How the power of words can change lives

06/07/2026 by

Today I aim to explore the power of words.

Have you ever considered just how powerful words can be? In my experience, the power of words can have a much greater impact than you might imagine.

Let me tell you a heartwarming story to emphasize today’s point.

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The reunion:

Some time ago, I had lunch with a group of old friends.

Now there’s nothing unusual about that, you might say.

Even though it was the first time we’d all been together in the same place at the same time for more than 40 years, it was nothing exceptional.

Such reunions happen all the time, don’t they?

It was a genuine pleasure to see them all again and swap stories about how our lives had progressed since those far-off days.

However, it’s the story of one of my fellow diners that day that’s worth sharing with you now because I think it’s a source of inspiration and reinforces the importance of just how powerful words can be.

Saeed’s story:

Back in the day, we were all working together for the national telecommunications operator in the Middle East.

Three of us had been young, graduate engineers on an upward career trajectory, with the future seemingly ours for the taking. We had it all.

The other member of our group, let’s call him Saeed, had been the handyman and tea boy in the department at that time.

Saeed was then just a young teenager, straight out of school.

He was a bright and willing fellow, but he had no academic qualifications, and he spoke very little English at the time.

Now Arabic was his mother tongue, of course, but in the international business we were in, a good command of spoken English was essential if you were to have any chance of career success.

Saeed came from a poor village, and his perceived failure at school had left him feeling that, at just 16, he’d blown his chances and was destined for a life filled with low-paid, low-skilled jobs.

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Phil Sutton

The power of words:

Fast forward 40+ years, and Saeed’s now every bit the poor-boy-made-good story.

Not only is he now a wealthy international businessman with two very successful businesses, he also has a string of qualifications, including two doctorate degrees. Now completing one PhD is hard work, but two? Wow.

In short, his success is impressive by any measure.

Nevertheless, how did Saeed get from where he was then to where he is now?

The simple answer, of course, is with determination and a lot of hard work.

You cannot achieve anything without those ingredients.

However, he also needed a reason to believe. He needed a spark to light the fire. And that is where the story gets interesting.

The spark that lit the fire:

Over lunch, Saeed explained that it was a kind and encouraging word, back in the day, from one of our fellow diners that had made him believe that he could make a success of his life despite a poor start.

My fellow diner, let’s call him Tom, didn’t even remember the conversation.

So, what was this kind and encouraging word?

Your past does not define your future.

The past is just a series of lessons. Beyond that, it doesn’t matter.

The future is an endless stream of opportunities we can choose to take or not.

Tom had explained these basic principles to Saeed and encouraged him to pursue his dreams.

You can make your life whatever you want it to be. That was Tom’s message. The life you want can be yours if you’re willing to work hard for it.

The impact:

The power of these well-timed words of encouragement had an impact on Saeed. It propelled him to a destiny he did not think possible. And that is today’s underlying point.

Words have power; choose them wisely.

The power of words matters. A few well-timed words can inspire young people.

And never, ever forget that young people need encouragement much more than they need criticism.

Encourage young people:

So next time you’re working with someone in the early stages of life’s journey, remember your words can have the power to encourage them.

Unfortunately, they can also have the potential to discourage them if you’re not careful.

What you say and the tone with which you say it does matter.

Always offer young people positive words of encouragement rather than harsh words of criticism.

Never, ever forget how powerful your words can be. The right words, at the right time, really can inspire young people to achieve their full potential.

Leave a legacy:

If you want to leave a legacy behind you, then it would be hard to improve on encouraging a young person to become the best and most successful person he or she could be.

Remember the power of words. You have power with your words. Use it wisely.

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Here’s a truly brilliant don’t quit poem to inspire you

05/05/2026 by

If you’re looking for a ‘don’t quit poem’ to inspire you, I have a brilliant one for you.

Many people aspire to success, but it can be hard to keep going.

You want success, but do you want it badly enough to pay the price?

Yes, of course. There’s always a price to be paid.

