Overcome your need to be better than anyone else...
The human ego can be one of the most self-destructive mechanisms of a person’s character and abilities. The ego is the part of us that wants to be in control. It separates us from our surroundings and is the force that gets in our way of experiencing a meaningful, successful life. The ego referred to above can also be called the “negative or inflated ego.

​When your ego is overwhelming you, you will do things and say words you will regret, and hurt the people around you. This negative ego can make people loose respect for you and will stand in your way to true happiness and success. Your ego can be both good and bad, so what matters most is how we handle it. See it as a tool that can be used to your advantage, but make sure it does not go out of control, as then it will turn toxic.
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Signs that you might be driven by negative ego:

• You are concerned about the opinion of others.
• You do not want to ask others for help.
• Comparing yourself to others.
• You are in permanent competition with the people around you.
• You are not content with what you have and feel the constant need for more
• You do not live in the moment.
• You have the need to always be right.
• You always need to be in control of every situation.

Steps on the way to get rid of your negative ego:

• Forgive other people and do not be offended. Learn to forgive other people and most important learn to forgive yourself. Let go of the past and keep moving on. 
• Realize that you do not always have to be right. This is narrow-minded thinking and leads to many opportunities unseen, judgment, and criticism.
• Better yourself and learn from your mistakes.
• Live in the present. Your ego will not easily stay content in the moment.
• Be Grateful for all that you have. Do you always have to have the best, or be the best?
• Being honest with yourself and others. Learn to say no. Embrace the things and people that add value to your life.
• Enjoy "me time" Take a few minutes every day to just be with yourself in silence.
• Practice the giving of your time and energy, to help others.

Further reading #Loveyourself



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 #StartYourOwnBusiness ​Time is precious. It is important to know how to use your time well. The house, children, your business, and all the other duties need attention. The pressures of modern life can be very tiring. It is very common to come to the realization that there is not enough time in a day. Make sure that you make time to relax and nurture yourself.

How do you currently spend your time? Keep a time log for a week or so. Record everything you do. You'll be amazed to see how your time is spent and will see where you need to make changes.

​There are certain ways that a person can learn how to fit all your tasks into your day, making some time for yourself as well.

Start with simple things like dining with the family every night at the same time
 
Set up a work routine and stick to it. Only plan for 4-5hours of real work per day. We're always more focused and productive within a limited time. More work hours doesn't mean more productivity.
 
It is a must that time limits are set on working hours and that you adhere to it. Limit your normal working hours to office hours during weekdays. If you need to work on weekends, make sure that Sundays are free at least. Be free at least one day a week, to focus on yourself and the family, and to do things together and relax. Due to modern technology, it is quite common to receive e-mail and SMS messages from your business after hours. Again, it is important that there are definite time limits set after which no emails and texts messages should be answered.
 
Proper time management is sometimes difficult, but if the benefits are taken into account, it is worthwhile. Take the first 20-30 minutes of every day to plan the rest of your day. Do not start with anything else until you complete your time plan. The time you schedule to schedule time are of utter importance.
 

Make use of a "Do not disturb" sign when you absolutely have to get urgent work done. Do not answer the phone, ignore e-mails, and disconnect instant messaging. Schedule a time to answer emails, messages and return phone calls.
 
Do not multi-task. Focusing on one thing at a time will double your productivity, which can mean the difference between success and failure in a small business. Set a timer to force yourself to be limited to do one thing at a time. Focus on that one task until it’s done.
 
To make the best use of your time in your business, your day should consist of a series of goals that have specific milestones. Break larger goals into smaller steps, for more effective accomplishment. Set some goals to be completed before lunch and some for after lunch.
 
Start Early. To increase productivity, have an early start to your day. The more time you take to think and plan, the better organized you will be. Also get into the habit of going to bed at a reasonable time to be able to rise early.

For further reading - How to start Your Own Business

WHAT inspires a chef to create a new recipe?
What drives an explorer to explore distant places?
What makes a child ask so many questions?
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Be open for questioning. Responsible curiosity makes you smarter.

