10 STEPS TO GET TO THE TOP OF YOUR FIELD

CLIMBING TO THE TOP

Be the best, and someday others will be emulating you. For now, if you’re not already at the top of your field, there are some essential steps you can take today to get there. Whether you’re just starting out or even if you’ve been doing what you do for over a decade, there’s always ways to improve.

Learn from the best. Who are the best in your field right now? If you don’t already know, find out now. These are the people you need to know, in detail. How did they get so good? What makes them good? Know their work from their early days until now, and how it has changed, and improved over time. Know the elements of their work that make them the best, and analyze them. And emulate them. Steal their styles until you’ve mastered them, and then use them as a leaping board to create your own.

Read up. There are probably dozens if not hundreds of technical manuals and websites and magazines on honing your skills. Read as much as you can. You should always have a book or a website bookmarked, and read every day. If this seems like too much work, you probably don’t really want to be the best.

Practice.  Practice as much as you can. Get a lot of jobs and do as much work as possible until you can do it with your eyes closed. If you can’t get a lot of work, practice on your own. Work during your spare time, doing samples and copying the best and trying out things you’ve read about and trying out new things. Over and over. 

Get feedback. You’ll never get better if you don’t have someone to criticize you. Actively seek criticism from those who are more experienced. If you get a lot of work, ask those who pay you for your work to analyze it and give you some honest feedback. Ask them to be as honest as possible. And then take the criticism without getting your feelings hurt. Find mentors, and ask for criticism.

Analyze. In addition to the criticism you get from others, learn to criticize it yourself. Closely analyze your work, and try to see what you’re doing right and wrong. See if there are things you can smooth out, things that are just so-so, things that you repeat too often.

Practice some more.  If you feel you’ve already practiced enough, you haven’t. Not unless you’re already at the top of your field. The feedback loop, with criticism from others and analysis from yourself, is the way for you to modify your practice so that you are changing what you do and improving yourself. Practice some more. Do it a lot. You’ll get better.

Edit. Whatever you do, whether it’s writing or drawing or taking pictures or making businesses better, etc., you can always edit what you do. For writers, this means going over your work and fixing awkward sentences or shortening stuff that’s unnecessary. It means getting your work down to just what is necessary, and making every sentence and every word count. For photography or drawing or design, you could apply the same concepts — remove elements and see if a simplified design works better. Minimalize. Make every element count. For others that are more process-driven, edit your process, making every step, every little thing you do, count. 

Focus. Editing works best in combination with focus — finding what’s truly essential, and focusing on that. You can edit without discrimination, but you may be editing the important stuff out. Find out what is key to this particular work, and focus on it. Focus is also an important concept in any improvement — if you want to get better, you need to know what elements of your trade are most important, and focus on those.

Experiment. Don’t be afraid to be different! Be bold, be daring, break out of the mold. It’s good to emulate the best, but once you have that down, you should break away from them and try something new. Even if it isn’t completely new, you might find new combinations, or at least find stuff that’s not as common. Try things out, and see if they work. They will often not work. That’s OK. Keep experimenting. In fact, make this a critical part of your work, even when you do hit the top.

Reflect. All of this is useless without reflection. You should spend some of your time each day, each week, each month and each year reflecting on what you’ve done, what worked and what didn’t, what you’ve learned, what you need to improve on, what you should focus on, and how far you’ve come. And reflect on the process, and how it can be improved. And reflect on how fun it is to improve, and enjoy the process.

Mail: thewavesofdestiny@yahoo.com

ANGER MANAGEMENT TIPS

10 ways to tame your temper

Anger is a normal and even healthy emotion, but learning how to deal with it in a positive way is important.

Controlling your temper isn't always easy. But these effective anger management tips will help give you the upper hand. Uncontrolled anger can make both you and other people feel lousy. 

If your outbursts, rages or frustrations are negatively affecting relationships with family, friends, co-workers or even complete strangers, it's time to learn some anger management skills. Anger management techniques are a proven way to help change the way you express your anger.

10 tips to help get your anger under control

1. Take a 'timeout.' Although it may seem cliche, counting to 10 before reacting really can defuse your temper.

2. Get some space. Take a break from the person you're angry with until your frustrations subside a bit.

3. Once you're calm, express your anger. It's healthy to express your frustration in a nonconfrontational way. Stewing about it can make the situation worse.

4. Get some exercise. Physical activity can provide an outlet for your emotions, especially if you're about to erupt. Go for a brisk walk or a run, swim, lift weights or shoot baskets.

5. Think carefully before you say anything. Otherwise, you're likely to say something you'll regret. It can be helpful to write down what you want to say so that you can stick to the issues. When you're angry, it's easy to get sidetracked.

6. Identify solutions to the situation. Instead of focusing on what made you mad, work with the person who angered you to resolve the issue at hand.

