Payoff: The Hidden Logic That Shapes Our Motivations (2016) by Dan Ariely, Book Review

Dan Ariely is one of my favorite authors and speakers on behavioral economics, namely, someone who studies the combination of economics and psychology to understand how people decide and why they behave the way they do. I’m an observer. I love to predict people’s behavior and so, this is a fascinating subject to me. I’ve read Predictably Irrational and listened to The Upside of Irrationality and (Dis)Honesty audiobooks - I recommend it all. This short book (just 103 pages) is part of the TED Books series which is a compliment and extension of Ariely’s TED Talks on this subject.

“Human motivation is not simple,” writes Ariely, “but as we understand it more, we’ll better be able to handle ourselves, our work, our relationships, our employers, and our employees. Knowing what drives us and others is an essential step toward enhancing the inherent joy - and minimizing confusion - in our lives.” Every day we try to motivate ourselves. How to create meaning in my current work now? Why I should or shouldn’t quit? What is my end goal? If you’re in the people business or any kind of relationship, surely you spend lots of time trying to motivate others too. How to makes this partnership works? Why does this or that person enjoy life more than others? What are the determining factors of our organization's productivity? These questions and more - if you care enough - are part of our everyday life. As the author puts it: “We are all part-time motivators.” But the problem is that motivations for each person are complex, variant, and subjective. Some are driven by money or achievement or happiness or purpose or a sense of progress or as often the case, a mix of all of these and more. Plus, although Ariely shares valuable insights from the psychological experiments (Bionicles, Origami, and Intel experiments are particularly interesting) that he outlines in the book, we need to keep in mind that real life is not like a lab that we can easily predict but it is both an ugly and beautiful, messy and orderly world. Ariely can be too general and simplistic in his assessments. Keep this in mind as you explore the subject.

Having said that, there are universal and essential motivations that drive human behaviors. For example, a sense of meaning, connection, identity, and individuality. Something simple like giving a compliment or acknowledgment for a job well done can be a strong drive of motivation for most people (on the other hand, it takes a little thing like negative-aggressive feedback can kill even the tiniest motivation!). Some of our conventional wisdom about motivation are also challenged in this book. For example, the idea that giving a large amount of money or bonuses as an incentive, in the long-term, “can backfire and make people less driven.” To know more, read the book or/and watch his TED Talks on YouTube. I also recommend listening to his podcast interviews on Spotify.

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The Decision: Overcoming Today's BS for Tomorrow's Success (2020, Audible Original) by Kevin Hart, Book Review

 

The Decision: Overcoming Today's BS for Tomorrow's Success
(2020, Audible Original) by Kevin Hart

I usually don’t write a review about audiobook but this time (or from now on) - I will. I just want to get this out: Kevin Hart is seriously funny! Funnily serious! Seriously real! “Sometimes ‘The Decision’ will require going past the edges of your comfort zone,” said Mr. Hart starting his audio Mental Fitness Bootcamp, “and the upper limits of your beliefs, and stepping into the unknown.” From there he breathes fire! I laughed with his jokes; I was impressed by his wits; I respect his honesty and vulnerability. For 5 hours 54 minutes, he bombarded my ears with his “gold-nugget-sh*t-of-truths.” Part self-help book, part autobiography, part stand-up routine, The Decision gives me a glimpse into the mind and attitude of one of the most hardworking men in the entertainment industry. He is an award-winning actor, comedian, producer, entrepreneur, and of course, writer.

What’s unique about audiobooks is that the narrator(s) can either bring out the best or make the book boring to listen to. For example, I love to read Stephen King’s books, but I don’t like it when he narrates it. Boring as hell. Kevin Hart? Superb! It’s like listening to his Netflix specials. Mind you, what he said is not that different from other self-help or personal development gurus (except for his own stories), it is the way he said it that shows to me that he really believes and means it. His positivity is contagious. What stuck with me are these themes: “What-Is-Ness” Deal with what-is, accept what you cannot change, and make the best of it; “Cowboying Up” It means taking ownership by not only taking responsibility for your words and actions, but everything in life; “Teddy Bearing” It is about being likable, personable, and pleasant; and “Sponginess” Readily soak up knowledge from people around you and those who are better at what you were trying to do.

