Success Initiatives Blog

     Two simple words that can change the course of our relationships with others. Not just those close and personal relationships, but every interaction we have with random strangers too. All people deserve our kindness, not because it makes us better but because it might be just what they need to get through their day or even make them better.      One of the biggest concerns is that we are raising a culture that thinks of kindness as a weakness, when it couldn't be further from the truth. All great things begin with a positive intent . We should encourage a kind heart and love for others.      Our purpose should be to serve as role model for others, especially the younger generations that might not have the opportunity to experience kindness as frequently as they should. Whether young or old, everyone can be made different by an act of kindness. Sometimes it's a gift, a card, a helpful hand, a word, or even just smile that sa...

Oh how easy it is to respond in anger, how easy it is to be rude. We want to be right at any cost, but are we really willing to pay that cost. Perhaps none of the above actually has a payoff, but instead leads us into isolation and loneliness. "Where did everyone go?" or "Where are all my friends?" Perhaps being right is not the answer.  We can choose to be kind, to speak from a place of kindness and communicate to be heard instead of being right. Kindness is a sign of strength, a place of control over ourselves. Kindness shows that we are a person of character, of virtue, of value. We respect all humankind. We don't concern ourselves with being right, but with coming from a place of kindness and respect.  So where are all my friends? Well, they are around me. They are in my life, because they are treated with kindness and respect. They are valued for making my life better and for being there in a pinch. Have some left, the answer is yes. They were no lo...

We all have days that will challenge our flow, as well as days we will celebrate wins. But challenge or win, without a support team to share it with, it won't be the same experience. The world needs to know what you're experiencing, as sharing  that experience is what allows us to "feel" the experience.  A life coach serves as a sounding board and support during challenge or triumph. We are here to build up motivation to tackle goals as well as a place to reflect on current circumstances that need a push in a positive direction. Think of a life coach as your personal consultant for life change and goal accomplishments. So whether it's a challenge or a win, you need to share it in order to fully experience its lesson or reward. Consider your own personal life coach, we are here to serve.  Jorge Success-Initiatives.com

There is power in numbers. Teamwork makes the Dream work. No matter how you heard it, there is truth to these statements. Find a Mastermind group and find one fast. When working on a goal or dream, nothing will speed up accomplishment like a Mastermind group. A mastermind group is a group of individuals that come together to share their goals and dreams and help each other achieve them. This is done through support, accountability, guidance, sharing knowledge, experiences and reflections. Think of it as your support group for accomplishing your goals. Just Google mastermind groups in your local area and find one that suits your needs, and if there isn't one near you then this would be a great opportunity to start one. Whether it's 2-3 people or 20-30, just sharing your goals and getting the support from others will dramatically speed up the process. Interested? Keep reading. See what Forbes had to say about joining a mastermind group or feel free to ask me about joini...

In 1,825 days we will closely be approaching the year 2020. Another decade will have passed and hopefully we can say that it's been the best years so far. What will you be proud of approaching the year 2020? What opportunities might have been missed? There are 1,825 days in every 5 year period and I hope there is a plan for the next 5 years. In 5 short years you can RE-INVENT yourself, RE-CREATE yourself, even RE-PURPOSE yourself. The person you are today is not the person you will be in 5 years. You will either be a better version or a where did the time go version.  Your 5 year plans and goals matter and they matter today. The person you will be in 5 years depends on the goals and actions you take today. Start the process of writing down your goals and dreams for 2020. Imagine what your life will look look like in 5 years, what will it feel like, who will you be? review your goals daily and keep them on your mind at all times. The opportunity to reinvent yourself is within...

Run for life.......... This morning as I ran and thought about how running mirrors life, I couldn't help but smile from the inspiring lesson I was taking in. My run usually begins as a slow trot just trying to get moving, then progresses into a smooth cruising pace, encountering a few challenging hills along the way, with a few moments feeling like an Olympic athlete, then finally a look back at my accomplishment and a great feeling of endorphin filled success. Life seems to mimic this process, but we must feel and listen to life as we do our body during a run. The slow trot is needed, much like learning to walk, read, and learning about what it is we want to become someday. Those years mold us, shape us and prepare us for the progress we will experience during the cruising years. We must stay aware and know that this is the time to learn and make things happen. Yes we will encounter some uphill battles and surprise challenges along the way, but those moments build us into our be...

