Lists I’ve found are a great way to explore a topic, generate some interest in a subject and provide enough variety that it is not only quick to read, but quick to relate to many aspects.  All this while hopefully adding some value to what is read in new ideas, unheard suggestions or simply by giving reminders of what might be known dead inside you already.  I certainly find that in reading lists from other people.

This was my most difficult list I’ve made and while I was hoping to make a list of 100 ways to be more humble, I really struggled coming up with unique ideas that didn’t have too much overlap and were not just a large list of different words or minor actions to be more humble.  I hope you will find some value in this list, it has certainly given me a lot to think about, a lot to still learn in being humble and an eye opener to realize how far from this I actually am.  While I hope many of these are true in my life I know they are a continuous struggle and I’m sure others can relate or add even more ideas to the list, which I would love to see in your comments!

Please have a look at my short series from 2 years ago on being humble in the article pages here or from the free PDF download in my resources area, called, Being Humble.

1. Use the response “It’s My Pleasure” when someone thanks you for doing something.
2. Use the response “I’d be honored” when someone asks you to help them or do something with them.
3. Listen more than you talk
4. Count to 3 before adding to a conversation to ensure the other person is done
5. Be willing to follow another person in conversation even if you don’t get to talk about your idea
6. Always offer to improve someone else’s idea and give them credit
7. Give credit for other’s ideas that you are carrying through on
8. Ask others for the opinion of others
9. Ask others to join conversations and contribute


Artwork by Adam Stone

10. It’s OK to be wrong and so admit it
11. Admit when you don’t understand or know something
12. Appreciate others who learn something quickly and say so
13. Be quick to apologize when you do something wrong
14. Study moral principles
15. Use moral principles to guide you
16. You are God’s creation, not your own
17. Recognize your talents as gifts, not your own ability
18. Know how your skills have only be developed by the help of others
19. Share your own knowledge to pass on what you have learned
20. Pass on thanks when you receive it to those who helped you achieve what was thanked
21. Value other people’s time as much as your own
22. Never equate time spent with people to a dollar value
23. Don’t boast about your achievements, let others recognize them instead
24. Keep your goals to yourself
25. Help other people with their goals
26. Realize the potential in others
27. Know that timing is everything and everyone excels at different times in life
28. Being the 1st follower is often the best way to lead
29. Since winning isn’t everything, you don’t have to win
30. Recognize that you have faults
31. Remember you are a sinner (in other words, you are no better or worse than anyone else)
32. Ignore first impressions of people
33. Give others the benefit of the doubt
34. Provide positive and encouraging feedback instead of criticism
35. Make a choice to act more humbly
36. Practice at least one humble act each day
37. Be grateful for successes without boasting about them
38. Know how to accept praise with a simple thank you, don’t elaborate on it or talk more about it
39. Recognize the individualism of others and yourself, there is no need to conform
40. Share your core values and live them accordingly regardless of the circumstances
41. Prioritize things in your life and rate your actions on whether to followed that priority or not
42. Rate other people as first, be less significant
43. Forgive those who wrong you and move on without revenge or lashing back
44. Serve others and not yourself first
45. Seek wisdom, which is knowledge of what is true coupled with just judgment of action
46. Recognize and know that you know little and there is always more to learn
47. Avoid explosive reactions, and subside any aggression
48. Accept new ideas and change, not being stuck on what you knew before
49. Teach all that you can for the benefit of others
50. Learn from and model the life of the most humble teachers in history (Jesus, Gandhi, Mother Teresa, Buddha, etc)

Posted by Mike King under Success | 70 Comments »

I have another guest post this week and have to say, this is an entertaining one on typical job searching irony.  I hope you appreciate the humor as much as I do!

Have you ever wondered why so many people hate Mondays? Obviously it’s because they hate to go to work. But why would you hate to go to work? Why would you even apply for a job that you hate? These sound like naïve questions, but they truly are not. If a job is not the right fit for you, the best advice I can give you is to give it a pass. You’ll save yourself and your prospective employer a big waste of time. But, I’m here to help. If you insist on applying for a job that you are bound to hate, try these tips - they might just help!

