Make the Impossible Possible in 2014

Hello friends, I trust that you had a wonderful holiday. Marchelle arrived home in time for Christmas. Malcolm had to work Boxing Day and only arrived home on Friday. Saturday evening we had our Christmas family dinner. I woke up Boxing Day feeling lightheaded and dizzy and as result I spent most of the day in the ER at Credit Valley Hospital. On Saturday I did a follow up with my family doctor. All my vital signs including blood pressure and red blood cell count are normal. The ECG test performed at the ER did not detect any cardiac (heart) abnormalities. I am not suffering from one of my severe cluster headaches. While I may have over indulge and eaten a lot over the holidays I certainly have not consumed any alcohol. One possible explanation for my experience is that I might be suffering from motion sickness caused by some a virus that result in fluid in my inner ear. The long and short I have been given the green light by the doctors at the ER as well as by my family doctor but I will certainly keep of how well I am improving.

Christmas is a time of giving and sharing and last week Monday and Tuesday morning as well as this morning I spent two to three hours volunteering at Regeneration Outreach Community on Main Street in Brampton. Regeneration cares for the homeless and those at risk of being homeless by providing breakfast seven days of the week. Regeneration also provides a sense of a community and access a number of social services such as clothing, nursing care, clinical foot care, personal hygiene kits, and so much more to the homeless and needy.

For the New Year, I am planning to volunteer some of my time and skills to Regeneration to build on the success of my Holiday Season Food Drive that concluded a week before Christmas day. In January and February I would like to use my skills to help raise awareness for Regeneration’s coldest night of the year fund raising campaign which is February 22, 2014. What are your plans for 2014? How do you plan to make a difference in 2014?

Please allow me to share my thoughts with you today about making the impossible possible in 2014. Few days before Christmas I became aware that astronauts on the International Space Station were conducting a series of urgent repair spacewalks to revive a crippled cooling line. According to the news report a breakdown had occurred that left one of two identical cooling loops too cold. It forced the astronauts to turn off all non-essential equipment inside the orbiting lab, bringing scientific research to a near-halt and leaving the station in a vulnerable state.

I am amazed that we have the technology and ability to carry out a pump replacement about 260 miles up in space. From what I have read the repair job was a risky endeavour. To avert some of the risks the astronauts wore extra safety gear as they floated outside because NASA wanted to prevent a recurrence of the helmet flooding that nearly drowned an astronaut last summer. The astronauts had snorkels in their suits and water-absorbent pads in their helmets. I certainly found the exercise to replace the pump in space incredible fascinated. Think about it. If we are able to replace a pump in space, what else can you and I accomplish?

I also found the attempt to rescue 74 people on board a Russian ship, the Akademik Shokalskiy, trapped by ice in the Antarctica equally fascinated. As one of the researchers mentioned few days ago all the people on the ship are healthy and in very good spirits. The researcher went on to say few years ago researchers trapped by ice in the Antarctica would not be able to communicate with the outside world via Youtube, Skype, Facebook, Twitter and other social medias. However, here we are at the end of 2013, watching one ice breaker ship after another attempting to crack the ice and raising hopes of a successful rescue.

I recounted these two pieces of news to say that in 2014 you can make the impossible possible. If we are able to repair at cooling systems hundreds of miles above earth or if we can use one ship after another to crack ice in Antarctica to rescue researchers on another ship what is it that will be truly impossible to us in 2014? Depending on what you goals are, I would say nothing will be impossible for you in 2014.

Whatever your goals are for the New Year, here are three things you should do to make the impossible possible in 2014:

Take risks and be fearless

Clearly, the pump on the International Space Station needed to be fixed but it involved taking risks. To mitigate some of the risks, NASA took extra precautions to avoid water vapours in the astronauts’ helmets. Life involves taking risks. Taking risks requires that you belief in yourself. You must be so confident in yourself that you are fearless. Your beliefs are powerful. If you believe something is impossible, that belief will erode your confidence and turn that impossible belief into a self-fulfilling prophecy. You will be afraid and you will avoid taking risk. You must confront risk with confidence. We should not be careless or carefree but we have to take risks and be fearless if we want to turn the impossible into possible in 2014.

Control the things you can control

Let us take the 74 people trapped on the Russian ship. They send out tweets, post videos on Youtube, update their Facebook status and in the process keep the rest of us informed on how well they are coping in the face of being distressed in Antarctica. They even manage to celebrate the birthday of one of the female researcher on board. They may be trapped by ice in Antarctica but they are still in control of the things they can control such as keeping in good spirit and keeping us informed. To make the impossible possible in 2014, control the things you can control. For example, you can control your health by eating healthy foods and keeping physically fit by exercising daily. You can keep track of your finances by using a budget. You can document your plans and goals for the New Year.

Think outside the box – think possibilities and not impossibilities

It is unclear whether the pump repair was a part of the mission for the astronauts on the International Space Station but they were obviously prepared. They had the 770lbs (353.8kg) refrigerator-size pump handy which was held by a robotic arm as it was guided to the installation spot. In the Antarctica, the Chinese Ice Breaker ship remains in close proximity in the event the Australian icebreaker the Aurora Australis is unable to reach the stricken ship. The Chinese icebreaker, the Snow Dragon, is on standby at the edge of the ice and within sight of the trapped ship. It has a helicopter on board which could be used in the rescue. The rescuers initial plan is to break through the ice but if that fails they will move to using the helicopter to rescue the researchers. They are not sticking to one solution, they are thinking outside the box. To make the impossible possible in 2014, you must think outside the box. I am optimistic that the 74 people will be rescued despite the adverse weather conditions that forced the Australian icebreaker to suspended efforts to reach an icebound research ship.

As we approach the end of 2013, I encourage you to think possibilities and not impossibilities. In 2014, be prepared to turn the impossible into possible. Look at what you accomplished in 2013 especially what you once thought could never be done. Are you amazed you once thought it was impossible?

In 2014, take some risks and be fearless, control the things you can control and think outside the box. Think possibilities and not impossibilities.

Mark McKenzie is a leading Subject Matter Expert in financial services regulation and supervision as well as a professional motivational speaker, corporate trainer and youth mentor.  He can be contacted by email mastbmckenzie@gmail.com or by telephone 647-406-4622. Read my blog http://mastbmckenzie.blogspot.ca/ and always write me a comment and share. Follow me on Twitter @mackynacky. Connect with me on www.youtube.com, Google+, Facebook and Linkedin.

Merry Christmas

On Sunday, across the GTA and most of Ontario we woke up to the after effects of the worst ice storm since 1998. I spend the day with my wife, Michelle, clearing ice from our front yard. My heart and prayers are with those who have been severely affected by the ice storm.

Christmas is a time of giving and sharing. Right across the GTA there were stories of neighbours helping out each other in the true spirit of Christmas. My neighbour, Allan, used his clippers to help me cut some of the branches off tree that fell across my driveway.

