10 Unusual Habits of Highly Successful People

1. Sacrificing important things. In the end, we all only have 24 hours in a day. To reach success, you have to sacrifice spending time on less important things to be able to have more time to spend on the things that really matter. Every week, look for things you can give up to gain something better.

2. Believing what you want instead of what others tell you. Most beliefs people hold are not based on fact and are not true whatsoever. Get into the habit of believing things that empower you and make you feel amazing instead of the things that others tell you to believe. If you aren't certain what is real, believe the thing that makes you feel better.

3. Getting motivated. Motivation is an emotion that doesn't last, but is of enormous help. Find things that motivate you every day.

4. Thinking less. Thought usually hinders us in our actions. When we think about something before doing it, we tend to think about ways it can go wrong or reasons why we shouldn't do it. Stop thinking and start doing.

5. Going to bed early. To be at the top of your game you need enough sleep. Yes, successful people get up somewhere between 4 and 6 in the morning, but they can only do that because they go to bed between 9 and 11 in the evening.

6. Keeping track of your progress. Even though you may believe that you know something, unless you can actually see the evidence in front of you, you will never know for sure. Know exactly how you spend your time and how you are doing in your habits. If you are really motivated, graph it!

7. Having a clean space. Keep your apartment, room, or house clean. Leave as little clutter as you can, and always take care of the mess right away. Anything that aids your motivation and makes you feel great is worth doing.

8. Speaking only positively about your future. Say things as if they already happened, or as if there is no way they will not happen. If you believe it is a fact that you will have an amazing life, you will act accordingly and receive it.

9. Being grateful. Thank as many people as you can. Most successful people come from a place where they had absolutely nothing, which is why they are grateful for every little thing they have. This makes even the most simple things seem special and amazing.

10. Doing it all. Whenever you see tips online or hear about some great strategies, do them all. You can never have enough of a good thing when it comes to reaching success.

11. Never giving up on what matters. If you want something, find a way to get it. Not because you necessarily want that thing that badly, but instead because you absolutely have to prove to yourself that you can achieve whatever you set your mind to.

12. Doing what you said you would, no matter what. Success comes from not giving up halfway through. Everyone intends to be successful in what they do, but only 1 percent of people actually see it through. Do what you said you would, no matter what.

13. Spending more money on yourself. Not on beauty products, clothes, or video games, but instead on gathering information, finding connections, and learning more through books. Spend money on the only thing that lasts: yourself.

14. Stop caring. Not only about what other people think, but also about whether or not you will accomplish your goal. The less you care about it, the less stress you will experience when you work, which will make your work more fun and you will succeed much faster than you thought you could. Stop chasing it and you will get it.

Busy and Stressed? 1 Thing That's Key to Getting More Rest

1. Reading

People who said they felt they were flourishing in their level of rest were also more likely to choose reading as a restful activity.

2. Being in the natural environment

Women scored this one higher than men.

3. Being on your own

This activity was particularly popular with participants under 30.

4. Listening to music

More men preferred listening to music as a restful activity than did women.

5. Doing nothing in particular

Nine percent of survey participants said this also makes them feel guilty or stressed.

6. Walking

Sixteen percent of people overall found some form of exercise to be restful.

7. Having a bath or showering

Almost twice as many 18 to 30 year olds selected this activity compared to those aged over 60.

8. Daydreaming

Researchers didn't have additional insight to offer on this one, but said they plan to study it more.

9. Watching TV

Across the board in all age groups, reading was far more popular than watching TV.

10. Meditating or practicing mindfulness

As these practices have entered into the mainstream, meditating and mindfulness snagged the No. 10 spot of most restful activities.

10 Unmistakable Habits of Utterly Authentic People

1. They help others to be their authentic selves. 

Authentic people don’t expect others to play a role either. They don’t make people feel as though they have to fit into a certain mold or to project a certain image to be a part of their lives. Their commitment to being authentic gives other people the freedom to live authentically too.

2. They let go of negative people. 

Authentic people have too much self-respect to put up with people who treat them badly or have ill will toward them, and they have too much respect for other people to try to change them. So they let go -- not out of anger, but out of their need to be true to themselves. 

3. They express their true feelings and opinions, even when they’re not popular. 

Authentic people don’t live a go-along-to-get-along lifestyle. They’re simply not capable of acting in a way that’s contrary to what their principles dictate, even if there are repercussions. They prefer not to lie to other people, and they especially can’t lie to themselves. This means that they’re willing to live with the repercussions of staying true to themselves.

4. They are confident. 

Much social anxiety stems from the fear we have of being “found out.” We’re afraid that somebody is going to discover that we’re not as smart, experienced or well-connected as we pretend to be. Authentic people don’t have that fear. Their confidence comes from the fact that they have nothing to hide. Who they appear to be is who they really are.

5. They prefer deep conversations to meaningless chatter. 

Eleanor Roosevelt nailed this one. She once said, “Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people.” You won’t find authentic people gossiping about others or giving their opinions on the latest celebrity scandals. They know all of that stuff is nothing more than cultural trappings, and they choose to talk about things that matter.

6. They don’t take anyone’s advice without evaluating it carefully first. 

It’s not that authentic people aren’t willing to take advice; they are. But they don’t put that advice into action just because other people have. First, they’ll run it through the wringer from a critical perspective so that they can be sure it makes sense for them.

7. They don’t complain about their problems. 

Complaining is what you do when you think that the situation you’re in is someone else’s fault or that it’s someone else’s job to fix it. Authentic people, on the other hand, are accountable. They understand that they -- and no one else -- are responsible for their own lives, so there’s no point in complaining.

8. They’re internally motivated. 

Authentic people don’t sit at their desks thinking, “Well, if my boss would just make this job worthwhile, I’d do a better job.” The carrot-and-stick approach just isn’t relevant to them. They’re motivated from within.

9. They make the best out of any situation. 

Authentic people have a very firm grasp on reality. When things don’t go their way, they don’t get trapped in denial and they don’t sit around whining about how things should be different. They simply take stock of the way things are and, if there’s nothing they can do to change the situation, they figure out a way to make the best of it. 

10. They don’t get stressed or upset when someone doesn’t like them. 

It’s never fun accepting that someone doesn’t like you, but a lot of times that discomfort comes from trying to figure out what you did wrong or how you can fix it. Authentic people don’t have that anxiety because they would never try to change themselves to influence someone else’s opinion. They accept that other people have a right to be authentic about their own feelings, even if those feelings are negative toward them.

6 Ways to Convince Your Boss That Traveling is Important

1. Face time with new clients is important.

When meeting new clients or prospects, face time is critical to build trust in a way that just can’t happen through email, phone calls, social media or even an online video call. Having a conversation in person helps people develop trust in you, and it enables you to gain a better understanding of what they need or want -- especially if you can visit their operations on the business trip.

2. Existing relationships need to be nurtured in person.

The same value can be found in visiting existing customers, who still need your attention and face time, but for different reasons. The customer may just need to reaffirm that trust and connection that he or she initially made with you. This person may also require that you see something onsite where your offering might help. 

It also may be that you can use your business trip to get a new piece of business from a client by bringing a new offering so he or she sees how  to incorporate it into the company's needs -- something which can’t always resonate through a virtual meeting.

3. The destination involves significant marketing opportunities.

If a trade show or conference is involved, a business trip can add value by securing leads and renewing your personal connection or even gaining new business through marketing efforts conducted at that event. Never underestimate the power of networking, and its potential to create new relationships. Marketing could mean participating in a speech or panel discussion as well as purchasing a booth at a critical industry trade show. 

4. A trip provides a way to get training unavailable through other channels.

A business trip is of value when it involves specific training that is essential for team members because it will add to their capabilities and skill set, which will generate more revenue for your business. While most training is available online, there is still a considerable benefit for team members to meet in person so they can learn together and get to know one other, which helps facilitate future projects.

5. The length of the trip has been minimized.

There’s great value in keeping business trips as short as possible in order to stay focused, lower expenses involved and ensure that current projects continue to progress. You need to produce the most results in as short a time as possible.

This emphasis on maximizing time is something that always helps me see the value in these trips if they are proposed by people I work with. You can reassure your boss that you will continue to do other work so no projects will lag behind while you are away.

6. The potential ROI gained from the trip is greater than the trip's cost.

For anyone who wants his or her boss to approve a business trip, it’s a good idea to map out the specific costs in advance, then estimate the potential ROI that could be garnered if you attended the event.

Ensuring you keep all your business expenses related to the trip low -- though many trips are tax deductible -- will help create an optimistic view of the revenue potential and what positive gains could occur that could become the leverage for future business trips. 