I’m always a fan of Mr. Hart. I’ve watched lots of his movies (my favourites are Get Hard, Think Like A Man, and Wedding Ringer), all his stand-ups, and interviews especially with Joe Rogan (You got to listen or watch it!). It’s not that he is perfect - he was cheating his wife, that homophobic tweets issue, etc. - but because he owned up his mistakes, learned from them, and move forward. Proof? Listen to The Decision! 😉⚡📖 #ServeToLead #LeadersAreReaders #LetsMakeReadingCoolAgain #1Book1Week #TheDecisionKevinHart #OvercomingBS

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Short-Term Famous OR Long-Term Impact?

A good friend (and few others) asked me, "I love your content, but why not many people follow you?" I explained to him about half a dozen of my theories. One is because I try not to follow trends but focus on values. Another is because although I know some good tricks, I refuse to chase after followers rather than qualities. And another one is because I think in long-term impact rather than short-term famous and some other plausible reasons. Regardless…

How you use your social media is up to you. Your right, your choice. But sometimes its good to examine ourselves by asking these questions: How do I use my social media? What impact do I want to contribute to the world? How can I leave a positive legacy behind? Legacy a.k.a. Legasi (BM)... that's a good word, right? #ServeToLead #GrowingLeader

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Angelus' Quote: Be a Person Who Make Others Feel Great

"One thing scientists have discovered," notes Thomas Driener, "is that often-praised children become more intelligent than often-blamed ones. There's a creative element in praise." Praise is not just very important for children but as long as someone is breathing, that person needs it!

I love this story: an elderly lady made it a habit to find something in others she could commend. One day she heard a visiting preacher preach a terrible sermon. How could she commend him for that? After the service, she said to him, "You had a wonderful text today" 🤭🤣😉 #ServeToLead

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Angelus' Quote: You Are Stronger than You Seem

This quote, although being spoken by a fictional character, is quite interesting and true. It urges us to remember, amidst our brokenness and imperfection, that we truly are braver, stronger and smarter than we might admit, even to ourselves.

In our crazy-critical world, we often forget this little bit of advice. We become timid, more afraid of what we have to lose than what we might gain. We become doubtful, forgetting our inner strength. We become dull and habit-bound, forgetting our intelligence and our resourcefulness. We forget our true selves or allow them to become so distant as to be mere dreams or faded memories. We are admonished by the quote to always remember 💪😉😁 #ServeToLead #GrowingLeader

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Angelus' Quote: Leadership Is Never Easy

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Book Review: The Leader In You (1993) by Dale Carnegie

The Leader In You: How to Win Friends, Influence People and Success In a Changing World (1993) by Dale Carnegie & Associates, Inc. with Stuart R. Levine & Michael A. Crom

If you already read Dale Carnegie's masterwork How to Win Friends and Influence People (originally published in 1936), you'll find that this book is repetitive only with clearer examples, simpler chapters and modern touch. If you just read How to Win Friends and Influence People say, about less than 6 months ago, I think you don't have to read this one. But for me, the last time I read Dale Carnegie's book (including How to Stop Worrying and Start Living) was about 3-4 years ago, so this is a good refresher for me because I forget some of the key lessons that he taught. Reading The Leader In You is fun and beneficial for me because this year my focus is on leadership, one of my subject of interests. Although I've read dozens of leadership books, I still can learn greatly from this one. As Dale Carnegie writes, "Keep your mind open to change all the time. Welcome it. Court it. It is only by examining and re-examining your opinions and ideas that you can progress." How true.

