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How to deal with toxic employees and maintain effective work culture

How to deal with toxic employees and maintain effective work culture

Every employer wishes that the work environment in their organization is productive, positive and efficient. Every employer wishes that employees of his organization are motivated, reflect the organization values and have a high employee morale. But, not always do the things we wish for come true, do they? Maintaining a positive and proper work culture in an organization can be tricky as it is a very delicate topic. A workplace has employees from different backgrounds, beliefs, thinking and opinions, so making sure that all reflect the organization values and gel easily into your work culture can be difficult. As a business Consultant and Life Coach in Nashville, TN, I, Gordon Grigg, believes that even one employee who does not share company values or just doesn’t fit in the workplace culture can lower the morale and affect productivity of other employees. In HR discussions, these employees are usually referred to as the ‘toxic employees’.

A study by Harvard Business Review reveals that avoiding hiring a toxic employee can save an organization twice more than what they would have earned from hiring a well performing employee. Studies also show that 54 percent of good employees are more likely to quit their job when there is a toxic employee at the workplace. Yet hiring a toxic employee is inevitable. No matter how well defined and filtered your hiring process is, toxic employees somehow slip through and become a part of an organization. It is very important for companies to take steps to identify toxic employees and deal with them in the best possible way.

Warnings signs that toxic employee is present in your organization
Did you know dealing with a toxic employee is not difficult? The most difficult part is correctly and timely identification of toxic employees. From a bully to gossiper, slacker to ignorant, burned out to social butterfly, toxic employee can be of various types. Any of these types of toxic employee can create an imbalance in the work culture and cohesion of your organization.

Want to check if there are any toxic employees in your organization? Check out for these warning signs:

1. Negative or low response to company initiatives – You may often come across people who do not support most company initiatives. Not only they seem uninterested, they involve other people into their negative thoughts too but never openly. You may have often heard people talking hush hush about some new team building activity or gathering the company is planning. If you feel an employee or group of employees are harboring negative thoughts and spreading them to others, they can be classified as toxic.

2. Instances of workplace bullying or harassment – Have you often come across complaints of a person bullying his team members? It may be an official complaint or come to you through the grapevine. Have you seen a team member bulldozing other people’s ideas or opinions? Well, bullying or bulldozer traits are a clear sign of toxicity and you should watch out for.

3. Displaying privilege or pride – It has often been seen that employee with special skills or with a long history with the company or a good position in the company display pride in their interactions. No employee likes having a “know-it-all” as a peer or senior. When an employee displays privilege, they often disregard the ideas, thoughts and views of other employees, especially juniors and new employees.

4. Constantly complaining or whining – Do you have an employee who is constantly complaining about something or the other? His whining may not always be about something at work, it can be related to anyone or anything. People who complain constantly find something wrong in everything and build up negativity. This building negativity often spreads to other employees in your organization.

How to deal with toxic employees and maintain proper work culture
Toxic employees have a negative impact on the overall work culture, employee productivity and happiness. So, never take toxic traits of employees lightly. Even though it may seem small at the time, it will grow and act as a poison for your work culture. The sooner you deal with toxic traits of an employee, lesser is the damage done to your organization. Every employee and situation are different, so careful consideration and communication is required.

Here are few ways that you can use to deal with toxic employees and stop them before they poison the entire business process:

1. Identify early on – Keep an eye open for situations that showcase someone’s toxic trait, no matter how minor or severe. Early identification will help nip the problem in the bud and reduce the effects on other employees. Chances are the employee does not even realize his behavior is toxic. For example, they may feel that gossiping with fellow employees is just for entertainment and do not realize the negativity being spread through it. Sometimes, a single discussion with them may change things just ensure that you take action proactively.

2. Never avoid confrontations – It has been often seen that managers or HRs avoid confrontations related to toxic traits. The belief that everyone is grown up at the workplace and has a good understanding may not always stand true. Whenever, you come across any situation that indicates toxic trait of an employee, no matter how minor it is, don’t turn a blind eye. Have a one-on-one conversation with the employee and share your concerns.

3. Create a clear set of guidelines – To ensure that everyone receives the same treatment, it is important to have clear set of rules and processes, and what are consequences and actions that can be taken. Document clearly what is considered as professional behavior and what is not. This document should be shared not only with new employees but also with existing employees. Ensure that you make this document as a part of your onboarding process.

4. Do not use threats as a measure of action – Remember, no one wants to be toxic on purpose, but their background, current situation in life, past difficulties and other factors may be influencing their behavior. Try to understand what they are going through in life, and understand if it is resulting in a negative behavior in their personal and professional lives. Remember, empathy is always better than threats. When you show empathy towards a person, they will be willing to share their problems and understand the solutions you are proposing. If you use threat as an action directly, they will feel cornered and attacked and may become more toxic.

5. Practice what you preach – As a leader and stakeholder in the organization, make sure you practice what you want the employees to learn. For example, if you find that in a team the hardworking people are always covering the mistakes or pending work of a fellow employee, do not turn blind eye just because the work is getting done on time. If you do so, you will become an enabler allowing them to continue, thus being unfair to your hardworking employees. If you show preference towards an employee or give special benefits to someone, then you may become the root cause of toxic environment. You need to ensure you follow consistent standards for everyone, irrespective of their seniority.

6. Create a plan of action and follow-up – Firing an employee is not the only solution for dealing with toxic situations, you can guide them to improve their behavior too. The choice between letting an employee go or allowing them to change their behavior will depend on what are their toxic traits, how it is affecting the work culture and their willingness to bring a change in their attitude. Be a mentor and guide the employee at every turn they need.
When an employee understands his toxic behavior and is willing to change, then create a detailed action plan for the time moving forward. Set clear expectations in terms of behavior. Regularly monitor and follow up on the plan. If there are no improvements, you may need to consider termination. Remember, bringing a change in a person’s habits and personality cannot happen overnight; there is a long road ahead.

7. Be communicative and transparent – When an employee leaves the organization or is terminated, make sure you clearly tell other employees on what happened and the steps you took for improvement. Being clear about how you tackled toxic behavior of the employee or how their toxicity affected the work culture. Make sure you do not talk negatively about the person who left, talk about them with respect and dignity. This will build transparency and trust among your people. If you keep the entire thing hush hush, it leads to speculation among employees and adds fuel to the negative environment.

Dealing with a toxic employee is never easy! Though it may hurt, sometimes, letting go is the best option to preserve the brand, culture, and growth. It is always better to seek the help of a life and business coach to bring the transformation you wish to see in your organization. Myself, Gordon Grigg, has been helping businesses in Nashville, TN bring a change in their work culture, help employees build a positive mindset and reduce negativity. Share your thoughts and concerns with me, and we will together find a way moving forward.

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6 Tips to Delegate as an Entrepreneur Effectively

6 Tips to Delegate as an Entrepreneur Effectively

How to Delegate as an Entrepreneur:

6 Amazing Tips to Know

In business, most entrepreneurs are their bosses. They are the ones who do everything. This responsibility can make delegating an important skill.

Delegating is the act of assigning tasks to other people or departments. These tasks can be related to leading a group or completing a project. Delegation is about maximizing productivity and efficiency by assigning workload to more people than just yourself.

There are many benefits to delegating as an entrepreneur. These are increased productivity, effective time management, and less stress.

Here are 6 great tips for you on how to delegate as an entrepreneur.

But first, let’s talk about the principles of delegation and why it’s so crucial in today’s world.