7. Use 'I' statements when describing the problem. This will help you to avoid criticizing or placing blame, which can make the other person angry or resentful — and increase tension. For instance, say, "I'm upset you didn't help with the housework this evening," instead of, "You should have helped with the housework."

8. Don't hold a grudge. If you can forgive the other person, it will help you both. It's unrealistic to expect everyone to behave exactly as you want.

9. Use humor to release tensions. Lightening up can help diffuse tension. Don't use sarcasm, though — it's can hurt feelings and make things worse.

10. Practice relaxation skills. Learning skills to relax and de-stress can also help control your temper when it may flare up. Practice deep-breathing exercises, visualize a relaxing scene, or repeat a calming word or phrase to yourself, such as "Take it easy." Other proven ways to ease anger include listening to music and writing.

BUILDING YOUR SELF ESTEEM

Commitment, control and challenge help build self-esteem and promote positive thinking. People with these characteristics are winners in good times and survivors in hard times.

Commitment

Make a positive commitment to yourself, to learning, work, family, friends, nature, and other worthwhile causes. Praise yourself and others. Dream of success. Be enthusiastic.

Control

Keep your mind focused on important things. Set goals and priorities for what you think and do. Visualize to practice your actions. Develop a strategy for dealing with problems. Learn to relax. Enjoy successes. Be honest with yourself.

Challenge

Be courageous. Change and improve each day. Do your best and don't look back. See learning and change as opportunities. Try new things. Consider several options. Meet new people. Ask lots of questions. Keep track of your mental and physical health. Be optimistic.
  

 

7 Suggestions:

In every class, look for positive people to associate with.

In every lecture, look for one more interesting idea.

In every chapter, find one more concept important to you.

With every friend, explain a new idea you've just learned.

With every teacher, ask a question.

With yourself, keep a list of your goals, positive thoughts and actions.

Remember, you are what you think, you feel what you want.

OVERCOMING THE DEVIL'S BONDAGE

The Devil – It is time for you to break loose from this misery and bondage. You no longer need to accept your situation – move toward liberation and you will emerge happier, with a more developed personality.  

The change has occurred – only the "feelings" of sadness, anger or depression remain to influence you. Deal with your past, use the knowledge and energy bound up in your experiences – transform them and releasing the energy contained within them. Free yourself from your past habits – your ignorance and indecision is a weakness and it is causing this instability – recognize this influence and take the necessary action against it.

Deal with your problems and avoid emotional outbreaks. Being timid will only emphasize your weakness – it is time for you to take the bull by the horns and do your own thing. The power that seems to be limiting you – is the power that will liberate you. Listen to your "inner" voice, go inside – sift out the truth from the illusion and enlighten your mind. Your emotional overindulgence has resulted in exhaustion and boredom. You have gone overboard and you need to find your balance now – start living and stop denying yourself life experiences. If you want to swim again – you must first get in the water and get wet. Evil occurs only when too much attention has been paid to it. YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO LIVE ABOVE THE GUILES OF THE FATHER OF LIES.

How to Succeed with your Gift

WELCOME NEW DESIRES AND CHANGES

You will feel new desires as your NEEDS and values change over time. Welcome these desires as doorways to a compelling future. Your new interests are there for a reason. They keep you on purpose and allow you to live in harmony with your changing values.

ASK YOURSELF MEANINGFUL QUESTIONS

Ask questions that will intrigue you and lead to SELF-DISCOVERY. For example, what, more than anything, determines the quality of your life? What are the most important things your past has taught you? What would bring you permanent success and satisfaction? These revealing questions will bring INSIGHTS and focus your mind to take action. A life-long curiosity about yourself will move you toward the fulfillment of your desires.

UPDATE YOUR KNOWLEDGE

Curiosity also leads to LEARNING. Read a variety of books by authors you have not read before. Become a student of ground-breaking ideas as well as accepted theories. What do you need to know that would allow you to pursue a promising new interest? Continuous learning is necessary for continuous success -- especially in today's rapidly changing world. Keep seeking new wisdom, and APPLY that wisdom daily.

KEEP GREAT COMPANY 

Learn with friends and colleagues in an atmosphere of mutual SUPPORT. Teleclasses provide an economical and enjoyable way to investigate current trends. Groups can discuss ways to interpret and apply the teachings of great books. Participants can examine new points of view as well as gain support and encouragement for their plans. Supportive relationships with peer groups provide a POSITIVE influence and offer a wealth of learning and creativity through friendship and conversation.

CREATE SOME NEW RECIPES

Use your knowledge to write some tantalizing plans to achieve your objectives. Think of your plans as recipes. Choose the INGREDIENTS carefully. Experiment with creative ideas and fresh approaches to reach goals. Life-long winners dive beneath the surface of life's circumstances and appearances. They uncover new OPTIONS and solve problems in original ways. They focus on creativity rather than competition. They create fortune from misfortune. What usually triggers your most creative ideas?

