Whatever the pundits may say, most jobs are repetitious and can get boring after a while due to the monotonous nature of activities you are expected to perform on a daily basis. You capture the changes in the operating environment and their opportunities or challenges pretty fast. In response, you naturally focus on and get busier with better execution or aligning the current strategies to the emerging challenges or formulating new strategies to stay ahead of the game.

We say that life is a challenge based on the external challenges we encounter, so we end up finding solutions externally. Ah……pause for a moment and think for a while!…..see if you can recall instances where you challenged yourself or you yourself became a challenge to you –instances where you created internal barriers and situations where you internalized the external challenges. The reality is that solutions to a variety of problems lie within you. But how many times have you pointed the finger at you and asked yourself; is there anything in me that needs change as a potential solution to the problem?

The beauty is that challenging yourself in response to business challenges also enhances your capacity thus help build your competitive advantages in the job market. Don’t you see the ‘strong business’ case for you? Remember, no other power can over power the man-power.

Rejuvenating your mind and body
Here we go again, Monday morning, back to work. Need some ideas on how to get pumped up for the week ahead? The best way to do that is to ensure that nothing, but nothing, becomes the "same old, same old" ever again. To do this, you need to use all your senses fully. Try jumping into a pool at 6 am or take a shower at 5am. When the cool water hits your body you are instantly awake. Awake enough to think new, feel rejuvenated, five senses starts to fully compliment your effort in any endeavour. There may be other good activities your mind and body have so far rejected. See if you can force yourself to doing such an activity to rejuvenate you to feel and think new.

New Vision for life
Take some time to sit down TODAY and create your own list of everything you are taking for granted.
Don't just sit anywhere, go where you will not be disturbed where the view is good, where your wellness and creativity are fed, but do it and do it today! Find new answers to the old question; what’s the purpose of my living? What do I want to achieve in life and how do I achieve it.

You are working for you! Remember that you are working in order to achieve your personal goals. The work is part of that process. You are not working for XYZ Corporation; you truly are working for yourself. It’s your decision to stay or to leave the company; your future is in your hands. Try that attitude on and see what happens.

Applying yourself with a positive mind
Send out positive energy to the others around you! Be cheerful, upbeat and responsive to customers and co-workers. Say hello to everyone, acknowledge their presence. If you encounter grumpy, sad or depressed individuals smile at them and move on. Leave everyone you meet with the impression that you’re happy, full of enthusiasm and motivated today. Sounds completely out of character for you? Good, you need to change.

Setting a routine is quite normal, and comforting, but not motivating. Change something. Maybe it’s breakfast, the way to work, your clothes…who knows. Fiddle around with your patterns, styles and routines, you may discover the more optimistic individual in you- real you!

Look for your emotional hot-buttons and take steps to neutralise them so you and not your emotions are in control, both in and outside of business.

Prioritize your work to enjoy what you are doing
Challenge yourself to attack the most difficult work problems first thing today. Admit that it has to be done and might be the most uncomfortable or unpleasant activity you will encounter during the week. Once this is out of the way you’ll be surprised how much easier the rest of the week will be.

Make someone proud of you. Everyone has a person or persons in their lives that they love and respect. Who are these people in your life? What could you do today at work to make them proud of you? Do it.

Love yourself first
How well are you looking after yourself? Are you feeling tired? Reward yourself regularly for hard work. Give yourself prizes. Set goals and create rewards for their completion that can be enjoyed on the weekend; alone or with your loved ones!. Once you develop the habit of enjoying little wins in life, you will not want to let go of that feeling.

Burned out, stressed out, unable to focus, unable to get excited? Decide to take time off regularly, disconnect from work with no email, no telephone calls, etc. Recharge your batteries. Figure out when you are going, for how long, with whom and where.

As a CEO I have a very simple philosophy that I live by! I focus on my PEOPLE – help each one of them discover their full potential and make each one feel important. And then I focus on TEAMS – create the right environment for the individuals to work together as one. The third thing I focus on is the customer – do we deliver the customer expectations in a manner that creates sustainable competitive advantage. Therefore, what I do not have to focus on is PROFITS.

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