What Is Your Crown Jewel for Success?

In the world of business there are limitations or restrictions of which you need to be aware when you want to achieve goals and ultimately succeed. There are some things that just, well, fall into place without compromise. Curious what restrictions need to be in place for you to succeed? Great! What about not compromising? Wondering what's not up for compromise? For one, your attitude! Your attitude needs to be in what your crown jewels are encased, much like Queen Elizabeth’s crown is made of gold; your success crown is made of attitude, allowing you to show off the jewels within you. With a positive attitude, a little self-discipline and a certain level of knowledge, you're empowered to make sound decisions along your journey to success even when a challenge might raise its pretty little head. Your attitude can not be compromised by anyone but you. You are in complete control of your attitude, and being in control of your attitude means your limitations are set by you and only you. In a previous article I talked about why your foundation for success needs to be built not just on stone but must also include sand to allow for flexibility and growth. Knowing where your foundation is enables you to then focus on identifying your crown jewel and gaining clarity on the steps it takes to achieve your goals. Your crown will, of course, have more than one jewel held within it but jewels (or, here, skills) that need to be on display for others to notice. So what is your glorious crown jewel? Take inventory of your skills and determine which of them would be equivalent to diamonds, rubies, sapphires or emeralds. Pick your favorite gem stone and begin to identify your top skill or asset with this stone. If you were to place it in your crown, how would you want people to see it? How would you describe it, and what benefits does it bring to your crown and the world as they notice this jewel? This may seem simple or sound a bit "out there," but in reality taking inventory of your experience and skills will allow you to identify the areas in which you need to spend time growing and expanding your skills. Achieving goals is about learning how to keep moving forward while side-stepping those items that may hold you back. With your goals clearly defined with dates and levels of achievements realistic in nature, you stand to gain a lot from your efforts; the experience of trying may be difficult, but your goals will ultimately support your movement. In the view of challenges, your attitude will be what pulls you through and brings you to the other side that much stronger. Asking yourself questions as you reach each of your milestones will keep you motivated. The challenge with asking yourself tough questions comes with being honest in your replies. It's easy for you to lie or trick yourself, but continue asking and rephrasing your responses to stay motivated. Here are few questions to ask yourself to get you started:

• What were my biggest distractions from completing tasks in a timely manner?
• Did I give 100% each day when working on completing tasks?
• What completed tasks could I have done better?
• Where could I have done more?
• Did I under estimate the time necessary to complete this step?
• What skills do I need to expand or refine?
• What did I do to celebrate the good work I did each day?
• What was my "self-talk" before sitting down to work on tasks?

Additionally, staying motivated to achieve your goals means surrounding yourself with positive people, positive environments and positive thoughts. In the quest to be successful in your professional life, business or life in general, many think there is a single ingredient. But the truth is that what works for one individual won't work for another. Knowing that you set your own limitations and your attitude is controlled only by you. What's now holding you back from succeeding? What are your crown jewels? Until next time, embrace your inner wisdom. Namaste, Karen