How to Delegate as an Entrepreneur?
As an entrepreneur, you have so much on your plate—how can you get anything done when you’re taking care of everything?
The answer is: you can’t. And that’s okay! You need to delegate some stuff to grow your business and free up time for more important things in your life.
But how do you delegate successfully? Here are some great tips from Gordon Grigg, a life coach and business consultant:

1. Clear Strategy:
Get clear on what you’re delegating. This is the first step in delegating effectively. Because it lets you determine what needs to be delegated and why.

2. Effective Resources:
Ensure you have the right resources available. If your team members don’t have access to the tools they need to complete their tasks, you won’t see any benefit from delegating those tasks. In fact, it might cause more work for you!

3. Clear Purpose and Motivation:
Ensure your team members understand why they need to complete these tasks (and how they benefit). It will help them feel more motivated and engaged with their work, leading to better results!

“No person will make a great business who wants to do it all himself or get all the credit.” – Andrew Carnegie, Scottish-American industrialist.

Importance of Delegation for an Entrepreneur:

Delegation is a key skill for any entrepreneur. When you have a team that understands their roles and knows how to do their jobs well, it frees up your time. Hence, you can focus on bigger-picture issues like strategy and long-term planning.

Furthermore, it improves employee engagement. Employees feel valued and motivated when they are given an opportunity for growth and development within the company. Hence, they tend to stay with the organization.
When you delegate well, you create opportunities for your employees to grow and shine in their jobs. Thus, it makes them more invested in the business’s success.

When to Delegate as an Entrepreneur?

So how do you know when it’s time to delegate?
Here are some signs:
● You’re overwhelmed with work that needs attention.
● You’re not sure about your employees’ skills.
OR
● Your employees are capable of handling new responsibilities
● Your employees aren’t happy at work anymore. Because they feel stuck doing the same thing every day. They don’t feel challenged. Also, they don’t perform new tasks and learn new skills.

6 Tips on How To Delegate as an Entrepreneur:

Read the following 6 tips on how to delegate as an entrepreneur.

1. Understand You Can’t Accomplish Everything Yourself:
As an entrepreneur, it’s easy to get caught up in work and forget the bigger picture. When this happens, it’s important to step back. Hence, realize other people can perform tasks properly. You don’t need to do all the work yourself!

2. Analyze the Strengths and Limitations of Your Team:
This tip is closely related to the first one—once you understand what needs doing around the office, it helps to know which tasks are best suited for which members of your team (or even outside contractors). It will help when it’s time to delegate!

3. Explain the Result You Want:
When you’re delegating something, envision a clear picture of the outcome. For example, if you’re assigning work to your assistant, ensure they understand to complete the final report. Also, you have approved it before they submit it.

4. Following Up:
Assigning someone a task can be scary. It’s hard not knowing about their competency. To avoid this problem, check in with them regularly while working on the project. Ensure they meet your expectations. You can ask questions about what’s going on with their project. Also, you can ask for updates on their progress.

5. Consultants Should Be Delegated Less Critical Tasks:
Even with limited resources, hiring a consultant to assist you with stressful things is well worth it. He keeps you away from your most critical activities, such as strategy or business creation. Find experts using platforms like LinkedIn and Upwork to save you time and effort. Also, you can get administrative or design tasks quickly.

6. Consider Your Advantages and Disadvantages
Before delegating any tasks, consider the most important business areas. Also, think about the beneficial skill sets. Then look at yourself:
● What skills do I have that no one else has?
● What skills do my employees have that I don’t?
● Is there anyone else in the company better suited for this task than anyone else?
If so, consider delegating it!

Conclusion
Ultimately, it all comes down to what stimulates the expansion of your company. Consider the adverse effects on your business every time you hesitate to delegate. Delegation should come naturally since you constantly consider what’s best for the company.

Entrepreneurs must put in some effort to learn how to delegate well, but the payoff is worthwhile. Try the six suggestions above to make delegation easier, more seamless, and more productive.

Special Offer from Gordon Grigg – Life Coach and Business Consultant:
Join me on a consultation call regarding delegation for entrepreneurs. You will get in-depth insights and strategies to delegate as an entrepreneur.

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10 Signs You Are in a Toxic Relationship

10 Signs You Are in a Toxic Relationship| Life Coach Gordon Grigg

Identify 10 Negative Signs of a Toxic Relationship That Can Ruin Your Life

Toxic relationships are a prevalent threat to a sustainable lifestyle for humans. Almost 80% of Americans have faced emotional toxicity in their life. This is a huge number. Also, 1 in 3 adults is in a toxic relationship. Therefore, rooting out the signs of a toxic relationship is essential. This way, you can change toxic relationships into satisfying, sustainable, and healthy ones.

What Is a Toxic Relationship?

A toxic relationship is the opposite of a healthy relationship. A healthy relationship involves confidence, collaboration, and trust. It results in a happy and comforting lifestyle.
On the contrary, a toxic relationship results in disparity, frustration, and displeasure. It involves emotional, psychological, and verbal abuse.

A toxic relationship can be two-sided or one-sided negative behavior. It means you may also be a toxic partner, intentionally or unintentionally. Therefore, it is important to discover the signs of a toxic relationship.
Importantly, there is no ideal relationship. Every relationship involves:
• Agreement and Disagreement
• Love and Hatred
• Support and Unrest
• Communication and Loneliness

However, the disparity and tension in a healthy relationship aren’t at an extreme level. Happiness, comfort, and love always dominate in the end. Further more, a healthy relationship ends with sacrifice and commitment.

Difference between an Abusive and Toxic Relationship:
Here is an interesting question. Why do you want to resolve a toxic relationship? Simply, you need to live a relaxing lifestyle. You want to get rid of constant stress and poor performance.
However, you may feel like leaving an unbearable relationship. This stage is the boundary between a toxic and abusive relationship.
An abusive relationship refers to an extreme level of toxicity. It involves extreme emotional, sexual and physical violence.
At one point, you want to reset your toxic relationship. On the other side, you need to leave a relationship. That’s an abusive relationship. Therefore, don’t tolerate an abusive relationship. It is better to leave that relationship.

10 Signs You are in a Toxic Relationship

In this article, you will understand 10 signs of a toxic relationship. Read these signs of a toxic relationship to analyze your relationship status.

1. Lack of Love and Respect:
The earliest sign of a toxic relationship is a lack of love and respect. In a toxic relationship, parents, couples, friends, and spouses don’t like to spend time with each other. There is no mutual bond. As a result, a partner doesn’t value his partner’s time.

2. Lack of Support and Communication:
Another sign of a toxic relationship is a lack of mutual support, love, and support. These qualities are only seen in a healthy relationship. Hence, you won’t witness any encouragement and support. Additionally, you feel yourself in the sense of competition and weak communication.

Due to ineffective communication, there is an exchange of hard words. You may not express your opinions and thoughts openly. Hence, ineffective communication in a toxic relationship results in biased and unjustified judgments.

3. Financial Disputes:
A family or a relationship always involves financial terms. A healthy relationship has a balanced financial system. Therefore, you don’t experience any financial disputes in a healthy relationship.

In contrast, a toxic relationship reflects disputes over financial partnerships and saving options. As a result, you don’t see any agreement or settlement. There are financial disputes frequently.

4. Stress and Anxiety:
Stress and anxiety are part of life. However, constant stress and anxiety may be signs of a toxic relationship. If you are experiencing stress and anxiety frequently, you may be in a toxic relationship. Hence, your healthy living will be affected.

5. Carelessness in Fulfilling Partner’s Needs:
A healthy relationship runs on mutual support and cooperation. A partner takes care of his counterpart’s needs. Therefore, this caring behavior results in a satisfying relationship.

