7 strategies for success in business and in life · overcome procrastination, perfectionism, ......
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1 | ©2011 Neil A. Fiore, PhD. All rights reserved. www.neilfiore.com [email protected]
7 Strategies for Success in
Business and in Life The Fiore Productivity Program™
Neil A. Fiore, PhD
Author of
2 | ©2011 Neil A. Fiore, PhD. All rights reserved. www.neilfiore.com [email protected]
7 Strategies for Success in Business and in Life
The Fiore Productivity Program™
Neil A. Fiore, PhD
TABLE OF CONTENTS page
Introduction: Powerful Strategies for Taking Charge of Your Time
and Your Life 3
1. Identify Your Blocks to Success Remove the blocks to freedom; Getting Unstuck Quiz 4 2. Time Management: More time available for top priorities;
Take Charge of To Do Lists and Deadlines 8
3. Overcome Procrastination, Perfectionism, Workaholism, and Feeling
Overwhelmed 12
4. Centering Exercise – Focused in 1 minute 14
5. The Power of Getting Started vs. Having to Get Things Done 16
6. The Six Warning Signs of Procrastination Quiz 19 7. Summary, Resources and Links 20
3 | ©2011 Neil A. Fiore, PhD. All rights reserved. www.neilfiore.com [email protected]
7 Strategies for Success in Business and in Life
The Fiore Productivity Program™ Neil A. Fiore, PhD
Congratulations on taking your first steps toward Business Mastery!
Introduction
About the author: Dr. Neil Fiore brings together a unique combination of skills and
experiences to his readers and seminar audiences. Neil is a psychologist, author, and
keynote speaker who served as a lieutenant with the 101st Airborne. He also was a
manager for Johnson & Johnson, an Economic Analyst for Shell Oil, a psychologist at the
University of California, Berkeley’s Counseling Center, and has presented seminars to major
corporations, associations, and universities.
Neil is the author of six books and CDs for Nightingale-Conant and the Hypnosis Network
as well as articles in The New England Journal of Medicine; Coping; Self; The San Francisco
Chronicle; Working Woman; and Boardroom Reports.
His work has been cited in The New York Times, The Wall St. Journal, The Washington
Post, The London Times, Forbes, and Psychology Today. Dr. Fiore is a recipient of the
University of California’s Award for Distinguished Achievement and Boardroom Reports
named him one of their Top 10 Self-Help Gurus.
Early Lessons of a Young Entrepreneur
Raised in Jersey City, N.J. during the era of teenage gang wars, Neil learned to practice
mental toughness by standing up to bullies. Success later in life often depends on learning
early in life when to stand and fight and when to run like hell. By the age of eleven, Neil
was already an entrepreneur, organizing the neighborhood kids to recycle flowerpots to
sell to the local nursery and negotiating with the owner for a better price. Throughout high
school and college he worked 15 to 20 hours a week and learned to use his time efficiently.
4 | ©2011 Neil A. Fiore, PhD. All rights reserved. www.neilfiore.com [email protected]
Dear Business owner, entrepreneur, manager:
I’ve designed this eBook with you in mind. You’re busy, overworked, and may be overwhelmed.
You may be doing the job of three people. You need accessible tools like these Hot Tips to serve
as software for your brain that you can use now without a lot of fluff.
Busy and successful people like you often feel that they’re not functioning optimally in spite
of putting in great effort and long hours and feel frustrated with their lack of progress.
It’s my personal mission to make your work more productive so you have more time and
energy for the projects that can change your life and for a more fulfilling and enjoyable personal
life. Instead of dreading work, you will begin to discover that it can be a source of creative
problem solving and confidence building. By applying these Hot Tips you can start today to
sharpen your skills, awaken your creative genius, and make more time available for the career
and personal activities that make life worthwhile.
Sincerely, Neil Fiore, PhD The Fiore Productivity Program TM
Let’s get started by identifying what’s blocking your success and personal fulfillment.
