Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States. He served from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. Lincoln successfully led the United States through its darkest hour … the American Civil War. In the end, Lincoln was able to preserve the Union and end slavery.

Prior to his election in 1860, as the first U.S. Republican president, Lincoln was a country lawyer, an Illinois state legislator, a member of the United States House of Representatives, and an unsuccessful candidate for the U.S. Senate twice.

Concerning slavery, Lincoln was forthright and open in his opposition to the expansion of slavery. This attitude earned him the Republican nomination in 1860; later that year he was elected president.

During his time in office he introduced measures that resulted in the abolition of slavery, including the issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863 and the passing of the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

Just six days after a large-scale surrender of the Confederate forces (under General Robert E. Lee), Lincoln became the first American president to be assassinated.

Lincoln is considered by scholars to be one of the greatest U.S. presidents to ever take office.

7 Must-Read Life Lessons from Abraham Lincoln:

Prepare for Success
“Give me six hours to chop down a tree, and I will spend the first four hours sharpening the axe.”

Before you can succeed, you must prepare. When Lincoln was an unknown attorney in the backwoods of Illinois he was preparing for success, when Lincoln became an Illinois State Senator, he was preparing for success, and even when he lost the election for the U.S. senate twice, he was preparing for success. What are you doing in preparation for success? Lincoln said, “I will prepare and some day my chance will come.”
Hustle
“Things may come to those who wait, but only the things left by those who hustle.”
You can’t stroll to a goal, you must hustle; you must move quickly in order to gain the momentum necessary to break free from the gravitational pull of the commonplace. The best things in life come to those who hustle. Are you hustling?
Remember That Greatness is Possible
“That some achieve great success, is proof to all that others can achieve it as well.”
If someone else can succeed in the business that you’re in, that is proof that you can succeed as well. If someone else can become rich in the state that you’re in, that is proof that you become rich as well. You have all that the greatest of men have had: a mind, and a will. Don’t make excuses, if someone else can do it, so can you… And who knows? You may be able to do it faster and better; never underestimate you abilities.
Become Worthy of a Good Reputation
“Reputation is like fine china, once broken it’s very hard to repair.”
Work to be, the way you want to be perceived. Don’t try to look good, be good. A good name is more valuable than fine gold and “choice” rubies.

Practice becoming honorable.

You can be just as honest, have just as much integrity, walk in just as much humility, and possess just as much discipline as the greatest men who have ever lived.
Make the Years Count
“And in the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years.”
Lincoln didn’t live to a very old age, but the “life in his years” made a profound impact on the world. Are you making your years count? Are you changing the world? You’re capable of it; if you’re able to read and understand these words, then you have the ability to make a profound impact, and that’s not just meaningless rhetoric, it’s a very real reality, but will you grasp it, will you believe it and make it “your” reality.
See the Brighter Side of Things
“We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses.”
If you look for something to complain about, you will certainly find it! There’s “always” an opportunity to be “offended!” Don’t take these opportunities; they “never” lead to anything positive. Learn to see the roses in life; life is filled with roses, if you’ll take the time to see them.
Constantly Improve
“The way for a young man to rise is to improve himself in every way he can…”
If you improve everyday, imagine the improvements you could make over the course of 20 years. You could become successful “in-just-about” any field in 20 years. You can make a significant impact on the world in 20 years! Remember, slow and steady wins the race; Rome was not built in a day. Work to get a little better everyday, and it time, you will accomplish your dreams.

Thank you for reading and be sure to pass this article along!
Written on 5/24/2010 by Mr. Self Development who is a motivational author that offers a practical guide to success and wealth; support him by visiting his blog at mrselfdevelopment.com or by subscribing to his feed.

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There is an ongoing challenge for leaders to continually improve productivity and staff retention. This can be achieved by improving engagement of their workforce through Emotional Intelligence. If you emotionally engage workers, they are by far more productive.

Emotional Intelligence is about one’s ability to perceive, understand, reason with and manage one’s own feelings, emotions, mood states and behaviour’s as well as those of others. It’s your ability that helps people cope with frustrations, control emotions and get along with others.

Our moods, feelings, and emotions influence us every day at work – to good or bad effect. Not only do they impact every workplace relationship and interaction, they influence fundamental areas like job satisfaction, engagement, and team morale.

Numerous studies have found people high in Emotional Intelligence are happier, healthier and more successful in their business, work and personal relationships.

