Post by LDS Guru Girl on Mar 3, 2005 14:50:46 GMT -5
Learning and Improvement
Productive individuals are self-critical and always looking for ways to improve. Jim Rohn writes: "At the end of each day, you should play back the tapes of your performance. The results should either applaud you or prod you." They do not allow ego to impede opportunities for improvement and are constantly gathering information and ideas to determine how they can work more effectively. Brian Tracy states: "No one lives long enough to learn everything they need to learn starting from scratch. To be successful, we absolutely, positively have to find people who have already paid the price to learn the things that we need to learn to achieve our goals."
Mobilize Spare Time
Productive individuals multitask and mobilize downtime. William Irwin states: "Learn to use ten minutes intelligently. It will pay you huge dividends." When driving a car or doing dishes, listen to language tapes. While on a bus, read a dictionary. Elder J. Richard Clark states: "If we waste thirteen minutes each day, it is the equivalent of two weeks a year without pay.”9 Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote: "Guard well your spare moments. They are like uncut diamonds. Discard them and their value will never be known. Improve them and they will become the brightest gems in a useful life." William Ellery Channing remarks: "An earnest purpose finds time or makes it. It seizes on spare moments and turns fragments to golden account. A man who follows his calling with industry and spirit, and uses his earnings economically, will always have some portion of the day at his command. And it is astonishing how fruitful of improvement a short season becomes when eagerly seized and faithfully used…A single hour a day, steadily given to the study of some interesting subject, brings unexpected accumulations of knowledge." Even marginal additional effort can dramatically increase productivity. Jim Rohn notes: "Your success in your career will be in direct proportion to what you do after you've done what you are expected to do."
The use of leisure time defines character. George Brimhall stated: “You can’t tell the character of an individual by the way he does his daily work. Watch him when his work is done. See where he goes. Note the companions he seeks, and the things he does when he may do as he pleases. Then you can tell his true character… People can be either eagles or hogs in their leisure time.”10 Gordon B. Hinckley comments: “Most of us are constantly faced with a choice of whether we wallow in the mire or fly to lofty heights….What we do in our leisure time can make such a tremendous difference. Today is a part of eternity. As Amulek in the Book of Mormon declared, ‘This life is the time for men to prepare to meet God’ (Alma 34:32). Eternal vigilance is the price of eternal development.”10
Eliminate Nonessentials
Most of the benefits of the free time generated by modern technology are dissipated on personal gratification. The average American spends more time watching television than attending work and school combined over the course of a lifetime.10 By eliminating television and redirecting time to other activities, an individual of average intellect can master five or six languages, develop new talents, and provide significant service.
Jim Rohn states: "Some people claim that it is okay to read trashy novels because sometimes you can find something valuable in them. You can also find a crust of bread in a garbage can, if you search long enough, but there is a better way." The way in which we allocate our time reflects our true priorities. Lin Yu Tang states: "Besides the noble art of getting things done, there is the noble art of leaving things undone. The wisdom in life consists in the elimination of non-essentials." The main danger of allowing nonessentials to consume our time is not that they are necessarily harmful in themselves, but that they crowd out opportunities and responsibilities that are immensely more valuable.
Seneca taught: "If you would make a man happy, do not add to his possessions but subtract from the sum of his desires." Mahatma Gandhi stated: "Civilization, in the real sense of the term, consists not in the multiplication but in the deliberate and voluntary reduction of wants." Socrates wrote: “The fewer our wants, the nearer we resemble the gods."
Periodic quiet time for contemplation and meditation is important for personal growth. The “still small voice” of the Holy Spirit is often drowned out by background noise, and those who feel its promptings when they step away from the crowd often wonder how long it has been knocking. Gilbert Holloway states: "It is often said that a man's personal religion grows out of the uses to which he puts his moments of solitude. A sure mark of an irreligious person is one who hates to ever be alone, who must be constantly amused by radio, television, canasta or idle companionship. Such shows the lack of self-discipline and self-determination."
Achieve Self-Mastery
One of the most helpful pieces of advice I ever received is to “do something that is hard for you every day,” as the things that are most difficult for us are often the most useful and developmental. Heber J. Grant stated: “That which we persist in doing becomes easier to do. Not that the nature of the thing has changed but that our ability to do has increased."
Paul wrote: “And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible” (1 Corinthians 9:25). The Greek verb “enkrateuomai” translated in this passage means practice self-control or self-mastery, keeping one’s emotions, impulses and desires in check. Brigham Young taught: “The greatest mystery a man ever learned, is to know how to control the human mind, and bring every faculty and power of the same in subjection to Jesus Christ; this is the greatest mystery we have to learn while in these tabernacles of clay.”11 Seneca states: "Show me a man who is not a slave. One is a slave to lust, another to greed, another to ambition, and all men are slaves to fear...No servitude is more disgraceful than that which is self-imposed."
