8 Characteristics of Extraordinary People

And so I was thinking, there have been so many workshops and seminars going on teaching people how to become rich and be successful in life. However, I am sure not every single person that attended the workshops would get rich. 

So what differentiates those that actually become successful and those that remain mediocre all their lives?

After attending three-full days of National Achiever's Congress 2014, I noticed some similarities between the speakers. The factors that differentiates them from the rest, the reason they are successful.

a)    They have a burning desire (attitude, enthusiasm)

"Desire is the starting point of all achievement, not a hope, not a wish, but a keen pulsating desire which transcends everything." - Napoleon Hill

Most of the speakers started off bankrupt or with little money. They were at their rock bottom with nothing but their burning enthusiasm and desire to get out of their situation. That was all they needed. Their energy and enthusiasm in pursuing what they set out to achieve placed them way ahead of the rest.

b)   They take action in spite of fear 

“When you feel uncomfortable that is an opportunity. Go the difficult way and you will achieve breakthroughs. Remember, growth is never easy.”

What differentiates people who succeed from those who don't is simply their ability to see an opportunity, and take action. As simple as that. Taking action is the most important.

It is not that these people are more prepared than any of us, but they act despite their fears, doubts, and insecurities. And that is courage. Many times, we see opportunities, we have great ideas, but we are stopped by our own fear. And because of this fear, we just come up with 1001 excuses why we should not take action. However, as Nick said, FEAR is simply Fear Evidence Appearing Real. Those who actually take action in life, are those that will actually win.

c)    They persevere.

People who are successful have a very different attitude towards failure. They are not immune to failure. They see failure as a stepping stone to success. The more you fail, the more likely you are to succeed. You are one step closer to success. Like how Nick faced more than 50 rejections to speak in schools before he managed to secure a speaking slot. And that was what changed his life.

d)   They accept and believe in themselves.

 

“You have to believe in yourself & the only way to believe in yourself is to take action.” – Brendon

Those who succeed are a confident bunch. They believe in themselves. This does not mean they are right all the time, it is just that they accept themselves for who they are. They accept that they make mistakes at times and accept that they are not perfect. It may not be easy to feel confident when you have not generated results in your life, so the first step would be to start doing more. Push yourself just a little harder and BELIEVE IN YOURSELF. You have all it takes to succeed.

e)   They have perfected a system

Those who are successful have spent years perfecting a system and the system is now generating results for them. To be successful, start building a system in an area of your expertise/interest. Going to a course a buying a system may help kick start your journey, but simply using other people’s system will not make you rich, you will have to customise your own.

f)   It is never about them. It is about helping others.

“The best way to live your life is for others. Not because of others, but for others. The more you and I reach out to bless others lives, the richer and better our lives will become.” – Patrick Liew

At the end of the day, they know why they are doing what they are doing for. It is not for themselves. It is for others. Many mention their family and how having financial freedom gives them more time to spend with their family. They are also able to do more meaningful things such as helping others and changing the world.

g)    They succeed doing something they are passionate about

“Because it is so important to do work that embodies who you are.” – Kieron Sweeney

You can never be successful doing something you are not passionate about. So ask yourself what is the work you cannot not do? What is the fire in your belly? Focus on your passion and something you can serve.

“You are a piece of the puzzle of life that connects us all. It is through discovering your passion that you create your personal brand.”

“To be successful I must have a compelling reason.” – Patrick Liew

Purpose will drive performance.

What is your purpose? What is it you will go all out for? Is there any qualities I missed out? I would love to hear from you! Share your thoughts in the comments box below.

5 Insights from Experts you MUST know

Fret not, if you missed National Achiever's Congress 2014! Here are some nuggets of wisdom I have compiled from some of the leading experts in the field. Hope it inspires you in some way ;)

On Sales – Tom Hopkins: World’s Leading Authority on Sales

• Your #1 goal when you meet a potential client is to help them to like you, trust you, and want to listen to you.
• Your main objective in a presentation is to educate, motivate and have fun.
• You also must develop and present a message of hope for the future.
• In short, selling is nothing but a transfer of enthusiasm from the buyer to the seller.