In comparison, in a toxic relationship, you will observe carelessness. Your parent will pay less attention to your needs. They will have no time for you. Most importantly, selfishness and self-care are at their peak. Hence, you can also identify a toxic relationship via this sign.

6. Controlled Behaviors:
Controlled behaviors mean a lack of self-care, an independent lifestyle, and interesting habits. In a toxic relationship, you lose interest to perform your habits and activities in your free time. Furthermore, you don’t have time for self-care.

Everything seems to be controlled by your toxic partner. This feeling may be emotional, psychological, or physical. Hence, it results in an uncomfortable life.

7. Jealousy and Mistrust:
Jealousy is a natural feeling. However, constant jealousy and mistrust indicate a toxic relationship. In a toxic relationship, your partner doesn’t trust you. They become suspicious about your daily activities. Along with mistrust, your partner develops jealousy due to your success and good performance.

8. Frustration and Resentment:
Frustration and resentment destroy a healthy relationship. Continuous tension and frustration in a toxic relationship ruin your charms. Therefore, you can easily notice a toxic relationship via your constant state of frustration.

9. Sense of discomfort and Super Consciousness:
A toxic relationship puts you in an uncomfortable zone. You become super conscious of the partner’s activities. It means you lose your own self. You are worried about the problems created by the partner.

10. Sense of inferiority:
A toxic partner considers you inferior to themselves and stupid. You face emotional and psychological backlash from the toxic partner. As a result, it may lead to a sense of inferiority. This sense of inferiority is a clear sign you are in a toxic relationship.

How to Fix a Toxic Relationship?

These 10 signs depict you are in a toxic relationship. You face several negative impacts, such as stress, anxiety, poor performance, and depression. Therefore, you need to follow these tips in fixing a toxic relationship.
• Have a clear intent to resolve the toxic relationship
• Understand your responsibilities regarding the toxic relationship
• Commit to changing bad behaviors from your side
• Promote mutual love and respect for a healthy relationship
• Move out of the past negative thoughts and events. Focus on the present
• Develop deep understanding and communication between you and your partner
• Start an effective therapy to improve mental health
• Consult a life coach to get valuable health tips

GORDON GRIGG – PROFESSIONAL LIFE COACH AND CONSULTANT
I am Gordon Grigg – a professional life coach and consultant. I help people come out of their toxic relationships. I understand the importance of a healthy relationship for a sustainable lifestyle. Therefore, I aim to add spark into people’s lives via counseling and coaching to resolve their toxic relationships.

Are you going through a toxic relationship?

Don’t tolerate further stress and frustration.

Let’s have a free consultation to improve your relationship.

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Importance of Family for Entrepreneurial Success

Importance of Family for Entrepreneurial Success

A majority number of people around the globe believe that success is something that is achieved by one’s effort, without any help. Even the society where we live in always talk about the achievements and accomplishments achieved by an individual. And neglects the environment and family due to which the individual has achieved that success.

Moreover, many people believe that successful people are only known for their reputation in the business world or the money & property they own, but in reality, being successful means having happiness in life. Suppose Mr. X is a big businessman, he is rich with lots of money, cars, property, gold, etc, but has nobody to get love from, he has nobody to call a family, no relationships & affection and thus he will be considered as a poor person according to me.
Sometime back, I read an article somewhere stating certain reasons, why an individual should not choose entrepreneurship as a career. One of the major factors I read was sacrificing the golden family time with your loved ones. It is a fact that many aspiring entrepreneurs do not get family support initially or they get too engrossed in setting up their businesses that they neglect their families.

But, I Gordon Grigg, a life coach and business consultant in Nashville, Tennessee will be telling you the impact and the importance that the family can play in making entrepreneurs successful, through this blog post. Before moving any further, I would like you to know a little about my life story to have a better understanding and a well-built connection with what I say.

What role does a family play in providing a key lifeline for entrepreneurs?

You will find many entrepreneurs in the business world who have sacrificed their family life to make their businesses big in the industry. And this is quite evident that setting up a business takes a substantial amount of time. According to me, devoting 5-6 years to setting up a business and neglecting family life is wrong. Entrepreneurs should learn the art of balancing both, i.e., setting up the business along with family support to achieve actual success and happiness in life.

According to Medium.com, not only societal elements such as education and surroundings influence an entrepreneur’s achievement, but also their family plays an important role in their success. A family is the smallest social group with which an entrepreneur can interact and get economic & emotional support. They are the first people to teach them the essentials of life. Hence, the family acts as the first learning place for everyone in this world whose teachings and constant support will help you become successful. Thus, the family of the entrepreneurs plays a vital role in helping them succeed in the industry by providing them with some key lifeline fundamentals of living life.

Ways by which your family can make you a successful entrepreneur

According to EO Melbourne.org, to carry out various responsibilities, from time to time, an entrepreneur wears several hats. Naming a few of their roles or responsibilities, they act as; business leader, business owners, mentors, parents, etc. And with so many roles to play in their life, they ought to get tired both physically, mentally, and emotionally. Here is when family acts as the biggest support system that completely understands their struggles, supports their journey and assists them to increase their longevity in the business world.

Thus, to earn their cooperation and assistance in the business endeavor, entrepreneurs should bring them along in the journey. They should allow their family to grow with them, and make them equal holders of losses and successes of the business. When the entrepreneurs do this, the family members understand what they are going through, and become their pillars of strength in times of need.

Mentioned below are some of the ways by which family members can help an entrepreneur become successful in the industry:
Provides emotional assistance – Emotional assistance is the biggest support that the family can give to the entrepreneurs. Understanding them, lending them an ear, encouraging them, having patience & trust in them, understanding, and caring for them, is all that an entrepreneur can ask for. Emotional assistance from family can ease the workload they have and also the comforting words of loved ones can do wonders for the exhausted spirit of the entrepreneur.
Gives financial help – Most entrepreneurs start their businesses from the savings they have. Sometimes due to scarce resources and not-so-strong business models, banks also refuse to provide loans. That’s when the families of the entrepreneurs step in as saviors. The family provides financial aid to them in the form of personal loans, donations, equity funding, etc. This type of financial assistance taken from the family will not burden them as compared to that taken from financial institutions.

Delivers professional advice – If any of the entrepreneur’s family members belong to a business background, then they can help them know the nitty-gritty and inside details of running the business successfully. They can act or guide the entrepreneur as a mentor and can offer them certain specific tricks and tips for managing and achieving set business goals. I agree that the businessperson might face certain shortcomings in working with the family members, but getting professional help from them can be of huge help. As it also saves the business cost to hire a consultant.
Teaches time management – Family is the best source to learn time management skills. While revolving in a family circle, playing different roles, and wearing many hats teaches them the skill of managing time and relations. When the entrepreneur not only is a business owner & manager, but also a spouse and a parent, he learns to manage the roles and determine the ways to use his precious time in the best possible way. They learn to take a firm decision of taking up and performing such activities that are worth their time both at home and work.
They can volunteer time – In the initial days of setting up the business, a lot of hard work needs to be done. At this time, the business budget is also very limited, paying someone to get office work done, can act as a burden on your business operations, budget, and pocket. That’s when entrepreneurs can rely on their family members or their friends who have the capabilities to perform certain business work. They might do menial jobs, but that can reduce the burden of the business persons up to some extent.
Forces you to take some family time – As you already know family is the one who teaches entrepreneurs about time management. Not only this, but they will also force the entrepreneurs to take a break or go on a vacation with them. The family also explains to them the importance of spending time with their spouse and children and taking a momentary break from the business. This activity is important as the family understands that by this, the businessperson’s mind will be completely de-stress and they will get a new focus towards business activities and analyze various business operations with a fresh perspective.