This book is published by Pocket Books, a division of Simon & Schuster, Inc. and as expected, it is pocket-size, only 230+ pages and 16 short chapters with Carnegie's quote at the beginning and a key lesson for each leadership principles. Dale Carnegie begins the introduction of The Leader In You by explaining that as the 21st-century approaches, the world is undergoing enormous change, and so "the human-relations revolution," a cultural change is here where "a whole new breed of leaders" is required. What the world needs is not hierarchical and bossy ways of leadership, today all the more, we need leaders who mastered the human-relations principles. "What needed is leadership, to help people achieve what they are capable of, to establish a vision of the future, to encourage, to coach and mentor, and to establish and maintain successful relationships."

Let me highlight briefly 5 Human-Relations-Leadership Principles (there are 16) with my favourite quotes:

#1 Finding the Leader In You. "Leadership is never easy. But thankfully, something else is also true: Every one of us has the potential to be a leader every day." Key lesson: The first step toward success is identifying your leadership strengths.

#2 Starting to Communicate. Here are the first steps to successful communication: 1) Make communication a top priority; 2) Be open to other people, and 3) Create a receptive environment for communication. Key lesson: Communication is built on a trusting relationship.

#3 Motivating People. Three important ways to do this: 1) Include others in the process, every step of the way; 2) Treat people as individuals; and 3) Encouraged, recognized and rewarded works well done. Key lesson: Motivation can never be forced. People have to want to do a good job.

#4 Expressing Genuine Interest In Others. "Expressing genuine interest in others – there's no better way to make people interested in you. People respond to people who are sincerely interested in them. They can't help but respond." "Even more important than expressing interest is showing it." Key lesson: There's nothing more effective and rewarding than showing a genuine interest in other people.

#5 Teaming Up for Tomorrow. "The greatest reward a leader can achieve – the greatest legacy a leader can leave – is a group of talented, self-confident, and cooperative people, how are themselves ready to lead." Wow! Key lesson: Team players are the leaders of tomorrow.

These 5 and the other 11 principles outlined in this book is timeless. Since the world today is getting more and more virtual, the need for leaders of today (and tomorrow) to be relational is all the more important. I'm aspiring to be a better leader, I teach leadership lessons in churches and organized seminars twice per year. But based on my personality, relationships are not my strength. I have to work hard and intentional to strengthen my human-relations skills. Why? Because leaders lead PEOPLE. People are the reason leaders exist. Therefore, this book is valuable to me. I recommend this book wholeheartedly. As a closing, I would like to also recommend John C. Maxwell's two books on leadership-relationship: 1) Winning with People (2004) and 2) 25 Ways to Win with People (2005, with Les Parrott). These two books are what I called The New How to Win Friends and Leading People.

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Angelus' Quote: Get this Les Brown's Hunger Recipe!

"When you want something so badly that you refuse to let go, you will probably get it," says Les Brown, my favorite motivational speaker. This is what he called "hunger." Les believes that "when a person gets discouraged, and they will, it takes hunger to develop the courage to try again and again and never quit. Some people are naturally hungry. Others are not hungry enough."

I define "hunger" as a POWERFUL DETERMINATION, almost a consuming fire. When I was rejected by CF due to some outside influence, I cried, but get back up again. When my blog URL was blocked twice this year, I don't give up. When my writing was wrongly accused of causing trouble, I write anyway! I'm HUNGRY! 👇Learn this Les Brown's Hunger Recipe:

1) TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR LIFE 😎 Stop blaming other people and past negative circumstances for where you are. It is up to you to accomplish your dreams

2) READ AND LISTEN 👂😷 Les would say consume inspirational and motivational tapes. I would like to add, read books on your strengths and interest. Listen to audiobooks and podcasts too

3) DEVELOP A SENSE OF URGENCY 🕰 Take actions now that will move you toward your goals

4) GET AROUND SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE 😊 Find out what motivates them. Pick up their attitudes, especially. Include them in step 2)

5) DEVELOP COURAGE 💪 Overcome your fears. Push them aside. Unmask them and then master them

6) CONTEMPLATE YOUR MORTALITY 🙏 Predict the accomplishments you desire to achieve by the end of life. If you die today, are your life fulfilling God's purpose and desire?

