The Morning Power Questions

Lifted from Anthony Robbins book Awaken the Giant Within

The Morning Power Questions

Our life experience is based on what we focus on.
The following questions are designed to cause you to experience more happiness, excitement, pride, gratitude, joy, commitment, and love everyday of your life. Remember, quality questions create a quality life.

Come up with two or three answers to all of these questions and fell fully associated. If you have difficulty discovering an answer simply add the word "could". Example: "What could I be most happy about in my life now?"

1. What am I happy about in my life now?
What about that makes me happy? How does that make me feel?
2. What am I excited about in my life now?
What about that makes me excited? How does that make me feel?
3. What am i proud about in my life now?
What about that makes me proud? How does that make me feel?
4. What am I grateful about in my life now?
What about that makes me grateful? How does that make me feel?
5. What am I enjoying most in my life right now?
What about that do I enjoy? How does that make me feel?
6. What am I committed to in my life right now?
What about that makes me committed? How does that make me feel?
7. Who do I love? Who loves me?
What about that makes me loving? How does that make me feel?

Evening Power Questions
1. What have i given today?
In what ways have I been giver today?
2. What did I learn today?
3. How has today added to the quality of my life or how can I use today as an investment in my future?

Eat That Frog

If you are to eat an ugly frog in the morning for breakfast, what can happen during the day that will make it worse? None right? That is the premise of the book Eat that Frog! by Brian Tracy.

He tells us to start our day by writing all the things that we need to do then listing them down according to importance. The tasks that we know are important should be the first order of the day. Even if we hate it. Even if we don't enjoy doing that particular task. Setting all aside and working on that single important particular task will do wonder. After writing off that task, nothing worse can happen in your day.

Tackle that ugly frog first. 

I followed that approached and it helped me get things done. Even before reading the book, i always start my day writing down the lists of tasks that i needed to do and cross them off my list once the task is done. But there is something common in my list every now and then. A task that i do not enjoy doing so day by day the task will appear in my list. It will reappear until it reaches the point where the task is really due and i am all stressed and with all might and effort, i will finally focus on the task and get it done. Sure, it was done but i completed the way i finish a speed training; heaving and panting. Not good.

So i applied what Brian suggests. I start working on the most important items on my list even if i don't enjoy doing them. I start trading off with activities that i really enjoy but less important. I tell myself that eating these frogs will make me feel better later so i need to do it. And after i am done with the ugly frogs, i start working on the tadpoles. Those tasks that I know will become an ugly frog if i don't eat it as early as now. So again, i focus on the important tasks that i enjoy and get them off my plate.

After that, my day is good. I start working on the tasks i call dessert. Blueberry cheesecake. These are the tasks that i enjoy doing but of less importance. But since i am done with the ugly frogs, i get to enjoy the day. I get to finish these blueberry cheesecake and it covers all the foul taste that i got from eating the frogs. 

So there you go. How do you stop procrastination? Any tips? Books to suggest?

P.S. This is my sixth book for the year and its July. Six more to go.

The Coffee House Investor

Came across again with this blog i just recently discovered. Incidentally, the post that i was directed into was about focus. It talks about being specific and targeting your niche to become successful. At the back of my mind, it tells me to post more finance related (boring) stuff to get to my audience (do i have one?).

Then my thoughts continue running again about focusing on writing or about setting off an adventure or visit some place new every weekend or just start a big project. I really need to start a new project. A project that will link up with my 2015 goals. 

Anyway, this post is the continuation of the series "Books that I have read this 2013". You know that my goal for this year is to finish off reading 12 books. A very small number. It is almost one book a month. So far here are the books that i have completed

1. The Happiness Project
2. The Secrets of the Millionaire Mind
3. The Winning Attitude
4. How to Work a Room

And now, this post is about "The New Coffee House Investor" by Bill Schultheis

For those in a hurry and born with the skimming habit, the book is about diversification. Diversification is about not putting all your eggs in one basket. It means investing not only in a single company but in different companies in different industries. The goal is that you create your own mix of companies so that you minimize losing a lot of money just because one company ending up bankrupt.

