Published December 30, 2016	No Excuses Mindset! You Are A Leader...Live The Life The Way You Deserve! Leave a Comment
For information on Farshad Asl visit:
http://www.TopLeadersNews.com
http://www.TopLeaders.Co
Email: TopLeadersInc@Gmail.com
I am LinkedIn:http://www.linkedin.com/in/farshadasl
I write about leadership and entrepreneurship mindsets.
I am the Regional Director of Bankers Life in Southern California, the founder of Top Leaders Inc, and a certified John Maxwell Leadership Coach, Teacher and International Speaker. I have built one of the largest sales organizations in the country which has been a member of the Executive Council for the past seven year and has been the recipient of the Excalibur Awards for years, along with the Coat of Arms Award in 2016. I have served as a Chairman of the Leadership Committee for three years and have been the recipient of the Frontline Leader Award: Diamond from GAMA International. I am also the author of the Best Seller, “The ‘No Excuses’ Mindset: A Life of Purpose, Passion, and Clarity.” With this book, I believe anyone can turn their excuses into excellence. My purpose and passion in life is to transform success into significance and add value to every connection and relationship I make. It is my passion to inspire, equip, and enable others to become the leaders and entrepreneurs they were born to be. I believe leadership is the secret hidden within all of us for success. We must learn to lead ourselves before we lead others. Our leadership is our legacy.
10 Things That Successful Entrepreneurs Don’t Do
Published October 31, 2015	No Excuses Mindset! You Are A Leader...Live The Life The Way You Deserve! Leave a Comment
Successful people have made a habit of having “To Do Lists.” They are organized and remember the things that they need to do. This helps them move forward and achieve their goals. Nevertheless, within this beneficial, ingenious, and effective habit, seldom are remembered the things that one should NOT DO, in order to be successful.
Successful Entrepreneurs, on the other hand acknowledge the significance, value and efficacy of a “NOT TO DO LIST.” They intentionally remember and utilize their “Not To Do Lists” along with their “To Do Lists” in order to achieve and render their success. There will always be something that comes in your way to slow you down on your way to success. Making the right choices and taking the right steps isn’t always enough, it’s what you don’t do that plays a key role. Here are 10 things that successful entrepreneurs don’t do, in order to achieve success.
1. Successful Entrepreneurs don’t say “I Will Try,” they say “I Will Do” or “I Won’t Do.” “I will Try” is not in their vocabulary, they have replaced it with “Do” or “Don’t Do.” Entrepreneurs are always crystal clear about their goals and vision. They don’t believe in “trying.” They don’t attempt, they act. They don’t hope to get something done, they get it done. Entrepreneurs are committed to bring anything they start to fruition. They are in the business of getting the job done!
2. Successful Entrepreneurs don’t pay attention to the noise around them, they only pay attention to the voice within them. Entrepreneurs are “Laser Focused” on what they want to accomplish in life. They don’t let anything slow them down. They don’t listen to the excess outside noise, they heed their intuition. Entrepreneurs believe in themselves and are confident in their abilities. They do not waver or are easily swayed. Their inner voice is always louder than the outside noise.
3. Successful Entrepreneurs don’t think that winning is everything, but they strive to win every time. For an Entrepreneur, being productive, proactive, and positive are more important than just winning. They want to add value to people along the way. Other people’s success is their success. They strive to be the best at everything they do. It’s how you win that matters versus simply winning.
4. Successful Entrepreneurs don’t wait for solutions, they create solutions. For any problem, an Entrepreneur will have multiple options and solutions. Problems are meant to be overcome. Entrepreneurs don’t believe in a box, or thinking inside, outside, or alongside of the box. We create our own boxes, our own boundaries, our own problems. Why shouldn’t we be able to eradicate them?
5. Successful Entrepreneurs don’t like to be micromanaged, they micromanage themselves. They live with a no-excuse mindset. They have high expectations for themselves and others. True Entrepreneurs hate procrastination; everything is done in a timely manner. They are self-disciplined; this is the most important characteristic of a successful Entrepreneur.
6. Successful Entrepreneurs don’t compete, they dominate. True Entrepreneurs don’t compete, they take charge, work hard to build a brand and take over any space they enter. They are charismatic leaders who set their sights on a destination, not on their competitors along the way. The future of Entrepreneurship will no longer be about competing, it will be about dominating.
7. Successful Entrepreneurs don’t say “Poor Me,” they say “Why Not Me?” True Entrepreneurs never pity themselves instead, they provoke themselves. They ask themselves these 4 famous questions: Why? Why not? Why not me? And, Why not now? Entrepreneurs see an opportunity in any and every circumstance and situation. They believe in themselves and know their own potential. True Entrepreneurs can turn any size coal into a diamond; they are refiners.
8. Successful Entrepreneurs don’t fear success, they expect success. The biggest fear is not the fear of failure, rather it is the fear of success. Success comes with great responsibility, dependability and expectations. Entrepreneurs understand the demands of success, and are not afraid. They make sure to deliver what is expected of them. Many people would rather dream of success, than to dive into the reality of success. Entrepreneurs work hard and always pay the price for their success. They fail often, yet they fail forward, until they succeed. They always expect to succeed and are prepared for it.
9. Successful Entrepreneurs don’t settle for mediocracy, they rise for excellence. They dream big, live big, and act big. Entrepreneurs recognize value in everyone and everything. They don’t want the ordinary, they excel to be extraordinary in all their endeavors. True Entrepreneurs practice intentional and consistent growth and get energized from it. They invest in themselves and don’t settle for less than remarkable. The standards you set for your self will become your norm; if you settle for mediocracy, then that will be your norm, if you rise for excellence, then that will be your norm.
