Habits Form Us.

Habits Define Us.

Each of us is a creature of many habits we've built during our lifetime. Some are good, others are bad. It is the same for all of us. Fortunately habits are changeable, just like attitudes. But no one can change them for us. Habits are the one thing we will own our entire lives. We control them!

If you want to improve your life, habits must change. But, one word of advice: Focus on strengths rather than weaknesses. You will see much faster growth, and it will be easy and fun.

Focusing on a negative habit, when it comes to really improving our lives financially, spiritually and mentally, seldom works.

When we focus on our strengths, many of our weaknesses disappear. Let me say that again. When we focus on our strengths, many of our weaknesses disappear.

We've been taught, from childhood on that we should work on our weaknesses. That is wrong!

Focus on strengths, and you will see yourself in a different light. A brighter light. You will watch your life improve. You will see good habits get better, and many bad habits fade out of view. Others will notice the changes.

Make the decision to get better at what you are already good at. Practice using that strength daily. Are you a good listener? Listen more intently. Are you a good employee? Perform even better.

It is easy, because once you focus on that strength, you automatically improve. Try it. You will see the changes quickly.

The responsibility to improve our habits is up to us. No one else can or will do it for us. We must be the one to make the decision, and then take the simple action steps needed.

Start today. Focus on a strength each morning and throughout the day. You will see better relationships, more sales, increased earnings, and all those things that make growth occur naturally.

Help People - it makes Your Life nicer!

Exercise for PIE Program Members: Help People® Visual-Eyes.

Warren R. Haskin II is president of Help People, Inc., a consulting firm specializing in human behavior and business growth. Haskin is listed in Oxford Who's Who as one of the leaders of the Self-Help industry and founder of the Suite Hotel industry. He is currently a free lance writer, and public speaker in addition to heading his consulting firm. His email address is: whaskin@HelpPeople.com

Good attitudes are the spice of life.  

An amazing thing takes place when we have the right attitude. We eliminate stress.   We become leaders. We reach our goals.   We become happy!

There are easy techniques to use in order to achieve and maintain good attitudes.   The secret is repetition of these techniques.   In other words, building habits.

Yesterday, we discussed one of the most important aspects of keeping a good attitude.

Showing real appreciation to someone else made you feel good.   I don't know all the good that emerged, but I do know the people to whom you showed real appreciation look at you differently today.    

Show someone appreciation each day this week.   Make it a habit to look for the good in people. Let them know that you see that quality or trait in them.   What an easy technique to use.   Just show others true appreciation.  

Today, let's practice a second "attitude technique."   The action step is, "talk about what interests the other person".  

Get out of yourself. Ask questions.   Let people tell you about themselves.

Practice this, and you will begin to see that "people are attracted to you."      

This is an important technique for building self-esteem in our children.   It is also important in the business world.

We all have attitudes. Good or bad. It's up to us to make our attitude good, and that will come with repetition or practice of the techniques we will be discussing.

Like an athlete or a musician, practice is necessary in becoming accomplished in whatever field we are in, including being a good mate, parent, employer, manager or employee.

Attitude techniques like "showing real appreciation to others" and "talking about other people's interests" change lives, and increase sales and profit in any business.

If you are a manager, show appreciation to your staff.   If you are a salesman, let your clients know how much you appreciate them.   If you are a parent, tell your children what you appreciate about them. You will see rewarding results.

As you practice and start to see the results, email me and we'll share your accomplishments in future columns.

"Help People-   It makes Your Life nicer."

Warren R. Haskin II is president of Help People, Inc., a consulting firm specializing in human behavior and business growth. Haskin is in Oxford Who's Who as one of the leaders of the Self-Help industry and founder of the Suite Hotel industry.   He is currently a free lance writer, and public speaker in addition to heading his consulting firm. His email address is:whaskin@HelpPeople.com

Years ago, there was a survey among High School students that showed their number one priority was to be popular.   Dale Carnegie's book, "How to Win Friends and Influence People", was right up their alley as he outlined specific techniques to gain popularity.   The book was a best seller.

But it wasn't High School kids who bought it.   It was business people.   Why?   The same rules for being popular, or winning friends also "influence people", and business people realize that you have to influence people to win at any career.  

Carnegie listed 10 rules.   Nine of his rules act like a magnet in attracting people to us.   Only one is a "do not" rule. But it is that one rule that effects our attitude in a negative manner more than anything else, and is a trap we all get into.  

The rule is "do not criticize, condemn, or complain."

 We all do it.   When we criticize, condemn and/or complain, we can rest assured that our attitude will not produce positive results.   In fact, it works just the opposite of Carnegie's other nine rules.   When we criticize, condemn or complain, we automatically repel people.

Who wants to be around someone with a "complaining attitude"?

Unfortunately, criticizing, condemning or complaining is also contagious.

When we criticize, the person we criticize is much more likely to criticize someone else. It's a vicious circle and is highly contagious.

A story you may have heard involves a man whose wife criticized him before leaving for work for not emptying the trash. He got to work and criticized one of his employees, who immediately went to the VP complaining about his boss' critical behavior.

By the end of the day, the VP wrote the man up for being too critical. When he got home that night, he kicked the cat that was asleep on the doorstep.

How many times have we been the cat, "kicked" because someone else had a bad attitude?   How many times have we caused someone else to be "kicked" because we criticized, condemned or complained?

Today, be aware. Avoid the negative repercussions that come from having a complaining attitude. Train your mind. Practice.

Do not criticize, condemn or complain. The tongue acts like a sword.   It may not kill, but it can do an enormous amount of damage.

Let's make life better for everyone else, and ourselves by refraining all week from having a "complainer's attitude".

"Help People-   It makes Your Life nicer."

Warren R. Haskin II is president of Help People, Inc., a consulting firm specializing in human behavior and business growth. Haskin is in Oxford Who's Who as one of the leaders of the Self-Help industry and founder of the Suite Hotel industry.   He is currently a free lance writer, and public speaker in addition to heading his consulting firm. His email address is:whaskin@HelpPeople.com