TipsForSuccess

TipsForSuccess: Income Demand

Do You Have Enough Talent to Succeed?

To explain their failures, you might hear people say,

"I don't have a head for business which is why my scrapbook store went bankrupt."

"Leaders are born to lead. I was born to follow. I'll just be a good soldier."

"She inherited her musical skill from her father, but my dad is a truck driver which is why I can't play the piano."

If you believe you need to inherit a skill or talent to be successful, you are one step closer to failure. Yet if you realize you can get the talent to succeed at anything you wish, you are one step closer to success. So if talent is not something you are born with, where do you get it?

Where did Michael Jordan get the talent to be such a great basketball player? What made Luciano Pavarotti into a great opera singer? Why was Warren Buffet such a great investor?

How do these professionals make their jobs looks so easy? Are they born with their skills?

Actually, no one is born a great entrepreneur, a great chess player or a great business manager. The most successful salespeople, investors, actors and doctors do not get their skills at birth. They achieve their greatness through hard, intense practice.

"In any activity, quite a bit of what passes for 'talent' is really just practice."

"One can train one's body, one's eyes, one's hands and feet until, with practice, they sort of
'get to know.' One no longer has to 'think' to set up the stove or park the car: one just DOES it."

"The same principle applies to crafts and professions which mainly use the mind. The
lawyer who has not drilled, drilled, drilled on courtroom procedure may not have learned to
shift his mental gears fast enough to counter new turns of a case and loses it. An undrilled new
stockbroker could lose a fortune in minutes. A green salesman who has not rehearsed selling
can starve for lack of sales.

"The right answer is to practice, practice and practice!" -- L. Ron Hubbard from The Way to Happiness

Examples:

Tiger Woods started practicing golf every day from the age of two and still practices every day.

Warren Buffett spent hours, every day for many years, studying financial statements of potential investments.

Winston Churchill, one of the world's greatest speakers, practiced his speeches compulsively.

Michael Jordan was cut from his high school team which proves his talent was not natural. Instead, he practiced his famous basketball moves for more hours every day than anyone else in the game.

The best musicians, writers, actors, surgeons, managers, computer programmers, artists, politicians, dentists, chefs, pilots and electricians all become the best through hours and hours and hours of practice. And their practice is intense.

For example, hitting a bucket of golf balls for fun is not practice, which is why most golfers don't improve. Practice means you hit 300 balls, with the same club, with the goal of leaving the ball within 20 feet of the same spot. And you do this every day.

As another example, when amateur singers take singing lessons, they do it for fun. But professional singers focus on improving their performance during the lesson. They are intense singers.

For a musician, practice means you play the same piece of music 1000 times, each time better than the last, until you can make people cry during a performance. For an artist, practice means you paint the same flower 300 times until people gasp when they look at it. For a writer, practice means you re-write the same story 100 times until your readers can't put it down.

Role-playing or drilling is how you practice to become a great lawyer, a great doctor or a great speaker. Much of this practice can be done with a coach, as well as on the job.

Sales managers can pretend to be customers and practice with their sales people. "Let's pretend I'm too scared to buy a new car and you sell it to me anyway. Here we go. 'Oh, I just can't afford those huge payments . . . '" The more the sales manager practices with the sales people, the more cars he or she gets sold.

If you manage people, you should spend hours trying to bring out the best performance possible from each of your employees, day after day. Observe your results, study management technology, and practice your management skills on the job. Eventually, you can make anyone enthusiastically do his or her best.

Every skill can be practiced and improved: negotiating business deals, explaining financial statements, driving race cars, using computers, writing reports, teaching students, managing money, fixing engines, organizing non-profit groups, building houses, everything.

No one is born with talent. Yet with intense practice, everyone, including you, can become highly talented at anything!

Recommendations

1. Write down a talent you wish to gain.

2. Break down the talent into all of its skills. Make a thorough list.

For example, to be a great soccer player, you need to master 50 different types of kicks. To be a great accountant, you need to master math, financial laws and accounting software as well as many people skills. You might have a list of 100 individual skills.

3. Work out how to practice each individual skill. Some skills you can practice on your own while others require study or research or a coach to help you master the skill.

4. Practice for as many hours as you can stand, each day, until each skill is perfect and you gain the talent you desire.

