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4 Behaviors You Have Total Control Over to Get Your Day Off to a Rocking Start

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Image Credit: Twenty20.com

One of the biggest issues that I hear consistently in my coaching and consultancy practice is that people feel they have no control over many (if any) aspects of their life. Guess what? They’re right! Most things in this world we don’t have control over. We don’t have control of the weather, if the plane flying over us at this moment loses its engine, and that engine squashes us, if we win the lottery, or if we get hit by a bus. But one thing we have total control over is our attitude. We can choose that at any moment, and it could be whatever we decide it to be.

Ultimately, we want it to be a positive attitude. (I mean, it’s just as time consuming to have a negative attitude as a positive attitude; it might as well be positive!) But, just because we have full control over our attitude, sometimes being positive isn’t the easiest thing to do.

In my opinion, it all starts in the morning. If we can behave positively in that precious period of time between opening our eyes and being fully cognizant; you know, before our subconscious leaves us and our conscious mind takes control, we have a gigantic head start over the rest of our day.

Here are four behaviors that you have absolute total control over to get your day off to a rocking start:

1. Get up earlier

You have a choice over when you get up. Choose to get up earlier so that your day starts off less stressed! I hear so many people say that they wake up when their children and spouse arise, and then between making breakfasts, lunches, getting people out the door on time, and the stress of personally getting ready to leave, these people hit their car at 7:30 and are white knuckling it all the way to work totally stressed.

And, if by chance there is a traffic jam or something else that holds them up, the stress builds, especially if they are late to work. Then, the first thing that happens at work makes them explode. Why not get up half an hour or maybe even an hour earlier just so you can take your time and perhaps celebrate for 10 minutes more in a hot, soapy shower, or maybe spend 30 minutes catching up on that novel that you purchased a month ago and haven’t started yet. It’s your time, make use of it.

“Before anything else, preparation is the key to success.” – Alexander Graham Bell

2. Do something for yourself

Especially, if you get up earlier, you’ll have some time for you. The key is to use that time and not feel guilty or selfish about. Sometimes that personal time is all that it takes to give us perspective and enough separation between our daily thoughts to allow for a period of mindfulness to occur. Maybe it’s reading, maybe it’s watching reruns of The Big Bang Theroy; it doesn’t matter, do it and celebrate it!

3. Smile

The first thing you should do when you get out of bed is develop the habit of smiling. Before you blow this off as an insignificant bit of psychobabble, stop doing what you’re doing and take a moment to sit upright and have your face in a neutral position (not smiling or not frowning). Now smile. Can you feel the tension on your lips as they are spreading? Can you feel the pressure on your cheeks?

Now think for a second about how you feel while you are smiling. I bet you feel a little bit happier. The physical act of smiling tends to put us in a better mood. So, smile and do it on purpose! William James, the noted 20th-century Harvard psychologist said, “We don’t smile because we are happy, we are happy because we smile.”

4. Think about what you are grateful for

Before you start your day in earnest, think about the answer to this question: What am I grateful for? Either in your calendar, or on a sheet of paper, or, better yet, in a gratitude journal, list two or three things each day that you are grateful for. You can be grateful for simple things, things you may take for granted, like walking, or being able to digest a good meal.

Perhaps your gratitude may tend to the more complex. It doesn’t matter, put yourself in a state of mindful gratitude and you will find your day is naturally better. If you are looking for a more positive attitude by jumpstarting your morning, thinking of several things that you are grateful for and documenting them is a gigantic step in that direction.

“Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.” – Mahatma Gandhi

There you have four behaviors that you have absolute total control over. And if you institutionalize these behaviors into the realm of habitual, you will find that your attitude becomes more positive.

I have tested these with clients and even more important with myself. I have found them each to work and be very beneficial. So, before you blow these off, give it a month to install the behavior, then a month to practice. If after two months these practices don’t work for you, well try something different, after all, it is your day!

What are some of your morning habits? Comment below!

Image courtesy of Twenty20.com

Biagio Sciacca, known to his friends as Bill, was a lifelong resident of Pittston, PA. He is the owner of Intelligent Motivation, Inc. a global consulting and training firm specializing in management and leadership training as well as psychological assessment for hiring and staff development. He is the author of several books relating to goal setting, and his third book, Provocative Leadership, is publishing soon. Now residing in Tamarindo, Costa Rica, he divides his time between his international coaching and training clients, writing his next book and wandering aimlessly on the beach. Feel free to contact Bill at bill@intelligentmotivationinc.com or schedule a call with him by going to www.intelligentmotivationinc.com and clicking on the “set up a call” tab.

