Your Vibe Attracts Your Tribe

As a leader, for sure, you’ll want to surround yourself with individuals who will help you reach the next level. For this reason, it’s essential you attract the best of the best or the A-team — a fierce group of men and women who are innovative, creative in their problem solving, and supporters of the team’s vision. Sometimes, it’s harder to spot individuals that will drive success and you may end up with a group of problem gatherers instead of problem solvers. Avoid such a costly mistake with these five tips to help you attract the best talent to your team.

1. Be the Leader You Want to Attract

Without a doubt, people are attracted to the positive energy they see in others. Once you possess that energy, it’s imperative to hold on to it and cultivate it through continuous growth and development. Every next level of your life requires the next level of you. That’s why continuous growth and development are essential. Neora Founder and CEO Jeff Olson writes in his New York Times bestselling book, The Slight Edge, that doing something as seemingly insignificant as reading ten pages of a good book every day will have a significant impact on your life because you’re devoting time to personal growth and development.

Additionally, like attracts like – meaning that if you’re a hardworking positive person committed to personal development and growth, you will attract people of a similar mindset. If your team isn’t living up to their potential, look into a mirror and ask yourself this: what energy are you putting out there? If you want to attract the best of the best, you need to live up to your potential.

2. Value Will as Much as Skill

People fundamentally underestimate will. Seriously. I would take will — i.e., the desire and passion that drive people forward — over skill any time of the day. Skills can be taught. Will cannot. Think about it: will equals the faith and burning desire that motivates people to reach to the depths of the earth to get things done. That’s the person you want on your team! In your search for an A-team, look for those individuals who can catch the vision, believe the vision, and run toward the vision. Having the skills are great! But, again, I’ll always pick will, passion, and a burning desire any day of the week.

3. Establish Yourself as a Brand

Your emotions and thoughts are the essences of your brand. Here’s an important question: what do you want others to think about you professionally? People are attracted to other people and not necessarily a business. To establish yourself as a brand, start by boosting your presence. Here are a few tips:

• Your Social Media: Develop your brand on social media including utilizing Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Considering all the different types of social media platforms available, these three platforms can be your most valuable online tools.
• Your Public Personality: First and foremost, be friendly and engage with your audience! Remember, most people are interested in you as a person. Therefore, your brand should, of course, incorporate what you do but definitely also tell the story of what you’re passionate about! Here’s one way to look at: your business should be a commercial in your life’s movie. Share your story, invite people to engage with you, and mix in a few engaging posts about your business. Furthermore, it’s super-important to follow up and engage with your audience to keep the dialogue going. Finally, consistency is key. Plan out one week at a time but be consistent with your quality and quantity of content.

Offline:

• Elevator Pitch: In a minute or less, can you relay your vision in a succinct message of value about what it is you do? Imagine you’re at a dinner party: a prospective client walks over to you and introduce themselves and then proceeds to ask you about your business, what will your response be? Can you hook them in less than 60 seconds? Write down or record your response and submit it in the comment section below. One person will receive a personal message, from me, offering feedback in addition to a prize!

4. Never Miss a Chance to Connect

As an entrepreneur, you should have the mindset of a connector. In other words, you need to cultivate relationships and develop networks where ever you go! Currently, I’m reading a wonderful book called “Never Eat Alone: And Other Secrets to Success, One Relationship at a Time.” It’s worth a read! In a nutshell, the author explains that if you’re not working, you have an opportunity to connect with another person whether they be a prospective customer, mentor, industry expert, friend — it doesn’t matter. As an entrepreneur, making connections are critical to your success, development, and growth.

5. Bigger than a Business

Today’s reality is that people, especially millennials, require more than just a 9-to-5 job. As an entrepreneur, you have to offer something bigger than a business. You must provide people with the purpose and meaning of the business. Share it loud and proud! I’m often surprised by how much extra time people are prepared to offer if they believe that their work and contributions matter. Once people realize their actions impact the world, their commitment and dedication significantly grow. If you haven’t already, check out Neora’s non-profit organization, The Neora Ripple Foundation. As a company, our mission is not only to help people look and feel better but also live better which is why Neora is one of the largest corporate contributors to Big Brothers and Big Sisters of America. Collectively, we’re making the world a better place, one step at a time! That’s a mission others want to be a part of.