Do you choose for yourself or do you choose for others. Unless we are shopping for a gift, it would probably be better to choose for yourself. We are often given the message that we should think of others first. Think of the name passenger tires, as if they are being used with the passenger in mind. A better name would be driver tires. It's the driver that is actually utilizing the handling, safety, and comfort features. The passenger is only experiencing the result of the driver's choice. The truth is that choosing for others, often leaves us feeling disssatisfaction.  Making choices that are satisfying your needs and increasing your capacity in life actually allows others to experience a better you. It's the you that beems with energy, radiates happiness, and is attractive to others.  Allow yourself to make decisions that are going to make you the best version of yourself. The one that cares about yourself so much, that your best is a daily habit. That is the version of y...

Everyone deserves a shot in the arm once in a while.  Not literally, but figuratively.  The shot of acknowledgment, praise, positive feedback, kindness, and a simple thank you for all they do. Make it a point to give someone some of your time to acknowledge how they make your life better.  Let them know how much you enjoy how they contribute to your life.  Nothing will motivate someone to try harder and give even more than these acknowledgements.  Think of the last time someone said what an amazing parent you are, co-worker, spouse, or friend. What feeling came from it? Did you feel empowered and excited about life? Here's a secret, it feels better to give it. The next time someone touches your life in a positive way, make sure to let them know. Give them the praise they deserve for touching your life and making you a happier person.  The words are worth more than gold!!! Jorge Success-initiative.com

Kids always remind us that challenges are to be conquered not feared. A recent trip to the park resulted in a myriad of successes observed in one place. It seems the playground, with its massive slides, climbing structure, and spinning apparatus is the ultimate place to experience success. Kids take on each challenge with the expectation of conquering each one, not the fear of failure or disappointment. Perseverance is a must, not just a thought.  It's amazing to watch these little guys succeed at their level, and we can learn a lot about how to handle are own grown up challenges.  Take these tips from the kids. Persevere, do not fear. Conquer at all costs, and by all means have fun doing it. Jorge Success-initiatives.com

Working in a helping environment is one of the greatest joys of my life.  It took a few years of my own personal coaching experience to figure out my path, but I am glad I went through my own design coaching and am forever grateful to my mentors and coaches.  I have arrived at what I feel is my purpose and contribution as design coach to others, and I'm enjoying more than ever adding value to others by helping them design their best life. In any career field you have chosen, you will be performing the work of adding value to others.  It is important to learn the skill of valuing others in order to be successful. You see, it's loving our job that matters, not doing our job.  If you are really about loving your job, honing your craft, and being a peak performer, it will come not by working harder, but by adding value to others.  It is that contribution to bettering others that will bring happiness and joy to the career you have chosen. Choose to value othe...

As I experience and am energized by the small things in life, I decided I would share the positive energy as a Mini Surge here on my blog. Surge #1 is definitely inspired by the ability to run or walk while traveling.  As I took to a brisk 3 mile run I couldn't help but notice that taking in new surroundings is amazing.  We've all heard, "try something new." Try a short run or walk and take in the trees, trails, buildings, homes, businesses, colors, smells. Whatever inspires and energizes you, the amazing part is you don't even realize pains, aches or complaints. You will thank yourself for getting out there and experiencing the small things!! Jorge Success-initiatives.com

Do you ever look at someone and say, "what is wrong with that person, that is absolutely ridiculous."  We've all been there, the meeting, the party, the conference.  That moment when something in you responds to another person in judgement and disbelief at the lack of ability to act accordingly.  Unfortunately, accordingly is based on the script we have been programmed to assess whether something is wrong or right for us.  The curious part of all this is that what may cause us stress and grief, might make another beam with glee. Passing judgement on a person for their behavior creates a low energy field that feeds our cells with negative feelings.  These feelings are what we describe as stress, and stress is what leads to dis-ease. Curiosity on the other hand may not only save you from dis-ease, but actually inspire a happier view of life. You see, your mind is happiest when it is trying to make sense of life.  That curiosity creates a high energy field t...

A challenge to all readers!!  Take a real look at yourself.  Who you are, how you got there, and most importantly, where you are.  You'll probably be amazed at your success. We have all been through many experiences in life that have shaped us and molded us into our current version.  Through all your triumphs and learning experiences, you are still here and you are a better version than without those experiences.  There are no failures, just those experiences that teach us and guide us to change our direction.  Remember, there is no failure . I took this challenge myself recently and was amazed at how much better I felt afterwards.  Who am I?  The son of mexican immigrants that came to the US early in their lives with nothing and modestly raised two children with many statistics stacked against them.  How did I get here? I suppose it was the drive to explore a big world and find my place in it. The same drive my parents had when they blin...

