This is a guest post by Allan Cox

Recently, I published my eighth book, Your Inner CEO, far and away my best. The book’s core lesson is finding and expressing your singularity—how you can be like no other person who has walked the planet. You can learn this life-enriching lesson by applying the psychology of Alfred Adler, the brilliant Vienna physician, who, along with Freud and Jung, make up the holy trinity of modern psychology.

Style-Of-Life: Dimly Aware

The centerpiece of Adler’s thought was Style-of-Life. We all have one, and by it he meant, “an organized set of convictions about life of which the individual, at best, is only dimly aware. This means, for example, that without knowing it you could be living daily with deeply held views of yourself or life, such as “I’m an analytical whiz,” or “Life only works when I’m tenacious.” Are such outlooks good? Without more information, you can’t know, but for now, just imagine you live by these convictions without knowing their hold on you.

So let’s assume you want to know more about yourself. That’s a good thing; after all, it was Socrates who pointed out that the unexamined life is not worth living. So start with this bottom line: If your S-O-L is healthy, think of it as your guardian presence. If it’s not, know that it’s a looming threat and that you’re, well, S-O-L! That is, until you change it in keeping with your true authenticity, in other words, your singularity. You are like a snowflake, you know.

Here’s how you discover your Style-of-Life. You complete three short sentences, using non-business language. The hard part is to boil these thoughts down by adding no more that 10 words between the three. Brevity is key. Less is more. Keep it simple.

Start Today

Get started today, but realize the kind of soul-searching and reflection you’ll need to get this right is going to take you several re-visits, hard-nosed rejection of early and convenient wording, and several weeks or even months to arrive at truthful completions. All the while you’re defining yourself, you’re actually peeling away layers of stuff and identifying your core self—your singularity.

Here are the three starters . . .

I am: (this is how you see yourself)
Life is: (this is how you see life)
My central goal: (this is the goal you’re not aware of that’s pulling you into the future, for better or worse)

Not until you excavate inside and craft the completions to these simple sentences will you have a grasp of your life’s actual trajectory; whether you’re heading true north or off on side paths to nowhere; whether your Style-of-Life is a looming threat or guardian presence.

Your Value Proposition to The World

Aeschylus, a 5th-Century BCE Greek playwright, composed this stunningly simple trilogy: I am like all other men, I am like some other men, I am like no other man. This is what really counts. Why? Because until you unearth your uniqueness, your authenticity, your essence—what I call your singularity—you’re not able to offer your value proposition to the world!

I’ve been terribly brief here, but if this idea resonates for you, get hold of my book, Your Inner CEO: Unleash the Executive Within. It will take you through the drill to discover your singularity and fire it up. If your Style-of-Life is a looming threat, you’ll learn how to change it out for your singularity the world is waiting for. Don’t wait. You gotta know this and do this.
For more support, come visit our new Your Inner CEO Wiki-Ning Community.

All the best,

Allan Cox

Photo by BinaryApe

Those who admire successful individuals and desire to achieve their own success want to know the steps they must take. There is no set path to success, it varies depending upon the person and the situations they face. However, these are 8 steps that you can walk to achieve a change in your life. There’s no need to follow them exactly as they are listed. Maybe you would like to remove a step, insert one, or switch them around.

Step 1 - Dream

Everyone does this already, or at least I would hope so. You must dream because achieving your dreams means you’ve achieved success and changed your life. Dream about everything you need, desire, and want. Whether that be a luxury car, yacht, mansion, food, vacations, clothing, money, love, family, or anything else. Dream about the most ridiculous goals you can think of. Goals that don’t seem possible. Bring back dreams from your childhood. Write all of them down in journal or type them on your computer.

Step 2 - Refine

Pick your favorite dreams and goals or the ones you desire to achieve most. But don’t limit yourself, if you want to achieve all of them then don’t push any aside. Next, go through each dream and think of or write down the details of each of them. If you want to buy a luxury car then write down the exact make, model, year, and color. Know every detail possible about your dreams. Polish them and make them even more vibrant in your mind.