Don’t forget to answer the question above to win this month’s prize (which will be revealed soon) in addition to receiving your own personal message with feedback on your elevator pitch. If you have any suggestions for future #realchats topics, let me know!

Lessons Learned

A while back, I listened to a top leader speaking about valuable lessons from life. One simple line from her speech really resonated. She said, “writers write” and so if you want to be a writer you must write. This line is obviously so blunt, yet I think the message is extremely powerful. Think about it: leaders lead, and so if you want to be a leader, go out into the world and lead!

The reality is this: things happen. Some of it is within your control and some of it is not. That’s life! But, it’s also essential you learn how to deal and rise above any issues, challenges, and obstacles that may come your way. You must do this because if you want to be a leader you must be able to lead your team through hardships.

Leadership is born from the experience of overcoming your obstacles. The secret is if you do enough of the right things, obstacles will appear in your rearview mirror. Sadly, people get stuck in the obstacle. Although that’s also normal, make an effort to recognize the obstacle and see the opportunity within your struggle. Therein lies the power!

My amazing wife, Roni, always shares the story of the two marathon runners who cross the finish line, exhausted when they notice a long line of people leading to a table with free bagels. The one runner says, look; there are free bagels! The other runner exclaims, no; look at the long line. One person sees the bagels while the other person sees the long line. One person sees an opportunity while the other person sees an obstacle.

As a leader, your responsibility is to lead others to the opportunity. If you happen to find yourself captured by an obstacle, it’s time to grow, it’s time to step around the obstacle and proceed on a more purpose-driven path. Again, leaders lead, so if you want to be a leader, lead your team around the obstacle in the search for the opportunity. In my opinion you can; in my opinion, you have a responsibility to others to make your best and highest effort to get around any obstacle that’s presented to you. That’s the opportunity! Whatever comes your way this week, this month, this year, knock the challenges out of the way and lead people in the direction of their dreams.

As always, lead.

Jeff Olson, Founder & CEO of Neora, is a dynamic and visionary leader who has served in many executive roles across different business channels and companies. He is also a best-selling author and speaker.

Part 1: 3 Tips to Help You Unleash Your Inner Entrepreneur.

Starting your own business can be a challenge which is why successful entrepreneurs have to have extraordinary belief in their vision, goals, and capabilities. Last month, I shared with you three tips to help get you on track toward unleashing your inner entrepreneur. In case you missed it, here’s a recap of the tips covered in PART I: 3 Tips to Help You Unleash Your Inner Entrepreneur.

First; DECIDING to do something is not good enough, DOING it is key. You must jump despite your fears or, in the words of John Burroughs, “Leap, and the net will appear.” Second, if you want to step up your game, consistently keep pushing forward because consistency always pays off. Third, train your brain to see challenges as opportunities – the right frame of mind can move mountains, which is why it is essential to cultivate an attitude of gratitude.

I strongly encourage you to read the whole article; to do so, click here. But for the moment, let’s move on to our final three tips to help you unleash your inner entrepreneur.

4. Build Up Your New Belief Level

Tips one through three are super important by themselves; however, doing the first three steps consistently over a long period of time is key. The tip here is that consistently committing to the action over the long haul will help you build up a new belief level in yourself – one that you can continue over time.

5. See Yourself Achieving Great Things

It’s safe to assume most people experience the powerful force of burning desire. Even though many people have the desire, they don’t SEE themselves getting the desired result. The individuals who achieve great things are those who not only passionately wanted to achieve it in the first place but also those people who clearly see themselves achieving it. In The Slight Edge, I explain that a burning desire backed by faith means deeply, passionately wanting to get somewhere and knowing – not hoping, not wishing, but knowing that you’re going to get there, i.e., desire and faith go hand in hand.