Christmas is also a time of bright lights, happiness and peace but it is also a difficult time for others as my friend Anjula Evans pointed to me this morning in an email. Please allow me to share the email I received from Anjula this morning and a song she wrote about Christmas:

“Sometimes Christmas is full of happiness, family, and seeing old friends. But it isn't for everyone. Some people spend Christmas by themselves, while others grieve the loss of loved ones, especially at those times. Christmas is never the same, once you've lost someone. I wrote a song titled “At This Christmas Time” for a family who had lost their child in a car accident. I had a difficult time recording it, because of the emotional aspects. I remember praying, as I was writing, that I would never have to endure a loss like this. A year later, I experienced a terrible loss. Christmas has never been the same for me since that time. This song has helped me to get through the last few Christmases.” Here's the link to Anjula’s song “At This Christmas Time”.

As we celebrate Christmas this year, let us remember those who are sick, the elderly, those who are affected by the ice storm and other natural disasters, those who are hungry, those without jobs, those in need of love and those who have lost love ones and find this time of the year difficult.

Once again, thank you all for your continued support and encouragement during the year.

May your Christmas be filled with joy, peace and happiness.

Mark McKenzie is a leading Subject Matter Expert in financial services regulation and supervision as well as a professional motivational speaker, corporate trainer and youth mentor.  He can be contacted by email mastbmckenzie@gmail.com or by telephone 647-406-4622. Read my blog http://mastbmckenzie.blogspot.ca/ and always write me a comment and share. Follow me on Twitter @mackynacky. Connect with me on www.youtube.com, Google+, Facebook and Linkedin.

Thank You

Today I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to my family and all the members of Toastmasters Clubs in the cities of Brampton and Mississauga for their generous support and encouragement in making my Holiday Season Food Drive a resounding success. The joy of giving and supporting someone’s dream is indescribable and awesome but I could not have done it without you.

On November 11, 2013 (Remembrance Day) when the project was launched my goal was to collect at least TEN 3.0 cubic feet (18 x 18 x 16) boxes of non-perishable food items to be delivered to the Salvation Army of Brampton on Wednesday, December 18, 2013. On Wednesday, when I made my final delivery to the Salvation Army of Brampton I exceeded my target by at least five (5) boxes. My last delivery was approximately 620lbs making the total donation an estimated 2,000lbs of non-perishable food items.

I am elated but the joy of this journey would not have been possible without the support of my family, and all the members of Toastmasters clubs the cities of Brampton and Mississauga who contributed to the food drive. To my family, thank you for encouraging and inspiring me to follow my dreams and sharing my core value of care. I am especially grateful to my wife, Michelle, who constantly adjusted her schedule so that I could meet my speaking engagements and pick-up donated items. She took the time out of her hectic schedule to accompany me to Trillium’s Holiday Dinner and Party where I had the opportunity to talk about the food drive. She supported me emotionally and accommodated my constant requests to run here and there to collect the donated items. Michelle I always knew that you believed in me and my mission to help those less fortunate than us, thank you. I am also grateful to Michelle’s mother, Mrs. Carmen Smith, for her help in storing and packing some of the boxes. I am thankful for her genuine concern about how I was going get the large boxes out of my basement. On every occasion that I brought home more donated items she would express her concern despite my constant reassurance that I would get someone to help with the heavy lifting,. Mrs. Smith, you exemplify the true meaning of caring for others, thank you.

A special thank to the executive and members of the following Toastmasters Clubs for their participation and generous contribution to my Holiday Season Food Drive: Speak to Inspire, Soar to Excellence, Leaders’ Corner, Leaders In Action, TD Creekside, Trillium, Lamb to Lions, Comfortably Speaking, Chosen Voices, Point of Tale, COMET and City Centre. You constantly provide a friendly environment where others can hone and develop their communication and leadership skills, and for my project you went beyond your core mandate of the Toastmasters program to support a truly worthy cause, thank you.

Over the past four weeks I learned several important lessons one of which was the reaffirmation of the human spirit of true compassion towards our fellow citizens and that most people will go above and beyond to help others succeed. For this reason I am especially grateful to the following individuals – Amparo Cifuentes, Ping Ge, Odecca Ordonez, Anjula Evans, Tuula Redditt, Diana Alandete, Geoffery Sim, Ambreen Khan and Bhushan Rele who went above and beyond to publicise and promote my Holiday Season Food Drive. Neeru Ria, thank you for stepping in at last minute notice to be my replacement speaker when you did as well as for accompanying me on some my visits to collect donated items. 

Faraz Moin and Judy Martin, you are both awesome. Your initiatives expanded my target group and in the process won the hearts of the staff and management of your firms, thank you. To the members of staff and management at Loblaw in Mississauga and Give & Go Prepared Foods Corp in Etobicoke, thank you for your generous contribution.

My friends, there are so many others such Rhonda Templeton, Shalini Alleluia, Bent Fink-Jensen, Stella Zhang, Cora Bryce, Daniel Chin, Jeet Tulshi and Marc Samodee that I must say thank you to and for those individuals I that have not named publicly, I know you too also share my core value of care, thank you. To Gordon Randall, director of the Salvation Army of Brampton, his staff and volunteers thank you for your continuous service to our communities as well as for accommodating my three deliveries.

Today I feel a sense of contentment knowing that through the support of my family and members of Toastmasters clubs in the cities of Brampton and Mississauga I have contributed to the Salvation Army of Brampton’s mission to meet human needs and be a transforming influence in my community by helping to feed those in need.

To my family, fellow Toastmasters and friends, my success is your success. My joy is your joy. Together we have contributed to feeding our fellow citizens. Together we have made a difference this Holiday Season.

Thank You!

Mark McKenzie is a leading Subject Matter Expert in financial services regulation and supervision as well as a professional motivational speaker, corporate trainer and youth mentor.  He can be contacted by email mastbmckenzie@gmail.com or by telephone 647-406-4622. Read my blog http://mastbmckenzie.blogspot.ca/ and always write me a comment and share. Follow me on Twitter @mackynacky. Connect with me on www.youtube.com, Google+, Facebook and Linkedin.

Want to Make a Difference in 2014

“The way to gain a good reputation, is to endeavor to be what you desire to appear.” ~Socrates

Today I will be making the final collection of donated non-perishable food items for my High Performance Leadership project titled Holiday Season Food Drive to benefit the Salvation Army of Brampton.  My goal for this project was to collect at least TEN 3.0 cubic feet (18 x 18 x 16) boxes by December 18, 2013 (today). From all indications I will surpass my goal by about 5 to 10 boxes courtesy of a substantial donation which I will collect today from Give & Go Prepared Foods Corp.

The joy of giving and being able to support someone’s dream to have food and eat this holiday season has led to a sense of contentment that is indescribable. The success and happiness I have experienced on this journey is attributable to the generosity and support I received from Toastmasters clubs and members in the cities of Brampton and Mississauga over the past four weeks. On this journey I have learned that fear can prevent us from doing good things. It was fear that kept me sitting on the fence with this project for more than three years. I also doubted my abilities to successful execute the project as well as I questioned myself in terms of what would I accomplish or how would I benefit from such an initiative. 