1. Identify Your Blocks to Success What’s Keeping You Stuck?
The Fiore Productivity Program™ Neil A. Fiore, PhD
I. Identify Your Blocks to Success, Fulfillment, and Freedom
These days it’s not unusual to find high-powered successful people suffering from several
blocks to optimal performance, optimal productivity, and optimal joy. In fact, the following list
of issues is a summary of problems presented to me by my coaching, webinar, and seminar
clients. In my webinars I’ll be offering effective solutions.
How many of these common blocks are keeping you from optimal productivity?
Procrastination—Perfectionism, Workaholism, Overwhelmed
Time management—Chronic lateness and feeling pressured to work at the last minute
Ineffective Goal-Setting—Lack commitment to the path to the goal
Low motivation—Stuck in inner conflict, ambivalence, and low energy
5 | ©2011 Neil A. Fiore, PhD. All rights reserved. www.neilfiore.com [email protected]
Ineffective Self-Management—Mission Statement is unclear or missing; unable to
follow through on your goals; feeling ineffective
Lack of focus—Distractions keep you from your top priority tasks; you feel compelled to
surf the Net, check email and Facebook, and eat snacks
Stress—Worry, anxiety, restlessness, and irritability are constant and causing insomnia
Emotional reactivity—Irritable, easily angry or upset, compulsive eating
Ineffective communications—Arguments instead of resolutions; defensive vs. listening
Mental Toughness is missing—Events and stress derail commitments, focus, and
progress; worry about the end result sabotage performance
Remove Your Blocks to Freedom
FINDING THE FREEDOM TO DO WHAT YOU WANT
Freedom means different things to different people. But it usually means freedom from worry,
from debt, from fear, and from taking orders from people who don’t know what they’re doing.
Freedom could mean being your own boss and earning enough so you don’t have to work a 50,
60, or 70-hour week.
You may simply want freedom from having to work long hours so you can enjoy your
garden, your family, your favorite music and sports and have enough money to travel to see the
world. Or freedom could mean freedom from the habits and fears that waste your time and
keep you from demonstrating your skills and making the kind of living you deserve.
You may want freedom from the little dictator in your head that keeps threatening and
criticizing you, causing you sleepless nights saying, “If that happens, I’ll make you miserable.”
It can also mean freedom from constantly having to think about how to make more money.
The freedom to live your unlived life; to have the time to express your true self, your talents,
your dreams; freedom to follow your bliss; and freedom to have a say in how you want the
world to be for your children.
How do you get there? When will you start on the projects, the information gathering, and
the skill-building that will lead you to greater freedom? From what I’ve learned in working with
thousands of people is that you must get unstuck from your fears and habits and start today,
start now to live your new life. Start now with Hot Tips and The Fiore Productivity Program!
Where do you start? Let’s start with an assessment of where you are today and by identifying the issues that are keeping you stuck.
6 | ©2011 Neil A. Fiore, PhD. All rights reserved. www.neilfiore.com [email protected]
You can repeat this quiz every month to check on your progress.
GETTING UNSTUCK QUIZ—FOR ACHIEVING FULL POTENTIAL Could your life be considerably more fulfilling, passionate and joyful? Discover how to
rapidly get unstuck from unnecessary barriers and unleash your full potential. Start by
answering these questions and rate yourself on the Get Unstuck Quiz to learn how this
program can help you.
On a scale of 1 to 4, how true are the following statements in describing your behavior
or feelings? 1 represents the least true for you and 4 the most true.
How true are the following statements for you? SCORE
1. I feel stuck and want to start achieving my full potential.
1- Not at all true 2- Somewhat true 3- Quite a Bit 4- Very True _________
2. I’d like to know how to remove a major obstacle to my happiness and success.
1- Not at all true 2- Somewhat true 3- Quite a Bit 4- Very True _________
3. I need to get out of negative relationships and away from people who drain my energy.
1- Not at all true 2- Somewhat true 3- Quite a Bit 4- Very True _________
4. I frequently ask myself, “But, what if something goes wrong?”
1- Not at all true 2- Somewhat true 3- Quite a Bit 4- Very True _________
5. I’d love to feel that that there is essentially nothing wrong with me— that I can be happy with who I am.
1- Not at all true 2- Somewhat true 3- Quite a Bit 4- Very True _________
6. I’d like to be less worried about criticism and less dependent on the approval of others.
1- Not at all true 2- Somewhat true 3- Quite a Bit 4- Very True _________ 7. I’d like to be less distracted by worries and more capable of enjoying the moment.