Helps you in being a positive role model – Parents and family are the biggest role model and trendsetters in an individual’s life. Parents are the ones who teach their kids to take risks in life, the importance of hard work, and building something from scratch. Thus, these three teachings will be the most important ones in the life of entrepreneurs as well. In the aspect of business, the family is the one who helps entrepreneurs see dreams, and fulfill them so that their families can be proud of them. This, support of their will turn fruitful to the businesspersons, as if they trust in hard work and follow the teachings of their parents, they will become someone with whom everyone in the industry wants to work.
They can help you with business referrals – If the entrepreneur is new in the industry, then they might need some external support or referral contacts that can help or guide them to expand the business network. Thus, for this, entrepreneurs should peek into their families first and look at who can give them the best business insights or can become their first business customers or clients. Getting business referrals from someone inside your family can help you greatly to succeed and can also give you a huge advantage to penetrate the target market.
Provide you with business gifts – Families love to give gifts. If that proves to be something useful for your business, it will lessen your business expenses. Families can gift various little things that entrepreneurs can use in their office, business operations, or business processes in general that could help them save some money from their budget.

So dear readers, I, Gordon Grigg, a life coach and business consultant in Nashville, Tennessee hopes that you all must have understood how important family support is for entrepreneurs to become successful in the industry. Apart from this, if you are an aspiring entrepreneur, then you should be also aware of how entrepreneurs can have self-discipline and how they can manage their time effectively.

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How can entrepreneurs have self-discipline and follow Time Management?

How can Entrepreneurs have Self-discipline and Follow Time Management?

In the recent years, especially after Covid 19, the world has witnessed a sudden boost in the number of work-from-home entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurship is really cool and if you are doing it from your home, it actually becomes cooler. Right? After all, you can work from your home. You don’t have to wake up every morning, dress yourself up, and walk to your office to get to work. Sounds cool, no? Well, but it is not. I, Gordon Grigg, a life coach in Nashville, Tennessee telling you that, work-from-home entrepreneurs have self-discipline issues.

No matter how determined and resolute you are, you will face discipline issues when you have to follow something for 30 days throughout the year. Wait, don’t panic. There are some ways that can help you overcome this problem easily. Here, I am going to talk about them.

Make a schedule

Yes, I know you are a very hard-working person and work day in and out to achieve your goal, but believe me, working without any systematic way is only going to make you messy. Literally, it will not take you anywhere. So, the first step for an entrepreneur to self-discipline while working from home is to create a schedule for him/herself and strictly follow it without any excuses. A systematic schedule will help you know how much you have to work in a day.

Work consistently but not continuously

I appreciate your enthusiasm and understand that as a work-from-home entrepreneur you want to work tirelessly and live your dream as soon as you can, but it is very important to take regular breaks throughout the day. Don’t stay seated in your working chair for long hours. Make sure to take regular breaks, which will not only refresh your mind but also keep your physical health good. Here, understand the difference between being consistent and being continuous.

How can entrepreneurs have self-discipline and follow Time Management?

Dressing nicely does matter

When working from home, you have the flexibility to work in your pajamas, right? Well, you have flexibility, but it does not mean that you should wear pajamas at work. If you really want to be self-disciplined, just put all your PJs and loungewear aside and dress like you are working in an office. It will impart a sense of energy and zeal.

Keep the working environment neat and clean

The biggest drawback of working from home is that people end up creating a messy and cluttered environment around their working space. Unknowingly, but this happens. Like, you eat something and put the plate on the working table, you drink your coffee and put the mug on the table, you charge your mobile and put the charger on the table, and many other such little things. You yourself create a very untidy workspace for you that affects your work productivity and body energy to a great extent. This is why make sure to maintain a clean and clutter-free workspace.

Have a dedicated workspace

As a work-from-home entrepreneur, you have the flexibility to work anywhere at any time from your home. Right? But, don’t make this flexibility your habit. Though you can work from anywhere even from your bed, make sure to have a dedicated working room for you. Sitting leisurely on your couch or on your bed will bring you many unnecessary naps and laziness and this will obviously hamper your work productivity.

How can entrepreneurs have self-discipline and follow Time Management?

Set fixed working hours

As a life coach mentor, I am telling you this from my personal experience that setting fixed working hours is very very important when you are working from home. The reason being, in this case, you don’t have anybody to report to. You become lazy and work whenever you feel like. Obviously, our mind does not want to work with the same enthusiasm every day. Someday, you like doing everything all together and the other day you feel like not even leaving your bed. So, time management is very important for work-from-home entrepreneurs.

Let people around you know your working time

The biggest problem with work-from-home entrepreneurs is that the people around him/her think he/she is available all the time. Don’t let people do that and affect the productivity of your work by disturbing you at any random hours. Let them know your working hours and ask them not to disturb you at that time. Sometimes, even your family members disturb your work by asking you to do little house chores. Though sometimes it can be a good idea to get up from your working table and go to the market to get vegetables. This way you will be able to take a short break from work too. So, manage this thing according to your convenience and make sure not to hamper your work productivity at any rate.

Keep home distractions aside

When you are working from home as an entrepreneur, it is pretty common to get distracted throughout the day, unlike in offices where there is a complete work environment. Like sometimes, you would feel like having a light snack, and then you would leave your table and walk up to the fridge. Avoid such distractions and stay focused on your work. Here, you yourself have to be disciplined and make sure not to get indulged in any kind of household distractions. Let your family members enjoy their time. Just don’t be tempted by them to get involved in that. Focus on your work. Rest things can be done later.

Use technology to track things

It becomes pretty difficult if you yourself have to manage everything and work-from-home entrepreneurs are required to do that. No matter how good a memory you have or how good you’re at making notes, there will be something that will slip away from your mind. Here, the only thing that can save you is technology. Yes, embrace it. Download the time-tracking apps, work management apps, productivity tools, project management software, activity planners, and other such software to keep everything on track for you. This way, you will be able to monitor everything without putting much time and brain.

Limit the number of times you check social media

Even you will agree with the fact that social media is the biggest cause of distraction not just for work-from-home entrepreneurs but for everyone from students to job aspirants. Unlike in offices where you are strictly forbidden to access anything on the internet other than your work, you are free to do just anything when working from home. Here, nobody is to monitor your activities. So, promise yourself not to login into your social media during your working hours, obviously if your work is not related to social media only.

How can entrepreneurs have self-discipline and follow Time Management?

Manage time wisely

As a work-from-home entrepreneur, you yourself have to manage your time, schedule, as well as family. You don’t have a fixed time for work. So, manage time wisely and make sure to find a balance between your personal and professional life. Don’t give too much time to your work and don’t get too much involved in your family activities either. Time is the key in professional life, so utilize it in the best way.

Put your mobile on silent

Yes, you are working alone and you won’t give off any unprofessional vibes like you might do when your phone rings at office meet-ups, but still, it is very important to put your mobile on silent. I will even say to keep it completely silent, not even on vibration. The reason being, you can’t resist holding your phone and checking it as many times as it will beep for notification and I am sure it will definitely beep at least 2-3 times in an hour considering the way we use our mobile. So, you have to be self-disciplined and resist your urge to check your mobile frequently. For this, the best option is to put it on complete silent mode and check it back when you are out of working hours.

Maintain your health

Maintaining your health is also a part of self-discipline when working from home as an entrepreneur. You must be wondering how it is. Right? Okay, let me tell you. When you work from home, you don’t have a fixed time for eating, drinking, sleeping, and exercising like you have when you work in an office. You just do what you feel like without bothering about your health. You have an unbalanced lifestyle and this is very very harmful to your health in the long run. Getting your health affected means getting your professional career ruined. So, follow a healthy lifestyle and make sure to maintain your health.