Today I can say without a doubt that the level of satisfaction and sense of accomplishment knowing that I have contributed to the Salvation Army of Brampton’s mission to meet human needs and be a transforming influence in my community by helping to feed those in need is awesome. I am also elated by the fact that I did not do it by myself. For this I am truly delighted for the support and encouragement from the people around me and as such I am already planning for 2014. In a later blog I will do an official thank you.

You too can make a difference in your communities in 2014. In 2013, I was able to contribute more to my community by using my time and skills and consequently I experience the sense of belonging and being part of a wider community. This year I mentored more high school and college students and delivered my Leaders Leave Legacy Workshop numerous times. I got involve as co-chair of Terry Fox Elementary Public School council. I got involved as in Toastmasters District 86 as Area Governor in Guelph, Ontario. I advocated against youth violence and human trafficking in the Greater Toronto Area. I was also able to re-connect with Calabar High School in Kingston, Jamaica by getting involved with the Calabar Old Boys’ Association – Canada Chapter. Like me you too can make a difference in 2014 with very little by giving and sharing your time and skills with those who will benefit from you compassion and generosity.

Here a 3 ways in which you can make a difference in 2014:

Create a domino effect

When Faraz Moin saw the flyer for my Holiday Season Food Drive he did not hesitate to participate. He immediately sent out an email to all the members of Point of Tale Toastmasters with a short personal message asking for donations. He created flyers and posted them around his desk at Loblaw so people knew where to drop off the food items. When his manager, Rhonda Templeton saw this, the next day she jumped on board and helped Faraz spread the word within other departments at Loblaw. She made arrangements for Faraz to announce the food drive at their weekly floor huddle, where he confirmed that he and his team would go around and collect food items from people’s desks. They put up flyers all around the building at Loblaw and Faraz constantly send out emails to his peers reminding them on a weekly basis. 

Faraz created a domino effect. Faraz credited his success to the collective effort by the people who decided to help him raise awareness and the people who decided to donate, especially the supply chain teams at Loblaw. When start something that is positive it creates a domino effect for others to join forces with us and consequently we have a greater impact. We don’t all have to find the cure for cancer or radically impact our world like Steve Jobs to make a difference but we can take small actions that counts towards making a difference. Faraz demonstrated that though our collective efforts we were able to make a substantial contribution to the Salvation Army of Brampton.

Be you and be passionate about making a difference

As I mentioned in my post The Joy of Giving, after listening to my 7 minute speech titled “Leaders Leave Legacy” Judy Martin, Sales Analyst at Give & Go Prepared Foods Corp offered to make a substantial contribution to my Holiday Season Food Drive. She said it was a pleasure listening to my “Leaders Leave Legacy” speech and that she could hear my passion for the project in my delivery. The truth is I have experienced tough times or setbacks but I have never had reasons to use the food bank, but what if during my tough times or setbacks I have to rely on the food bank? Would I want others to care about my well-being?

Making a difference in 2014 is about making a connection with the people around you and in your community. This is true secret of service to others. It ensure that both the giver and receiver benefits. As I mentioned above I am not only helping to support someone’s dream to meal this holiday season but I also feeling a sense of satisfaction achieved by being able to make a difference in people’s lives. The reward for me is contentment and recognition that I am part of a wider community in which we should care for each other.

Accept your vulnerabilities and unlimited capacity

On Saturday December 7, 2013 I had to attend a funeral services in Pickering, Ontario and consequently I was unable to keep my commitment to speaking at Soar to Excellence, Lambs to Lions and Comfortably Speaking Toastmasters Clubs in Mississauga. Diana Alandete agreed to collect the donated items on my behalf at Soar to Excellence and Neeru Ria agreed to be my replacement as a speaker at the other two clubs. On December 11, 2013 I was unable to keep my engagement with Speak to Inspire because of a doctor’s appointment for Marisa as well as it was my 20^th wedding anniversary and Michelle had taken the time off work for us to celebrate. Tuula Redditt agreed to collect the donated items for me.

You cannot make a difference if you do not accept your own vulnerabilities. As you would have noted above it would be impossible for me to be in more one places at the same time. A part of my success was recognising that there are others around who are willing to help me achieve my goals. Once you accept your own vulnerabilities and recognise that success is not about me but rather about us you will be able to make a difference.

Tuula wrote me a wonderful email in which she said “leadership is not about doing it all yourself but as a leader having the ability to lead everyone to do the roles. You inspire leaders in others by giving leadership roles to them. Allowing me to help you enjoy your day 20^th anniversary and delivering our club’s donation ourselves gives us a sense of leadership.”

We have to be able to look outside of ourselves if we want to make a difference. The growth that takes place once you start to look outward has unlimited capacity. There is a Buddha quote that says “thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared” which I think is appropriate. Essentially once we start to allow ourselves to grow and others around us to grow we create a domino effect of positive energy that is infinite.

If you want to make a difference in 2014 do the following:

• Create a domino effect
• Be you and be passionate about making a difference
• Accept your vulnerabilities and unlimited capacity

How will you make a difference in 2014?

Mark McKenzie is a leading Subject Matter Expert in financial services regulation and supervision as well as a professional motivational speaker, corporate trainer and youth mentor.  He can be contacted by email mastbmckenzie@gmail.com or by telephone 647-406-4622. Read my blog http://mastbmckenzie.blogspot.ca/ and always write me a comment and share. Follow me on Twitter @mackynacky. Connect with me on www.youtube.com, Google+, Facebook and Linkedin.

Charting the Course for Success in 2014

Hello friends, I trust you had a wonderful weekend and wish you a very peaceful and productive week. On Friday I attended the funeral services for my brother’s wife in NYC. My heart and prayers are with my brother and his children. Please continue to keep them in your thoughts and prayers.

Today I would like to share with my thoughts on charting a course for success in 2014. Last Thursday as I sat in the departure lounge at Pearson International Airport I could not help pondering where all the travelers were going? I could not help wondering what they would be doing when they get to their destinations. Most travelers in an airport usually know where they are heading. But do we always know where we are going in life? Do you know what you would like to accomplish in 2014? Do you have a solid plan for success in 2014? Or you just flying by or making it up as you go along?

As we approach the beginning of a New Year it is time for you to start charting your course for success in 2014. Success is achieved by developing a plan to put your dreams into actions. You need a plan or a roadmap to implement and turn your dreams for 2014 into reality.

You have to plan your work for 2014 and start working your plan. Your plan will be an important component to your success in the New Year. Use the S.M.A.R.T E.R framework when setting your goals that is make your goals specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and time bound. You want set out the big goals that will get you where you want to go. Then break your goals into bite-sized pieces you can accomplish each. To do this you need to create a series of easily attainable goals and work towards accomplishing each. For example in 2013 I started to connect with youth groups, schools, colleges and other community based organisations to promote my Leaders Leave Legacy Workshop and solicit speaking engagements.