10. Successful Entrepreneurs don’t tolerate Low LID Leadership, they promote LID Lifting. Entrepreneurs are in the business of perpetual growth. Their sights are set in the sky and dream to soar. They appreciate high levels of leadership and growth. A low LID diminishes any chance for such growth and leadership. The past, present, and future of entrepreneurship is and will always be about adding value to others. Successful Entrepreneurs are lid lifters; they lift LID in order to help others grow and add value to their lives, which in return blesses them many folds.
Have you found yourself relating to any of the 10 things that Successful Entrepreneurs DON’T DO? If so, then you are one step closer to making your entrepreneurial goals and dreams a reality. Now you must have realized why having a “To Do List” just isn’t enough. Like so many successful Entrepreneurs, do you have a “Not To Do List?” If so, what is on there? What will you not do in order to be successful? “Not-to-do” lists are often more effective than to-do lists for high performing entrepreneurs.
A Kick Start to Your Entrepreneurship
Do you feel stagnant? Are your days slow and lack excitement? Are you yearning for change, a renewal of your mind, soul, and body, even work? Are you aspiring for greatness but lack a catalyst? Do you dream of higher heights, deeper determination, and outstanding opportunities? Are excuses, lack of excitement or motivation holding you back from your dream career?
From this moment forward, cast all your uncertainties, weights, unhealthy pessimism, and worries aside. You can be a greater version of you. You can take a hold of your life, your circumstances, your work, and transform it from the inside out. You can be an Entrepreneur. All you need is a push… this article will be your push…remember that “even Eagles need a push”
Entrepreneurship is the future. It is a life style that practices intentional living, a no-excuse mindset, and strives to add value to everything and everyone. “Entrepreneurship is living a few years of your life like most people won’t, so that you can spend the rest of your life like most people can’t.” – Anonymous. If entrepreneurship sounds like the right direction for you, then here are the Top 15 Entrepreneurship Quotes that will help kick start your new life.
1. “The entrepreneur is essentially a visualizer and actualizer. He can visualize something, and when he visualizes it he sees exactly how to make it happen.” – Robert L. Schwartz
Entrepreneurs have clarity of their vision and their plan of action. They can see it before others see. They take action before others do.
2. “The greatest discovery of my generation is that people can alter their lives by altering their attitudes.” -William James
Entrepreneurs wake up every morning excited. They have the gift of enthusiasm. Their passion is contagious. Make sure yours is worth catching.
3. “You are to set your own value, communicate that value to the world, and then not settle for less. Sound daunting? That’s just because it takes you out of your comfort zone. You have got to stop being an obstacle on your own path to wealth and security and happiness. You must understand that valuing yourself is well within your control.” – Suze Orman
Entrepreneurs invest in themselves. If you don’t bet on yourself, don’t expect anyone else to bet on you. When you add value to yourself, you can add value to others.
Entrepreneurs love problems, they enjoy challenges. Problems are opportunities in which you can become a better, bigger, and bolder version of yourself.
Entrepreneurs dream big, work hard, hustle, and take risks.
When you face a challenge, as an Entrepreneur, you know the very first rule of success, NEVER QUIT and NEVER GIVE UP.
7. “When you cease to dream you cease to live” – Malcolm Forbes
Entrepreneurs dream big and live life. Dreams give you hope, hope gives you energy, and in return this positive energy gives you a better lifestyle.
8. “If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.
Entrepreneurs don’t have “I will try…” in their vocabulary, there is no such concept. They are movers and shakers. They get things done. They keep moving forward, no matter what.
9. “You were born to win, but to be a winner, you must plan to win, prepare to win, and expect to win.”- Zig Ziglar
Entrepreneurs expect a positive outcome in all circumstances. They swing hard, swing often, and play to win.
10. “Success is how high you bounce after you hit bottom.” – General George Patton
Entrepreneurs do not fear failure. If anything, they fail more often, but they fail forward. They never accept failure as rock bottom, once they fall, they look and jump right back up.
11. “Remain authentic to yourself and your values as you build your business. Stand for something — never sell out for a quick buck.” – Cherylanne Skolnicki
Entrepreneurs make decisions based on their core values. Core values make tough decisions easy.
12. “Surround yourself with great mentors. They help when you reach a plateau in your business cycle and can shave years off your business development and growth through advising from their mistakes and successes.” – Thalej Vasishta
Successful entrepreneurs have Mentors, Coaches or Masterminds. They challenge themselves constantly in their life, family, business, and team. They see the value of the growth and aid that is offered by having a mentor or a coach. They attend mastermind groups to better themselves in order to better others.
13. Focus, Focus and Focus “Focus on ONE NICHE! And become the expert guru in that niche with your brand. Don’t get greedy! It’s the reason most quit by spreading themselves too thin.” – George Shepherd
Entrepreneurs never lose focus, they expand their brand daily.
14. “What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals.”- Zig Ziglar
Entrepreneurs know that Monetary Goals are not everything in life, instead, what you become by achieving them. Your hard work will get you to the top, but your character will keep you there.
15. “Entrepreneurship is the process of conquering fear with getting out of your comfort-zone and living daily in your God-given gift zone.” -Farshad Asl
If you enjoyed these Top 15 Entrepreneurship Quotes, then here is a bonus. Here are the Top 8 Characteristics that successful entrepreneurs all have in common.
If you have at least five of these characteristics, then you should seriously consider becoming an entrepreneur. Are you ready?
Top 8 Entrepreneurial Characteristics
Dream and Vision Clarity
Fail often, but fail forward
Add value to themselves in order to add value to others
If these quotes have been able to resonate with you and you have been able to recognize some or all of these characteristics within you, then you are ready to kick start your entrepreneurship. You are your only challenge. Utilize these wise words of many successful entrepreneurs. If they made it, so can you.
Are You A Lid Lifter?
“Leadership is influence, nothing more…nothing less.”
