Little Things Matter

It’s no secret that we’re all about the little things that can positively influence and enrich our lives. One of the secrets of success is maintaining balanced health and overall wellness. When we feel better, we do better. Our modern lifestyles can make it difficult to achieve this balance day after day. Most of us … Continue reading What Is CBD and How Can It Positively Influence Your Overall Wellbeing? →

Many writers and sociologists have referred to the era in which we live as the “age of entitlement.” People’s expectations of life have never been higher; therefore, disappointments have never been greater. How can we avoid being entitled? How can we find the line between standing up for what we deserve and expecting too much? … Continue reading Entitlement is the Road to Disappointment →

Today is Valentine’s Day, the day set apart to shower the special people in your life with all the love they deserve. If you’re scrambling to find that perfect way to demonstrate your affection beyond the usual heart-shaped cards or box of chocolates, I understand. Wanting others to know what they mean to you is … Continue reading 15 Ways to Love More Effectively →

I’ve written before about how the path to success is uncomfortable. You have to move outside of the place where you’re comfortable to grow and be more than you are today. The more time you spend outside your comfort zone, the larger your comfort zone becomes. As a result, you’ll feel comfortable in more environments. … Continue reading 33 Small Ways to Expand Your Comfort Zone →

What are some of the goals you’ve set over the last year? Being 100% honest, are you on track to achieve those goals? As you look over the last five years, what’s your track record for setting and achieving your goals? My life’s experience tells me that very few people achieve their goals. Whether their … Continue reading 10 Keys to Setting and Achieving BIG Goals →

Over the last 30 years I have made a list of more than 1000 little things that influence who we become, what we achieve, and how we are viewed by others. In reviewing this list I selected what I believe to be the 10 most valuable human attributes. These are the 10 things that can … Continue reading 10 Most Valuable Human Attributes →

Authors: Todd and Joy Smith, Founders of Little Things Matter. We recently celebrated our 30th anniversary on a 10-day Mediterranean cruise.  It was a real special time for us to enjoy each other and celebrate our life together. Of the more than 225 lessons on this blog, the most popular of them all was the … Continue reading 30 Tips to Staying Married 30 Years →

One of life’s greatest tragedies is when people fall short of their potential because of self-limiting or imprisoning beliefs. These are negative statements you’ve said to yourself and repeated so many times you believe they are true. Examples include such statements as: I can’t do that because… (something negative) I can’t be that way because… … Continue reading How to Overcome Limiting and Imprisoning Beliefs →

Have you ever wondered why some people seem to get all the breaks?  They have the perfect spouse, the rich parents, the ideal job or business, the big beautiful home, and the nice car. Everything seems to be going their way. 30 years ago when I married my wife Joy, she said one of the … Continue reading How to Get Life’s Winds Blowing at Your Back →

While you may be reluctant or, even worse, scared to give a presentation in front of a group of people, it is one of life’s greatest personal growth experiences. When you have the opportunity to share your insights with a group, accept the invitation and watch your self-confidence and value to the market grow! Over … Continue reading 15 Tips to Speaking in Front of People →

(http://www.littlethingsmatter.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2015/11/Leadership-image3-300x162.jpg)The leaders of the future will be those people who others want to follow because they are liked and respected, not because of their authority, title, ...