1- Not at all true 2- Somewhat true 3- Quite a Bit 4- Very True _________
8. I want to regain some vital motivation, excitement and sense of purpose about my life.
1- Not at all true 2- Somewhat true 3- Quite a Bit 4- Very True _________
9. I want to learn how to stay focused on my top priority projects.
1- Not at all true 2- Somewhat true 3- Quite a Bit 4- Very True _________
10. I definitely need to change something about my situation in the next 6-12 months.
1- Not at all true 2- Somewhat true 3- Quite a Bit 4- Very True _________
TOTAL ____________
7 | ©2011 Neil A. Fiore, PhD. All rights reserved. www.neilfiore.com [email protected]
Interpreting Your Score: 30-40: STOP THE STRUGGLE. GET UNSTUCK. TAKE CHARGE OF YOUR LIFE NOW.
Your life could be easier, more joyful and fulfilling with much less anxiety and self-doubt. Start
immediately to use the change strategies and techniques contained in The Fiore Productivity
Program. Pay attention to those strategies that build confidence and your sense of worth.
Practice using the early signs of struggle as a wake-up call to shift to your new optimal
performance skills and almost effortless focus. Seriously consider signing up for the 7 Strategies
for Success in Business and Life described on page 19.
20-29: You’re motivated to significantly improve your effectiveness in life.
Remove old blocks and out-dated patterns. Practice identifying your usual ways of coping and
prepare updated, healthier and effective alternatives. Give special attention to Effective
Communication, Effective Self-Management Skills and insist on playing a leadership role in your
life. Learn how to apply these practical tools in Dr. Fiore’s 7 webinars, the 7 Strategies for
Success in Business and Life.
10-19: Congratulations! You’re in great shape.
Use The Fiore Productivity Program strategies, exercises and action steps to sharpen the skills
you already have and shorten your learning curve. With minimal effort you can learn how to
move rapidly toward solutions that lead to self-fulfillment, the achievement of your objectives,
and truly taking charge of your life.
For the complete eBook and Webinars Sign up at:
http://neilfiore.com/products.shtml
8 | ©2011 Neil A. Fiore, PhD. All rights reserved. www.neilfiore.com [email protected]
2. Time Management— Take Control of Deadlines
Time and Life Management* *Adapted from The Now Habit at Work [Wiley, 2010] by Neil A. Fiore, PhD A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
—Confucius Regardless of your many accomplishments, the lack of effective time management skills can
be keeping you from achieving your true potential and make you vulnerable to the wasteful
habits of workaholism and procrastination, and feelings of anxiety, stress, and guilt.
If you’re busy, multitasking, and overwhelmed, or not having enough fun in your life, you
could benefit from new ways of thinking about time, work, and deadlines.
Tools to Take Control of Your Time
One method used by procrastinators is the “I work best under pressure-do it at the last
minute-method.” This is a time-consuming, expensive way of escaping your own self-imposed
perfectionism, fear, and criticism. While you could get away with this method as a college
freshman, most of us over the age of 30 know it is not a strategy for long-term success. It robs
you of much needed recuperative sleep and the opportunity to engage your dreaming mind in
the discovery of creative solutions for you over the course of several nights.
To meet deadlines and to have break-through solutions “come to you” more frequently, you
need to employ more sophisticated time management strategies. Instead of simply working
harder and longer and at the last minute, you can become a more effective manager of your
time and life when you learn to:
Start projects Now
Slim down your To Do lists
Create three- and four-dimensional paths back to when you start
Get Things Started—Now
9 | ©2011 Neil A. Fiore, PhD. All rights reserved. www.neilfiore.com [email protected]
To make the right decisions, effective executives first need to manage their time and focus
their teams on starting on the right tasks. Executive functions include taking responsibility for
decisions, making a risk-benefit analysis, managing time as a limited resource, and focusing on
top priorities. The first decision of an executive or entrepreneur is what to start on. That’s your
goal or end point. You need to know where you’re going and to create a compelling vision that
garners the participation of your employees and partners. The second decision is when to start
and is a no-brainer if you make it a habit to start now—even if you have only five minutes.