National Achievers Congress 2014: A Weekend with the World’s Best

National Achievers Congress 2014: A Weekend with the World’s Best

Last weekend, I had the privilege of attending National Achievers Congress 2014 in Singapore. It was held in a really big conference hall in Resorts World Singapore, which accommodated more than 5000 attendees.

If you have never been to an event like this, this could be an event you might want to check out (well, you can decide after reading this post). This event is organized by Success Resources and held over three full-days. Featured speakers include Nick Vujicic, Tom Hopkins, and Brendon Burchard. (see below for the complete list of speakers)

The “inconvenient truth” is that schedules of speakers throughout the three days were not fixed and therefore, to make sure you catch a glimpse of the speaker you want to learn from, you would have to stay throughout the three days.

NOX- Dine in the Dark

Nox- Dine in the Dark

In our modern culture where we are often overwhelmed by sensory stimulation, the focus on visual presentation is constantly increasing. Now, how would you feel if you could not see and were living in total darkness?

At Nox - Dine in the Dark, we will take you on a journey through tastes and textures, a multi-sensory dining experience that will tantalize your taste buds and open your mind. We invite you to temporarily surrender one of your dominant senses, sight, in exchange for enhancing the other four, allowing you to completely re-evaluate your perception of the world around you. (http://www.noxdineinthedark.com)

NOX – Dining in the Dark Concept 

(Spoilers alert! If you intend to go, you may not want to read this so that you can go with a blank slate of mind)

It was my birthday. And as a tradition, my dear boyfriend would take me somewhere special to celebrate. Usually, we would go for a buffet. With its huge spread of food, there is something for everyone. However, this year, I decided that instead of the usual buffet, I wanted something special.

I have ruled out buffet for a while after binging myself during the meal to get the most value out of my money, only to end up feeling too full and uncomfortable.

I had heard of this fine-dining restaurant called NOX, with a really cool concept of dining in the dark. I have never dined in the dark, it was something different, and I thought, why not let’s give this a try?

My Experience as a Vipassana Dhamma Server

"The Journey to Spiritual Growth requires discipline and action, initiative and being able to make independent decisions."

My Experience as a Vipassana Dhamma Server

As some of you might recall, I blogged about my Vipassana Experience about more than one year ago. If you have not heard of Vipassana meditation, you might want to check out my previous article first. If you have done Vipassana meditation and are thinking about whether you should dedicate 10 days of your life to Dhamma service, read on, and I hope what I share will offer you some insights!


So how did I end up as a Dhamma server?

When I was a Vipassana student at Dhamma Malaya, I was really touched by how the volunteers (also known as Dhamma Servers) served us so tirelessly for 10 days and with so much love and compassion. I had gotten so much out of learning Vipassana Meditation and I was curious what being a Dhamma server would be like. I decided to serve as I thought it would be a great opportunity to pay-it-forward as well as to learn how to live and work in a mindful way.

5 Secrets to Start Loving Yourself

Loving yourself. When you ask someone whether they love themselves, they would most probably say, “Of course!” without much hesitation. I used to think I do too, and it took me a lot of work to be honest with myself and realize that I actually didn’t. There were many parts of myself which I was rejecting- the shy part, the insecure part, the ignorant part...

The next time you see a migrant worker, SMILE :)

"Everyone has a story to tell, a lesson to teach, and wisdom to share... Life is a beautiful masterpiece bound together by your experiences. Open up and share your story; become an inspiration to others. You can make a difference because you matter. You were created with purpose. Live your life with intention, go out there and make a difference by being the difference." Melanie Moushigian Koulouris

Singapore is an affluent city, and we are developing at a really fast-pace. To keep up with the rapid pace of development, we employ thousands upon thousands of migrant workers from nearby developing countries such as Bangladesh, India and China. These workers are the unsung heroes who are responsible for the comfortable and beautiful houses we stay in, the impressive and sleek malls we visit, our clean neighbourhoods, and the dense transport network we have.

Just a little more kindness

What happens when you see someone carrying a clipboard and a bunch of keychains/notebooks walking towards you? Is it your instinctive reaction to avoid? You quicken your pace, walk faster, busy yourself with your phone, and try to appear as invisible as possible as you avoid all eye contact. After passing by them, you let out a sigh of relief and feel glad you have managed to avoid an encounter. If that describes you perfectly, read on!