How Extraordinary Are You?

Everyone is unique in their own way, but few of us actually die as extraordinary people.
No matter what field you’re in, you can create extraordinary results. Your life may seem ordinary compared to people who are famous for changing the world. And many extraordinary successful people want it like this. Others want the limelight to go with their extraordinary successes.

When you think of extraordinary success, what comes to mind? Since extraordinary success is unique for everyone, you need to first define what success is for yourself, and then ask yourself how extraordinary is your success and do not compare yourself with anyone else.

Many have unique traits but either do not use them or do not get the chance to use them to your advantage. For many, being mediocre is not for them. They feel that they have to contribute or make a name for themselves by doing things different and better than following the crowd. From ordinary to extraordinary is taking the first step. Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “Don’t be too timid or squeamish about your actions. All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make the better.”

Imagine all the things you could make happen if you were able to overcome any barriers you have and tap into the strength and skills that are already within you! Ordinary people can achieve extraordinary things if they:

· Believe in what they do
· Think outside the box
· Take action

Skyrocket Your Self-Confidence

Ordinary won’t take you to the next level of your success. Put yourself in the top 3% now and see your success and confidence sky rocket. Building self-confidence is an inside job. To build a real solid foundation in your self-confidence you want to experience yourself in a way that is new or different from past experiences. Skyrocket Your Self-Confidence by:

• Staying Positive

• Staying in Control

• Believing in Yourself and Reaching Your Potential

What are you doing to make yourself extraordinary in what you do?

For a 30 minute complimentary session to see how we can help you, please contact us at 602-405-2540, or email nburgis@successful-solutions.com.

Untapped High Potential Leaders

At this point, who is not aware of the talent wars of finding the best employees or the next best high potential leaders? Companies need to look carefully at many of their own employees as they may be missing opportunities within their own ranks. The talent wars change with the needs of each organization. But one thing is sure, there is a need shortage of leaders stepping up to the plate and showing what they can do before becoming a leader in that organization.

Many high potential leaders go unnoticed, so very few ever reach their leadership potential. They live in the shadows of others. Mostly, they help others reach their potential. Unlocking the vast untapped potential for leadership right in your own backyard can be a positive thing as long as you recognize it in your employees.

Leonardo Da Vinci said there were three classes of people: Those who see; those who see when shown; those who do not see; and A leader needs to be a fourth type: One who sees the potential in others that they may not even see in themselves.

Do you know what your potential is? The word potential implies untapped capability. Within the untapped potential you have dwells the power to solve problems, the power to be creative and innovate, improve productivity, please more customers, and improve results however you measure them.

While it is difficult to measure, a leader must see her job as that of assessing the potential in others. For without an acknowledgement of potential, it may never be extracted. And all the ignored possibilities for solutions, innovations, and growth, will forever lie dormant, stunted, and wasted.

Take Action:

Seek the potential in others. What we see is often what we look for.

Provide others with a chance to grow. Ask your colleagues to try new assignments, to recommend some changes, to take-on special projects. The people who step forward may surprise you. Everyone is more than their job description.

In today’s economic climate, go beyond and look for those who have the potential to be leaders, but also take notice of how creative and innovative they are in the work they do. Out of the ordinary, you may find the extraordinary person you have been looking for.

You are capable of doing much more than what people expect of you. You have the potential of going beyond your expectations. But you need to have someone give you the opportunity to show what you can do. Some people are recognized for their efforts, and others need to be pushed a little. Which one are you?

For a 30 minute complimentary session to see how we can help you, please contact us at 602-405-2540, or email nburgis@successful-solutions.com.

Are You Already Working in Your Dream Job/Career?

Many people go to college and spend four years getting a degree. When they graduate, they either work using that degree they earned, or decide to work doing something else. When you’re finally fed up with your unfulfilling, dull career doing whatever pays the bills, it’s time to find your dream job.

Many people are not working their dream job/career because if you are like most people you work because you have bills that need to get paid, and you work in any job. For most people, they are dissatisfied with the job or work they do.

The reason you may not be working on getting to the next level of your success might be because you are not interested in the job or career you are in. With so many people dissatisfied with their jobs/careers, and no doing anything about it, they miss out on opportunities that could be exciting enough to do want they want, instead of what their employer wants.

Finding the perfect job can be a challenging task. For many, it becomes a life long journey that can feel nearly impossible to reach. Each individual may have a very different idea of what that means for them. Up to 75 percent of workers are still searching for a job they love, according to the job search Web site Career Builder.