Your connections are your connections, to the world!! The people that you surround yourself with really do connect you to the world.  People are either making you better or making you less than you are.  The people that you choose to be around are boosting your mood, or robbing your energy.  They are increasing your knowledge, or dropping your IQ by association.  They are causing you misery, or giving you bliss.  You choose.    Choosing to be around positive people has been shown to boost your mood.  Simply sitting with, or conversing with positive people has the ability to elevate anyone out of the depths of most negative funks. A deep conversation with someone about positive topics can make you smarter.  Positive people just want to communicate in an educated and fun manner.  And Happiness?  Well, positive people look for and surround themselves with other happy people.  Just watch Shawn Achor describe how "happiness a...

I've spent some time the last few weeks thinking about the word failure.  It's such a common word, and lately even a social media trend, #epicfail.  Terrible. I have benefited greatly by practicing and teaching the replacement of negative words with positive words.  As I pondered the word failure, I realized it did not really need a replacement word.  I realized it wasn't even much of a word.  The more I reflected on previous "failures", I really was left thinking about the experience and education I had gained from events previously labeled as failures.  We really have experiences of learning with opportunities to better ourselves. We have all been made better through the education and experience gained after moments that did not turn out as expected.  After reflecting on these moments, we reassess our expectations, readjust our steps, and eventually end up with a successful outcome.  Eliminating that so called "...

Remember the picture of the woman in your Intro to Psych class?  Which was then followed by the question, "Do you see the young beautiful woman or the frail old lady?" Depending on how we see life or our mental attitude, the outcome usually varies from person to person.  The same goes for the question, "What are you settling for?" Depending on your thoughts, you either came up with a long list of things that are not right in your life or have been really bothering you. (Negative).  On the other hand, some of you might have immediately read the question and answered, "You're right, what am I settling for!!"  (Positive).  This attitude about life immediately springs you into thinking, action, and coming up with a whole different list.  A list of things that you have been putting off or still dream of doing. Why is this list different?  Because it inspires you into personal action.  Action in the direction of the things that get you excited a...

Geniuses, Gurus, know-it-alls!!! Call them what you want, but there is a small group of people that influence your thoughts and actions on a daily basis.  The group is usually comprised of those people that you are around most often.  As Jim Rohn said, "You are the average of the 5 people you spend the most time with".  So who are your 5 people?  If you are not sure, they are still there.  You just don't have them available in a way that helps your life. If you know who they are, it's time to take inventory of the influence they have over your life.  If these are the people that influence you to be your best, then congratulations!!! You have a Mastermind Group.  A group that you can count on to be there for you and are honest with you about your life. I am fortunate to have found this grou,p at the best time in my life.  Since having a mastermind group I have grown personally, and my purpose to serve others has ...

Shh!!! Listen it's the sound of silence. Silence can be the perfect way to actually hear what is really going on in your mind. On a daily basis, we are bombarded with noise. The noise can be the sounds of daily life, but also the sounds of our negative thoughts. "I'm so tired, I'm so out of shape, if I could just make more money, if I could just change jobs, if my relationship were just better". This daily noise in our lives can leave us feeling down and at worst, defeated. So please, Shh!!!! Shh!!! for just a moment. Slow down, get quiet and take time for yourself. In this quiet moment, let go of all the expectations and know that you are enough. You are enough as you are, and with what you have been given. Be grateful for those things that are going well, and that make you who you are. In the quietness, instead use the SHH!!!- Serve, Help, and Heal. By finding ways in which you can serve others, you will feel uplifted and rewarded for who you ...

As the month of November is coming to a close, there has been much conversation on giving thanks for what we have. As I went through the Thanksgiving holiday and was thankful for many things, I couldn't help but think about a lesson I taught to a group of kindergarten students. The lesson not only was about giving thanks, but giving thanks for the simple things. I read a book to them called Thanks Gracias , by author Pat Mora. It was really great to think about those little things in life that we take for granted. Simple things, like breathing clean air, great weather, and the people around us. I began to make a conscious effort to think about the simple things and start evaluating the possessions that I have. I really began to appreciate the simple things much more than possessions. With my new found attitude, I will approach the holidays in a whole new way. In lieu of gifts, I will be asking the people around me to make a donation to some of my favorite charities. I not...