Start developing your Emotional Intelligence TODAY!

Based on Daniel Goleman’s decade of research and model of emotional intelligence, the four (4) main components of emotional intelligence leadership are: -

o Self awareness
o Self Regulation
o Self motivation
o Social awareness

1. Self-awareness

Emotional awareness: (Recognizing your emotions and their effects).
- Know which emotions you are feeling and why;
- Understand the links between your feelings and what you think, do, and say
- Recognize how your feelings affect your performance and others;
- Have a guiding awareness of your values and goals.

Accurate self-assessment: (Knowing one’s strengths and limits)
- Be aware of your strengths and weaknesses;
- Reflect on and learn from experience;
- Be open to candid feedback, new perspectives, continuous learning and self-development.
- Show a sense of humor and perspective about themselves.

Self-confidence: (Sureness about one’s self-worth and capabilities).
- Present yourself with self-assurance; have “presence”;
- Voice your views that are unpopular and go out on a limb for what is right;
- Be decisive, able to make sound decisions despite uncertainties and pressures.

2. Self-Regulation

Self-control: (Managing disruptive emotions and impulses).
- Manage your impulsive feelings and distressing emotions well;
- Stay composed, positive, and unflappable even in trying moments;
- Think clearly and stay focused under pressure.

Trustworthiness: (Maintaining standards of honesty and integrity).
- Act ethically and are above reproach;
- Build trust through their reliability and authenticity;
- Admit your own mistakes and confront unethical actions in others;
- Take tough, principled stands even if they are unpopular.

Conscientiousness: (Taking responsibility for personal performance).
- Meet commitments and keep promises;
- Be organized and careful in your work.

Adaptability: (Flexibility in handling change).
- Smoothly handle multiple demands, shifting priorities, and rapid change;
- Adapt your responses and tactics to fit circumstances;
- Be flexible in how you see events.

Innovation: (Being comfortable with and open to novel ideas and new information).
- Seek out fresh ideas from a wide variety of sources;
- Entertain new solutions to problems;
- Generate new ideas;
- Take fresh perspectives and risks in their thinking.

3. Self-Motivation

Achievement drive: (Striving to improve or meet a standard of excellence).
- Be results-oriented, with a high drive to meet your objectives and standards;
- Set challenging goals and take calculated risks;
- Pursue information to reduce uncertainty and find ways to do better;
- Learn how to improve your performance.

Commitment: (Aligning with the goals of the group or organization).
- Readily make personal or group sacrifices to meet a larger organizational goal;
- Find a sense of purpose in the larger mission;
- Use the group’s core values in making decisions and clarifying choices;
- Actively seek out opportunities to fulfill the group’s mission.

Initiative: (Readiness to act on opportunities)
- Be ready to seize opportunities;
- Pursue goals beyond what’s required or expected of you;
- Cut through red tape and bend the rules when necessary to get the job done;
- Mobilize others through unusual, enterprising efforts.

Optimism: (Persistence in pursuing goals despite obstacles and setbacks).
- Persist in seeking goals despite obstacles and setbacks;
- Operate from hope of success rather than fear of failure;
- See setbacks as due to manageable circumstance rather than a personal flaw.

4. Social Awareness

Empathy:
(Sensing others’ feelings and perspective, and taking an active interest in their concerns)
- Be attentive to emotional cues and listen well;
- Show sensitivity and understand others’ perspectives;
- Help out based on understanding other people’s needs and feelings.

Developing others:
(Sensing what others need in order to develop, and bolstering their abilities).
- Acknowledge and reward people’s strengths, accomplishments, and development;
- Offer prompt and useful feedback and identify people’s needs for development;
- Mentor, coach and offer assignments that challenge and grow a person’s skills.

Leveraging diversity:(Cultivating opportunities through diverse people).
- Respect and relate well to people from varied backgrounds;
- Understand diverse worldviews and be sensitive to group differences;
- See diversity as opportunity, creating an environment where diverse people can thrive;
- Challenge bias and intolerance.

Political awareness: (Reading a group’s emotional currents and power relationships).
- Accurately read key power relationships;
- Understand the forces that shape views and actions of constituents;
- Accurately read situations and organizational and external realities.

5. Social Skills

Influence: (Wielding effective tactics for persuasion).
- Fine-tune presentations to appeal to the listener;
- Use strategies like indirect influence to build consensus and support;
- Orchestrate dramatic events to effectively make a point.