7) PUSH YOURSELF 👊 Operate on a massive, relentless scale in order to accomplish your goals

"With a powerful hunger for your dreams driving you," Les believes, "you will be surprised at the ideas that will come, at the people you will be able to attract and at the opportunities that will unfold." You got to be hungry! #GrowingLeader

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Angelus' Quote: A Leader Is an Average Person

Anne O' Hare McCormick visited Hilter, Mussolini, and Roosevelt and asked all three, "How did you get where you are?"

Mussolini puffed out his chest, as he often did, and replied, "I came!" Hitler got a faraway look in his face and said, "I was sent."

When she asked Roosevelt, he laughed and said, "Well, somebody had to do it!" Because he was motivated to do it, he became a leader 😎

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7 Motivational Quotes from Eminem

Probably you don't learn spirituality from Eminem, but definitely, you can learn about don't give up, be the best, make the most of your life and don't be afraid from Slim Shady. Here are Seven (7) Quotes that can lift your mood today... better, listen to these songs.

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Three Feet from Gold: Turn Your Obstacles Into Opportunities! (2010) by Sharon Lechter with Greg Reid, Book Review

Three Feet from Gold: Turn Your Obstacles Into Opportunities! (2010)
by Sharon Lechter with Greg Reid

“One of the most common causes of failure is the habit of quitting when one is overtaken by temporary defeat.” This interesting success journey allegory (or fable) is based on Napoleon Hill’s revolutionary bestseller Think and Grow Rich. It is about a young entrepreneur, Greg Reid (co-author as the character), who was struggling in his business and life, went through a life-changing series of encounters with some of today’s foremost business leaders and inspirational figures. When he was about to give up, only “three feet from gold,” his mentors inspired him with their stories and encouragements. When I read his story, I read mine. Truly, Napoleon once said: “Every adversity, every failure, and every heartache carries with it the seed of an equivalent or greater benefit.”

The title Three Feet from Gold is based on a real-life story of R.U. Darby (you can find it in Think and Grow Rich introduction). His uncle had been struck by gold fever. He had traveled west to get rich in the mining business. In the book, Don Green, one of Greg interviewees told him the story: “This would-be prospector had many more hopes than solutions, you see because he had not invested the time to learn how to do what he wanted to accomplish. He just wanted to find gold… Fortunately, after weeks of manual labor, Darby’s uncle was rewarded with the discovery of gold, and lots of it! While it was a good problem to have, he quickly realized that he really wasn’t prepared. He needed machinery to remove the enormous amount of heavy rocks and dirt that covered the shining ore…” to own machinery it will cost lots of money, so Darby’s uncle covered the mine and traveled back to his home to persuade his family and friends to invest for the equipment needed. After that, he and young Darby return to the gold mine and start digging for the promised treasure. Sure enough, they found high-quality gold!

Don continues, “Darby and his uncle were convinced they were about to make a huge fortune from their gold mine. Then tragedy struck… the gold simply disappeared. Just when their hopes were at their highest, the Darbys were crushed to reach the end of the rainbow – the proverbial pot of gold was no longer there… Discouraged and defeated, Darby and his uncle sold both their mine and their equipment to a local junkman… With that, [they] caught the next train and returned to their home in Maryland, ending their quest for gold… [But] the junkman hired a mining engineer to inspect the claim, and together they discovered what is known as a fault line. The engineer explained that gold ran in long veins and that the previous owners had simply drilled through one side of the vein and come out the other. The engineer explained that if the junkman were to go back and dig in the other direction, perpendicular to where the Darbys had made their first discovery, he would most likely tap back into the treasure… [He] followed these simple instructions and, sure enough, he hit one of the largest pockets of ore ever uncovered – a mere three feet away from where the Darbys had quit mining…” They quit only three feet from gold!