My journey with leadership began about 20 years ago. During the last five years, I was fortunate enough to be mentored by Dr. John C. Maxwell, one of the best leadership coaches in the world. From his coaching, I have grown and developed as a leader significantly. I have learned many valuable lessons, and have developed key leadership skills and characteristics, few of which I’d like to share with you, but first I’d like to ask you a few questions.
Have you ever worked with a leader who held you back? Have you ever felt like your growth was limited? The fact of the matter is that it is not that your manager, boss, or coach has negative intentions for you; it’s more likely that they have become comfortable in their leadership style. We refer to them as “leaders with low lids.”
Leadership ability is the lid that determines a person’s level of effectiveness. Your leadership ability determines your potential impact on your organization. Raising the lid enables you to reach the highest level of effectiveness and have greater impact on people around you. Examples of low lids can be: fear, denial, jealousy, anger, doubt, impulsiveness, lack of confidence, lack of knowledge, and negative perceptions. Every leader has a lid, but any leader can become a lifter. Dr. John Maxwell who teaches the fundamentals of “Becoming a Better Leader” explains this concept of low lids wonderfully.
Understanding the “Law of the Lid” by Dr. John Maxwell
One’s leadership ability is determined by a person’s level of effectiveness. The lower an individual’s ability to lead, the lower the lid is. Therefore, the greater the desire to influence through leadership, the greater the effectiveness and ability to increase growth and direction is. The issue here is not that you have a “lid,” but instead, what are going to do to lift it? It is crucial to understand that you cannot lift the lid on your own; it’s based on the personal and organizational effectiveness of the leader.
If you are a leader who has become comfortable with “what works” you have limited yourself and everyone you influence in your team. As a leader, you should make the conscious choice to learn from the experiences of your past in order to provide effective leadership to the people you coach and influence. The heights that you set for yourself will be the heights that your teams will strive for too. The lid that a leader bears will be the lead his team bears. Here are a few of the key characteristics of a lid lifter.
Lid lifters look for lid lifting experiences to grow their leadership capacity. They seek and cease opportunities for lid lifting to encourage people with their words, show commitment with their actions, and demonstrate their selflessness with their sacrifices. They strive to grow and add value themselves and others. A lid lifter is in the business of perpetual growth and value.
Lid lifters practice and provide open and honest communication. As a leader, you must be able to practice a policy of honesty. By being able to communicate openly and honestly with your team, you have already lifted the lid of fear and judgment. Such leaders are able to change the culture and environment of a workplace. Honest communication results in honest work.
Lid lifters coach people instead of telling them what to do. They lead by example instead of demands. They lead and coach others beyond discomforts and into success and personal development. Such leaders set high standards and pursues goals with purpose. By coaching a person, you have added value to them and have set them on the path of success. In lid lifting, coaching will lift other people’s lids.
Lid lifters love people unconditionally. The love for other people should fuel your leadership. This passion will ignite wonders in your relationships and become success in your leadership. You can’t lead people without loving them.
Lid lifters serve and help other as a daily practice. They want to help transform other people’s lives. This leadership service is beyond the self. Leadership is about the people you serve, not the title you hold. A life of service will serve you well.
Lid lifters are trustworthy. They practice, value, and respect the trust they have in people and the trust people have in them. A leader with title without trust from its followers is futile. We refer to these type of leaders as “positional leaders.” They do not value relationship building, they decrease motivation, and they are a liability to the organization. A leader who is trustworthy and seeks to earn his followers’ trust is an asset to his team and organization. There is no risk or fear in his leadership. He is trusted to lift lids.
Lid lifters lead and live a life of significance. In everything that you do, pursue significance. A lid lifter’s actions, motives, agenda, and goals are all in coherence with creating value. Such leaders strive to create significance in all that they does, in every relationship that is formed, and in every project that is produced. Lid lifters seek and create significance in all that they do.
These characteristics require discipline, self-awareness and dedication. A leader should choose to be a lid lifter. “Lifting the lid” is a deliberate and conscious choice that does not happen by accident or by chance. A good leader is not only self aware but also aware of others. Such leaders are able to gage any situation or circumstance and make the proper choices accordingly.
If you are a leader who is in search of self-betterment and would like to become successful, then I encourage you to implore these key characteristics of lid lifters. They will assure your growth and success as a leader. If you recognize that your lid might be too low as a leader, then make the choice to be a “lid lifter.” You are your greatest challenge. If you can overcome your own shortcomings and choose to change, then you are unstoppable.
Leadership is not a title, nor is it a position; it is a way of life. You cannot become a leader over night, but you can start your leadership journey over night. You choose the type of leader you want to be, you choose the environment you work in, and you choose the influence you have. The true measure of your leadership is your influence. Ultimately, you choose the lid you bare. The sky can be the limit. What do you choose?
Sometimes, we may find ourselves thinking out loud, not thinking clearly, or not even thinking. I am sure we all have experienced such occurrences. What is important in these moments is to embrace the humor and release the embarrassment. We must be able to laugh at ourselves and not take ourselves too seriously.
I have discovered that humor is the antidote for successful leadership. A leader with a good sense of humor is received better and respected more than a leader who takes his or her self too seriously.
A good laugh quenches our souls and warms up a room. I use humor to break the ice in meetings and set my desired environment. As a leader, I need to be able to capture my audience and maintain a certain level of energy. I often refer to a collection of funny anecdotes titled “They Walk Among Us…” to achieve these goals.
In the spirit of Labor Day Weekend, I wanted to share with you some of my favorite stories from the collection. They always bring me a good laugh and I am sure they will do the same for you and your family. Here are some anecdotes of people who may have not been thinking too clearly, or may have not been thinking at all. These types of people walk among us on a daily basis. I like to call them the “Walkamongus”.