1. Apply only for jobs within a particular salary range. Of course, you have to feed your family, pay your rent, and keep the cable guy in business. But is that high paying job really worth the misery? If you think it is, then go through the job listings with that salary range in mind. If you want to be absolutely certain that you don’t end up with a lower paying job, mention your preferred salary range in your cover letter. There are plenty of employers out there who will appreciate your slavish insistence on money over job satisfaction.
2. Apply only for jobs within a particular geographic location. I know, you like the city you live in, you grew up there, and your entire family lives there. And having a support network of friends and family can be important if you have kids. But ask yourself if that support network is really worth the daily grind of working at a job that makes you groan and hide your head under the pillow every morning when your alarm goes off.
3. Apply only for jobs in a large company with plenty of room for advancement. You don’t want to suffer in that entry-level job forever. Nobody does. But the days when the average worker started in the mailroom and worked his or her way up to become the CEO of a large company are long gone. I’m not saying that you can’t do that, but you are much more likely to work your way up the ladder of success quickly if you are willing to make horizontal jumps from one company to another – and that means that it doesn’t really matter if you work for a small organization or a large one. As for becoming CEO one day – that’s not likely to happen unless you start your own company. But if working your way up in one company is your dream, by all means, go for it. But don’t say I didn’t warn you.
4. Apply only for jobs that offer good benefits and plenty of vacation time. I cannot overemphasize this point – it is all important when you are searching for a job that you plan to hate. After all, if you hate your job, you will want plenty of time off from it. And you certainly are going to need good health insurance for all the stress-related ailments you are likely to develop. Plan now for the diverticulitis, weight gain, depression, fatigue and heart attack that may lie in your future!
5. Apply only for jobs that have regular 9 to 5 hours. Again, this point cannot be overemphasized. If you hate your job, the last thing you want is to have it encroach on your personal time. You don’t want to be working late hours or weekends. You are going to be miserable enough as it is! Why prolong the agony?

If you insist on applying for a job that you are bound to hate, go ahead and try my tips. But I have to tell you that I can think of one, and only one reason to set your cap for a job you hate. If you spend enough
time miserable at work, you will be able to really, truly appreciate the movie Office Space.

Brendan Cruickshank (Vice President of Client Services) – Brendan is a veteran of the online job search and recruiting industry, having spent the past 8 years in senior client services roles with major sites like Juju.com and JobsInTheMoney.com. He is quoted regularly as an expert in employment and jobs trends in major media outlets like the Washington Post, US News & World Report, and Forbes and has spoken at recruiting industry events such as Onrec and Kennedy Information’s Corporate Recruiting Conference.

Posted by Mike King under Business | 10 Comments »

And Still Have Time For Lunch

Author : Orna W. Drawas

It’s funny have easy it is to judge a book by its cover without meaning to.  I’m still not really sure why, but I guess partly from the title or images on the cover, I never expected this book to be a solid book or useful tips, recommendations and details about top performance.  It turns out, that initial impression was way off and ever chapter I read, I continued to be impressed with the content in this fairly short book.  The different angles of the book and analogies given are a refreshing change as well from the usual business situations for every example which I found to be creative and easy to understand how they can be applied not only in business, but in life.

The other main aspect of this book that I really liked was that it wasn’t too business focused.  It hit the mark in many areas of personal achievement and taking a serious look at life to put what’s important first and the rest aside.  I really value that and find it gets lost in many business books or books on top performance since they often have a narrow focus of achievement.  Drawas clearly balances work and life and many of the steps and tips are about not only discovering that but making the most use of that understanding in life then as well.

Many areas are covered and here are just a few of the highlighted areas:

• Separate the relevant from the irrelevant
• Get the job done quickly
• Schedule time for your priorities
• Free yourself from the terrors of your email inbox
• Focus to do a few BIG things, not a bit of everything
• A brilliant section and advice on handling interruptions in workday
• Delegation
• Meetings, handling them, making then useful
• Action lists
• Goals and purposeful activities

As you can see, these topics cover a wide range but I was impressed with the conciseness of each one and the excellent advice.  A end of the book is completely devoted to then applying these techniques in the workplace as well and Drawas doesn’t give the usual cliche style of implementation or old advice.  There are solid methods and steps to introduce each of these into a workplace and I believe this is the true value of the book then when it comes to implementing any of these.  You are not let guessing how to start or what to do with them, its all outlined.