It’s important to understand when business trips are of value and how your boss sees this value. Make sure you have researched in advance so you can use quantitative data to back up your claims about the benefits of the business trip. Finally, if the business trip is approved, it’s a good idea to do a recap -- possibly in writing -- to determine how much ROI you were able to achieve during the excursion.

10 Strategies to Prepare for Speaking Engagements

1. Practice makes perfect.

Practice your speech a few weeks ahead of the big day. Use this time to master each word that comes out of your mouth. Record yourself and see how fast or slow you are speaking, watch your body language and how you are using your hands to address the audience.

Know every word of your speech but give it personality, make it your own, make it unique.

As you’re practicing see how different your speech would be if you change your tone of voice in certain parts. Know the subject of your speech well, confidence is crucial when addressing an audience and it will show on stage how confident you are. 

2. Practice with an audience.

You’ve practiced your speech by yourself for some time now, but what about in front of an audience? One of the best ways to practice your speech is to practice it under conditions that will resemble the day of your speech. Practice in front of a small group of people, to build your confidence that way when you hit the stage you won’t get flustered by the amount of people you’ll see.

3. Hook your audience’s attention.

It’s no secret that capturing your audience’s attention early on is one of the fundamental points in public speaking. You should deliver your big idea or proposition during the first few minutes of your speech. This will be your “hook.” As soon as you start speaking you should start stating all of the points of your speech. This way you will obtain and hold your audience’s attention quickly.

4. Your body language is key.

You are the first thing that the audience will see and how you present yourself plays a crucial part on how the audience will receive the information you’re about to present. Stand up straight when entering the stage and speaking to your audience, it will show your authority and confidence. If you walk into the stage slouching and not standing straight the audience will possibly get bored really quickly because you are.

5. Don’t get stuck, move around.

Use the stage to your advantage, walk, run, jump or skip by doing this you will keep your audience eyes on you and keep them engaged continuously by moving around. If you’ve seen a Kevin Hart comedy show, you’ll see that he doesn’t stop moving and uses his body to emphasize what he's telling the audience. Standing behind the podium or the microphone during your whole speech and not moving will turn your captive audience into a sleepy audience. 

6. Set your goal.

Another way to grab your audience’s attention early on is to mention all of your talking points for the speech. By stating the order of your talking points, you will provide an overview of what the presentation will be like and what it will cover. You will tell the audience what your goals for that day, and during your speech you will dive in depth into each talking point and finalize by summarizing each of them.

7. Get to know your audience.

Know exactly the type of audience that will be attending your speech. You can use this information to tailor your speech around the type of people that will be attending. Knowing more about your audience will help reduce stress levels regarding your speech. Furthermore, it will make you feel as you’re not standing in front of strangers, but a group of people that share the same interests.

8. Begin with an interesting question or story.

Start your speech with a question, story or puzzle. It will help take the audience’s focus off you and into what you're asking them to place their attention on. The theory behind this is that it will get the audience thinking of another thing than using those first moments of your speech to judge you. It’s a way to start your speech with ease and find a common ground with the audience.

9. Find others going through your same issues.

You’re not the only one going through stage fright, you can be sure about that. Find a group of people who are going through your same issues you are and see how they overcome it or how they are working through them. A support team is always a beneficial tool to have in your armory of public speaking. 

10. Get feedback.

There’s nothing wrong with receiving feedback, either if it is positive or negative feedback. Listening to what your audience says is one of the most important parts of being a successful public speaker. Your audience may point out things that you do while speaking that you may have not noticed before. Take every feedback as constructive criticism and apply it to your future speeches.

Public speaking is never an easy thing to do, some people are born with the talent, others need time to practice and perfect it. These strategies will help you prepare better for any future speaking engagements you may have. It’s important that while preparing for your speech, you let your personality show, after all the audience is there to see you.

5 Simple Things You Should Do Every Sunday Night to Prepare for the Week Ahead

1. Reflect on what you've already finished.

Your to-do list is, and will always be, fluid. It moves as you move, and it stays put as you stay put. If you don't get things done, they remain on the list. And if you are always getting things done, then your list will be a growing and expanding reflection of that process (which is the goal).

However, in order to know what is "next," you need to take a moment to reflect on the status of where things currently are. Look through your to-do list from the week prior and see what you got done or didn't get done--and then ask yourself why certain things got accomplished and others didn't.

If something remains on your to-do list for weeks on end, you need to make a decision: Either remove it entirely (clearly it's not getting done) or push it all the way to the top and make it a priority to do that item before anything else.

Take the time to reflect, though. It is immensely valuable over the long term.

2. Organize your to-do items based on category.

This is a tactic I've learned from Tony Robbins (although I'm sure many others use it as well). Go through your to-do list and organize things by category or project, even separating between "Random Life Things" and "Work Things."

The reason why it's helpful to organize by category is two-fold:

First, it is far less overwhelming to look at a to-do list that is organized by category. Looking at a long and random list of everything mixed together, you can feel how exhausting it would be to bounce between so many different types of tasks. That's what you want to avoid. Instead, organize by category so that you can get in one frame of mind and work through everything in that specific category.

You are far more efficient when you can remain in one frame of mind for a long period of time, rather than bouncing between different types of tasks. Organize, and you'll be more efficient.

3. Do what you can ahead of time.

The best example I have of this is meal preparation.

If you bring your lunch to work, or you pack your bag in the morning, why not do those things the night before? Anything you can do ahead of time gives you more freedom the next day, and is one less thing you have to think about.

The reason why this is so valuable is that you have more head space to think about what is coming up next, instead of trying to remember all the things you have to do.

Mondays are always jam packed. Anything you can get done now, you might as well.

4. Prioritize input, not output.

Sundays should be input days--not output days.

The start of every week is always output focused. You show up to the office, or to school, or even to your own desk to crank through work, and you are expected to be in output mode.

Knowing that's around the bend, it is advantageous of you to spend as much of Sunday as possible in input mode. You want to be feeding your creativity and your soul so that come Monday morning you are ready to go. Think of a windup car. You pull it back, you pull it back, and then you let it rip.

That's input. And more input leads to better output.

5. Take time to yourself.

And finally, the most important part of Sunday night should be the time you take solely for yourself.

Going back to this idea of input versus output, you need to quiet down and relax in order to sustain yourself throughout the week. One way to do this is to meditate. Another way is to read (a book, not social media), or even to just sit quietly with a cup of tea. Silence does wonders, and in our overly busy society it is a valuable asset we all too often forget.

Take time to yourself and sit in silence. If you can sit in silence even for just fifteen minutes, you will be amazed at how refreshed you feel. No distractions. No interruptions. And then go to sleep feeling ready for the week ahead.

10 Irresistible Traits of the Smartest People

1. Be a person of remarkable honesty.

Be true to your character regardless of the outside pressures or temptations to act otherwise. Be willing to accept the consequences of what you consider to be right, at the core of your being. Don't let others dictate your course. Through raw authenticity, you will take control of life and move forward with confidence.

2. Be reliable.

People love a person who is trustworthy and makes decisions they can count on. Be consistent with what you say you're going to do, and then do it. Being a person of your word goes a long way.

3. Be humble.

A person who doesn't raise herself above others is someone who can be trusted. She will gain the favor of others because her humility is not only wise and honorable, but it leads to great knowledge and good judgment.

4. Be insightful.

Cultivating a discerning spirit will let you see things 10 steps ahead of others. Your insights will be persuasive, so others will be drawn to learn from your wisdom, which you will want to find time to impart. And when you do, your gracious words will magnetically command the presence of others.

5. Be a good listener.

While some people see only one option, you take the higher road to listen to advice and counsel from those further down the path of growth. You leverage wise feedback to keep yourself out of trouble and steer you in the right direction.

6. Be self-aware.

Self-awareness can alert you to what relationships to invest in and what advisers to seek counsel from. If you're having lunch with someone who is spreading malicious things about others, you may be next on his list. Walk away. Also beware of groupthink, as it can quickly lead to a toxic bandwagon that may send your reputation down the toilet.

7. Be intentional about change.

If you're convinced you can justify a certain behavior, like greed or arrogance, you're like the frog in boiling water who doesn't know it's being boiled alive. Break the cycle of behavior that damages relationships by acquiring new knowledge first. When your blind spots are exposed, take massive action to change that behavior with reckless abandon. You will gain new followers and friends as a result.

8. Be a person of peace.

Troublemakers start fights and gossips break up friendships. Rise above it all--slander, dissension, disputes, finger-pointing--all things that will trouble the heart and leave you in a reactionary stress mode. Be cool-tempered instead of quick-tempered, patient and slow to anger, and wise enough to keep calm and understand the circumstances around you. Be an ambassador for promoting peace.