Communication: (Sending clear and convincing messages)
- You’re effective in give-and-take, registering emotional cues in attuning their message;
- Deal with difficult issues straightforwardly;
- Listen well, seek mutual understanding, and welcome sharing of information fully;
- Foster open communication and stay receptive to bad news as well as good.

Leadership: (Inspiring and guiding groups and people)
- Articulate and arouse enthusiasm for a shared vision and mission;
- Step forward to lead as needed, regardless of position;
- Guide the performance of others while holding them accountable;
- Lead by example.

Change catalyst: (Initiating or managing change).
- Recognize the need for change and remove barriers;
- Challenge the status quo to acknowledge the need for change;
- Champion the change and enlist others to pursuit it. Model the change expected of others.

Conflict management: (Negotiating and resolving disagreements).
- Handle difficult people and tense situations with diplomacy and tact;
- Spot potential conflict, bring disagreements into the open, and help de-escalate;
- Encourage debate and open discussion and create win-win solutions

Building bonds: (Nurturing instrumental relationships).
- Cultivate and maintain extensive informal networks;
- Seek out relationships that are mutually beneficial;
- Build rapport and keep others in the loop;
- Make and maintain personal friendships among work associates.

Collaboration and cooperation: (Working with others toward shared goals).
- Balance a focus on task with attention to relationships;
- Collaborate, share plans, information, and resources;
- Promote a friendly and cooperative climate;
- Identify and nurture opportunities for collaboration.

Team capabilities: (Creating group synergy in pursuing collective goals)
- Model team qualities like respect, helpfulness, and cooperation;
- Encourage all members into active and enthusiastic participation;
- Build team identity and commitment;
- Share credit.

Raising emotional awareness takes commitment and practice. Leading with feeling has a Ripple Effect through an entire organization, benefiting everyone through collaboration, greater focus on business objectives, higher performance, and increased bottom-line results.

Michael has over 23 years experience in the Banking and Finance Industry and has enjoyed great success in the corporate and small-medium enterprise business environment. Michael’s expertise includes one-on-one executive coaching, executive team development and coaching, change management, and leadership development.

For more information visit http://www.rippleeffectcoaching.com.au.

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Dr. Covey was asked out of the 13 behaviors, if you could only pick one behavior to work on, what is the most important to build trust? All 13 are important, but according to Dr. Covey, keeping commitments builds trust faster in a new relationship and creates long-lasting relationships.

Making commitments, keeping commitments, and repeating this cycle will increase trust and do it quickly. You need to do what you say you are going to do. However, this can also be a dangerous behavior if you over-compromise and do not deliver. If you do this repeatedly, you may not have a second or third chance to regain the trust of your customers, prospects, colleagues, family members, or friends. And, you will lose all credibility and this can attract a lot of attention.

Now, do not let this scare you… You can not be afraid to make commitments as this is not the nature of our crazy world today. Commitments are part of everyday life and business. Making commitments builds hope; keeping commitments builds trust.

So, how do you earn new business and trust with a new prospect? Make and keep commitments and the trust level will increase and it will increase fast. Find commitments that create and add value for your prospects. And, tell your prospects what to look for (signal your behavior).

Dr. Covey talked about a friend of his who is a CEO of a company and this CEO has a philosophy and strategy when starting any new relationship. The CEO states to his new prospect that any good relationship is based on trust. When he makes a commitment, you can count on that and he will deliver. He is signaling his behavior and when he delivers on his commitments, the relationship develops and grows quickly.

So, if you say you are going to do something, then DO IT! Keeping commitments is a great behavior to build trust and build it fast. Remember, this is not just about business… You can do this with your family members, friends, co-workers, networking groups, prospects, and customers. Making and keeping commitments is THE fastest way to build trust and when you do this over time, you will build a reputation of “wow… he/she does what he/she said she was going to do” and guess what?

This kind of reputation is money in the marketplace!

To your success and dreams,
Andrea Petoskey

Note: Have you been making and keeping your commitments? Tell the truth… Learn more about How to Build Trust.

If you are tired of working tons of hours, spending tons of dollars, with little results, it is time for a change. Learn my exact blueprint to generate free leads, which in turn, will build your business. Click here TODAY - Exact Blueprint for Success!

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I keep hearing people complain about 2009. “Good riddance!” they shout.