6. Be Willing to Pay the Price

Anything worth having is worth paying the price for !!! It’s so important to realize that even though you have big dreams, the steps you’re going to take to get there will likely be small. In her monthly #realchats Facebook Live events, Neora Co-Founder and CMO Amber Olson Rourke has talked about doing what matters most. These two principles are basically the same. Prioritize your dreams and step away from those activities and individuals that are unproductive or just not getting you one step closer to your dreams. Focus on your dream, your goal, your top priority and commit to taking action. What’s more, consistently take small steps to get yourself one step closer to your dream. In The Slight Edge, I write, “Remember, there aren’t many millionaires who bowl over 100. Why not? Because they left the bowling league behind to build their fortunes.” That’s the price millionaires are willing to pay for their success. What’s the price you’re willing to pay to reach your dreams?

At the end of the day, reaching your goals can be much less dramatic and not nearly as impossible to achieve as you may think now. Hopefully, these six tips I’ve shared with you over the course of two blogs will be helpful in your journey. But, if you have any additional questions, submit those below – I’d love to hear from you and be part of your journey!

Get Happy

Before I learned about positive psychology and began working with Live Happy Founder, Jeff Olson, to launch the magazine, I admit I didn’t completely grasp how everyday choices in addition to the right foundation can build even greater life satisfaction and fulfillment. I get it now. Finding joy in your everyday journey is an integral part of living a life that’s purpose-filled, healthy and meaningful. Here’s how you can accomplish the same:

Step 1: Celebrate Your Wins

Celebrating a huge accomplishment comes naturally, but don’t forget to acknowledge the small wins as well! It may seem insignificant to others and maybe even to you in the greater scheme of things, but at some point, you’ll look to the past and see your strength in those moments. Sheryl Swoopes writes, “No matter how far life pushes you down, no matter how much you hurt, you can always bounce back.” Make a list of things you’ve already overcome in your life — acknowledge your journey and celebrate all your wins!

Step 2: You Are What You Think

Ask any influential leader and they will surely tell you that your mindset plays a huge part in whether you succeed in your personal and professional journey. Many people believe that our thoughts and hearts are linked. Instead of fearing the “what ifs” in life or doubting your own journey, redirect your focus to the now. You can’t do anything about the past and you can’t see the future. But, you do have control over your decisions, thoughts, and actions in the present day. Focus on your journey and your goals. If you believe that’s easier said than done, here is a great list of books that will encourage you to change the way you think.

Step 3: Slow Down to Go Fast

One of my favorite people on this planet, Jeff Olson, believes in getting the job done right the first time. He believes so much in the philosophy of slowing down to go fast that he even incorporated it into Neora’s core company values. This core value is also fundamental after bouncing back from a setback. Allow yourself time to reflect on circumstances and experiences, grieve if needed, and begin the healing process. The truth is everyone experiences ups and downs in their lives. Take a moment to reflect on past decisions, learn from those moments but then peacefully detach and move on.

Step 4: No Man is an Island

Have you heard the expression by English poet John Donne, “No man is an island.”? When Donne wrote these words in the 17th century—which you’ll find in Devotions Upon Emergent Occasions and Seuerall Steps in my Sicknes—Donne expressed the idea that people need to be part of a community to thrive. He writes, “No man is an island entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main….” Your journey doesn’t have to happen in isolation—in fact, it shouldn’t! You don’t have to be an island. Find a like-minded person who shares your motivation, vision and goals, and include them in your support group! Whether you choose a co-worker, a friend, or a mentor, it’s up to you! On livehappy.com, we share a beautiful article about the bond of sisterhood. Read it, you may be inspired to find your support group in unlikely places.

Find joy in your journey and live a fulfilling life that has purpose and meaning. With one life to live, is there really an alternative?

You’ve probably heard this before: being a leader doesn’t require a title and having a title doesn’t make you a leader. Leaders are different from managers for an obvious reason — true leaders influence others to become better versions of themselves, but that’s easier said than done. In fact, transitioning from the one to the other can be quite a big jump!