5. Every time you fail at something, look at it as mere practice. Turn the loss into an opportunity. Which of your skills need more work?

6. Constantly improve your skills. You always have room for improvement.

As a result of your constant improvement, you will gain all the skills and talent you need to succeed.

Take better control of your life with the TipsForSuccess coaching website at www.TipsForSuccessCoaching.org.

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TipsForSuccess: What to Do when You Feel Outraged

Income Demand

What determines your income? What factor controls your earnings?

Is it "the economy"? Your education? Your connections? Your parents?

Is the secret to wealth, "you need money to make money"? Or can you boost your income on your own?

The controlling factor for your personal income is the same factor that controls a group's income.

"The income potential of any usual group is established by the demand for income, not by any other important factor." -- L. Ron Hubbard

In other words, the more demand you have for income, the more money you can potentially earn.

For example, if you need to pay a $300 fine or go to jail, your income demand is very high. One way or another, you get the $300.

On the other hand, if you owe the $300 to your father, your income demand may be very low. You may never pay it, unless he demands it.

If are out of debt and you have all the cash you want, your income may drop as you have no demand for income. Instead of making money, you might play golf or shop or watch TV. However, if you lose all your money and suddenly have big debts, your income may jump as you now have a big demand for income.

Many people need an outside source to create the demand for them. For example, a car salesman may not sell any cars unless his boss is watching. When the boss is absent, the salesman drinks coffee, chats on the phone and makes no money. As soon as the boss is back, he gets productive.

Income demand is essential to the success of a business. Most businesses rely on the executives of the businesses to create demand. They tell their employees: "You will be promoted and get a raise if your department's income is up this month." "Smithers, get your sales up this quarter or else!" "Everyone who increases their productivity by 10% this week gets a gourmet lunch on Friday!"

Income demand can come from any source: yourself, your spouse, your family, government agencies, bill collectors, customers and so on.

When the members within a group demand income, you see amazing results. For example, a church group with thousands of enthusiastic volunteers can raise millions in donations. If your boss AND your coworkers are demanding you work harder and make more income, your income potential goes out the roof!

When customers push a business to take their money, that business has incredible income potential. For example, if you invented a battery that lasted 100 times longer than any other battery in the world, everyone would demand you sell your battery to them. Millions of people would be demanding that you get rich.

When hit with a big demand for money, you might be surprised to see how hardworking and resourceful you become. For example, your child suddenly needs some expensive heart surgery and you have no health insurance. To pay for the treatment, you jump into your work and work out how to make the money you need.

You can also create an income demand without a medical emergency, a watchful boss or a big debt. You can create all the income demand you want . . . on your own. The most successful people in the world put pressure on themselves. Their demand is internal.

For example, you set the goal to travel around Europe. You want $3,000 for this vacation. You set a deadline and then work out how much you need to earn each month to reach the goal. You work hard and accomplish the goal!

As another example, you want to educate children in Africa. Your plan is to quit your job, live on your savings and teach African children to read and write. For this, you calculate you need $350,000. You realize you will need to save for 15 years. Yet, your personal demand on yourself is so high, that you save the money in 7 years, quit your job and pursue your dream.

Five Tips for Boosting Your Income Demand

1. Set goals that increase your income demand.

For example, if you are passionate about expanding your knowledge with advanced education, your passion will act as your income demand. You will get the money for your education.

2. Focus on the end result you want with money.

For example, "Have $50,000 in the bank" is not as good as "Save $50,000 to buy a house for my family."

3. Earn the money.

A high income demand sometimes makes people steal or cheat to get it. Of course, they are not looking into the future and do not see how stealing or cheating ruins their income potential, as well as their lives. Plan to honestly earn every dime you need.

4. Find what type of demand works best for you.

For example, if a tough boss makes you earn more money, find the toughest boss available. If going into debt makes you earn more money to keep your credit rating in good shape, go ahead and keep borrowing.

5. Create income demand in yourself.

Of course, the best demand comes from yourself. Ideally, you will create all the demand you need without outside forces.

You can do this by using self discipline, intelligence, clear thinking, persistence and passionate purposes to build your income demand.

Take better control of your life with the TipsForSuccess coaching website at www.TipsForSuccessCoaching.org.