Step 3 - Plan

Plan for what you will need to achieve your dreams. Will you need money or not a cent? Will you need help from someone or can you do it yourself? Will you need to quit your job to pursue your dreams? And if so, when must you do that? Plan the steps just like this list, but make hundreds of baby steps with larger steps along the way. Also be sure to plan for the unexpected. There will be times when something comes along and interrupts all your plans.

Step 4 - Visualize

This is a great way to dream even more. Visualize yourself living your dreams. Close your eyes and see yourself driving that expensive car, closing that business deal, or finishing that marathon. Another excellent way to help you visualize your dreams is by looking at pictures and videos. If you desire to go on a trip to the Caribbean, then surf the web for videos and photos of tropical islands. This will increase your desire to succeed and motivate you to move on to the next step.

Step 5 - Take Action

This may be the most important step out of the eight. Once you have done the first four, it’s time to act. And you must do it as soon as possible. Start right now, later today, or within the next few days. Don’t wait till next week, next month, or for something else to happen. You have to do it ASAP! You don’t know what you could be missing by procrastinating. Make sure you take an action every single day that will benefit your goals. If you want to run a marathon, start walking today. If you want to start a company, come up with a name and draw the logo tonight.

Step 6 - Work Hard

If you want to achieve your dreams you’ll have to work hard. Anything that is extremely rewarding takes an extreme amount of effort. There will be times when you just have to roll up your sleeves, jump in and get it done. When the times are tough go back through steps 1-3 and remember what you’re working hard for.

Step 7 - Have Fun

After you’ve worked hard and even while you’re working hard, make sure to have some fun. You don’t want your journey to change and success to be serious and tough all the time. Give yourself breaks and mini vacations, it will only benefit you and your success. You’ll be more energized to achieve your goals.

Step 8 - Reflect, Rejoice, and Redo

Don’t dwell on the past, but it’s good to reflect on where you came from, how you got where you are, and where you’re headed next.

Rejoice about your failures and successes. When you’ve made it to step 8 there’s plenty to be happy about and proud of.

After you’ve achieved a goal or dream, create and begin to chase new ones. Redo all these steps to achieve what you want all over again. There’s never a true destination, success and life change never stops happening and evolving.

Photo by extranoise

Sleep. Who would have thought sleep could be a key to success? It’s something we do every night. It’s the easiest way to let creativity flow and to achieve goals. Instead of using sleep to escape your troubles and your day, use it to harness your own power, your mind’s power.

Read before you sleep

Read a book or magazine right before you fall asleep. Or read yourself to sleep. Reading brings you more knowledge and more questions which brings you even more knowledge. While your sleeping, your body is resting but your mind continues. So read and give it something to work with during the night.

Close your eyes and visualize

As you’re resting and trying to get to sleep, close your eyes and visualize. Visualize your dreams and goals. See yourself with that big house walking through the front doors, see yourself driving that fancy car or on that vacation. Nighttime is the best time to do this, no distractions, and endless potential for tomorrow.

Slowly wake up

You can’t always do this, but to remember your dreams, slowly wake up in the morning. Most of the time your dreams may make no sense. However there are times when your dreams can predict the future and bring you some of your greatest ideas.

Keep a notepad nearby

Keep a notepad next to your bed so if you wake up you can write down your dreams or ideas, and try to interpret those dreams. Another nightly ritual you can do with this notepad is write before you go to sleep. Write a journal or whatever you feel like.

Take a nap

When you need a break and have time, take a nap. Rejuvenate your body and especially your mind. This will keep yourself from being burnt out.

Photo by alex-s

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Google was started in 1996 by Sergey Brin and Larry Page as a project at Stanford University. In September of 1997 the domain name, google.com was registered and in September 1998 the company was incorporated. Google started out in garage but quickly grew into the company we know today. Google’s rapid success is amazing even by dotcom standards. If you are launching an internet venture, Google’s story is where you can look for motivation and inspiration. Even if your aren’t, Google can teach you how to go about your life and succeed beyond your wildest dreams.