There is certainly much of the content with the same processes and concepts as I’ve seen from other experts, authors and personal experience in this book so it is not all new, but it is a fresh reminder at the very least and in many places, quite insightful even though the topics may be know to you already.  I’d say this book overall deserves a very high rating as its an easy read, practically a business guidebook on all things you should know and it can help anyone to balance some things in their life with more purpose and planning, so I highly recommend it.

Posted by Mike King under Book Reviews | No Comments »

I have an exciting offer for everyone today and that is for a free copy of a book galley (a prereleased copy) of a new book by Peter Guber called “Tell To Win”. I have been given one from the publishers as a copy to review myself and an additional offer to give one away to my readers here.  They describe the book as:

In Tell to Win, Guber shows how to move beyond soulless Power Point slides, facts, and figures to create purposeful stories that can serve as powerful calls to action. Among his techniques:

• Capture your audience’s attention first, fast and foremost
• Motivate your listeners by demonstrating authenticity
• Build your tell around “what’s in it for them”
• Change passive listeners into active participants
• Use “state-of-the-heart” technology online and offline to make sure audience commitment remains strong

As most of you know, I love story telling and believe it is a powerful tool to motivate and engage people.

How to Win a FREE advanced copy of the book?

1. Simply make a comment about why you enjoy story telling or what you think it is useful for
OR
Tell a short story about a time where storytelling has helped you.

2. You must include your email address in your comment so that if you win, you can be contacted.

We’ll randomly select a winner on the 23rd of January and send them their copy.   NOTE (Update Jan24, 2011):  Stidar has been selected from the comments as the winner so congratulations and thanks everyone for your comments on this book!  And again, thanks to the publisher for offering this extra copy for the give away, and I hope you enjoy the book very much!

Posted by Mike King under Life | 6 Comments »

My friend Armen over at TimelessInformation had a great post that really got me thinking in a brief discussion and comment with him and still afterwards now.  His article titled Quality, Traffic and Criticism, included a piece about communities that form within sites or blogs and how some accept criticism and debates and others turn a cold shoulder and send visitors who challenge them away.   This practice of embracing visitors and welcoming a discussion I believe is a true demonstration of keeping an open mind.  On the other hand, bloggers and forums that tell people to leave if they don’t like something or agree with it, shows clearly how close minded they are.

Armen mentioned this is a sign of needing acceptance from their group and I think this very accurate!  When someone is not open minded, they tend to seek approval for what they believe in and don’t have the confidence to consider something else and then defend their point of view constructively or objectively.

Open Mindedness Stems From Beliefs

On the other hand, someone who is open minded will most importantly know that they could be wrong and that beliefs may change and likely will over time.  This is important since so much we do is shaped by our beliefs, having an understanding of those beliefs truly shapes our characters and in this case, how open minded we are.

• You cannot be open minded and never willing to let a belief change.
• You cannot be open minded and avoiding a debate you have not yet had because of some unknown risk to that belief.
• You can be open minded by knowing how your beliefs have changed in the past.
• You can be open minded by knowing that your beliefs are going to change again as you learn more about yourself and about life.

Kill the Need For Acceptance

So as Armen mentioned, being open minded can have a lot to do with acceptance as well.  To have an open mind, it is important to accept oneself but not be burdened by seeking acceptance from others.  The reason for this is because it is very easy to be locked into a mindset of way of doing things when struggling to be or stay accepted by others.  That struggling for acceptance will limit how open you are to change and new ways of thinking or behaving.  To change this, you must kill the need for acceptance  and be willing to risk change.  Know that there are possibilities to find acceptance in new things and by new people as well, but don’t rely on having or you will struggle to move on to new things.

Have New Experiences

Experiences teach us more than any other activity and the more a person experiences and the more variety in those experiences, the more likely they will be to have an open mind.  Everyone knows someone or has some experience travelling to, learning about or living in difficult cultures and it can be very revealing.  Things can be done differently by others and seeing this helps us to realize that we don’t have to do everything the same way as may have learned it or developed habits with.  Variety in our experiences quickly teaches us to explore life, to seek out new exciting things around us and to not limit to what is already known.  This ties to tightly to learning I am very passionate about this.  Having new experiences gives us a lot to learn from and every time we learn, we carve away our borders of certainty and become a bit more open to change and new ideas.  This is very important for having an open mind.  Locking out new experiences and living life without new experiences creates a type of security in our minds that resists change. And I mean resisting change without a reason for standing up against it.

