Ricardo Miller's Blog, page 9

Deal Equally Well with Success & Failure

In life, there will be ups and downs. There will be days where everything you do is a win and there will be days when it will feel as though nothing is going your way.

It is critically important you learn how to properly deal with success and failure on your journey to living life effectively.

If you try many things, if you live a life of adventure, you will have a lot of success, but you will also have a lot of failure. It’s just the way life is. Don’t let the failures take your joy.

I’ve come to learn and accept that a few failures don’t make you a failure and a few successes do not make you a success. There is so much more to living life effectively. We have to learn how to live beyond a few successes or a few losses.

Guess what you must understand? Things are never as good as you think they are when everything’s going well. On the other side, things are never as bad as you think they are when things are going crappy.

Here’s what I would like for you to start incorporating in your managing success and failure:

1. Recognize and accept your emotions.

2. Don’t make it personal.

3. Don’t worry about what anyone else will think.

4. Take the right amount of responsibility.

5. Use failure as a way to improve.

Winning and losing with grace is what living life effectively is all about. This is something you can learn to do.

There are going to be sunny days and stormy days. That’s just a fact. No matter what happens in your life, you don’t need to allow it to define you.

As you read this week’s blog, I want you to commit to learning how to live progressively in how you respond to both your success and failing moments. Don’t let success define you and don’t let failure define you.

Commit to live based on your life’s vision and your dedication to maximizing your potential.

Make plans to attend our Effective Living Fitness Bootcamp on Saturday, November 13 at 8:00 a.m. We'll be in Dallas and be looking for you! You can register now on our website to attend our event.

Learn From the Failure of Others

Eleanor Roosevelt once said, “Learn from the mistakes of others. You can’t live long enough to make them all yourself.”

I’ve been living in this world for 45 years and I’m so grateful that I’ve been surrounded by some incredible people who’ve had huge failures and that I was able to learn from them. I’m of the belief that experience is not the best teacher but learning from someone else’s experience is the best teacher.

On our journey to living life effectively, someone else’s failure can be a much greater teacher to us.

If you don’t learn from the first time you do something incorrectly, you’ll continue to do it the same way in the future. But that mentality can be improved. Why learn solely from your mistakes when you can learn from the mistakes of others?

In fact, according to a recent study by two researchers at Bristol University in England, we learn from our mistakes, but it turns out that we could learn more from others’ mistakes.

Learning from others requires a different approach than focusing inward. As a case in point, even though you may be comfortable admitting your mistakes, and learning from them, others may not be. While most people enjoy touting their success, admitting their shortcomings doesn’t come easy.

Learning the hard way is to learn from our mistakes.
Learning the easy way is to learn from the mistakes of others.

Learn from other people’s failure, learn from your mistakes, and learn from those who are mostly experienced. Failures are feedback, and every failure holds a lesson. Today, I want to encourage you to watch other people like a hawk and when they falter, take notes for your learning purposes.

Courage is certainly required in this life. I say this because failure is such a huge part of living — it happens to us all. So, is there a lesson to be learned from failure?

Successful people seem to think so. Thomas Edison shared it was “ten thousand failures” that led to the final success of a working light bulb. Therein lies a lesson about failure: keep moving forward regardless of failure or the number of failed attempts and make a commitment to learn from all forms of failures.

Failure is for everyone, but success is for those who learn from the failure of others.
Married couples, invest quality time with your spouse with The Marriage Deck, from our partner, Rosemary Winbush. Visit her website to learn more about this 100-card tool that is designed to help you strengthen your marriage: www.rosemarywinbush/products.
I encourage you to consider one of our coaching programs. I have more than 20 years of experience helping others maximize their potential and reach their goals. We offer one-on-one coaching and group life management coaching. Both programs will help you get to where you want to be. There is a life you promised yourself. Don't forget about it. Let me help you.

Growth Requires Pain

There is a topic many people are not prepared to sit down and discuss. However, this sensitive topic is one I think is critically important. It’s a topic we have to accept as basic truth on our journey to effective living. That topic: Growth requires pain.
If someone had shared with me, growth requires pain, growing up as a little boy in the Bahamas, I truly believe I would have not run away from most of the challenges that came my way as they were simply painful, yet necessary on my journey to becoming a man.
You can live a long time and never come to realize your avoidance of pain could be limiting your growth and/or maximizing your potential.
The truth of the matter is that physical, mental, and emotional growth requires physical, mental, and emotional strain. That is not easy to accept in a world where everybody wants acquiring tremendous success easy.
I want you to become your best self. It is important you understand, no pain equals no gain. If it isn’t uncomfortable, you have not reached your limit. If it doesn’t hurt, you aren’t growing. Let me say that again. If it doesn’t hurt, you aren’t growing.