9. Be smart and thoughtful when you speak.

There's a saying from an old wise king that goes like this: "Words satisfy the mind as much as fruit does the stomach; good talk is as gratifying as a good harvest." So much conflict, confusion, and misunderstanding comes from our words. Be careful about what you speak, and don't talk out of both sides of your mouth. Instead, give good and sound advice, and have the other person's best interest in mind. You'll get a lot more in return.

10. Be a learner and show interest in the wisdom of others.

This is what initiates the best conversations--learning about what other people do, how they do it, why they do it. People love to talk about themselves, and smart people let them! So be the person who shows up with the humble gesture of "I want to learn from you."

05 Huge Mistakes That Have Cost Me Millions

1. Being too cocky from early success.

If you find early success, that is amazing; great for you. This can be a big stepping stone towards your future. However, what is most important is how you handle this success. When I made over $1 million dollars before I even graduated college, I became way too cocky, way too fast and I set myself up for failure.

If you’ve read my book, you know that I had a ton of early success in addition to my financial profits, and it made me way too sure of myself. This set me up to make one of the biggest mistakes of my career, which I did. 

I call it the “stock that killed my hedge fund,” and it delivered one of the biggest blows in my career. I thought I was invincible since I was so sure I knew everything and I went “all in” on a tiny company with a great deal of promise. Needless to say, the technology boomed, I went bankrupt and the rest is history. 

2. Getting attention, but burning bridges.

Social media is super important. You need to be using social media in order to expand your reach and grow your business. Getting attention on social media is great, but you need to make sure that it is the right type of attention. While I was growing my own social media channels, I was getting the recognition I was looking for, but in the process I managed to regularly anger every major financial network with my controversial attitude.

You can chalk it up to being young, but in the end I was just being dumb. It was so stupid and immature of me to act this way, but I did it and I paid for it. You can make your points and express your opinions in a classy way and in a professional way. You don’t have to burn bridges when you do it. If you are right with your opinions, in time you will get the recognition you are looking for.

3. Being too sure of any one investment.

That was the company I talked about earlier, the stock that killed my hedge fun. It cost me about $500,000. It was a huge loss and a huge mistake, but it helped me understand that even if you are right about a piece of technology or an idea, it doesn’t mean that you are right about that company. It also doesn’t mean that any one company you invest in or vouch for will end up being a big winner.

Most small companies fail. Accept the odds of being against you and don’t bet too big. It was a lesson I learned when I put so many chips in one company’s basket, and it is a lesson that both entrepreneurs and investors should keep in mind. 

4. Disrespecting my customers.

This is a hard one for me to admit, and it was a tough lesson to learn. I am a very passionate person and I respond well to challenges and to being pushed. When I first started teaching, I tried to apply that attitude to all of my students. As a teacher, in general, I come down hard on my students/customers. It is because I expect a lot out of people and I see so much potential in so many of my students. It is also because I know that sometimes you just need the right push to find success.

Unfortunately, there is a fine line between coming down hard and disrespecting people. I am guilty of crossing that line and coming down too hard on some of my students. Your customers are your future of your company, always treat them with respect no matter what the circumstances. 

5. Not adapting to new trends quickly.

I must admit that I am slow to the trigger when it comes to embracing new trends. I resisted the iPhone, Snapchat, Instagram, Pinterest and Periscope all for way too long. With all of these things, I eventually came around, but I basically dragged my feet, just for the point of dragging my feet. In the end I wasted too much time. You need to adapt eventually, don’t be afraid to jump in and adapt to what is happening in the world around you sooner rather than later.

06 Tips to Be a Successful Solopreneur

1. Just start

Acuff launched his first blog, a satire site called Stuff Christians Like, while still employed. What finally prompted him to start writing?

“My frustration level eclipse my laziness level, where I was just tired of not writing the kind of stuff I wanted to write,” he says.

So, he woke up early, wrote then went to work. After launching the blog, he sent it to about 100 friends. On day nine, he had thousands of views and friends of friends were sharing it with him, not knowing he’d wrote it. He’d hit the blog lottery. But he made it there by posting around five posts per day. He kept up that pace, which eventually led to a book deal and some free speaking gigs. One of those speaking gigs was for the Dave Ramsey team -- leading to his eventual employment years later.  

If you’re considering pursuing your passion, now is the time, Acuff says. There’s never been a better time in history to launch an idea or start a business.

“All the gatekeepers are gone except the hardest one, which is you," he says. "There is no one stopping you.”

2. Be patient

Acuff warns that leaving your corporate job will take some recovery time. He says most people want to jump right in, but to get your feet under you, you need about three months for each year you were employed there.

Another mistake is rushing ideas to market. You need to “give yourself time to develop good ideas.” The longer he can sit on an idea, he says, the better.

“They are confusing the ease of getting an idea online with the need to do it that second," he says. "So just because it's easy to sell a class doesn't mean you're ready to sell a class.”

This also means you should put in the time and become an established industry leader before publishing a “business card” book. 

“Develop your authority [first]. Never write a book to establish your authority," he says. "Books are hard and they’re not for everybody. It’s not failure if you don’t write a book.”

3. Be authentic

Acuff is not a fan of the current “expert marketing” trends. For example, he explained that while people would buy it, he wouldn’t try to teach people how to grow a speaking career, because his experiences are not replicable. It’s paramount that you’re authentic, Acuff says.

“Go get more expertise, be honest about what your strengths are that you can share and sell, and be honest about what you can’t,” he says.

4. Stay flexible

Acuff is a writer who wants to write, but he knows that’s not enough today. He also creates video content, email marketing promotions and online courses.

“I'm a writer, so doing videos is new to me. And that's taken time to get comfortable with," he says. "I'm like everybody else, I don't love change. I'm not like, ‘Yay, my whole model is upside down.’ I've really seen the impact.”

If you want to get your message out into the world, you have to adapt to different methods of sharing that message.  

5. Stay hungry

Acuff started his path to New York Times bestseller with around five posts a day. Today, as an established author, he still writes four hours a day. He also spends years researching, writing and rewriting each book. His smartphone has thousands of photos and ideas for posts, tweets and instagram images. He’s studied more than 100 comedians.

“I’ll give a speech 50 times and hone it each time,” he says.

Though he’s spoken professionally for seven years, he does not consider himself an “expert” speaker.

6. Always serve

When Acuff had the idea to help people reach their goals in 30 days, he gave the program away for free for more than a year. When he is hired to speak, one of his first questions to the company’s event planner is “how can I make you look like a rock star?” He is active in his Facebook fan communities, has attended fan organized events and hosts free meetups across the country.

Though accomplished, Acuff maintains his position, writing “from the trenches” rather than as an authority. He shares openly and honestly in his writing, because he remembers what it felt like to be without support. 

“I’m always trying to write to the me I used to be," he says, "who didn’t have a community, who felt like the only weirdo who wanted to do a dream."

11 Ways to Make Money While You Sleep

Do you remember in the past we were warned to be careful about being in debt because interest never stopped charging us, interest never slept, never took a day off, never took a holiday. Well the reverse is true, as well.

Is your money making money while you sleep? Does it sound too good to be true? Since we still live in the age of the interest, it’s not that difficult to earn extra money on the side.

With that in mind, here are 11 ways that you can actually earn money while you sleep.

1. Start a blog.

Perhaps the most popular way to earn a passive income is by launching your own blog. It only takes a couple of minutes to setup and is cheap to start - just purchase your domain name and pay for hosting.

After that, start creating amazing content that people would be interested in reading or sharing. For example, if you’re an accountant that has helped small business owners with their taxes, then that could be your blog. I personally have my invoicing blog to help customers know everything there is to know about invoicing. This draws thousands of signups a month.

Make sure the topics you write about are popular. If you still love your pet rock, I doubt there would be enough people visiting your our site to monetize it. But, you never know.

Once you’ve gained a following, you can start making money from of your blog by:

Earning commissions as an affiliate. This is where you push other people’s products or services on your site. Make sure these products or services are relevant to your blog. For example, that accounting blog could become an affiliate for accounting or invoicing software. Once you find an affiliate partner you’ll be given a unique code so that whenever a visitor clicks that link on your site you’ll earn your commission.

Sell-advertising. If you’re site has the traffic to become an affiliate, then it may also be good enough for advertisers to purchase ads on your site. You may start off small, like making under $20 per ad. But, you may eventually be able to charge triple digits. Again, you site must be quality.

Find sponsors. This is slightly different than just selling ads on your site. Sponsorships may be a one-off piece of sponsored content or permanent logo embedded in your footer.