Getting things started breaks through inertia and gets you onto momentum as you
gain more information than you would making To Do lists, getting organized, and
worrying about getting things done.
Getting things started will give you a Procrastination Inoculation Shot that breaks
down old negative habits and shifts your brain into problem-solving mode.
Getting things started on top priorities will seed your brain with ideas that will
germinate in the background while you take a break or work on low-priority
urgencies and enjoy leisure activities.
Getting things started now will turn anxiety about the future deadline into
excitement and productivity as you release the stuck energy of anxiety in the
present.
Getting things started will build your confidence as you learn more about the project
within one to 15 minutes and will help you decide what to start on next and when
to start it.
Getting things started now will make the job easier for your future self.
Studying the strategies of creative people such as authors and song writers, I’ve learned that
most maintain the discipline or ritual of starting to work early in their day. Some will put off
coffee and breakfast until they’ve written two pages or sat for 30 minutes. They’re feeding
their brains with ideas that percolate in the background before they feed their body. This
process allows creative, breakthrough concepts to come to you while you’re showering,
dressing, and having breakfast. The seeds planted early in the day will be growing during
your commute and will be available for harvesting later in the day and igniting motivation.
10 | ©2011 Neil A. Fiore, PhD. All rights reserved. www.neilfiore.com [email protected]
Keep Starting: The last time you start is when you’ll finish
Rather than telling yourself “I have to finish,” keep focused on when you can start. The last time
you start is when you’ll finish. Your new deadline is seeing what you can start in 5, 15, or 30
minutes. Keep telling the workers—your mind and body—when, where, and on what to start
and you’ll find that all parts cooperate with your goals without ambivalence or resistance.
Hot Tip If you want to get it done, Get Started Now! Harness the energy of your rebellion against a boring project by doing it quickly.
See how quickly you can put up an outline or rough draft in 5 to 30 minutes. This is your deadline. You’re
the boss. Take ownership of your deadlines and you’ll feel motivated.
Once you’ve broken through resistance, commit to exploring the project for 5 to 10 hours this week to
see if you feel pumped enough to invest another 5 to 10 hours next week. Get started now and you’ll
know more than you did before. If you want to get it done, get started, now!
Ask yourself – throughout your day – When can I start for 15 minutes?
Back-Time from your deadline to the present, and ask, When can I start?
Schedule plenty of Guilt-Free Play. Put into your schedule your sleep, meals, meetings,
leisure, and social events. See summaries of The Now Habit & Awaken Your Strongest
Self books and CDs on www.amazon.com, www.audible.com, and www.neilfiore.com.
Record, and take credit for every 15 – 30 minutes of uninterrupted, mindful focus on
your top priorities. Use what lawyers and architects call “billable hours” in which they
track every six to ten minutes spent on a client’s project. Consider using an Excel-like
spreadsheet with different colors for project or client A, B, and C and perhaps the color
red or blue for fun and family time.
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
Remember: You can’t always control when you’ll be done with a project but
YOU CAN CONTROL WHEN YOU START.
11 | ©2011 Neil A. Fiore, PhD. All rights reserved. www.neilfiore.com [email protected]
Focus on starting and you’ll feel more in control of your life.
Being in charge of your brain and behavior is the essence of being
human and feeling effective.
Write what you will start on—get it in your mind—decide now:
___________________________________________________________
Write when you will start today for 5 to 30 minutes of uninterrupted time:
___________________________________________________________
Write where you will start—see and feel yourself there:
_________________________________________
Write what thoughts, feelings, or impulses could derail you from starting:
_________________________________________
Write that you will start even if you are distracted by your favorite
excuses—list them so you are prepared to re-focus on your commitment:
I am committed to starting
Even If: I feel (afraid, tired, lonely) ________________________________
Even If: I think (“I don’t know where to start”)_______________________
Even If: I want to (get up, call a friend, eat, or smoke)_________________
Even If: I start late _______________________________
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
Big HOT TIP Secret: You just did a Peak Performance Mental Toughness Rehearsal. You got your fear inoculation shot! You programmed your brain to zero-in on the action steps that put the odds of success strongly in your favor.