I want you to accept the fact that an active mind requires an active body. Please don’t be afraid of pain but do appreciate its purpose.
Do be wary of pain. While some pain is growth, some pain is a warning. We must become extremely smart at identifying when is pain a warning versus when pain is a growth opportunity.
During our personal development it is critically important we learn to push through the pain and conquer the obstacles. Regardless of what you think today, it won’t matter five years from now. Don't be afraid. Push through the temporary pain that often keeps so many people from acquiring greatness.

Don’t be afraid of sacrifice and never run from the fight. Be fearless in the face of difficulty. Embrace the pain that will allow you to grow.

GROWTH is painful. CHANGE is painful. But nothing is as painful as staying stuck somewhere you don’t belong. Pain is everywhere. That's life. No pain, no gain. But the pain I don't want to experience is the pain of regret.

No matter what others think, you are good enough, smart enough and worthy enough to succeed in anything you DECIDE to pursue. I believe in you!!! Embrace the pain on your way to the top!
My team invites you to join us as we celebrate my birthday on Friday, October 8 at 6:30 p.m. We'll be at Sports & Social, inside Texas Live! Come in your best all-white and help me celebrate!

Why Time is Money

Most people have heard the famous quote by Benjamin Franklin, “Time is money”.  He used the quote in his book, Advice to a Young Tradesman, and it means time should be spent wisely so that one can earn money. If this time is wasted, then all the opportunities to make money are lost.
Over the years, I’ve met so many individuals who talk about how they want more money but are lacking in understanding of the full concept of money.
I’ve come to realize Franklin’s famous quote, “Time is money”, is an easier concept to explain in regard to opportunity versus cost.

The whole concept of time having value attached to it is something most people, I believe have not captured. The concept of time is money is so real, yet too many people don’t take the time to study why this is so commonly stated.

When we say, “Time is money”, we actually mean saving your time is equal to saving money. It is a famous phrase that glorifies the importance of time and gives us the idea that once the time is lost, it cannot be regained. This is how we justify the concept of time equals money.

I’ve been teaching all of my coaching clients, DAYS ARE EXPENSIVE.

Please remember, if you want to change the world, it’s going to cost money. And it will likely cost a great deal of it. Money is an amoral tool, and its virtue is determined only by the character of its user. Money is not evil. The worship of money is. I’ve recently taught a webinar, “Make that Money” and it’s been life-changing for many people. You can learn about future life-changing webinars by signing up for our weekly email list HERE.

Success and failure of a person depends on how wisely he/she spends time. Those who utilize their time wisely, surely will attain success. As a part of our Effective Living community, I want you to understand the value of both your time and money.

Most people value money more than time, but time is money. When you waste time on things that don't pay you, YOU LOSE!

So, go ahead and start reminding yourself, Time is Money and Money is Time. I’m not playing with neither!
Married couples, invest quality time with your spouse with The Marriage Deck, from our partner, Rosemary Winbush. Visit her website to learn more about this 100-card tool that is designed to help you strengthen your marriage: www.rosemarywinbush/products.
Have you heard about our Life Management Group Coaching? We offer coaching in a group setting to help you manage your life in every area. We declared 2021 is the year to win in every area. If you are not seeing your wins in 2021, you still have time. I encourage you to sign up to be part of the group coaching to maximize the 3 ½ months remaining this year. Let’s win together!

Reduce Distractions & Increase Your Focus

Learn to Say NO!

I’m on a mission to grow and become successful in every area of my life. I hope you will join me on the journey towards your own success in every area. This week, I want you understand, we have to make the decision to become laser focused on our journey to living life effectively.

So many people are unaware of what keeps them from producing at the highest level. Over the years, I’ve learned distractions can keep me from becoming what God has created me to be.

I’ve come to appreciate that learning to say “no” can put you in charge of your workload and help you set boundaries with others. Without these boundaries, you may be more prone to burnout and poor time management. I’m amazed by the number of people who are distracted from all of the chaos in this world and complain of not having sufficient time.

Until we focus, we cannot achieve our goals. It can be hard to focus and concentrate, but those skills can be learned. As a life coach, I’ve become really good at helping my clients achieve success as I help them focus and concentrate on their goals.

We live in an interruption-based culture that can be damaging to productivity. Most of the time, notifications from electronic devices only adds to the distractions.

In fact, many people are so used to being interrupted that when they aren’t, they actually go looking for an interruption! Distractions and constant multitasking can actually hurt you on your Effective Living journey.

You’ve got to become really good at removing distractions. If you’ve been following me for a while, you know I’m a strong believer in the daily to-do list. Removing distractions that take your attention away from your to-do list may help increase your focus.

I want to offer these tips to help you increase your focus and complete the things that count:

1. Have a plan the night before
2. Identify and remove the distractions
3. Set smaller goals
4. Use visual reminders
5. Give yourself a reward.