Think about it this way: a manager tells people what to do, but a leader inspires people to do better. If you aspire to be a great manager, i.e., an expert planner, organizer, and coordinator, that’s great! All organizations and teams across the world need effective managers, too. If your goal is to motivate and to inspire, though, being an influential leader is likely in your future!

Learn. Grow. Thrive.

Leadership doesn’t imply authority. Leadership implies influence. You should also know that becoming an influential leader doesn’t happen overnight. It’s a process and certainly a learning curve! Luckily, I’ve had several encouraging and authentic mentors over the years that have helped me along this journey, and as I became more passionate about this topic, I have invested time in reading and taking courses to learn all I can. With that said, here are my five tips to help you on your journey to becoming an influential leader.

1. Have a Clear and Compelling Destination

Are your goals keeping you up late at night? Do you set your alarm clock or do your goals wake you in the morning? If your destination is clear and compelling, your goals will drive everything you do. The truth is that leaders who do not clearly define their goals are not likely to be followed. First things first, write down your goals, post them to your dream board, and speak them into existence. Without a compelling destination, your team will find it difficult to see the vision of where you are headed, and not be compelled to follow you there.

2. Communicate the WHY and not Just the WHAT

Here’s an important difference between managers and leaders. Managers tell people what to do. Leaders inspire people to do better. If you communicate the WHY it will invoke more creativity and problem-solving in those around you, then simply telling them WHAT to do. The WHAT is the work. The WHY is the vision, inspiration, and reason behind what you need to accomplish. Your job as the leader is to help your team understand the philosophy behind the end goal. Empower your team to do the WHY and the WHAT will follow!

3. Focus on the Few

High productivity means leveraging your time by ONLY doing the MOST important things. If you’re like me, I’m sure you’re being pulled in different directions all day long. That’s why it’s essential you become discerning about how to spend your time —you can apply this tip to your personal and professional life!

What’s more, did you know that 80% of results are based on only 20% of the activity? For this reason, focus on developing the two to three activities that would drive the most results. Yes, that means letting go of the rest, but be OK with that! Be laser-focused on your top priorities and hone the skills necessary for profound impact. Once you’ve evaluated how you’re spending your time relating to those two to three activities, you’ll have a better understanding of how to adjust your priorities to get to your goal.

4. Empower but Don’t Enable

As a leader, people will bring you their problems. Oftentimes, your instinct is to rescue them… but if you do you’re doing them a disservice. Why? Even though your intentions are good, by rescuing others you’re creating an army of problem gatherers instead of an army of problem solvers! As a leader, you must encourage problem-solving and not problem gathering. Once your team can exist and function without coming to you every time they’re faced with a challenge, you know you’re doing a great job! This is also imperative to growing to the next level of being an influential leader when you can surround yourself with a team of people that can solve problems. Remember: Leaders don’t create followers, they create other leaders!

5. Model the Behavior We Want Others to Emulate

I love this idea: It’s super easy to pick up on a disconnect between what people say and what people do. The truth is people watch what you do and do what you do! That’s why it’s so important to model the right behavior from having the right attitude and posture to how you interact with others. Those are the lenses people see you through. Keep in mind, modeling leadership behavior also means extreme accountability. At all costs, no matter what, you must be accountable and never shift the blame but always have grace and stay calm under pressure.

For more information on this topic, be sure to watch the replay of this month’s #realchats. You can find the video pinned to the top of my Facebook page @AOlsonRouke. Comment below with your thoughts on this topic or suggestions for our next #realchats topic.

Do the Thing…

Neora has been blessed. In our short time of operating, we’ve reached unprecedented success and I believe the best is yet to come! We launched Neora around three words: Make People Better. As an industry leader in age-fighting solutions, we want you to look better, feel better, and live better. That’s why Neora is motivated to develop innovative age-defying skincare and wellness solutions. We are also laser-focused on bringing you entrepreneurial opportunities to help you live your dream life.

