THE POWER OF LEVERAGE: THE PRINCIPLE OF MAXIMUM ACHIEVEMENT

THE POWER OF LEVERAGE: THE PRINCIPLE OF MAXIMUM ACHIEVEMENT

I will rather earn 1% off 100 people's  effort  than 100% of my own  efforts- John D. Rockefeller

Many hands make work light.

Leverage is defined as the Ability to influence a system, or an environment, in a way that multiplies the outcome of one’s efforts without a corresponding increase in the consumption of resources. 

 ~ Business Dictionary

What things are you doing right now that really aren’t that important? Or, even if they are important, perhaps someone else could do them for you? If money is a factor, get creative. What service could you offer on trade? Could you find a delivery service that saves you the time of picking things up—like your lunch, groceries or dry cleaning? Can you look for an intern who can support your business outcomes?

Do what you do best. Get others to do the rest.

Look for the patterns of things that tend to show up consistently for you. Are there systems you could put in place rather than repeating the same actions over and over again? For example, do you travel a lot? Could you arrange or inventory your clothes so that you don’t have to think about them when it’s time to pack? Could you get a separate toiletries bag that’s always stocked? What about sending cards to your colleagues, associates, friends or family? Are there services that will send cards every month to all your key people, already addressed and stamped?

The secret is to think creatively—if you’re doing things consistently that are taking up your time and are not fulfilling, then it’s time to break that pattern and come up with alternatives! Remember, there’s always a way if you’re committed.

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Leverage vs. Delegation

There’s a big difference between leverage and delegation. Your goal is to leverage as much as possible to other people, but to maintain the overall responsibility for achieving the result.

Delegation is taking a result or action you’re responsible for and giving it to someone else without any additional follow-up. You’re delegating the entire responsibility on a hope and a prayer it will actually get done, and get done right. Leverage is working with another individual to produce a result or action. The other individual may do most, or even all of the work, but you’re actively involved by clarifying the outcome needed, checking in and helping solve challenges that may come up along the way. You’re leveraging the work, but you’re maintaining responsibility and ownership of the result you’re after.

Leverage, used properly, is one of the most powerful ways to get more done in a shorter period of time. The key is to take the time up front to clarify the outcome, put the necessary systems and resources in place and make sure that you monitor the progress so you get the results you desire.

9 Things Remarkably Successful People Never Do

9 Things Remarkably Successful People Never Do

Possibly you've stopped paying attention. Or possibly you've fallen into bad habits. Or possibly you've grown complacent.

Whatever the reasons, you're now compromising, settling, or flying on unhappy autopilot.

Remarkably successful people don't compromise on their standards. They don't settle for less than what they hope to achieve. And they definitely don't put their lives on autopilot. They believe success only comes from intention and action--and so they live that way.

Here are nine things remarkably successful people never do:

1. They never let the past dictate their future.

We all have limitations. We all have challenges. We all make mistakes. The key is to not be constrained by those things but to learn from them.

Easier said than done? It all depends on your perspective. Take mistakes: When something goes wrong, turn it into an opportunity to learn something you didn't know--especially about yourself. (And when something goes wrong for someone else,turn it into an opportunity to be gracious and forgiving.)

Where you've been, what you've done--everything in the past is just training.

Remarkably successful people believe their past should inform them but should neverdefine them.

2. They never gossip.

It's hard to resist the inside scoop. Finding out the reasons behind someone's decisions, the motivations behind someone's actions, the skinny behind someone's hidden agenda--much less whether Hugo is really dating Jeanette in accounting--those conversations are hard to resist.

Unfortunately, the person who gossips about other people is also gossiping aboutyou. And suddenly gossip isn't so much fun.

The next time you're tempted to talk about another person, think about whether you would say what you're about to say to that person.

And the next time someone starts to talk about someone else, excuse yourself and walk away. Don't worry that you'll lose a gossiper's respect; anyone willing to gossip doesn't respect other people anyway.

When remarkably successful people want to share the inside scoop, they just speak openly about their own thoughts and feelings. That way they're not gossiping. They're just being genuine.

