Quality control

"Make the most of yourself, for that is all there is to you," proclaimed Ralph Waldo Emerson.

We'd still be cave dwellers if this kind of thought process was absent.

When you look at the most successful people and companies in the world you'll notice that they are tuned into a state of constant improvement.

"There is always room for improvement" is the motto.We can improve home or office efficiencies, or improve our communication, or improve teamwork or leadership skills.

Now is the best time to increase your overall value.

It's paramount.

Today, reflect on how to make yourself an invaluable resource! To be of value we must be on the lookout for ways to improve.

The bottom line is that there is only one person that can get in the way of your success.

That person is none other than you! So, evaluate and consider this first habit for success: Let go of your ego.

Too often the ego gets in the way of living a fulfilling life.

Let it go.

Deliver more than expected Additionally, always delivering more than is expected will increase your personal value.

The team that wins the big game is often the one that practices past the point of exhaustion.

The reason is the psyche learns to call on the hidden reserves of energy available to all, but called upon by few.

Though it might seem physical, this habit is mental and it can carry you through all challenges.

Follow Muhammed Ali's advice,"Come up with the extra ounce of power it takes to win when the match is even." This next habit seems to be avoided by most of the population.

That is, to be accountable for your life.

It is true that we are not supposed to be responsible for the programming we receive as children, but as adults we are responsible for correcting our dysfunctional programming.

There is only one person who can make you angry or happy you.

Only you can make your dreams and goals a reality because nobody is going to do it for you.

Who to blame? Avoid getting caught up in blaming others for the state of your life.You attract your experiences by the choices you make.

Step forward and be accountable! Confucius was right,"The expectations of life depend upon diligence; the mechanic that would perfect his work must first sharpen his tools."Naturally, the habit is to attend seminars and workshops.

Learn and practice skills that can lead you to the next level.

Training programs in the field of personal growth and professional development enhance your awareness and skill level.

Fortunately, a good number of professions require continuing education units each year to maintain licensing.

Commit to practicing and improving your skill set every chance you get.

Remember: The day you stop learning is the day you start dying.

Learning is a life-long process! Invaluable people do it right the first time! Many people have been known to waste great amounts of time re-doing a task instead of simply doing it right the first time.Whatever it is that you choose to do, resolve to do it right.

If you are going to spend the time,make the most of it by doing the job right the first time.

Sometimes doing things right means doing the best with what you have to work with at the time, then making improvements along the way.

Be willing to make sacrifices In order for us to be successful and fully enjoy our lives,we must be willing to make sacrifices and take consistent action toward our goals and desires.

The habit is to be willing to do whatever it takes to succeed.No wonder Henry Ford said,"Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goals." Just about everything you have achieved thus far in life is the result of resourceful thinking coupled with hard work, equalized by not jeopardizing your integrity.

To get what you want you have to be willing to turn over every stone until you find whatever it is you are looking for."I make it happen," is the affirmation of a successful person.

Half awake or half asleep? Brilliantly spoken by Williams James, "Compared to what we ought to be,we are only half awake.We are making use of only a small part of our physical and mental resources."The easy habit to follow is to listen to audio books in your vehicle.

A 15-minute commute each way equals 125 hours per year.

Make good use of this time by listening to audio books while you drive.

Today, more than ever, you can listen to the words spoken by, or about,many of the world's great leaders and philosophers.Audio books are a great way to increase the retention of material you have read, or can be used to expand your current volume of knowledge.

Five words can help to ensure your success: follow up and follow through.

Some of the biggest gains in life can be achieved by simply following up with people and following through on ideas.Many people are good at starting projects, but few have the discipline to follow through.

The time involved in starting a new project is often much more than the small investment in time required to follow-up on current opportunities.

Choose to become valuable Think about it.A person does not truly earn an hourly wage; they earn a wage relative to the amount of labor performed and the value of that labor, exchanged for one hour of that person's life.

Some people have the skill set to earn a minimum wage while others earn hundreds, thousands, and even millions of dollars for the same hour of investment.You can choose to become more valuable simply by investing your time into learning new skills, and beyond... Make a commitment to choose one of these habits to increase your valuation.

If you don't, no one is going to do it for you! Make a commitment to improve, and to take action on, at least one given item within the next seven days to make a marked difference in the quality of your life.

Best of success to you!

Jeffrey Benjamin is the founder of Breakthrough Training, a Reno-based training and coaching firm.

Contact him through www.breakthroughtraining.com or by calling 337-1600.