You can get rid of distractions and increase your level of focus so much more than you’re currently doing right now. Reduce your distractions and increase your focus!

Those of you who are married, our community partner, Rosemary Winbush, has a product that can help you focus on your marriage, called “The Marriage Deck”. Check it out on her website and order your deck of cards today: www.rosemarywinbush.com/products.

If you are in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, be sure to join us at this week’s Effective Living Masterclass! This FREE class will have 3 sessions: Understanding and Identifying Your Purpose; Principles of Progression; and Mastering Time. This is a great opportunity to learn more about the Effective Living lifestyle and connect with other like-minded individuals. While it is FREE to attend, we do need you to register, as space is limited. Find out more and register here: https://www.ricardomiller.com/masterclass.

You Need Positive Self-Talk

What do you say to yourself everyday? Positive self-talk is an inner monologue that makes you feel good about yourself and everything going on in your life. Your inner monologue really does matter. It is necessary to consider what you tell yourself.
Self-talk can be both negative and positive. It can be encouraging, and it can be distressing. Much of your self-talk depends on your personality. If you’re an optimist, your self-talk may be more hopeful and positive. The opposite is generally true if you tend to be a pessimist. Over the years I’ve become really committed to becoming more of a positive thinker…allowing my words to reflect my mindset.

Check in with yourself often. Are you being honest with yourself or are you beating yourself up? Why? What’s really going on and what do you really mean?
You’re not going to live an effective life if you don’t know how to properly speak to yourself. There is an optimistic voice in your head that encourages you to look at the bright side, pick yourself up when you fall and will encourage you to recover even when you fail. Are you listening to that optimistic voice?
Do you know in your spirit that you truly deserve what it is you want?
Having had the opportunity to work with hundreds of people over the years, here’s what I have noticed people are saying to themselves that is contributing to unnecessary stress.
I don’t deserve what I want.
I keep doing stupid stuff that sabotages me.
I’m afraid to get what I want.
I never get what I want.
I must not deserve it.
I’m convinced I don’t deserve it.I have come to realize positive thinking and optimism can be effective stress management tools. Indeed, having a more positive outlook on life can provide you with some major health benefits.
You can become extremely stressed when your self-talk is negative and/or toxic. It is possible for you to say positive words to yourself.  I would like to encourage you to actually think positive about yourself, as well. Both habits of positive words and positive thoughts can be developed with practice.
The Bible teaches us in Philippians 4:8 – “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” (King James Version)
Remember, what you think about yourself and what you say to yourself really does matter in regards to you living life effectively. Stop beating yourself up!
Would you like to learn more about the Effective Living lifestyle? Register today for our Effective Living Masterclass, which will be held Saturday, September 11, 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Space is limited and seats are going quickly! Register TODAY! https://www.ricardomiller.com/masterclass

Why Your Image Matters

PEOPLE SIZE YOU UP IN SECONDS. This is something most people don’t realize that happens on a daily basis. During this week’s blog I want to focus on the fact that your image really does matter.

It is critically important you understand your personal image is the perception that people have about you. It affects your success in every aspect of your life.

Because we live in a world where we have to learn how to get along with people, it is critically important you do what you can to make sure the perception being made about you is correct.

When a person meets you for the first time, their brain makes several quick decisions about you. The process usually takes 7 seconds and it is often unconscious. Some decisions are made even faster and we are totally unaware of it.

First impressions have a huge impact on all further interactions. We all have had that new colleague we instantly liked. We all have had that new boss who we just knew we could never get along with.

ARE YOU BEING JUDGED ACCURATELY?

People want to see the real you, but in a way they can understand easily and fast. Every aspect of your image should support this goal.

Elements of a successful effective living person image:

1. Inspiring: Create enthusiasm and make people feel empowered.

2. Memorable: Stand out from the crowd for the right reasons.

3. Approachable: Be open, communicate clearly and make people feel comfortable around you.

4. Genuine: Remember to be the unique charming you.

5. Engaging: Create lasting relationships and allow people to commit to you.

My conclusion is that your image matters. It should not be neglected nor should it’s impact be underestimated. Everyone has a personal image. People living effectively are in control of theirs.

Make plans to join us for the Effective Living Masterclass, September 11 at 11:00 a.m. in Arlington. Space is limited, so register early!

Poorly Developed Sense of Self

WHAT IS SENSE OF SELF? Quite simply, your sense of self is the identity you carry around all day, every day. It is your sense of “this is me” and “this is not me.”

When we have a strong sense of self, we are able to differentiate ourselves from other people. So many people have not taken the time to identify who they are at their very core. It is necessary to put in the work to identify who you truly are.

Overtime, I’ve come to accept the fact that it is the biological, psychological, emotional, and spiritual destiny of all human beings to create a strong sense of self.