And You Shall Have the Power

Let’s jump right in! The life of an entrepreneur can be extremely rewarding. In past years, I’ve spoken to many people with the intelligence and ability to make it work as an entrepreneur, but fear and doubt get in the way, so they don’t even try! Here’s what I like to say to these folks: “Entrepreneurship is living a few years of your life like most people won’t so that you can spend the rest of your life like most people can’t.” I’m not sure who the author is but the message spot on. With the right philosophy, you can do anything. Remember, it’s never too late to start but it’s always too late to wait !!!

A Frog on a Lily Pad

Here’s the best advice I can give you: be the frog who not only decides to jump off the lily pad but actually jumps. If you haven’t read The Slight Edge, here’s what I mean: DECIDING to do something doesn’t mean anything. Actually DOING IT is the key! With that said, here are three tips (and there’ll be more tips in my next blog) to help you prepare to unleash your inner entrepreneur.

1. Jump
   I’m positive every person in the world has some kind of dream — whether it is about your career or the person you want to marry. Every person wants something. Everyone has a dream but not everyone has vision. The difference is talking about everything you want to accomplish will not advance you to where you want to go. DOING it, like I said before, is key. Commit to action and you’ve already won half the battle. Don’t be the frog on the lily pad who just decides to jump. Take action and do it. Remember, your ultimate goal may remain the same from year to year but it’s only normal to constantly revise your plan and the path that will get you there.
2. Step Up Your Game
   Taking the step that commits you to action is only one half of the challenge. The other half is consistency. Keep your eyes on the prize and every day, no matter what, keep at it. Most people give up before they even really get started which means more than half of your competition is eliminated. Keeping pushing forward. Consistency pays off.
3. See the Glass As At Least Half Full
   Research shows that people who consistently practice seeing challenges as opportunities rather than problems, people who focus on the best in a situation instead of the worst, people who choose to have a positive outlook instead of a negative one, are happier, more creative, earn more money, have more friends, and even have better immune systems. There’s tons of research on this topic. Did you know you can actually train your brain to think more positive? If you have the right mindset and can think positive even when the situation looks dire, you can embrace the challenge, and look for the opportunity instead of focusing on the worst. An attitude of gratitude is one of the most consistently present traits in happier people.

I really want you to think about these three tips for the next few weeks. Let’s hold each other accountable. In the comment section, write down: (1) which action you are committing to; (2) your plan for consistently DOING the thing; and (3) the end goal you’re working toward.

On May 8th, I’ll share with you the remaining tips to help you unleash your inner entrepreneur. Let’s start this journey together!

If I Can Do It…

It’s no secret that I struggled with self-doubt when I started my career. In fact, I’ve written about it before. The truth is, life would have been very different if I had listened to that negative voice in my head. My dreams and goals have always been big, even as a kid, which is why overcoming self-doubt was one of the most important things I could do for my future self. At some point in your life, you may feel that you’re not enough. It’s a crippling feeling. I know. But, after more than a decade as an entrepreneur and businesswoman, I’ve narrowed down six easy-to-follow steps to turn doubt into confidence. Giving up on your dreams or not even trying because of self-doubt and fear is a non-negotiable deal breaker for success. So, let’s get to it!

Step 1: Identify Your Silencers

It’s normal to experience self-doubt but that doesn’t mean it’s OK to let fear define who you are. The truth is that these two emotions can limit your potential. So, first things first, identify the silencer or the nagging voice in your head. It’s essential to identify the unproductive and negative thoughts that make you pause… and not follow through on an idea. Once you pinpoint it, it will be easier to replace the negativity with something more suitable and positive.

Here’s one example from my own life: I’m too young to be taken seriously.

If I had continued to cultivate this mindset, I wouldn’t have made it this far. Instead of taking risks and speaking up, I would have told myself that I’m too young to be taken seriously. Part of becoming a leader others can follow is to push past unproductive and negative thoughts. A fear of failure should never be your reason for not stepping outside of your comfort zone. Remember this quote by Mass Challenge Founder and President Akhil Nigam: “Nothing happens unless you take the initiative to do it.”

Step 2: Replace Silencers with Positive Affirmations

Once you’ve identified your silencers, replace the negative self-talk with positive self-talk. In my case, I replaced “I’m too young to be taken seriously” with “I’m deserving of respect because I’m creative, intelligent, and a hard worker.” Train your brain to replace the negative with the positive.