More importantly, the price must always be paid first.

That price is not necessarily paid in money. Usually, the price is paid in blood, sweat, and tears.

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A little more effort

How often do people quit when they would have achieved their goal with a little more effort or a few more steps?

I have no scientific data to support my conclusion, but I suspect it happens frequently. Wouldn’t you agree?

Certainly from anecdotal evidence I have, from talking to people I know, this is the case.

People start on a project or goal with enthusiasm. They think it’s all going to be easy. Then it proved to be a bit harder than they imagined, so they quit. Is that an experience to which you can relate, dear reader?

We must all accept that nothing worth having is ever easy to gain. As I said, there’s a price to be paid.

Nevertheless, people do succeed all the time. So if other people can succeed, why not you?

Decide on your goal, pursue it with determination and energy, and if it all starts to get a bit hard, just don’t quit until you get to where you want to be in life.

Don’t quit and you can succeed; quit and you won’t.

The last thing you want is to spend your life wondering what might have been. So keep going.

To inspire you when the challenge gets hard, here’s a memorable and thought-provoking poem by the late Robert Service, the so-called ‘Bard of the Yukon’. It’s called The Quitter and it’s reprinted here to inspire you today.

Don’t Quit Poem

 

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Thank you for your support.

Phil Sutton

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5 Habits for personal transformation – be more than you are; achieve more than you think

05/02/2026 by

If you’re wondering about habits for personal transformation, this article is for you, dear reader.

Today, I offer five fundamental habits to help you shift the direction of your life in a single week.

I’m not talking about revolutionary change.

Rather than seeking dramatic, overnight success, the focus here is on small, consistent actions that will create long-term change for you.

5 Habits for personal transformation
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5 Habits for Personal Transformation

1. Design Your Day Before You Begin

  • The Problem: Most people “fall into” their day by reacting to phone notifications and emails immediately upon waking.
  • The Habit: Dedicate 10 quiet minutes each morning to planning.
  • Key Questions: Ask yourself what would make the day meaningful, identify the three most important tasks, and determine what would make you feel proud by bedtime.

2. Feed Your Mind Daily

  • The Habit: Read 10 pages of meaningful, insightful, or inspiring content every day.
  • The Compound Effect: While 10 pages seems small, it totals over 3,000 pages, or several books, per year.
  • The Result: Consistently high-quality “input” leads to more intentional thinking and better decision-making.

3. Move Your Body to Activate Your Life

  • The Habit: Engage in simple, consistent movement, such as a 20 – 30 minute walk daily.
  • The Purpose: It is less about peak fitness and more about self-respect and mental clarity.
  • The Result: Discipline in physical movement builds confidence that carries over into work and relationships.

4. Document Your Life Through Journaling

  • The Habit: Keep a journal. Keep a simple record of your experiences, focusing on what you learned and what could be improved.
  • The Value: Writing forces you to slow down and process events, turning raw experience into wisdom.
  • The Result: It makes your progress visible and helps you identify recurring patterns in your life.

5. Practice Gratitude First

  • The Habit: Before getting out of bed or checking your phone, identify three specific things you are grateful for.
  • The Psychology: Gratitude shifts your focus from what is missing to what is present. It is impossible to feel truly grateful and miserable at the same time.

Conclusion:

If things are to change, you must change. Without change, nothing changes.

You are the captain of your own ship. If you adjust your course by, say, one degree, it may seem unnoticeable, but it will lead you to a completely different destination.

Apply these habits consistently for seven days, and you will start to change direction in a meaningful way.

Continue down this path, and the results you want will eventually follow.

Your life can improve. Other people turn their lives around, and so can you, dear reader.

Believe you can and you will. Good luck!

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Thank you for your support, dear reader.

Phil Sutton

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12 Rules for success and how to achieve it

04/12/2026 by

If rules for success are what you seek, dear reader, this article is for you.

Let’s be real for a second: we all want that “next level” life. Don’t we?

We want the freedom, the confidence, and the feeling of waking up knowing we’re absolutely crushing it.

