2 Sure-Fire Tips to Shine in 2009

Let me tell you a quick story. When I left school and started looking for a job as an apprentice engineer. I was repeatedly told, “It’s a bad time to find a job.” It was, and it took time and effort.
When I decided to leave engineering and find a job in sales; I was repeatedly told, “It’s a bad time to find a job in sales.” It was, and it took time and effort.
When I decided to give up my job and start my own business in 1993; I was told by lots of well meaning people, “It’s a bad time to start a new business.” It was and it took time and lots of effort.
I don’t know about your job or your business, but when has it ever been a good time to find a job, or get promoted, or start a business, or find new customers, or sell more of your product or service?
Admittedly, 2009 will be a challenge for many people and for more than a few businesses.
If you want to shine in 2009, then what you need is lots of BRAIN ENERGY and lots of BODY ENERGY!
Sure-fire tip number 1 is – Build your Brain Energy.
Imagine that you’ve just been rejected for a bank loan, or you’ve just been turned down for promotion or a potential customer has rejected your proposal. Perhaps a publishing company has rejected the book that you’ve slaved over for the past couple of years.
If you react with – “Oh no, not again, I’m really fed up with this. These people are a real pain. They’re making a big mistake. What am I going to do now?”
This sort of reaction drains your brain of energy; it adds to your stress levels and destroys your self motivation.
Reacting drains the brain – thinking less so.
Get the thinking part of your brain working and say to yourself – “I’ll make an appointment today with a better bank! I’ll show my employer how good I really am or I’ll find a new job. I’ll phone the next potential customer on my list right now! And the next publishing company will see the potential in my book!”

There are also many minor situations that happen every day that’ll drain the energy from your brain. Let’s say you receive a parking ticket; pay the fine right away; get rid of it, forget it and move on. Moaning and complaining about it drains your brain and the fine still has to be paid.
Do not, and I repeat, do not say – “Oh no, what am I going to do now!?” Every time you say – “Oh no” your brain has a huge drain of energy.

Build up your brain energy by using lots positive self-talk.
Your level of success in terms of your happiness, emotional wellbeing and anything else you desire is a direct result of how you talk to yourself. The most important relationship you’ll ever have is the one you have with yourself.
Listen to the self-talk that goes on in your head and ask yourself – “Is what I’m saying allowing me to be confident, on top and going for it?” If so – great!
“Or is it holding me back and stopping me achieve my goals?” If this is the case – STOP IT, change the program!
Think about the things you say to yourself and make every statement in the present tense.
Don’t say, for example – “I’m going to make a success of this business” or “I’m going to get organised,” or "I’m going to lose weight and get fitter" or “I’m going to be much more confident.”
Say – “I am totally in control of my life. I am totally confident and positive. I’m achieving my goals. I have determination and drive.”
What you’re actually doing here is re-programming your subconscious. If you talk to yourself in a positive way, that’s what your subconscious will focus on and you’ll have lots of brain energy

Sure-fire tip number 2 is - Build your Body Energy

The body and the brain are linked together so when the brain drains of energy so does the body. However, the body also does a lot of running about, up and down off the seat and often takes a bit of a beating.
For it to work well, it needs to be in good condition in the first place. We all know by now that if we eat too much or eat the wrong things, smoke too much or drink too much alcohol, then our body is in danger of breaking down.
If you want more body energy, then you’re going to have to do some exercise. (Do I hear you saying - “I need the body energy before I can do the exercise!?”) You know as well as I, that if you take more exercise, you will have more energy.
Now I know you think you don’t have the time. You may also be the type that doesn’t want to go to the gym and lift heavy things or leap about in an aerobics class; however, I am totally convinced that you need to take some exercise that makes you sweat a little.
I’m sorry, but walking the dog or a round of golf doesn’t count, it isn’t the kind of exercise I’m talking about. Golf is great and it’s good for the stress, but it doesn’t make you sweat.

If you’re going to walk then walk fast for a distance, enough to push up the heart rate and increase the breathing.
Again, get your internal program right and start to think how you can make your exercise enjoyable. I see some people at the health club making the whole business a real chore. They get on a bike or a rowing machine and try to kill themselves for twenty minutes. If that’s your thing then fine, but please don’t make it a chore, plug into the sound system and catch up with what’s on TV.

If you’re really not into exercise then please make sure you have other activities outside of your workplace and make them fun. Too many people are going home and slumping in front of the TV - successful people don’t do that.

A laugh and a sweat a day – keeps the stress away!

Make no mistake about it; if you look after the Body and the Brain:
You’ll shine in 2009