You must assess and keep track of your progress. A key requirement for success is accountability. How will you track your progress? In my case I am blogging about my progress. You will want to determine how well you are performing during 2014. As you accomplish those easily attainable goals you want to evaluate and re-evaluate your progress and over time revise or set new goals. You can use a daily, weekly or monthly planner as a tool to manage your time and track your progress towards your deadline. Make adjustments to your plan where necessary. You may need to refocus or change your approach. The key here is to make your plan dynamic. You plan should not be static.

You will need to identify the keys areas in which you will need help from others to succeed. You may also need to collaborate with others who have similar goals and objectives. Remember that that working or collaborating with other like-minded individuals can produce amazing results and help you achieve your goals.

To reach your goals, you must first determine what your goals are and then set a timetable to achieve them. Remember that your plan document your dreams into specific goals with a deadline. The secret of success is planning so write down your goals and your actionable tasks. Make sure your goals are specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and time bound. Remember that no matter how thoroughly you plan you can’t anticipate everything so be flexible.

The start of a New Year is an opportune time to chart your course for success …so let us get going or put action into your plan today for success in 2014.

Mark McKenzie is a leading Subject Matter Expert in financial services regulation and supervision as well as a professional motivational speaker, corporate trainer and youth mentor.  He can be contacted by email mastbmckenzie@gmail.com or by telephone 647-406-4622. Read my blog  http://mastbmckenzie.blogspot.ca/ and always write me a comment and share. Follow me on Twitter @mackynacky. Connect with me on www.youtube.com, Google+, Facebook and Linkedin.

Celebration of Success

As I mentioned in my blog yesterday, Michelle and I celebrated our 20^th wedding anniversary which we have heard is a remarkable accomplishment. Last week we met a man who told us he has being married for 62 years which we believe is fantastic and amazing. Michelle and I wanted to find out his recipe for success. He told us that he and his wife are a team. He said his wife is like a task master that she thinks he is a procrastinator. He told us that in life we need some people to nudge us forward and others to slow us down a occasionally. My friends I have to admit that what he told us sound a bit like Michelle and I. It is easy for me to ask what reasons do I have to celebrate 20 years when the man we spoke has gone 62 years? Yet there are still reasons for us to celebrate our successes.

Today I would like to share with you four reasons to celebrate your successes and accomplishments.

When you are down in the trenches and searching for a way out, is there really time to celebrate? Is celebrating taking up valuable time? As I have mentioned in previous blogs my life is far from being without challenges. Michelle and I could decide that because of the rafts of obstacles we face there is no time to pause for celebration but we celebrate of our successes and milestones because celebration is important.

When you are on a roll and you are accomplishing your goals, will celebration break the momentum? Pausing to celebrate will not break our momentum but rather it will inspire us to want to accomplish more.

A key requirement for success is goal setting and planning. Once we have set our goals and establish our plans for success we need to have a system that we can use to track and measure performance against our goals. We need to be able to recognize when we have achieved our goals so that we can celebrate our successes and accomplishments. Celebration is necessary to build our commitment and boost our performance. It is one of the most effective tools you can use to keep yourself motivated for a long period of time and focus on achieving more as well as striving for excellence. We will always have more goals and achievements to aim for but we must make time to celebrate our successes, big or small.

Here are four reasons to celebrate your successes:

Celebration helps us stay in the moment where our energy and motivation is at its peak

When we pause to celebrate small successes it allows us to stay in the moment where our energy and motivation is at its peak. Celebration helps us to build the momentum we need to stay focus and inspire us to wanting to achieve other goals. It allows us to express gratitude and experience as sense of accomplishment and contentment. Celebrating small successes and accomplishments is a celebration of life worth living. It is recognition of your hard work and an appreciation life and the journey traveled.

Celebration builds self-confidence and self-respect

Celebration builds our self-confidence and self-respect. Have you ever heard that you should treat others the way you want to be treated? Celebration allows you to show others how you would like to be treated. People will treat us according to how they see us treating ourselves. For example, if you demonstrate dignity and humility others will treat you with dignity and humility. When you celebrate your achievements it boosts your self-confidence and enhances your self-respect. Celebration allows us to eliminate doubt. It allows us to be proud of ourselves. It also serves as nourishment for you to love yourself more and feel a greater sense of acceptance.

Celebration allows you to mark your progress and remember your accomplishments

When faced with obstacles and challenges it easy to overlook how well you are progressing. Taking time out to celebrate allows us to see that we are in fact progressing. Life is a journey and every moment should be celebrated. Despite the obstacles, you have to take time out to acknowledge that you are making progress. Above all we tend to remember the good times in life when we have fun. Celebration allows us to mark our progress and create memorable moments.

Celebration allows us to self-promote and market ourselves

As I have mentioned in previous blogs I was taught at an early age that self-praise is no recommendation. However, since I started operating my own business, Mark McKenzie Consulting, I have learned the importance of promotion and marketing in business. I have learned that in a competitive market I have to blow my own horn to attract the right clients. I am proud of my accomplishments and as such I confidently celebrate my successes. I know what I do well and what I don’t do well. I am not ashamed of speaking about either my strengths and weaknesses or my accomplishments and mistakes. My daily blogs are evidence of how freely and shamelessly I speak of my strengths and vulnerabilities. Celebration allows you to self-promote and market yourself.

Today I shared with you four reasons to celebrate your successes. Celebrating success helps to create a feel good moment. It helps us stay in the moment where our energy and motivation is at its peak. It builds our self-confidence and self-respect. Celebration allows you to mark our progress and remember our accomplishments. It also allows us to self-promote and market ourselves. Celebration makes us have fun and keep us happy even during tough times.

How will you celebrate the end of 2013?

Mark McKenzie is a leading Subject Matter Expert in financial services regulation and supervision as well as a professional motivational speaker, corporate trainer and youth mentor.  He can be contacted by email mastbmckenzie@gmail.com or by telephone 647-406-4622. Read my blog  http://mastbmckenzie.blogspot.ca/ and always write me a comment and share. Follow me on Twitter @mackynacky. Connect with me on www.youtube.com, Google+, Facebook and Linkedin.

It is Up to You

Hello friends, I hope you are having a wonderful week.

Today I am celebrating my 20^th wedding anniversary but it seems that it was only yesterday that Michelle and I danced to The Carpenters’ song “We've Only Just Begun” on our wedding day. Captured by her love I must have lost track of time. Who cares where 20 years has gone when we have only just begun? I don’t….. but I am still curious (or clueless as Michelle often says), was it on one of our long walks in the tropical Sunday evening sunset that she captured my heart? It seems like only yesterday that I felt in love with Michelle and we’ve only just begun. Happy 20th Anniversary my love and soul mate.

