Recently, one of my very first clients – who now is also a good friend – referred to me as the Jedi Master of Motivation. I felt humbled. I’m also a Star Wars fan.

Self – Motivation. An important and integral part of my work is focused on motivation.  One of the inherent benefits of coaching and giving presentations is that these tools may serve as a “catalyst” for people to become motivated to first clarify and then pursue their goals.

To be clear, the “catalyst” is in helping people discover their own motivation.  In my view, this is truly where the personal journey of self-evolution begins.  Through self-motivation, people can begin exciting, fulfilling, and rewarding journeys aimed at reaching their professional and personal aspirations.  While other factors are imperative, self-motivation is where it all begins.

Self-motivated people make the conscious decision to become top performers.  They decide to become the best that they can be in their endeavors – successful business owners, outstanding sales professionals, strong leaders, great parents, committed spouses, friends and contributing members of society.

Beyond self-motivation, there is another imperative step in this path of self-evolution.

Commitment.  During this step, people make the commitment to achieving the next small goal and strive to reach the next milestone through planning and focused actions.  Even though they may experience circumstances beyond their control and have to make adjustments by occasionally changing their course along the way, they continue to move forward.  Beyond decision, they make a commitment to their personal and professional growth and development.

Just like my friend and client, they are self-motivated people of commitment. They are the Jedi Masters of Self-Motivation.

May self-motivation and committment be with you…

P.S:  If you want to be notified regarding any future teleclasses and/or any of our programs, send an email to info@growthstrategies4u.com and type in the subject line:  Programs.  Note: We value your privacy. We will never share or exchange your contact information.

During a beautiful summer day about a month ago, my four-year old daughter Aleka, and I went to the park.  My wife, Kristina, prepared some snacks for the outing. We brought some strawberries and some  chocolate spread sandwiches packed in a container.  Just enough for us to snack on, until Kristina could join us for lunch a few hours later.

Days like this are one of life’s true enjoyments.

When we arrived at the park, we placed the backpack on one of the picnic tables.  We opened the container, had a few strawberries, and then headed to the swings that were about 20-yards away. During this time, a couple of squirrels were comfortably hanging around, staring at us. I thought they were a little bit too close for comfort.  People seem to feed them, so they hang around for snacks, scraps, and interaction.

As Aleka insisted that I take her to the swings, I tightly sealed the snack container, made sure that no food was exposed, and off we went to the swings.  We must have been gone for only  about 15-minutes, before heading back to our table to a big surprise.

Creatively and with a definite purpose, one of the squirrels had removed the lid from the snack container, eaten most of the strawberries, and was currently enjoying one of the chocolate spread sandwiches!  In a totally relaxed manner and with pure enjoyment, the squirrel was staring at us as if it was saying, “See what I did? Thanks for the meal!”

I am absolutely certain that I had properly sealed the container and thought that the food was “safe.”    I didn’t think that a squirrel would have the ingenuity, purpose and quite frankly – the audacity to help itself, but it did.

Apparently, this squirrel was hungry enough to figure out a way to access the snacks in only about 15 minutes.  We ended up giving our leftovers to this industrious and hungry squirrel. He earned them.

What is the moral of the story? This is open to your interpretation.

Some possible interpretive questions:

• What in my world seems “impossible” or as something that “cannot” be done?
• Am I more like the picnickers or the squirrel in this story?
• Am I complacent in thinking I am “safe?”
• What in my world can spark the “hunger” in me, as in this squirrel, to thereby spark my creativity and ingenuity? How can I be more like the squirrel in this story?

You may post your comments below.

It was 19 years ago today, that I came to this great country the United States of America from beautiful Greece.

I consider myself a very lucky person to have had the wonderful opportunity of experiencing two different worlds and two different cultures. Even though, I admit, at times I was scared to do so, I’ve gone after my dreams and aspirations. I’ve experienced successes and breakthroughs.  I’ve also experienced challenges with disheartening setbacks, which I’ve learned can be invaluable experiences that carry gems of knowledge and hidden opportunities.

