Welcome to Seyidekol's Blog (SDIL)

Wednesday, 4 April 2018

The Best Career Advice, From Successful People Who Made It to the Top

Success leaves clues. No. 1: Start by taking a hard look at yourself and deciding what you want.

Building a successful career draws from several important disciplines. These time-honored practices, proven to work in every industry, are vital to those striving to achieve success. Whether you need inspiration to start a new practice or a boost of motivation to get back on track, take and use these four leaders’ experiences to bolster your own.

1. Self-knowledge is the foundation.

Without self-knowledge, the pursuit of success is frustrating. In the ancient world, philosophers encouraged their followers to reflect. Today’s leaders use their self-understanding to define and reach success.

“At several points, my mentors have served as a mirror for me and helped me to understand myself better,” says Kim Ulmer, regional president of Royal Bank of Canada. Ulmer’s responsibility includes managing more than 170 branches and 3,000 staffers.
Dave Kasabian, chief marketing officer at Tagetik, a management software company, says, “My philosophy of growth is to look inside myself: What do I enjoy? What are my skills and passions? Based on that knowledge, I make decisions on how to develop.”
Assessment tools provide helpful insights in understanding strengths. For example, Michael Hyatt, author and entrepreneur, referred to StrengthsFinder 2.0, a personal development favorite, as he exited a corporate career to start a new chapter as an entrepreneur. His strengths, according to the model, included a focus on achievement and the future.

Self-knowledge requires reflecting on your experiences, good and bad. Think about last week and take note of when you felt the greatest satisfaction. You might take greater satisfaction from solving thorny business problems. Or you might relish the challenge of guiding a new graduate through their first few months at work.

2. Curiosity is powerful.

“Formal education will make you a living; self-education will make you a fortune.” —Jim Rohn

An open and curious mind is vital to make the most of learning opportunities. Curiosity means looking for an opportunity to learn and apply ideas outside of the classroom. And engagement and focus is increasingly vital in leadership roles because your actions and words will quietly influence many around you.

“I usually take one or two courses per year at a business school to keep my skills sharp,” says Rich Crawford, CEO of Global Integrated Services.
“I have a thirst for knowledge and regularly go out to meet with business owners to understand their situation,” Ulmer says. “Recently, I found David Zinger’s “10 Principles of Engagement” and have found that to be a helpful resource. It has encouraged [reflecting] on my work several times per day to see if I am truly engaged.”
“One of the most valuable books I’ve read in my career is Peter Drucker’s The Effective Executive, says Ben Sawa, director of marketing at GEI Consultants Inc., one of the largest engineering firms in the U.S.
Entertainment executive Brian Grazer—producer of Apollo 13, The Da Vinci Code and J. Edgar—attributes much of his professional success to curiosity and learning from those around him as he describes in his book, A Curious Mind: The Secret to a Bigger Life.

3. Mentors provide new perspectives and better questions.

Successful leaders consistently reach out to mentors throughout the course of their careers. The conversation might start with business, but the lessons are often applicable to a range of concerns and issues.

“I have had several mentors over my career including family mentors and those in the business community,” Ulmer says. “Mentors have helped me to adopt a broader perspective and ask questions such as, ‘Have you taken the time to understand the situation before acting?’”
“Every meaningful mistake I have ever made has involved poor communication. [That’s] a lesson I learned from a CFO who mentored me. That was an important insight,” Sawa says. “I also think it is valuable to seek mentors who are different from you because they can provide a fresh perspective.”
“My mentors have helped me to get outside of the day-to-day flow of work to ask bigger questions,” Kasabian says. “In 1994, I was given a powerful question from a mentor: ‘Draw where you want to be in five years.’ That exercise helped me to think about my career and the direction of my life much more deeply. I ended up making a move to another state, among other decisions as a result. It was a powerful experience.”
“I’m a huge believer in mentors,” Crawford says. “At present, I’m working with two mentors and I’m learning much from both of them. I learn about industry best practices from one and work life matters from another. YPO [Young Presidents’ Organization] had an excellent mentorship program that I found valuable.”

4. Keep the right company to achieve your goals.

The company you keep has a major impact on your success and self-concept. Jim Rohn’s observation that “you are the average of the five people you spend the most time with,” rings true for many leaders.

“My participation in Young Presidents’ Organization has been tremendously valuable. It is rare to find so many other executives and CEOs who are facing similar challenges,” Crawford explains. In addition to informal networking, Crawford has benefited from YPO’s mentorship program and specialized educational programs that serve the needs of executives.
“It is important to choose thoughtfully when it comes to joining organizations,” Ulmer says. “I’m currently involved with Junior Achievement because they operate on a national level and work on major problems. I’m also involved with the Manitoba Business Council.”

