Success | Intero Mojo

Archive for the ‘Success’ Category

Thursday’s Thoughts on Leadership: Leaders Understand – Failure is a Part of Success

By Gino Blefari | January 29th, 2010 0 Comments

Most of us have heard the story of Thomas Edison failing his way to success in the invention of the light bulb.

He literally failed 10,000 times before getting it right.

If Edison had said, “I am a failure. My idea is bad, my work is misguided, my mission is lost,” the world would be a much darker place. Of course, what he did do was learn from the failures, made changes, and tried again.

Bingo.

Early in my real estate career I seriously was considering quitting the business. I struggled greatly for my first deal. Then out of the blue a friend called and said he wanted to move. I said to myself, “OK, I will get out of the real estate business after I close this one deal.” That deal led to another and another and pretty soon there was no looking back.

One year later I had closed 52 deals!

Here is what I have learned: when you have a setback – losing a big sale, being passed over for a career-making promotion, even getting fired – allow yourself a short time to grieve, then get right back up on your horse and plan your next move.

The great coach Bill Walsh, in his book “The Score Takes Care of Itself,” recounts how close he came to quitting in the second season as 49er head coach, hitting rock bottom after a crushing loss to the Miami Dolphins. He spent part of a transcontinental flight experiencing an emotional meltdown.

Sixteen months later, the San Francisco 49ers became world champions, defeating the Cincinnati Bengals 26-21 in Super Bowl XVI at the Silver Dome in Pontiac, Michigan.

A football dynasty was in the works. The 49ers won five Super Bowls over fourteen years.

Thomas Edison and Bill Walsh both understood that failure is an integral part of success. We would do well to follow their lead.

Monday Morning Mojo: 5 Tricks to Achieving Your New Year’s Resolutions

By Tom Tognoli | December 28th, 2009 0 Comments

As we start a New Year this week lets all make a commitment to turn up the heat at least one more degree in 2010 and see what happens. So many times in life the gap between what we have and what we want seems so far apart, yet most of the time it is not nearly as far apart as we think. Click here to watch the video and then turn up YOUR heat at least one degree to make 2010 your best year yet!

Here are 5 Simple Tricks to Achieving Your New Year’s Resolutions. HAPPY NEW YEAR!

1. Get specific

A vague goal is as useful as no goal at all. General ideas about what you want give you nothing to work with and nowhere to go. It’s only when you get specific about what you want that the path to success is revealed. Take time to narrow down your resolutions into specific ideas and turn your vague goals into crystal-clear goals.

2. Spread the word

Don’t keep your goals all to yourself. The more you share your goals with others, the more life you give to those goals. It gives them the chance to grow and gain momentum. So, tell at least two other people about your goals, and be sure not to make the mistake of giving without receiving; spend just as much time listening to ideas as you did in sharing your own.

3. Buddy up

When it comes to living a better life, few things are as powerful or persuasive as a living, breathing human being. Books, tapes, etc. can help you along, but nothing can compare to one-on-one interaction. The buddy system is one of the most effective goal-achievement tools you can use. By partnering with a goal-seeker, you’ll have all the support you need to achieve anything you set your mind to.

4. Burn the bridge

While preparing his next book, a famous writer listed his weight at fifty pounds lighter than reality. Not only that, but he did so knowing full well that only months after publication he would be paraded in front of thousands of his biggest fans. Why? To burn the bridge of easy escape. He knew he needed to lose the weight, but he also knew he would give up on the goal without any pressure to follow through. By promising his public a fifty-pound weight loss, he had no choice but to achieve the goal. What steps can you take today to burn the bridge of an easy escape and commit yourself to living a better life?

5. Do something – NOW

As they say, there’s no better time than the present, and when it comes to living a better life, they couldn’t be more right. The true power of taking one small step comes not in the small step of progress you’ll make, but in the act of doing something about the things you want. As you know, getting started is often the most difficult part of the process. Millions of people dream, but few actually ever take action…and that is why it is critical that you do something today. Think of one small step you can take right now that will bring you closer to accomplishing your goal and once you have it in mind, DO IT! Don’t think about it, don’t consider it – JUST DO IT NOW!

Monday Morning Mojo: The Power of a Smile

By Tom Tognoli | November 30th, 2009 0 Comments

I saw this study which was detailed in the journal of Motivation and Emotion. I thought it was worth sharing for a mojo, it’s pretty interesting. It is titled “If you want to know whether your marriage will survive, look at your spouse’s yearbook photos”. I am sure photographs not only can help predict whether your marriage will be successful, but can help predict whether we will be successful in many other areas of our lives. Just remember it is never too late to start smiling.