” Top 10″
While looking at a house, my brother asked the real estate agent which direction was north because he didn’t want the sun waking him up every morning. She asked, “Does the sun rise in the north?” When my brother explained that the sun rises in the East, and has for some time, she shook her head and said, “Oh I don’t keep up with all that stuff.”They Walk Among Us…
I couldn’t find my luggage at the airport, so I went to the baggage claim office and told the woman that was sitting there that my bags never showed up. She smiled and told me not to worry because she was a trained professional and that I was in good hands. “Now,” she asked me, “has your plane arrived yet?They Walk Among Us…
While working at a pizza parlor I heard a man ordering a small pizza to go. He appeared to be alone. The cook asked him if he would like it cut into 4 pieces or 6 He thought about it before responding. He then relied, “Just cut it into 4 pieces. I don’t think I’m hungry enough to eat 6 pieces.”They Walk Among Us…
A man was driving when he saw the flash of a traffic camera. He figured that his picture had been taken for exceeding the limit, even though he knew that he was not speeding. Just to be sure, he went around the block and passed the same spot, driving even more slowly, but again the camera flashed. Now he began to think that this was quite funny, so he drove even slower as he passed the area again, but the traffic camera again flashed. He tried a fourth time with the same result. He did this a fifth time and was now laughing when the camera flashed as he rolled past, this time at a snail’s pace. Two weeks later, he got five tickets in the mail for driving without a seat belt.They Walk Among Us…
My colleague and I were eating lunch in our cafeteria, when we over heard one of the administrative assistants talking about the sunburn she got on her weekend drive to the shore. She drove down in a convertible, but didn’t think she’d get sunburned because the car was moving.They Walk Among Us…
When my husband and I arrived at an automobile dealership to pick up our car, we were told that the keys had been accidentally locked in it. We went to the service department and found a mechanic working feverishly to unlock the driver’s side door. As I watched from the passenger’s side, I instinctively tried the door handle and discovered it was open. “Hey,” I announced to the technician, “it’s open!” “I know,” answered the young man, “I already got that side.”They Walk Among Us…
An American was going for a job interview in the Scottish countryside and on his way out he asked a local farmer for directions, “Excuse me, dude, could you possibly tell me the quickest way to London?” The farmer said, “You driving or walking, lad?” The American replied, “Driving.” The farmer nodded, saying, “Aye definitely the quickest way.”They Walk Among Us…
I live in a semi-rural area. We recently had a new neighbor call the local township administrative office to request the removal of the DEER CROSSING sign on our road. The reason: “Too many deer are being hit by cars out here! I don’t think this is a good place for them to be crossing anymore.”They Walk Among Us…
A woman orders coffee, but tells the girl at the window that she doesn’t want it too hot. When the girl asks her how she could cool it down, the woman says, “Just put some ice in it.” After waiting a while she asks why her coffee is taking so long. Well, the girl kept putting ice in the coffee but it kept melting.They Walk Among Us…
My sister has a lifesaving tool in her car designed to cut through a seat belt if she ever gets trapped in her car. She keeps it in the trunk.
“Humor reinforces the absurdity of rigid, inflexible behavior and misunderstanding, and helps us remember that mistakes are natural and widespread in all humanity”
– (Weinstein 1986; Berger 1993; Crawford 1994, 31).
Surely, we have experienced such occasions. Perhaps even, we were the “Walkamongus” of the story. It is crucial for us to be able to laugh at these times. We must be able to find the humor in our daily lives and practice to utilize a sense of humor as a prerequisite for leadership.
We all know the days of dictatorial leadership are gone. Humor breaks down the old industrial barriers of top-down leadership and lowers defenses, making your audience more receptive to your message. It makes you more likable and approachable. People become more willing to do business with you; they are willing to support you. A sense of humor solidifies your ability to build relationships, enhance your impression and reputation.
I have a question for you: Do you take yourself too seriously? Just remember…when you make someone else smile you will surely find yourself smiling too AND:
Laughter triggers the release of endorphins.
A Leader’s Guide For Freedom
Freedom: the power of self-determination attributed to the will; the quality of being independent of fate or necessity. The power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint.
I was born and raised in Iran, a beautiful country rich in culture, history and tradition. I have been engrained with invaluable memories, lessons, and morals. Iran was once a country that thrived in its freedom. Nevertheless, due to a lack in proper leadership, freedom was not the priority of my time. Politics and power thrived at the cost of freedom. The freedom of the Iranian people was not protected or fought for by its leaders. This resulted in the diminishment of freedom and its blessings in Iran. As a result of these circumstances, the value and power I recognize and utilize in freedom, as a leader has been fundamental in my life.
When I came to the United States, I had discovered two types of freedom, external freedom and internal freedom. External freedom is freedom from political, social, or cultural restrictions. Internal freedom is freedom from personal, mental and emotional constraints. While I was in Iran, I was thirsty for external freedom. Living in this country, I have been blessed with every external freedom I could have ever imagined. I had soon realized that external freedoms were in abundance in this country, yet there was still something missing. I discovered that seldom did anyone practice or prioritize their internal freedom. Internal freedom bears fruit to self-awareness and awareness of others. It is a kind of freedom that produces enlightenment and value.
Nevertheless, this type of freedom requires intentional and disciplined living. Minister and author, Michael Beckwith, declares that the gift of self-discipline has the power to take you beyond the reasoning of temporary emotions into freedom. Think of how empowered you’ve felt on occasions when you didn’t given in to the “I don’t feel like it” syndrome and honored your commitment to yourself. Liberating yourself from laziness is one of the greatest deeds you can perform for yourself. The combination of love and passion for something with the willingness to practice discipline will result in your internal freedom.
