The Key To Long-Term Success

To be successful, many people believe that they must be perfect. Not only is this assumption false, it is impossible to be perfect. Mistakes happen and the sooner we recognize this, the sooner we can focus on the true key to success over the long-term: being teachable. In the words of Dani Johnson Secret Millionaire star and entrepreneur extraordinaire, “perfection can only come through correction.” To advance in a career or entrepreneurial venture, we must make correction a part of our lives.

When we expect ourselves to be perfect, we actually make more mistakes. The pressure to achieve perfection stresses us out, negatively affecting our creativity and efficiency. Most bosses do not expect their staff to be perfect. They simply expect workers to do their best every time. Good bosses pull out the best aspects of each person in their charge. They create teams of people who complement each other’s weaknesses.

When a boss or co-worker points out our mistakes, we should be thankful not defensive. Our refusal to acknowledge our faults is insubordinate behavior that is downright dishonorable. Someone who rebels in this way is not teachable. Each of us needs correction because it helps us learn and grow. Correction helps us advance in our careers and businesses so we should welcome it. Without correction, we will never achieve the success we desire.

Correction relieves the pressure to be perfect. To receive it, we must be teachable. Only people who are teachable learn from the mistakes they make. Those who are not will continue to make the same mistakes. Being teachable requires putting aside the ego and having a willingness to learn from our co-workers, bosses, and others who help us adapt, adjust, or change. We need these folks because they help us get to the next level in life. We should welcome their input, not shun them when they point out our errors.

Some people struggle through life because they believe they make too many mistakes. The pressure of perfection can become overwhelming. We can relieve them of this burden and provide the encouragement they need to succeed. By helping others to become teachable, we help ourselves. Not only will this change their lives for the better, it will also affect ours in a positive way. Whether at home or work, our teams will become more cohesive and productive.

We cannot make others change their outlook or way of conducting themselves. However, we can model what it means to be teachable and hope that they receive the message. The sooner people relieve themselves of the pressure to be perfect, the better off they and those around them will be. Each person will help the other to succeed, not hold each other back.

This may seem like an intangible change but the results can be measured. When people relieve themselves of a perfection mentality and become teachable, they rise to the top. This shows in the quality and quantity of their work. They become more efficient, productive, and achieve their goals. Everyone should want to be in this position.

Being Busy Does Not Equate to Accomplishing Anything

Most of us are so busy that each day seems to blend into the next. Some people make themselves busy just so they appear to be doing something. However, being busy is not the same thing as accomplishing anything. Though society seems to glorify the busy aspect of life, most people are simply running in circles. They quickly move from one task to the next, jumping around without moving forward. It is time to break out of this tiring and frustrating cycle that seems to be endless.

We are busy at work and school and this does not end when we get home because we become occupied with transporting children between activities, doing housework, and preparing dinner. Many things pull us in different directions all day long and our constant attempt to keep up leaves us stressed and feeling like we are always running. As life moves faster, we increase our pace to keep up. Getting ahead seems like a dream that will never happen.

Stop right now and realize one thing: results, not time spent, provide the rewards. Results increase our value and at work, this usually leads to a promotion, a pay increase, or both. Someone who is too busy usually does not get anything done. Time, money, and energy are wasted because efforts do not produce results. Being busy is much different than being productive because the first creates excuses while the second creates results. Which would you rather do?

If is very easy to slip into the habit of over-complicating our lives and creating more things for ourselves to do. Take time to identify and remove items from the to-do list that are not productive. If something will not benefit your career, family, health, or yourself, remove it. Streamline daily processes and simplify life in order to focus on tasks that are productive. No one can create six figure income from tasks that are distracting and do not have results.

Most people are always doing something but those tasks do not usually produce consistent results. These folks may even drag others into their constant busy state, causing their co-workers, spouses, and children to become just as tired and stressed as they are. This is no way to live and over time, it can take both physical and mental tolls.

Rather than going about the day in a mindless fashion, pay attention to each task and determine whether it has results. These outcomes identify where focus should be placed. This approach can enhance all aspects of life, allowing us to have more fun, reduce our stress, improve our health, and accomplish our goals. It even allows us to serve as role models for others.

Stop being busy and begin taking control of every moment of the day. By focusing on productive tasks, anyone can accomplish goals that have been pushed aside due to being “too busy.” Rather than glorifying busy behavior, focus on producing results. Life will become less of a struggle and begin to fall into place.

Dani Johnson In Forbes…Part Two

Self-made millionaire Dani Johnson has been featured in many magazines and Forbes is one of the most notable. Within a 24-hour period, the February 13, 2013, Forbes article about Dani received 12,000 Facebook shares and 1,200 Tweets. Leaders at Forbes were so impressed that they decided to publish another article taking an even deeper look at the life of this amazing entrepreneur and philanthropist.

The May 7 article, entitled “One Woman’s Triumph Over Homelessness: How Dani Johnson Beat The Odds And Made Millions,” picks up two weeks after part one ended. It is January 1991 and Dani has just gone from being homeless to living in her own apartment. She fears that the positive turn her life recently took will not last. She reflects upon how she got to this point: making cold calls, asking the right questions, and securing in-home appointments selling a weight loss program.

This initial experience provided a training ground for Dani to perfect her communication skills. One strategy is something she still follows today. She never brings herself into the conversation, instead focusing on her clients and their needs. Dani achieved success by listening to what clients had to say and committing to helping them solve their problems. People agreed to purchase the program without ever seeing it or even viewing a brochure that explained it in writing.

Dani followed up with her new customers to develop professional relationships. She ran additional advertisements to gather new prospects. She thrived on the positive reviews as people began losing weight. But, the negative voice still plagued her. Dani soon realized that listening to the problems of others motivated her and served as an escape. By staying focused and sticking to her mission to leave homelessness behind forever, Dani increased her cash flow and was able to spend more on marketing.