Conclusion

Having self-discipline while working from home as an entrepreneur might seem difficult, especially at the initial stage, but once you start following everything strictly, you get used to it and it becomes a habit. Yes, I, Gordon Grigg, a life coach in Nashville Tennessee, am telling you this from my personal experience because I deal with hundreds of such cases daily.

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What is PTSD? How do you know if you have it?

What is PTSD? How do you know if you have it?

According to research, in the current scenario, every 1 out of 13 people suffer from PTSD globally. Now the question arises, what exactly is PTSD? How it is harmful to us? Who suffers from it? And what are the ways to deal with it and come out as a new person and start fresh?

What is PTSD? How do you know if you have it?


Well, I, Gordon Grigg, am a life coach in Nashville, Tennessee and will be telling you what exactly is PTSD. And also will be telling you about its symptoms, diagnosis, treatments, and other necessary details that may guide you to deal with the post-traumatic disorder that may cause stress in your life.

What is PTSD?

PTSD or Posttraumatic Stress Disorder is a psychiatric disorder or a mental health condition that may occur in people who have witnessed or experienced a traumatic event. These distressing events may include anything such as; a natural disaster, a terrorist act, a war, a serious accident, witnessing a murder, being a rape victim, or having been threatened with death calls or sexual violence.
In the past, this condition was recognized by war veterans and was diagnosed as ‘shell shock in the past. But currently, the world is no longer a safe place to live in. Incidents and accidents are quite common these days and can happen in anybody’s life. They can thus turn to trauma, which may leave a deep hard impact on your life that can shake you to the core.

How do you know if you have PTSD?

Majorly all of us have been through a frightening event or a traumatic experience once in our lifetime that might have left a deep emotional effect on us. It is not necessary that directly witnessing or experiencing the incident can cause PTSD, sometimes even only hearing about the same is enough to horrify you or shake you to the core.
As time passes, the shock and fear might vanish, but the anxiety, insomnia, and flashbacks of the same may act as the stem of the past trauma. This is thus an indication that the person has a type of mental health disorder that is being diagnosed as PTSD by the doctors.
To figure out whether you are suffering from PTSD or not, you should visit the doctor and let them talk to you about the traumatic incident and record your reactions. If your reactions fit the criteria of PTSD made by the American Psychiatric Association, then you should further consult the doctor for proper treatment or visit experienced life coaches like me.

What it is like to have PTSD?

If you are suffering from PTSD, then you might have extremely intense and disturbing feelings and thoughts about the experience or the traumatic event you went through. You might also relive the event through flashbacks and nightmares, and these might result in anger, sadness, fear, or the feeling of detachment and estrangement from the outside world might also come in your mind. As a life coach, I would thus, advise you to stay away from people and avoid such situations that can remind you of that traumatic event.
Many people who suffer from PTSD might have temporary difficulty in coping and adjusting to their surroundings. But with time, good self-care, and the right diagnosis from doctors and life coaches, many people around the globe are happily recovering from the same. Thus, I would also advise you to learn about the exact symptoms, treatment, and many other similar aspects that can prove to be of great help.

Symptoms of PTSD

The symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder may start within one month of witnessing the traumatic incident or there may be no symptoms at all until years after the happening of the event. These symptoms may cause hindrances in attending social groups, work situations, and managing relationships. They can also prevent you from performing tasks related to your daily routine.
The symptoms of PTSD are generally grouped into four categories which further contain various behaviors and actions. But remember that the intensity of the symptoms may vary over time and from person to person. They are as follows:
Intrusive memories – These may include; recurrent & unwanted distressing memories, flashbacks, upsetting dreams, and any physical reaction that can remind you of the traumatic event
Avoidance – When you try to avoid talking and thinking about the traumatic incident and even meeting people or visiting places related to it
Negative changes in thinking and mood – Many negative thoughts might come into your mind such as; hopelessness about the future, difficulty in maintaining relationships, feeling detached from family, memory problems, etc.
Changes in physical and emotional reactions – These symptoms include you being easily frightened or startled, always being guarded about danger, self-destructive behavior, trouble sleeping, etc.

If these symptoms occur with you regularly and continue for over a month, and you feel that they are not letting you live and perform in your normal life, then you need to see a doctor or mental health professional. Also, if suicidal thoughts occur in your mind due to past traumatic experiences then immediately talk to your doctor or any immediate person from your family and friend circle that you trust, or share your problems with a life coach like me.

Causes of PTSD

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder can occur by seeing or learning about any unexpected event that can involve injury, accident, actual or threatened death, sexual violence, etc.
But according to an experienced research team of doctors, PTSD can be caused due to the complex mix of:
● Stressful experiences
● Inherited medical health issues, such as; anxiety and depression
● Inherited personality and temperament
● The way the brain reacts and releases hormones & chemicals in response to stress
● Experienced trauma in earlier life like child abuse
● Having a job where you are exposed to repeated traumatic events
● Lacking a good support system from your near and dear ones

Treatment of PTSD

You should be well aware of the fact that every person who faces any sort of trauma in their life; does not experience PTSD. And not every patient with PTSD requires psychiatric treatment. Symptoms of PTSD may vanish in some people with time and with the support of their loved ones or life coaches. But some require professional medical treatment to recover from the psychological distress. Remember, PTSD is curable, the earlier the person gets the right treatment, the better the chances of recovery.
PTSD can be cured through medication and psychotherapies such as; Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing (EMDR), Prolonged Exposure Therapy, Psychodynamic Therapy, Family Therapy, Group Therapy, and various other alternative and complementary therapies.
The medications for PTSD include:
● Antidepressant pills
● Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) such as; Citalopram (Celexa), Paroxetine (Paxil), Fluvoxamine (Luvox), and Fluoxetine (Prozac)
● Tricyclic Antidepressants such as; Isocarboxaid (Doxepin) and Amitriptyline (Elavil)
● Mood stabilizers such as; Lamotrigine (Lamictal) and Divalproex (Depakote)
● Atypical Antipsychotics such as; quetiapine (Seroquel) and aripiprazole (Abilify)
● Some other medications include; Prazosin for nightmares, Clonidine (Catapres) for sleep, and Propranolol (Inderal) for minimizing the formation of traumatic memories

What happens if PTSD remains untreated?

It is seen that if the psychological symptoms of PTSD are not treated on time, then they are likely to get worsen. People might suffer from severe anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, substance abuse, and problem managing anger & aggression.
If you suffer from PTSD, then you are likely to suffer from diabetes, obesity, and metabolic syndrome. Epidemiological Studies have researched that patients with PTSD have an increased risk of autoimmune and cardiovascular diseases. It has been also found that excessive stress taken by PTSD patients can lead to systematic inflation.
Several pieces of research have also shown that people having PTSD, have increased levels of blood inflation. This can thus affect cognitive function, working memory, attention, executive functions, verbal memory, and learning.
According to the latest technology of Neuroimaging, it has been found that people having PTSD have various functional and structural abnormalities in the different regions of the brain that are responsible for controlling cognitive functions.
Apart from the psychological and physiological effects of PTSD, it also affects the social life of one who is affected. Untreated PTSD can lead to; social isolation, inability to keep up the job well, difficulty in carrying out daily tasks, aggressive behaviors, financial instabilities, and staining relationships with loved ones.

