To succeed in life you need three things: a wishbone, a backbone and a funny bone. Reba McEntire.

Everyday you make decisions, some larger than others, that determine your destination and how you get there.

As you continue to push ahead, one of the most things you must do – in spite of all the evidence to the contrary – is refuse to give in to the overwhelming negativity and cynicism. It isn’t easy and you don’t have to be a Pollyanna about it… but there are actually good people doing good things, – plenty of them, creating new companies, tossing a round different ideas and  everyday pushing the ball further down the field.

As you start off another week, here are five statements to think about as you head out the door Monday morning:

1. I think the future will be better than the past.

2. I have a high every level.

3. Lately, I have been doing a lot of strategic thinking.

4. My interests continue to expand.

5. I am open to others, receptive to new ideas willing to look at new ways of doing things.

You can’t win at the game if you don’t get out there. Be real. Do the work. Keep believing in yourself. Regardless of what anyone says the future is there for those willing to grab it by the horns.

I invite you to join me on Facebook, Twitter, connect with me on LinkedIn or email your thoughts and comments to drew@drewsimmie.com

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The cave you fear to enter holds the treasure you seek. Fear of the unknown is our greatest fear. Many of us would enter a lion’s lair before we would enter a dark cave. While caution is a useful instinct, we lose many opportunities and much of the adventure of life if we fail to explore within us. Joseph Campbell.

It takes courage to live, even more to live on your own terms. Take chances. Be willing to fail. This is how  you grow.

Your courage will overcome your fear. Go ahead. Try. Make mistakes. There isn’t a successful person alive who hasn’t made their share. Along the way, they just kept on… practicing being brave.

I invite you to join me on Facebook, Twitter, connect with me on LinkedIn or email your thoughts and comments to drew@drewsimmie.com

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There are three constants in life… change, choice and principles. Stephen Covey.

Where ever you are on your journey, whether just starting out in a new business, beginning a career after graduation – or in the middle of your years and thinking about redefining yourself, – the above three constants will always stand you in good stead – along with these:

1. Follow your heart and just do it. Get involved in life and in the things that interest you. You will live a much happier life if you do. Start with the  first step and go as far as you can. When you get there, you will know  what to do next. If you are not passionate about what you are doing, in time you may wish you had been.

2. Make a difference. Whatever your line of work or type of business, it’s  not always just about you. It’s about your customers, the people who  work for you and the greater world, too. That’s a tall order, I know, but  nothing of any real value was ever created by people who didn’t have a tall agenda.

3. Always believe in yourself. And do the best you can. Be proud of yourself. There is no point in doing something if you and the people with whom you are associated are not proud of it.

4. Don’t give up. There will many times when you will want to call it a day. Don’t. Ever. If it was worth starting and worth working at everyday, it is still worth it. And so are you.

5. Work hard. And harder. And harder. If everything else is right keep on,  there is no way around it. Not if you want to be a success – however and  by what ever standard you measure success.

I invite you to join me on Facebook, Twitter, connect with me on LinkedIn or email your thoughts and comments to drew@drewsimmie.com

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The other day I received a hand written note from a client who had to, unexpectedly, cancel a meeting at which, along with a colleague, I was scheduled to speak.

When I opened the envelope, to my delight, along with a few words of apology, I found a Starbucks gift card.

A gift, given unexpectedly, is even more appreciated than one given out of duty. It shows special consideration on the part of the sender and thoughtfulness that will be long remembered.

 I invite you to join me on Facebook, Twitter, connect with me on LinkedIn or email your thoughts and comments to drew@drewsimmie.com

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Always deepen and shoot higher than you know you can be. Don’t bother to just be better than your contemporaries or predecessors. Try to be better than yourself. William Faulkner.

The road to success is long and hard. For some reason, for most of us, it never seems to come easy. It is natural to sometimes find yourself deep down in the weeds, experiencing moments of self-doubt. If you didn’t have such moments you wouldn’t be human.

If you are starting off a week than seems particularly daunting, here’s a tip to get yourself going. On one side of blank paper, write these three questions:

1. What are the three things that have to happen if I am to move towards what I really want to accomplish my objective?
2. What do I have to do to facilitate that movement?
3. Why is this objective so important to me and why am I working so hard to accomplish it?

Then turn the page over. Take a few minutes and write yourself a victory list… of all that you have accomplished so far – and the people and things in your life for which you are grateful.

My guess is that it is a long list! It is good idea to occasionally remind yourself of all that your have accomplished and of all the blessings. Kind of keeps things in perspective… doesn’t it?

So go out and have a good week. And just try and be better than yourself. That will do the trick.

I invite you to join me on Facebook, Twitter, connect with me on LinkedIn or email your thoughts and comments to drew@drewsimmie.com

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