12 | ©2011 Neil A. Fiore, PhD. All rights reserved. www.neilfiore.com [email protected]
3. Overcome Procrastination, Perfectionism, Workaholism,
and Feeling Overwhelmed Use your human brain’s ability to choose and you’ll break the inner conflict between the voices of “You have to” versus “I don’t want to.” Use more of your brain and you won’t procrastinate.
I. LEARNING THE LANGUAGE OF PRODUCERS*
While it is common practice to try to motivate yourself with statements such as, "You have to do it." "You have to get all these things done.” Such statements loudly communicate to your mind, "I don't want to do it. You should resist and rebel."
FIVE STATEMENTS THAT DISTINGUISH PROCRASTINATORS FROM PRODUCERS*
Procrastinators PRODUCERS
1. You Have to 1. I CHOOSE TO
2. Finish something 2. START
3. Big and important 3. SMALL
4. Do it Perfectly 4. HUMANLY
5. Have Pain & No Fun 5. GUILT-FREE PLAY
Language of Procrastinators/ Workaholics: You have to finish something big and important, do it perfectly, and suffer lots of pain and miss out on the fun things in life.
Language of Producers and Peak Performers:
I CHOOSE TO START ON ONE SMALL STEP (for 15 minutes), DO IT HUMANLY (a rough draft) WITH PLENTY OF TIME FOR FUN AND GUILT-FREE PLAY * adapted from Neil Fiore’s The Now Habit: The Fiore Productivity Program for Overcoming Procrastination and Enjoying Guilt-Free Play [Tarcher/Penguin, 2007]
13 | ©2011 Neil A. Fiore, PhD. All rights reserved. www.neilfiore.com [email protected]
Take a Leadership Role: Unite forces around a higher vision and values
The single most important characteristic of good managers is that they
protect their employees—protect their time, protect their dignity, and protect
their careers.
-- Robert Townsend, former Dir. of American Express;
author, "Up the Organization"
To work with less stress and greater creativity you need a technique you can use on the job
in the midst of stress to focus your energies in ONE MINUTE.
You need the optimal performance skills gained from using the 4 C's of Effective Leadership:
1. CHOICE
2. CREATING SAFETY
3. COMMITMENT
4. CENTERING
1. CHOICE: Increase efficiency 100% and cut procrastination in half by simply choosing your
next task. "Should" and "have to" messages cause ambivalence and loss of energy and
motivation.
How will you stop ambivalence and adapt CHOICE to your way of working?
_______________________________________________________________________
2. CREATING SAFETY: Only when you make your worth safe with you – safe from self-
criticism and self-threats – can your body can focus efficient levels of energy on the task.
How will you CREATE SAFETY for yourself in your work and relationships?
________________________________________________________________________
3. COMMITMENT: If you want the goal, will you choose and commit to the PATH?
If you can’t commit to each step on the path, let go of the goal because it’s likely to lead to
resentment, procrastination, and failure.
What will it take for you to COMMIT to and fully choose every step on the path to your goal?
__________________________________________________________________________
14 | ©2011 Neil A. Fiore, PhD. All rights reserved. www.neilfiore.com [email protected]
4. CENTERING: Attempting to undo the past or anticipate danger in the future overwhelms you
with anxiety and makes you ineffective. Only in the present can you focus your energy to
confront the multi-tasking demands and distractions of today's high-pressured life. Bring
your mind in to feel the earth beneath your feet; to feel the support of your chair. Focus
now!
How will you use CENTERING on your next task? Apply the following Centering Exercise.
______________________________________________________________________________
4. CENTERING EXERCISE— Focused in 1 minute (12breaths)
1) 3 breaths to let go of thoughts & images of work from the past
2) 3 breaths to let go of thoughts & images of work in the future
3) 3 breaths to choose to be in the present with this work
4) 3 breaths to count up …. curious and interested about working from your
Leadership Self, using more of your brain cell power, eager and ready to begin.