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​What about you? Do you have new ideas or are you looking for answers to intriguing questions? Curiosity can lead to many wonderful things and urges us to broaden our knowledge to penetrate to the core of things. Most of us will not become famous explorers or inventors, but f you make good use of this wonderful gift from God, you will lead a meaningful and joyous life.

Here are three ideas towards living a more curious life:
​(Please comment below if you can add to the list!)
- Try to be responsible curious rather than judgmental or criticizing when new situations arise.
- Learn from, and admit your mistakes. Only then, good judgment will develop.
- Stop making assumptions about situations. Assumptions obstruct your view and will defeat you before you even begin.

Curiosity can be dangerous if not lived by the word of God. Curiosity for sin will lead to compromising or even in going astray such as the Prodigal Son. The young man asks his father for his inheritance, and went off to see what is in the outside world....he was soon broke with no one to help him. Curiosity led him to make poor life decisions.
 
Just be careful, keep this in mind while be responsible curious.

Further reading #LoveYourself

​Entrepreneurs are all unique - each with his own skills and shortcomings - but there are a few characteristics that are important to succeed as a successful entrepreneur. Which of the characteristics below do you have?
#StartYourOwn Business

​Behind every successful business ... Is a business owner who knows his story. And yes, many people are born with natural leadership qualities and some just know how to do things right but many aspects of a success story are due to hours of hard work, research, and sacrifice.....A good business owner is one who is willing to do the work to be one.

• Can you think clearly and use your common sense?
• Do you understand that some products simply do not sell?

- Are you decisive? There is no room for procrastination when running your own business. Can you make decisions?
- Are you creative? Successful entrepreneurs recognize and pursue opportunities, and promote their business tirelessly.
- Are you versatile? You need to be mentally prepared to take on a variety of tasks like a secretary and bookkeeper, at least in the beginning.
- Do you have a high level of confidence? If you have a high level of confidence you will be able to get the job done even under the most stressful conditions.
- Do you use your imagination?
- Can you solve difficult problems?
- Are you driven to achieve all your goals?
- Are you motivated, independent and hardworking? Entrepreneurs should be enthusiastic and believe that they would be successful.  Are you self-motivated enough to do this, and can you stay motivated for extended periods of time?
- Can you convert plans into real action?
- Do you have self-discipline?
- Can you manage your time?
- Can you deal with stressful situations??
- Are you independent?
- Do you have patience?
- Do you realize that success is not achieved overnight?
- Can you put mistakes behind you and move on?
- Are you a doer? Are you willing to take the reins, or would you rather have someone else to do the things for you?
- Are you open-minded? Entrepreneurs face a lot of unknowns and should be ready to change their initial plans and strategies. New and better ways of doing things may come along as well. Can you be flexible in the face of change?
- Are you passionate about what you want to achieve?
- Do you have enough knowledge about the industry in which you want to move into?
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Successful business owners set an example. As the owner, you are the "face" of the business. You should be reliable and fulfill your word. Even when things are not so good, a good manager stays positive and remain calm under pressure.
 
Successful business owners invest in their greatest asset: People. They know the people in their service is cardinal to ensure the business success. Happy employees are positive and far more productive.

A business owner can simply not afford to just sit back.  Continual research on marketing and customer needs should be done to ensure you stay on top of things. The owner of a successful business has to function as a businessperson. This means that the owner should always be engaged and stay accountable by paying constant attention to the business.
 
The customer is King...still one of the most important characteristics of a successful business. Every business depends on someone else's money - whether individuals or other companies - to survive. Thus, you should always try to offer the best possible option for your clients. This means that you sometimes have to go the extra mile and make some sacrifices even if you do not agree with the client.
 
a Successful company has to give back to the community... This may come in many forms, from fundraising campaigns to the donation of personal time by employees to a worthy cause. To run a successful business is NOT all about making money. A business, no matter how profitable, is never truly successful without a true compassion for others.

For further reading see the eBook and Paperback “How to start Your Own Business” 

#RoaringCourage

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​Do you feel that you are existing rather than living? We get so caught up in our daily routines, that we forget how miraculous living is. It’s easy to lose hope, and just give up.
 