Confucius says: “Find a job you love and you'll never work a day in your life.” Finding the job/career of your dreams means that you focus and concentrate on the work you are doing. It is something you want to do and feel good about yourself while and when you complete what you are working on.

Knowing what you want as your dream job/career helps you feel excited about what gives them satisfaction in the work they do. Having a sense of positive self-esteem and being positive with what you do helps you feel confident, less stressful and able to be creative and innovative in using your maximum potential as you feel fulfilled in what you enjoy doing.

Imagine your ideal career, and what you would be doing right now if you were there. Start to think about what you REALLY WANT from your dream job/career. Figure out what you want out of life and look at your skills, talents, knowledge, abilities, interests and passions. Write down what you really want to do and then how to get there.Think about what inspires you and how finding your dream job/career will help you feel great about yourself.

Anyone can get a job and get paid. But doing what you love and getting paid is a double plus for many who are more than satisfied in the work they do. So,take a risk and take action to feel good at what you do in your job. Best wishes in finding your dream job/career.

For a 30 minute complimentary session to see how we can help you, please contact us at 602-405-2540, or email nburgis@successful-solutions.com.

Getting Your Point Across When You Only Have 60 Seconds or Less

You need to get an important message across to employees and the problem is, employees have so little time and attention. I am sure that you receive several emails daily where a few people at least, do not get their point(s) across to you asking you to do or respond to something they ask for/about.

But if you were given less than 60 seconds to get your point across to another person, most people give excuses. Some have said, “I cannot possibly make my point in a short period of time.” Granted that 60 seconds or less is not much time to get your point across to anyone, but think of about this. If you were in an elevator with someone who you wanted to ask a question to or say something to, the time between floors is the only time you have to see that person and say anything to. Do you think you can talk with them in that short period of time? They probably do not have any other time to stay on the elevator with you.

The basic principle of a 30 even a 60 second message is to have a clear objective. Essentially, what do you want to achieve?). To get your point across in business today you need to focus on your own communication skills and your audience’s ability to understand. Speakers who get their points across in a short period of time and know to concentrate less on what they want to say and more on what they want you to hear are the most successful

One of the most important abilities of a manager is the ability to get your point across. Some have said that, “85 percent of what you accomplish in your career and in your personal life will be determined by how well you get your message across and by how capable you are of inspiring people to take action on your ideas and recommendations.”

When we're trying to get a point across to someone else we often think long and hard about what we want to say. Instead of focusing on what you want to say to get your point across, you should focus on what you want the other person to hear.

You want to say just the right thing so the other person understands your point. Sometimes you practice what you are going to say.

Verbally, 3 Seconds is all it takes to lose your audience. It is also all it takes to grab their attention – if you know how.

3Basic Principles

1. Know What You Want- Have a clear objective of what you want to say.
2. Who Can Give It to You- Know who you are talking to.
3. How to Get It

Keep it Brief and Simple
Say what you need to say and nothing more. Keeping it simple will allow your audience to understand and remember what you want them to.

Use a hook in your message to grab their attention. This is what you create to have your listener think about what you are saying or asking about.

Use descriptive words that catches you listener’s attention. Paint a vivid picture for your listener.

Be Detailed
In what you do choose to say, tell the audience specifically what they need to know, including quantities, hard deadlines, and delivery.

Body Language
Make sure your posture depicts someone who considers themselves as confident and successful. Otherwise, your listener is not going to have a good impression about you no matter how well you come across to them. Do not have your arms folded, and as long as you sound confident with good eye-contact and do not apologize for possibly feel anxious or nervous, you will probably be in a good position to get what you want from them.


You may feel that what you have to say is important enough to you. So create a compelling opening line for your listener to grab onto what you are saying. Be a little creative in your opening statement, and then ask a specific question relevant to what you just said.

For a 30 minute complimentary session to see how we can help you, please contact us at 602-405-2540, or email nburgis@successful-solutions.com.

Maintaining & Sustaining Work Productivity

On a scale from one to ten, one being the least productive and ten being the most productive, how would you rate yourself on productivity during an average work day?

Do you constantly look for files or papers, while your inbox is overflowing with unanswered messages? You have to move two stacks of papers to get to your keyboard, and you need to find your contact information for the day. You have a constant nagging feeling that you’ve forgotten about something vital, and that major project you want to start work on still remains a pipe dream. Are you always leaving your seat to retrieve supplies or materials that are crucial to your most important work?

Do you have the tools you need to work at your optimum level of efficiency? Here are 8 essentials for a productive work environment. None of them require a degree in rocket science, and most offices have them, but may not be using them in an effective manner.