I loved 2009. I loved it as much for its challenges as its successes. In fact, I believe that the tumults we’ve faced as a global community are forcing us all off auto-pilot and into a place of deeper Creativity.

As a creative entrepreneur, I had my share of power-packed lessons this year, and I am excited to continue learning from them! There’s no need to live in fear. As Einstein said: “The most important decision we make is whether we believe we live in a friendly or a hostile universe.”

Here are my 5 favorite lessons of 2009:

1 – Our Growth is Often Proportional to Our Investment.

This lesson is one of the gifts of owning your own business – though it sure doesn’t seem like a gift at first!

The employee mindset goes like this: “Hey, when the company pays for it, I’ll do it.”

These past two years, I’ve invested more in my education and coaching than ever before. Yet again, I had to move past the “employee mindset” and plunk down my own moolah. Not only did I step up and play a bigger game, (When our cash is involved – we gotta show up, right?!) but my income skyrocketed.

2 – Clarity Trumps Practicality.

Last March, I had the idea of putting on a big event later in the year.

I said something like this to my coach: “I just don’t know if this idea is practical, given the economy.”

Sheri gave me that look that coaches give clients when the client has just stepped into the Land of Crappy Thinking. She said, “I don’t care if it’s practical. I care if you’re clear that you want to do it.”

I got clear. I did it. It was great. (Yes, even in this economy!)

Clarity trumps practicality. When someone is clear, and they take action from that place of clarity – then practicality has no choice but to move aside and let manifestation occur.

3 – Systems Are Sizzlin’.

I’ve always been great at “winging it.” I’m creative. I’m intuitive. I take action.

The only problem when you’re good at winging it is that you often live in chaos, and you tend to see everything on your to-do list as urgent. After a while, this leads to burn out.

Systems require that you step back and look at your daily activities with deep reflection. Systems require that you ask: “How does this work? How can we make it more effective?” Systems allow you to step away from your work, take vacations, have weekends – and most blessedly, have lots of free space in your mind for creativity to bloom.

4 – Ignoring your Business and Marketing Doesn’t Make You Humble. (It makes you fail.)

I was a big fan of the statement: “Do what you love, and the money will follow.” It’s a beautiful philosophy. And true on so many levels.

But I used it as a way to ignore the business side of my work. After all, hey, if the money will follow – then I don’t ever have to deal with it, right?

Uh, wrong.

I’ve since learned that avoidance is not a game plan. Neither is hope.

Even though I was busy in my business this year, I experienced a deeper peace than ever before because I understand how run my business and marketing. In the same way that Creativity and Songwriting taught me so much at the beginning of my career – facing my business and being brave enough to market my work has taken that learning to a higher level than I ever imagined.

5 – Serve. Or Be a Servant. The Choice is Yours.

You serve others with your attention, your intention, your health, your clarity, your awareness, and your power.

You serve others by charging what you’re worth, taking care of your health, honoring your time so that you’re not distracted or multi-tasking, by making requests rather than complaining, and by taking full responsibility for your thoughts and actions.

When you’re a servant, however, you’re a slave to the ego, which wants you to believe that serving others means ignoring yourself. After all, the ego would prefer that you remain powerless, fearful, and unaware. That way, it keeps you tethered to the idea of “security.” When you don’t understand power (or service), you need security for survival. The ego is great at security.

The difference may seem subtle. But the power of this lesson has been staggering.

While Christine Kane is best known for her hip and catchy songs, and the down-to-earth wit of her live performances, her fans and students share that they are inspired most by her message of living authentically, passionately and courageously.

Christine’s philosophy is that you are the artist and your life is your work of art. That, she says, is what it means to “Live Creative.” She now shares this message nationally, speaking to groups ranging from the CIA to the American Hospital Association to NICU therapists. Christine’s award-winning blog ranks among the top 10,000 blogs on the internet. She has designed a coaching program to support women in their own empowerment.

If you liked today’s article, you’d love to take your business to the next level in Christine’s Uplevel Your Business Program and Blueprint. Click here to find out more!

Christine has released seven CD’s and an award-winning DVD in her expansive career as a performer and songwriter. Border’s Books & Music named “Rain & Mud & Wild & Green” one of the Top Five Recordings of 2003, the Washington Post called her “a petite powerhouse of a singer.” Her new CD is called Wide Awake. You can order your copy now by clicking here.