While reflecting and reminiscing on the topic of freedom, I pondered the power, potential, and potency of internal freedom. With the immensity of freedom here in America, what does one do with it? How should a leader utilize and optimize his or her freedom? How does one render value from his or her freedom? As a leader, I believe that practicing both external and internal freedom requires self-conscious discipline. In response to these inquiries I have summed up the four major ways a leader should utilize his or her internal freedom to optimize its power, potential and potency. External freedom is given, but internal freedom is gained.
1) Use your freedom to practice your core values.
Freedom is a generality in this country, but with your core values it gains a personality. Not wavering in your core values in the face of infinite freedom proves your strengths, abilities, and self-control. Your core values come from your faith, beliefs, family, upbringing and history. These core values can vary for everyone. Maintaining your core values amidst the expanse freedoms of today solidifies the ground you stand on and simplifies difficult decisions.
Freedom with boundaries seems like an oxymoron but it is a necessary and relevant reality of our time. True leaders know their boundaries, and it is through their core values that these boundaries are implemented and built. Infinite freedom without definition that comes from one’s core values cannot hold value or significance in one’s life or history. Core values define your freedom.
Throughout history, leaders have been differentiated by their core values. For example, compare Adolf Hitler to Nelson Mandela, they were both powerful leaders, but their core values defined the freedoms they stood and fought for. Once you have combined your core values with your freedom, you will know where you came from and where you will be going. If you have your core values you will know what to do with your freedom.
2) Use your freedom to think, create and grow.
With your freedom you can move from success to significance. It gives you the opportunity to live a life of significance. With freedom you can think, create, and add value to any area of your life. My freedom allows me to grow and do what I want, pursue what I dream, and think and create what I imagine. Maximize on the opportunities and blessings freedom provides you.
Your mind, body, and soul are your essential tools. With the ability of making your own choices and living through your own will, there is no reason for why you cannot succeed in what you do. I have experienced that my freedom allows me to spend time on myself, to grow myself. I cannot give what I do not have. Therefore with such blessings from freedom, I have been able to add value to myself, and in return, add value to others.
Once I overflow in personal growth and development, then I can offer my help and service to others. When you pursue and strive for success, leading a life of significance becomes inherent. With the significance you have gained, you are filled with value. A true leader recognizes opportunities for growth, development, and creativity. He or she is not hesitant to act upon his or her freedom. A genuine leader sets an example. Appreciate, cherish and optimize the opportunities freedom gives you.
3) Use your freedom to liberate your mind.
Your freedom should not only liberate you and bless you externally but internally as well. What is a man who is liberated physically but is held captive by his own mind? As a leader, my greatest tool is my mind; with the right mindset and I am boundless. I have learned that true freedom ignites internally, then manifests externally.
I have a friend who was once affiliated with a gang. Even though his body was free, his mind and soul were held captive. He was following the wrong leaders, making the wrong decisions and lacked control over his life. While involved with some gang related conflict, he ended being charged as an accessory to murder. While in prison, he began to practice intentionality and self-discipline. There he met a pastor who introduced to him a different kind of freedom.
In prison, my friend was saved and gave his life to Christ. This change in his mentality had resulted in him experiencing internal freedom for the first time. He felt liberated while held captive in prison. His internal transformation set him free. Often we go through our lives as prisoners of our own minds, thoughts and emotions. The human mind is a powerful thing. With a liberated mind, the internal freedom that is experienced results in external freedom too. Don’t be a prisoner of your own mind, lean not on your own understandings, seek wisdom and freedom will be inherited.
4) Use your freedom to protect it.
With freedom comes responsibility. You should feel it as your personal duty to protect your freedom, and freedom in general. Freedom is a precious gift that offers many blessings. As a leader, stand up, even if you have to stand alone. If you don’t protect your freedom you will lose it. History will show you if you don’t protect or cherish freedom, if you don’t fight for it, you will lose it. A leader must recognize that freedom is both delicate and volatile; it needs to be handled with wisdom and discipline.
The presence of freedom bears fruit and blessings, its absence bears destruction and fear. This is self-evident worldwide. Countries like the United States or many European countries that have freedom, because they have fought for it and respected it, get to reap its blessings. Their nations’ blessings result from their wise and discipline leadership. Most countries in the Middle East are left with war, poverty and lack of wisdom due to a lack of freedom. Some Middle Eastern leaders have even abused and destroyed the freedom of the land because they did not value nor recognize the power and blessings of freedom.
These Middle Eastern countries once had freedom, but they had lack of leadership, respect, and wisdom in the potential and power of external and internal freedom. No one stood up for freedom. When a country has not tasted or experienced external and internal freedom, it is understandable why they may not fight for it let alone protect it. For such countries, notions of freedom have become incomprehensible because the conditions of their lives leave no room for fighting for freedom. In these circumstances, a leader is needed to rise up and deliver its nation to freedom
Without freedom, an individual, a country, or a nation is left without blessings. Those of us who have freedom must not only protect freedom, but also share its blessings. I have grown and developed as an individual because I have the blessing of freedom; it is my responsibility to share this with others and help them grow. As a leader, I find it my prerogative to protect freedom, share its blessings and add the value I find in freedom into others’ lives. We were gifted freedom by our forefathers and we must gift it to future generations.
Freedom is not free. It is paid for; we must continue its legacy. Throughout history, leaders, heroes, and martyrs have paid the price for our external freedom. Christ, paid the price for our internal freedom. He was the ransom for our self-invoked captivity. He set the example of how to gain internal freedom. Our job is not to mess it up for future generations. Freedom must be protected daily. As a leader, you must ask yourself “what am I doing with my freedom?” Do you utilize and optimize your internal freedom? Are you leaving a mark and adding value? Will freedom carry your signature into the future?
Published August 24, 2015	Leadership Leave a Comment
An Entrepreneur’s Most Frequently Asked Question. “Am I going to make it?”