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19 Common Characteristics All Visionary Leaders Have

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When you look at business leaders like Bill Gates, Sam Walton, Sir Richard Branson, and philosophers like Bertrand Russell, Martin Heidegger, Ludwig Wittgenstein, David Bohm,  C. S. Peirce and inventors like Nikola Tesla, Paolo Soleri, Harvey W. Bailey, Thomas Edison, Alexander Graham Bell and Wright brothers and political leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Jr. and Aung San Suu Kyi, it becomes very clear that they are all connected through one leadership—visionary leadership. (more…)

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How to Choose the Best Affiliate Programs for Your Blog

If you follow these steps, you can create an affiliate marketing plan that makes money, fits well with your content, and connects with your readers

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Picking the right affiliate programs for your blog is really important. It can make a big difference in how much money you can make and how much your readers get out of your blog. With so many choices out there, deciding which ones to go with can be tricky. 

This guide is here to make it easier for you. It will give you clear steps and helpful tips to choose affiliate programs that fit well with what your blog is about, what your readers like, and what you stand for. 

For more articles on this theme, please head over to this blog https://blog.partners1xbet.com/.

Understanding Affiliate Marketing

Before you start picking affiliate programs, it’s important to really understand what affiliate marketing is and how it works. 

Basically, affiliate marketing is when you promote a product or service on your blog, and then you get paid a little bit every time someone buys something or does something because you recommended it. 

It’s great for both the person selling the product and the blogger, because the seller gets more sales with low risk, and the blogger can make money from their blog.

How to Choose the Right Affiliate Programs for Your Blog

1. Assess Your Niche and Audience

The key to doing well in affiliate marketing starts with really knowing what your blog is about and who reads it. Consider the following:

  • Your blog’s content: What topics do you cover? Ensure the products or services you promote are relevant.
  • Your audience’s interests and needs: What solutions are they seeking? Choose affiliate programs that offer products or services that solve their problems or enhance their lives.

2. Research Potential Affiliate Programs

Once you know what your blog is about and what your readers want, start looking for affiliate programs. Choose ones that are well-known for good products, great customer service, and helpful support for affiliates. Resources to find these programs include:

  • Affiliate networks like ShareASale, Commission Junction, and ClickBank.
  • Direct searches for “[Your Niche] affiliate programs” in search engines.
  • Recommendations from other bloggers in your niche.

3. Evaluate the Commission Structure

The commission structure is a critical factor to consider. Look for programs that offer competitive rates that make your efforts worthwhile. Consider:

  • The percentage of commission per sale.
  • Whether the program offers a flat rate per action (e.g., per sign-up).
  • The cookie duration, which affects how long after a click you can earn commissions on sales.

4. Consider the Program’s Reputation and Sureness

Join affiliate programs with a solid reputation for quality and sureness. This not only ensures that you’re promoting good products but also that you’ll be paid on time. You can:

  • Read reviews from other affiliates.
  • Check the program’s history and background.
  • Look for any complaints or issues reported online.

5. Analyze the Support and Resources Offered

A good affiliate program gives you things like ads to use, training on their products, and helpful managers. Having access to these resources can really help you do a better job at promoting their products.

6. Understand the Terms and Conditions

Before signing up, thoroughly review the program’s terms and conditions. Pay close attention to:

  • Payment thresholds and methods.
  • Any restrictions on how you can promote their products.
  • The program’s policy on affiliate marketing on social media platforms.

7. Test the Product or Service

If possible, test the product or service before promoting it. This firsthand experience allows you to offer genuine charge and build trust with your audience.

8. Look for Recurring Commission Opportunities

Some affiliate programs pay you again and again for subscriptions or services that charge fees regularly. These can provide a more stable income compared to one-time sales commissions.

Implementing Your Choice

After choosing the best affiliate programs, the next step is to smoothly include your affiliate marketing in your content plan. This includes:

  • Creating valuable content that naturally incorporates affiliate links.
  • Disclosing your affiliate affairs transparently to maintain trust with your audience.
  • Tracking your results to understand what works best for your audience and adjusting your strategy accordingly.

Picking the best affiliate programs for your blog involves careful planning, research, and making sure they match what your audience likes and needs. 

If you follow these steps, you can create an affiliate marketing plan that makes money, fits well with your content, and connects with your readers. 

The real key to doing well with affiliate marketing isn’t just about the products you talk about, but also how much your audience trusts and values your advice. 

With enough time, patience, and hard work, your blog can grow into a successful space that earns a good amount of affiliate money and helps your readers choose the right products.

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