'Win At Work' by Shaun Belding

Winning Attitude - Open your ears, your mind and your heart. This is how you open your future.

The journey of SUCCESS is like a path through a forest. There are ravines and low-hanging branches that will get in your way. There are creatures that will startle you. There will be forks that require tough decisions But as long as you are moving, and looking at your internal compass to ensure you are heading in the general right direction, take comfort in knowing that your path is as good as any. Take a look around every once in a while to appreciate where you are and how you got there. Enjoy the journey, and the people you meet along the way.

The job-for-life mentality that our parents has is gone in a big way, with people now averaging between 10 and 11 jobs in their lifetimes. Your journey to winning in the workplace begins with a plan. 
Things to consider - 

1. Be a champion of change(Do not wait for someone to inspire you)
2. Focus on Big picture(what you see depends on where you stand)
3. Connect and being a good team player
4. Networking(If you are always there for others, you will never face challenges alone)
5. Listen and genuine praise(Listen more than you talk)

5 rules for making good First Impressions:

1. Smile 
2. Make eye contact
3. The handshake 
4. Be interested
5. Walk on the lighter side

Win at Work covers 5 fundamental topics:

1. The winning Attitude
2. Achievement and Success
3. Winning in the Workplace
4. Winning with people
5. Dealing with Stress and difficult people

People with the winning attitude:

1. are positive
2. understand themselves and what's important
3. believe
4. continuously improve
5. have passion

A person with positive attitude:

1. focuses on positive events and aspects
2. focuses on solutions instead of problems
3. chooses hope over fatalism

Know your priorities:

Individuals with the winning attitude understand their priorities, and use them as their guidelines when making decisions. Because their actions are in line with heir priorities, they inevitably get greater enjoyment out of the things they do. The ultimate payoff to understanding your priorities and letting them guide your decisions and actions is undeniable. 

The more your actions begin to align with those things you feel are important, the greater your satisfaction and success. Knowing who you are and what our priorities are gives you confidence in yourself and your decisions. It also helps you better put the challenges you face into proper perspective, which is one of the best ways to make sure that you are mentally prepared for the things life throws at you.

Discovering your true priorities is like an explorer finding True North. Once you have that unchanging frame of reference, reaching any destination you choose only required a look at your compass, a good map, and a willingness to begin the journey.

Accept responsibility:

Accept responsibility for your own future. People with the winning attitude universally agree that they are ultimately accountable for both their successes and their failures. 

Passion:

When you are truly passionate about something, work ceases to be work. You can not hit what you do not aim for. The journey to success begins with creating forward motion and achieving positive momentum. The easiest way to create positive momentum in virtually every aspect of your life is by goal setting; more specifically, by creating and then achieving highly focused short-term goals. 

Once you define SUCCESS, follow 4 steps:

1. Set a goal
2. Create a map
3. Set a timeline
4. Take action

Focus:

One of the most notable characteristics of very successful people is their ability to stay focused on the things that important to them, their careers and their business. 

The way of words:

1. Use 'Excellent/Outstanding/Brilliant' than just saying 'Thank You'
2. Use 'Absolutely/Of Course/It would be my pleasure' than just saying 'yes'
3. Use 'I want to get this right for you' than saying 'Can you please wait a minute'
4. Speak in sandwiches(good & bad news)
5. Words of empathy make sure that you have taken time to listen

Networking:

1. Connect people
2. Laugh
3. Be a source of information(go-to person)
4. Be involved
5. Remember
6. Be a mentor
7. Be there for the 'little people'
8. Social networking

When all stressed up and nowhere to go, follow steps below:

1. Put things into perspective(separating signal from noise - life changing (or) just a annoyance)
2. Focus on what's going well - not what is stressful
3. Identify your cold buttons
4. Focus on the issue
5. Create a ranking system
6. Create a new morning routine

It's too late to wait until tomorrow to decide whether or not you should have been happy yesterday

Entrepreneur's important lessons in 20s ..

ref: 

• http://www.businessinsider.com/best-lessons-entrepreneurs-learned-in-their-20s-2015-1
• http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/228134
• http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/237077

1. The difference between success and failure is self-confidence and persistence
2. Any limitations on personal growth are self-imposed
3. Networking is the key to success
4. Be passionate and decisive
5. Importance of surrounding yourself with people who will push you to be better
6. Need to hire people who are better than you
7. Learn to be patient
8. Learn the importance of asking yourself the hard questions
9. No matter what you're doing, you should always try your best
10. Don't let business get personal. It's just business. Shrug it off
11. Learn not to sell yourself short
12. There's no replacement for hard work
13. A fancy degree and natural talent don't entitle you to success
14. Being a leader can be lonely at times