Christine Kane
Firepink Inc.
P.O. Box 842
Asheville, NC 28802
For Booking & Customer Service: 800.837.1332
info@christinekane.com

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Article by Kevin Eickenberry

One of the biggest business buzzwords today is engagement.

Everyone suddenly seems to have realized that we need to have employees who are engaged in their work. It seems to be the latest “holy grail” in leadership and management circles (teams, lean and total quality are just three past examples).

Like the other examples, creating and nurturing engaged employees is important and will make a difference both for the individuals and the organization. I believe in the importance of engagement and the value of engaged employees. And I believe leaders can make a big difference in this area.

And, if these are my beliefs, you may be wondering why I opened on a bit of a cynical note?

Because I know many reading right now are thinking about “buzzword Bingo.”

I get that.

And, even though engagement may be the latest rage, it’s still an important topic for you to be familiar with – regardless of how you feel about the latest leadership fads.

(Leadership tip: I also know that when we acknowledge how others may be thinking and feeling up front we improve our ability to connect and communicate with them.)

If you agree that engagement is important and that we as leaders can do something about it, the logical next question is, what can we do? Here are four everyday actions any leader can take to support, build and nurture the engagement of team members.

The Four Ways

Acknowledge them. I’ve just given you an example of this one. One of our deepest human needs is to feel heard and acknowledged. It starts with listening but goes beyond that. We do not have to agree with people in order to acknowledge them and their perspective. The quicker we realize this, the more effective we will become.

Share the big picture. Do your folks know the big picture? Can they see past the work of your group to see how it impacts the larger organization? Do they know how your organization’s products make a difference for Customers? Positive answers to all of these questions are critical to creating engaged team members. If any of the answers are no for your team, this is job one for you as a leader. Once the answers are yes, you can remind, connect and reinforce these ideas every day.

Create meaning in daily work. People will be engaged when they feel like their work matters – that it makes a difference. Help people find that meaning. Certainly understanding the big picture will help. You also can do this by learning more about their needs, interests and skills and helping them see the connections between these and their work (or adjusting their work to create a better match). Another way to create meaning is to give people a more personal connection to Customers. When people meet or talk to those who use their work output (or the final products of the organization), the work isn’t just being done “because it is my job,” but to “actually help Carla the Customer.”

Trust them. Can you tell if someone trusts you? Do you try a little harder, pay a little more attention and remain a little more engaged for those who do? Your answers to these questions should be a big signal to you! Trust people. Show them in tangible ways that you do. When you do you will reap higher levels of engagement.

A Final Important Thought

One could look at these as tactics that could be used to manipulate others. Please know that if you choose to look at them in this way you will not be successful beyond the very short term – in any way. These activities will gradually create greater and greater engagement for your team members, but only when they are done authentically and genuinely.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kevin_Eikenberry

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by Greg Geralds

Personal development is another key component to achieving true life balance. Mortimer Adler, the American philosopher says,

“The purpose of learning is growth, and our minds, unlike our bodies, can continue growing as long as we live.”

By continuing to learn, we can continue to develop as a person, growing into different stages of our lives. Have you ever run into someone that you went to high school with and thought, “They haven’t changed a bit.” Do you want to be that person? The one that is just as they were in high school? Of course you don’t. The only way to keep that from happening is to continue to develop as a person.

Life balance is not a state that you achieve and then can forget about it and do what ever you want. Maintaining life balance means constant growth in all areas of your life. You have to continue to grow and change from the person that were to the person that you are to the person that you will be. If you are not willing to work on your personal development, it will be very difficult for you to grow into a new person.

Here are three things that you can start today that will get you growing into the person that you are going to be.

Read a non-fiction book – It has been said that if you read three books on one subject that you are now an expert in that subject. If you don’t know what to read just go to the bestseller list online and start from the top.

Take a Class – One of the great things about being a grown-up is that we can learn whatever we want! We don’t have to learn something just because someone says we need to know it (um..geometry, Chemistry…those things). We can now take classes at the local art center or business school just for the simple fact of learning something new. Really, we don’t even have to be worried about a grade, we just have to go and learn. Find something you like and learn more about it or, take a glass blowing class, those look like fun.

Join a club – There are clubs and organizations for everything. If you have an interest, check the local paper or look online and I’ll bet you can find a club that you could join. The great thing about clubs is that you get to meet new people and they will have new ideas for you to explore. If you think you know everything that there is to know about a particular subject, you are wrong. Somewhere someone knows something that you don’t. Join a club, meet new people and learn new things.