Where do you find peers to challenge you and help you grow?

Tuesday, 3 April 2018

These 5 signs mean you're far more successful than you realize

Marcel Schwantes,
Inc.

0
Sometimes, we might not feel super successful.
But that doesn't mean it's true.
There are a number of ways you can be successful without even realising it.

Success is tricky and hard to define because it differs from individual to individual. My mother, who never held a corporate job her whole life, achieved great success as a homemaker raising kidsand creating a nurturing home environment.

Others will define it through a fat bank account, number of deals closed, books written, races won, or promotions received. Warren Buffett himself defined success by one's ability to say "no" to as many things as possible.

And sometimes success alludes us because we're not even aware of it. Truth is, we all have abilities, strengths, traits, and gifts that are successful habits in the here and now, which we fail to recognise.

So many of us go about life measuring ourselves by the impossible "success" standards of others. We may wrongly perceive that success is "out there," when it's already within us or within our reach.

Worse, because we lack clarity about what success means in the context of our daily lives, we are often misled into believing we are failures.

If you're unsure where you stand, ask yourself if any of these success habits apply to your life right now? If so, I'm here to suggest to you that you're already way more successful than you think you are. For example:

1. You are successful because you surround yourself with successful people.

Warren Buffett defines one of the keys to his success like this: "It's better to hang out with people better than you. Pick out associates whose behavior is better than yours and you'll drift in that direction."

This lesson is practiced by successful people everywhere. They know that when they soak up the knowledge and learn the behaviors of other sages further down the path, it will only make them better and elevate their own success.

2. You are successful because you help other people succeed.

Adam Grant, top-rated professor at Wharton business school and best-selling author of "Give and Take," "Originals" and "Option B," tells CNBC Make It: "The most meaningful way to succeed is to help other people succeed."

If that's anti-climatic for you, consider the evidence. Grant has observed in his studies that great leaders think bigger than themselves. They advance a vision or an idea or a project that's "going to affect a lot of people."

Grant explains further: "[Leaders] who put other people first, they end up inspiring a different kind of effort, a different level of motivation, and a greater sense of belongingness."

He adds, "The ones that I admire the most, who also tend to produce the best results, are the ones who are givers not takers — who say 'look, it's not all about me.'"

3. You are successful by virtue of the way you communicate.

Being able to communicate effectively is one of the best life skills you can develop. Think about it: people that can masterfully communicate their thoughts, feelings, ideas, concerns and wishes are better equipped to succeed on so many levels. They are...

... able to manage or avoid conflict
... able to negotiate win-win scenarios
... able to influence others
... able to increase their ability to collaborate at a high level.

That's what successful people do.

4. You are successful because you love what you do and know where you're headed.

All successful people, regardless of how much or little money they make or have made, have a purpose that they can't help but pursue. Perhaps for you, it's the thing you absolutely love to do and that makes you come alive.

If you know what that is for you, and you're good at it, you're probably on the fast track toward your ultimate goal, whatever that is for you. If so, you are successful.

Apple CEO Tim Cook recently said, "Do what you love, and put your whole heart into it, and then just have fun."

Even if there are low monetary rewards, you would probably do it anyway because of your love for it.

Cook understands this deep down. "My advice to all of you is, don't work for money—it will wear out fast, or you'll never make enough and you will never be happy, one or the other," Cook told students at the University of Glasgow last year after receiving an honorary degree from the school.

5. You are successful because you realise life is about the journey, not the destination.

Successful people don't give up so easy. When they experience setbacks, it's all part of the journey of experimenting, learning, growing, and failing forward. When they do stumble and fall over and over, they don't bicker and yell at the world with fist in the air, "This is too freakin' hard, I don't deserve this!"

They are able to see through the hard moments, bounce back from the discouragement, and accept the next challenge with determination and resolve. They have an undying support system of people that passionately believe in their conviction. With every win — however small or large — they celebrate and party like it's 1999. They find joy in the little things as they try and try again. And along the way, they can look over their left shoulder at what they've achieved and proudly proclaim, "I am, indeed, successful

Sunday, 1 April 2018

10 things I wish I'd known before I quit my job to work for myself

Jen Goldenberg Doner

While it has never been easier to work successfully from home,
there are a number of common pitfalls to avoid.
It is important to leave the house and integrate social contact
into your day — otherwise, you may begin to feel reclusive.
By carefully scheduling your day, changing out of your
pajamas, and creating a designated work area, it is possible
to transform your living
environment into a productive space.

After I graduated in 2010, I took an entry-level advertising sales assistant

job at a well-known print magazine. For the next six years, I spent time

bouncing from magazine to

magazine across sales, marketing, and editorial, desperately trying to

find my niche in order to rise

the ranks.