But if you look around, there is a massive gap between the people who talk about success and the people who live it.

Success isn’t a lottery win.

It’s not a lightning bolt that hits you while you’re sitting on the couch scrolling through someone else’s highlight reel.

It’s a craft.

It’s something you build, brick by brick, with your own two hands.

If you’re tired of spinning your wheels and you’re ready to move the needle, these 12 rules are your roadmap.

They’re not easy, of course. However, they are the honest truth about what it takes to win and succeed.

Let’s dive in.

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12 Rules for Success

1. You must do the work:

There is no “secret sauce.”

There is no “one weird trick.”

At the end of the day, success is a direct result of the hours you put in when nobody is watching.

We live in a world obsessed with “hacks,” but you cannot hack your way to mastery.

The universe doesn’t hand out participation trophies.

If you want the result, you must fall in love with the process.

That means showing up when you’re tired, staying late when you’d rather be out, and doing the boring, repetitive tasks that lead to greatness.

It won’t happen by accident; it happens by design, hard work, and sweat.

You climb the stairs to success one step at a time.

2. Procrastination is your enemy:

Procrastination is the thief of dreams. Simple!

It’s that little voice that whispers, “I’ll start Monday,” or “I just need to do more research first.”

It feels like safety, but it’s a trap.

While you’re “preparing” to start, someone else is out there actually doing it, and they’re learning twice as fast because they’re making real-world mistakes.

The best time to start was yesterday.

However, the good news is that the second-best time is right now.

Don’t wait for the “perfect moment,” because there isn’t one. The sooner you start, the sooner you’ll get to where you’d like to be.

Momentum is a superpower, but you can’t build momentum if you’re standing still.

So, get going now!

3. You can only rely on yourself:

This sounds harsh, but it’s incredibly liberating.

When you stop waiting for a mentor to find you, a boss to promote you, or a friend to “hook you up,” you take your power back.

Nobody is coming to save you.

Nobody cares about your success as much as you do.

When you accept full responsibility for your life, you stop being a victim of circumstance and start being the architect of your future.

If it’s meant to be, it’s up to you.

Rely on your own grit, your own intellect, and your own will to win.

4. Success is not a theory:

You can read every self-help book and attend every seminar, but if you don’t apply that knowledge, it’s just entertainment.

Success is not a philosophical debate; it’s a series of practical actions.

Be a practitioner, not a theorist.

Try things. Fail at things. Pivot. Adjust.

The world doesn’t pay you for what you know; it pays you for what you do with what you know.

Keep your feet on the ground and your eyes on the tangible results.

If what you’re doing isn’t working in the real world, change your approach.

5. Personal productivity matters:

Time is the only resource you can’t buy more of.

Billionaires and beginners both get the same 24 hours each day. The difference is how they use them.

If you’re spending four hours a day on “low-value” activities—mindless scrolling, arguing with strangers online, or over-analysing things that don’t matter—you are literally throwing your future away.

Protect your time like it’s gold.

Focus on the 20% of activities that drive 80% of your results.

Be ruthless with your schedule.

Remember, it’s your time!

When you respect your time, the world starts respecting it, too.

6. Accept that life is hard:

We’ve been sold a lie that life is supposed to be easy and comfortable all the time.

Well, I’m here to tell you, it’s not.

Life is messy, unfair, and exhausting. And that’s fine. It’s just the way it is.

Once you stop expecting things to be easy, you stop being frustrated when they’re hard.

Strength and character aren’t developed in easy times; they’re forged in the struggle.

When you hit a wall, don’t complain about the wall.

Figure out how to climb over it, break it down, or tunnel under it.

Accept the challenge and just get on with it.

Phil Sutton

7. Avoid idiots:

If you only remember one thing from reading this article, remember: you must avoid idiots.

You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.

If your inner circle consists of people who complain, lack ambition, or bring constant drama into your life, you will eventually become just like them.

So, surround yourself with the type of people you want to be.