“Am I going to make it?” This is a question we all ask at least once in our lives. We all have goals and aspirations that we wish to achieve, but the question that needs to be asked instead is “What do I need to make it?” As an entrepreneur, I along with many others, face this question on a regular basis. In order to alleviate these doubting thoughts, I have lived and developed a foolproof criterion that assures the success of an entrepreneur. If you meet all five points of the criterion listed below, then I can undoubtedly assure you that YES, you will make it!
First and for most, do you have a dream? Your dream will be the destination of your entrepreneurship. Is your dream crystal clear? A crystal clear dream shows you exactly where you want to be. Having this type of a dream becomes uncontainable. It is something you can’t wait to share with others. The excitement is contagious, resulting in others wanting to to be a part of your dream. In sharing my dream with others, I have gained a sense of purpose and direction as I leverage building a successful team and business around me.
In order to stay focused on my dream, I use a “Dream Board.” A “Dream Board” can be a physical and or mental manifestation of your dream’s details and characteristics. I love to hear people describe theirs. Often “Dream Board” objectives are focused on getting a dream car, a home, a vacation, or some form of monetary gain. My “Dream Board” was like that until I received coaching and identified that the objective needed to be changed. It shifted from measuring success with possessions to measuring success with my personal growth.
My “Dream Board” objective became about WHO I WANTED TO BECOME. My perspective and thoughts on success had been transformed. This transformation of objectives is an amazing journey. I recommend that you take your dream to a whole new level. Review your perspective and challenge yourself to project 5 to 10 years into the future in your “Dream Board.” With this move, you will experience an incredible shift in your outlook. I believe that the number one reason for my success up to this point as an Entrepreneur is that I constantly challenge myself to be the person I want to become. I am striving towards a better me, every day.
Do you have a purpose? If your dream is filled with purpose, you are one step closer to its manifestation. Your purpose will act as the fuel that will propel you towards your dream’s destination. It is crucial to understand that your dream is the destination you are journeying towards, but your purpose is your momentum that fuels your life eternally. Ultimately, not only should your dream be filled with purpose, but your life as well. A purpose driven life is a productive life.
The next step would be to ask yourself, why is your purpose important? Understanding the WHY factor of your purpose can help you attain the WHATs and the HOWs. For example, what do you want to fulfill with your purpose? What impact do you want to make? What transformations do you want to ignite? And lastly, what drives you and your dream? Once you have identified what your purpose is composed of, then you can easily act on how to implement your purpose in your life. Identifying these things will help develop a solid foundation for your purpose. As an entrepreneur, every step you take should be purpose driven and bearing fruit.
Do you live your life with passion? A successful life integrates passion into one’s work and personal life. The passion in your life is the fire that lights and warms your way towards your purposed filled dream. Nothing significant has ever taken place without passion. As an entrepreneur, I must love everything I do; otherwise, I have set myself in the opposite trajectory of success. With love and passion, anything can become attainable, bearable, and possible. If you put your heart into your work and into your dreams, I can assure you, you will succeed. When living and working with passion, your life and life’s work is filled with value. Not only are you gaining and building value for yourself, but also you end up adding value to other peoples’ lives. This is the power of a passion driven dream. When gold is put through fire, it comes out purer, brighter, refined and even more beautiful. Treat your work, goals, dreams and even yourself as such, put your self through the fire of passion and bear witness to the remarkable results.
Are you able to bring your dream to fruition? Is it in your power and capability to take on the tasks at hand to make your dream a reality? Here is the moment of truth. You must be honest and self-reflective. Being reasonable and realistic is key. Your abilities are the tools you need to use to attain the success you are striving for. It is like the engine you will utilize to reach your destination. If you are not built for a specific cause, then it is futile to reach from something that isn’t meant for you. For example, at church, I like to sing loudly; nevertheless, I do not have the vocal cords to sing nicely. My daughters always taunt me humorously and request of me not to sing with such fervor. I am not designed to sing. No matter how hard I try and how ever much time I spend on developing my voice, it could never become excellent. Working on weaknesses can only result in small changes; with all my efforts I could only become an average singer. Therefore I believe in developing one’s strengths. If you are already well equipped with certain abilities and gifts, then why not invest in them. When in pursuit of success, realize this fact, identify your abilities and act accordingly. With the right engine, you can reach your destination.
“Ability without dependability is a liability” -Shiv Khera
Last but not least, do you have the right attitude for success? I am always emphasizing that you need to work more on yourself than on your job. This increases the value you put on yourself and thereby affecting the value that others are willing to put on you. The best way to improve your own worth is by enhancing your own attitude. When on the road towards success, your attitude will be the speed at which you travel. With the right attitude and mentality, you can make all the right choices, make all the right impacts, meet all the right people, and gain all the right advantages. Ultimately, you are your own greatest challenge. If you can overcome your own weakness with the right attitude then success if a given.
If you were able to identify with all five points of this criterion, then I would like to say Congratulations! If you have a dream, a purpose, a passion, the ability and the right attitude, then you are set for success. If you found in yourself an area of weakness from within this criterion, then focus on that point and strengthen it. Stop looking and start doing. If you meet and exceed these five criteria, you are unstoppable. You will make it, assuredly as an entrepreneur, or anything else you wish to be.
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Building Relationships #NoExcuses
Published July 17, 2015	Leadership Leave a Comment
“Few things will pay you bigger dividends than the time and trouble you take to understand people. Almost nothing will add more to your stature as an executive and a person. Nothing will give you greater satisfaction or bring you more happiness”. ~George Kienzle and Edward Dare (from Climbing the Executive Ladder)
“How are you doing when it comes to being relational?
Do you spend a lot of time and energy building solid relationships, or are you so focused on results that you tend to overlook (or overrun) others?”
Do you know what motivates the members of your team? How can you help them to achieve their goals and desires?
What can you do to help make our “team” experience better and more enjoyable?
