No Excuses!

No Excuses! teaches us that self-discipline is the key to success and gives us practical advice to master it and achieve self-actualization, happy relationships, and financial security.

Self-actualization implies skills and knowledge. You should allocate 3% of your income and a little time every day to move from average to excellence in what you do. What about staying at work a little longer to learn something new, or reading a book instead of watching tv at home?

You can also learn a lot from people who are successful in your field. Observe how they dress and talk. Ask them how you can improve: what books to read, what courses to take.

Self-actualization also requires thinking long-term. Tracy’s Seven-Step Method can help you with that!

Define your goal exactly. For example, if you want to save money, also decide how much. Write down your specific goals. Set a deadline – a realistic one. If your goal is complicated to achieve or requires much time, break it in subtasks setting a deadline for each. Think about the obstacles you may face in the process and the resources you need to succeed, including skills. Then make a list of actionable steps to acquire them. Organize the list by sequence and priority remembering the most beneficial tasks must be completed first. Then add all of them to your calendar. Start today with your first step! Do every day something, even small, to get closer to your goal.

The more you understand that what happens to you is mostly a consequence of your actions, the happier you may be. On the other side, people who feel powerless and at the mercy of external circumstances are usually unhappy. To feel good about yourself, you take control of your life by working on the 5 ingredients of happiness: Financial independence – Working is much better when you know you don’t need to. So try to live with 99% of your income and save 1% to slowly build your freedom from money. Health and energy – You can be truly happy only if you are healthy, with a high level of energy. Don’t worry, it’s never too late to start exercising! And also to eliminate from your diet the free whites: flour, sugar, and salt. Relationships – Since we are social animals, most of our happiness comes from the positive relations we are able to build. To improve them, stop taking things personally and don’t blame your problems on others. Also, be the first to give what you wish to receive, friendship and forgiveness included! Meaningful work – Doing a job we like makes us happier. But we also like to be engaged and feel useful. We should…