Conclusion
If you are also suffering from PTSD, and want to share something about your traumatic experience then, dear friend, I, Gordon Grigg, a life coach in Nashville Tennessee, can help you in healing from that incident.
You can connect with me as I can guide you and help you in a way that your PTSD does not hamper your day-to-day activities. You can trust me as slowly and gradually I can help you relieve from post-traumatic stress disorder, and also tell you ways to leave the baggage of old memories behind and move forward towards living a happy life with your family and loved ones.

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Benefits of having a mentor and why everyone needs one

Benefits of Having a Mentor and Why Everyone Needs One

Whether you’re successful in your professional career or struggling hard to achieve success, you need a mentor in your life. Now you must be wondering why I need a mentor when I am successful and getting enough appraisal for my job. Right? Well, I, Gordon Grigg, a life coach in Nashville Tennessee, will tell you what are the benefits of having a mentor and why everyone should have one despite being successful in their career.

Benefits of having a mentor and why everyone needs one

Why should you have a mentor?

No matter how strong and resilient you are, you will tumble down at some point in your life. This is where you need a life mentor, who will save you with his personal advice and experiences. However, if this is not the case with you and you are lucky enough to enjoy a flourishing career without any major or minor hindrances, your continuous success might mislead you and you may end up becoming lazy to achieve more. This is where a mentor will save you and help you to walk persistently and unfalteringly on your way to success.

What are the benefits of having a mentor?

Not one or two, but there are ample benefits that you can reap if you have a mentor in your life, be it personal or professional life. In fact, there are benefits only. I don’t see any drawbacks to having a mentor. So, let me tell you some of the biggest benefits you can get if you have a mentor.

Continuous support in every situation

In most cases, the people around you will neither wholeheartedly accept your success nor your failure. They will get jealous of your success and will drag you even more down in your failures. However, if you have a mentor, they will stand with you in every situation whether it is bad or good. A Mentor will be there for you in every step of your life and is a true companion to rejoice in your success and speak out your failures with.

Benefits of Having a Mentor and Why Everyone Needs One

They believe in you more than you yourself do

Yes, I know you are strong, determined, and quick to bounce back, but there comes a moment in life when you lose all your self-confidence, though for a temporary time only. You stop believing in yourself and start looking at the negative side of life. This is where you need someone who can tell you that you are still capable enough to do whatever you have dreamt of. Who can do this thing? Obviously, your mentor. Your mentor knows your true potential and refuels you when your self-confidence shakes even a bit.

They give you honest feedback

Getting honest feedback for your work, your personality, or anything is rare. Yes, believe me, it is not easy to get. Most people around you will put a heap of flatters when you are successful and be sympathetic when you fail. You don’t get honest feedback from anyone and you yourself obviously can’t be precisely honest with yourself because you might not even be aware of it. If you have a mentor, they will act like a real mirror in this case and will give you honest feedback. Instead of shouting to the world, they will tell your weaknesses to you only and help you work on them.

They will lift you in your failures

When you fail in your life, the behavior of people around you changes automatically. Yes, believe me. This is a fact. Having someone by your side during such bleak situations is truly a blessing. I am telling you this from my personal experience. My mentees get another level of energy and strength right after their setback when they found me beside themselves.

Feeling low and rejected after a failure is very common. Everybody goes to the phase. In this situation, bouncing back on your own is really difficult because your mental, as well as physical energy, is exhausted. Here, you get the biggest benefit of having a mentor. They will not only hold you tight in such difficult situations but also reminds you how potential you are and how bright a future you can have if you bounce back with all your energy.

They will clarify your doubts

No matter how experienced and expertise you are, you will feel lost and confused somewhere in life. Sometimes, you are in such a situation or confusion that you can’t even explain it to people. Here, you need a mentor to read your mind and clarify your doubt. I, myself as a mentor, can tell you that it might be a difficult situation for you but it is not for mentors because they go through this regularly and deal with it effectively too. So, your mentor will definitely help you clear your doubts and get out of your mazy brain.

They will push you forward when you are afraid to

Planning something and making it happen are two different things. Sometimes, what happens is you plan things perfectly but when it comes to executing them, you are afraid for no reason. You feel nervous. In such an edgy situation, your mentor will motivate you and push you further to take action. They/she won’t let your fear dominate your actions. From his own personal experience or some other ways, your mentor will definitely help you win over this fear.

They will take you on the right path when you are out of track

On the way to achieving goals, it is pretty common for people to get off track. The reason can be any. Their temporary success can mislead them or there could be anything that hinders their continuity in their way to achieving goals. This is where a mentor acts as a savior for you. They show you the right path and don’t let you go down it. They remind you of your goals and dreams continuously and motivate you to achieve them anyhow.

They give you resources to achieve your goal

The biggest benefit of having a mentor is that they provide you with all the resources that you require to achieve your goal. They offer you tools and resources that you are not even aware of. Since your mentor has already gained too much experience in that particular field, they will offer you a bunch of resources that will make your journey much easier. This way you don’t need to reinvent the wheel. You get stored energy from your mentor to fuel yourself.

They will ask you questions and will answer to your questions

If new questions are not arising in your mind regarding any particular thing, you are definitely not being attentive enough towards it. As a life coach, I can tell you that asking someone new questions and being asked by someone is a very significant factor in achieving success. In fact, this is the thing that puts you apart from the crowd. Your mentor will answer your every question and help you get out of confusion and doubts. Not just that, They will also throw a bunch of questions regularly at you just to make you understand how deep you are really in the water.

They will rejoice in your success

I’m telling you a fact that you will hardly find a single person around you who is really happy with your success. People will definitely clap and pat you on your back for your success, but somewhere deep in their heart, they will be jealous of your success. Of course, apart from your family, it’s only your mentor, life coach, who will be rejoicing in your success with an open heart.

Where can I find a good mentor?

Well, this is a tricky question actually. Like you, I also wondered the same in my early days. So, I am telling you from my personal experience that there is no particular place or institute where you can get a mentor. You might find a mentor in your home, in your workplace, in your school, in your college, anywhere and they can be anyone like your relatives, your parents, your grandparents, your teacher, your seniors, or just anyone.

It’s all about the vibes and the bonding you share with that person. You two should have the same vibes and must be open to each other. The person you look up to as a mentor must have mentoring skills. However, if you are looking for a professional mentor, there are some universities as well as workplaces that offer a mentorship program. You can look for those institutes and enroll yourself in the program.

Conclusion

Every mentor like me, Gordon Grigg, a life coach in Nashville Tennessee, will tell you hundreds of benefits of having a mentor. Mentors are definitely not saints or angels but they have the power to change your life. This is why get a mentor in your life if you want to succeed no matter at what point in life you are right now.

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What You Need to Do Once You Have Experienced Character and Brand Failure

What You Need to Do Once You Have Experienced Character and Brand Failure

Character and brand failure can mean a lot of different things. It can be a failure to live up to the standards you have set for yourself. It can be a failure to connect with your audience. It can be a failure to deliver on your promises. Whatever the case may be, it is important to take stock of the situation and figure out what you need to do next.

What You Need to Do Once You Have Experienced Character and Brand Failure

Acknowledge the Failure

It’s important to remember that failure is not the end. It is only the beginning. The first step is to acknowledge the failure. This is not easy but it is essential. Only by acknowledging the failure can you learn from it and move on.
In any business, making mistakes is inevitable. However, what separates successful businesses from unsuccessful ones is the ability to learn from those mistakes.

First and foremost, you need to admit your errors and mistakes. Doing so will not only help you learn from them, but will also build trust with your employees, customers, and investors, and also all others who are directly or indirectly related to your business.
When you’re in business, there’s no room for error. If you make a mistake, it can cost you dearly. That’s why it’s important to always be honest with yourself and admit when you’ve made a mistake. It’s not easy to do so, but it’s the only way to learn from your mistakes and grow as a person and also grow in the business.
You need to be honest to yourself. If you’ve made a mistake, don’t try to justify it or downplay it. Acknowledge it and take responsibility for it.