Psychologists have found that how much people smile in old photographs can predict their later success in marriage.

In one test, the researchers looked at people’s college yearbook photos, and rated their smile intensity from 1 to 10. None of the people who fell within the top 10 percent of smile strength had divorced, while within the bottom 10 percent of smilers, almost one in four had had a marriage that ended, the researchers say. (Scoring was based on the stretch in two muscles: one that pulls up on the mouth, and one that creates wrinkles around the eyes.)

In a second trial, the research team asked people over age 65 to provide photos from their childhood (the average age in the pictures was 10 years old). The researchers scored each person’s smile, and found that only 11 percent of the biggest smilers had been divorced, while 31 percent of the frowners had experienced a broken marriage.

Overall, the results indicate that people who frown in photos are five times more likely to get a divorce than people who smile.

While the connection is striking, the researchers stress that they can’t conclude anything about the cause of the correlation.

“Maybe smiling represents a positive disposition towards life,” said study leader Matthew Hertenstein, a psychologist at DePauw University in Indiana. “Or maybe smiling people attract other happier people, and the combination may lead to a greater likelihood of a long-lasting marriage. We don’t really know for sure what’s causing it.”

Hertenstein said he has considered other explanations, such as the possibility that people who smile more often tend to attract more friends, and a larger support network makes it easier to keep a marriage healthy.

The results of the study fit into a larger pattern of research that has found many personality characteristics can be determined from very thin slices of behavior. Basically, we often reveal ourselves in the most subtle, simple ways.

And smiling in photographs has been shown to be correlated with a number of traits, including a generally happier disposition.

“I think [our results] go along with a lot of the literature that’s been coming out over the last five to 10 years, which shows that positive emotionality is incredibly important in our lives,” Hertenstein told LiveScience. “There are many, many beneficial outcomes to a positive disposition.”

The findings are also notable because they found a connection between photos taken when people were young and marriage outcomes that sometimes occurred much later.

“It feeds into this idea that what’s occurring earlier in our lives in terms of our present situation and our mental state can predict things that occur decades later,” Hertenstein said. “Showing the continuity in who we are is really important.”

The good news is it is never too late. Start smiling today.

Make it a powerful week!

Discover Your Passion

By Tammy Parkinson | November 18th, 2009 0 Comments

What if I told you that you could do virtually anything you put your mind to? Even if you didn’t necessarily know that it was something you thought you wanted to do? What if I told you not only would you achieve it, but you’d exceed your goals and discover a passion for this new thing that you didn’t know existed within you? Oh, and you’d also lose over 25 pounds and 5% body fat in pursuit of this newfound passion, too. And all you had to do was suit up, show up, do the work and let the magic happen? Sounds impossible?

Recently, I got to witness a few of my clients complete a half century (50 mile) bike ride in Solvang. When they started “training” for this event, they were doing it because (quite honestly) their husbands were doing it and wanted their wives to do it, too. Begrudgingly, the girls started training, and signed up for the 25-mile event (while the guys were signed up for a metric century, or 62.5 miles.) But somewhere along the way, with more than a few thousand pedal strokes in between, the magic happened for them.

I was fortunate to watch as the passion unfolded for them. They started strength training, they began a nutrition program, and started riding their new bikes. Shifting? Nerve wracking for them. The saddle?? Ridiculously uncomfortable. And don’t even THINK about using anything other than their tennis shoes to ride with…

Slowly but surely, as they gained confidence and we went on ride after ride with one another, they began to flourish. They got new cycling gear. They learned how to shift. And they even used “clipless” pedals (which if you’re a cyclist you KNOW what a big deal this is!) With each pedal stroke, they came closer to realizing their goal of now a 50-mile ride. Inconceivable! And it no longer mattered that their husbands “wanted” them to do it–they now wanted to do it for themselves, because they truly loved cycling.

The big day arrived, and they had done their homework. No cramming necessary. Even though the day was tough at times, and glorious, too THEY DID IT!!! They completed the 50-mile ride. And without exception, every one of them said that never in their wildest dreams did they think they could do it and LOVE it so much. I couldn’t have been more proud and excited. The best part? They’ve already signed up for the next one…regardless of whether or not their husbands do it!

Discover your passion. Be willing to take risks and KNOW that you can indeed do virtually ANYTHING that you put your mind to.

This was written by one of Body Firm’s amazing trainers, Stacia Carney, who was able to witness this metamorphis over the last several months!

Monday Morning Mojo: Will Smith’s Wisdom on Life

By Tom Tognoli | October 18th, 2009 0 Comments

Funny, I would not think of Will Smith as being an inspiring leader, would you?

