Happy Monday morning….. I have been on a high since earning the Leadership Incentive Trip from Thirty One diligently trying to grow personally and professionally. I have just started reading a NEW book by Andy Andrews called “The Little Things.”
Ever since I can remember, I’ve been told to focus on the big picture because when I do, it would lead me to success and happiness. So you can imagine my surprise and curiousity when I heard successful people really focus on the little things. Here is the one question asked of some “high achievers”, you may be surprised by their responses:
If you could go back in time 10 years, what “little thing” would you tell yourself to start paying more attention to? Why?
1. Talk to Yourself Instead of Listening to Yourself by Jon Gordon, Bestselling Author of The Energy Bus 
This is a GREAT book… Too often we listen to ourselves and hear all the complaints, self-doubt, fear, and negativity that lead to unhappiness, failure and unfulfilled goals. Yup, Been there done that and have lots of t-shirts to prove it.
But instead of listening to the negative we can choose to feed ourselves with the positive. We can fuel up with words, thoughts, phrases, scripture and beliefs that give us the strength and power to overcome our challenges and create an extraordinary life, career and team.
Just keep running, stay positive, talk to yourself instead of listen to yourself and make sure you celebrate and raise your hands in the air when you’ve reached your destination!
2. Ask for Help (and Be Willing to Receive It) by John Jantsch, Founder of Duct Tape Marketing 
This is a tough one for me but with the help of a coach/friend Eryka Peskin I am learning to ask for help and receive it graciously.
The truth is business owners like to push through and figure everything and to some extent, this constricts a lot of growth. What’s funny about this is people want to help and to some extent when you don’t allow them or ask them what they think or what they would do in your shoes, you turn the tap off. I think a great deal of this comes from the desire to be seen as having it all figured out and few things are more harmful to growth than that. Ask for help, be helpless, and activate the helpfulness in others.
3. Embrace Everyday Encounters by Michele Cushatt, Keynote Speaker
Thus, in answer to your question, my “small thing” is to learn to be less consumed and worried with plans, schedules, and important connections, and more attuned to everyday encounters.
4. Watch for What Excites You by Chris Guillebeau, New York Times Bestselling Author of The $100 Startup
I’d tell myself… Pay more attention to the way things make you feel. Feelings aren’t everything, of course, but noticing when something fills you with the right combination of excitement and nervousness can be a good sign in knowing when to take a big risk.
5. Learn the Right Way to Listen by Ray Edwards, Entrepreneur and Direct Response Copywriter 
Instead of walking in a room with an attitude saying, “Here I am!” I’d walk in with an attitude that says, “There you are!” I would smile at strangers—who doesn’t love getting a big smile from a total stranger? I would listen because I want to hear what people are saying, not because I was preparing to speak. I would stop trying to get God to bless what I was doing, and instead try to do what God was blessing.
6. Don’t Let the Wrong “Little Things” Hold You Back by John Rampton, Entrepreneur and Speaker 
If I could go back 10 years I’d tell myself to take more of a chance on myself. I always let the “little things” hold me back from my true passion. Little things like money, security, my girlfriend at the time, etc hold me back from becoming the person I knew I could be. Pay more attention to that little voice inside you that you know you should follow but don’t always listen too. It’s usually right, but it’s the little things in life that hold us back.
Now, It’s Your Turn…
What “little thing” would you tell yourself to pay attention to if you could go back 10 years?
As for me, I would stop letting the little things hold me back – lack of money, waiting for the perfect time and follow your dream. Share your story with us….
Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!
Hope Wissel 