Today I would like to share with you three reasons it is up to you to succeed. Obviously in order to succeed you will need to set your goals and have a plan. To be successful requires more than setting goals and having a plan and it is up to you.

Here are three reasons it is up to you:

Building the right relationships

Success is also about building the right relationships. It is up to you to connect and build relationships with people who you share a common interest with. For example, if you are starting a business and think you don’t know enough then you have to find people who share you passion and interests and people who you can learn from. In 2006, when I started Mark McKenzie Consulting I connected with Chris Mathers. He became my mentor. He helped me understand the local business culture, business development and a lot of others things relating to business. It is up to you to build the right relationships and surround yourself with others who share your vision.

Jump right in

Once you have set you goals and develop your plan for success it is up to you to jump right in. I usually tell my children and my friends that you cannot learn to swim sitting on the sand or on a pool chair. You have to jump right in to start learning how to swim. When we are learning to swim we start out at the shallow end and make our way gradually to the deep end of the pool. If your plan involves starting a business the truth is there is really no better way to start than jumping right in. If you have sufficient passion and perseverance it will guide you across the treacherous path to success.

Don’t be fooled once you have jumped right in. You will make mistakes. You will encounter setbacks and challenges but you will learn because you jumped right in. Jump right in and allow your deep-rooted drive and enthusiasm to keep you motivated and engaged in your quest for success. Jumping right in and putting yourself on the line will earn you respect from your peers. I remember about 4 years ago I met an executive from Economical Insurance based in Waterloo, Ontario on a flight. When I told him I owned and operated my own consulting practice he was very excited and told me how much he admired and respected people who have the courage to start their own business. You will gain respect when you jump right in.

Be confident and decisive

It is up to you to be confident and decisive. If you appear unsure and indecisive in the pursuit of your goals no one will take you seriously. Lack of confidence and indecisiveness is a signal of mediocrity. You cannot allow fear to cripple your dreams. As I mentioned above you are going to make mistakes and you are going to get some things wrong but you cannot allow it to make you do nothing. If it is worth doing, then it is worth trying.

One of the most important requirements for success is being confident and decisive knowing that your decisions are well thought out and thoroughly reasoned. It is about being confident in your judgement and believing in yourself. Remember doing nothing is worse than trying something and failing. If your decisions turn out to be right, you can expect to be rewarded for your efforts. Be confident and decisive and demonstrate The Power ofBelieving in Yourself.

Today I share with you three reasons why your success is up to you. Remember setting goals and having a plan is very important but you also need to:

• Build the right relationships
• Jump right in and be prepared to take risks knowing that a mistake can be corrected.
• Be confident and decisive. Learn to evaluate different decisions for their advantages and disadvantages. Taking action will get you closer to your goals than doing nothing at all.

Mark McKenzie is a leading Subject Matter Expert in financial services regulation and supervision as well as a professional motivational speaker, corporate trainer and youth mentor.  He can be contacted by email mastbmckenzie@gmail.com or by telephone 647-406-4622. Read my blog  http://mastbmckenzie.blogspot.ca/ and always write me a comment and share. Follow me on Twitter @mackynacky. Connect with me on www.youtube.com, Google+, Facebook and Linkedin.

In It to Win It

After climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb. - Nelson Mandela

Hello Friends,

Today the eyes of the world are focused on South Africa as we pause to celebrate the life and legacy of Nelson Mandela. For me Nelson Mandela represents grace and humility. Hail Madiba….To Nelson Mandela with love!

Please allow me to express my gratitude to the members of Lambs of Loins and Comfortably Speaking Toastmasters Clubs at Mississauga Central Library for their contribution to my Holiday Season Food Drive. I am particular grateful for the support of Odecca Ordonez, Bhunshan Rele and Neeru Ria for coordinating the collection of non-perishable items. I would like to thank Diana Alandete for organising the collection of items from Soar to Excellence at Burnhamthorpe Branch Library as well as Leaders’ Corner and Leaders in Action at the Family Services of Peel Employment Ontario in Mississauga. Monday evening I had the pleasure of visiting Leaders in Action as guest speaker where I delivered one of my signature speeches titled “I Love You!”

Today I would like to ask the question “are you in it to win it”? Typically at this time of the year we tend to be reflective while at the same time we tend to be forward looking. We reflect on the things we accomplish in 2013. As we look ahead to 2014, we will plan and set goals for the things we would like to accomplish. As you are looking ahead I encourage you to ask yourselves the question, “are you in it to win it”? If you are in to it to win it you must be competitive by nature.

I am a fiercely competitive person. Even though I never grew up playing any form of competitive sport I went to Calabar High School, one of Jamaica’s most reputable secondary educational institutions. In academics, Calabar has won the Schools' Challenge Quiz many times and has produced numerous Jamaica and Rhodes Scholars. Calabar is also a well-known as sporting institution. In track and field Calabar has won the Inter-Schools’ Athletics Championships (“Champs”) Trophy 23 times since 1930. Long before Usain Bolt was born, Calabar produced Herbert Henry "Herb" McKenley the winner of a gold medal in the 4x400 m relay at the 1952 Helsinki Summer Olympics. He was second in 100m and also second in 400m. It was at Calabar that I honed and developed my fierce competitive spirit, that is my will to win and succeed.

Are you entering 2014 with a competitive spirit and firm conviction that you can succeed?

I want to accomplish more in 2014 and I will. For example, as I mentioned in TheImportance of Contentment I have spent of 2013 putting in place plans and structures to launch a relatively new career path as a professional motivational speaker. In 2014, I solidify the foundation for a successful career as a professional motivational speaker. I will start to generate income from my Leaders Leave Legacy Workshop. I am in it to win it!

Here is how I have kept my competitive flame burning and desire to win:

Although I am contented I remain fiercely ambitious

Throughout my life I have had to struggle and work hard for what I have accomplished. I have experienced setbacks, challenges, adversities and yet I feel a sense of contentment for what I have accomplished. At the same time I still have unfulfilled dreams and goals which I will continue to work towards in 2014. My ambitions will push me to want to accomplish more or to do better in 2014.

I am possessed with many ideas

I am possessed with many ideas. I am always coming up with new ideas and dreaming about news things to do with myself and my time. My blog for example is fueling my thoughts and ideas on different things that I can do and accomplish. It is helping me to better understand social media and the Internet. I am learning how to build and manage my brand. I am learning how to be creative and innovative. I am mastering the art of creating synergies between to my different ideas so that they fit together to achieving specific goals and dreams. I am learning how to be current and competitive in the new economy that is driven by technology and globalization. Technology and globalization will provide me with the opportunity to leverage my brand globally to reach a much larger audience. In 2014 my raft of ideas and dreams will push towards trying new things and capitalize on the abundance of opportunities that will ultimately help me to accomplish more and do better.