Find the people who challenge you, who are smarter than you, and who push you to be better.

Your environment dictates your “normal.”

If your “normal” is excellence, you’ll achieve excellence.

If your “normal” is mediocrity, you’re in trouble.

It matters who you mix with if you want your life to improve.

8. Don’t waste energy on stuff you can’t control:

The economy, the weather, what people think of you, or what happened five years ago—none of this is within your control.

Spending your mental energy worrying about these things is like trying to sail a boat by blowing on the sails yourself. It’s exhausting, and it gets you nowhere.

Focus 100% of your energy on your inputs: your attitude, your effort, and your reactions.

When you stop obsessing over the “out of bounds” stuff, you’ll be amazed at how much faster you can move in the areas that matter.

9. Don’t be a people pleaser:

Unless you’re an entertainer on stage, your job is not to make everyone like you.

Trying to please everyone is a one-way ticket to a boring, unfulfilling life.

It forces you to dilute your personality and compromise your values.

The most successful people in the world are often polarizing.

They stand for something.

If you have no critics, you probably aren’t doing anything significant.

Be kind, be professional, but don’t be a doormat.

Your time and your vision are too important to be sacrificed for the sake of making someone else feel comfortable.

If you don’t focus on your own interests, no one else will.

10. Stop making excuses:

Excuses are the nails used to build a house of failure.

We all have “reasons” why things didn’t go our way—we were tired, we didn’t have enough money, the timing was off.

However, here’s the truth: the world doesn’t care about your reasons; it only cares about your results.

Making excuses is embarrassing because everyone can see through them.

They are just a way to protect your ego from the reality of your performance.

So, own your mistakes. Own your failures.

When you stop making excuses, you finally give yourself permission to improve.

11. Look after your health:

Another no-brainer, in terms of something to remember.

Because, let’s face it, your body is the vehicle that carries you to your dreams.

If the engine is smoking and the tyres are flat, you aren’t going very far, are you?

You cannot maintain high-level success if you are constantly sick, tired, and burnt out.

So, eat wholesome food. Move your body every day. Get enough sleep.

Don’t put anything toxic in your body that clouds your judgment or saps your energy.

Mental clarity and physical stamina are competitive advantages.

Treat yourself like an elite athlete, even if your “sport” is business or art.

Without your health, you have nothing.

12. If nothing changes, nothing changes:

If there is a definition of insanity, it is doing the same thing repeatedly and expecting a different result.

If you’ve been following a certain path for years and you’re still not where you want to be, something must change.

Be honest with yourself.

Ask yourself this question: Is your current strategy working, or are you just attached to it because it’s familiar?

If you are to achieve the success you desire, you must have the courage to admit when you’re wrong and the flexibility to try a new way.

If the door is locked, stop banging your head against it and look for a window.

It is a fact that unless you change, nothing will change.

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Call to action:

You can read every self-help book and motivational blog post there is, but success won’t come just from reading.

Ultimately, success comes from doing.

Success can only be achieved by translating words into action. It requires physical movement in the real world.

You don’t need to overhaul your entire life by tomorrow morning, but you do need to move toward your dreams with determination and persistence. And you must keep moving until you get there.

Many desire success, but few achieve it.

And the few are those who are driven by the determination to get to where they want to be.

It can be done, and people do. So can you, my friend, if you work hard enough.

Remember, the clock is ticking. The world is waiting. It’s time to go do the work.

Good luck!

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So go on, please share it now.

You’ll be helping a keen blogger reach a wider audience, and that will be truly appreciated.

Thank you for your support, dear reader.

Phil Sutton

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33 life lessons learned that are best learned early

03/22/2026 by

Life lessons learned for most of us are learned the hard way. Here are 33 of those lessons that are best learned as early as possible, ideally in your teens or early 20s.

LIFE LESSONS LEARNED
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Life lessons learned:

1. On experiencing life:

Wherever you are, be there. Be present and experience the moment. You’ll remember moments with friends and family all your life, whereas you’re unlikely to remember social media posts moments after you’ve read them. No experience beats having a good laugh with your friends and family.