Embrace Change

So as I just mentioned new experiences bring about change.  Its inevitable and how we react to that change is really what shapes out openness.  Do you embrace the changes you face in life or do you resist them?  Are you optimistic that a change will have a good outcome or do you fear the worst?  Being optimistic and not being afraid of new things will help you embrace change and to have an open mind.  Embracing change is more than just accepting it as well, its really about seeking change and even promoting it or hoping for it.  Change is a powerful tool to shape the way we think and understanding how quickly our thinking is formed lets us look readily for change and what benefits can come about from it.

Expand Your Social Circle

Another way to learn to have an open mind is through your friends and relationships.  Every person is such a unique individual with their own perspective on life shaped their own experiences, there is a lot to be learned in relationships with others.  Having a variety of friends and lots of social interaction inevitably leads to discussions about experiences, stories and shared opinions, debates and likely disagreements.  All these things challenge what you know and think about and its a fantastic way to explore new ideas, learn from others and to create a need to have an open mind.  The social environment with others relates back to the topic of acceptance I mentioned above and its common for people to use acceptance positively in this situation.  Seeking out new friendships and connections often forces some level of compromise and acceptance of the other person in order to get along with them.  This acceptance of other people and their ideas helps you to be more open minded  and willing to consider something you may not have on your own otherwise.  So, if you want to know how to have an open mind, expanding and seeking a wide set of friends and social circle is a great way to do it!

Nurture Your Creativity

Creativity is the last area I consider important in learning how to have an open mind.  Being creative and doing creative activities help to develop right brain thinking, which also enables us to think outside the box and not be as limited and close minded about life and our experiences.  Take opportunities to develop and nurture your creativity by actively taking on hobbies, writing, creative content creation or building things, basically anything that requires you to be creative.  Many people have this opportunity in their work as well which is a fantastic way to truly nurture creativity.  Whenever you can, participate or volunteer for creative projects to practice and develop more creativity.  Natural creativity and open minded thinking go hand in hand, as you must let your mind seek new things and be creative to truly have an open mind.

Posted by Mike King under Learning | 17 Comments »

I’m happy to have another great guest post today on the obviously timely topic of revamped resolutions.  This guest post is by Maxine Dee who first contacted me after a recent article about small things that make a big impact to others.

Part of her original contact was the following: “I was greatly touched by Unnoticed Significance which was such an incredible reminder of the power that every human being possesses and the simplicity of putting it to work. The innate gratefulness that Jim had for what he was blessed with also resonated with me and I was actually writing to suggest a guest post about how your simple story has inspired me to transform a yearly tradition.”

Maxine made several other comments about how seeking resolutions that are focused on contributing to the lives of other people instead of ourselves is a great way to ensure we actually accomplish our resolutions and that they are worth pursuing through the entire year.  I couldn’t agree more and so I’m happy to have her article on this subject.

More often than not, our busy lifestyles reduce our commitments to things that are convenient.

Although much of life is about the small things, it also means being part of something bigger than we are. For me, this ‘something bigger’ is how my decisions and actions have a ripple effect on the world. This year I’m revamping my resolutions with the idea that small actions based in good will positively impact someone else’s life – and that feels very good to me! With that in mind, here are a couple of things you can do to make a lasting impression on those in need, and hopefully bring about a new state of awareness for yourself too:

January - Purchase more fair trade goods for daily use.

Fair Trade involves providing sustainable economic solutions for developing countries by placing a fair price on goods exported to developed countries. Most of these fair trade companies have a mission – to improve the lives of those who create their products. Companies like Gianna Fair Trade and People Tree empower individuals to become self-sufficient. Consumers in developed countries that purchase these fair trade goods pay slightly above market, but in many cases the price is still comparable to something mass-produced and the quality is the same. Fair trade helps small businesses to thrive and stimulates the income of these developing countries.

February - Donate blood and save a life.