Turns out, my niche is at home. For the last two years, I've worked for

myself as an editorial and brand partnerships consultant for a variety of

media companies. This position combines all of those jack-of-all-trades job

functions into one lucrative role.

I used to dread going to the office, and now I love my career. Self-discovery

and revelations aside, there's a roadmap to do it all right.

Here's what I wish I knew on Day One:

1. Everyone thinks you're at home watching daytime TV

Admittedly, my first day working from home was a little bit terrifying.

My first concern was how I would build out my home cubicle environment.

What were the rules?

Could I turn on the TV? Was it legal? Who would stop me?

I realized I was my own boss, and I could do what works for me. I flop

between daytime talk shows (no judgment please) and CNN, with the

intermittent episode of whatever

HGTV show happens to be on.

The background noise keeps me from going stir crazy, but it also helps me

feel like I'm not living in a bubble.

2. No one thinks you're ever busy

Can you pick up a gift for me? Can you grab my dry cleaning? Do you mind

taking care of dinner? I often receive these kinds of texts from friends and

family. I usually say yes. Why? Not because I'm a pushover, but because

I sometimes feel guilty that I have created a position where I'm my own

boss and have my own freedom and schedule. There's no one tying me to

desk or giving me a look when I take a long lunch or walk out 10 minutes

before 5 p.m.

Even though it may be easier to do so, I've learned you can't always say yes.

The only person I'm hurting is myself — by losing my potential income for

that hour of work.

Although I have significantly more freedom now than I did at my desk job,

it still doesn't mean that I'm not busy. In fact, I'm busier than I ever have

been. Sometimes you have to say no, and

that's OK. They'll (hopefully) understand.

3. You have to set a schedule

My first months freelancing, I thought I'd never get off the ground. I

was increasingly worried about my income, and though my supportive

husband helped us figure

out a way to get by in the meantime, it was still so challenging. I told

myself I'd work traditional

work hours. I would start my day at 9 a.m. and stop only when my

husband came home for the

evening. Sometimes that was 6 p.m., but more often it was 9 p.m.

I must have sent off hundreds of emails, which created a runway for me

to really get things going. Turns out that regimented schedule really

worked

at the beginning,

but it wasn't sustainable. These days, I typically work from 11 a.m. to

7 p.m., which I find is my most

productive part of the day. But, do you. Set your schedule.

4. The key to more free time is working more efficiently

At my desk job, about 50% of my time was spent gallivanting and avoiding

work. There were multiple coffee runs, a long lunch, and during the time

I actually spent

at my desk, not much work really got done.

Maybe because the woman next to me was munching on popcorn too loud,

the guy across from me was tapping profusely, and the new hire was

listening to their headphones

just loud enough so you could hear the bass. All of these things chipped

away at my patience,

productivity, and sanity.

I might wake up later now, and maybe I'll stop earlier, but in the time

I'm working, I'm extremely motivated to do my job. I know that if I get

my work done, I'm free later

to enjoy the rest of my day. I don't just get to walk away without finishing it.

Being freelance also

helps keep me focused. That kind of "you eat what you kill" mantra really

applies. No work-y? No money.

5. Designate a work space

The couch is not an office. I started working from our dining table, and

while it served the purpose, it didn't make me feel like I was working.

It was too casual, and it wasn't making me disciplined enough.

I ordered a $60 desk on Amazon and set myself up for success in the

corner of our 800-square-foot apartment. I carved out a little nook that

would become my office, and it

totally worked.

That said, there are times when sweatpants and the couch totally suffice

as a work day. Like when everyone else has a snow day, but your "office"

isn't closed.

6. Make sure to leave the house

A friend of mine used to work from home and is really adamant that I

leave the house. Whenever we see him, his first question is always,

"Did you leave the apartment this week?" I feel really awkward when

my response is no.

It's fine if things are crazy and you can't leave every day, but try and

make it happen as best you can. Even if you just go around the corner to

the coffee shop or take a

walk around the block.

7. Interact with humans

My first couple months working from home was spent writing, so I had

limited interaction with other people. My husband would come home

and I would chew his ear

off about anything and everything. He told me I needed to talk to humans

during the day.

My current role has me on sales calls several times a week, and I have a

standing call with my boss where I definitely talk more than I should.

Every profession is different,

so even if your job requires little human contact, try and find a way to

fit it in.

Whether it's connecting with a co-worker over the phone, finding a

volunteer

opportunity during lunch or after work, or just going to the local store

and chatting up the guy

in aisle 6 rearranging the canned goods, talk to someone so you don't

become a hermit.

