Are you midway through your career and wondering what direction to take it next? Or is some other looming decision driving you nuts because making difficult choices just seems too overwhelming?

Me, too! And I’m no stranger to making big changes. After an exciting, demanding and lucrative deal-making career I switched to a coaching career – teaching people how to master their own thinking in order to generate more success in their lives. Now I am expanding into speaking, writing and teaching online. I have so many irons in the fire and ideas swirl so fast that they actually clog my thinking and hold me back. Not helpful, brain!

In order to clear my own muddled mind, I like to use this framework to “test” each new idea that pops into my head and either pursue it, or trash it, quickly and without regret.

Here are my top 5 criteria for what to spend time pursuing:

1. People - I know that if I enjoy the people, I’ll enjoy the work. So I pursue ideas that place me with people who are thoughtful, creative, kind, prepared to take action, emotionally stable, interested in changing something, take responsibility, have a forward outlook, share truthfully, and want to make a difference in someone else’s life besides their own. What kind of people are your favorites? Focus on directions that place you amongst them.

2. Personal Power – Certain activities feed my creativity and ingenuity, two primary sources of my personal power. Where does your personal power come from? This is not about your power or authority over others, but your inner drive and fire. Pursue directions that provide energy, not those that sap it.

3. Profit - Profit takes many forms. Pursue directions that are lucrative, yes. But also those that bring you the profits of pleasure, intellectual stimulation, and outright joy. Jettison any thinking about directions that do not deliver an ample return on your investment – they are literally not worth it.

4. Passion – Following your passion is perhaps an overused phrase, but it does not necessarily mean drop everything and pursue your dreams of becoming an actress. I used to love creating deal spreadsheets – not because of the mental girations necessary to put the monster together, in fact I disliked that part! I loved it because it provided a tool to help solve a problem, to test and maneuver and reveal different angles and results. I love figuring out a solution that no one else has thought of – that’s a passion! And I still do that today – create new ways of thinking that help people find solutions to their own roadblocks, take charge of their future and learn to generate amazing new outcomes for themselves. What’s your passion? Pursue opportunities that allow you to experience it often.

5. Peace – Let’s face it: Everything involves some angst from time to time. But if something is troubling enough to keep you up at night however, you have two choices – either get more involved and fix it, or move away from it. Pursue directions that bring you peace, at least most of the time.

There you have it – 5 simple tests to guide your choices and clear a muddled mind about what directions to pursue. Try them for yourself!

photo credit Gustavo Facci

Want to rekindle your interest in your job? Try one of these tips:

1. Reconnect with why you started this job in the first place.
2. Recall the company’s values and in what ways you align.
3. Think of at least 5 ways the job supports and improves your strengths.
4. Think of 5 ways to demonstrate your strengths at work more often.
5. Think of 3 ways to have more fun at work every single day.
6. Let go of any personal grudges.
7. Make new friends.
8. Find a mentor or create a mastermind group.
9. Volunteer for a project or committee, increasing visibility and leadership profile.
10. Quit a committee (preferably by grooming someone else for the role).
11. Form a professional or leadership association in your profession but outside your company.
12. Form a mastermind or dreamers group inside your company.
13. Ask for a personal development or a non-work-related workshop for yourself and a group of co-workers.
14. Expand your network – attend talks, workshops, conferences, professional association meetings.
15. Each morning, think of one thing you’re looking forward to, rather than dwell on the drudgery of going to work.
16. Place something in your workspace that makes you smile (or even better, that makes you laugh!)
17. Decide what you would do differently if you were the boss, and see if you can influence any changes.
18. Avoid water cooler gossip and start a different kind of conversation.
19. Broaden your skills – get the training you need to move up.
20. Revisit your accomplishments by updating your resume (just in case!)

Not sure you’ll ever love the job you’re in? If it’s time for a change, visit www.successmindset.co/change to get started in a new direction. Life’s too short to be unhappy in your work. Love it or leave it!