Centering is a one-minute, twelve-breath exercise that transitions your mind from fretting
about the past and future to focusing in the present—where your body must be. Centering in
the present clears your mind of regrets about the past and worries about anticipated problems
in the so-called future.
As you withdraw your thoughts from these imagined times and problems, you release
yourself from guilt about the past and worry about the future. You experience a stress-free
vacation in the present. Whenever you experience moments of the joyful abandon in play, the
easy flow of creativity, or the sensation of effortless performance, you are practicing a form of
centering. Use this exercise each time you start a project. Within just a few weeks your body
and mind will learn to naturally let go of tension and focus on working efficiently and optimally.
Read the following to yourself or record it and play it each time you start a project.
15 | ©2011 Neil A. Fiore, PhD. All rights reserved. www.neilfiore.com [email protected]
1. Begin by taking three slow breaths, in three parts: #1 Inhale, #2 Hold your breath and
tense your muscles and, #3 Exhale slowly and float down into the feeling of chair and floor—so
your mind is with your body. With each exhalation let go of the last telephone call, email, or
commute and float down into the support of the chair. With your next exhalation float down
into the support of the chair, the floor, the bed, or the earth and allow your muscles to
release.
Let go of all thoughts and images about work from the past. Clear your mind and your body
of all concerns about what “should have” or “shouldn't have” happened in the past. Let go of
old burdens and trying to fix old problems and other people. Let each exhalation be a signal to
float down into the present, free of the past.
Say to yourself as you exhale: “I release my mind and body from the past.”
2. With your next three breaths in three parts, let go of all images and thoughts about what
you think may happen in the future—all the “what ifs.” With each exhalation clear your
muscles, your heart, and your mind of the work of trying to control the so-called future.
Say to yourself as you exhale: “I release my mind and body from the future.”
3. With your next three breaths, say: “I’m choosing to be in this present moment, in front of
this work.” I let go of trying to control any other time or striving to be any particular way. I
notice how little effort it takes to simply breathe comfortably and accept the just right level of
energy to focus on this moment and this task—in the only moment there is, now.
Say to yourself as you exhale: “I bring my mind into the present.”
4. Read or say to yourself: For the next few minutes, there is nothing much for my conscious
mind to worry about within this sanctuary. You are safe from the past and the future. I just
allow the natural processes of my mind and body to provide me with focused concentration. I
access my inner genius and its creative resources and watch for the surprise.
Say to yourself as you exhale: “I am centered within my larger, wiser, stronger Self.”
5. With your next three breaths count up from 1 to 3: “One, becoming more adequately alert
with each breath; Two, curious and interested about going rapidly from not-knowing to
knowing; and, Three, eager to begin, curious and interested about how much I will accomplish
in such a short period of time.”
Use this Centering Exercise every time you start a new task or make a transition and
within two weeks your body will automatically shut off stress and your mind will focus.
16 | ©2011 Neil A. Fiore, PhD. All rights reserved. www.neilfiore.com [email protected]
THE SIX WARNING SIGNS OF PROCRASTINATION
Another step in starting your Fiore Productivity Program™ is to identify your procrastination patterns so you can apply the appropriate Now Habit strategies and techniques. Then, you’ll be prepared to replace them with the effective habits of producers.
With these six warning signs you can quickly determine the type of difficulties you may have with procrastination, workaholism, goal setting, or inefficient work habits. 1. Does life feel like a long series of obligations that you cannot meet? Do you keep an impossibly long "To Do" list? Do you constantly tell yourself "You have to get all of this work done?" Do you feel powerless with no sense of choice or control? Do you feel agitated, pressured, and continually fearful of being caught procrastinating? Do you suffer from insomnia and have difficulty unwinding at night, on weekends, and on vacations—if, in fact, you take vacations? 2. Are you unrealistic about time? Do you answer the question “When will you start?” with a vague "Sometime next week" or "In
the fall?" Do you lose track of how you spend your time and feel that you haven't accomplished anything? Do you have an empty schedule without a clear sense of commitments, plans, and deadlines? Do you arrive at meetings and dinners chronically late? Do you fail to take into account the actual time it takes to drive across town during rush hour?
