Optimism and Positivity is the key to productivity

Cynical people always seem to notice the flaws in ideas, and why a product or concept won’t work.  These people are, in my opinion, almost incapable of innovation.

Cynics are rooted in the past. They will usually only applaude an idea based on what they’ve seen working elsewhere previously. And they’re also too ready to ctiticize an innovative idea because there isn’t a precident for it.

I have been reminding myself for the past two years to be more positive and optimistic. I look at the bright side. Especially when it comes to my industry and my work… I far prefer to give applause and acknowledgement than criticism, so my eye is out for what is working.  The result is that I’m more successful and influential.

To reinforce this concept, think of someone who you know is cynical. They’re usually intelligent people, but yet they don’t seem to achieve their potential.

As is said in HipHop: “Don’t playa-hate. Congratulate.”

A New, Healthier Lifestyle

I just read an article in Fast Company entitle “Change or Die“. It reminded me that most of America’s health problems come down to 5 preventable causes: too much smoking, drinking, eating, and stress and not enough exercise.

The thing is that we know these things are not good for us, but we go ahead with that ridiculous behaviour anyway. Even after recieving bypass surgery, 90% of people fall back into their old habits, even though they know they have a life-threatening disease. The odds for change are stacked against us 9-to-1. The problem is backsliding.

Change is not just limited to health though. Behavioural change in business is also difficult.

Preventative steps are required. Two principles apply:

• Prevention is better than cure.
• The wise man does at once what the fool does eventually.

The article also highlights that the most effective way to make any change is to nurture a positive lifestyle, filled with life’s little joys. The most effective way to change is to make life more pleasurable in constructive ways – regular walks, time in nature, wholesome food, positive work evironment and habits, respect, gratitude for small and large things… and so on. Change is driven my positive emotions and experiences that support the change.

Ironically, making small incrimental changes in our diet, work habits or lifestyle is more difficult than making radical change! The reason being that we often don’t see the benefits of the small, incrimental changes soon enough for it to be emotionally engaging enough to reinforce the changes. This is why stopping smoking can’t be an isolated act – it needs to be a part of a lifestyle makeover which might include yoga, raw food and daily meditation!

Lastly, fundamental to change is the ability to learn. The stronger our learning muscle, the better we’ll be at change. Take up a language or learn to play an instrument. Everything is related.

We get into bad habits that don’t serve us, although we could just as easily get into healthier ones that do. As my karate instructor often reminds me: “Practice makes permanent“

Clean up as you go along

A principle of life success I prescribe to is “Clean up as you go along”. This is the ultimate way to be more productive.

Saying “I’ll do that later” causes a build-up of tasks, which eventually becomes overwhelming. Doing it now, however, is the most effective way to keep a clear head and space.

A simple example is keeping your home clean… It’s far easier and more productive to clean up your mess as you go along, rather than letting it build-up. You might take slightly longer preparing a snack in the kitchen because you’re cleaning up as you go along, but you’re relieveing yourself of a small unconscious stress which would otherwise play on your mind if you leave a mess behind that you will have to clean up later anyway.

It’s the same with work. Emails, articles or whatever else. Do not differ stuff indefinately… I used to find myself with a backlog of unfinsihed tasks which eventually caused me to ignore some of my duties in favour of less important stuff.  The princple here is – when you have the opportunity to start something and get it done, do it! If you differ it indefinately, it’s likely to cause you more stress than it’s worth.

Some quotes:

• “Screw it, let’s do it” – Richard Branson
• “The wise man does at once what the fool does eventually”

The small things add up

I’ve just listened to the audio version of “The Tipping Point“, and was reminded of the cumulative effect of our small daily actions.

For example, I bought a clipper for R300 and started shaving my own hair instead of going to a hairdresser every week. The saving each month is about R400. Over a year, that adds up to a ±R4800 saving!

Other examples include eating at home a few more times a week rather than going to a restaurant. Over a year, that will save thousands!

Other small examples are the details of the way we present ourselves… For example, having ironed clothes, polished shoes and keeping your office and desk neat and clean.

How about swearing? Can you imagine someone as dignified as Nelson Mandela swearing? That little detail wouldn’t befit his character in my eyes.

Today, and every day, I am commmitted to improving my health, wealth, relationships and spirit by paying attention to the SMALL things… because they’re the easiest, and yes, they do all add up.

16 rules to live by

I take the following straight from Bob Parsons‘ post called “Robert, they can’t eat you. My rules for success in business and life in General”. (Bob is an incredible success story, and a “self made man”, he also owns a company called GoDaddy)

Here are the 16 rules I try to live by:

1. Get and stay out of your comfort zone. I believe that not much happens of any significance when we’re in our comfort zone. I hear people say, “But I’m concerned about security.” My response to that is simple: “Security is for cadavers.”

2. Never give up. Almost nothing works the first time it’s attempted. Just because what you’re doing does not seem to be working, doesn’t mean it won’t work. It just means that it might not work the way you’re doing it. If it was easy, everyone would be doing it, and you wouldn’t have an opportunity.

3. When you’re ready to quit, you’re closer than you think. There’s an old Chinese saying that I just love, and I believe it is so true. It goes like this: “The temptation to quit will be greatest just before you are about to succeed.”

4. With regard to whatever worries you, not only accept the worst thing that could happen, but make it a point to quantify what the worst thing could be. Very seldom will the worst consequence be anywhere near as bad as a cloud of “undefined consequences.” My father would tell me early on, when I was struggling and losing my shirt trying to get Parsons Technology going, “Well, Robert, if it doesn’t work, they can’t eat you.”

5. Focus on what you want to have happen. Remember that old saying, “As you think, so shall you be.”

6. Take things a day at a time. No matter how difficult your situation is, you can get through it if you don’t look too far into the future, and focus on the present moment. You can get through anything one day at a time.

7. Always be moving forward. Never stop investing. Never stop improving. Never stop doing something new. The moment you stop improving your organization, it starts to die. Make it your goal to be better each and every day, in some small way. Remember the Japanese concept of Kaizen. Small daily improvements eventually result in huge advantages.

8. Be quick to decide. Remember what General George S. Patton said: “A good plan violently executed today is far and away better than a perfect plan tomorrow.”

9. Measure everything of significance. I swear this is true. Anything that is measured and watched, improves.

10. Anything that is not managed will deteriorate. If you want to uncover problems you don’t know about, take a few moments and look closely at the areas you haven’t examined for a while. I guarantee you problems will be there.

11. Pay attention to your competitors, but pay more attention to what you’re doing. When you look at your competitors, remember that everything looks perfect at a distance. Even the planet Earth, if you get far enough into space, looks like a peaceful place.

12. Never let anybody push you around. In our society, with our laws and even playing field, you have just as much right to what you’re doing as anyone else, provided that what you’re doing is legal.

13. Never expect life to be fair. Life isn’t fair. You make your own breaks. You’ll be doing good if the only meaning fair has to you, is something that you pay when you get on a bus (i.e., fare).

14. Solve your own problems. You’ll find that by coming up with your own solutions, you’ll develop a competitive edge. Masura Ibuka, the co-founder of SONY, said it best: “You never succeed in technology, business, or anything by following the others.” There’s also an old Asian saying that I remind myself of frequently. It goes like this: “A wise man keeps his own counsel.”

15. Don’t take yourself too seriously. Lighten up. Often, at least half of what we accomplish is due to luck. None of us are in control as much as we like to think we are.

16. There’s always a reason to smile. Find it. After all, you’re really lucky just to be alive. Life is short. More and more, I agree with my little brother. He always reminds me: “We’re not here for a long time; we’re here for a good time.”