Resilience to Adversity
Marvin J. Ashton states: "Greatness is best measured by how well an individual responds to the happenings in life that appear to be totally unfair, unreasonable, and undeserved."12 Some individuals are knocked completely off course by seemingly minor setbacks, while others are able to achieve high productivity in spite of major adversity or significant physical impairment. An individual’s ability to perform productive labor depends as much or more on psychological and social factors as on physical health. Jim Rohn writes: "Don't wish it was easier; wish you were better. Don't wish for less problems; wish for more skills. Don't wish for less challenge; wish for more wisdom."
Hensinger notes that emotional intelligence “includes impulse control, persistence, zeal, self-motivation, and social deftness as hallmarks of character and self-discipline, altruism, and compassion. Those with EI are capable of self-understanding, able to recognize and manage their own emotions. Characteristically, individuals with EI bounce back far more quickly from life's setbacks and upsets as they are better able to delay gratification and stifle impulsiveness.”13
Productive people are resilient and maintain a positive attitude. They learn to enjoy doing what must be done. Jim Rohn notes: "Learn how to turn frustration into fascination. You will learn more being fascinated by life than you will by being frustrated."
Determination and Consistency
With dedication, ordinary people can accomplish extraordinary things. George Washington Carver states: "There is nothing that will not reveal its secrets if you love it enough." Floyd Maxwell notes: "A study compared the personal qualities of people whose performance is so extraordinary we call them ‘geniuses.’ Geniuses were found to have three traits in common: 1. They take an organized, orderly approach to solving problems. 2. They maintain an attitude of wonder about the world around them, a habit of seeing things from a fresh, open perspective. 3. They are able to concentrate harder and longer than the average person on whatever interests them." President David O. McKay taught: "Let us realize that the privilege to work is a gift, the power to work is a blessing, the love of work is success. Genius undoubtedly is little more than the capacity for hard, sustained work."
Emerson stated: "All great masters are chiefly distinguished by the power of adding a second, a third, and perhaps a fourth step in a continuous line. Many a man had taken the first step. With every additional step you enhance immensely the value of your first." Albert Einstein explained: "It's not that I'm so smart; it's just that I stay with problems longer." Calvin Coolidge noted: "Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence! Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent! Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts! Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb! Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent."
Written by David Stewart. www.limhi.com. Copyright 2004.
Productive individuals are self-critical and always looking for ways to improve. Jim Rohn writes: "At the end of each day, you should play back the tapes of your performance. The results should either applaud you or prod you." They do not allow ego to impede opportunities for improvement and are constantly gathering information and ideas to determine how they can work more effectively. Brian Tracy states: "No one lives long enough to learn everything they need to learn starting from scratch. To be successful, we absolutely, positively have to find people who have already paid the price to learn the things that we need to learn to achieve our goals."
Mobilize Spare Time
Productive individuals multitask and mobilize downtime. William Irwin states: "Learn to use ten minutes intelligently. It will pay you huge dividends." When driving a car or doing dishes, listen to language tapes. While on a bus, read a dictionary. Elder J. Richard Clark states: "If we waste thirteen minutes each day, it is the equivalent of two weeks a year without pay.”9 Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote: "Guard well your spare moments. They are like uncut diamonds. Discard them and their value will never be known. Improve them and they will become the brightest gems in a useful life." William Ellery Channing remarks: "An earnest purpose finds time or makes it. It seizes on spare moments and turns fragments to golden account. A man who follows his calling with industry and spirit, and uses his earnings economically, will always have some portion of the day at his command. And it is astonishing how fruitful of improvement a short season becomes when eagerly seized and faithfully used…A single hour a day, steadily given to the study of some interesting subject, brings unexpected accumulations of knowledge." Even marginal additional effort can dramatically increase productivity. Jim Rohn notes: "Your success in your career will be in direct proportion to what you do after you've done what you are expected to do."
The use of leisure time defines character. George Brimhall stated: “You can’t tell the character of an individual by the way he does his daily work. Watch him when his work is done. See where he goes. Note the companions he seeks, and the things he does when he may do as he pleases. Then you can tell his true character… People can be either eagles or hogs in their leisure time.”10 Gordon B. Hinckley comments: “Most of us are constantly faced with a choice of whether we wallow in the mire or fly to lofty heights….What we do in our leisure time can make such a tremendous difference. Today is a part of eternity. As Amulek in the Book of Mormon declared, ‘This life is the time for men to prepare to meet God’ (Alma 34:32). Eternal vigilance is the price of eternal development.”10
Eliminate Nonessentials
Most of the benefits of the free time generated by modern technology are dissipated on personal gratification. The average American spends more time watching television than attending work and school combined over the course of a lifetime.10 By eliminating television and redirecting time to other activities, an individual of average intellect can master five or six languages, develop new talents, and provide significant service.