2. On making choices:

As an adult, you’re free to make your own choices but you must accept any consequences that follow. A wise adult learns to make good choices because the choices you make will dictate the quality of the life you lead. Your choices matter. Make too many bad ones and your life experiences won’t be very good at all.

3. On the future (1):

Where you’re going is more important than where you’ve been. The past was a series of lessons to be learned. The future is where you’ll spend the rest of your life. You can’t change the past but your future has yet to be written, and you’ve got the pen.

4. On the future (2):

The future is an endless stream of opportunities that you can choose to seize, or not. However poor your past may have been, that doesn’t mean you can’t seize new opportunities and exploit them to your own advantage. You can, with determination and hard work. And, never let anyone discourage you from having a go. Better to try and fail than to spend your life wondering what might have been

Phil Sutton

5. On asking questions:

Intelligent people ask questions. So, never be afraid to ask questions when you don’t understand something, or when you need clarification. Better to appear a fool momentarily than remain a fool permanently.

6. On attitude:

The greatest disability in life is a bad attitude. If you’ve got one you’d better change it, if you want your life to improve. Attitude matters. An average person with a positive attitude makes a much better employee than a genius with a chip on his or her shoulder.

7. On fairness:

Life isn’t fair. It never has been and it never will be. We’re all dealt a set of cards in life, and all we can do is play that hand as best as we can. We could get angry about the unfairness of it all or we can just get on and make the best of what we have. The latter approach is much easier on our nerves, in my experience.

8. On bullying:

When you’re having fun at someone else’s expense, remember it may be fun to you, and you may not mean any harm, but for the other person the impact of such an experience can be humiliating, upsetting, and it can cause significant, lasting and often permanent psychological damage to that person. So remember, it isn’t fun at all if it isn’t fun for the other person. If it isn’t fun for them, it’s just bullying. And if you’re bullying, you’re not being cool, you’re being nasty.

Phil Sutton

9. On judging others (1):

You’re free to judge others if you’re sure that you’re perfect in every way. If you conclude that you’re not quite perfect then why would you expect others to be?

10. On judging others (2):

For everyone, life is a struggle. No one is without problems, despite any external signs to the contrary. We just have to keep going for it’s the only way. Life goes on and we must too. If you’ve not walked two miles in someone else’s shoes, you’re not in a position to judge them. So, don’t.

11. On authenticity:

Authenticity is simply being who you are and not trying to be who you think you should be or who you think you’re expected to be. People will respect you for being who you are. An original is always better than a fake.

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12. On trust:

Trust takes years to build and seconds to break. And once broken the way you’re seen by others will never be quite the same again. Trust is a valuable commodity. Protect it.

13. On reputation:

Never underestimate the importance of your reputation. And if you wouldn’t be happy to read something about yourself on the front pages, don’t do it.

14. On communication:

If you want to tell anyone anything, speak softly and you’ll find that they’re much more likely to listen to you.

15. On success:

No one can ever be a failure but everyone can be a success. Failure is not a person it’s just an outcome you didn’t want. It’s also an opportunity to try again with greater knowledge and experience. Everyone can achieve some degree of success if they believe in themselves, they’re determined and they’re willing to work hard.

16. On priorities:

We all have the same amount of time. 168 hours a week. It’s how we choose to use it that dictates whether we achieve anything significant or not. Time is a resource, pure and simple. So, decide on your priorities and allocate your time accordingly. And just because someone wants a piece of your time, doesn’t mean you’re obliged to give it to them. If it’s not a priority, nor an obligation, just say NO.

Phil Sutton

17. On watching television:

Few people seem to recognise this but there’s a significant cost to watching television. Not the cost of purchasing the television set or any cable or satellite subscriptions you may have. The real cost is the opportunity cost of your time. That is the time you spend watching television. Time is money and you could be doing something more profitable with your time. Learning something new perhaps or running your own little income-generating side hustle.

