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What makes people successful?
After 6 weeks, I have restarted my self-coaching process that I had started in the Netherlands. Today, I was looking at persistence in achieving your personal goals. A study once found out that successful people are neither very intelligent nor very creative but very, very, very persistent in putting their goals into action.
Starting off with a self-evaluation (How persistent on a scale between 10 and 1 are you?), I gave myself a 6-7 in persistence. One advice given in the self-coaching document that I know works very well for me is: know and recall the ‘why’ behind your action steps.
Another important factor is determination: when was the last time that you were determined in life? What have you been thinking? What was your attitude? I remembered when I made the decision to leave Greenpeace International and start out with We Are What We Do in Holland, I was very clear and focussed on my personal values and vision that made it possible to step into the un-known…
Furthermore, the guidelines were recommending: start a success diary and reflect every evening on: What has been positive today? What has happened today that I am grateful for? What has brought joy to me today? What have I learned today?
This exercise reminded me of a conversation that I had just yesterday with some friends: I had met another person who is not watching the news on TV anymore nor reading the daily newspaper. I thought, I am the only weirdo who has even studied political science who is not following the daily mainstream news anymore but is rather looking out for positive news through magazines (e.g. in Germany brand eins or changeX) or e-newsletters.
And finally, the last fascinating exercise for me today: when I am frustrated…(find 7 possibilities to finish the sentence).
When I am frustrated…: I am not focussed, I am stressed, I am not doing what is important to me, I am annoyed about my lack of determination, I don’t take time to seize the moment, other people tell me what to do or not to do, my value-system is being challenged.
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