We humans are social beings. A great deal of our happiness, success and experience in life rely on interaction with other people. It is through our contact with others on a daily basis that we acquire knowledge, learn skills, develop our goals and capture the chance at a better future. Meeting one person can unlock possibilities we never knew existed. Unfortunately, in today’s world, socialization is becoming less and less common. We create excuses that stand between us and other people; excuses that separate us from the happiness and the prospects these people can present. In my upcoming book “No Excuses Mind” you will learn how a “No Excuses” mindset can help achieve our goals in different areas of life, but how can a “No Excuses” mindset in social relationships change our lives?
I frequently go to Starbucks and find people standing in line waiting for their coffee. They are surrounded by many people they could connect to, but instead of discovering these people, they are glued to their phones. Everybody is more focused on updating their Facebook profiles than on interacting with those around them. As gripping as modern technology is, it has made it very easy for us to forget to connect to people. We have become addicted to social media, and we let that addiction distract us from pursuing real relationships with real people. These technologies and ‘social’ outlets are excuses keeping us from getting out there, connecting with others and seizing the opportunities that come with socialization.
In our fast-paced culture, we have even found ways to take socialization out of social events! Instead of going to church or temple, many watch the services on television. People buy a seminar tape and watch it instead of attending the seminar. These alternatives don’t feed our human needs to socialize, be part of the community, form relationships, and make friendships. Our dependence on technology causes us to miss on that important part, and we find ourselves unhappy and unfulfilled.
When I go to Starbucks, I high five people. I go there and I enjoy people just like I enjoy coffee. I connect to several people during these few minutes I spend waiting for my coffee. Not only is this rewarding to me on a personal level, it is essential to my growth professionally. It’s all about relationships and your ability to build them.
Relationships and Career:
Take a step back and think about the best sales people you have met. What makes them good? The best enterpreuners have one thing in common: they connect with their clients. A good sales person customizes her approach to make a connection, to communicate and to form a relationship. I have been a sales professional for 17 years, and I can tell you that sales are all about relationships. People don’t only buy the product, they buy you as a salesperson. You sell them the relationship you form with them. Sadly, people are losing the touch, the ability to connect and socialize with other people. With that loss, they are losing chances at a whole new level; they are losing the horizons that entering a social circle can open up.
Social media may be a great marketing tool, but it is personal connection that benefits a relationship. Mass emails are perfect for business, but one-on-one contact is what really builds a professional relationship. Each of these things has its right time and place, and recognizing the difference is of utmost importance. Unfortunately, what we do is use one of these communication tools to replace another. We often create relationships for purposes that benefit our business goals. In the process, we fail to recognize the benefits of friendship, and relationships. I had the honor few years ago to have the CEO of our company visit our offices in CA. We had a great time discussing some of our successes and some of the challenges in business. After a few days, I was absolutly amazed when I received his handwritten note, thanking me for the time I spent with him. I still talk about it even today with my team members, and talk about the impact of his beautiful gesture.
Although modern technology has opened up so many possibilities to business, it has also created one of the biggest traps we fall into in our relationships. We falsely believe that email, text messages and social media can replace the personal touch.
Social media and texting are simply not enough. When I have the chance to meet the person or make a phone call, I will. I will do that because texting and using social media cannot replace the value of the relationship; they are good things, but not good enough.
Adapting to new forms of communication is essential, but it doesn’t mean that giving up the things that work, the things that give the most effect. We have to make the distinction between the situations that call for each method of communication.
I believe the misuse of these new communication methods is an obstacle. Before these tools were invented, people had fewer psychological problems; they were more relaxed. Professionally, we saw more success stories.
What do I want in my day-to-day relationships with others?
How can I relate better to others? What steps can I take to invest in people’s lives?
What will my life look like when I invest in relationships?
“A relationship without trust is like having a phone with no service. And what do you do with a phone with no service? You play games”
“A good relationship is more than something we want—it’s something we need to be our happiest, healthiest, most productive selves. But at home or work, supportive, fulfilling relationships don’t come automatically. They take an investment in time and energy as well as social skills that can be learned.” Trust and relationships are the currency of leadership.
Farshad Asl, Bankers Life, Regional Director
Why Entrepreneurship is Key to Success
Published May 4, 2015	No Excuses Mindset! You Are A Leader...Live The Life The Way You Deserve! Leave a Comment
Entrepreneur: “a person who organizes and manages any enterprise, especially a business, usually with considerable initiative and risk.” – Dictionary.com
Sure, almost anyone can manage a project, or plan to reach a goal, but a true entrepreneur does this while facing difficulty with boldness, unafraid to take risks and accept the challenges of making it happen.
Here are some of my favorite quotes on Entrepreneurship:
“If you’re not embarrassed by the first version of your product, you’ve launched too late.” -Reid Hoffman
“If you’re not a risk taker, you should get out of business.” -Ray Kroc
Entrepreneurship enables you to love problems and see them as opportunities. An Entrepreneur has a mindset for success, because the road to success is always under construction. Entrepreneurs understand that pretty well.
To an Entrepreneur –
Problems have lessons
Problems will make you stronger in life
Entrepreneurs are undaunted by what might hold others back. This enables them to accomplish bigger goals and make their visions reality. This is key to success, and to an Entrepreneur this is what it means to win.
Entrepreneurs don’t just like to win, they live to win. Winning is not just their habit but also their lifestyle. They press on despite difficulties and they never allow them to affect their attitude or performance. Winning is like OXYGEN for them. They value opportunity more than security. Potential over complacency, Excellence over the status quo!
They live with no excuses.
They start early and they stay late.