By March of 1991, Dani had saved enough money to open a weight loss center. She hired other people, taught them the sales script, and shadowed them for several days to provide suggestions. One center quickly led to more and Dani decided to begin manufacturing her own weight loss product. Then, the bottom fell out. Several staffers left and took clients and her bookkeeper embezzled money and emptied the corporate bank accounts.

Dani shifted her focus to rebuilding the company in order to sell it. This required going back to the beginning and refocusing on clients. Success followed as it had before and Dani sold the company, negotiating royalties on future product sales. The business is still successful and the royalties have grown to millions. This allowed Dani to develop a multimillion-dollar empire of her own that includes five companies.

In this article, Dani reveals that she still questions whether it is all really happening. To build upon her already impressive success, she remains focused on helping others. Dani and the staff of her first company are proof that a Dani Johnson script book can open the door to unimagined success. If you are ready to take the next step in your career, get one. 

Dani Johnson Participates In Exploit Book Fair

Miami, Florida, hosted the Exploit Book Fair last week and lifestyle expert and coach Dani Johnson was there. Thousands of people attend this annual Spanish-speaking event that highlights products available in Spanish. Dani was on hand to provide a live interview and answer questions about her successful book, Spirit Driven Success. She remained onsite throughout the day and autographed copies of her pictures and books for the many fans who turned out to see her.

Exploit is the largest Hispanic Christian ministry convention in the United States. This week-long event attracts authors, artists, ministries, speakers, and musicians and the program is packed with Christian seminars, workshops, and concerts. With more than 350 booths on the exhibit floor, attendees receive exposure to an assortment of products honoring Christianity. Dani was in good company and many people attended just to spend time with this amazing entrepreneur.

Dani may not speak Spanish fluently but her message is one that translates well in any language. Helping people to improve their lives is her mission. Whether someone wants to create wealth while serving others or identify the best home based business for individuals of faith, Dani can help. She is a believer and this guides many of the decisions she makes. Anyone who encounters this self-made millionaire cannot help but become inspired by her. The spirit works through Dani to help others get out of debt and achieve personal and professional success.

This event could not come at a better time. Life is complicated and lately, seems to be fraught with social tragedies. People are looking for signs of good in others and they want reasons to keep believing. Dani and the other Christian presenters at Exploit 2013 gave attendees something to hold onto as the nation recovers from events including the Boston Marathon bombing. Attendees left with a renewed sense of purpose that their efforts are not pointless.

Serving others is an important part of being a responsible Christian. Spirit Driven Success features time-tested secrets from the Bible that illustrate how to personally benefit while serving others. It includes the trademarked 10 Step Wealth Formula designed to create personal prosperity. Readers also learn how to eliminate fear from their relationships, careers, and financial lifestyles. Dani even provides a glimpse of what life is like when we free ourselves from self-sabotage and stress.

Dani knows the importance of spirituality because her faith is responsible for her success. It helped her go from a youth of welfare, teen pregnancy, and homelessness to becoming a millionaire. After experiencing success, Dani became passionate about helping others to succeed and her faith is at the heart of what she advocates.

Anyone who did not attend Exploit this year should create a reminder to register for the 2014 event. Spirit Driven Success is available through Dani’s website and offers a simple way to begin a balanced lifestyle based on faith. Look for Dani at other spiritual events in the future and in the meantime, follow her tips for letting faith into your life.

Dani Johnson Talks Commitment

Self-made millionaire, lifestyle coach, entrepreneur, and philanthropist Dani Johnson may seem like the poster child for commitment. However, there was a time when these goals seemed unachievable to her. She lost her way several times, letting lack of self-esteem and misplaced priorities overshadow her commitment to make something of herself. Fortunately, her determination remained beneath the surface and she brought it forth to become the powerhouse she is today.

Dani recently posted an article about commitment on her website. She began by stating that all types of success require commitment. Whether we want to get out of debt, improve our earnings, enhance our personal lives, or give back to those in need we must be committed. No commitment, no success…it’s that simple. Lack of commitment is something we cannot hide because it shows in everything we say and do.

Many people enter a new venture with a high level of commitment. As soon as they hit a roadblock, they quit. Others have a desire to do something impressive but they never take action. Saying you want to do something is one thing but taking action and sticking with it to the end requires commitment. Most people can think of at least one area where their lack of commitment caused them to fall short of achieving their goals.

Dani provides a quick test to determine commitment. She tells us to ask ourselves whether we complain. The act of complaining reveals that we are not fully committed. If we are not “all in,” as Dani puts it, others take notice. People who are not fully committed to achieving career success jeopardize their income potential because customers and prospects may not want to do business with them. The last thing a customer wants is to be left in the cold when times get tough.

People who are not committed to their marriages typically complain about their spouses. This is the first step in the wrong direction. Parents who are not committed about being the best they can be typically complain. Marriage and parenting require commitment and success should be the only option. Challenging times will arise but spouses and parents must find ways to deal with these and emerge successful.

Lack of commitment indicates lack of ownership and lack of ownership never results in success. Complainers continue to complain until they convince themselves to quit. To break out of this cycle, Dani tells us to stop complaining and start looking for solutions, which are everywhere. These may cost time and money but this investment is what makes a solution so valuable. When we make an investment to learn new skills necessary to implement solutions that will bring success, we become committed.

By eliminating all the complaining and focusing on solutions we will realize success in all aspects of our lives. With our eyes on the prize, there is no time to see the negative. When we commit to something, we transform ourselves from amateurs to professionals and attract others in the process. Are YOU ready to go all in?