7 ways to improve the results in all areas of your life

1. Get the most bang for your buck.

Your time is limited to approximately 24 hours each day.  In that time we need to work, worship, spend time with family, eat, sleep and somehow work in time for professional and personal development.  Time is our most valuable resource. Consider all that you would like to achieve and find ways to maximize the use of your time.  When I run I listen to podcasts.  These podcasts often have a spiritual tone.  During this one run I am developing mentally, spiritually and physically.  When I drive I listen to audio books.  Get creative and look for ways to maximize your development.

2. Take time to focus

Multitasking is a lie.  If you try to do several things at once you will likely get a lot of things done poorly.  Focus on one task at a time.  If you are with your family put your mind on them.  When you are at work focus on work.  Focus will make you as sharp as a laser. 

3. Get feedback from different specialties

I read once of a young man who wanted to be professional baseball player.  One summer while he was still a teenager he joined three different baseball teams.  He deliberately chose one team that had a coach who was known as an excellent hitter, another one had a coach who was known for teaching strategy and the third was an expert at fielding.  As a result this young man ultimately made the major leagues and had a great career.  We can do the same in our life.  When you are looking to buy a house talk to others who have recently bought a house.  If you are going to do something new find someone who has done it before and get their input and lessons learned.

4. Deliberately meet and spend time with diverse people

If you want ultimate success you must find a way to find different directions to our objectives.  Most people end up hanging out with others who are just like them.  When you do that and hit an obstacle you may not have a solution from within your own culture.  But maybe that person from a different race or different culture has the solution just waiting for you. You will never know unless you have made friends that think different than you.

5. Stay focused on your ultimate dreams

Regularly perform the rocking chair test.  What do you want your life to have meant when it is nearing its end.  Now is the time to make that meaning true and right.  There are things to distract us from our dreams.  We chase after opportunities that do not support those dreams.  Yes these can be good things but if they are not taking you close to your dream, let them go. Refocus and find success.

6. Once a day perform a self examination 

Take time to examine your life.  Find values that you say you hold dear and consider if you are living up to the image that you have of yourself.  I often will use things like the Boy Scout laws or Bible verses but this can also be something like, “I said that I wanted to be healthy, how did I do today?”  Be honest with yourself.  Did you eat that whole cake this afternoon after that rough meeting? When was the last time that you exercised?  Daily examine your life and see if you are living to your own expectations and then make adjustments

7. Get feedback from different directions 

How do others see you?  We can guess or we can ask them.  Seek feedback constantly.  Be open and accept what they have to say.  If it is negative that is good to know.  People are thinking it anyway so dig deep.  At work we have evaluations that go up and down the leadership chain and that pushes growth like nothing else I have ever experienced before.