Jim Rohn states: "Some people claim that it is okay to read trashy novels because sometimes you can find something valuable in them. You can also find a crust of bread in a garbage can, if you search long enough, but there is a better way." The way in which we allocate our time reflects our true priorities. Lin Yu Tang states: "Besides the noble art of getting things done, there is the noble art of leaving things undone. The wisdom in life consists in the elimination of non-essentials." The main danger of allowing nonessentials to consume our time is not that they are necessarily harmful in themselves, but that they crowd out opportunities and responsibilities that are immensely more valuable.
Seneca taught: "If you would make a man happy, do not add to his possessions but subtract from the sum of his desires." Mahatma Gandhi stated: "Civilization, in the real sense of the term, consists not in the multiplication but in the deliberate and voluntary reduction of wants." Socrates wrote: “The fewer our wants, the nearer we resemble the gods."
Periodic quiet time for contemplation and meditation is important for personal growth. The “still small voice” of the Holy Spirit is often drowned out by background noise, and those who feel its promptings when they step away from the crowd often wonder how long it has been knocking. Gilbert Holloway states: "It is often said that a man's personal religion grows out of the uses to which he puts his moments of solitude. A sure mark of an irreligious person is one who hates to ever be alone, who must be constantly amused by radio, television, canasta or idle companionship. Such shows the lack of self-discipline and self-determination."
Achieve Self-Mastery
One of the most helpful pieces of advice I ever received is to “do something that is hard for you every day,” as the things that are most difficult for us are often the most useful and developmental. Heber J. Grant stated: “That which we persist in doing becomes easier to do. Not that the nature of the thing has changed but that our ability to do has increased."
Paul wrote: “And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible” (1 Corinthians 9:25). The Greek verb “enkrateuomai” translated in this passage means practice self-control or self-mastery, keeping one’s emotions, impulses and desires in check. Brigham Young taught: “The greatest mystery a man ever learned, is to know how to control the human mind, and bring every faculty and power of the same in subjection to Jesus Christ; this is the greatest mystery we have to learn while in these tabernacles of clay.”11 Seneca states: "Show me a man who is not a slave. One is a slave to lust, another to greed, another to ambition, and all men are slaves to fear...No servitude is more disgraceful than that which is self-imposed."
Resilience to Adversity
Marvin J. Ashton states: "Greatness is best measured by how well an individual responds to the happenings in life that appear to be totally unfair, unreasonable, and undeserved."12 Some individuals are knocked completely off course by seemingly minor setbacks, while others are able to achieve high productivity in spite of major adversity or significant physical impairment. An individual’s ability to perform productive labor depends as much or more on psychological and social factors as on physical health. Jim Rohn writes: "Don't wish it was easier; wish you were better. Don't wish for less problems; wish for more skills. Don't wish for less challenge; wish for more wisdom."
Hensinger notes that emotional intelligence “includes impulse control, persistence, zeal, self-motivation, and social deftness as hallmarks of character and self-discipline, altruism, and compassion. Those with EI are capable of self-understanding, able to recognize and manage their own emotions. Characteristically, individuals with EI bounce back far more quickly from life's setbacks and upsets as they are better able to delay gratification and stifle impulsiveness.”13
Productive people are resilient and maintain a positive attitude. They learn to enjoy doing what must be done. Jim Rohn notes: "Learn how to turn frustration into fascination. You will learn more being fascinated by life than you will by being frustrated."
Determination and Consistency
With dedication, ordinary people can accomplish extraordinary things. George Washington Carver states: "There is nothing that will not reveal its secrets if you love it enough." Floyd Maxwell notes: "A study compared the personal qualities of people whose performance is so extraordinary we call them ‘geniuses.’ Geniuses were found to have three traits in common: 1. They take an organized, orderly approach to solving problems. 2. They maintain an attitude of wonder about the world around them, a habit of seeing things from a fresh, open perspective. 3. They are able to concentrate harder and longer than the average person on whatever interests them." President David O. McKay taught: "Let us realize that the privilege to work is a gift, the power to work is a blessing, the love of work is success. Genius undoubtedly is little more than the capacity for hard, sustained work."
Emerson stated: "All great masters are chiefly distinguished by the power of adding a second, a third, and perhaps a fourth step in a continuous line. Many a man had taken the first step. With every additional step you enhance immensely the value of your first." Albert Einstein explained: "It's not that I'm so smart; it's just that I stay with problems longer." Calvin Coolidge noted: "Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence! Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent! Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts! Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb! Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent."
Written by David Stewart. www.limhi.com. Copyright 2004.