(http://www.littlethingsmatter.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2012/10/Logo_Dark-BG.jpg) You’ve heard the old adage: a penny saved is a penny earned.  That’s very true. The opportunities available to you to make money are not just limited to what you earn pursuing your career.  You also make money by investing wisely, living frugally, and purchasing products and services at a discount. Did you know you could save money on most of the things you buy?  Because of a new business I have started with my son Gerrid and son-in-law Josh, I have spent the last year studying and experiencing the fact that most individuals and companies have lower prices at which they will sell their goods and services than advertised. In this blog you will learn some simple ideas that, when implemented into your daily life, can increase the dollars in your bank account.  I’m also excited to tell you about our new business and our goal to provide more than 100,000 meals to hungry children in October. Believe it!  Live it If you want to start saving money on the things you buy, saving money must become part of your shopping mindset.  By simply being intentional, I have saved thousands of dollars this year on products I have purchased. Do you believe that saving money is time consuming?  It’s not, unless you are clipping grocery coupons from your local newspaper.  Most money-saving strategies take less than 60 seconds.  Let me show you how. Saving Money Offline Trying to get a better deal on the things I buy has become a game for me.  When I buy products at brick-and-mortar business establishments, I ask if they have any coupons or special deals.  In most cases, they do. The other day, I started my errand running at Sports Authority.  When I got to the checkout, I asked if they had any coupons.  The customer service rep smiled, pulled out a $25 coupon from her drawer, and applied it to my order. Then I went to the car wash.  I asked if they had any coupons.  The attendant told me about a special they were running on their coupon books.  Since that is where I get my car washed regularly, I bought the coupon book and saved 40% on my car washes, which amounted to a total savings of $50. At lunch I ate at a Chinese buffet.  When paying my bill, I asked if they had any coupons.  The casher gave me a $2-off coupon. Next I stopped to buy a new pair of running shoes.  When checking out, I asked if they had any coupons.  After scrambling through the drawer, the clerk found a coupon and I got 10% off my order—a $9 savings. My last stop before returning home was at our local health food store.  When checking out, I asked about discount coupons.  For the first time on this trip, I was told no coupons were available.   But the cashier told me about their loyalty program: for every $350 a customer spends, he or she gets a $10 gift card, so I signed up. By doing nothing more than asking for a discount when checking out, I was able to save $81 that day.  For years I had purchased many products at the listed price.  I never saved a penny because I never asked. Not only can you save small amounts, but you also can save large amounts. My wife’s car needed service: her A/C had stopped working and several other parts needed attention.  The service manager told me it would be $3,100.  I exhaled and asked, “What’s the best price you can offer me if I agree to get everything fixed now?”  He paused, did some calculations, and gave me $800 off!  That’s a substantial savings! I have been shocked with my success rate at saving money. By simply taking five seconds to ask one question, you too will be amazed with the dollars you can save. The worst-case scenario is that they don’t have any coupons but you’ve lost nothing by asking. If you plan in advance, you can find printable coupons online for your favorite stores and restaurants.  When my wife and I go on our weekly dates, we use coupons for our favorite restaurants.