2. Sell your own information product.

If you’re knowledgeable in a certain area, then you can start creating products, such as eBooks or videos, and selling them on your blog. It may take a lot of work to create and market your products, but once all the leg work is over, you can just set back and collect the proceeds. 3. Earn royalties.

If you’re a talented musician, actor, or author, then you could earn royalties from your work. In other words people will pay you for using your work or creative assets.

If you aren’t talented enough, but still interested in earning royalties, then check out Royalty Exchange. It’s a marketplace where you can buy and sell royalties.

4. Create a membership community.

If you’ve proven yourself to be a authority figure, then you can create a membership community where you pay a monthly fee to receive additional high-quality content and information that’s not available to non-members.

One of my favorite examples is Timothy Sykes who makes more than $100,000 per month in passive income through his membership community which discusses how people can make money in trading penny stocks. 

5. Install an autoresponder.

Another common online business model is using autoresponders to sell services, products or memberships. This is where people leave their email address on your site and then they’ll receive an automated email containing the link to download products or quality information you have to offer, as well as follow-up with a series of emails.

You’ll a need service like OptinMonster to make this possible. I also recommend you read this Quick Sprout guide to get started with autoresponders.

6. Flip websites.

If you’ve put in the time and effort in building a website and you have gained a lot of traffic, then you may be able to sell it to an interested party by listing on marketplaces like Flippa. I've bought and sold a lot of sites here and made a lot of money.

7. Sell physical products.

Just like with a blogging site, there are several ways to earn a passive income by selling physical products. Probably one of the best known ways is by selling your old junk on eBay. But even if you don’t have anything left to sell you can start drop shopping. This is where you sell products for a company on eBay or Amazon and they’ll take care of the rest - including shipping.

You can also launch your own eCommerce store by using Shopify. They literally give you everything you need to sell products online from a complete online shop to including buy buttons on your social media channels. 8. Invest in stocks or shares.

When you invest in stocks you become a stakeholder. That entitles you to a share of their profits. Investing in stocks has been a popular way to earn a passive income for years, and thanks to the internet, it’s easier than ever to research and invest in stocks on your own.

Keep in mind that the stocks you invest in can change throughout the various stages of life. For example, I look for investments that can benefit my daughter, such as a CA529 plan that will go towards her college tuition.

9. Peer-to-peer lending.

Companies like LendingClub, Propser, and Harmoney have created a new industry where anyone can become a lender. They will then match you with a consumer who either prefers or has trouble securing a loan from a bank. You can earn a higher interest rates on the loans you issued since you’re dealing directly with the borrower.

10. Rent out property.

Thanks to Airbnb, you can rent out your home while on vacation or your vacation home when not in use. You can also rent out your garage, parking space, or unused office space. It’s a nice supplemental income without really doing anything except placing an ad. 

11. Hire a middleman.

This is also known as arbitrage and is basically where you have someone else do the work for you. For example, you could start a dog walking service or web design firm, but outsource the actual dog walking or coding to someone else. You’re much better doing anything except being the middleman who is in charge of marketing these services.

7 Habits of Masterful Managers Who Coach Their Teams to Success

Managers are the quarterbacks and coaches of their teams. Managers with great reputations for producing the most successful teams are those who have cultivated the habits of success and leadership designed to keep their teams cohesive, motivated and driven. There is nothing more powerful than a leader who has faith in their team. Like children, the last thing any of us want to lose is the faith our parents have in us, and this dynamic plays itself out from team members to their manager. To follow are the seven habits that masterful managers utilize to guarantee team success.

1. Collaborative.

Managers who collaborate rather than command create team cohesion and positive morale. Collaborating doesn’t put anyone down. Commanding managers are arrogant, emotionally violent and secure results through the production of fear and game-playing. These types of managers may see results, but their team members and customers will show high turnover, producing only short-term successes.

The most lucrative and stable path to getting results is through collaboration. There is something deeply bonding when working together to secure common goals. Team members learn to model the collaborative vibe of their manager and apply it amongst each other and also with customers. Great managers know that collaborating in any endeavor, inside or outside of the company, produces the most worthwhile results. 

2. Relationship oriented.

Great managers, manage people not numbers.  Although numbers are important, the purest method to get employees to work hard is for them to work for and receive approval. Approval is the greatest form of payment. Numbers are non-emotional. They have no lasting impact on self-worth because there are always going to be higher numbers to meet.

Under a relationship-oriented manager, where approval and encouragement are woven into the fabric of the relationship, team members become unafraid to reach for higher quotas. They come to believe they can meet them, and to keep the faith of their manager, are more motivated to do so. The more relationship-oriented a manager is, the more team members are willing to perform because they are receiving the guidance and encouragement the need instead of fear and punishment.

3. Give credit.

Great managers give credit wherever and whenever credit is due. They do not have the selfishness or arrogance to need to take credit for the success of their team to feed their own ego. In fact, managers who are collaborative prefer that team members receive the credit for their results. When the team gets the credit, it cultivates a deeper drive within them to work hard to earn that type of credit again and again. This makes work a pleasant and fun place to be.

People who enjoy work and the dynamics they share with upper management, are those who feel good about sacrifice and working hard because there is purpose and reward driving them internally. When teams are given credit it allows them to experience the fruits of their labor, providing them with a deep sense of passion and satisfaction for what they are doing. 

4. Equal treatment.

Cohesion on any team is the x-factor for success. For this reason, great managers treat each individual team members according to their unique gifts. Wise managers avoid playing favorites; only preferring to work closely with those members who get their numbers. Equal time and equal treatment are vital to the development of team cohesion, as it rids teams of destructive emotions such as jealousy, which can be hugely destructive.

When managers play favorites, the team is fragmented by the divide and conquer approach set by the manager, creating animosity between members. Animosity inevitably leads to people trying to cheat and or undermine others on their own team. While managers will naturally work better with some members more easily than others, differential treatment goes directly against any formula of success. Equal treatment doesn’t take away individuality. Each team member is coached individually based on the strengths and weaknesses the manager identifies. Equal time given to all members creates positive morale between team members and their manager.  

5. Open.

Effective managers are humble, not know-it-all’s. Rank doesn’t always reflect knowledge, especially in a world that is on the fast track of change with the continual advances in technology. Those who manage well, listen and learn from their team members and take in what they bring to table before advising or directing them. Great managers are open to learning and also open to receiving feedback from their team on what more they may need from them or others in management.

Know-it-all managers see themselves as perfect and above their team, instilling a great divide between themselves and their connection with team members. No one wants to approach a know-it-all with a problem, out of the desire to avoid confrontation or condemnation. Hence, more mistakes are made in the know-it-all environment because communication is low, not always forthright and stress is high. Managers who are willing to listen and learn succeed and get results because the issues in need of discussion are comfortably on the table for analyzation. 

6. Sensing.

Successful and well-liked managers are like a “players coach.” They are sensing people who pay attention to both immediate data from their five senses and data from their own direct experience. They develop understanding from conscious thought, rather than trusting their subconscious and are happy to dig into the fine detail of the situations they are in with their team. In other words, they focus on what is immediate, practical and real, and manage in a reality-based framework supportive of their team, rather than trying to change what is not under their control.

Sensing managers are grounded in logic and manage in practical and realistic ways. They like to pursue things with a well-devised plan, having the details worked out in advance. These types of managers are phenomenal because they serve to ground the more emotionally labile moments experienced by team members in uncertain situations. Team members can come to their manager to calm down and gain perspective, giving them the ability to be rational and think things through intelligently.

7. Intuitive.

Masterful managers are able to be sensing and intuitive in tandem. They are able to process data rationally while also following their gut feelings when risk is necessary, or when their gut feeling is so intense that it is the only correct decision to make. Although they often trust and rely upon patterns and practical data, they are also great at predicting or intuiting patterns of behavior and market trends, allowing them to get out of the detail and into a higher level view.

Being intuitive takes managers out of the practicality of the now into a more future-focused mindset.  A future-focused mindset is the driving force of innovation amongst a manager and their team. An intuiting manager encourages team members to dream and imagine, provoking all members out of their comfort zones into acquiring new skills and towards the development of news ideas. 

Masterful managers show a high degree of sensitivity to team members, and encourage them to operate with a high degree of respect and sensitivity to each other. When equal-treatment is the management style all members have equal voice where each has the chance to speak and express their ideas. Equal treatment leads to a collaborative environment where everyone feels important. Mangers who create teams with the foundation of these elements are successful in the short and long term. Great managers believe in their purpose, their individual team members and all that it takes for everyone to feel satisfied, happy, motivated and successful. The morale created by these elite mangers guarantees personal and professional success and esteem.