3. They never say "yes" when they really mean "no."

Refusing a request from colleagues, customers, or even friends is really hard. But rarely does saying no go over as badly as you expect. Most people will understand, and if they don't, should you care too much about what they think?

When you say no, you only feel bad for a few moments. When you agree to something you really don't want to do, you may feel bad for a long time--or at least as long as it takes you to do what you didn't want to do in the first place.

Remarkably successful people practice saying no. They've gotten really good at saying no. They know that lets them focus on doing what they really need to do: for themselves and for other people.

RELATED : 7 Habits Of Successful People Before Bedtime

4. They never interrupt.

When you interrupt someone, what you're really saying is, "I'm not thinking about what you are saying. I'm thinking about what I want to say ... and what I want to say is so important you need to hear it now."

Want better professional relationships? Want better personal relationships? Listen, truly listen, to what other people say. Then ask questions to make sure you understand.

Remarkably successful people already know what they think--they want to learn from what everyone else thinks.

5. They're never late (without an incredibly good reason).

I know. You're overwhelmed. So you're always running behind. It stresses you out like crazy.

And it makes other people resent you like crazy. Whenever you're late, other people rightly assume you feel your time is more important than theirs. (Which, of course, kills your chance of building an outstanding personal or professional relationship.)

Although you may believe you can't help it, being late is a choice. You allow yourself to be late.

Remarkably successful people start the day a little day earlier. They arrive early to their first scheduled event. They don't worry that they'll waste time--they plan ahead and bring along whatever they need to use any "early" time to get a few simple things done.

Then they feel a lot less stressed and as a result are more insightful, more creative, more decisive, and simply more "on" in everything they do.

6. They never resent.

Take it from Nelson Mandela: "Resentment is like drinking poison and then hoping it will kill your enemies."

The same holds for bitterness. And jealousy. And dislike.

When you hold on to ill will, the only person who loses is you.

Remarkably successful people put all that emotional energy into focusing not on what others have done but on what they themselves will do.

7. They never decide they don't have the time.

Everyone knows someone who just seems to get a lot more done than other people. It's the craziest thing. How do these folks do it? They must have no life, right?

Actually they have a great life: They've figured out what is important to them and they're making it happen.

Figure out what's important to you. Strip away all the stuff that isn't. Then make it happen.

We're all given the same amount of time. The only difference is how we use our time.

Remarkably successful people use their time.

RELATED : 8 Daily Habits That Will Make 2015 More Explosive

8. They never fit in (just to fit in).

Though entire industries are based on making us think otherwise, no one actually likes us for the clothes we wear, the car we drive, or the house we live in. No one likes us for our titles, either.

Those are all "things," and while other people may in fact like our "things," that doesn't mean they like you. (And even if they do, that doesn't mean you like yourself.)

Remarkably successful people have decided to simply be who they are. By not trying to fit in or make an artificial impression they know they might lose a bunch of acquaintances, but they know they'll also gain a few real friends.

9. They're never afraid to do the things that matter.

"The only thing we have to fear is fear itself," is true, but in some ways a better quote might be, "The only thing we have to fear is ourselves."

Why? We're all afraid. We're scared of what might or might not happen. We're scared of what we can't change. We're scared of what we won't be able to do. We're scared of how others might perceive us.

And that makes us hesitate, wait for the right moment, decide we need to think a little longer or do some more research or explore a few more alternatives, and days, weeks, months, and even years pass us by.

And so do our dreams.

Don't let your fears hold you back. Whatever you've been planning, whatever you've imagined, whatever you've dreamed of, get started on it today. If you want to start a business, take the first step. If you want to change careers, take the first step. If you want to expand or enter a new market or design new products or services, take the first step.

Remarkably successful people put their fears aside and get started. They do something. They do anything.

Remarkably successful people are often afraid, but they're most afraid of looking back and thinking, "If only I had ..."

Don't look back and think, "If only I had ..."