When you can create the opportunity to do so, few things in life can be as rewarding and fulfilling as going after your aspirations or even your simplest of goals. Even though the path to making them happen is not always clear and success may be difficult to attain, I believe this to be true. Definitive vision and purpose, decisiveness, heart, and intentional action are all some of the key principles that pave the way to our success.

It’s a special day today.

I get to celebrate my great fortune for having wonderful friends, amazing parents, and a loving family. I celebrate my incredibly supportive wife, Kristina, and the greatest love of our lives, our four-year-old daughter, Aleka. 

While I continue to grow and evolve, I’m grateful that during this journey to be able to share my knowledge and experiences with the world. I’m grateful for having the privilege to work with great clients and support them in the pursuit of their personal and professional dreams and aspirations.

I’m grateful for all of the times I can inspire people and make a difference in their lives.

It’s a special day today.  It’s been a fantastic 19-year journey so far. I look forward to tomorrow with all of the opportunities it holds. 

Thank you for joining in my journey and my celebration today.

One of the key points of the presentation was underlining the importance of living in the present moment. Living in the “here and now” by taking one day, one hour, one moment at a time. The only certainty we do have, and the only opportunity we have to be our best, is right now.

While drawing lessons from our past, visualizing, planning for our future, and committing to taking purposeful action is essential, focusing all of our attention, energy and intellect in the present moment is one of the keys for being our best and for managing “change.”

Whether you are communicating with your clients, spending time with family and friends, or taking time for your personal growth and development, remember to focus in the “here and now.” Be the best that you can be, this very moment. This is definitely not easy, but it is something special to strive for.

To Your Unconditional Success!

Post your comment below.

We get one chance to make a first impression. Being enthusiastic can help us make a good, first impression.

Enthusiasm is internal, positive energy, genuinely expressed outwards. It is transferable. It carries over in our verbal and non-verbal communications. When our energy level is positive, we are enthusiastic, and in turn, people generally will respond positively to us. When our enthusiasm level is low, people will know.

Being aware of your level of energy before attending a business meeting or a social event is important. You get one chance to make a first impression.  Be enthusiastic. Shine!

To Your Unconditionall Success.

“Everything begins with a thought, including our decision to be the best that we can be both professionally and personally.”

“Change is constant. This is a fact of life. We change and evolve in different ways every day. Just like society, the economy, your industry, your clients, your family and friends, so does your business. When we learn how to embrace change  – although this may be difficult – we are more likely to see new opportunities.” 

“Become a  student of life and business. It can be fun and rewarding.”  

“Are you taking care of yourself in mind, body and spirit? Are you on the right path professionally? How are your relationships with your family and friends? Metaphorically speaking, when the pilot, the plane and the tailwind are working together, the flight to our destination will be faster and more successful.”

“Make every effort to clarify your direction. Create a compelling, inspiring and empowering vision for your business and your life. Set your short-term goals. Develop your plan. Commit to taking purposeful action. Enjoy the journey and you can make it happen! The world is yours.”

To Your Unconditional Success!

Post your comment below.

George “H”

Andrew Carnegie said that successful people are the ones that go the extra mile. In my opinion, he was referring to one of the fundamental principles of success: “added value.”

As business professionals living in a fast-paced, ever-changing business world, adopting an “added value” mindset gives us a competitive edge; it helps us distinguish ourselves in the eyes and minds of our clients, prospects, associates and employers. 

What is the definition of “added value”? This depends on your type of business. In simple terms, it is under-promising and over-delivering; going beyond what is expected of us. It is making the entire business experience consistently better for our clients and the people that we serve.

Once we clearly understand what is expected of us, it is imperative to adopt the “added value” philosophy. Strategies of success may evolve; principles, however, never do.

To your success!