6 Ways to Work Less but Get More Done

Everyone shares the same 24 hours in a day and yet some entrepreneurs simply get more done than others. Is it just a case of some people work harder than others?

We’ve all heard the saying, "work smarter, not harder," but many successful entrepreneurs have come to realize that productivity is part effort and part efficiency. Working smart is just as important as working hard, but often times we default to working hard because we don’t know how to work smart.

This article shares six different ways to get more done every day while working less so you can work smarter, not just harder.

1. Outsource.

The biggest struggle among unproductive entrepreneurs is learning what daily tasks can be outsourced and figuring out how to outsource them.

Virtual assistants (VA) can be a valuable asset to your business and a great way to buy back time. How much money are those tedious and repetitive tasks costing you?

If you’ve considered outsourcing some of your work, but don’t believe there’s anyone competent enough to do your work other than you, you should consider at least testing a VA before settling on that conclusion. It’s not hard to find a great VA if you are able to over-communicate what you need, and define clear outcomes.

2. Delegate.

If you have a team or partners, utilize them. Don’t be afraid to delegate work and responsibilities to team members when you need to.

You don’t need to be the superhero of your business. Prioritize what’s important to you, and delegate the rest. It’s all about delegating the right tasks to the right people. This involves matching the requirements of the task you’re delegating to the abilities of the person you’re delegating to. At first, you might want to start with delegating smaller tasks to your team.

Once you’ve built up enough confidence in your team, you can begin delegating entire jobs.

3. Focus more. Do less.

The key to getting more done is doing less. Don’t believe me?

Think of the last time you had several projects on your plate. How long did it take you to complete all of them?

Now consider the time you poured all of your attention into one project. How much better did that go?

Take on as few projects at a time as possible. Steve Jobs said it best during a conference in 1997, after he brought Apple’s project count down to 10 from 350.

“When you think about focusing, you think ‘Well, focusing is about saying yes.’ No. Focusing is about saying no,” Jobs said.

Say no to more things than you say yes to. Choose your projects carefully and purposefully. A general rule of thumb is to focus on one thing at a time. Have one goal, or one big thing, that needs to get done everyday, and focus on that. 

4. Schedule breaks into your routine and work.

Momentum is important when it comes to productivity. However, entrepreneurs that rely on momentum to get more done tend to burn out faster. I’ve found myself trying to do more only to wind up actually accomplishing less.

Scheduling breaks into my routine has proved to be extremely valuable. I’ve been able to maintain momentum while working on tasks without burning out or losing focus and doing busy work.

Techniques such as using a Pomodoro timer allow for you to have regular breaks without having to consciously think about it, or remind yourself to take a break. 

5. Automate.

How much of your daily work life or daily routine can you automate?

Maybe there are emails you regularly receive that can receive an automated response. Maybe there are tools, such as Meet Edgar that can help you automate your social media marketing.

Use technology and the amount of tools available on the Internet to help you automate aspects of your life and business. There’s always potential for you to automate some aspects of your business.

Start by looking at tools, like If This Then That (IFTTT) and Zapier for ideas. For a head start, check out some of these recommendations on automating with IFTTT and automating with Zapier. 

6. Streamline as many processes as possible.

Look at the repetitive processes in your business, and see where you can either improve efficiency.

For example, you might interact with dozens of customers everyday, answering their questions. One of the most common ways to streamline customer service is to have prepared responses you can easily use for the most common questions you receive.

Other ideas may include reducing staff meetings; only checking emails once or twice a day at set schedules; consolidating software; or shortening your to-do list.

Look for the things that are redundant, unnecessary or creating delays in your business, and begin to eliminate.

06 Rules For Effective Feedback

Effective feedback is a cornerstone of success in any organization. From performance management to talent retention to worker safety, providing appropriate and timely feedback makes the difference between a high-performance organization and a bankrupt one. Here are some rules for providing feedback.

Ask permission to provide feedback.

As odd as it may sound, just because you have something to say, you’re opinion may not be welcome, or it may not be a good time for the person to hear it. Start your feedback by asking, “Can I give you some feedback?” You must be prepared to drop the conversation if the person says no, or looks very uncomfortable. Also, you should ask permission to provide positive feedback as well; trust me, people will be pleasantly surprised to hear nice things said after answering yes to that question. 

Be timely.

For greatest impact provide the feedback as close as possible to the time the behavior occurred, but don’t provide feedback when you are still angry. It benefits no one to tell him or her that you were irked that they were ten minutes late to a meeting last October. In fact, it makes you seem slow-witted and petty, which you probably are.

Be specific.

Telling someone that they’re “doing a good (or bad) job” doesn’t really provide any information at all, and therefore it is a useless waste of time. You need to explain specifically what you like or want changed in a person’s behavior (and sometimes both).

Concentrate on behaviors.

Telling someone that you don’t like their attitude is really just a way of telling him or her, “I don’t like you.” Attitudes are behavioral manifestations of emotions, and while we can’t control our emotions, we can control our behavior. Is it really the attitude you don’t like or is it the behaviors (sarcasm, constant complaining, etc.)? 

I once worked along side a man who hated his job, and yet he did exceptional work, never complained or bad mouthed the company or coworkers. Did he have a bad attitude? Some would say yes, but I would say, who cares how he feels about his job as long as he does it and his feelings about his job do not affect the overall morale of the company. (By the way the only reason I knew he hated his job was he told me in an eerily calm and friendly way.)

Describe what you’ve seen, not what others told you.

There are few things worse than having your boss say, “People are telling me that you are...” The logical first response is to get defensive and ask, who has been saying these terrible things about me? It’s a fair question. Without knowing who provided the information you don’t have any context, and without context you can’t tell your side of the story. Some people instinctively attribute their own observations into shadowy third-party sources; this is just cowardice. When providing feedback it’s important to speak in the first person for example: “I over heard you talking to a customer on the phone and when you said ‘well I don’t care if you like it, that’s our policy,’ I found your behavior disrespectful and rude.” By dealing with behaviors you have observed you are more likely to have a deeper impact on the behavior and less excuse making or diversions (“Who told you that!?”) 

Respect the person’s privacy.

Unless the behavior is so egregious that you must act immediately, don’t provide feedback publicly. After asking if you can provide feedback move to a quiet, private, and neutral area. This will allow you to respect the person’s privacy but by moving to neutral turf you level the playing field and allow the other person to provide you some feedback as well.

10 Tips From Travel Experts, Flight Attendants and Other Frequent Fliers

To prepare for this article, I spoke to several expert travelers who clock in at least 25,000 miles or more each year for tips and tricks to make your trip more enjoyable.

On my last flight, I asked my flight attendants who didn't want to be named if they had any tips.

Let's just say, they had lots of suggestions for fliers including:

1. Have all your travel items in hand.

Make sure you have all of your items like your headphone and magazines in hand so you aren't holding up the boarding process.

2. Don't check your luggage.

Flight attendants also recommend not paying to check a carry-on, but instead to wait until you can check it at the gate. This way, you know your luggage will make it to your final destination.

3. Something will always go wrong.

Flight attendants also said that many people need to prepare for something to go wrong because it almost always does.

4. Give yourself time.

Fliers are more in control than they think, like leaving themselves at least an hour and a half to get to the next gate if you are taking a connecting flight.

5. Goodies for the flight attendants.

"Bring something for the flight attendants--chocolate, a snack, anything small and nice, just to say thank you," said Lowell M. Aplebaum, Executive Consultant in Silver Spring, Maryland.

6. Don't miss your connections.

Sam Horn, CEO of the Intrigue Agency in Reston, VA said, "Many of us road warriors don't talk to seat-mates. We haul out our laptop, book, work, or noise reduction headphones. I say, "Keep your antenna up for a warm smile."

"If your instincts tell you this is an intriguing person, ask a simple question like, "Heading home or on business?" Their response (both the content and tone) will let you know if this is a conversation worth continuing."

"I've met astronauts, inventors and fascinating individuals as a result of reaching out when the vibes are right," she added.

7. App to relax.

The Brainwave app by Banzai for noise reduction, stress relief and better sleep on planes is something Brian Carter, CEO of the Brian Carter Group in Charleston, SC, swears by.

He also recommends, "not to unpack at the hotel, until you've checked out everything in the room."

8. Join the club.

One piece of advice by frequent fliers is to invest the money for the club lounge membership. The bonus is it is also a tax deduction.

"Keep the phone numbers of any "loyalty desks" programmed in your contacts," Lawrence Leonard, Executive Director of the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Association.

