The first step is to imagine what that easy day is going to be like – that day when things are under control, when the taxes are done – on time, when the boss offers congratulations on the completion of an assignment that exceeded expectations, when fear is overcome and the result of a project was a really, really good outcome. Start with the end in mind – in this case replacing the behavior and habit of thought of procrastination that serves so poorly and creates negative emotions with a behavior and habit of thought that creates the reward of freedom to grow and learn and test limits – or the freedom to fall asleep under a tree with no cares of the world. The rewards are in reach – believe it. Start this journey with the Reward – whatever that may be – in mind.

Step 2: Replace intent with action. Replace talking about the “what if’’s” and the “when I get to it’s ” with Action on what is truly important, and pressing, and proximate, and fearful. As Brian Tracy says in Eat That Frog- “Swallow the frog first.” Or, if you choose, ” Attack the bear in the room before it gets any bigger.” Do the things you don’t want to do first. Save the really neat stuff to do as a reward.

Step 3: Don’t think too much. That sounds funny, but it’s so true! The curse of the intelligent is being able to see all kinds of alternatives, combinations and permutations – to see all kinds of consequences and possibilities, and become frozen in place with too many options. Pick out a course of action and go for it. If the first “ready, aim, fire” doesn’t hit the target, it probably came close. Adjust and “ready, aim, fire” again. But make the adjustments as a result of action. If the second course of action doesn’t hit the target, it got closer. Persist with action.

Step 4: Replace the codewords of the procrastinator. Words like “tomorrow,” and statements/beliefs like “good things come to those who wait,” “anything worth doing is worth doing right,” “it’ll take care of itself” and “I need more information/preparation.” Great phrases, but not for procrastinators – they only reinforce the tomorrow habit of thought of procrastinators. Listen to your self talk, and replace those kinds of phrases that create a tomorrow mentality. Today is all that has value – tomorrow will never come for many, many people.

Step 5: When faced with a project, replace the procrastinator’s first question and thought – “When is this due?” with “What can I do today to get this going?” Consider meeting a due date for what it is – a failure to exceed expectations.

Step 6: If something simply can’t get done when a date is imposed, challenge the issue. If that doesn’t work, manage the project to keep others aware of progress. Never ever let the boss get ambushed with a date not kept – even if he/she really deserved to be embarrassed by their unreasonable demands. To your boss, passive aggressive behavior is infuriating, frustrating and dangerous – survival may happen, but trust will be gone.

Step 7: Focus, focus, focus. Complete whatever the big things are. Don’t let up until they’re done. Don’t let the little things intrude – be very wary of the demands of others and their impact on completing the most important things, Develop the ability to say no – politely, constructively and firmly. And make sure the big things are really the big things. Nothing is more frustrating than to be working like crazy on thin things – and not knowing it. That’s where goals – shared goals are so important.

Step 8: Realize that a conscious decision to delay something because of the importance of other things is not procrastination. Realistic and accurate prioritizing is a skill – an essential survival and success skill.

Step 9: Consider pretty good as better than perfection – because it is. Realize that by the time you burst into the room with the perfect solution – if there is such a thing – someone else has already acted with a good enough solution, and another opportunity to contribute has been lost.

Lastly, take these nine steps one at a time – the trap of too much at once is a real trap – it ends up causing nothing to be accomplished.

Take whatever step seems right – then ACT! Do it – today!

About the Author

Andy Cox is President of Cox Consulting Group LLC. The focus of his work is on helping organizations and their people increase their success in the hiring, developing and enhancing the performance of leaders and emerging leaders. Cox Consulting Group LLC was started in 1995, and has worked with a wide range of organizations, managers and leaders – helping them define success, achieve success and make the ability to change a competitive advantage. He can be reached at http://coxconsultgroup.com