10 Tricks to Make New Habits Stick

Wouldn’t it be nice to have everything run on autopilot? Chores, exercise, eating healthy and getting your work done just happening automatically. Unless they manage to invent robot servants, all your work isn’t going to disappear overnight. But if you program behaviors as new habits you can take out the struggle.

1. Commit to Thirty Days – Three to four weeks is all the time you need to make a habit automatic. If you can make it through the initial conditioning phase, it becomes much easier to sustain.

2. Make it Daily – Consistency is critical if you want to make a habit stick. If you want to start exercising, go to the gym every day for your first thirty days. Going a couple times a week will make it harder to form the habit. 

3. Start Simple – Don’t try to completely change your life in one day. It is easy to get over-motivated and take on too much. If you wanted to study two hours a day, first make the habit to go for thirty minutes and build on that.

4. Remind Yourself – Around two weeks into your commitment it can be easy to forget. Place reminders to execute your habit each day or you might miss a few days.

5. Replace Lost Needs – If you are giving up something in your habit, make sure you are adequately replacing any needs you’ve lost. If watching television gave you a way to relax, you could take up meditation or reading as a way to replace that same need.

6. Use “But” – A prominent habit changing therapist once told me this great technique for changing bad thought patterns. When you start to think negative thoughts, use the word “but” to interrupt it. “I’m no good at this, but, if I work at it I might get better later.”

7. Associate With Role Models – Spend more time with people who model the habits you want to mirror. A recent study found that having an obese friend indicated you were more likely to become fat.

8. Run it as an Experiment – Withhold judgment until after a month has past and use it as an experiment in behavior. Experiments can’t fail, they just have different results so it will give you a different perspective on changing your habit.

9. Write it Down – A piece of paper with a resolution on it isn’t that important. Writing that resolution is. Writing makes your ideas more clear and focuses you on your end result.

10. Do it For Yourself – Don’t worry about all the things you “should” have as habits. Instead tool your habits towards your goals and the things that motivate you. Weak guilt and empty resolutions aren’t enough.

How To Communicate With People

Communicating is easy for some people. They just seem to have a natural flair for conversation. They listen well and have a strong sense of confidence, or even a charisma, that endears them to others. 

But how do the rest of us learn how to communicate with others? 

Let's start by exploring seven easy-to-follow steps.

Confidence

Good people skills start with confidence. When you have confidence, it shows. It attracts others to you like a magnet, because on some level, your self-confident attitude shows that you’re worth other people’s time and effort to get to know. 

The first rule of effective communication is looking a person directly in the eyes. People who lack confidence tend to avoid eye contact. And avoiding eye contact shows disinterest – or in a worst-case scenario, dishonesty. 

When two people make eye contact, effective communication is possible. It also lends credibility to what you say.

Show Interest 

Showing interest in them helps the other person feel more at ease and boosts his or her confidence. It also creates a situation where the other person feels obligated to reciprocate. Talking about themselves for a while tends to make people want to return the favor by asking you a question and then listening as you speak. But remember to keep your end of the conversation short if you want it to continue.

Listen Twice, Speak Once 

Stay focused, absorb the information given, and find a way to follow up with a question relevant to the subject the other person is discussing. After all, they’re offering you information, so it’s rude not to show an interest in it by failing to ask a follow-up question – even if it’s as simple as, “So how did you feel when that happened?”

Take an active interest in what this person is interested in. If it's a subject you know nothing about, use that to your advantage – to find out more about the subject. 

Admit it’s not a familiar topic. Would she mind telling you more about it? People love to share what they know and nothing increases confidence more than sharing a subject close to your heart.

Take a Risk 

True self-worth is synonymous with confidence. That means that a person doesn’t alter their feelings of self-worth in the face of other people’s reactions. Still, some people are afraid to take a chance because they fear rejection, and rejection can make some people feel inferior. 

In reality, rejection does not change one's self-worth. You are still the same person, as valuable and important as you were before you entered the conversation.

How to Interest People Right Away

Want to learn more about how to interest people right when you meet them? You have come to the right place, so keep on reading! This will teach you about the key strategies to get them hooked on you from the start, you will be irresistible!

1

Get Started.. from the Start! Once you meet them, grab their attention. Don't do the usual introduction while introducing yourself. Don't stick with the usual, "Hey, I'm Joe, what's your name?" Go with the unique type, such as, "Hey I'm Joe, I bet your thrilled to meet me.." and put your arm out for them to shake your hand. If you think that is too selfish, you might want to go to something else like, "Hey, I'm Joe, I hope you're as happy to meet me as I am to meet you," then offer your hand and shake hands, while you are shaking hands, consider saying something like, "I hope I am unforgettable!" Be unforgettable and exciting. Take a risk!

2

Get to Know Them Better. Now you have met them and have done the big introduction. Get to know them better! If you are with that person during this time, have fun, don't be shy, and be upbeat! Tell them lots and lots of things about yourself and ask them even more about themselves, they will start to love being with you!

3

The second time you get to see this same person (or any person), act like you have known them forever. This is not saying give them a hug when you see them, but consider shaking hands and saying something like, "Hey, we've met, fantastic to see you again." or even something more partying.

4

See this Person on a Regular Basis. If you know this person like you know your parents, then you will probably see them on a regular basis. Each and every time gradually get more and more friendly. The third time around, you may want to even give this person a friendly hug. They will (of course) hug you back.

6

If you still don't have the courage to do all of this, (or any of this) think of it this way. If you guys end up knowing each other for a year or even more than that, you will clearly become great best friends or great family friends. Once this happens, you will eventually tell many people how you met. Think about this. If the other person tells how you guys met, you will be not only a funny person, but told as one! Don't let this chance slip away because you could regret it for years!