Personal development can be fun. Sometimes people get caught up thinking they have to learn how the stock market works or how to fill out their taxes in order to grow intellectually. Neither of those things are bad, but growing as a person should be fun. It should be based on who you are and who you want to be. Start growing and you’ll be amazed how much close you will be to achieving life balance.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Greg_Gearlds

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Article by Laurie Knight

I was listening to a teleseminar the other day and the gentleman on the phone said, “the best way to be interesting is to be interested”. It really struck a cord with me because isn’t that the truth? Aren’t the most interesting people you know people that are fascinated with something or people that are really into something they are doing? Aren’t these the type of people that are genuinely curious or interested in talking about something more than just themselves. Granted, this can become an obsession if one particular topic is all they discuss, but typically an interested person is indeed interesting. Wouldn’t you agree all those Star Wars obsessed folks are interesting? Star Wars may not be my style, but they are interesting nonetheless. They don’t care what other people think, they are interested in their thing and they are happy and loving it!

Next time you find someone or something fascinating or interesting make a note about what it is that made you have that feeling. Study what you like about that person, thing, event, etc. If it was a person that caught your attention focus on the qualities you like as they are likely qualities you’d like to develop further in yourself. Comparing by itself can be deadly, because it often results in feelings of envy, jealously, and self hatred. Yet with the proper focus on what it is you’re studying and how you’d like to apply certain things in your life, the person you admire can become a role model for you. Allow people and things to inspire you to live life more fully.

Decide today you want to be interesting, therefore get interested in something. Study your environment, not just other people. Think about the things in your life, think about what you do and why you do it, think about what you eat and pay attention while you do it. Spend time wondering and daydreaming to get the juices flowing. Whatever it takes, find things that interest you. Getting into routines and not being interested in the things we take for granted everyday can result in disaster. Even though you see the same thing everyday, start to question it, start to study and appreciate it. Start asking questions. Without trying to impress anyone else, you automatically become interesting because you became interested in the people and things around you and no one even knew what you were up to. The quote below speaks to this perfectly.

“The moment one gives close attention to anything, even a blade of grass, it becomes a mysterious, awesome, indescribably magnificent world in itself.” – Henry Miller

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Laurie_Knight

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Personal growth and development is an individual responsibility. It is a continuous process that ends in death. It is an indisputable fact that maturity does not go along with age. It is amazing that there are many people who don’t show signs of growth and development in their character and conduct.

Let me share with you 12 ingredients for personal growth and development. I hope you will find these ingredients of great help to you. They are as follows:

1. Passion

Personal growth and development is a journey that has to start with the passion within an individual. Every great thing starts with a desire or passion. You must develop a passion within you to grow and develop in the areas of your life.

2. Self-awareness

You start with passion and the second thing that you need to do is to identify areas in your life where you are strong and areas where you are weak.

The process of self-awareness demands you to let people close to you be honest with you in terms of giving you a feedback about your strengths and weaknesses. Be honest with yourself and admit that there are weaknesses in your life that need to be taken care of.

3. Commitment to change

After you have identified areas of strengths and weaknesses, you must commit yourself to changing those weak spots. You must be willing to break those old bad habits you have developed over the years.

It is not an easy thing to go through the process of change. Change is both painful and uncomfortable. It takes commitment for change to take effect in our lives.

4. Vision

Many people are so mistaken that they think it is only companies, businesses, governments, leaders and other organizations that must have vision. You must have a vision for yourself as an individual. Vision will challenge and stretch you. It will enable you to broaden your horizon. You will see beyond where you are now because of it.

Vision will inspire and motivate you to work hard in order to get where you are going. It will undergird you to overcome obstacles until you reach your goal.

Write your vision down, look at it everyday and you will stay inspired and motivated by it.

5. Goal-setting

The process of personal growth and development demands you to set goals for growth. Success in life comes as a result of having clear objectives. Set of goals becomes a map for you to follow so that you can grow and develop.

When you set goals for growth, you need to make your goals clear, simple, measurable and attainable. Follow them through until you achieve them.

6. Willingness to take risks

You are going to take risks if you want to grow and develop. If for example, the goal that you have set needs you to change a career, you must be willing to take a risk of studying something that you have never studied before.