Life is full of hope, and possibility. God wants you to live up to your full potential as being made in his image. Living a joyful life is a choice – choose wisely. When you embrace your God-given humanity, all the ordinary moments of your life will take on extraordinary significance.
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Seven small ways to start embracing life:
Embrace the beating of your heart after a hard workout.
Seek out ways to help others.
Embrace the freedom that comes from being able to make mistakes and choices
Embrace the promising new day when the sunrise.
Embrace the aroma of coffee beans and cinnamon.
Embrace the love your pet shows when you come home

​Further reading

​​You have a brilliant idea that you know will work. How do you put the wheels in motion? If you do not approach things in the correct way from the start, it can be very stressful to start your own business. Use the following action list to make sure you remember everything you need to do.
#StartYourOwnBusiness

7 Important Questions to Ask Yourself:
 
1 What are you going to sell or which service will you deliver?
Ask yourself the following:
- Am I an expert in something?  (Examples writing, baking, or home decorating) Can I use this knowledge to start a business?
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2 Choose a name for your business.
Your business name should stand out, and tell customers about your product or service.
- Choose a name that will appeal to your target market, allows you plenty of room to expand. A person should be able to pronounce the name easily remember it.
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3 Draw up a business plan
A business plan is a summary of the past, the present, and future of your business. To draw up a business plan, you need the following information (To name just a few):
- Your business name and contact details.
- A description of your business.
- Information on what staff you will use, and their qualifications.
- Information about the potential risks involved and suitable insurance.
- The goal of your business.
- The products you want to sell or services you will be offering.
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4 If you need funding, get that in order.
It's better to make use of your own money, but if you need financing, you can use your business plan and financial projections to apply for a loan from a financial institution.
Answer the following questions before you seek finance:
- How much money will you need to pay your own private monthly bills until you start earning an income?
- How many products do you need to sell before you break even, where your expenses and income balance each other? Many small businesses fail because of cash-flow problems - not because they were not profitable.
 
5 Get all the legal aspects in order
Legal aspects differ from country to country and depending on your type of business you will have to confirm which licenses you need. In most of the cases, the following would apply:
- You will have to apply for a license if you plan to sell food or drink, plan to open an entertainment venue or day care center for children.
- If you want to sell alcohol, you will have to apply under the licensing laws at the provincial liquor authority for a liquor license.
- You have to register your company with your country's Revenue Service for the relevant tax.
- If in doubt about your skills as an accountant, you should instead appoint an accountant who can review your books and your annual tax return submission.

 
6 Open your bank account and get insurance.
Open a separate bank account for your business - it will help your company's finances and keep your personal finances separate, simplifying the bookkeeping and tax. Your company must be registered to open a business account. All the major banks offer business accounts.
 
Get separate insurance for your business as your home insurance will not cover your business affairs. Also, include public liability.
 
7 Promote your business
Write down your marketing plan with your goals and how you will achieve it.
Include the following:
- Who is your target market?
- The benefits of your product or service.
- Your marketing methods and tactics.
- Your marketing budget.
 
Read regularly through the marketing plan to remind yourself of what you want to achieve and how. Be clear about your goals and set up a realistic plan. Regularly review your plan. Note that you may not make false claims about your product or service.

Further reading - the ebook and paperback “Start your Own Business"
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​Would you like to become courageous and have earth shattering confidence?
And do you have the desire to inspire and create change in your life and in the world?
Do you fear rejection and judgment?
Do you feel inadequate to live the life you always dreamed about?

​which other people will only dream off...
In this step-by-step guide, you will find tips, strategies and exercises to become more courageous:
Learn how to detect and overcome the fears that hold you back
Exercises for self-improvement
Live curiously
Making decisions
Manage your ego
Become the decision maker of your own life
Prioritize your day, do first things first!
Take control over your anxieties
Embrace opportunity
How to use obstacles to your benefit.
Believe in yourself and trust in others
MUCH MORE inside!

Further reading: #RoaringCourage 

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