(http://www.littlethingsmatter.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2012/08/iStock_000005711173XSmall.jpg) One on the most misunderstood statements today is this: “Focus on your strengths and make your weaknesses irrelevant.”  Every time I hear or read it, I cringe and think, “What if your weaknesses are relevant?” Excuses for Weaknesses Have you ever heard people make excuses for poor performance?  Then they followed it by an explanation like this: “That’s just the way I am; it’s part of my DNA.”  Or, “That is one of my weak points.” Or, “I’m just not good at that.”  Then they blow it off like it’s acceptable. How much respect would you have for someone who is always late and says, “I’m sorry, but it’s awfully hard for me to be on time.” How successful would a tennis player be who is exceptional at every part of his game, but can’t serve? How far within your organization would a person get who does his or her job well, but can’t communicate effectively with co-workers? Or, think about the young father who is a dedicated dad but has a real problem with his temper.  How do you think his relationship would be with his wife and children if he thought, “I’m so good at everything else, I‘m just not going to worry about my temper?  They will have to accept me the way I am”? For most of us, our weaknesses are relevant and the worst thing we can do is to ignore them or discount their importance. Deal With Your Weakness Author Nathaniel S. Summers said, “The strength of a person is often weighed by how they deal with their weaknesses.”  When I started my entrepreneurial career 31 years ago, my English was awful. (It had been my worst subject in school.)  It quickly became clear to me that if I wanted to be successful, I would have to focus on my written communications and make them a strength.  Today, I proof all my emails and consider the little things I can do to improve my messages, even if they’re casual emails going to my family and friends. I am an extreme introvert but, because I consciously work on it, no one would ever know if I did not tell them.  I realized if I were going to be successful, I would have to push myself outside my comfort zone and work on my people skills and make them a strength. How do you feel about your weaknesses?  Are you intentional about working on them or have you fallen into the trap of thinking they don’t matter?  Do you think or say, “That’s just the way I am.  I can’t help it.  Don’t expect me to change”? If your co-workers sat in a conference room and made a list of your greatest weaknesses, what would be on the list?  As you consider the things they would discuss, how many of those things could you improve tomorrow, if you were intentional? If your spouse or significant other were to make a list of the things you do that bug him or her, what would be put on the list?  As you think of the most likely answers, how hard would it be to stop doing those things, if you really tried? Rewards for Turning Weaknesses into Strengths What many people don’t realize is that their weaknesses are holding them back from enjoying more meaningful relationships, advancing their careers, improving their self-images and confidence, and living happier lives. I am a firm believer that when you do the little things that you know you should do, without excuses, you feel better about yourself and the person you are becoming.  When you blow them off or discount them, your subconscious knows the truth.  When you repeatedly fail to do the things you know you should do, it’s impossible to feel good about yourself. The fact is that 95% of the weaknesses I see holding people back are things they could change today, by simply being intentional. My Three Challenges For You 1.  Change Your Attitude. Never again allow yourself to think or believe that weaknesses are irrelevant.  You can change weaknesses into strengths. Michael Jordan said,

(http://www.littlethingsmatter.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2012/06/iStock_000016570201XSmall1.jpg)How would you like to increase the odds of achieving your goals?  Whether you desire to lose weight, create financial independence, build a healthy marriage, or raise responsible children, the formula for achieving any goal is the same. Here are 10 tips in sequential order that will help you increase the odds of achieving your goals:  (Each link is one of my related lessons.) 1.  Identify what’s important to you!  (http://www.littlethingsmatter.com/blog/2010/01/12/was-napoleon-hill-wrong/) The only goals you will succeed in reaching are those that are truly important to you. If a goal is not meaningful or significant to you, you will quit when faced with obstacles. Take 30 minutes and make a list of the things that are truly essential in your life; those that you highly value. Then highlight the most important points on that list and set your goals. 2.  Learn from those who have already achieved “your” goals.  Once you are clear on what you truly want to achieve, your next step is to learn what you need to know. The best source of knowledge will come from those who have already reached goals similar to yours. Identify people you respect and admire, who have achieved the goals you desire, and learn as much as you can from them. 3.  Determine the person you need to become.  (http://www.littlethingsmatter.com/blog/2010/02/17/who-do-i-have-to-become-to-get-what-i-want/) Far too often people focus on what they need to do to achieve their goals and fail to consider who they must become. To accomplish something you have never accomplished before, you must be willing to do what you’ve never done before; go where you’ve never been before; become someone you’ve never been before. As you learn from those who have achieved “your” goals, pay as much attention to their personal attributes and characteristics as you do to what they did to realize their goals. 4.  Put together a plan.  (http://www.littlethingsmatter.com/blog/2010/02/15/how-to-put-together-an-action-plan/) After learning from and studying those who have been successful in reaching similar goals, your next step is to put together your plan. You need to clearly outline what you need to do and when, step-by-step, and then reduce those steps into daily activities. Knowing exactly what you need to do every day is critical to achieving any worthwhile goal. 5.  Ask, “Am I willing to pay the price required to achieve my goal?  (http://www.littlethingsmatter.com/blog/2010/04/29/the-uncomfortable-path-to-success/) After you complete your plan, be honest with yourself and determine if your goal is important enough to you that you will discipline yourself to do what’s required each day to achieve your goal. One of the biggest reasons people fail to reach their goals is because they are not willing to do what’s required over a sustained period of time.  How about you. 6.  Allocate the time required.  (http://www.littlethingsmatter.com/blog/2010/02/02/my-top-time-management-tip/) Your next step is to block out the time necessary each day to work your plan. If you are like most people (and that includes me), you will need to give something up that’s less important so you have the time to achieve what’s more important. Blocking out time each day to work your plan is vital.  Success comes from consistent daily action! 7.  Get started.  (http://www.littlethingsmatter.com/blog/2010/06/25/the-power-of-personal-initiative/) Once you have learned what you need to know, divided your plan into daily activities, and blocked out time each day to do the assigned tasks, it’s time to Work Your Plan. Start tomorrow! When the time you’ve blocked out arrives, push yourself to do what you know you should do without any further delay. It’s time for action. You could continue to study dozens of books, listen to CDs, and interview successful people (all helpful), but the greatest,

