So I stumbled upon this article recently It’s something I cut out at the beginning of the year from Huffington Post 100 Tips to make 2011 the best year of your life!!!!
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/natasha-dern/100-tips-to-make-2011-the_b_802432.html
OMG, We’re well into April ( 1/4 of the year has gone by already!) I’ve hardly done any of these things. Never too late to start, I say.
However, just when I was feeling a little too positive, I remembered my good friend Margaret Smith in LA.(www.margaretsmithproductions.com) We nearly had a radio show together. Check out her website, she’s the Kathryn Bigelow of stand up. One of the funniest comics I know. Six time Emmy award winner, former writer and producer on the Ellen Degeneres show and countless film and tv appearances (including Leno and Letterman) . She’s a true trailblazer. She also a tiny bit negative. Anytime I’d get too wrapped up in self-improvement, Margaret would there to remind me that the glass was half empty. “Quit being such a friggin Pollyanna Croon”, she’d say.
Yes, I can get caught up in the sunshine and lollipops of life… Is that so wrong?
By the way, here’s that list. Get a nice dose of positivity before Margaret tells you which shelf help book nearly ruined her life.
A brand new year is always exciting! We are filled with anticipation, we resolve to achieve our goals and we set out to conquer the world. Given that this is a fantastic time to reflect and plan, here are 100 tips to make 2011 the best year of your life.
- Know that you have a mission.
- Gain perspective.
- Embrace challenges.
- Surround yourself with people who are on the same page.
- Seek out mentors who can inspire your path.
- Define your personal and professional boundaries.
- Clarify what your skills are worth.
- Reinvent yourself.
- Think of yourself as a corporation.
- Learn to act instead of react.
- Take advice only from people who’ve been in your shoes.
- Eliminate distractions.
- Grow your focus.
- Watch your thoughts. They play a role in your reality.
- Pay attention to details.
- Learn to listen more.
- Look beyond appearances.
- Practice more gratitude.
- Increase your stamina.
- Meditate. If you don’t, learn.
- Know your priorities.
- Write out your goals in full. Be specific.
- Under-promise and over-deliver.
- Keep your word.
- Maintain integrity.
- Take a leap of faith.
- If you have a dream, go for it.
- Keep your plans to yourself.
- Speak less and do more.
- Don’t settle.
- Take time to smell the roses.
- Go to sleep early.
- Make that phone call.
- Need help? Ask.
- Make your own opportunities.
- Refine your mannerisms.
- Be mindful of what you accept into your mind.
- Read more.
- Think savvy but be humble.
- Accept your present situation as is. It won’t last forever.
- Flow instead of resist.
- Surrender.
- Have faith.
- Be a leader.
- Remember that money is not everything, but satisfaction is.
- Be authentic.
- Expect more from yourself.
- Remember that you are the creator of your destiny.
- Apply more passion to everything that you do.
- Define your vision.
- Remember that patience is a virtue.
- Breathe when in doubt.
- Remember that perseverance is king.
- Stay motivated and pass it on.
- Speak with more clarity.
- Declutter your environment.
- Make time to be with family.
- Remember that every setback is a set-up.
- Be more creative.
- Think outside the box.
- Don’t follow the herd.
- Carve out your own niche.
- Be bold. Be brave.
- Trust your instincts.
- Know your worth.
- Ignore your haters.
- Don’t brag. Let your efforts speak for themselves.
- Remember that timing is everything. Don’t give up.
- Use more logic than emotion.
- Cultivate discipline.
- Know your values.
- Beware of temptation. It comes in many forms.
- Think twice before you act.
- Know your weaknesses.
- Acknowledge the one/ones who gave you an opportunity.
- Say “thank you” to everything — the good, the bad and the ugly.
- Be the kind of person you’d want to meet.
- Say no to distractions.
- Follow your bliss.
- Remember that clarity precedes manifestation.
- Remember that your life matters, and you matter.
- Remember that failure is not a option.
- Surround yourself with people who know more than you.
- Eliminate jealousy.
- Eliminate competition from your mind.
- Do not compare yourself with others. It will cost you.
- Eliminate shortsightedness.
- Practice long-term thinking.
- Build credibility.
- Remember that greed is not an ally.
- Build your life on your terms.
- Take care of yourself.
- Know your opponents.
- Know your limits.
- Preparation invites opportunity.
- Take responsibility. Refuse to cast blame.
- When in doubt, walk away.
- Ask for what you want.
- Remember that love knows where to find you.
- Remember that determination unlocks the door to your potential.
Now, for those of you who don’t know her, may I introduce Margaret Smith
Judith,
Thank you for the invitation to contribute to your website. We can talk percentages later. I accept your generous offer for two reasons. You are a friend and I only take jobs that don’t require a resume, not to mention your open invitation to winter in Canada any time I want to be physically uncomfortable on top of spiritually drained.
Truth be told, I have been on leave of absence from comedy. Many say “Oh, it’s been hard since nine eleven.” Though it’s tempting to jump on that bandwagon, nine eleven wasn’t what rocked my world and left me wondering what I wanted to do with the rest of my life. It was that nasty little book, The Secret.
You probably don’t’ even remember it. It’s the little book that could. Could what? Bring negativity to its knees. Yes. It’s the book that gave negativity a bad rap and sent me into a downward spiral. It just about ruined me. Who am I without negativity? It got so bad I couldn’t even say I had a cold without someone telling me I was being negative. I would protest, “I’m dot being degative. I just have a cold.”
Here’s a secret about me and you can only tell three people. I am hopeful 98% of the time. I spend 2% of my time at Smith-family events. Do the math. Even I can only take seeing so many alcohol related injuries at a time.
Let me tell you another secret about me. I’ve been working “The Secret” my whole life. But here’s my secret ingredient: I work “The Secret” backwards. That’s right. I’ve been working “The Secret” backwards my whole life. That’s how I make people laugh. I don’t ask what’s right with people. I ask what’s wrong with people.
It’s my job to make people laugh at their problems. I honor the shadow side. That’s why I don’t need to drink. Drinkers like to be positive. And they’ll crash their pretty cars to do it. Look, Christmas is special because it’s not every day. The one who shines the light does so from darkness. The chicken crossed the road to get to some shade. Consider me the shade on your bright website Judith.
Check out Margaret’s website www.Margaretsmithproductions.com