I am not risk averse

I am not risk averse. I sincerely do not know the meaning of safety and certainty. As I noted in Ditch the Darn the Wheel of Fortune I am from a working class family background in Jamaica. The only thing I know is that through hard work and determination I can win. I do not know the meaning of safety and certainty. I am not reckless. I take calculated risks. Being an entrepreneur, I know that there are risks enormous but I also know I can score big too. For me success is based on perseverance, resilience, and tenacity. In 2014, I will continue to take calculated risk and I will continue to demonstrate attributes requires for success.

Are you in it to win it? How will you enter 2014 to ensure your continued success?

You are in it to win it. To accomplish your dreams in 2014 you must:

• Celebrate your successes of 2013 by feeling a sense of satisfaction and contentment yet remain fiercely ambitious;
• Act on the raft of ideas in your hyperactive brain; and
• Know that there are few things that are certain so be prepared to take some risks.

I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear. - Nelson Mandela

Mark McKenzie is a leading Subject Matter Expert in financial services regulation and supervision as well as a professional motivational speaker, corporate trainer and youth mentor.  He can be contacted by email mastbmckenzie@gmail.com or by telephone 647-406-4622. Read my blog  http://mastbmckenzie.blogspot.ca/ and always write me a comment and share. Follow me on Twitter @mackynacky. Connect with me on www.youtube.com, Google+, Facebook and Linkedin.

The Joy of Giving

Give yourself entirely to those around you. Be generous with your blessings. A kind gesture can reach a wound that only compassion can heal. - Steve Maraboli

Hello Friends,

Thanks for your continued support and encouragement. This week I will celebrate ninety (90) days of blogging daily. I recognise that your time is precious and that I must compete with your other interests for your attention. For this reason I am committed to doing my best to ensure that my daily blogs are interesting, informative and uplifting for you. Your support is sincerely appreciated.

Today I would like to share with you joy of giving. On Friday I delivered approximately 1060 pounds of non-perishable food items to the Salvation Army of Brampton as part of my High Performance Leaders project titled HolidaySeason Food Drive. I was ecstatic when I made the delivery.

The mystery of giving revealed a truly fantastic feeling that words cannot begin to describe. I felt a sense of pride and accomplishment from the fact that I am contributing to the noble cause of the Salvation Army helping those in greater need than myself and my family. I am a firm believer that success and happiness is derived from doing the things that you are truly passionate. The level of contentment that is derived when you are able to put the interest of others before your personal interest is truly unbelievable.

The donation I made to the Salvation Army of Brampton last Friday was courtesy of Chosen Voices and Point of Tale Toastmasters Clubs at Loblaw in Mississauga, Ontario at President Choice Circle. Faraz Moin, the VP Public Relations of Point of Tale Toastmasters, led the food drive collection at Loblaw. He placed my posters in the kitchenettes all over the Loblaw’s building to promote my project. Through his efforts and assisted by Amparo Cifuentes and other of members of both clubs they collected over 1060lbs of non-perishable items. Today let us salute Faraz Moin, Amparo Cifuentes and the members of Chosen Voices and Point of Tale Toastmasters Clubs at Loblaw.

When we think of giving, it is easy to say that we don’t have enough so there is nothing that we can give to anyone. However, do we have time and skills that we can give? Can others benefit when we volunteer our time and skills? For example, I am using my time, communication and leadership skills to coordinate my Holiday Season Food Drive and as such I am enjoying the joy of giving. There are so many things we can all give to others that are less fortunate than us. If you believe you don’t have enough to give I would like to encourage you to try giving your time and skills and experience the joy of giving this Holiday Season.

With my Holiday Season Food Drive I realise that once you start something with a good heart there are so many people who are willing to help you succeed and achieve your goals. For example, last Saturday night my wife and I were special guest of Geoffery Simm and the members of Trillium Toastmasters Club’s party where they donated non-perishable food items. I also had the opportunity to deliver my speech titled “Leaders Leave Legacy” and at the end of my presentation Judy Martin, Sales Analyst at Give & Go Prepared Foods Corp offer to make a substantial contribution to my Holiday Season Food Drive. She said it was a pleasure listening to my “Leaders Leave Legacy” speech and that she could hear my passion for the project in my delivery.

The passion she heard was really the joy and sense of accomplishment I am getting from this project. The support I have received is overwhelming and as such I am already planning to make the Holiday Season Food Drive an annual event. This evening I will be guest speaker at Leaders’ Corner and Leaders in Action Toastmasters Clubs at Family Services of Peel Employment Ontario. On Wednesday I am also schedule to speak at Speak to Inspire in Brampton.

I am truly grateful for the support I have received the members of Toastmasters Clubs in the cities of Brampton and Mississauga. I started this project to accomplish a personal goal but it is evolving into something more because of the level of interest and support from members of the Toastmasters community.

You too can enjoy the joy of giving.

Mark McKenzie is a leading Subject Matter Expert in financial services regulation and supervision as well as a professional motivational speaker, corporate trainer and youth mentor.  He can be contacted by email mastbmckenzie@gmail.com or by telephone 647-406-4622. Read my blog http://mastbmckenzie.blogspot.ca/ and always write me a comment and share. Follow me on Twitter @mackynacky. Connect with me on www.youtube.com, Google+, Facebook and Linkedin.

The Magic of Madiba

This is my tribute to the life and legacy of to the iconic Nelson Mandela, my idol.

The Magic of Madiba

My Madiba, your Madiba

Hail my Madida

Hail your Madiba

Hail the world’s Madiba

Hail Nelson Mandela

For your militant stance against white domination

You were imprisoned for 27 years

With dignity you sacrificed your freedom

For the freedom of South Arica from apartheid

Spending 18 years on Robben Island confined to a small cell

Your influential and courage set the world on fire

To free South Africa from apartheid

The magic of Madiba

Your unbending will set South Africa free

Freed from prison on February 11, 1990

You became president of a free and democratic South Africa

You showed us and the world all things are possible

And showed us how to live in peace and harmony

You showed us how to forgive

Even those who gave you the floor for a bed

The magic of Madiba

Where others would have held hate you showed love

Rather than recrimination you led peace and reconciliation

And even stood against black domination

With a bit of humour and imperfections

You showed us the richness of humanity

And became an inspiration for all to see

And a symbol of hope for the world

The magic of Madiba

My Madiba, your Madiba

Hail my Madida

Hail your Madiba

Hail the world’s Madiba

Hail Nelson Mandela

Mark McKenzie is a leading Subject Matter Expert in financial services regulation and supervision as well as a professional motivational speaker, corporate trainer and youth mentor.  He can be contacted by email mastbmckenzie@gmail.com or by telephone 647-406-4622. Read my blog http://mastbmckenzie.blogspot.ca/ and always write me a comment and share. Follow me on Twitter @mackynacky. Connect with me on www.youtube.com, Google+, Facebook and Linkedin.

The Importance of Contentment

Hello friends, how is your week going?

