Your Emotions Take Practice!

When we think about practice, we often talk in terms of skill. You practice photography, or you practice playing football. But the thing is, who you are emotionally also takes practice. You can practice humility, you can practice forgiveness.

You can practice self-awareness and humor, just as easily as you can practice anger, resentment, drama, and conflict!

Who you are, emotionally, is a reflection of the things you consciously (or unconsciously) practice.

You were not "born" upset. You have merely practiced that emotion far more than you have, say, joy!

- Nicolas Cole (modified by Amr Badran)

Our Everyday Habits Form Our Future Selves!

What you do today is one more action toward who you will be tomorrow.

When that action is replicated over the course of a week, you begin to scratch the surface of change.

When that action is replicated over the course of a month, you begin to notice a slight difference.

When that action replicated over the course of a year, or two years, or five years, you may no longer recognize yourself — you will have changed, in that particular way, completely.

Do not underestimate the power of each and every small habit, replicated over time.

For good or bad, your habits determine who you will ultimately become.

- Nicolas Cole (modified by Amr Badran)

Beneath Anger is always Fear!

As the wise Yoda says, "Fear is the path to the dark side.

Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering."

Whenever we suffer, especially for long periods of time, at first we believe it is because of something outside of us — something we hate. And if we make it past that emotion, we find below that hate is a rumble of anger, and certainly something we have held on to for far too long. But beneath all of that is always fear.

A fear of loss. A fear of vulnerability. A fear of letting go.

If you can get to the point of acknowledging the fear, you will see its lighthearted shadow, compassion. And you will be able to move forward.

- Nicolas Cole (modified by Amr Badran)

If you want to "do what you love," you have to work “three times” as hard as everyone else!

Most people do not get to spend their lives doing whatever it is they love. Instead, they do what they are told they should do, or what their parents or town or friends or peers suggest that they do.

Or they simply pursue nothing close to their heart at all!

But if you want to "do what you love," you need to see that as a privilege, not an expectation. Those people are not the majority.

So if that's what you truly want, you have to put in the work now.

- Nicolas Cole (modified by Amr Badran)

When Communicating, Successful People “Always” Gesticulate!

Gesticulation--the practice of using your hands and arms to punctuate or enhance your verbal statements--is another valuable body language strategy.

Speakers who use body language actively in their presentation tend to be viewed as more confident and more authoritative than those who do not.

Obviously, different hand gestures can signal different things, and if you simply wave your hands wildly in front of your audience, it may make you come across as out of control.

Instead, focus on reserving your hand gestures for your most impactful words, and try to keep your movements reserved and under strict control.

- Jayson Demers (modified by Amr Badran)

Successful People Improve Their Posture!

Body language is just as important in communication as the words that leave your mouth.

Whether you're sitting or standing in front of your audience, work to improve your posture. Stand or sit up straight with your shoulders back, and keep your head held high.

This will make you appear bigger and more confident, and will help you feel more confident as well.

Plus, you'll get the added benefit of aligning your body so you can breathe--and therefore speak--more efficiently.

Posture can demand a lot of work, so make sure to practice in advance.

- Jayson Demers (modified by Amr Badran)

When Speaking, Successful People Lower Their Vocal Range!

Take a look at some of the most famous speeches throughout history, at currently popular politicians, and even at local newscasters. You'll find that most of them have lower tones of voice, and this is no coincidence.

People tend to view speakers with lower speaking voices as having more authority and confidence.

As much as you can, practice speaking in a lower tone of voice.

Don't force yourself or you'll sound unnatural, but if you can get yourself a tone or two lower, it can make a real difference.

- Jayson Demers (modified by Amr Badran)

When Talking, Successful People Avoid “Asides”!

In a scenario that allows for preparation, such as giving a speech to a public audience, "asides" are fine. You have advance time to prepare them, determine if they're relevant, and include them if they are. 

In more natural conversations, however, improvised asides can be damaging! 

For example, if you're in a job interview and you answer a question directly, then spiral into a related story about something that happened to you a few years ago, it could be a sign that you're nervous and looking to fill conversational space!

Instead, focus only on what's immediately relevant.

- Jayson Demers (modified by Amr Badran)

While Speaking; Successful People Use Pauses to Their Advantage!