Lately I’ve had a lot of calls from people who need help expanding their businesses. Whether they are small business owners or working in a firm of some sort, their request is the same: “I need to get our name out there. I want to bring in more business. I wish I could get more recognition.”

And then come the downside concerns.  ”I’m not sure how long I can keep this thing going. Maybe I should be thinking about alternatives. I’m losing confidence in myself.”

And then finally the question: “What should I be doing?”

And after working with so many on solving this problem, I realized it’s not a matter of DOING. It’s a matter of BEING.

What people in business really need to succeed is this:

Transform from being “you” into “You, Inc.”™

You, Inc. means:

• You see yourself, and present yourself, as a distinct business entity.
• You know and control your brand, whether for your business or personally (even better, for both!).
• You know what products and services to offer.
• You’re attractive to potential partners, clients, and customers.
• You’re confident in your pricing.
• You’re comfortable closing the sale.
• You’re able to expand your reach into profitable new arenas.

Imagine what could happen in your business world if you grew from “you” to “You, Inc.”

Would you show up more confidently in meetings or when networking?

Would you master the words to wrap around your unique brand?

Would you claim your place in your industry, proudly standing up to the competition?

Would you draw customers and partners and investors to you, as a business/business person they want to affiliate with?

Would you treat your business like a “real” business?

Would you communicate to your employer your true talents and expectations?

Would you go after that big promotion, that big sale, that incredible opportunity?

Be You, Inc. instead of just you, and discover how “being” instead of “doing” leads to more business, without all that busy-ness! It’s the shortcut to success, without having to try so hard.

“I can’t serve the tennis ball like I used to.”

“I can’t keep up this crazy schedule.”

“I can’t decide whether the market is going up or down.”

It happens at cocktail parties. It happens at business meetings. It happens at the dinner table. It happens in our minds. And it impacts our lives.

One tiny little phrase stops people in their tracks: “I CAN’T.”

How many times a day do we say this to ourselves? Or worse, say it out loud to someone else (which imprints the thought more powerfully, as if it was factual, into our brains).

Why is this phrase so persistent? Several reasons come to mind.

Being “Realistic.” It is human nature to try to be realistic so we don’t disappoint ourselves. Numerous psychological studies show that people will make more effort to avoid pain than to seek pleasure, so being “realistic” helps us avoid the pain of failure. The trouble is, being “realistic” prevents us from reaching for a stretch goal, or taking a chance on something that might bring tremendous rewards or joy.

A Convenient Excuse. Many times, “I can’t” means “I don’t want to.” It is an easy out, a way to deceive ourselves or rationalize to others why we aren’t going to try anymore. The trouble is, an “I can’t” statement reinforces a negative thought, whereas if you had the courage to say “I don’t want to,” you will be taking control and making a thoughtful decision, rather than letting something negative control you.

The Inconvenient Truth. Sometimes, “I can’t” statements are true. In this case, the words are not the problem; it is the decisions we make as a result. If you can’t serve the tennis ball as hard as you used to, does that knowledge have to interfere with your love of the game? Or can you develop a crafty spin serve or blistering specialty stroke? Don’t let a singular limitation overwhelm your ability to make choices about your life.

No matter what your rationale for “I CAN’T” thinking, there is one simple solution to preventing the resulting self-sabotage. Drop the T!

Try this: For every “I CAN’T” that pops into your head or out of your mouth, follow up with three “I CAN” statements on the same topic.

“I CAN drive my forehand down the line. I CAN cover the middle when my partner gets pulled to the side by an angle shot. I CAN enjoy teaching tennis to my grandchildren.”

“I CAN choose to eliminate these non-urgent errands from my day. I CAN allocate one hour and finish the bills. I CAN enjoy a cup of tea before getting back to work.”

“I CAN diversify my investment risk. I CAN decide to focus on the long term and not get caught up in daily fluctuations. I CAN utilize financial planning software to better understand the impact of my financial decisions.”

Try dropping the T from your thoughts and conversations, and make your move from “I CAN’T” to “I CAN”!