Be simple

Google was not the first internet search engine, but while other sites were offering too much on their portals, Google presented a simple page with a simple search bar. You should do the same, simplify yourself and your life. Don’t be a complicated person. The more complicated you are, the less people will understand you. The easier you are to understand, the easier it will be for you to convey ideas and points, and for you to make friends and contacts.

Expand yourself

Though Google has a simplified homepage, they have expanded into various areas of the internet and media. You should do the same. Don’t limit yourself, each of us has multiple talents, some talents we just need to take time to discover.

Feel lucky

“I’m Feeling Lucky” is a button next to the search button but it’s something that you should always feel. Feel lucky about what you do and don’t have. Appreciate your life and those around you. You have great things in your life whether you have money and success or don’t.

Innovate

Google has changed the internet and the business world. You should innovate yourself and the world around you. There is always something that needs to be improved, no matter where you look. If you look around your computer desk right now, I’m sure there’s something that can be improved and can make you successful.

Be bigger than anyone expected

There will always be naysayers and people that will downplay your dreams and aspirations. Push them aside but always keep them in mind, you’ll need them for motivation to keep you going so that you can prove them wrong. It’s easier to be the underdog.

Surround yourself with smart people

Google has thousands of employees but they continue to hire smart people. You will need to do this too. Surround yourself with smart people, they’ll bring you great ideas, fill in the voids you can’t, and some of their knowledge may rub off on you.

Don’t be evil

This is Google’s own slogan. The motto was established by GMail creator Paul Buchheit. It’s just a few words and a simple idea but it can make or break your chance at success. No one is going to want to work with you if you’re an evil person. Be friendly and be welcoming to people and customers. (More info here)

Take care of people

Google’s employees enjoy amazing perks for working there. Including a beautiful environment and relaxing atmosphere to work in, among other things. Most employees would never think of leaving Google because of this. You should take of people as well, whether you know them or not. They will repay you by working harder, by helping you out when you need a hand, or just by increasing your good karma.

By following these rules, Google has become a $150 billion company in a short amount of time. These rules work in the business world but can also work in the rest of the world.

Logo property of Google

Many writers and bloggers discuss the steps to success but to achieve success you also need to understand what won’t get you there. Too often people on their way to success fall into unnecessary traps that end their journeys very quickly. And many times people who have already reached an amazing amount of success ruin it with the same obstacles.

If you don’t want to do anything with your life, then this is your ultimate guide. If you want to achieve success then these are the pitfalls and mindset you must avoid.

Give Up

Success is too hard to achieve. It takes persistence and patience. When it gets tough you just have to give up, what else can you do? Only people who want to be successful continue no matter what.

Please Everyone

You have to satisfy everyone you possibly can. You especially have to please all the naysayers, they’re right and you’re wrong.

Do It For The Money

Whatever you’re doing should only be for the money. Don’t worry about your passion, worry about paying the bills and buying yourself the latest gadgets. Your ambition for money is greater than your passion.

Be An A**hole

Putting down others is the easiest way to bring yourself up. Stab people in the back and burn as many bridges as possible. Judge everyone before you get to know them, you’re probably right anyway. You don’t need friends or other people to gain success. And money can easily buy you new ones.

Negativity Is The Key

Positivity isn’t going to get you anywhere. You have to be negative during every situation in your life. You can’t be happy until you reach success and make a lot of money.

Be Selfish

Every penny you earn is for you to keep. Don’t share the wealth. Other people can help themselves. If you help others, you aren’t going to get anything in return.

Be Stubborn

You cannot be open minded and give other people a chance. They probably don’t know what they’re talking about and won’t have good ideas like you.

Complain

This goes along with being negative. Complain about everything. Your life is hard, complain so everyone knows it.

Drink And Do Drugs

Waste all your time and hard earned money on alcohol and drugs. It’ll bring you so much joy, happiness, and fulfillment.

With this mindset and by following all these tips you’ll be sure to get nowhere fast.

In all seriousness, if you have an attitude like this then you really need to rethink yourself and your life. It’s remarkable how quickly you can gain success by avoiding all of this.

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