11 Things Young Entrepreneurs Need To Stop Doing

11 Things Young Entrepreneurs Need To Stop Doing.

Our generation is responsible for a lot of annoying trends like taking pics of every meal we eat to taking Vine videos while trying to drive.  But for all you young people seeking success, there are a few trends that just need to be killed unless you want the world to think our entire generation is hopelessly conceited. Here are seven trends that young entrepreneurs need to stop doing now. 

1. Sharing on social media. 

As you start to come up in success, you’re going to want to share all amazing things you are achieving with your peers on social media. It feels awesome and it provides great validation. But everything in moderation is always best. Think about what you can do with half the energy you use to brag about yourself and apply it to giving back in some way. 

2. Being on your phone all the time. 

We get it, you have many important things to do and you constantly need to be on your phone so you miss out on important emails, tweets, texts etc. But you need to take time out of your day to recharge at some point. This will keep you sane and prevent you from getting burnt out, trust me. 

3. Focusing on having a great title. 

The title you hold at your startup or company may matter on the surface, but overtime, it will be your work that speaks your value. Anyone can give themselves a title of “CEO of X company”, but actually building something great is a whole different story. 

4. Not taking care of yourself. 

A lot of young people go by the “live fast, die young” motto or they think that just because they are young they can get away with not taking care of themselves for now.  If you’re smart, then you know that being healthy is a top priority. What good is success or money if you are too beat later on in life to enjoy it?  Eat right, sleep, don’t get wasted all the time. You want to live forever don’t you? In the words of Apple Co-founder Ron Wayne, you don’t want to end up being “the richest man in the cemetery.” 

RELATED : How To Become A Millionaire By Age 30

5. Talking so damn much. 

I think almost every veteran entrepreneur has said it: STOP TALKING AND START DOING! Anyone can talk about how great they are what they are going to do to change the world, but actually executing it is a completely different story. As the old saying goes: action speaks louder than words. 

6. Focusing on wanting to just build a company.

Don’t misinterpret this point! What I mean is that many young entrepreneurs I’ve come across focus on making money or creating a cool company. A true entrepreneur analyzes markets, finds problems, and picks the one he/she is most passionate in to solve. 

7. Trying to fit “the image.” 

I see many young aspiring entrepreneurs who will go out of their way to buy material goods that are way beyond what they can afford just to look successful. They’ll party every weekend and buy bottles so they can look like ballers. I believe the whole “fake it ‘til you make it” is incredibly bad advice. While looking presentable is beneficial, focusing too much on being someone you’re not yet will delude you from building something great that will give you real success down the road. Also, it’s just bad money management to spend on luxury items you can’t afford. If you can’t manage your own sh*t, how can anyone trust you to manage your next company? 

8. Feeling that the world owes you something.

You are not that special and no one owes you anything. In this world, you work your ass off for your success. It will not get served to you in a silver platter. It doesn’t matter what your parents or ancestors did, their successes do not belong to you. Stop feeling so entitled! 

9. Thinking you can become a billionaire by exiting a company that doesn’t earn any revenue. 

I feel like recent acquisition offers of certain companies like Instagram and SnapChat has given some aspiring entrepreneurs unrealistic expectations of what they can achieve with their startup. While anything is possible, the core reason that a business survives in the long-run is that it makes money. No matter how good your idea is, you need to have a solid plan of how your business is going to monetize and survive long-term. In the words of Scott Gerber from YEC: “I think that’s the stupidest way to think about business because at the end of the day, less than probably 2% of people that start a business are ever going to see a dollar of real investment money.” 

RELATED : 8 Daily Habits That Will Make 2015 More Explosive

10. Stop being so ADD. 

In the age of new media where everything is on demand and everyone is struggling to grab everyones attention, it’s important to not let yourself get distracted all the time. While having an open-mind and trying things is important, learning to stay focused on one thing is more important. This will help you get things done and grow whatever you’re trying to grow. There are no shortcuts in life, so take it one step at a time. 