8. It's amazing how much you accomplish when you take

out work drama

I never enjoyed the office. I hated the politics, had trouble being fake to

coworkers I disliked, and frankly, there were just too many unnecessary

hour-long meetings that

kept me from being productive. Without those factors, my days are spent

working fruitfully.

It's also much less overwhelming when Sally isn't peeking her head over

the cubicle asking you

if you have time for a quick meeting all the time.

9. Don't be afraid to take a pay cut, because you'll save

on expenses

When I decided to work from home, I had just turned down a really good

job

offer that was a major salary increase from my last job. It was a tough

decision, but I knew having

my freedom and dedicating myself to work I love was going to yield far

better results down

the road. My salary has now reached the level of that job offer, but it took

a few years. That said,

I've still come out ahead because of the amount of money I save on

transportation, food, and clothing.

Before I started working from home, I got into the habit of taking taxis,

Ubers, and Vias to work, due to my profound dislike of public transportation.

I also routinely

overspent on the aforementioned coffee runs and lunches.

The cost of my required transportation is pretty limited now, and those

expensive must-get-to-work Uber rides have fallen off. Food and beverage

are a fraction of the

cost, since I make good use of being at home. Plus, I wear what's already

in my closet since no one

at my home office is paying attention to my outfits. These things have

made a significant difference

in my net income.

10. Get dressed every day

This might sound obvious, but it's so easy to get out of bed, roll to the couch,

and start the workday. All the sudden, "Ellen" is on, and I'm still in my

sweatpants looking

like it's a lazy Saturday. Except it's Tuesday. And while this does

happen on occasion,

my most productive days are the ones when I dress for success.

You don't have to go crazy, but

upgrading from pajamas will totally shift your mindset.

5 Signs That You Would Financially Successful

Hey guys, I am back again and this time I want to share some traits I have noticed in people who make so much money in Nigeria (excluding politicians in most cases).

A student in my online business training group asked me a question which prompted this article. She asked, “how would I know I am on the right track to financial success?” I gave her the answer she wanted, and I decided to write about it.

This post isn’t the regular junk you see on the internet from White men, I am writing based on Nigeria’s environmental condition. Even though the principles of success remains the same, it also varies from location to location.

How do you know that you’d be financially successful here in Nigeria?

This post isn’t meant to differentiate losers from winners. But in the past couple of years, I have seen a majority of people with the traits I am about to list become successful. So if you can pick some few points, apply it to your life, you will surely be on the path to financial freedom.

What are these traits?

You have several Financially Successful people as Friends

There is no how you’d be among people who are financially successful, and not become one. A few years back as a broke personality roaming the streets of Lagos, I finally met a top Affiliate Marketer via this forum.

We became close and started relating on a whole new level. I didn’t want money, all I wanted was knowledge. It was hard to make him give me the knowledge (though I had to pay for it), but that is what puts food on my table till date. I have made millions from gross commissions in Affiliate marketing, and I am not stopping anytime soon.

If you want to be rich, you mingle with the rich and know what they know.

You run with Ideas

Running with Ideas mean implementation of ideas that you conceived or someone told you. Nigeria is a land filled with opportunities, so those with creative ideas and implement it are showing signs of those who would succeed financially.

Most of the ideas might not be successful at first, but it shows someone with the extra desire to succeed. “Ideas are like kites, who catches it first flies with it.” Users of ideas are always down the financial chain, while owners of ideas are up there in the financial freedom chain.

In my online business class, I thought of an idea and shared it with my students. The first girl to implement it made $900 profit that month.

You Think Smart and Work Hard

Now is the time to forget the cliché that says “Hard work doesn’t pay.” Hard work pays and will continue to pay. But hard work on its own as a single function won’t pay unless you support it with the thinking smart aspect.

Before I joined Fiverr, I didn’t bother reading up all those jargons on the internet. I simply contacted a successful Fiverr worker; bought his E-book guide for 6k in 2016, I recouped my investment of 6k in the first 2 weeks .and went on to make $150. It was small, but ever since I have made 6 digits on monthly basis.

You don’t suffer from the trial and error method in the 21st century when people already have models that work. Just invest a little amount in someone’s successful model, and set up your own to earn thousands of dollars immediately.

You don’t give up

This is a general trait for those that will be successful. When you first start a venture that would earn you money, it isn’t always easy at first. Your first few months MIGHT be discouraging, but you don’t give in to the disappointments.

If you have followed the right model, done your research, and created the right system in place, along with the line, everything will fall into place. It is all about persistence and determination. Nigeria is a hard place to start a business, that’s the reason most youths have decided to dive into online businesses – because there are no limiting factors to it.

I have prepared a guide that would help you copy my successful business model and implement it for instant success. Do you have a mobile phone and an internet connection? Then how are you making money from it? I will show you below…

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