Darby learned his lesson and used that experience as motivation for him not to quit his next chosen work. Hill recorded him saying: “I stopped three feet from gold, but I will never stop because men say ‘no’ when I ask them to buy insurance.” You know what? Darby became one of the most successful salesmen of his time. When Greg heard this story, he was determined not to quit from pursuing his dreams in business and life. Through ups and downs, external circumstances and internal conflicts, Greg don’t – but almost – quit! By the end of the chapter, Greg and his co-author, Sharon Lechter (both as characters in the book itself) produced a book based on his interviews and life experiences. They came out with The Success Equation, namely, ((P + T) x A x A) + F. P stands for Passion, something that makes your heart sing; with T stands for Talent, something you excel in; multiply it by the right A stands for Association, successful people or organizations; and A stands for Action, concrete steps you can take toward your goal; and then add your F stands for Faith, the unwavering belief in yourself. So, keep moving toward your God-given dreams, never giving up or quitting – you are Three Feet from Gold!

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Angelus' Quote: You Can Run Faster... When the Dogs Chasing You

I remember when I was in primary school, I and my friends use to walk from SRK Sg. Stutong to Kpg Stampin. These were our favorite things to do: ring the doorbells at BDC area and hide, stealing fruits that creeped out of the residents' gates, climbing the walls, plugging flowers, went to the drain to catch small fishes and tadpoles, destroying ants with plastic-fire meteors, etc. You get the idea. Inevitably, dogs would bark as a warning; double barks with staring eyes as a second warning, and chased after us if we still don't get the warnings (cats would run first). If you had had this experience before - chasing by the dogs - you would not be surprised when I say that we run faster than we normally would. Adrenaline rush, muscles tighten, breathing fire. Once, on a normal day, I tried to climb a high wall, but I couldn't. But when these dogs chasing us, I can easily climb up!

What happened? Almost everything is possible for us. What we need is a little (or massive) push. You can climb higher, you can run faster, you can endure longer. You can work harder, you can be bigger, you can expand wider. All you need (maybe not only) is the motivation and the will to do so. Your 'dogs' can be #1 Fear/Shame: For example, you fear of failure, so you study hard for exams; #2 Desperation (or matters of life-and-death): For example, a mother can lift a heavy car in order to save her baby who is stuck underneath it; #3 Love: For example, Jesus endured the horrible cross due to the Father's love and His unconditional love for the sinners; and, not least, #4 Commitment: For example, a faithful soldier will stay on his post regardless and follow orders during wartime even it will cost him his life.

What is your motivation and the will to 'run faster'? What stopped you from 'climbing the walls'? How can you find the reason to 'endure one more day'? May wild dogs chasing you! May you run faster! May you know how capable you are! It is possible.

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

John C. Maxwell on Leadership #33 Break Down Your Dream Into Smaller Goals

Millionaire industrialist Andrew Carnegie said, “You cannot push anyone up the ladder unless he is willing to climb himself.” The same is true of a person on the success journey: she won’t go forward unless she is motivated to do so. Goals can help provide that motivation. Paul Myer commented, “No one ever accomplishes anything of consequence without a goal… Goal setting is the strongest human force for self-motivation.”

Think about it. What is one of the greatest motivators in the world? Success. When you take a large activity (such as your dream) and break it down into smaller, more manageable parts (goals), you set yourself up for success because you make what you want to accomplish obtainable. And each time you accomplish a small goal, you experience success. That’s motivating! Accomplish enough of the small goals, and you’ll be taking a major step toward achieving your purpose and developing your potential.