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TipsForSuccess: Courage

What to Do When You Feel Outraged

Getting angry is the correct response in some situations. Yet blowing up and overreacting can ruin your relationships and success.

"WHO STOLE MY PEN!"

"STOP TELLING EVERYONE I HATE WORKING HERE!"

"I HEARD YOU CHANGED YOUR MIND AND SO I HATE YOUR GUTS!"

Jumping to the wrong conclusion and getting outraged can seriously damage your success.

"She never called me back so I guess she is rejecting my offer. SHE'S AN IDIOT!! I WON'T EVER WORK WITH HER AGAIN!"

Great Advice for Handling Anger

"Listen and question before you decide you're outraged." -- L. Ron Hubbard

By listening and questioning, you find the correct problem and see a better solution.

"Has anyone seen my pen?"

"Did you tell Joe I hate working here?"

"Did you change your mind?"

"Will you accept my offer?"

By listening and questioning, you learn the truth.

In most cases, you will not feel outraged after you listen and question.

Give it a try!

Take better control of your life with the TipsForSuccess coaching website at www.TipsForSuccessCoaching.org.

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TipsForSuccess: "It's Not My Job!"

Courage

How would you feel if:

You are walking down the sidewalk and a guy walks up to you and demands money.

You are driving down the road and a police officer pulls you over.

You are asked to speak to a large group.

Your boss starts to scream at you.

The neighborhood bully wants to talk to you.

As someone who wants to succeed, you need courage to deal with anything that scares you. You must face your fears head on. You need several types of courage.

The courage to be criticized.

The courage to say "no."

The courage to make decisions.

The courage to tell the truth.

The courage to face the facts.

The courage to be in the minority.

The courage to hold a position.

The courage to admit you are wrong.

The courage to trust others.

The courage to accept responsibility.

The courage to disagree.

The courage to change.

Without courage, success is impossible.

"A person of high courage is a valuable associate and group member, but a coward is a dangerous liability as a friend." -- L. Ron Hubbard, from Science of Survival

Each time you use more courage, you enjoy several benefits.

You feel calm and peaceful. Difficult problems suddenly disappear. Your confidence soars to new heights.

Managing your business, job or career becomes easier. You feel more energy. You sleep better.

People follow your example. You inspire others to be more courageous. You feel powerful.

Eight Articles to Help You Increase Your Courage

1. You have more courage if you are passionate. To do this, put new fire under your purposes. See "The Power of Passion" at www.tipsforsuccess.org/passion.htm.

2. Make steady, orderly progress. Never give up. See "Orderly Progress = Power" at www.tipsforsuccess.org/orderly-progress.htm.

3. Communicate! You will often find the courage to communicate is all you need to resolve difficult situations. See "When in Doubt, Communicate" at www.tipsforsuccess.org/communicate.htm.

4. Prepare for a confrontation. Write down your plan of action. See "How to Handle Difficult People" at www.tipsforsuccess.org/difficult-people.htm.

5. Lighten up. Your odds of success are much greater if you are less serious. See "Being Too Serious Can Drive You Crazy" at www.tipsforsuccess.org/seriousness.htm.

6. Look at the challenge as an opportunity. Every time you go through a difficulty, you become stronger. See "Fishing Story: The Benefits of a Challenge" at www.tipsforsuccess.org/fish-challenge.htm.

7. Look for yourself. Horses are often terrified of puddles they step in and realize the water is only an inch deep. Once you actually talk to a bully, you find it's not such a big deal. See "Operating with the Truth" at www.tipsforsuccess.org/truth.htm.

8. Be a professional. Assuming a professional attitude includes courage. See "Are You a Professional?" at www.tipsforsuccess.org/professionalism.htm.

Take better control of your life with the TipsForSuccess coaching website at www.TipsForSuccessCoaching.org.

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"It's Not My Job!"

According to an Inc. magazine survey, most executives hate hearing this statement: "It's not my job."

The same survey found most employees hate it when they are pulled off to do someone else's job.

For example, the employees of a famous restaurant in Los Angeles are members of a labor union. They dislike doing other people's work so much that their union contract covers this point. "We will not do anyone else's job."

So if someone drops food or dishes on the floor, the food servers, busboys and cooks may not clean up the mess. The restaurant manager must either clean the mess or call in a janitor.