TIP: Not sure where to start? These 35 affirmations, published in the Huffington Post, will change your life!

Step 3: Embrace the critics

Here’s something I always say: The more successful you are, the more critics you’ll have. If you’re unable to handle criticism or want to avoid criticism at all cost, then I’m sorry to tell you, but achieving success in a big way is not likely for you. Many people are fearful of what others think (it’s normal!), but only you have the power when you make the decision to not give up. One of my favorite quotes goes something like this: “There are no statutes built for critics. Be OK that it’s going to happen and let it not define you.”

Step 4: Put Facts on Paper

I’m not sure people realize how many decisions are made based on emotion instead of fact. When confronted with an issue, write down all the facts, study the facts, and based on these facts alone make your decision. Learn to control your emotions. This way your argument will be based on the hard facts only! Having that certainty is an immediate boost to your self-confidence.

Step 5: Challenge Yourself

Push yourself to do the things you’re scared of. More often than not, you’ll realize that it wasn’t that scary after all. Fear builds upon itself, which is why I live by this rule: if I haven’t done anything that scares me in the past 90 days, I’m not growing. The reality is that great leaders are lifelong learners. They’re always seeking new opportunities to learn from; what’s more, consistently challenging yourself cultivates a culture and mindset of growth and productivity. These are two traits you’ll need to take your life to the next level.

Step 6: Make Your Dreams Bigger than Your Fears

My 2-year-old daughter, Hattie, LOVES her Dr. Seuss books. One of our favorites to read together is Oh, the Places You’ll Go! And, you know, even though it’s a beloved children’s book, I always get stuck on one specific line:

“You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself any direction you choose.”

Think about this: Where do want to go and why do you want to get there? Your dreams should be big. Considering how much energy, work, and courage it takes to get over a fear, you’ll want to make sure your dream is worth it.

These steps have helped me immensely in the past and I can only hope it will work for you. Here’s how we can continue the conversation — if you feel something wasn’t covered in this blog post or the March #realchats Live event (find the replay on Facebook @AOlsonRourke), comment below and I will address it in our monthly #realchats recap recording which will be posted later this month. In the meantime, never forget: “Today is your day. You’re off to great places! You’re off and away!” Believe in yourself.

Learning to Love to Lead

These days, most articles about leadership share one frequently asked question: are leaders born or are they made? Personally, I think that leadership is an action, a habit, and a skill that is developed through persistent practice. Leadership can thus be cultivated. This means YOU can learn to be an effective leader who inspires, motivates, and encourages results.

As a young entrepreneur and executive, I’ve learned several valuable lessons throughout my career. My professional experience has certainly provided a foundation on which to build and grow leadership skills. You see, being a leader doesn’t always come naturally. Like many things in life, I have to work for it! Let’s chat about the five traits you’ll need to not only be a good leader but a great leader. Do these five things and you’ll be one your way to achieving legendary leader status.