It is the Christmas Holidays season. It is the time of the year when shopping becomes centre stage for most people. It is the season of gift giving and receiving. It is also the end of the year and signals the heralding of a New Year. It is also a time of reflection. It is time when many of us revisit the goals we set at the start of the year. We look back at our New Year’s resolutions for 2013 and take account of the thing we accomplished.

As I reflect on my year, one of my important goals for 2013 was to attend Malcolm’s high school graduation and to see him off to university. Malcolm is currently a student at the University of Ottawa. A second important goal for me was to take a step back from all my overseas travels, take a cut in income and switch gears to put plans and actions in place to pursue a professional speaking career. You may be asking why? Through my life a lot of people have told me that I am great role model and that I inspired and motivated them. I am also very confident that I have personal stories and experiences that others will find inspirational and uplifting.

In my endeavour to the lay the foundation to pursuit another career option I ratcheted up my involvement in the Toastmasters Programme in 2013 by being elected as Vice President for Education in City Centre Toastmasters Club. I also accepted the appointment as Governor for Area 67 which is Guelph, Ontario. Today I am also much more heavily involved in my community joining the Terry Fox Public School Council as co-chair. I am involved in a number of initiatives working with high school and college students as mentors as well as being an advocate against youth violence and human trafficking in the Greater Toronto Area. I am also coordinating a Holiday Season Food Drive to benefit the Salvation Army of Brampton. By all account I have had a wonderful year and I am looking forward to a wonderful New Year.

Why do we set goals for ourselves? We do it because we are ambitious. Can we be ambitious if we are always satisfied or settled based on where we are in our lives? If we are restless, dissatisfied and unsettled it is a sign of the lack of genuine contentment. Is ambition is the opposite of contentment?

Ambition causes us to struggle against situations we find ourselves in that we are dissatisfied or unhappy with. It may be we are dissatisfied with our possessions such as our house or car. We may be dissatisfied with our health and fitness. Ambition may even cause us to constantly question and evaluate our relationships with others. Is ambition a manifestation of discontentment? Why don’t we decide to focus on being satisfied in our present circumstances?

Being ambitious does not mean having little regard to the needs and rights of others. It does not mean we should be selfish and focus entirely on ourselves. With ambition we should pursue our goals with vigor, passion and enthusiasm but as always take the time to do something for others and Support Someone’s Dream. Resist all temptation where your fierce ambition drives you to a point that you hurt others in the pursuit of your goals and that you are blinded to the destructive nature of your actions.

For me contentment is equally as important as ambition. I am satisfied with the things I have accomplished not just in 2013 but throughout my entire life. Next week for example I will celebrate my twentieth wedding anniversary which my friend Chris Mathers told is remarkable. Is it truly remarkable to be committed for 20 years? Isn’t commitment a prerequisite for success?

I am guided not just by fierce ambitions but also by my sense of contentment. I have learned to give thanks and blessings for the smaller things in life but also to push myself to achieving difficult but attainable goals. My goals may not be as difficult as Elon Musk of SpaceX but they are challenging and attainable. Read Elon Musk and SpaceX’s Goal Setting and Success.

I don’t have a corner C-suite executive office in a skyscraper on Bay St. but I have had the experience of managing multi-million dollar projects. At the same time I am able to switch off from my computer and mobile devices at about 4.30pm most days to sit on the floor and roll play dough with 5 y.o Marisa.

Are you satisfied? Are you ambitious? Are you contented? Are you happy?

When we are dissatisfied our ambition pushes us to set goals and strive to achieve more. Contentment means we are comfortable. When we are content, we are not dependent on the creature for our comfort. It does not mean we lack ambition. Contentment is excellent and embodiment of happiness.

Mark McKenzie is a leading Subject Matter Expert in financial services regulation and supervision as well as a professional motivational speaker, corporate trainer and youth mentor.  He can be contacted by email mastbmckenzie@gmail.com or by telephone 647-406-4622. Read my blog http://mastbmckenzie.blogspot.ca/ and always write me a comment and share. Follow me on Twitter @mackynacky. Connect with me on www.youtube.com, Google+, Facebook and Linkedin.

OLG’s Amazing Customer Service

Today I would like to commend Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) on its amazing display of customer service by tracking down the winner of its $50 million Lotto Max prize that went unclaimed since November 2012. On Tuesday OLG’s President and CEO Rod Phillips and director of investigations Mike Hamel, introduce Kathryn Jones of Hamilton as the winner.

OLG’s level of customer service in this case is truly remarkable given the fact that the winner was not even aware she had won the Lotto Max prize. To put the OLG efforts in context we have to understand that Kathryn Jones lost her ticket and never even check to see whether the numbers she purchased were the winning ones.

According to reports in the media it took OLG outstanding use of good detective techniques to solve the mystery and identify Kathryn Jones as winner. Some of the techniques used by the OLG to identify Kathryn Jones are typically used by banks and other financial institutions to identify suspicious transactions, fraud or trace the proceeds of crime. In this case the OLG used some key pieces of information to identify Kathryn Jones as the winner. First the OLG knew that the winning ticket was sold at a Shopper’s Drug Mart in Cambridge, Ontario and when the winning ticket had been purchased. It was a process of elimination. The OLG said it 435 people made inquiries about the money.

OLG was able to determine that the purchase was part of the $16 transaction and that the method of payment was credit card. They knew the date and may be even the precise time of the purchase. In addition, they were able to secure CTV video footage to identify the purchaser. It should be noted that if cash was used it would have been slightly more difficult for the OLG to narrow down identity of the 

purchaser.

Today we let us applaud the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) for their outstanding customer service and also congratulate Kathryn Jones. This is the first time that the OLG has approached the winner of a lottery prize instead of the other way around. Amazing customer service starts with surprising customers with the best customer service they have ever gotten. Kathryn Jones captures it best when she said at a news conference hosted by the OLG “As you can imagine, it's been a weird and wonderful journey. To lose a ticket and then have OLG find me and take the initiative to contact me is pretty incredible.”

Mark McKenzie is a leading Subject Matter Expert in financial services regulation and supervision as well as a professional motivational speaker, corporate trainer and youth mentor.  He can be contacted by email mastbmckenzie@gmail.com or by telephone 647-406-4622. Read my blog http://mastbmckenzie.blogspot.ca/ and always write me a comment and share. Follow me on Twitter @mackynacky. Connect with me on www.youtube.com, Google+, Facebook and Linkedin.

Eye of the Tiger

Success requires passion and focus. We should not seek to be all things but rather should focus on things that are critical to achieving our goals. I like to think of being focus in the same way as having the eye of the tiger. You may recall the theme song "Eye of the Tiger" for the 1982 movie Rocky III written and directed Sylvester Stallone who also starred as the lead character Rocky Balboa. The theme song “The of the Tiger” was written by the group Survivor and became a smash hit single, topping the US Billboard music charts and received an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song.