I did not really enjoy the book about diversification because i already came across with this topic back in college and when I was taking up my MBA. But the book explained it well and served as a good refresher. It is really helpful especially those without finance background and for people who still waste their money investing in mutual funds instead of creating their own. Yes. If you are still investing in mutual funds, the book is good for you to consider to save management fees that these mutual fund companies charges you.

Having said that, let me share tidbits or takeaways i am getting from the book

On Second Chances

 "Life can give you a second chance on a lot of things but it does not turn back the clock".

This is true. We can always start again. In times where I feel like i made a big mistake and there is no way I can recover from it, I tell myself that life will always give second chance even if i do not see it that way at that particular moment. There is a catch, however. Second chance means a portion of your life has been spent as well. For me, this is life telling me that if I discovered something I want to do now that somehow there is a regret not discovering it way back, i should go for it because I do want to look back ten years from now being in the same place regretting things I did not do.

On Taking Small Steps

There are times in my life when I contemplate starting a project that seems almost too overwhelming to start, like writing a book, training for a marathon, or building a radio-controlled biplane with a six-foot wingspan and what seems like a thousand little wooden pieces, but I keep close at heart a suggestion by Mark Twain, who said that the secret to getting ahead is getting started, and so I begin...

I would not comment on this but instead i suggest you plan and run a marathon. You will totally relate about this. About taking small steps that will bring you closer to your goal.

Climbing a mountain has a lot to do with putting one foot in front og the other, slowly and methodically, even when you don't feel like it, until there's only one way to go - down, because you have reached the top.

On Connecting with Others

This journey is a little different for each of us, but in the end, most if us would probably agree that it is the connection to other people in our lives that matters most of all. 

A key development area for me. I was born extrovert but I am working to be more connected, to be more open minded and learn from people around me. This has been the key message i am getting from the books that i am reading. To connect with people and let them teach me something that I do not know. 

On Pursuing Your Passion

These are the people who realize that fulfillment in life comes not from the size of a bank account but from the amount of energy put forth pursuing things that give meaning to their existence

This is a cliche but I am a believer of this. That one must enjoy his job/work to the extent that one is still willing to do it even if he/she will not be paid. This helps fuel the passion in moments where I am so stressed about my job, about beating deadlines and completing projects.  All I have to do is ask "will I still do this?", "knowing what I know now, will i still do it if given a choice?' Most of the time, I still say yes. There is that aspect in my job that I love so much that to keep on going, i just need to remind myself that i can learn to love that portion of the job that I do not like doing.

On Minimalism

i was addicted to the clutter of everyday life and it finally dawned on me that the clutter in my life might be keeping me from pursuing my dreams and living a life I would choose to life if given a chance to do it all over again.

Too bad I can not comment on being a minimalist. This is one thing that I want to do but physically not yet able to do so. With all the trash and memorabilia, i have long way to go.

So there you go. Those are the key learnings i am picking up from the book. Are you planning to read it? Tell me if you have thoughts or if you have a book to recommend. 

How to Work a Room - Susan RoAne

Are you shy like me? I will be the first to admit that I am shy. Shy in a way that I am not one of those who can enter a room full of strangers and go out knowing almost everyone in the room. I can walk and engage people in conversation but most of the time it takes me time to do that. I have to spend some time and know the person first before I shift to a good conversationalist and communicator.

Looking at the past, i can list down numerous events where I decided to just stay at home than mingle and party with people. Looks like a loser eh? I do not know. Most of the time, I feel like forcing myself to talk and dress up is a waste of my time. Maybe because I struggle connecting with people I have not seen for a long time or connecting with people i only meet for the first time.