HOW TO ACQUIRE THE WISDOM OF BIG-PICTURE THINKING

If you desire to seize new opportunities and open new horizons, then you need to add big-picture thinking to your abilities. To become a good thinker better able to see the big picture, keep in mind the following suggestions:

1. Don’t Strive for Certainty

Big-picture thinkers are comfortable with ambiguity. They don’t try to force every observation or piece of data into pre-formulated mental cabby holes. They think broadly and can juggle many seemingly contradictory thoughts in their minds. If you want to cultivate the ability to think big picture, then you must get used to embracing and dealing with complex and diverse ideas.

2. Learn from Every Experience

Big-picture thinkers broaden their outlook by striving to learn from every experience. They don’t rest on their successes, they learn from them. More importantly, they learn from their failures. They can do that because they remain teachable. Varied experiences—both positive and negative—help you see the big picture. The greater the variety of experience and success, the more potential to learn you have. If you desire to be a big- picture thinker, then get out there and try a lot of things, take a lot of chances, and take time to learn after every victory or defeat.

3. Gain Insight from a Variety of People

Big-picture thinkers learn from their experiences. But they also learn from experiences they don’t have. That is, they learn by receiving insight from others—from customers, employees, colleagues, and leaders.

If you desire to broaden your thinking and see more of the big picture, then seek out counselors to help you. But be wise in whom you ask for advice. Gaining insight from a variety of people doesn’t mean stopping anyone and everyone in hallways and grocery store lines and asking what they think about a given subject. Be selective. Talk to people who know and care about you, who know their field, and who bring experience deeper and broader than your own.

4. Give Yourself Permission to Expand Your World

If you want to be a big-picture thinker, you will have to go against the flow of the world. Society wants to keep people in boxes. Most people are married mentally to the status quo. They want what was, not what can be. They seek safety and simple answers. To think big-picture, you need  to give yourself permission to go a different way, to break new ground, to find new worlds to conquer. And when your world does get bigger, you need to celebrate. Never forget there is more out there in the world than what you’ve experienced.

Keep learning, keep growing, and keep looking at the big picture! If you desire to be a good

thinker, that’s what you need to do.

8 Everyday Habits of the Average Millionaire

I’ll be honest. There were definitely several times throughout my life when I never dreamed of becoming a millionaire. I didn't feel like I deserved it. I felt like that was meant for much smarter people than myself.

Here are a few habits that I've noticed that average people like you and me do on a daily basis to change away from negative thoughts to positive thoughts and become millionaires.

1. They read for self-improvement.

I’ve always been an avid reader. I’ve noticed, however, that reading wasn’t just something I enjoyed. It was probably one of the biggest influences on why I became successful.

For example, as an entrepreneur, my reading habits helped me become a stronger and more effective business owner and leader. For the average millionaire, reading can help them grow and learn. In fact, according to research from Thomas Crowley, 85 percent of self-made millionaires read two or more books per month.

3 Unexpected Ways Reading Personal Development Books Changed My Life

2. They create multiple streams of income.

The average millionaire doesn't just rely on one source of income. They have multiple streams of income. This way they can handle any economic downturns, as well as make even more money.

In most cases, this involves having a passive income. This could be in the form of interest from loans, dividends from investments, capital gains, royalties, or rental income. Other types of multiple sources of income could be from starting a side business that doesn’t involve active work, such as running a website or selling information products.

3. They live on a monthly written budget.

Millionaires didn’t earn their money by luck. They’ve taken the time to understand what’s coming in and what’s leaving their bank account every month. In other words, they create and stick to a monthly written budget. Additionally, monthly budgets prevent overspending allow millionaires to achieve financial goals that they’ve established.

4. The don’t leave money on the table.

You can’t accumulate wealth by “leaving money on the table.” That’s why millionaires, no matter what their salary is, are aware of tax-avoidance strategies. As explained by Philip Van Doorn on MarketWatch, “If you work for a company or organization with a 401(k) or similar tax-deferred retirement plan, chances are your employer makes matching contributions.” 

So “if the employer matches up to five percent, it means that if you contribute five percent of your pretax salary to your retirement account, the employer will also put in five percent. Boom -- you just realized a 100 percent gain on your investment during the first year, and set aside the equivalent of 10 percent of your salary.”

5. They avoid debt.

The wealthy avoid debt at all costs. They live a frugal lifestyle and only make purchases for items that they can actually pay for. They don’t book a vacation and use their credit card to pay for the entire trip. This way they’re not paying those hefty interest rates. 

If they do use a credit card to make a purchase, they’re certain that they have enough money to pay off that bill when their statement arrives.

6. They set daily goals.

Whether they’re setting financial projections, planning weekly tasks, or looking for ways to have multiple streams of income, millionaires are known for setting daily goals. This helps keep them focused and build momentum.

When establishing daily goals, make sure that you prioritize. This means doing the most important thing first. For example, if you want to make more money, then you should pursue activities that can make you thousands, instead of chasing actions that earn you hundreds.

7. They don’t act rich.

Thomas Stanley, author of “Stop Acting Rich: ...And Start Living Like A Real Millionaire,” says “that most prestige makes of cars — 86 percent -- are driven by nonmillionaires. Stanley adds, “These are people who think they are acting rich via their adoption of prestige brands, but in most cases they are only acting like each other.”

8. They’re patient.

Even though we hear those stories of the person why became a millionaire overnight, the reality is that that’s few and far between. The average millionaire lives by the motto that patience is a virtue. That’s why the millionaire next door doesn’t achieve that status until they’re 50 years old. They earn a modest salary, invest wisely and focus on living below their means instead of searching for get rich schemes.

Millionaire Habits