Blood and blood products are vital necessities in hospitals and other health institutions. When blood is in high demand, many individuals have to go without – this could spell the difference between life and death. By volunteering to provide blood and blood products, you are potentially saving a life. Get screened as a donor or participate in local blood drives; either way, you are providing a great service.

March - Participate in tree planting projects for a better environment.

Deforestation has largely depleted our natural forests. Trees are part of a fragile ecosystem that allows humanity to grow and thrive as a species. This year, you can pledge yourself to future generations by engaging in tree planting drives organized by your local community or other environmental organizations. Every tree you plant ensures a better place to live in for yourself and your children.

April - Volunteer for feeding programs.

Food is one of our most basic and most essential necessities. It is sad indeed that many people are without it. This year you can help the hungry by volunteering at nearby soup kitchens, hosting a fundraiser, or by donating money or non-perishable food items. By giving others access to the simplest of needs, you can help them get back on their feet and get on their way to living a better life.

May - Use Organic products and save Mother Earth.

The use of organic products has been gaining huge momentum, and its usage spans generations. There are many organic and/or environmentally friendly alternatives for many of  today’s necessities, from shampoo to garbage bags. By using products derived from organic sources, you can help lessen the biological waste burden generated by non-biodegradable materials. Organic products easily degrade when disposed of, unlike their non-biodegradable counterparts. When shopping, check the packaging of the products you buy and if possible search for organic alternatives.

June - Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.

If you aren’t yet doing all you can to involve yourself in recycling, now’s the time to do so. Check local resources to ensure that you’re recycling what your town waste management accepts, and separate accordingly. Another tip is to reuse products, such as cardboard and paper, to alleviate the burden on our forest population. You can help make the world a better place for everyone.

July - Assist charities.

Getting involved on a regular basis with a charity is satisfying for many people. There are many opportunities within charities, and many are driven by their volunteer force. Choose one that is close to your heart or utilizes one of your talents. Carpenters are desired by charitable organizations, such as Habitat for Humanity. There are other ways to support charities, usually by word of mouth and purchasing products whose proceeds go to the charity. For example, Trekstock, a hip English charity that raises funds for Teenage Cancer Trust, has a wild website that caters to rock and rollers and their style. Trekstock puts on shows in the UK, but anyone, anywhere can purchase their t-shirts, bags, and ephemera created by some very cool designers. Pick a charity that speaks to you and donate your time, money, or energy in any way that you see fit.

August - Go on a volunteer vacation.

Instead of taking in the sights, why not offer to help your fellow man? Some states and countries offer a variety of outreach projects that get you involved with the local residents. Not only do you immerse yourself in a different culture but you also help others maintain their livelihoods.

September - Help the elderly.

Our elderly population is often neglected in American communities. By volunteering to accomplish little tasks for them, you can provide great help and, at the same time, learn something new and interesting by listening to their stories.

October - Donate your clothes to charity.

This month, take stock of everything you have and everything you can live without. Providing others with shoes and clothing will truly warm your heart and make a difference.

November - Keep your community clean.

Start where you live and participate in clean-up drives to beautify your community. Involving your family in such activities as harvesting a local community garden or cleaning hiking trails, teaches future generations the importance of doing something good for their community.

December - Raise your awareness.

Get yourself ready for next year’s resolutions by researching worthy causes online. Ask friends and neighbors about their favorite charities and causes.

With the year almost over, it’s time to stop and take stock of all that’s happened. For most of us, it’s time to list those New Year’s Resolutions. Some folks will have their resolutions all mapped out, while for others will take their time thinking about what to do to make the coming year more worthwhile. Here’s some food for thought: Why not make resolutions that last?

Maxine is a dedicated mother who works to instill in her children the ideas of giving, charity and frugality so they have a solid foundation for their future. When not with her family, she works for Treetopia, a seller of artificial Christmas trees. The Christmas tree sale this holiday season was particularly busy but a great reminder for her of the need to balance work and family.

Maxine is a dedicated mother who works to instill in her children the ideas of giving, charity and frugality so they have a solid foundation for their future. When not with her family, she works for Treetopia, a seller of artificial Christmas trees. The Christmas tree sale this holiday season was particularly busy but a great reminder for her of the need to balance work and family.

Posted by Mike King under Success | 2 Comments »