Enjoy Success from the Inside/Out

"Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift of God, which is why we call it the present."-Bill Keane This quote is so simple to understand and very important to remember. It is my goal in life to be grateful for my time and treat my time as the greatest present from God. I try to live from this place each and every moment of my life and that's how time management  became my life's work.   It helps us to remember that "yesterday is history"  and it is our past which we can't change. Knowing and accepting that past is in the past- leaves us with more room for today.  Choosing to consciously live in the present today encourages us to focus more in what we need to do today, and hopefully it allows us to be more productive with our tasks at hand. Remembering that "tomorrow is mystery" and it is in the future is also beneficial because it means that we have no control and it leaves more room for us to de...

To Shine or Not to Shine I'm sure the question above has crossed everyone's mind at some point, as it reflects our shared desire for success in both our personal and professional lives. While the journey of choosing a major, obtaining a degree, and pursuing job opportunities may seem overwhelming, the motivation to shine propels us forward and helps us make progress in life. It pushes us to acquire new skills, go the extra mile, win over hiring managers, and secure the job we desire. As new employees, we feel excited and eager to take on new challenges, waking up every day with the determination to shine brightly in our roles. We strive to impress our bosses and coworkers, going above and beyond in our efforts. However, this initial enthusiasm may wane after a few months, depending on factors like our position, manager, or team dynamics. If we lack self-motivation at work, attendance issues may arise, and our performance could suffer, leading us to question whether to stay or ...

Retaining ShiningStars “High expectations are the key to everything.”  – Sam Walton In general, employees tend to perform only as much as what the manager expects of them, but there are a few people who have high expectations for themselves and who perform above what is asked. You can’t deny it, you love those star employees! They just make your life so much easier, and they don’t even seem to ask much or to complain – they are self-motivated and are determined to shine! But where does this attitude come from? I believe that for someone to go above and beyond and to do their best, they have to want to shine from within. Work has to be very meaningful to them; otherwise, they won’t feel the need to improve their productivity. One thing is for sure, people want to feel that they matter at work. They need to know that whatever they are doing is contributing to something great and that they are doing a good job. According to David McClelland , high achievers ...

Are You Shining as a Leader?    Shining-star leaders have clear goals in life; they know what they want and are confident that if they work hard, they will get great results. A lot of professionals like the idea of getting into management, but leading others and gaining the desired results are not easy.  To be successful, one must have good intentions and not get into leadership positions solely for personal gain or status. Instead, managers need to actually want to work with others and help them to become better at their job. They need to lead by example so that others will want to follow them, not because they are in charge, but because they trust their abilities. Below is a list of key traits a great leader must possess to be able to influence others in the organization: Have a vision and clear expectations Be willing to direct and listen to others’ points of view Be able to deal with more responsibilities and issues Be able to manage...

Shining Stars Definition "Success originates within, independent of external circumstances, those people who enjoy true success are open, warm, and sincere, they are the ones that treat everyone as an equal and view success as a responsibility."- Dr. David Hawkins  on  Power vs. Force I wonder what comes to mind as you read the title of my blog Shining Stars Connected! If you are like most people you are probably associating shining stars with Hollywood stars but, that is not the point here. It is true that there’s shining stars in different careers including acting, but true shining stars are not limited with those few careers that media advertises, true shining stars are those who choose to shine from within in whatever job and career they have and they strive to shine in all aspects of life! The title “Shining Stars” in my blog is synonymous with successful people, and to me a star on earth is a person like me and you who strives to keep a pure heart, a...

Career Success Is Within Your Grasp One of my most cherished moments in my career journey occurred when I realized that I am the master of my own destiny. Just as my life goals are mine to shape, so too are my career goals and success. If you perceive a hint of pessimism in my words, allow me to explain. I was born and raised in a country where freedom of choice and equal opportunities were scarce commodities. Growing up, I learned that my aspirations would forever be subject to the whims of higher authorities. But there’s no need for tears. My life took a transformative turn when I moved to America. Here, a no-excuse policy prevails. Education, financial aid, scholarships—these avenues open wide. You can venture into any field, and pursue any job. While job hunting may require patience, the rewards are substantial. Beyond your hourly or salaried compensation, employers—both private and governmental—extend a helping hand. They offer benefits that ease life’s burdens. And some except...

“The only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle.” –    Steve Jobs   I  am sure that you have heard people say that if you enjoy what you do for  a living, you never work a day in your life. If you feel motivated to go to work and you are performing at your best, there is a pretty good chance that you are in line with your passion,  your needs are fulfilled and as a result you feel motivated.  If you don’t like your job and don’t feel motivated or fulfilled- let’s see what is it that’s holding you back. Based on one of my favorite motivational theories from Maslow’s hierarchy of need s,  there’s five basic human needs that need to be met in order for us to be motivated in our personal and work life. This below figure shows the different aspects, emphasizing the hierarchy of needs as applied in workplace. 1 st .   To be able to work  we need to have our...

“The battle of life is, in most cases, fought uphill; and to win it without a struggle were perhaps to win it without honor. If there were no difficulties there would be no success: if there were nothing to struggle for, there would be nothing to be achieved.” – Samuel Smiles Title: Choose to Shine in Life! Making the decision to shine is a powerful commitment that sets the tone for an exceptional day. When we choose to shine in a specific aspect of life or a particular task, we push ourselves to work harder and hold ourselves accountable for the actions and results we create. But why do people choose to shine? The reasons can be as vast as the sky, but fundamentally, it signifies having big goals and high expectations for oneself. The burning desire to shine comes from recognizing the need for personal growth and improvement in the way we perceive, feel, or handle things. For instance, choosing to shine at work demonstrates the realization of your potential contri...