11. Focusing too much on women. 

This obviously applies to heterosexual male entrepreneurs, but if you’re looking to build an amazing company, that should be the only thing you’re thinking about 24/7. In a blog post on The Bulletproof Executive: “At the recent BIL Conference, I spoke with a successful entrepreneur based in LA who runs a popular blog. He told me, “I made the most money and progressed my career the most when I was single and wasn’t getting any. I spoke with a NY Times best selling author about this over dinner while gathering research for this biohack. He asked that I not use his name, but he described a time when he made a deal with his wife that he would not orgasm until he made $250,000, which was a very considerable sum for his family. With that kind of motivation, he achieved the goal in 30 days.” As Mr. Landis said in “I Think I Love My Wife,” “You can lose lots of money chasing women, but you will NEVER lose women chasing money.” Focus on what your priorities are and all the pleasures of life will eventually fall into place

8 Daily Habits That Will Make This Year More Explosive

8 Daily Habits That Will Make This Year  More Explosive

The new year is here and most entrepreneurs are looking at how they will raise their game in 2015. Many of you may want to ramp up your personal development and productivity to a whole new level to reach some major goals.

When it comes to finding success and achieving your goals, many times the most important struggle is the one that you encounter in mundane daily life. To truly find success in your life, it is important that you take the time to do the little things that matter most. Small changes to your daily routine can translate into monumental success in all of your endeavors.

Here are eight things that you should be doing, if you aren’t already, habitually.

1. Get up early

Getting up early is about more than just getting up on time. When you get up early, before most people, you have a quiet and relaxing time to get things done. Imagine being able to sit down and go through emails or handle daily tasks without your message notification buzzing or your phone going off.

By getting up early, you are not only giving yourself some extra time in the morning, but you are giving yourself some extra valuable time that will allow you to get even more done.

2. Read

You should be reading every single day. Never let a day go by that you don’t grow in some area of your life. This doesn’t necessarily mean crushing an entire novel in a few hours, but put aside a little time to read, preferably 20 to 30 minutes.

When you read you help stimulate your thought processes, and may be surprised by the ideas that you come up with. Reading things such as magazines or newspapers can also help you stay abreast of the world around you, a trait that can only be helpful, no matter what industry you work in.

3. Exercise

Even if it is just for 30 minutes, it is important to start exercising daily. Exercise can help release endorphins that can naturally boost your mood and your energy levels. Not only will you feel happier and more energized but those who work out regularly report lower levels of stress.

RELATED : 7 Habits Of Successful People Before Bedtime

4. Practice gratitude

This can be a hard one for some people and it’s something that unfortunately many of us need to consciously practice. When our lives get consumed with work and personal demands it can be hard to remember to show gratitude to those that we interact with. Try to make a conscious effort to practice this.

As it starts to become more natural, you will be surprised by how many doors open and how many new relationship you can form by showing sincere gratitude to those around you.

5. Schedule your day before it starts

Having a set schedule is a powerful tool when it comes to making the most of your day and being as productive as possible. To have the biggest impact with your time, try making your schedule the day before. This way the moment you wake up you will know just what is ahead.

6. Focus on high-priority tasks first

Many people actually often put their high-priority tasks on the backburner and end up saving them until the last minute. This may be because the task is daunting, or because they think they will have more time to dedicate to the endeavor.

No matter what the reasoning is, challenge yourself by starting with focusing on your high-priority task. Get it done first and then focus on smaller things. After being in the mindset of tackling a high-priority project, your less demanding tasks will be easier to complete. It's a small change but one that can improve your effectiveness drastically.

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7. Always go the extra mile

Do a few extra (meaningful) tasks every day that go beyond what your actual requirements are. This can mean just a few extra sales calls beyond your quota, or working for an extra 30 minutes before shutting down.

By putting in a little more effort than required you can start getting the attention of your superiors or clients, get more done during the workday and feel a new energizing sense of motivation and satisfaction.

8. Improve in one area each day

This area can be something small or large and it can be in your personal or professional life, but make it a goal to improve in one area of your life every day. This can be improving your jogging speed while you work out, getting more emails done in a certain time period or improving on your elevator pitch.

No matter what it is, take the time to really try to improve one small thing, and before you know it the improvements in your personal and professional life will surprise you.

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