Successful people have taken risks to be where they are today. Leadership guru and author, Steven R. Covey, asserted, “The greatest risk of all is the risk of riskless living.”

7. Personal-organization

Organized people have a sense of purpose and direction. If you want to grow and develop in all areas of your life, you need to be organized. When you are organized, you walk along and do your job with confidence.

When you are organized, you set your priorities, you do your projects one at a time, you plan your day, week, month and your year accordingly. Organized people expect some unexpected interruptions in their lives and they decisively deal with them as they come.

8. Good association

The people closest to you determine your growth and development level. If you keep company of people whose character is flawed and dubious, you will end up being like them. It really matters most who you associate with.

Associate with people who are effective and successful in their personal lives. Surround yourself with people who will add value to your growth and development. Negative association leads to negative growth. Be careful who you associate with.

9. Listening

If you really want to experience growth and development, you need to be a good listener. Give people a space to express themselves. When people share their ideas and their views with you, listen to them. When they advise you concerning a particular issue, listen to them. Don’t undermine people’s advises and suggestions. They will help you in decision making.

10. Willingness to learn

Growth and development is possible when there is a process of continuous learning. Successful people don’t stop acquiring new skills. You will grow and develop when you commit yourself to learning new things and to acquiring more information and knowledge. Knowledge is power; it enables people to make informed decisions.

The process of personal growth and development requires you to put a certain amount of money aside to spend it on good books and good tapes. You must also be willing to spend money on attending informative seminars, workshops and conferences.

Don’t be lazy to further your studies. Enrol for other short courses so that you can acquire new skills. Learning process will surely challenge and stretch you towards growth and development.

11. Hiring a mentor or a coach

Hiring a mentor or a coach who will help you set clear goals, identify your areas of strengths and weaknesses, is of utmost importance in personal growth and development. There are life coaches whose job is to help people who need to succeed in their lives. You can also get someone experienced whom you admire so much to mentor you in your personal growth and development endevour.

You can also get a coach or a mentor in the form of buying and reading his or her books; buying, listening and watching his or her tapes.

12. Execution

The most important factor in personal growth and development is the ability to translate your vision, goals and all that you have learned into action. You must add action to your goals. Execution is what makes things happen. You have to be an action person if you want to grow and develop in your areas of strengths and weaknesses.

Conclusion

Personal growth and development is a journey that demands your energy and commitment. The 12 ingredients that I have provided you with need to be embraced, and nourished and you will live a successful life that will ultimately add value to other people’s lives.

Happy personal growth and development!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gerald_Mohlabe

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Emotional Intelligence (EQ) can be more important in leadership than actual IQ.

FOUR ASPECTS OF EQ

Self-awareness, meaning that you know yourself and understand your emotions. This includes being able to assess your strengths and weaknesses accurately. It also includes having a healthy amount of self-confidence.

Self-management, meaning you have control of your emotions, act rationally and react to change in a positive manner. This also includes being trustworthy, conscientious, committed and optimistic.

Social awareness, meaning you have an understanding of the emotions of others and know how to effectively react to these emotions. This includes having empathy and compassion for others, recognizing their unique talents and qualities, and having excellent communication skills. It also includes being comfortable in many types of social situations.

Relationship management, which is the ability to maintain all types of relationships, to avoid unnecessary conflict, and to work through conflict successfully when it does arise. This includes building a sphere of influence and taking leadership when needed.

STRATEGIES TO RAISE YOU EQ

• Control stress as it occurs.
  Runaway stress can be overwhelming. It’s difficult to be emotionally in control when stress takes over. By learning to control stress as it occurs, you can stay balanced and focused. The first step in controlling stress is recognizing your emotional response to it. Some people become anxious, others withdraw or lose focus. Once you recognize yourresponse to stress, discover how to quickly neutralize it. Learn how to soothe yourself in a healthy way.




• Connect with your emotions.
  Become aware of your emotional state from moment to moment. Gain an understanding of what triggers different emotions. Do you experience strong emotions that are accompanied by physical sensations such as headaches or a tightening in the chest? Perhaps you have a lack of emotion, or your emotions are suppressed. Learn to connect to your core emotions and to understand them.




• Face the day with humor.
  Maintaining a sense of humor can relieve day-to-day annoyances and make hard times more bearable. Keeping things light is a good way to avoid conflict and to work things out when conflict arises. A good sense of humor can also help relieve stress and bring you closer to other people.

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