When you watch him on the TV or the movie screen he just appears to be this talented actor who got lucky. Wow, after I watched this, I have a totally new appreciation for him and who he is.

Grab a cup of coffee and watch this 10 minute video as Will Smith shares his wisdom on life. Then after that on a scale of 1 to 10 rate yourself on the list of things he discusses below. Are you doing them? Do you believe them? Are you willing to die for them? Then start with the ones you ranked yourself lowest on and get to work on changing it.

I have a GREAT TIME with my life and I want to share it.
I LOVE LIVING and it is infectious.
GREATNESS exists in all of us. It is not this elusive God-like feature that only the special among us have, it is in all of us.
It is simple – this is what I believe and I am willing to die for it, period. It’s that simple. Don’t make it anymore complicated than that.
Don’t think that where we are is where you are going to be, or where we are going to end up. Where you are almost does not matter.
There is no shortcut to success. There is talent and there is skill. Talent we have naturally. Skill is only developed by hours and hours of beating on your craft. I love this – Will Smith says he does not consider himself particularly talented…he says where he excels is his ridiculous, sickening work ethic. While the other guy is sleeping, I am working. While the other guy is eating, I am working. No matter how talented you are your talent is going to fail you if you are not skilled. You have to dedicate yourself to being better everyday.
The only thing distinctly different with me is I am not afraid to die on a treadmill. You may have more talent than me and you might be smarter than me, but if we get on the treadmill together you are getting off first or I am going to die, it is that simple.
You don’t just try to build a wall – you say ‘I am going to lay this brick as perfectly as a brick can be laid’ and if you do that every single day soon you will have a wall.
Focus on making a difference – if you are going to be here, there is a necessity to make a difference. I want the world to be better because I was here. I want my life to mean something. Your life will become better by making other lives better.
I want to represent an idea. I want to represent possibilities that you can really make what you want. I can create whatever I want to create.
You have to believe! The first step before anyone else is going to believe, it is you have to believe it. You can’t have a plan B because that distracts from plan A.
There is a delusional quality that all successful people have to have – you have to believe that something different, than has happened the last 50 million years can happen. Confucius said that ‘he who says he can, and he who says he can’t, are both usually right.’
Being realistic is the most commonly traveled road to mediocrity. Why would you be realistic? What is the point of being realistic? The second I decide it is done, it is already done.
Our thoughts are physical in the universe. Don’t let the universe push you around – bend the universe. Make a choice and don’t be at effect of the things that are happening around you. Just decide and the universe is going to get out of your way.
To be as successful as I want to be, it takes a desperate obsessive focus.
You cannot be scared to die for the truth. The truth is the only thing that is going to be constant.

Link to Will’s favorite book – The Alchemist – by Paulo Coelho

Don’t look back too long you may be in for a major collision

By Tom Tognoli | October 12th, 2009 0 Comments

When you are driving down the road it’s okay to glance in the rear view mirror, but don’t stare.

Our eyes are supposed to be on the road ahead of us and if we look in the rear view mirror too long, we’re going to crash. This analogy applies not to just driving a car, but to anything in life.

I can’t remember exactly what the circumstances were, but this was advice I received from my good friend and chairman of our company Bob Moles several years ago.

So many people live their life in the past. It may be in past successes or past failures. Many just can’t let go. If it was a bad experience – often it paralyzes them with fear to do anything. And if it was a good experience they hold on to it and can’t stop relishing in it, which also stops them from doing anything.

Not that we should forget the past completely – because that is not what I am saying. Our past experiences are the building blocks of our future, and they are simply that – building blocks. Unfortunately, when people hold on to the past and aren’t willing to focus on the future and change, they’re in for a major collision.

I am 45 – and I know people who still can’t let go of things from High School, much less last year, last month or last week. It is amazing. Look, I get it, I know it’s hard to let go of the past, but to grow and get more of what we want in life, is critical to future success.

So next time when you have a big win, take a little time to celebrate and then move on. And when you lose, take a little time to grieve and then move on. Just don’t stare at it, or you will be in for a major collision in the future.

A side note from my son: Nick Tognoli (age 10)

“Hi, it is early Saturday Morning and my Dad is writing his Monday Morning MOJO. I asked him to send you this video of ‘Beat It’ to fire all of you up today, and for the rest of the week. ENJOY!”
Michael Jackson – Beat It

Monday Morning Mojo: The Big Old Huge Bucket

By Tom Tognoli | October 4th, 2009 0 Comments

Check out this video it is amazing!