3. Are you vague about your goals and values? Do you find it difficult to stay committed to any one person or project? Do you have difficulty knowing what you really want for yourself, but are clear about what you
should want? Do you get easily distracted by new goals and plans that you believe are free of problems and
obstacles? Do you lack the ability to distinguish between what's the most important use of your time and what's just keeping busy? 4. Are you unfulfilled, frustrated, and possibly depressed? Do you have life goals that you've never completed or even attempted? Do you fear always being a procrastinator? Do you find that you're never satisfied with what you do accomplish? Do you continually wonder "Why did I do that?" "What's wrong with me?" Do you feel deprived of fun—always working or feeling guilty about not working? Are you a workaholic?
17 | ©2011 Neil A. Fiore, PhD. All rights reserved. www.neilfiore.com [email protected]
5. Are you indecisive and afraid of making a mistake? Do you delay completing projects because you try to make them perfect? Do you fear taking responsibility for decisions because you're afraid of being blamed if something goes wrong? Do you put in extra time trying to make your work perfect and trying to avoid criticism? Do you expect to be above mistakes and criticism? Is it hard to accept that you are just human? Do you worry endlessly about "what if something happens?" 6. Do you have low self-esteem and lack of assertiveness? Do you blame outside events for your failures because you're afraid to admit to any deficiencies? Do you believe “I am what I do?” or “My worth as a person is determined by my net worth and work?” Do you feel unable to control your life? Do you allow others and external events determine how you'll feel about yourself? Do you fear being judged and found wanting? Are you afraid that you will make yourself
miserable?
If you're struggling on a daily basis with many of these issues, the chances are you already know that you have real problems with procrastination, workaholism, or perfectionism. If you see only a few of these warning signs in yourself you may be procrastinating in some areas of your life while remaining in control in other areas. As you become aware of the times you feel most vulnerable to procrastination, consider investing in yourself by signing up for the 7 Strategies for Success in Business and in Life on page 19. These 7 webinars will keep you focused on your vision of living a more joyful, productive, and fulfilling life.
For information about upcoming webinars, Ebooks, seminars and downloads on Optimal Performance and productivity see www.neilfiore.com www.facebook.com/neilfiore [email protected] http://neilfiore.blogspot.com © Neil Fiore 2001-2011 1496 Solano Ave., Albany, CA 94706 (510) 525 - 2673 [email protected]
For the complete eBook and Webinars Sign up at:
http://neilfiore.com/products.shtml
18 | ©2011 Neil A. Fiore, PhD. All rights reserved. www.neilfiore.com [email protected]
Unleashing Your True Potential
In this EBook, I have offered you many effective self-management strategies and tools that will
put you in charge of your time and your life. If you start applying them today, you’ll discover
that you can work smarter and faster on the projects and tasks that can significantly improve
your life, save you time, and double your productivity. You’ll be accessing the business mastery
skills of producers that permit you to perform optimally on your job, stop procrastinating on
living, and achieve work-life integration.
Summary:
What if working harder, stressing more, and putting in more hours aren't the secret to success?
What if truly effective managers, entrepreneurs, and businesspeople simply use more of their
brain to make creative decisions, work in a peak performance zone, and live more fully in the
process?
Let me help you apply these innovative strategies that, with daily practice, will lead to the
skills to break free of the myth of having working harder and longer. You can be free of the
outrageous message that your life must be about completing To Do Lists.
Learn how to apply strategies used by peak performers in every field of endeavor to work
optimally while enjoying a full life.
You now can increase your productivity, efficiency, and full-brain power by applying these
strategies to your business. Here’s how to sign up.
ANNOUNCEMENT: In the next few weeks I will be offering – for an exclusive and time-limited price –3 webinars on the topics and issues that are most pressing to business people, entrepreneurs, managers, and CEOs. These webinars will be uniquely interactive because the topics will be based on your comments and emails, tailored to your current needs and issues. Quizzes and questionnaires will help you identify your blocks to success and will help guide the focus of each 50-minute webinar. I look forward to working with you over the next several months in these action-packed, interactive webinars. Here’s to a great year!