In the movie Rocky was challenged publicly to a fight by James "Clubber" Lang (played by Mr. T), a ferocious new boxer. During his preparation Rocky was distracted when he learned that all his fights since winning the title were selective matchmaking with lesser opponents. He was visible upset and refused to accept the factor. Instead he promised to live in the gym. However in contrast to the challenger, Lang who was more focused, Rocky could not resist the allure of his fame and indulges himself with his fans. He trained publicly in an environment filled with distractions. Rocky essentially set himself up for failure and consequently was severely beaten by Lang. In his re-matched with Lang, Rocky was helped by his former nemesis Apollo Creed (played by Carl Weathers) to rediscover the fire and the eye of the tiger Rocky had when he fought with Apollo. Rocky's new determination and focus helped him to defeat Lang in the re-match.

Unlike the Rocky during his first fight with Lang, we do not want to attempt to be all things to all people. We don’t want to be beaten and unsuccessful. We don’t want to be perceived as seeking to exploit every potential opportunity that is presented to us. In my early days as an immigrant I was told to accept the first job that was offered to me because it would provide me with Canadian experience. I was told to view certain jobs as opportunities to enter the Canadian job market. In my early days as an immigrant I was confused, disoriented and distracted just like Rocky during his first fight. However I resisted the temptation of putting both time and effort into doing lots of different things that would simply result in me being a jack of all trades and a master of none with little or no competitive advantage.

Instead, I decided to focus on my personal and career goals and dreams which ultimately led to the establishment of Mark McKenzie Consulting. Success requires a laser like focus on pursuing the tasks required to fulfill our dreams and goals. It requires that we focus on developing the necessary skills and acquiring the knowledge and experiences that are prerequisite for pursuing our goals. We have to be like Rocky during his preparation for his re-match with Lang. We have to be focus and have the sharp eye of the tiger.

Success requires big dreams with focus on the small things. Very often we hear that we should focus on the details. The big things are usually clear for all to see but the small issues required focus and detail attention. For example, I focus on my ability to acquire the skills that are required to pursue my goals by asking myself “how can I enhance my skills today or over a specific period of time?”

Staying focus is difficult because it is easy to be distracted by competing interest. For example, I might get a call from an executive recruiter about role which creates a sense of excitement that this might be the right opportunity for me. It ignite excitement and may cause me loses focus momentarily on the things I need to do to grow by consulting practice. Focus however helps to instill diligence and the discipline necessary to pursue my dreams and goals.

Today I encourage you to focus on the things that you are passionate about and the things will make you accomplish your goals to be successful and happy. You have to develop the sharp eye of the tiger like Rocky Balboa.

Are you focused on your dreams and goals? What are the things you do to be focused?

Mark McKenzie is a leading Subject Matter Expert in financial services regulation and supervision as well as a professional motivational speaker, corporate trainer and youth mentor.  He can be contacted by email mastbmckenzie@gmail.com or by telephone 647-406-4622. Read my blog http://mastbmckenzie.blogspot.ca/ and always write me a comment and share. Follow me on Twitter @mackynacky. Connect with me on www.youtube.com, Google+, Facebook and Linkedin.

The Importance of Patience

One of the requirements for success is patience. In order to achieve our goals and succeed we need patience. I know too well the importance of patience. I need to exercise patience when I am preparing project proposals for submission to potential clients. I know that there are no shortcuts to success and that while I would be happy if my project proposal is selected by potential client all the time I also know that they sometimes prefer my competitor’s proposal. If my proposal falls short of the client’s expectations I cannot give up I have to start looking for my next opportunity. I also have to exercise patience when I am searching for my next assignment or when I am between contracts. I have to exercise patience during periods of low cashflows. For me patience is one of the most important requirements for success.

There are four key benefits of patience which I will share with you today.

Patience builds our reputations

In order to achieving our goals and success we have to work assiduously to improving the skills we need to succeed. Malcolm Gladwell in his book Outliers suggested that 10,000 hours is required to master or become proficient at the skills required to succeed. Most us are not patient enough to invest 10,000 hours required to develop the skills we need to succeed. We are driven more by impatience rather than by the virtue of patience. I know that I show signs of impatience at times when things are not going as planned. Thomas Edison said, “Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.” Building your reputation by honing the skills you need to succeed requires patience.

Patience Makes You Awesome 

In my blog titled “3 Tips to be Awesome!” I shared with you the importance of always being prepared, the importance of having an awesome team as well as the benefits of genuinely care about others. When you are awesome you will reap the remarkable benefits of your patience. Success is not accomplished overnight as it requires time and patience. In order to be awesome and successful you have to work diligently and patiently at each task that is required to achieving your goals. You have to be focused and dedicated. I have had some truly remarkable results in my career and the experience of feeling awesome. For example, I will never forget the delightful look on the faces the regulators in Zagreb, Croatia after they had reviewed the compliance framework designed by my team. Patience makes you awesome!

Patience leads to your Siren moment

Last week in my blog titled “Six Sexy Steps to Seductive Sirens” I spoke about how to create your moment to be noticed and get recognized. The reward for the virtue of patience is when you get recognized. This is when you have successfully created your Siren moment and you are awesome. One of the rewards for me is the referrals I get to other potential clients or funding agencies. Since I started Mark McKenzie Consulting in 2006 I have had the opportunity to work in more than twenty countries. I have also met and worked with truly amazing people in the Caribbean and parts of Africa.

As you work patiently to create your Siren moment you will be rewarded with greater sales, new customers or promotions at work and other career opportunities. You should note that whatever the result or reward is for you this is the fruits of your patience and hard work. Success begins with creating your Siren moment and an understanding the importance of patience.

Patience is your one of your most valuable attributes

Patience is not easy to come by especially when dealing with setbacks, challenges and even temporary defeats. Patience is one of your most valuable attributes and a formidable resource. As an entrepreneur I am always looking for a competitive advantage and ways to distinguish myself. Very often I have had clients said to me that I am always so calm under extreme circumstances. They tell me they admire my level of patience when dealing with complex issues and stressful situations. I try my best to process and analyse each situation on its own merits. I try to ensure that my decisions are based upon sound principles rather than reacting with emotions and making knee-jerk decisions. 

The best way to cultivate patience is to train your mind. To be successful, we need to start small. If at first you don’t succeed, be patient and try again. Learn from your mistakes, take baby steps and progress slowly. As Carl Jung noted “Even a happy life cannot be without a measure of darkness, and the word happy would lose its meaning if it were not balanced by sadness. It is far better to take things as they come along with patience and equanimity.”

Mark McKenzie is a leading Subject Matter Expert in financial services regulation and supervision as well as a professional motivational speaker, corporate trainer and youth mentor.  He can be contacted by email mastbmckenzie@gmail.com or by telephone 647-406-4622. Read my blog http://mastbmckenzie.blogspot.ca/ and always write me a comment and share. Follow me on Twitter @mackynacky. Connect with me on www.youtube.com, Google+, Facebook and Linkedin.