Having a strong sense of self is not only vital in everyday life but is also essential for effective living.

Your sense of self-worth is developed by you and YOU alone, not by the opinions of others.

Everything we're looking for in life resides within us:

- Confidence
- Happiness
- Self-esteem
- Personal vision
- Motivation

These are qualities and characteristics we already possess. We just need to tap into our resources.

Do not spend any more time nor energy worrying about what anyone thinks of you. People are going to think what they think, say what they say, and believe what they believe, and there's nothing you can do about those things. This is why you have to learn to value yourself.

This week I want to challenge you to stop looking for external solutions. The answers to many of your questions reside within you. I teach my coaching clients that your life will not change from the outside in. Transformation occurs from the inside out. That’s the way to do it if you want to live life effectively.

I invite those in the Dallas/Fort Worth area to join us THIS Saturday for our Effective Living 5k Run/Walk Meetup. We’ll meet at 7:00 a.m. at River Legacy Park. We’ll focus on our fitness, while having fun, and enjoy family by connecting with the Effective Living crew. FREE registration is on our website - HERE. Look forward to seeing you there this weekend!

Thank you to our sponsor, Orangetheory Fitness North Texas!

Create an Efficient Mindset

Here at Effective Living Life Management Agency, we want to help you take control of your life. Last week, we looked at knowing what your priorities are. This week, I want to help you take your life to a whole new level with how you best manage yourself. Most people would like to be more efficient. Efficiency is something many people struggle with at some point in their lives.

Just think, you could spend less time doing the things you don’t enjoy and more time on the things that bring you satisfaction and happiness.

Some people are actually very adept at efficiency. They manage every manageable moment so well, that they have more time for themselves, to do the things they love. If you’re going to create a life you don’t need a vacation from this is going to be something you must learn to do as well.

Here are (7) seven tips effectively used by those who are most efficient.

1. Stop Multitasking
2. Delegate
3. Apply Structure to the Schedule
4. Use Appropriate Communication
5. Give Everything a Proper Place
6. Plan Projects
7. Commit to Downtime

Also remember: those who fail to plan, plan to fail. I challenge you, become more skilled in applying the seven tips above and I promise, you will be more efficient moving forward.

Decide now that you’re going to practice being organized and planning ahead. Take time at the beginning of each week to assess what needs to be accomplished.

Efficiency is one way of adding minutes or hours to your day. Everyone wants more time. This week, I’m hosting a special webinar “Time is Money”, within a private Facebook group. The sessions are Monday, August 9 to Friday, August 13 at 6:30 a.m. CST. It’s not too late to join, as replays are available for 30 days. You can register HERE.

Create an efficient mindset! It takes a little planning ahead, but it's necessary to establish and maintain balance in your life.

It’s all about Effective Living. If you are in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, I invite you to join us for our August event, our 5k Run/Walk Meetup, happening Saturday, August 21 at 7:00 a.m. This is a FREE event! Join myself and the Effective Living crew as we incorporate fitness, fun, and family into our lives. Register today!

Know What Your Priorities Are

“Creating and maintaining a balanced life means prioritizing the things that are important.” -Effective Living: Your Guide to Creating a Life You Don’t Need to Take a Vacation From, page 20

Balance. It does not entail cramming in every activity possible.

As we begin a new month, take time to examine your values and decide what's important to you, then set your boundaries.

You may be in the process of building a career, starting a family, or going to school. Depending on what stage you're at in life, your focus and energies will be different.

Avoid becoming overwhelmed by juggling too many big projects at one time in your life.

Not knowing what you want and trying to do everything at once can be a recipe for disaster instead of the road to leading a well-balanced life. Remember, you have the power to create a well-balanced life.

Identify and know your priorities. Then live them each day. Mine are:

1. Faith
2. Family
3. Fitness
4. Finances
5. Fun.

What are your priorities? And how do you manage your time to make sure they are achieved?

As the saying goes, "Do not bite off more than you can chew". I have come to realize and understand life is more about choices and priorities. Those five are what I try to focus on while on my journey to living life effectively.

If you want to know why you are where you are, look at what you have done morning to evening, each day. Having that time of reflection will help you identify where your priorities are and if any adjustments need to be made.

On your journey, my advice to you is to make seeking God daily your highest priority.

I remind my coaching clients often, when your priorities are identified will not find time, YOU WILL MAKE TIME.

I also encourage you to make your health a priority. Those in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area, you are invited to join us for our next event, 5k Run/Walk Meetup. The event is FREE. Join myself and the Effective Living crew as maintain incorporating regular exercise in our lives. We’ll be at the beautiful River Legacy Park in Arlington, Texas on Saturday, August 21 at 7:00 a.m. Register on our website today.