19 | ©2011 Neil A. Fiore, PhD. All rights reserved. www.neilfiore.com [email protected]
For the complete eBook and Webinars Sign up at:
http://neilfiore.com/products.shtml
Sign up for 3 coaching webinars at considerable saving over individual executive coaching. We’ll record each webinar so you can listen when it’s most convenient for you. Spread out over 10 months, you’ll have a chance to apply the strategies to the work and life issues most important to you. When you sign up you’ll receive bonuses and a complete eBook valued at over $1000.
3 Webinars to Change Your Life 1. Overcome Procrastination, Workaholism, and Perfectionism:
Learn how to Stop Wasting Your Time; how to Play Hard, Work Efficiently, and Produce more with less effort
In this first or seven webinars, Dr. Fiore will reveal his latest strategies and share the latest research on how to stop procrastinating, perform optimally, and live a full life. BONUS: Learn the Rules of Behavior—Taking Charge of Your Habits
2. Peak Performance for Efficiency and Optimal Productivity
Learn the techniques that peak performers in sports and business have used for decades. Dr. Fiore will help you apply them to your work and leisure activities. Once you begin to apply these 3 peak performance skills your tendency to procrastinate will be significantly reduced while your productivity will markedly increase.
BONUS: How Getting Things Started Gets Things Done: Put and End to Endless To-Do Lists
3. Effective Goal Setting: 4 Essential Steps to Success
Whether you’re trying to lose weight, stop smoking, or fulfill the requirements of your job, how you set your goals will determine your success or failure. Learn the 4 essential parts of effective goal setting to insure long-term commitment and success. Learn how to overcome ambivalence and evoke the cooperation and wisdom of your body and mind in achieving your goals in spite of distractions or setbacks.
BONUS: Learn how to prepare for long-term habit change where you easily push aside old negative “default” habits and replace them with the healthy habits you’ve been learning over the course of these 3 awesome webinars. So we can use your time most efficiently, email me the answers to at least the first three questions at [email protected]: 1. What are your business/career goals? What are you personal goals?
2. What would you like to achieve in your work with me within 3 to 10 months?
3. What's keeping you from achieving your goals?
4. What problems are keeping you awake?
5. What have you tried to overcome your blocks to success?
20 | ©2011 Neil A. Fiore, PhD. All rights reserved. www.neilfiore.com [email protected]
Webinars: For more information
For the complete eBook and Webinars Sign up at:
http://neilfiore.com/products.shtml
Executive and Personal Coaching www.neilfiore.com/coach.shtml
"I was working with my nose to the grindstone, faxing at 3 AM, totally out of touch with my
commitments to my health and my family. I was a real workaholic. Now, I'm doing the top
priority work that relates to the bottom line and I'm done before 7 p.m. Neil helped me shift to a
project manager's perspective where I can see the big picture, focus on getting results, and
maintain my commitment to my personal life. In less than 3 months, I doubled my productivity
and my income by learning how to do the right work and take charge of my schedule. I highly
recommend his unique process."
-- Ellen, the CEO of a technical editing firm based in Silicon Valley
TODAY’S ECONOMY: In today's rapidly changing business world, effective leaders—like peak
performing athletes—rely on coaches to give them a competitive edge. My experience in
management, leadership, and interpersonal skills will help you to excel and to avoid costly
errors and delays.
These coaching webinars will help shorten your learning curve and will build the strengths
that yield consistent positive results, and help you live a balanced life for long-term personal
and business success. Even during difficult economic times, invest in yourself and your future
first.
As entrepreneurs you have the skills, knowledge, and drive and now you can have the
Inner Game Strategies of Champions to blast through any self-imposed obstacles to your
success. Please join me on this exciting journey.
Neil’s newsletter: [email protected] Free Articles: www.neilfiore.com/articles.shtml www.neilfiore.blogspot.com
For Neil’s downloads at www.audible.com The Now Habit Overcome Procrastination and Enjoy Guilt-Free Play The Now Habit at Work: Perform Optimally, Maintain Focus, and Ignite Motivation in Yourself and Others How to Conquer Test Anxiety and Achieve Higher Scores on Any Exam Coping with the Emotional Impact of Cancer: How to Become an Active Patient