1. Massive Belief: CEO and Founder of Neora Jeff Olson always tells us, “know where you’re going and know how you’re going to get there!” Massive belief is essential. Additionally, you must also know how to communicate and convert your vision, especially when faced with criticism and negativity. Effectively communicate your vision to inspire action. That’s how you convert your vision! Influential leaders including Steve Jobs and J.K. Rowling didn’t let others’ inability to see their vision deter their professional missions. Instead they persisted and, as they say, the rest is history!
2. Take Decisive Action: What are you waiting for? Here’s a valuable lesson I’ve learned early on in my career – stop waiting to be asked to lead. Instead, seize the opportunity when you see a need and step up to meet the demand. Take action, be decisive, and accept that you can course correct as you go as long as you keep up the momentum. We’re all human and mistakes happen. The important thing is to keep moving forward and learn from the past – just don’t dwell on it.
3. Practice What You Preach: American military officer, politician, and statesman Lewis Cass (1782 – 1866) said, “people might doubt what you say, but they believe what you do.” As a leader, aligning actions and words are super important. The truth is that you can’t seriously ask or tell others to do something if you’re not willing to do it yourself, right? Again, people might not believe what you say but they always believe what you do. That’s why you must lead by example. When in doubt, ask yourself this: am I willing to do what I ask others to do? If the answer is “yes” you’re one step closer to achieving legendary leader status.
4. Learn to Manage Emotions: One of your most important tasks as an effective leader is to redirect focus back to the bigger picture! What do I mean? Losing your cool isn’t very productive. After all, leaders act on logic and not on emotion. My suggestion to you is to have a system in place for managing your own emotions. That could mean meditation for 15-20 minutes a day, doing yoga, going for a run, or writing in a journal – it’s entirely up to you. Managing the emotions of your team can be equally challenging. When you’re dealing with that one person on your team that keeps bringing negativity or emotion into every situation, it’s your job as a leader to redirect his or her focus back to what you’re trying to accomplish as a team. You’ll never be able to make everyone happy. So, run with your runners (those who believe in your vision) and the rest will either keep up or move on!
5. Drive continuous Improvement: Make development key. This means never stop learning and growing! Leadership is not a one-time deal. It’s a skill that must be developed and adjusted depending on your situation or who you are dealing with. Providing honest feedback is the most productive thing you can do for employees and a great opportunity to learn from mistakes, celebrate accomplishments, and cultivate those characteristics that will help you and your team succeed in life.

From my experience, I can honestly say that performing these five actions will help you become a better leader – one that leads with both love and decisiveness. Now it’s your turn! What unique quality as a potential future legendary leader can you bring to the table? Share your thoughts!

Follow me on social media: @AOlsonRourke

I believe that one of the reasons why Neora is so immensely successful is because when it comes to business, we’re all on the same page! We make plans, we dream big, and we set goals and act on them daily.

Start the Year Big

Do you ever think about the number of lives we’ve changed collectively? In one of her #realchats articles, Neora Co-Founder and Chief Marketing Officer Amber Olson Rourke wrote, “We’ve never wanted to be just a skin care or wellness company. Our goal has been to create an opportunity available to people from all walks of life.” I think about her words all the time. She said, “…the key to living your dream life is taking those daily steps to get to your goal.”

The truth is, as individuals, we can’t accomplish what we can as a team. For this reason, I must thank each one of you for joining the Neora family. Because of YOU, we’re not only a team but we’re a winning team. If ever you’re in doubt about what we accomplish as a company, never forget, we’re bigger than the product and we’re bigger than the financial opportunity. Because we ARE in the business of Making People Better.

Goal Setting Matters

My advice for the new year is to set your goals — right off the bat. Goals are the gateway to living your dreams. Why wait? These six principles are essential for successful goal setting:

1. Write It Down: Whether your goal is to lose 25 pounds or make $100,000 a year — by writing down your goals you’re saying “no” to unnecessary distractions and “yes” to focusing on what matters most. Setting clear, measurable goals will help you see your way forward. Writing down your goals and posting them where you can see them every day becomes motivation for you to reach the end.
2. Be Specific: Just writing down, “I want to lose weight,” is not specific enough — but committing to losing 10 pounds over 30 days gives you a clear and realistic objective to work toward. Clear objectives will also make it easier to see pitfalls in your plan and will help you recognize the right choices from the wrong ones. If my goal is to lose 25 pounds in three months, eating a donut a day may not be the best route to being successful.
3. Set a Deadline: If you have an open-ended goal, you’re less likely to stay focused. I suggest setting a realistic deadline — one that is challenging but not so difficult that you lose hope or give up. You should be excited and motivated to reach your milestone, not discouraged because it’s not attainable.
4. Identify your Plan: I can’t stress the importance of this point enough: the plan you start with is not the plan that will get you to your end goal. The plan only gets you started. But, ultimately, it’s your responsibility to adapt and adjust your actions to guarantee the most successful outcome.
5. Pay the Price: I’m not going to lie to you — there’s always a price to pay. Think about it this way: If you want to go back to school and work full time, you’ll have to make sacrifices. Perhaps you give up your favorite TV shows or your weekly happy hour with friends. Instead of thinking about what you have to sacrifice now, focus on how making the hard choices now will benefit you in the future! The price you pay goes hand in hand with how you prioritize your to-do list. In fact; it’s all about priorities — an hour of TV versus an hour of studying. If you want that A, you may want to study an extra hour and sacrifice an episode of your favorite TV program. That’s the price you’ll have to pay. That’s how you reach your goals!
6. Say It: Do you know what some of the world’s most successful people have in common? They repeat their goals to themselves at least twice a day — out loud. The reason for this is that by saying your goals out loud, you’re training your brain to focus and recognize what’s positive instead of immediately jumping to reasons why you might fail.