This is actually weird because talking and communicating with people is what I love about my current job. I enjoy talking to people, listening to their stories and sharing my point of views so they can improve their processes. However, as much as I love that part of my job, I really need to work on socializing more and marketing the value that I can deliver. Time and time again, I hear successful people share that it is not enough to be good in what I do but I should be able to sell. Inform people that I am good in what I do and I can help them. Waiting for people to approach me is a waste of time.

For this reason, i decided to read "How to Work a Room" by Susan RoAne.

She shares five roadblocks on working a room

1. Don't talk to strangers
2. Wait to be properly introduced
3. Don't be push. Good Things Come to Those Who Wait
4. Better Safe than Sorry
5. Mangled and Mixed Messages

She offers remedies

1. Redefine the term stranger
2. Practice a self-introduction
3. Move from "Guest" behavior to "host" behavior
4. Eject the "rejector" and Move on
5. Unmix the mixed message

Same with other books, I will share the key takeaways i am picking up from the book

Be the host - In attending parties or events, I have the tendency to wait to be introduced or entertained by the host. This is fine but if I want to be someone who can engage people in conversation or become friends with other people, i have to shift my approach to "host" behavior. This will not only help the host but I will also help other guests feel more welcome in the party.

Take the Risk and approach a familiar person - In events or malls, whenever I see someone who looks familiar, most of the time i decide not to call or approach the person for fear of rejection. I fear that the other person will not recognize me. Reading the book, the author suggests taking the risk. In the end, if I am wrong I may gain a new friend. Or if the person rejects me, it does not a matter of life and death. 

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS OF CONNECTING

1. Thou shalt prepare
   • attitude
   • focus
   • self-introduction
   • conversation
   • business cards
   • a smile and a handshake
2. Thou shalt attend
   • RSVP and go! Act like a gracious host
3. Thou shalt try these strategies
   • Read name tag
   • Go with a buddy
   • Talk to "wallflowers"
4. • Approach and be approachable
   • Smile
   • Allow for serendipity
   • Listen
   • Care
   • Extricate courteously and circulate gracefully
   • Follow up
   • Call, email or send "thank-yous"
5. Thou shalt say something...anything
   • Don't wait; initiate
   • Take the risk; the rewards are thine
   • Listen with interest to the response
   • Smile and make eye contact
   • Pay attention
6. Thou shalt mind thy manners
   • Learn old and new etiquette and brush up on thy manners
   • Acknowledge others
   • Treat everyone nicely
7. Thou shalt avoid the common cruthches
   1. Don't arrive too late
   2. Don't leave too early
   3. Don't drink too much
   4. Don't gorge at the buffet table
   5. Don't misuse the buddy system by joining thyselves at thy hips
   6. Don't bring thy cell phone or PDA
8. Thou shalt remember the Three E's
   1. Make an Effort
   2. Bring thine Energy
   3. Exude Enthusiasm
9. Thou shalt dress appropriately
   1. Unsure? Ask!
10. Thou Shalt Remember The Three C's
    1. Courtesy
    2. Charm
    3. Chutzpah
11. Thou shalt bring thy sense of humor (not Jokes)

The Winning Attitude - John Maxwell

Last Tuesday, my boss forwarded the notification about our company's learning center. I was not minding the mail blast to all employees until my boss asked me  to visit and maximize the tools made available to the employees.

It is then I decided to borrow one of the books and I chanced upon this book about attitude.

Maybe it is just me but I noticed that as I age, frustration and anger shows up so easily whenever things do not go as I plan it to be. The books tells me that among the things that is happening around me, there is always one thing that I can control and in most cases it is the only thing given to me to control: my attitude.

Thing that surprised me about the book is the part that it echoes the other book that i just completed reading (Secrets of Millionaire's Mind).

"Control your thoughts, Control your feelings"

The books explains that all our emotions and feelings are fueled by the thoughts inside our mind. Thus, if one wants to manage his/her emotions, one must manage his/her thoughts. Managing thoughts is managing attitude.

