- Say “Yes” more than you say “No”.
Saying yes will take you out of your comfort zone, allow you to meet new people, and help you to make a difference in your own life and the lives of others. Brian Campbell, a former Mayor and Army Special Operations Officer says: “Growth happens when you live outside your comfort zone, you need to put yourself out there and push yourself to do things you’re uncomfortable doing.” In order to grow to your full potential, you need to say yes to a variety of opportunities that come your way that others pass over.
- Don’t be afraid to fail.
In the words of J. K. Rowling, ‘It is impossible to live without failing at something unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all. In which case, you fail by default.’
However, while failure is an inevitable part of learning, do not dwell on the failure. Figure out what you did wrong and don’t do it twice. There are no benefits to be gained from failing ‘so hard you are scared and anxious for life, family, career…’ Dealing with failure is a balancing act. You have to take risks in order to learn, and you might fail, but one of the secrets to success is not failure itself, but overcoming it, learning from it, and not letting it frighten you off the next new experience you want to pursue.
- Take 15 minutes out of every day to learn an app you already own.
Every day a new app or program is entering the market. New apps make you and your business more efficient. Yet with all of these amazing resources, they provide no use if you do not know how to operate them. Take 15 minutes out of your day, every day, to learn an app or programs’ full functionality.
- Take on opportunities that people either can’t do or won’t do.
Don’t let your life just happen. Live it. Every important decision is a calculated risk. So, take the calculated risk. The gold is in the opportunities people are not capable or willing to do. Taking on unique challenges will make you just that, unique. People love to work with unique individuals that take on risks others are too afraid to do. It says a lot about your character, and it is simply more fun to work with interesting people. Live your life. Make it happen. You will have fewer regrets in the end.
- Every interaction matters.
Whether you’re trying to partner with another business, win a customer, or communicating with a person who appears to have little value to your growth, treat everyone with dignity and respect; every interaction adds up. You don’t know who people are or what they will be one day. And besides that; it’s a better way to live and it costs you exactly nothing to be nice to people.