Conduct a Root Cause Analysis

We have all been there. You have worked hard to create a strong character or brand, only to have it fail miserably.

Gordon Grigg

May be it was a business venture that flopped, a personal relationship that imploded, or a social media post that was met with crickets. Whatever the case may be, it’s important to take a step back and conduct a root cause analysis. What led to this situation? What could you have done differently? By understanding the root cause of your failure, you can make sure that you take the necessary steps to avoid it in the future.
No individual or business is immune to a public relations nightmare. In fact it’s often the case that the bigger the brand, the bigger the potential for disaster. So, what do you do when your company or character is the one in the hot seat?
Sometimes, those mistakes can cost you dearly – not just financially, but to our reputations and relationships as well. Character and brand failure can cost us dearly. No one sets out to fail. But whether we like it or not, failure is a part of life. And when it comes to businesses and organizations, character and brand failure can be especially damaging.
So, next time you make a mistake, remember: admit it, conduct a root cause analysis, why it happened, learn from it, and move on.
This is vital in order to learn from your mistakes and take steps to ensure that they are not repeated in the future.
Character and brand failure can mean a lot of different things. It can be a failure to live up to the standards you have set for yourself. It can be a failure to connect with your audience. It can be a failure to deliver on your promises. Whatever the case may be, it is important to take stock of the situation and figure out what you need to do next.

Communicate the results of the analysis

When your character or brand fails, it can be a devastating blow to your personal brand or business but it doesn’t have to be the end of the world. In fact, if you handle it correctly it can even be an opportunity to build a stronger, more resilient business. When we’re faced with a difficult situation, it can be tempting to try to hide our mistakes and experiences. We might worry that people will judge us or think less of us if they know the truth. But in reality, being open and honest about our mistakes and experiences can be strength giving. It shows that we’re brave enough to face our fears and that we’re willing to learn from our mistakes.
There are many things that you can do once you have experienced character and brand failure. Here are some tips:
• Be transparent: Be honest about what happened and why it happened
• Take responsibility: Take ownership of the situation and don’t try to blame others
• Be sincere: Your apology should be genuine and from the heart
• Don’t make excuses: Accept responsibility for your actions and don’t try to make excuses
• Seek help: If you need help, don’t be afraid to seek professional help
• Learn from your mistakes: Take the lessons you’ve learned and use them to improve your character and brand

Develop and Implement Corrective Action Plan

In any organization there are bound to be times when things go wrong. It is important to have a plan in place for when this happens. A corrective action plan is a process that is used to address and correct issues that arise.
If you find yourself in a situation where you need to take corrective action, there are a few steps you can take. The first step in developing a corrective action plan is to identify the problem.
This may involve changes to your processes, procedures, or even your organizational structure.
Once you have developed your plan, you will need to implement it and make sure that it is followed. You may need to train your employees on the new procedures or make other changes to ensure that the plan is followed.
You must also prepare yourself for overcoming obstacles in all spheres of your life and business.

Monitor the Results

Finally, you will need to monitor the situation to make sure that the corrective action plan is working. You may need to make adjustments to the plan as you go.

To Sum up things
Let’s take a moment to sum up the things. It is important to realize that character and brand failure can happen to anyone, even the most successful businesses and individuals have had their share of failures.

That being said, there are some things that you can do to help prevent character and brand failure from happening:
• Be authentic and true to yourself
• Be careful not to over-promise or make false claims
• Additionally, it is important to always be prepared for the worst. Have a plan in place so that you can quickly and effectively respond to a character or brand failure
• Finally, always learn from your mistakes and if required seek professional help

I, Gordon Grigg have had my share of failures too but that did not deter me from moving forward. I admitted my mistakes and took steps of not repeating them, and explored the deeper reasoning for my failures. I decided not to hold on to my past but still being empathetic to the effects of my choices.

As, a life coach in Nashville, Tennessee, I am always open to helping those in crisis. Call me or write to me and together we can take it up from there.

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How to Overcome Obstacles With Disciple & Dedication

How to Overcome Obstacles [With Discipline & Dedication]

Learning how to overcome obstacles is the starting point of success. Literally, these obstacles either make you stop or they’ll turn you into an unstoppable force to reckon with.

Courage is the standing army of the soul which keeps it from conquest, pillage, and slavery.
Henry Van Dyke

How to Overcome Obstacles With Disciple & Dedication

Earlier, in my post Attack your Problems, I wrote how and why you should take responsibility for your actions and the choices you make.

I also nudged you to intentionally “decide” that you’d get out of the mess, solve your problems head on, accept where you are, own your choices (write them down), change the direction you are headed to (and make course corrections, if needed).

The blame game is out.

There’s no room for “It’s not my job”, “it’s not my fault”, and the endless line of excuses.

In the end, it’s all on you: The things you choose, and the things you don’t. Whatever you do, there’s an “opportunity cost” attached to it.

I emphasized that problems are solved by actions.

Start with Self-awareness

I am a life coach in Nashville, Tennessee. A huge chunk of my work begins when you start thinking for yourself — about who you are, where you are, and why you are wherever you are in your life. The journey begins with a deep introspection of your life goals (not just the daily to-do list, which often falls out of my purview).

When I first wrote about introspection and finding the purpose of your life, this is what I wrote:

Introspection is very important to understand what is our aim in life. The more you dig deeper into yourself, the more you learn what you want to do in life. Find things that make you truly happy and you always look forward to. These are the things that will help us know and complete our life’s purpose.

I understand that this simple exercise is harder than what most people expect it to be.

Try it. You’d know.

Not easy. Of course, I can help. Get in touch, and we’ll ride together.

Now that you know what you want, let’s talk about the elephant in the room: Obstacles, and how to overcome them:

You’ll need three basic ingredients to thrive in life and to overcome obstacles:

Overcoming Obstacles With Discipline & Dedication

I’ll unwaveringly tell you that obstacles will be a constant. You’ll then need discipline and dedication for:

● Entrepreneurial success
● Marriage and relationships
● Building wealth or achieving financial freedom
● Healthy lifestyle

Take any of these critical needs most people want. Think about those for a second: not one of those is achievable without a substantial investment of effort and the ability to push through pain.

Building wealth, for instance, requires you to not only “work” but also pay the price of “staying invested” through market cycles (ups, downs, sideways?). The simple act of keeping yourself in shape demands, daily commitment to walks, jogs, the gym, good sleep, hydration, a balanced diet, and so much more.

Heck, marriages and relationships take tons of work too.

See where I am going with this?

Overcoming obstacles requires:

● Leap(s) of faith (sometimes, more than one leap)
● Varied and multiple skill sets — self-control, grit, and more
● Extraordinary high levels of productivity
● Accountability
● Tolerance, patience, and vision

Grit. Grit. Grit

Grit is defined as strength of character. Resolve. Relentless fortitude.

As you go about launching the trajectory of your life with purpose and a clear path, you are no longer an ordinary person.

You’ve taken a leap of faith into the unknown.

As such, you are part visionary, part explorer, part adventurer, and part risk-taker. To take those risks, you can’t be meek, indecisive, lazy, reflective, and have low levels of risk-taking ability.

Further, you can’t just dream up something (anything) and hope to succeed with it.

● You’ll start thinking in ways you didn’t think before — connecting the dots, surveying demand, wondering what problems others have and how you can solve these problems creatively, and so on
● You’ll launch first and figure out the nitty-gritty later
● If you are bootstrapping, you’ll try to make your business work with the limited resources you have

Fancy executives backed by the deep pockets of the companies they work for can never replace your down to the ground, “nails to the wall”, and “in the trenches” approach.