"If seriously delayed or canceled, call the desk immediately, don't go stand in line," he said.

Other advice that I heard was to use the same hotel chain to build up loyalty points, Marriott and Hilton and W Hotels seem to be among the favorites.The same goes for picking one airline to accumulate miles and rewards.

Luggage favorites include brands like TravelPro and Tumi and travelers recommend getting bright colored luggage that won't get lost in the sea of black suitcases.

9. Pre-Check yourself.

Getting Global Entry or TSA Pre-Check was the number one tip to get through security the fastest.

The time to get to the airport seems to be a topic of great debate with some saying they always catch the first flight to avoid delays.

Garrison Wynn of Wynn Solutions in Houston, TX, says, "I travel many more than 30,000 miles per year and catching flights after 3:00 pm makes a huge difference. The airport literally has half the people in it then it does at 9am.

Fewer delays, airport employees in better moods and more willing to help, weather is more likely to clear up and you have a better shot at upgrades," he said.

?Carla Balakgie the Chief Executive Officer of the National Automatic Merchandising Association said, "If you are going on an international flight buy what you need at your destination, instead of taking everything with you."

10. Roll with It.

"Roll everything." And, she encourages female executives to "bring solid color clothes and pack a few scarves - they are interchangeable and can make your outfit look more polished," she added.

For international travelers, do the research and understand how to communicate and persuade effectively across different cultures. The Hofstede Model is a tool many entrepreneurs use to keep abreast of cultural expectations.

07 Mental Blocks Preventing Your Success

The shortest distance between two points is a straight line. Unless our brains get involved. Then we’ll find a way to roam the world looking for complicated alternatives.

The mind can catapult us to our greatest hopes and dreams, or it can confuse and torture us until we give up in disappointment.

Here are the most common mental battles entrepreneurs face, plus a quick prescription for each.

1. Little think.

“You don't think big enough. I think of writing scores of books, a body of work, you procrastinate over a blog post.” -- Alan Weiss

We never will hit our milestones if we allow each step to stall us. Overthinking the small things traps us, preventing us from achieving the big things.

The enemy of procrastination is now. Make a quick but solid decision, and move forward by leaps.

2. Doubt fires.

“Thinking will not overcome fear, but action will.”  -- W. Clement Stone

When doubt fills our minds, fear dominates our thoughts. Take action and realize that most of your fears are imagined. Self-imposed nightmares conjure the worst possible results.

Perhaps you can’t take the “massive action” so often encouraged. But you can take a step and then another step. You can move toward your goal. 

3. Future failures.

“It is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all, in which case you have failed by default.” -- J. K. Rowling

When we fail to profit, we often become prophets. We start seeing failure in advance, even if there’s no evidence our venture is headed for disaster. When the mind foresees failure, it can lead to paralysis.

Fight future failure by reminding yourself of past successes. Use evidence from your past to predict your future.

4. Dataless decisions.

“Economics is everywhere, and understanding economics can help you make better decisions and lead a happier life." -- Tyler Cowen

Emotional decisions can be dangerous, but dataless decisions can be fatal. By nature, most entrepreneurs are risk-takers. We have a little bit of gambler in us, so it’s easy to make gut decisions even when the odds are against us.

Instead of rolling the dice on pure instinct, consult the figures on the spreadsheets or your group of trusted advisors. Make decisions based on solid facts, not just the excitement of the moment. 

5. Fuzzy focus.

“You can't depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus.” -- Mark Twain

The ability to go where you want begins with the ability to envision it clearly in your mind. Yet our imaginations seem drawn to clutter and often end up overwhelming us.

Find clarity by compartmentalizing your thoughts. Create mental “buckets” and sort the various facets of your business. Spend time thinking separately about sales, marketing, revenue and expenses, or the convergence will become unbearable.

6. Complicated calculations.

“Clarity comes with simplicity.” -- Brendon Burchard

This mental block falls right in line with the last one. Instead of making fast, minimal decisions, we tend to make slow, maximal decisions. There are times we could simply ask a friend for quick feedback, but we allow issues to fall to a committee. Too many calculators only complicate the process.

Ask yourself, “What is the fastest, safest way to reach X results?” Then do it.

7. Motivational manipulation.

“Whatever the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can achieve.” -- Napoleon Hill

Maybe. Sometimes the mental block is not a negative, but a positive. We become so convinced we’ll reach a goal that we expect the entire team to adopt our thinking. This motivational manipulation might help in the short term. But we can’t ignore accruing evidence that signals we might be headed for disappointment.

Motivate without the manipulation. Be honest about the ground you’ve gained or lost with the current strategy. Reality is not a curse word; it’s the word that forms our world.

11 Mistakes Standing Between You and Your First Million

I've been a millionaire three separate times in my life. The first time I saw $1,000,000 in my bank account, I almost fainted. Even though I knew it was hitting my account, it still caught me off guard.

Becoming a millionaire isn’t as far-fetched as you would believe. With dedication, patience and focus, becoming a millionaire is completely obtainable. If I can do it, anyone can.

The hardest part? Actually reaching your first million. After that, everything else falls in place. But why is it so difficult to reach your first million? I find that most people are pretty close, but hold themselves back with the following mentalities:

1. Not thinking the right way.

As Napoleon Hill discovered in his landmark 1937 book Think and Grow Rich, wealthy individuals think differently than the average person. After interviewing 1,200 of the wealthiest individuals in the world, self-made millionaire Steve Siebold agrees with Hill’s findings. They include:

• They believe poverty is the root of all evil.
• They recognize that selfishness can be a virtue.
• They have an action mentality.
• They acquire specific knowledge.
• They dream about the future.
• They follow their passion.
• They enjoy challenges.
• They use other people’s money.
• They focus on earning, not saving.
• They know when to take risks.

In short, if you want to become a millionaire, start changing the way you think about money and success.

2. Being too concerned about perfection.

Here’s one of the most important and valuable lessons I’ve learned in life -- nothing is perfect. The sooner you accept that, the sooner you can move forward instead of being stuck in one place.

If you’re starting a business, the more time you spend perfecting your product or service, the more time your competitors have to tap into your market and take away potential customers. Don’t hesitate to experiment. Get to market as soon as you can. You can always work out the kinks later while you’re still making a profit.

3. Spending everything you make.

You just received a fat six-figure check. It’s tempting to go out and buy a luxury car. The thing is, wealthy people know how to live below their means, as opposed to spending everything that they just made. Many wealthy people, such as Warren Buffett, live in modest homes and drive practical cars.

4. Setting unrealistic expectations.

While the wealthy definitely dream big, they also set realistic expectations. They’re well aware that they’re not going to become millionaires overnight. It takes a lot of hard work and patience to achieve their goals.

As any marathon runner will tell you, you can’t expect to run 26 miles without the proper training and conditioning. Review the progress you’ve already made and where you’re headed.

5. Following others blindly.

It can be incredibly beneficial to seek mentors or read words of wisdom from those who have struck it rich. The thing is, what worked for them may not work for you. For example, launching a company like Apple or Microsoft may not work today. So, following how Jobs and Gates became successful step-by-step isn’t going to help your subscription-based cleaning service.

Understand what works for you and your business and how you can be successful in that industry.

6. Relying too much on plastic.

Credit cards can be useful if you need to build your credit or invest in your business -- as long as you’re smart with how you use them. It’s incredibly easy to get yourself into credit card debt. That means that instead of making wise investments or putting money into your business, you’re busy paying off your credit card bills with those high interest rates.

7. Not planning for the long run.

The wealthy have a knack for always looking toward and planning for the future. They know where they want to go and what it will take for them to achieve success. This allows them to anticipate any obstacles and have a plan in place to handle those challenges.

If you are starting a new business venture, you need to have a long-term plan that addresses how to attract and retain clients and customers and outlines how you're different from the competition.

8. Spending time with the wrong people.

The rich don’t waste their time by associating with the wrong crowd. I’m talking about the naysayers and negative people who keep telling you that you can’t achieve your dreams, or the people who are using your success to their advantage.

Instead, the rich spend time with like-minded people who are driven, passionate and thinking about how amazing their future is going to be. They are always building their brand.

9. Doing everything yourself.

Despite wearing multiple hats and being a jack of all trades, it’s impossible to do everything on your own. Let’s say that you just launched a startup. You need to hire talented individuals who enhance your strengths and pick up the slack in your weaker areas.

Learn how to outsource and delegate the tasks that you’re not familiar with or aren’t as strong in. This is one the secrets that entrepreneurs rarely tell you, but it’s essential if you want your business to grow.

10. Not being in the right place at the right time.

Whether it’s making an investment or starting a business, timing and location are everything.