Organize Your Day on Paper, Before Your Day Begins
Spend ten minutes each evening or ten minutes each morning planning your day on paper. Write down your top priorities for the day, and circle the two most important items on your list. Instead of feeling overwhelmed at all the work you must do, focus only on those two items. Even if all you complete on this day are those two items, they are the two most important and can be marked off as major accomplishments. Do this every day, and you’ll power up your performance fast!

Motivational Momentum
How many times have you been asked "What are you going to do to motivate your employees?" Know that your employees value your opinions, your insights, and your time. They value the effort you take to work with them to develop their skill sets and their careers.

Everyone knows that motivation will increase our productivity. Don't wait for inspiration to hit. Take action first and the motivation will follow. Play to Your Strengths

"Keep a positive attitude: There’s is nothing more powerful for self-motivation than the right attitude. You can’t choose or control your circumstance, but can choose your attitude towards your circumstances."

Take the Time to "Connect"
Network with other professionals in your field who you gain the most benefit from. Also, set some time each day to connect with the individuals you entrusted with the projects and/or tasks you delegated. Take the time to consider how you can use skills in your business/department and watch productivity and profits soar.

Minimize Distractions
If you must attend mind-numbing meetings, mentally challenge yourself to solve problems inside your head as the minutes go by. Set aside a specific time to answer emails and phone calls, rather than answering every call at all times. If you are having personal problems, mentally picture yourself putting them inside a drawer and closing it to refocus on your work.

Manage Your Employees by How they Work
Take notice of your employees. Are they working using their personality preference levels, or do they just plug into a slot to fill a desk that was available? Low productivity among the employees could be because the job that they are doing does not suit their temperament or qualities or skills. Through assessments and appraisals, managers are better able to evaluate an employee's skills and thus, can shift him to a department or a job that suits his qualities.

Action Files:
These are the files that you use every day. Many people use these as their to-do list. Action files should be located on the desktop or as close to you as possible. They can be organized by date, topic, or type of action. Some examples of names for action files are: to read, to file, waiting for response, consider this, call, email, etc.

Sustaining Your Results
Essentially, think about what works and what works very well for you to keep your results from declining. Delegate projects and tasks to those who are capable of completing them by your specific clear instructions and vision of what you want done. Let your employees figure out how to complete the project or task as this will give them an opportunity to be creative in what they do.

Appreciate Employee Days

If a manager wants to know how to improve productivity in the workplace, then the most effective tool that he can employ is employee appreciation. Many organizations today use various methods, such as giving out gifts, celebrating employee appreciation days, having special events in office, for appreciating and motivating their employees.

Follow the steps above to create your own productive work environment. Monitor each step and modify when needed. Be open to suggestions and other opportunities in getting things done.

For a 30 minute complimentary session to see how we can help you, please contact us at 602-405-2540, or email nburgis@successful-solutions.com.

Former Military Leaders as Elite Captains of Industry

From the people who brought us $640 toilet seats and $500 hammers, the government this time has actually helped corporate America by teaching military leaders the worthiness of being a corporate executive. At a time when executives across the United States are confronted with the potential crisis of the looming shortage of younger talent being executives of the future, executives are addressing the junior leadership void.


Corporate America has long tapped the talent of leaders who began their careers in the U.S. military- a testament to how well the Armed Forces train future leaders. Military metaphors abound in the world of business. Companies rarely enter new markets,; they usually "invade" them.

Many former military leaders have MBAs and after they leave the military, they became business leaders in various organizations across the United States. The experiences many of these individuals have from their military careers serve them well as leaders in corporate America.

According to a study completed by Korn/Ferry International, that companies led by executives who had been soldiers often fared better than their competitors and the CEOs lasted longer in their jobs. They had an average tenure of 7.2 years, while those who did not have a military background lasted 4.6 years on average.

Its researchers believe that because CEOs often have to make difficult decisions in demanding circumstances, the military is a good training ground as it gives soldiers considerable expertise in handling high-pressure situations.

Running a corporation, like waging a war, requires strong leaders who can focus on the mission at hand amid enemies bent on defeating them. Clearly, some tactics and strategies are interchangeable between the boardroom and the battlefield.

The trend is not entirely new. Within the past decade, corporate honchos could march to the advice of books that enlisted the strategies of such noted warriors as Gens. Ulysses S. Grant, Robert E. Lee, and General George S. Patton. But today's military leadership books are riding a crest of fortunate timing.

At the beginning of 2009, there were 39 CEOs of S&P 500 corporations who are military veterans. Countless others are leading smaller companies or serving in key senior executive positions throughout corporate America.