Have you read that story about the "spilled coffee in the morning"? The story goes about a dad having breakfast and ready to go to work. Accidentally, his son pushed his mug causing him to spill the coffee on his shirt. As expected, he was mad. He got frustrated and shouted at his son. He was late and the need to change shirt adds in the delay. He was mad and furious that even after changing his shirt and reaching his office, his mood during the day was the same, mad and angry.

The event that affected his whole day was only a few seconds of time. A spilled coffee. A few seconds that because he chose to shout and be mad, it dictated the theme of his day.

The book explained that time is really short to be mad and angry and be frustrated. We always have a choice to look at the bright side. Look at the ways we can make the bad things into something better. Instead of being negative, look at the bright side of things.

I have listed the essential points I got from the book below but I suggest you read it yourself if you have time.

The Choice Within You

1. Evaluate your present attitudes (Philippians 2:5) Are my attitudes today pleasing Christ and me?
2. Think, is your faith stronger than fear (Matthew 21:21)? Am i taking faith-action on my present fears?
3. Write a statement of purpose (Philippians 3:13, 14) Have I written, verbalized and acted on a plan to change my attitude?
4. Determine if you have the desire to change (Psalm 37:4) Change is possible if I want it bad enough. Am I willing to pay the price?
5. Live one day at a time (Matthew 6:34) Am I allowing tomorrow's troubles to sap me of today's strenght?
6. Change your thought patterns (Philippians 4:8) That which holds our attention determines our action. Am I thinking on the right things?
7. Develop good habits (Deuteronomy 6:5-9) Am I repeatedly acting on positive habits to overcome negative ones?
8. Continually choose the right attitude (Proverbs 3:31) Am I continually choosing to change?

The Opportunities Around You

1. Enlist the cooperation of a good friend (Deuteronomy 32:30) Do I meet regularly with a friend who helps me?
2. Associate with the right people (James 4:4) Are my friends helping or hindering my changes?
3. Select a model to follow (Philippians 4:9) Am I spending time with a person I admire?
4. Learn from your mistakes (John 8:11) What recent mistakes have I made which caused me to change?
5. Expose yourself to successful experiences (Luke 11:1) What positive event or person will I see today?

The God Above You

1. God's Word (2 Timothy 3:16, 17) Am I receiving daily strength from God's Word?
2. Prayer (James 5:16) Am I praying daily and specifically about my attitude?
3. The Holy Spirit (1 John 4:4) Am I continually being filled with the Holy Spirit?

Back Again

I am back.

After more than a year of hiatus and working on my other blog, i am back here. Yeah, that other blog would have to stop for now since it has served its purpose. Yes, if you are still not aware, I ran a marathon and everything is here.

After that mandatory "I am back" introductory paragraph, i promise to be here more often. I need more quotes, more books and more financial plan topics so I really feel I will be sharing more posts for 2013.

First, Books! Again, not a review but sort of compilations of gems or nuggets of wisdom on the books that i have completed. Books are just words unless it translates to an action. While every now and then, all of us would come across something and we feel so full of wisdom, it is still useless unless it results into an action.

I started the year with a goal of completing at least twelve books by December. The month of April is almost ending and i am still into my fourth book.

Here is the list of the books i have completed so far

The Happiness Project

The Secrets of the Millionaire Mind (rereading)

The Winning Attitude Your Pathway to Personal Success

All of them will have a separate posts so hope you look forward and read it. 

Again, if you are one of those who bookmarked this page, i thank you and hope we connect more. I am still learning just like you.

2013 Books

One of my goals for 2013 is to read more books.

This post will be updated throughout the year. Find below links for my posts on the books that i have completed reading. 

1. The Happiness Project
2. The Secrets of the Millionaire Mind
3. The Winning Attitude
4. How to Work a Room
5. The Coffee House Investor
6. Eat That Frog!
7. Awaken the Giant Within
8. Fish! Omnibus