As you watch, listen to what J-Mac says “the basket was just like this big old huge bucket.” Remember, even if you throw an air ball on your first shot at anything in life, keep shooting. If you have the courage to keep shooting after you miss, eventually you will make it. It will become “like a big old huge bucket” and inevitably you will make that basket.

Also notice J-Mac’s “I am enthusiastic” attitude. J-Mac exudes enthusiasm throughout his interview. This attribute is required in success – so always play full out with commitment, passion, and energy.

Make it a great week, and remember you can’t make the shot if you don’t take it.

Monday Morning Mojo: Realizing a Bigger Glass

By Tom Tognoli | September 20th, 2009 0 Comments

A PGA tour player just shoots the best round of his career and when the sports reporter asks him “what was going through your head” after he finishes scorching the golf course with a round of sixty, he says, “I was in the zone… it was effortless… I was relaxed… everything was just going in the hole.”

After winning what many will argue is the most violent non-contact sport in the world, the one hundred meter sprint, the Olympic sprinter when interviewed and asked, “what where you focused on during the race” says just one thing, “relaxing.”

I have a personal trainer who I work out with once a week. Besides having been in the circus, he was a strength coach for the Stanford University track team and actually coached several Olympic sprinters. He was the one who told me about the one hundred meter sprinters mindset.

He is not your typical trainer who has you pumping iron until the veins are popping out of your head. He is about 5’ 7”, 140 pounds, has a limp from a bad hip and he is all about helping you create what he calls a “bigger glass,” opening you up so you can fit more in.

Weird isn’t it?

He tells me I can lift weights and run until I am blue in the face, but for me to continue to improve and get more of what I want, I need to open up my body and mind so I can fit more in. Because my “glass is full” and if I continue to do what I’ve always done, all I’m going to do is over flow the glass and cease improving.

So, how do you make a “bigger glass?” You guessed it, relax.

Imagine me spending an hour with a guy whose whole goal is to get me to “relax” and not fight so hard to get more of what I want, but to just let it in. Now, don’t get me wrong, when I am working out with him, it is very intense and I am sweating my ass off, but very rarely do I ever even pick up a weight. He has me stretching, balancing, and breathing so that my body can actually expand. Because right now it is constricted by my thoughts and how I have tricked my muscles into what they actually can and cannot do.

The same thing applies to your mindset and getting more of what you want in all of the areas of your life. You need to make your “glass bigger.” This is why things like affirmations, meditation, and dream boards are so important.

Over the last few weeks we have discussed creating your passion so that it will pull you towards what you want to attract in your life. We have talked about having focus and intensity, about speeding up, and about accountability and discipline.

This week I am going to recommend relaxing and letting your passion pull you. Don’t force it or all you are going to do is get pissed off and quit. The key is not to try harder, but actually take your parking break off. You will find you run smoother and faster without it on. It is all about creating flow and ease in what we do, being focused on what we want and letting go. It is like running a one hundred meter sprint or shooting a great round of golf. The more you “relax,” the faster you go, or the lower your score. Now don’t get me wrong, you still need to be committed, disciplined, accountable and work your ass off. You need to do your best both personally and professionally to get what you want in life. What I am saying is just don’t force it.

A big part of not forcing it and taking the parking brake off is changing the thoughts that are going on in your head every day about what you need to do to get what you want in life. Remove words like – I can’t, I’m not, I won’t, from your self talk. You need to have positive thoughts and words – replace them with words like, I can, I am, and I will.

Have a great week, RELAX, make a “BIGGER GLASS” and don’t forget to take your parking brake off.

How to Win Friends and Influence People – on Facebook and Twitter

By Dawn Thomas | September 17th, 2009 0 Comments

Harry Potter aside – I’d guess that many people today would cite Dale Carnegie’s classic book “How to Win Friends and Influence People” as one of the most influential books in their lives. But it was originally published way back in 1951 – when the average home cost $16,000, a gallon of gas cost 27 cents, and “high tech” meant CBS experimenting with color television broadcasts.

How does Dale Carnegie’s classic hold up to today’s Twitter generation? Really well!

The first part of the book focuses on personal relationships – and it is as relevant to Social Media in the 21^st century as it is to our in-person relationships today. It recommends-

Never criticize, condemn or complain. With the Internet- you can rant, rave, and ignite flame-wars more publicly and permanently than ever before. But really. As a consumer – what do you want? One really awesome Palo Alto restaurant recommendation from Yelp! or 15 rotten reviews?