Goals not only help you develop initial motivation by making your dreams obtainable, but they also help you continue to be motivated – and that creates momentum. Once you get going on the success journey, it will be very hard to stop you. The process is similar to what happens with a train. Getting it started is the toughest part of its trip. While standing still, a train can be prevented from moving forward by one-inch blocks of wood under each of the locomotive’s drive wheels. However, once a train gets up to speed, not even a steel-enforced concrete wall five feet thick can stop it.

[Taken from Your Road Map for Success: You Can Get There from Here (2010) by John C. Maxwell. Published by Thomas Nelson.]

Develop Goals that Will Initiate Motivation and Create Momentum.

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Learn Manhood from David #1 Refuse to Compromise

“[Now] your kingdom must end, for the LORD has sought out a man after his own heart. The LORD has already appointed him to be the leader of his people, because you have not kept the LORD’s command”

(Said God the King through the Prophet Samuel to King Saul, 1 Samuel 13:14, NLT)

Men experience tough times; God never promised we wouldn’t. And though the Bible doesn’t reveal how to escape our hardships, it does show us how to get through them. James 1:2 says, “Dear brothers and sisters when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.” “…when troubles come…” So, it’s not whether we will face tough times, but when.

We can learn a lot about dealing with tough times from David. In the midst of hardship, he didn’t compromise – which says a lot about the kind of man David was. Many men cave under pressure but David held strong. Here’s what was going on at the time: Israel was involved in a religious war. The priesthood was corrupt (Eli’s, the high priest, sons both priests were corrupt! See 1 Samuel 2:12-13) and the judges were dishonest and abusive (Samuel’s, the prophet, sons both judges were wicked! See 1 Samuel 8:1). During the war, Palestine had captured the Ark of the Covenant, Israel’s symbol of God’s presence. Israel was in the thick of spiritual darkness. They refused to listen to the Prophet Samuel’s warnings and openly rebelled against God’s Word.

With the people’s eyes diverted from God, they looked at the world around them and saw what appeared to be the perfect solution – a king. They complained and demanded to Samuel, “Give us a king to judge us like all the other nations have” (1 Samuel 8:5). Although Samuel warned the people about the consequences of demanding a king, their tunnel vision and lack of concern for God’s plan created a powerful movement to find a king (read 1 Samuel 8:6-22). So God gave Israel over to its careless and impatient demands and allows ‘the Plan B’ king – people’s choice – to take the throne. This king set the stage for Israel’s long and tumultuous history.

The man Samuel anointed as king was Saul “the most handsome man in Israel – head and shoulders taller than anyone else in the land” (1 Samuel 9:2). This man and his exploits significantly shaped David’s own destiny. In fact, we often find that Saul serves as the classic bad example when we contrast his actions with David’s. Saul became David’s boss, nemesis, and bounty hunter. Saul typically reacted to challenges very differently than David. Instead of obeying God and refusing to compromise, Saul caved in and tried to engineer the circumstances to his own benefit. Here are three (3) examples of how Saul is different from David in dealing with tough times:

	Saul	David
Taking Responsibility	He tries to justify his actions (1 Samuel 15:15)	He took ownership of his sin (2 Samuel 12:13)
Motive	He was afraid of the people and did what they demanded (1 Samuel 15:24)	The fear of the Lord caused him to repent (2 Samuel 12:13)
Bravery	He ends up became a fearful king (1 Samuel 17:11)	He was courageous always (1 Samuel 17:32; 2 Samuel 17:8)

Men must endure hardships, challenges, and temptations in tough times and refuse to compromise. As Patrick Henry writes, “Adversity toughens manhood, and the characteristic of the good or the great man is not that he has been exempt from the evils of life, but that he has surmounted them.” The big question that keeps in my mind as I think of these two characters is this: When times get tough, am I more like Saul or David?

“Teach me your ways, O LORD,

that I may live according to your truth!