Using pauses is a good strategy that helps successful people speak slower, which is a great skill, however, it's effective in its own right. 

Work on creatively using pauses to give more impact to your speaking.

For example, if you have an opening for a public presentation that's eight sentences long and you make a significant point after sentence three, throw in a sizable seconds-long pause.

It will add more weight to whatever your last sentence was and give you audience time to soak it in.

It also gives you a chance to collect your thoughts and prepare for the next section of your speech, adding to the total amount of authority and confidence you project.

- Jayson Demers (modified by Amr Badran)

Successful People Speak More Slowly!

Some of us speak faster when they’re nervous. Some of us are naturally fast talkers. Regardless of your motivations, conscious or subconscious, speaking too quickly is an indication of a lack of authority or a lack of confidence!

In addition, while speaking quickly, you're more likely to make mistakes in your enunciation, and you have less time to think through your words.

Focus on speaking more slowly in your conversation, allowing your words to draw out and giving your sentences a weightier rhythm.

Your audience will have more time to digest the words you're speaking, and you'll be less likely to make any critical errors that compromise your speaking integrity.

- Jayson Demers (modified by Amr Badran)

Successful People Are Networked!

Successful people build extensive networks of contacts — both in the office, and outside of it.

Successful people leverage their network to help them take advantage of opportunities, and to solve problems.

- Peter Economy

Successful People Are Articulate!

Successful people are good communicators — they know what to say, how to say it well, and who to say it to. They're also good listeners — taking notes when necessary.

- Peter Economy

Successful People Are Team players!

Successful people know that they can't do it all themselves!

By leveraging the power of teamwork, successful people can achieve far more than they ever could alone. So they join or put together teams of talented and energetic individuals who can help them achieve their goals.

- Peter Economy

Successful People Are Innovative!

Successful people are creative and innovative!

Instead of doing things the same way over and over again, they look for better, faster, and lower-cost solutions to common problems.

They experiment and are willing to take risks — and occasionally fail — in pursuit of their goals.

- Peter Economy

Successful People Are Enthusiastic!

Successful people have real passion and enthusiasm for the work they do, and they aren't afraid to let it show.

Their enthusiasm is real — it comes from their hearts — and it's infectious, spreading to coworkers and customers alike.

- Peter Economy (modified by Amr Badran)

Successful People Are Resourceful!

Successful people don't let problems or obstacles get in their way or slow them down! 

They're resilient — they try a variety of different solutions until they find one that works; and they never give up.

- Peter Economy (modified by Amr Badran)

Successful People Are Self-Starters!

Successful people don't wait for someone else to tell them what to do, or when to do it — they take action themselves.

When you're a self-starter, you look for opportunities all around you, and when you identify one, you act.

That's the essence and the fuel for success in business and in life.

- Peter Economy (modified by Amr Badran)

Successful People Always Listen To The "Little Voice" in Their Heads!

Should you take the raise or move jobs? Should you stay in this marriage or end it? Should you do what you love or do what other people want you to do? All of these hypotheticals have two sides: what you feel like you should do, and what that "little voice" inside genuinely wants you to do.

We can all hear that little voice. We know what it sounds like. We can recognize when it raises its hand to speak. And yet, so often we struggle to actually follow through and heed its direction.

Why?

Because there is a much louder voice that bombards us with big promises and shiny objects and glorified achievements. We let our ego get in the way, when deep down we know what it is we truly want.

The reason why this is such a challenge for people to learn and accept--and why it often times takes a lifetime--is because the ego always promises safety. The ego promises avoidance of hurt, it promises instant gratification, and it promises acceptance.

That's why we take the corporate gig instead of traveling the world, or we write someone else's book instead of writing our own. The ego's road isn't vulnerable, or scary. It's nice, safe, and secure.

The problem is that, sometime down the road, usually in a moment of quiet, that "little voice" will raise its hand again and ask to be heard. And the more you ignore it, the more it will rumble beneath the surface. This, I believe, is one of the big contributing factors to the infamous "mid-life crisis."

How else could you possibly wake up and question every aspect of your life?

You wouldn't.

There would be no crisis at all.

Honor yourself. Listen to that "little voice." Trust it.

Your heart will never guide you wrong.

- Nicolas Cole (modified by Amr Badran)