They have skin in the game
They take risk
They understand they have to give up in order to go up
They continue when others quit
They have passion for what they do
They have a high self-image
They micromanage themselves
They have a heart to serve others
They don’t look back, they learn and look forward
They DREAM passionately
They are connected to the source of success (the Lord, the Creator of the creation)
And God blessed them. And God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.’ ”
Bible says: “be fruitful and multiply”
According to the Bible, the Lord created each and every one of us in his own image, and then “God blessed” us . Wow, such an amazing God. According to the Bible we were born to be successful, we were born to become Entrepreneurs, and we were born to become leaders. You might wonder, “what has stopped us”? The answer is very simple. He has given us the freedom of choice, the power of freewill, and the power of the mind; and we choose to allow FEAR to take over our FREEDOM. God commands us to use our talents productively; we are exhorted to work, to be creative, and to reject idleness.
The measure of success today is all about your ability to create a vision, to communicate that vision, to act heavily upon that vision, and to add value to others by helping them grow with you along the way.
Create Your Own Opportunities & Destiny
A study published in 2009 by IZA, the international Institute for the Study of Labor found that the mean, median, and standard deviation of incomes for Entrepreneurs ― controlled for education, general ability (as measured by standardized test scores), and demographics (including age and parental income) ― tended to be higher than those of good old-fashioned employees. And the difference is by no means small: mean income for Entrepreneurs is almost 50% greater than for “employees.” And what’s more- this effect is not explained by “professional” entrepreneurial pursuits such as opening a medical or law practice. Why is this? The study theorizes that Entrepreneurs can control their environments in order to play more to their strengths. While employees suffer from the “guard rails” and “iron cages” of corporate America, Entrepreneurs are able to create environments over time that maximize the value of their education and skills. That makes intuitive sense: create an environment that plays to your strengths, and you’ll be happier and more productive by continuing to work in the area that you have the skills and passion for.
If you have never experienced being an Entrepreneur, now is the time. The best time to start taking control of your life is right now! It is no longer enjoyable, profitable, or possible to create a legacy through the traditional way of working.
“Entrepreneurship is the process of conquering fear with getting out of your comfort-zone and living daily in your God-given gift zone” ~Farshad Asl
So break out of your comfort-zone and become a true Entrepreneur TODAY.
I am LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/farshadasl
A Leader’s Mind
Published April 26, 2015	No Excuses Mindset! You Are A Leader...Live The Life The Way You Deserve! Leave a Comment
Carol Dweck, a world-renowned Stanford University psychologist, during decades of research on achievement and success, proposed the idea that all people have either of two mindsets, -a “fixed” mindset, or a “growth” mindset. This is a simple idea that can make all the difference.
Fixed Mindset: People believe their basic qualities, like their intelligence or talent, are simply fixed traits. They spend their time documenting their intelligence or talent instead of developing them. They also believe that talent alone creates success—without effort. They’re wrong.
Growth Mindset: People believe that their most basic abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work—brains and talent are just the starting point. This view can create a love of learning and a resilience that is essential for great accomplishment. Virtually all great people have had these qualities.
A Leader’s Mind: L.E.A.D.E.R.S.H.I.P
L: Love-based Motivation: Motivation based on feeling valued in the job.
Why do you think the majority of heart attacks occur on Monday mornings? One study showed that the most common factor in these heart attacks was that the victims were people whose work had become joyless striving. In other words, they couldn’t find meaning in their work, and their lives had become so out of balance that, one Monday morning, their bodies said, You are not going to work today. The role of leadership can either be Fear-based or Love-based. The decision is yours.
E: Emotional Intelligence: A leader’s abilities to perceive, identify, understand, and successfully manage emotions in themselves and others; The more self-awareness that leaders have, the higher will be their awareness of the emotions of others around them.
A: Accountable: Accountability comes from the presence of trust and the absence of fear. Leaders keep themselves accountable before holding others accountable. They define and clarify roles, goals and expectations for the team.
D: Developing Others: Leaders can really make their marks by creating cultures of development within their teams and supporting people who seek opportunities for development. Leaders developing other leaders understand transformational leadership.
E: Enabler: Enabling others is key to develop them;
R: Righteousness: “The lips of the righteous feed many, but fools die for lack of wisdom.” – Proverbs 10:21 A good leader is a wise leader and wisdom is found in God and His word.
How would the desire to seek Righteousness improve your relationships? What part does Righteousness play in your relationships with your team members, friends, co-workers and family?
S: Servanthood: True leadership is servanthood, and the greatest leader of all time is Jesus Christ. Servanthood is an attitude exemplified by him. “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45)
H: Humility: Humility is an important human quality. But did you know that humility can help you be a better leader, too?
Jim Collins, an influential consultant and author, wrote about humility and leadership in his groundbreaking book, “From Good to Great.”
He found that, in the top-performing companies he identified, leaders had humility in abundance; they shared credit for success, and they were the first to accept blame for mistakes.
I : Independent thinking: Questioning assumptions and interpreting data and events according to one’s own beliefs, ideas, and thinking, rather than pre-established rules or categories defined by others
P: Personal Mastery: The discipline of personal growth and learning and of mastering yourself, it embodies personal visions, facing reality and holding creative tension.
When Warren Bennis interviewed great leaders, “they all agreed leaders are made, not born, and made more by themselves than by any external means.” Bennis concurs: “I believe.. that everyone, of whatever age and circumstance, is capable of self-transformation.” Not that everyone will become a leader. Sadly, most managers and even CEOs become bosses, not leaders. They wield power instead of transforming themselves, their workers, and their organization.
A leader’s mind is focused on self-awareness, self-accountability, growing himself, and serving others by coaching, teaching, and influencing them. A leader’s mind can see and visualize a vision clearly, and as a result, they act before others do, they see before others see, and their selfless character will influence others to also become part of that big vision.
Don't be a prisoner of the past
No Excuses Mindset! You Are A Leader…Live The Life The Way You Deserve!
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