CAPTURE YOUR WISDOM IN WORDS

Record your knowledge in a JOURNAL. Include experiences, dreams, stories, poems, and quotes that inspire you. Keep track of successes and failures so that you will learn from both. Writing will also TRIGGER valuable new ideas. What is the first thing you would write in your journal today?

REVITALIZE YOUR BODY AND SPIRIT

Life-long achievers maintain physical and spiritual vitality. A HEALTHY body reflects a healthy spirit. Prayer and MEDITATION can revitalize the spirit. An appropriate physician-approved nutrition and a fitness program can revitalize the body. How could you begin raising your level of energy and vitality?

FEEL GRATITUDE FOR YOUR ACHIEVEMENTS

Acknowledge with gratitude ALL of your life situations -- the desirable and undesirable. Then create a deep feeling of gratitude for your future accomplishments as if they were already achieved. Gratitude strengthens faith. It allows you to CHOOSE the life scenario you want based on present-moment actions. You will manifest the possibilities for which you are sincerely grateful.

BRING YOUR GIFTS TO THE WORLD

Your definition of success will EVOLVE throughout life. Your perspective will shift from what you want to obtain to what you want to give. It is by using your talents and bringing your special gifts to the world that you will receive your heart's desires. What TALENTS do you possess that you've never developed to their full potential?

STAY CLOSE TO YOUR HEART

You can succeed for the rest of your life if you honor your VALUES. You will grow by welcoming new desires as a natural unfolding of your life's purpose. A spirit of sincere gratitude and giving will manifest those desires. Best of all, you can ENJOY every step of the journey.

Battling Evil Thoughts

The primary way seeds of fear enter your mind is through one of the "gates" of your senses. Seeds of fear can enter through what you see, hear, feel, or even smell. For example, if you are in a crowded building and you smell smoke, what is your first thought? The devil uses these seeds that enter through the sense gates to make suggestions. In fact, suggestion is one of his most potent weapons. His tactic is to suggest certain words, certain scenarios, and certain possible outcomes - all with the intent of planting a seed of fear. All of this takes place in the form of thoughts. 

The first thing you need to realize is that negative thoughts are going to come. It is inevitable. The solution is that you do not have to keep those thoughts. Instead of wasting spiritual energy in a futile attempt to avoid bad thoughts, we should refocus our minds on how to deal with those thoughts when they come. You can take or refuse any thought, good or bad. What do I mean by "taking" a thought? Jesus told His disciples, "Why take ye thought for raiment?" (Matt. 6:28). Jesus made an important point with that comment. Thoughts are not forced upon you. They can be taken (accepted) or rejected. The choice is yours. 

How is a thought "taken?" Jesus helped us out with this as well. He also said, "Take no thought saying, what shall we eat" (Matt. 6:31). According to our Lord, you "take" a thought when you open your mouth and speak out something based on that thought. Do not say something simply because it pops into your mind. When you say it, you take it. Do not take those thoughts of doubt and fear. Reject them by refusing to speak them out. Thoughts can be difficult to battle. But, you can neutralize a thought and render it harmless, long before it has ever had a chance to germinate, take root, and grow. 

One of the most effective ways to silence a satanic suggestion or thought is to speak the opposite out loud, particularly when you can quote God's Word. Your mind cannot think one thing while your tongue is speaking something different. Try counting to 10 in your mind, and in the middle of counting, say, "Hallelujah!" You will find that your counting stops when you begin to speak. If you catch the devil trying to suggest a fearful thought in your mind, respond immediately by speaking scriptures with your mouth.  

E:mail- thewavesofdestiny@yahoo.com

PROPHETIC DECLARATIONS FOR YOU

IN THIS YEAR 2011, MAY THE LIGHT AND COUNTENANCE OF GOD SHINE CONTINUALLY UPON YOU AND YOUR MINISTRY. YOU ARE MARKED OUT FOR DISTINCTION IN EVERY RAMIFICATION OF LIFE. THE LORD WILL CROWN UR EFFORTS WITH GRACE AND GLORY. I DECREE AND DECLARE THAT PROTOCOLS SHALL BE BROKEN FOR UR SAKE. IT SHALL BE WELL WITH YOU.

   

WHILE YOU WILL BE MAKING WAVES, YOUR ENEMIES SHALL WAIL. AS YOU RISE TO STARDOM, YOUR CONTEMPORARIES WILL PAY OBEISANCE TO YOU. THE LORD WILL SET AMBUSHMENT AGAINST ALL THOSE THAT WANT TO SEE YOU WEEP AND SORROW. THIS YEAR, IT IS YOUR TURN TO SHINE AND LAUGH LAST! WORD.

Email: thewavesofdestiny@yahoo.com