Here’s the thing: most people set New Year’s resolutions and then forget about them within a couple of weeks. By setting your goals in writing and speaking them out loud, you’re sure to be motivated to act on them. If you’re worried about staying on track, proclaim your goals to loved ones. There’s nothing better than having a cheer squad! A true support system will always help you stay on track.Winning is a team sport, and I can’t wait to see you at the finish line!

One of the greatest style icons of all time, Coco Chanel, said that nature gives you the face you have at 20 but it’s ultimately up to you to merit the face you have at 50. The way I’ve always interpreted this quote is to mean that we don’t have much control about the natural aging process, but, we do have control over our everyday expressions and emotions that will eventually be etched into your skin — call it laugh lines, wrinkles, or crow’s feet. Knowing the inevitable, why not do our best to ensure that our faces and our health reflect the life experiences that have brought us happiness, laughter, joy, and optimism instead of the alternative?

Living a happy life

If you’re familiar with Live Happy magazine, you’ve likely heard us mention before how happiness empowers people to make a positive difference in their lives and in the lives of others. The ideology behind our magazine is that happier people are healthier, more satisfied with life, and more satisfied in their relationships. Not to mention, they live longer. This idea is not something we take lightly and we’re not the only ones on board with this philosophy! In fact, positive psychology research increasingly shows that much of our well-being is within our control and that our daily choices have proven effects on our physical as well as mental health. What’s more, we can say that people aren’t happier because they’re successful but rather people are successful because they’re happy. In fact, the odds for accomplishing your dreams improve significantly when you’re happy. That’s what Live Happy is all about. We’re not talking about a temporary rush of pleasure when you’re skydiving for the first time or eating a decadent piece of cake. No, happiness encompasses the entire human existence and your ability to thrive — it’s what keeps us young and healthy at heart!

Science-Based Tips

In a wonderful article written by Paula Felps for the February 2018 issue of Live Happy, Felps notes that people’s thoughts and behavior play a bigger role in well-being than realized before. “Science has found that happiness, not genetics, is one of the greatest predictors of longevity,” according to Felps’ article, which details research from experts in both medical and social science.

One of the things I love about this article – and there are many — is the list of six factors, supported by science, that can help you live a longer and more fulfilled life. These factors may surprise you and I encourage each one of you to look at these suggestions including the importance of belonging to organizations, volunteering, and replacing negative thoughts with things like breathing techniques to help calm your mind. For the full article, click here.

You see, current and emerging research reveal that happiness, or a lack thereof, directly impacts almost every aspect of our lives. Furthermore, when we are happy, we are better able and more inclined to improve the lives of others, our communities, and the world.

Your Personal Journey of Happiness

Live Happy is here to help make your world a happier place because the positivity that stems from happiness turns into a roadmap to a long and fruitful life. That’s right, happiness is one of the greatest predictors of longevity! Simple daily lifestyle choices and habits, such as maintaining positive relationships or getting better sleep, can not only improve you’re mental health but also change how your body responds to aging. A long time ago, Plato said, “He who is of a calm and happy nature will hardly feel the pressure of age, but to him who is of an opposite disposition, youth and age are equally a burden.”

So, let’s take Plato’s advice and be calm and happy in nature. This year, replace your frown lines with laugh lines and may you have the best year yet!

I would love to hear from you. Do you agree that happiness is the key to longevity? Share your comments below.