(/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2012/05/iStock_000019481918XSmall.jpg)John C. Maxwell, arguably the No. 1 leadership trainer in the United States, defines leadership in one word: Influence. Ten years ago when I first heard him share his definition of leadership, I questioned whether a topic as broad, significant, and important as leadership could be defined by one word. With the passing of years, I have come to believe that Maxwell was exactly right. Leadership is all about influence—the capacity to be a compelling force to produce effects on the actions, behavior, or opinions of others, usually in intangible or indirect ways. When you have influence, doors open, people listen, and life’s winds blow at your back. Assuming that’s true, how do you gain influence? The answer is also one word: Respect. When people respect you, you have influence. When people don’t respect you, you don’t have influence. Value of Respect In your personal life, doing the little things to earn people’s respect affects how your family, friends, and folks in the community perceive you. Do people listen closely to what you say, or do they immediately discount it? Are you included in social events or excluded? When you call, is the phone answered or ignored? In the workplace, being a person who is respected is the single most important element in advancing your career. It impacts everything from how people in the organization view you personally to the quality of work produced by your team. In his book 360°Leader (https://www.johnmaxwell.com/store/products.php?product=The-360-Degree-Leader), John C. Maxwell points out that leadership is not just leading those who are subordinate to you; it’s leading everyone around you. This includes those senior to you, your co-workers in other departments, and those who work under your direction. When people respect you, regardless of where they serve within an organization, you will have influence with them. Power of Influence It’s critical to recognize that becoming a respected person is not about doing one or two sizeable jobs exceptionally well or becoming a top producer within your company. It’s about becoming a person who is respected for the way you manage your life and relate to people. Respect is something you earn as a result of your actions and attitude. It comes by making the right decisions consistently, over a period of time. Here’s a way to get an idea of the level of influence you likely have with people. What would your family, friends and co-workers say if they were asked the following questions? (Insert your name in the spaces) * Does ________ show respect to others at all times? * Is ________ someone who is intentional about returning calls, emails and text messages in a timely manner? * Does ________ value people’s time by making it a point of always trying to be on time for his/her appointments. * How does ________ handle himself/herself when under pressure? * Is ________ someone you view as financially responsible? * Does ________ do what he/she says he/she is going to do? * Does ________ show a genuine interest in what people are saying and seldom interrupts? * Has there ever been a time when you questioned _______ integrity? * Does ________ exercise, eat right, and take care of his/her health? These characteristics and the hundreds of little things I’ve highlighted in my previous 200 blog articles as well as in my book (http://littlethingsmatterbook.com/) play a major role in the way you are branded in the minds of people who know you. Don’t ever allow yourself to think something doesn’t matter! You can build a great brand for yourself over 10 years and then destroy it in one minute thinking something doesn’t matter! To become the kind of person that others look up to with approval, appreciation and admiration, you need to be intentional about doing the things—both big and little—that will positively influence how people perceive you.