The Korn/Ferry report identified six common leadership traits that serve veteran corporate leaders well in the boardroom:

1. Learning how to work as part of a team
2. Organizational skills, such as planning and effective use of resources
3. Good communications skills
4. The ability to define a goal and motivate others to achieve it
5. A highly developed sense of ethics
6. The ability to remain calm under pressure

7-Eleven CEO Joe DePinto, "I give the Army and the military a lot of credit for progress I've made my career." He went on to say, " A lot of it has to do with leadership development that I learned. How to lead soldiers, how to lead people, putting the organization ahead of yourself, having a can-do attitude, a focus on getting the job done regardless of what the job is. I really point to those as part of the reason why I think I have been successful in my career thus far."

Bob Ravener, who served as a senior executive with Starbucks Coffee Company and the Home Depot on his way up the corporate ladder, also acknowledged the crucial role his service as a Navy officer played in his career. "I learned valuable skills such as self-discipline, teamwork, leadership, service, relationships, commitment, calm in the face of adversity and delivering results. These skills have proven integral to success in business as well.

Corporate America is looking for leaders, and if they cannot find them in the ranks of their own employees, the military is producing more and more leaders through their ranks for corporate America. Some companies and organizations are beginning to shift gears in how they operate due to these individuals leaving the military and joining the ranks of corporate American leaders.


For a 30 minute complimentary session to see how we can help you, please contact us at 602-405-2540, or email nburgis@successful-solutions.com.

Do Not Let Fear Block Your Path to Your Success

You are probably aware that if you are not where you want to be in your life in terms of success, you are blocked. There is something in between you and the results you want and desire in your life. Your hidden fears may be hindering what you do, and as a result, your fear(s) may be blocking your success. Self-sabotage is when you work against yourself and your goals. It does not have any rationale behind it.



Confronting a fear can be tough, but the reward is enormous. Confronting just a small part of a fear is an accomplishment. Fears that block your success can have you pay a heavy price if you do nothing to change it- Lower Self-Esteem, Self-Confidence, Career, and even your personal life, just to name a few.



In a word- it could be summed up as "YOU"...you are the block that is getting in the way of creating the life you want and desire.



1. Negative Beliefs: For some people, they possess a lack of belief in their own abilities. Get rid of your limiting beliefs that keep you from being open to new positive opportunities. Use positive affirmations each time a negative thought comes into your mind.



2. Fear of Failure or Fear of Success: Fear of success is the work of your inner critic. When you think about it, the face of failure often is that of 2 fears: Disappointing others and disppointing yourself. When you fear success, it is often due to underlying anxieties about change. Fear of failure is completely understandable as no one likes to fail. We also do not want to disappoint other people as well as ourselves. Many people think they are suffering fear of failure when what they really have is a fear of success.



3. Resistance: Fears are created by your belief which becomes a roadblock. This costs you plenty with regard to your self-esteem, self-confidence and ultimately greater self-satisfaction. For many, resistance is that invisible thing that has you avoid what you love doing the most. But the good news is that you can learn to beat it and realize your potential.



4. Avoidance: People who refuse a job promotion, hesitate to accept more responsibility, quit just short of their goals, refuse to accept a compliment, resist change, or fail to meet performance goals may all have something in common. They may fear success and be engaging in success avoidance or success sabotage.



Fear may cause you to avoid doing the very things that create success. Being successful means leaving a predictable way of life and entering into the realm of the unknown with unanticipated changes.



5. Staying Focused to Your Destination: To succeed at overcoming obstacles, you need to have the determination not to quit, despite the obstacles. Ask yourself these questions:

• What would happen if this problem was not there anymore?


• What would you be focusing on after you resolve this challenge?

Your hidden fears are sabotaging your professional and personal life. Challenge yourself in these areas and feel comfortable in stretching yourself more to succeed. In reality, people do not fear success, they block it.

Do the Thing You are Afraid to Do: One of the most effective tools to overcome fear is to do the very thing you are afraid to do. This means you must act against your thoughts and feelings. While fear is motivating you to avoid, learn to use the energy of your anxiety to force yourself forward. Many speakers overcome their fear of speaking, so you can do the same with what you do.

The way to overcome your fear is to answer the "What if?" question. When you find yourself feeling the fear, ask yourself "What if" questions. This turns a fearful situation into a solution-focused situation. Look for alternatives and creative ways to handle the potential problem(s). When you have the answers to your "What ifs"you can control your fear.

Conquer your fear of success with a plan to manage your success.

For a 30 minute complimentary session to see how we can help you, contact us at: 602-405-2540 or email nburgis@successful-solutions.com