Take Ryan Graves, for example. He simply tweeted “hire me : )” to Travis Kalanick in 2010. Graves became Uber’s first employee, then the company’s head of global operations. He's estimated to have $1.4 billion in equity.

Instead of daydreaming, seize the opportunities that are right in front of you.

11. Not believing in yourself.

What’s the biggest thing holding you back from becoming successful? It’s probably the fact that you don’t believe in yourself. Instead of second-guessing every move you make, trust your gut and go with your intuition instead of waiting for insights from those around you.

As Dale Carnegie once said, "Inaction breeds doubt and fear. Action breeds confidence and courage. If you want to conquer fear, do not sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy.”

10 Mistakes Driving Away Top Millennial Candidates

1. Outdated Workplace

Millennials are the first technologically fluent generation and have a "second nature" ability to navigate devices, software and applications to perform their jobs more efficiently. If your workplace isn't equipped with the technologies and furthermore, if these technologies aren't integrated to create a smooth and efficient experience--it'll be hard to snag, retain and motivate your millennial employees.

2. Inflexible Scheduling

According to an article in the Los Angeles Times, about two-thirds of millennials in one survey ranked flexibility in their jobs over higher compensation. Several factors have influenced the shift from traditional 9-to-5 employment to flex scheduling and remote employment opportunities. But the bottom line is this: Millennials face an impossibly high amount of student debt, their college degrees don't hold the same value as they did in previous generations, and this has influenced a new approach to life--one that integrates life and work as one unified concept.

3. Rigid Culture

At their core, millennials want to belong to a community of like-minded individuals. It's why they've embraced social media with such vigor. It's why lifestyle communities, coliving and shared workspaces have expanded exponentially in recent years. But they aren't interested in just any culture. It must be one that aligns with their values, which generally involve the freedom to collaborate, innovate and support corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives.

4. No Clear Plan for Advancement

Despite criticisms of being "lazy," millennials are actually an ambitious bunch with big plans. In fact, they expect raises and promotions more often than older generations. Hiring managers should be aware that this generation demands a clear trajectory to the top. They want to know your organization's plans for them.

5. Negative Reviews

Millennials are tough critics and loud alarms. They aren't afraid to voice their opinions and alert others when customer service, product quality or an employment opportunity is unjustifiably poor. Likewise, they use the same resources to vet brands and potential employers as they do to inform others of their lackluster experiences. With resources like Glassdoor at their fingertips, organizations with too many bad reviews don't stand a chance.

6. Lack of Transparency

Millennials are remarkably inquisitive. They value clear, direct communication and honest feedback. Moreover, 74 percent of millennials expressed wanting to be able to trust their leaders. If they feel like management can't deliver on these qualities, they'll find a more transparent management team to follow.

7. Lack of Collaboration

Millennials are socially motivated. They are inspired by contributing to a greater mission that serves their communities or society at large, and organizations that recognize this will be better able to use this attribute in the development of their organization.

8. Poor Mobile Access

According to The Business Journals, nearly 75 percent of Fortune 100 career pages weren't mobile-friendly. This makes browsing and applying for a position challenging and frustrating as millennials are practically mobile-dependent. In fact, they use their mobile device to surf the web more often than they use a desktop computer. If your career page isn't mobile-friendly, you're missing your target audience.

9. Rushing the Interview

Candidates take time out of their schedule to interview with your organization, not to mention the countless hours they likely spent preparing. If they feel rushed during their interview, or get the sense their interviewer isn't prepared for them, it can be insulting and may leave them with a bad impression of your organization.

10. Poor Follow-Up Practices

Millennial candidates want direct contact after they apply for a position. Hand-in-hand with transparency, they also want timely follow-up after key correspondences, even if no decisions have been reached regarding their employment.

It's time for organizations to stop trying to fit the millennial professional into their way of doing things and start adapting to how the millennials do things. This generation is contributing to some powerful economic and societal movements. Though heavily criticized by older generations, your organization has plenty to learn from this young and ambitious cohort.

08 Consistent Behaviors of Highly Authentic Leaders

1: They are true to themselves.
Authentic leaders know who they are at their core. They know their personal value systems, and they don't put themselves in positions that may require them to compromise those values.

2: They are prepared to go it alone.
Leadership can be very lonely, which is why leaders require support groups to include other leaders that understand the isolation that accompanies the job.

You can find support in many places, including global communities like EO, Young Presidents Organization, and Women Presidents Organization, you can join or create a Mastermind Group, or you can build an Advisory Board.

Personally, my support groups (including my EO Forum, Mastermind Group, and my advisory team) are my lifelines. They provide emotional support, strategic support, and accountability. They also shed light on my blind spots so that I can be the best version of myself.

"Sometimes you have to lead alone to get people to follow you," explains Rustand.

It is often much easier and less painful to acquiesce to what others believe, and to follow the road that the masses take. When we choose this path, however, in that moment we choose the role of follower over leader.

3: They are committed to serving others.
Authentic leaders live from a place of service. Whether it is formally through our companies that we serve our employees or customers, or whether it is through the path of pro-bono work, philanthropy, or non-profit participation, a commitment to serving others is weaved into an authentic leaders' DNA.

"If you have not helped someone else today, if you have not served others today, then you must constitute that as a bad day." ~Warren Rustand

4: They are committed to continuous learning.
Authentic leaders know that the day we stop learning is the day our spirit starts dying. In our commitment to always be the best we can be, we know that we can't possibly know all of the answers - or even all the questions. Authentic leaders view every situation in our lives as an opportunity for personal and professional development.

5: They are committed to developing genuine relationships.
Heart-based connections based on trust and respect are essential for authentic leadership. They genuinely enjoy sharing their history and experiences, and they want to know the stories of others.

Authentic leaders don't seek out relationships due to hidden agendas or ulterior motives. Instead, they connect with others, and create connections among others, because they want to enrich the lives of those they meet. They also know that life is more joyful when we are connected with like-minded people.

6: They value trust and forgiveness.
Authentic leaders live and lead with compassion. A fundamental element of compassion is forgiveness. We have all been wronged by others, and we have all wronged others. Imperfection is a standard human condition.

When we forgive people that violate our trust, we give them the gift of self-forgiveness and redemption. It takes much more energy to be angry than to be forgiving, and much more energy to hold a grudge than to offer a second chance.

7: They empower others.
Authentic leaders allow others to represent them. They equip these representatives with the knowledge and skill sets they need to be successful, rather than trying to do everything themselves. They don't have a compelling need to control everything.

Setting others up for success, and creating a team of leaders to support them, is one of the most powerful acts of authentic leadership.

8: They motivate others to higher performance.
Authentic leaders are committed to helping those around them achieve their greatest potential. They inspire others to want more, dream bigger, and exceed their self-limitations. Authentic leaders let their followers know that they are behind them if they stumble, and that it is safe to take risks.

07 Controversial Tips For Making a Great First Impression

1. Don't Do The Double Handshake Thing.

Hanson says you have to be measured about the way you shake hands. You should offer a few seconds of eye contact, but nothing too insincere. Medium handshake pressure is preferred. But don't do that placing your left hand over the other person's right. Your left hand should stay at your side, he says. I have some sympathy with this. The Double Handshake Thing feels unctuous. Oily is never good.

2. Don't Say You're Pleased To See Someone.

Americans, Hanson says, are simply insincere. How can they be really pleased to see someone they've never met? Instead, you'll be stunned into talking without moving your lips when I tell you he suggests: "How Do You Do?" as the simplest and most sincere form of initial greeting. America, you can do this.

3. Don't Go For The Handshake First.

Wait for the boss's hand to extend first, says Hanson. You don't take the initiative. Show respect. Did I mention he's British?

4. Don't Shake Hands Across A Desk.

In my Polish culture, I was told never to shake hands across a threshold. This, apparently, would have ill fortune raining down upon me for life. Hanson says that having an obstacle to a handshake is simply bad body language. You must make your body speak fluently.

5. Stop That Kissing.

"Unless you are on familiar terms with someone, resist the urge to social kiss," he says. In America, I've noticed a severe increase of the hug. Not so much of the kiss. Then again, the British have rarely been known for their physical effusiveness. Unless you mean fights after the pubs close. Indeed, Hanson hisses: "Everyone wants to lunge at you these days and give you a kiss on the cheek. GET AWAY FROM ME!" Ah. Oh.

6. Don't Ask What The Other Person Does For A Living.

I lived in New York for a while. This was the question asked before someone even wanted to know your name. Hanson says that if it's a business setting, this question is acceptable. However: "We should not be defined by our jobs and we are all entitled to a social life away and free from the shackles of the workplace." This might be a surprise to those who live in the US, where you are your work and your work is you.