The restaurant owner said, "I was eating with a group of friends to celebrate my wife's birthday when a waiter dropped a bottle of wine. He just looked at the mess and walked away. No one would clean it up because of the union contract. So I got up from my meal, grabbed a mop and cleaned up the wine while the restaurant employees, and my friends, all watched."

Another restaurant has the opposite problem. These employees are not union members and do not have a union contract, but the place is a mad house.

You walk in and see a full restaurant, but no workers. Everyone is off doing something else. The chef comes out of the bathroom, notices you standing there and yells at a busboy to help you. The busboy wipes his hands, grabs two menus and takes you to a messy table. The hostess runs over and helps the busboy clean up while you watch. Your waitress runs by to answer the telephone. Everyone is doing all the jobs.

So which approach is best? "No one may do other people's jobs" or "Everyone should do all the jobs."

Of course, neither approach is correct.

The best way to work this out is with one of two solutions.

First Solution

"Anything in an organization is your job if it lessens the confusion if you do it." -- L. Ron Hubbard

For example, you work in a doctor's office as a file clerk. You notice the receptionist is scheduling two patients while the telephone is ringing, and three kids are on the floor hitting each other. Would you lessen the confusion by helping? Or would your assistance just increase the confusion?

In this case, it would reduce confusion if you stepped in and helped. Even though you are the file clerk, it IS your job to assist. You get the kids to quiet down and then answer the telephone. The patients schedule their appointments and the receptionist thanks you.

Another example: You work at a newspaper selling ad space. Someone bursts into your office and says, "Three government agents are here and they want all our files! What should we do?"

Do you get the files? Call an attorney? Have a discussion with the government agents?

Because you have nothing to do with the legal branch of the newspaper, it is NOT your job. Taking action would ADD confusion. You wisely say, "Go tell the boss" and you go back to work.

Second Solution

What should staff members do if ordered to do something that would ADD confusion? For example, a restaurant manager asks the chef, "Please stroll around the tables and chat with customers. They'll love it!"

Yet chatting, instead of cooking, would cause confusion, especially in a busy restaurant. The chef knows his job is to lessen, not cause confusion, so he refuses. How can he cook meals if he is strolling around the restaurant?

So what should an employee say to a boss who gives an improper job assignment?

"If an executive asks you to do somebody else's job -- don't. Say, instead, `Am I transferred?'" -- L. Ron Hubbard

So when the restaurant manager asks the chef to stroll around and chat with customers, the chef says, "Am I transferred? Am I now the host?" The restaurant manager, seeing his mistake, says, "No, sorry. You're the chef. Go back to work."

You get your boss to look at the big picture so he or she makes the best decision.

As another example, you are hired to set up computers for an insurance company. You are working under a desk when your boss comes over and says, "When you are done there, please install this alarm system on every door and window in the building." You say, "With all due respect, I need to ask you this. Am I transferred to building maintenance? I'll be happy to wire the alarm system instead of setting up computers, if you like, but I have ten more computers to set up today." The boss realizes the computers are more important and says, "Forget the alarms. I'll make building maintenance do the work."

On the other hand, the boss may wish to transfer you to building maintenance. "Yes, you are transferred." You can then say, "No problem." Or you might say, "I'm open to doing the alarm work and move to the maintenance department, but I would first like to discuss the conditions of this new job."

Summary

You can solve every question about "Whose job is this?" with the first or second solution above.

Whenever you wonder if you should do a job, ask, "Will it reduce confusion if I do it?" or "Am I being transferred to a different job?"

If you are a boss, ask the same questions. "Will it reduce confusion if I get this person to do it?" or "Do I want to transfer this person?"

Your answers will give you the correct decision.

Take better control of your life with the TipsForSuccess coaching website at www.TipsForSuccessCoaching.org.

For permission to copy, print or post this article, go to www.tipsforsuccess.org/reprint_info.htm or click here.

To subscribe, buy books, contact us or learn more about TipsForSuccess.org, click here.

TipsForSuccess: Do You Have Enough Talent to Succeed?

TipsForSuccess: Income Demand

TipsForSuccess: What to Do when You Feel Outraged

TipsForSuccess: Courage

TipsForSuccess: "It's Not My Job!"

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