If everyone else has resources and money, you’ll operate with nothing but the sheer strength of your vision, your dedication, and grit.

Determination Is Invisible (but makes you more than Visible)

To be successful and to thrive, you’d have to be made of stone or have the heart of a lion.

Determination is the single, overarching trait you’ll need. To push through, to keep your head afloat, and to even survive.

Your determination plays out in various scenarios as you go about running your life — in business, relationships, health, in your career, and more.

Most of it is going to be invisible to the rest of the world (and even your own family and friends). But there are visible playouts of determination all around you.

Pick any success story. You’ll know.

Go Superhuman (With everything): Normal won’t make it

If you desire even a modicum of success, you’ll wear superhuman skin. There isn’t going to be anything normal about you from the day your life changing journey begins.

The usual 9-5 routine won’t cut it. Sleeping in until later in the day (bad for you) and putting in less than the average 4-hour productivity (might just work) will ensure that you get washed out to your competition within months.

Success and “being normal” ain’t good friends.

No one will see or know about the sacrifices you’ll make or the effort you’ll put in. Most people won’t be able to see the grit, resolve, and determination you’ll work with.

But then, you’ll be the one laughing all the way to the bank (or trudge along the beach with the freedom feather in your cap), or live it to the 100s when it works out for you.

Are you ready to go super human yet? What are you going to do to break through self-imposed barriers? What will you do to push through in life, despite everything?

Comment below and share your thoughts.

I am Gordon Grigg and I am the catalyst that helps you reach your goals using what you have within you. I help you succeed in life and in business. I am a keynote speaker, a consultant’s consultant, and a life coach. It all starts with a simple conversation. Reach out to me if you have any questions.

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The Importance of Having a Life Coach

The Importance Of Having A Life Coach

You probably have heard of life coaching and may even have some notion of what it entails, but are you aware of the advantages of hiring a life coach for yourself?

As more people recognize the importance of having a life coach and the advantages of working with life coaches for personal development, they turn to coaches for assistance in problem-solving and moving forward with their goals. Gordon Grigg naturally believes in the concrete and significant advantages of working with a life coach. So, in this piece, we’ll outline what we think are the advantages of working with a life coach.

The Importance of Having a Life Coach

How Does Life Coaching Work?

Life coaching is a non-directive, collaborative conversation between the coach and coachee that can facilitate significant change through decisions, inquiries, reflections, and new behaviors. Clients are given the tools necessary to make courageous decisions about their lives, careers, interpersonal relationships, and other matters.

A life coach could:

1. Help You Become More Clarified About Your Life’s Purpose and Passions

Many of us don’t know what we want out of life, why we want it, or how to attain it, but some of us do! You need a clearer understanding of who you are, what gives your life value and purpose, and how to communicate these things to others. Working with a life coach can help you better understand who you are, find your abilities, skills, and gifts, and figure out what gives your life a purpose.

There can frequently be hidden blind spots that are difficult for you to find. You can work with a coach who uses open-ended, catalytic questions and thorough listening to clarify what you want and the direction and measures you need to take to get there.

2. Better Prepare You To Explore Solutions To Particular Issues

Every relationship and coaching session is different. Some individuals attend a life coaching session with no predetermined objectives, while others have specific issues they wish to address and find solutions to.

Having a life coach can help you identify specific obstacles or barriers that might be preventing you from achieving your goals, regardless of whether your goal is to start your own business or improve your relationship with your peers. When you are in the middle of a crisis, it might be challenging to see it clearly for what it is. A life coach can assist you in shifting your viewpoint and finding fresh approaches to particular issues.

3. Teach You How To Engage In Being Completely Present

There is no denying that life may be stressful. Most of us frequently feel as though we are moving through life at a million miles per hour and that we never stop, especially, if we have a specific objective. However, it is quite simple to overlook the most significant and fun aspect of this process: the voyage.

Learning to practice mindfulness allows you to bring yourself back to the present moment when things feel too big or too fast and check in with how you are feeling. Many coaches incorporate mindfulness techniques into their approaches. It may also mean that you can enjoy some of life’s minor pleasures occurring in the present moment as opposed to continuous pondering and working for the great, distant objectives.

4. Assist You In Setting Goals And Creating An Action Plan To Achieve Them

The process of defining objectives for yourself can be challenging. Long-term goals are mostly difficult to visualize, and short-term ones might be challenging to draw from a wave of thoughts, desires, and beliefs that is continuously changing. It can be quite helpful to know where you want to go in the future and the steps to get there, but for many people, this can be a difficult and intimidating task.

You will be expertly guided through the challenging process of goal-setting by a life coach who will hold the space and ask open-ended, thoughtful questions to help you better understand your present and long-term aspirations and requirements.

A life coach can assist you in achieving your objectives by working with you to develop an action plan to achieve the desired results. Making a genuinely realistic plan is frequently one of the most challenging components of thinking about setting future goals.

5. Assist You In Developing Various Systems And Structures To Boost Your Productivity

How frequently do you hear folks lament the lack of daylight? However, this is frequently more of a reflection of how you currently use your time than a lack of it. Lack of time is overcome by concentrating on increasing productivity, another area a life coach can use.

A life coach may assist you in establishing various routines and structures to manage your time better and improve your chances of consistently achieving your objectives.

A life coach can help increase your daily productivity, giving you more time to work toward your goals and personal development. Whether setting yourself up for the best start to each day by incorporating a routine that puts you in a good frame of mind or a structure that allows you to free up time by better managing meetings and emails, having a life coach can help.

6. Help You Become More Self-Aware

If you’re serious about reaching your objectives and developing yourself, working on this method is one of the most important things you can do. It also forms the basis of practically all successful coaching relationships.

It is difficult to overstate the importance of revealing the layers of who you are right now, including what you are thinking, what challenges you find difficult, what motivates you to move forward, how you are acting, your beliefs and presumptions, your strengths and weaknesses, and where you are moving forward. By doing this, you can ensure that your objectives truly reflect your needs and make it much simpler to advance in a way that benefits you.

7. Support for Accountability

If we are completely honest with ourselves, many of us probably don’t achieve our goals as frequently as we would like. Working with a life coach can help to address some of these issues, whether you’re distracted by life’s interruptions, find it difficult to manage your time effectively, or simply lose all motivation at some point.

Accountability is a crucial component in pursuing your aspirations and objectives. You will be far more likely to achieve your goals and do so more quickly if you discuss them with your life coach.

Your ability to communicate with your life coach will probably keep you moving toward your intended result. You can find comfort in knowing someone is watching out for you to ensure that you stick with your plan because they will have a thorough awareness of it, your next actions, and the path ahead.

8. Keeping you honest and allowing you to reevaluate your assumptions, beliefs, and way of thinking

Everyone has a collection of ideas, presumptions, and beliefs that are always shifting. Some of these are constructive forces that help you be the best version of yourself, while others can lead to mental barriers, a sense of being trapped, and ultimately impede you from achieving goals.

Working with a life coach not only helps you become more aware of these limiting beliefs, thoughts, and assumptions that could be holding you back, but as you start to unpick them, you’ll probably also find several strategies that enable you to not only challenge but reframe these particular limiting thoughts that could be holding you back.

Conclusion

If you take your time to discover the coach who is suitable for you, it may be the beginning of a remarkable journey of self-growth, personal development, and increased pleasure and fulfillment. You can contact Gordon Grigg to be your guide on this personal development journey.

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