7. Don't Instantly Use First Names.

I know you're going to enjoy this handsome Hanson sentence. Are you ready? Here goes: "If they have said both their names when greeting you, and they look to be your social better or the older person then pay them the respect of calling them 'Mr. Bucket' and 'Mrs Leadbetter' -- they will probably very quickly say you may call them 'Richard' or 'Margot', but will appreciate the courtesy." They will? Are you sure? Willie, Bill, Billy, are you sure?

07 Rules Confident People Follow

1. Set a clear direction

Confident people know their priorities and set audacious goals for themselves. Sir Edmund Hillary, the first mountaineer to summit Mt. Everest, said, "You don't have to be a fantastic hero to do certain things -- to compete. You can be just an ordinary chap, sufficiently motivated to reach challenging goals." Recognize that life passes by quickly, and do not waste a single day on goals that are not meaningful.

2. Invest in yourself

It is important to have faith in your own abilities. But you also must invest time and energy into learning so you can continually offer your best. In his first sales job, Mark Cuban read software manuals so he would feel confident selling the product. Identify areas where you could improve and shore up your knowledge so that you can handle any situation with composure.

3. Face your fears

Being self-assured does not give a person a natural immunity to fear. But confident people do not let fear prevent them from accomplishing goals. Eleanor Roosevelt pointed to the "real danger" of running away from fear, saying, "If you fail anywhere along the line, it will take away your confidence. You must make yourself succeed every time. You must do the thing you think you cannot do."

4. Do not conform

Track and field star Florence Griffith Joyner, who was known for her willingness to be herself, said, "When anyone tells me I can't do anything, I am just not listening anymore." Stop relying on the approval of others. Instead, dig deep and gather that fortitude from within. Celebrate your individuality and your unique strengths, and tune out the naysayers.

5. Bounce back quickly

It takes chutzpah to rebound from tough experiences or even failure. Stephen King, who has published more than 50 novels and hundreds of short stories, learned about rejection firsthand when his very first novel, Carrie, was turned down 30 times before it was accepted and published. Brian Acton was turned down for an engineering job at Facebook before co-founding WhatsApp (which he then sold to Facebook for $19 billion).

6. Let insults slide

Truly confident people look for value in criticism, but let insults roll right off. Julie Zhuo, vice president of product design at Facebook, learned to ignore good and bad press about the company -- instead focusing her attention on the vision and trusting the team. Some people may not want you to succeed and may try to tear you down. Do not let them.

7. Practice generosity

Self-assured people spend time thinking of how to make the world better. Bill and Melinda Gates are among those signing the Giving Pledge to give most of their wealth away to philanthropic causes. Having a giving spirit will give you a healthy confidence boost and keep your own troubles in perspective.

Confidence is not an inborn trait, and it does not develop overnight. Even if you lack that self-assurance right now, you do not have to stay that way. You too can become more fearless and self-assured -- if you are willing to work at it.

6 Ways to Do Message Marketing on a Shoestring

1. Know your 'message.' Your essential business message is based on identifying your audience, your personal passion, your skill set, the challenges you solve and the results you can offer. How can anyone know what you are about if you don’t know, yourself? Worse, what if you can't yet communicate that message? Learn what I call the Message of You Formula here. 
2. Be clear about your 'promise statement.' Once you have your message, reduce it to a five-to-seven-word statement that describes the results of someone using your service or product. The message should go on your website, form the essence of your social marketing campaign and be reflected by your logo. Here is a link to a free webinar to show you how to find your promise statement. 
3. Help Google to find you. As the old adage goes, what good is a website if Google can’t find it? Engage in some DIY SEO marketing to increase your online ranking without having to hire an expensive expert.
4. Write findable and sizzling web copy. Take note of what I call the 3 Essential Stories you have to have on your website: the one about your customers, the one about your business, and your own personal heart story.
5. Create a great demo video. Before hiring an expensive video production crew, assemble an authentic video that will connect with millennials. A phone and selfie stick will be useful. Millennials are not often praised for their traits, but one thing in their favor is that they feel a part of something bigger than themselves; they want to make a difference. Don’t you want to be part of something bigger, too? Capture that in your video and marketing.
6. Use public speaking to promote your business. Yes, public speaking is scary, but there is no better marketing than a 12-minute TEDx talk to turn you into an expert on just about anything.. 

07 Hobbies Science Says Will Make You Smarter

1. Play a musical instrument.

Playing music helps with creativity, analytical skills, language, math, fine motor skills and more. While these are all great advantages, some people argue that playing team sports might do as many things. What playing musical instruments does that other activities don’t is strengthen the corpus callosum that links the hemispheres of the brain by creating new connections.

An improved corpus callosum helps with executive skills, memory, problem solving and overall brain function, regardless of how old you are.

2. Read anything.

The benefits of reading are the same whether you are enjoying Game of Thrones, Harry Potter or the latest issue of the Wall Street Journal. Reading reduces stress, which makes you feel better about yourself, and increases all three types of intelligence -- crystallised, fluid and emotional. That helps with problem solving, putting different pieces of knowledge together to better navigate everyday life, detecting patterns, understanding processes and accurately interpreting and responding to other people’s feelings.

At work, this translates into better understanding how to make things happen and better managerial skills.

3. Exercise regularly.

Occasional exercise alone doesn’t do the trick. Regular exercise is much more effective than hard work-outs every now and then. When exercising regularly the cells are flooded with BDNF, a protein that helps with memory, learning, focus, concentration and understanding. This is also often referred to as mental acuity.

Some scientists speculate that sitting down for prolonged periods of time has the opposite affect and actually hinders our brain from working as well as it could. 

4. Learn a new language.

Forget solving puzzles to improve your memory and learn a foreign language instead. Research has shown that people who are bilingual are better at solving puzzles than people who speak only one language. Successfully learning new languages enables your brain to better perform any mentally demanding tasks. This includes the typical executive skills such as planning and problem-solving.

Additionally, speaking at least two languages positively affects your skill to monitor your environment and to better direct your attention to processes. Many people are told that because executives speak languages, they should learn Spanish or French if they want to move up the ranks. Based on how the brain reacts to learning languages, it might be the other way around. Learning another language might be the last missing link people need to get their brain ready to take on C-level jobs.

5. Test your cumulative learning.

Many intelligent students in high school and college "cram'' for finals and seem to have mastered the topic the day of the big test. The trouble with that is we tend to forget these things quickly because we are rarely, if ever, required to repeat that knowledge in that same way. One reason studying a new language makes us smarter is because it requires cumulative learning. Because we need them over and over again, the grammar and vocabulary we learn is repeated countless times as we improve our foreign language skills.

Apply the concept of cumulative learning to every day life and your work place by keeping track of noteworthy bits of knowledge you acquire. Go through takeaways from recent books, observations during an important negotiation, or keep a small journal with anything that strikes your attention. Start integrating cumulative learning into your self-improvement program. 

6. Work out your brain.

Sudoku, puzzles, riddles, board games, video games, card games, and similar activities increase neuroplasticity. This encompasses a wide variety of changes in neural pathways and synapses that is basically the ability of the brain to reorganize itself. When nerve cells respond in new ways, that  increases neuroplasticity, which allows us more ability to see things from different points-of-view andunderstand cause and effect of behaviors and emotions. We become aware of new patterns and our cognitive abilities are improved.

Considering that neuroplasticity is involved in impairments such as tinnitus, an increased amount can help prevent certain conditions. For instance, people with high neurplasticity are less prone to anxiety and depression while learning faster and memorizing more.

7. Meditate.

In 1992 the Dalai Lama invited scientist Richard Davidson to study his brain waves during meditation to find out whether he could generate specific brain waves on command. Turns out that when the Dalai Lama and other monks were told to meditate and focus on compassion, their brain waves showed that they were in a deeply compassionate state of mind. The full research results were published in “Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences” in 2004 and then in the Wall Street Journal, where it received an enormous amount of attention.

Meditation became interesting to ambitious people because the study implied that we can control our own brain waves and feel whatever we want to feel whenever we want to. This means we can feel more powerful right before a negotiation, more confident when asking for a raise and more convincing during a sales call.

The general idea is that the brain can develop further and you can do it on purpose. Different activities stimulate different areas of your brain, so you can work on becoming unbeatable at your strengths as well as improving your weaknesses. Focusing self-improvement on the brain is a good idea for anyone who feels they are at their professional peak (or maybe just have stopped getting better), ambitious professionals and of course entrepreneurs who are looking to maximize their potential.