Grant me purity of heart,

so that I may honor you”

(Psalms 86:11)

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

John C. Maxwell on Leadership #20 Understanding People Pays Great Dividends

The ability to understand people is one of the greatest assets anyone can ever have. It has the potential to positively impact every area of your life, not just the business arena. For example, look at how understanding people helped this mother of a pre-schooler. She said,

“Leaving my four-year-old son in the house, I ran out to throw something in the trash. When I tried to open the door to get back inside, I was locked. I knew that insisting that my son open the door would have resulted in an hour-long battle of the wills. So in a sad voice, I said, ‘Oh, too bad. You just locked yourself in the house.’ The door opened at once.”

Understanding people certainly impacts your ability to communicate with others. David Burns, a medical professor of psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania, observed, “The biggest mistake you can make in trying to talk convincingly is to put your highest priority on expressing your ideas and feelings. What most people really want is to be listened to, respected, and understood. The moment people see that they are being understood, they become more motivated to understand your point of view.”  If you can learn to understand people – how they think, what they feel, what inspires them, how they’re likely to act and react in a given situation – then you can motivate and influence them in a positive way.

[Except from Becoming a Person of Influence: How to Positively Impact the Lives of Others (2006) by John C. Maxwell with Jim Dornan. Published by Thomas Nelson Inc.]

Make understanding people your top priority today.

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Self-Leadership #9 Be Mentally Tough

I toughen my mind every day. I think every day, I read every day, I learned every day. I do it so that when I'm facing difficulties or challenges in the future – I'm ready. I believe it is one of the most important leadership skills. What is mental toughness? It is the ability to hold on to one's goals in the face of the pressure and stress. When tested, hold on. When fail, try again – harder, smarter. Persevere relentlessly. In a team, mental toughness is the glue that holds us together when the heat is on, and it helps us persevere just a little bit longer. It implies a firm resolve to stay in the course over the long-term rather than a burst of short-lived activity. It is not the ability to survive a mistake or failure; it's the ability to come back stronger from failure.

When the going gets tough, it takes a special kind of mental toughness to fight back. I use these 7 inspiring quotes as a personal reminder for me to strengthen my mind:

"Mental toughness is spartanism with qualities of sacrifice, self-denial, dedication.

It is fearlessness, and it is love" (Vince Lombardi)

"It takes energy, mental toughness, and spiritual reinforcement to successfully deal with life's opportunities and to reach your objectives" (Zig Ziglar)

"Concentration and mental toughness are the margins of victory" (Bill Russell)

"Nothing can stop the man with the right mental attitude from achieving his goal;

nothing on earth can help the man with the wrong mental attitude" (Thomas Jefferson)

"It's when the discomfort strikes that they realize a strong mind

is the most powerful weapon of all" (Chrissie Wellington)

"Strong minds suffer without complaining;

weak minds complain without suffering" (Lettie Cowman)

"You have power over your mind, not outside events.

Realize this, and you will find strength" (Marcus Aurelius)

Like leadership, mental toughness is not something that people are born with. Instead, it's learned. We start small, achieving a minor goal. Then we set our sights higher and succeed again. If we work patiently, we will prevail. Each time we raise the bar of personal goal, we gain skills and confidence that make the next success more likely. This cycle – hard work, success, more hard work, more success, with the occasional setbacks and failures – is the crucial process of the making of your character that will be part of you. Good things take time, usually lots of time. But if you persist, determine and resolve you'll be stronger mentally – you will be unstoppable!

Here are three (3) ways to develop mental toughness:

Keep the Pressure On: Good leaders don't avoid pressure, they work themselves through it! They work constantly to improve and stay focus. Keep the pressure on but stay within your own breaking points.

Never Give In: It's easy to do well when there's no pressure or stress but how many of us can stay firm when defeat is knocking on the door? Mental toughness is not rigidity in the face of adversity; it is stability and poise in the face of challenge.

Work at It: Mental toughness is the willingness to keep commitments you make to yourself. It's singleness of purpose. It's the ability to stay motivated no matter what obstacles arise in your path.

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.