Become genuinely interested in other people. Carnegie recommends that we remember people’s birthdays and other important details. Today – this is easier than ever. Reconnect with your best friend from third grade, send an instantaneous birthday message via Facebook, join a tribe of left-handed ukele players on Ning. It’s never been easier to add a personal touch to the lives of our friends, family, and colleagues. Carnegie would approve.

Talk in terms of the other person’s interests. Carnegie was ahead of his time. Focusing on the other people’s interests is the golden rule of Twitter. If he were around today, I doubt you’d find Carnegie only promoting his webinars and ads for acquiring 37,000 followers in 12 minutes on Twitter.

Be a good listener. So how do you listen on the Internet? Subscribe to blogs & post useful comments and questions. Follow people on Twitter & read their tweets for a bit before jumping in. Respond to requests on Linked-in for recommendations and introductions to help a friend’s job search.

Make the other person feel important. One of the cool things about the Internet is that you can say “Thanks” in so many ways. You can Retweet on Twitter, you can share someone’s event on Facebook or Linked-in to help them promote it, You can Digg an awesome webpage, and of course –you can say “thanks” directly to the person.

Use Names whenever possible. In the olden days, a business card only needed space for your name, physical address, and telephone number. Now we squeeze in our fax, email address, Facebook vanity URL, Twitter handle, Linked-in profile, Website address, and Blog address. In bold 4 point font. And still – one of the sweetest things is to have someone personally address something to you with a unique touch so that you know it genuinely comes from them.

Smile. Positive enthusiastic energy transmits as easily over the Internet as the telephone. We would just need to give Carnegie a dictionary to interpret our sign language. LOL! :0)

Win friends & influence people – in social media and in-person.

Monday Morning Mojo: Finding your purpose in life may drive you to the success you’ve always been looking for

By Tom Tognoli | August 31st, 2009 0 Comments

They get up early everyday (actually the middle of the night by my standards) to exercise their mind, body and soul. Then they work all day with passion, drive, discipline and an attitude which is absolutely off the charts.

I just can’t figure it out.

How do they stay motivated and always seem to be having fun? How do they stay so disciplined? How do they keep such a positive attitude and a smile on their face when they work so hard in what always appears to be stressful situations? It seems like it would be exhausting to be such a Radical Fanatical. Their constant motivation and success is just incredible. I wish I was as motivated as them, and then I could have what they have.

Heads up – it’s not motivation driving them, IT’S INSPIRATION.

When we are in inspired action and not motivated action, it is effortless. Trying to be motivated all of the time is exhausting and impossible to maintain. If we’re not inspired all the motivation in the world will not get us to be like those fired up Radical Fanaticals. You have to be inspired to do what most people aren’t willing to do. It’s one thing to be motivated to do something for a day, week, month or even a year, but it is something completely different to be inspired to do something for a life time. You have to be inspired about your life, your family, your job, your health, and you have to be INSPIRED about you!

So, the million dollar question is – how do I get that inspired?

First you have to figure out your purpose in life. You have to figure out why in the world are we here on this earth, it’s not by accident. Unfortunately most people just go through the motions, the normal grind of life and they never find their purpose.

Here are a few examples of those that found inspiration in their life, and in turn found their purpose:

Mother Teresa
Martin Luther King
Bill and Melinda Gates (The Gates Foundation) - it’s not about Microsoft
The Pope
The Dalai Lama
Gandhi
Tiger Woods (The Tiger Woods Foundation) – it’s not about golf
Deepak Chopra
Lance Armstrong (The LiveStrong Foundation) - it’s not about the Tour de France
The President of the United States - whether you like him or not

So, find your purpose.

To help in your process I recommend reading Rick Warren’s – The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth am I here for? It’s a powerful book.

Make it a purpose driven day, week, month, year. Make it a purpose driven and inspiring LIFE.

Find your purpose and get inspired!

Archive for the ‘Success’ Category

Thursday’s Thoughts on Leadership: Leaders Understand – Failure is a Part of Success

Monday Morning Mojo: 5 Tricks to Achieving Your New Year’s Resolutions

Monday Morning Mojo: The Power of a Smile

Discover Your Passion

Monday Morning Mojo: Will Smith’s Wisdom on Life

Don’t look back too long you may be in for a major collision

Monday Morning Mojo: The Big Old Huge Bucket

Monday Morning Mojo: Realizing a Bigger Glass

How to Win Friends and Influence People – on Facebook and Twitter

Monday Morning Mojo: Finding your purpose in life may drive you to the success you’ve always been looking for

Gino on success

Recent Posts

Comments

Search by keyword

View posts by subject

Monday Morning Mojo

Intero Cool Apps

Archives