18. On qualifications (1):

Most of the work done by most people in life doesn’t require a college degree at all. If you have one that’s great but stay humble. A motivated individual with common sense and decent reading, writing and arithmetic skills can succeed in life without one.

19. On qualifications (2):

You may need a college degree to work for an employer but you don’t need one to work for yourself. If it’s your business, you make the rules.

20. On qualifications (3):

Plenty of people graduating from Harvard will end up working for people who didn’t. So, stay humble. Studying at a top university is no guarantee for career success, nor does it guarantee wealth. A Harvard, Oxford, or Cambridge degree may look good on your CV but five years after graduation the only thing that will matter is what you’ve achieved in the workplace since.

21. On experience:

Doing is by far the best way to learn. The classroom is useful, of course, but nothing beats doing and learning from your mistakes. Making mistakes will teach you lessons that you’ll never forget. And learning from your mistakes will give you that valuable commodity known as experience. Knowing the theory is useful, whereas having experience is essential.

22. On employability:

You don’t sell who you are. You sell what you can do and the value you can add. Every job is about doing stuff for other people and delivering results. What is it you can do and what can you confidently deliver? Before you go for any job interview, make sure you have answers to these questions and make sure you can give examples of stuff you’ve delivered on previous occasions.

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23. On work (1):

Employers can quickly replace you with someone just like you and you’ll be forgotten quickly. So be professional in carrying out your duties, of course, but not at the expense of your interests or those of your loved ones.

24. On work (2):

Make sure you take good care of yourself. Employers will take everything you give and a bit more besides but if you died tomorrow your job would be posted online before your obituary. You’ll be replaced within days and the memory of your presence won’t last long.

25. On making money:

To make money you have to be doing stuff for other people. To make a serious amount of money you have to be doing stuff for multiple people simultaneously, even when you’re asleep. Sounds impossible but it can be done. For instance, serving the many with your digital products, sold online, can lead to great wealth.

26. On sales:

Successful selling is not about tricking people into buying something they don’t need. The art of selling is in proactively finding customers who’ve got problems for which your products can provide the ideal solution. If you can offer solutions to problems, you’ll find customers in need of what you have to sell. Find the right customers and a good product will sell itself.

27. On change (1):

It’s easier to remain as you are than it is to change but unless you change your life will not improve. Embracing change is hard but it is well worth the effort.

28. On change (2):

For things to change, you have to change. For things to get better, you have to get better. You can become more than you are but it won’t happen by accident. It all starts with you saying, I can; I will; and I won’t stop until I get there. And you must make any changes necessary.

29. On finding a life partner:

You’ll find, as you go through life, that Mr or Miss Perfect doesn’t exist. If you’re looking for a life partner, find someone whose faults you can live with. Yes, you’ll need to enjoy each other’s company. And yes, you’ll need to have things in common. However, everyone you meet will have faults of their own, even if they’re not immediately apparent.

30. On children (1):

When you have young children they need your attention much more than your mobile phone does. Your children should be your priority, particularly in the early years. You’re their role model. Be a positive role model and give them all the attention they deserve. The years pass quickly and your children, good or bad, are your legacy to the world.  Social media can wait. Anything less is simply a disservice to your child.

31. On children (2):

Children need continuity and they need boundaries. They need to be brought up with a set of values too. Fail to give them those things and you fail as a parent. Materialism is no substitute for the things that matter most.

32. On your social life:

You’ll never fit into every social group, nor should you try. Just focus on finding a group of people that are right for you. In other words, find your tribe. People that are welcoming to you, with interests like yours and personalities that appeal to you. It’s better to be in the company of people that appreciate your company, rather than trying to fit into groups that don’t want you there at all.

Phil Sutton

33. On experts:

There are plenty of people referred to as experts whose ideas and recommendations can prove to be stupid beyond belief. Listen to experts by all means but then use your own judgement. Don’t be fooled by people, just because they’ve got an impressive job title. If your instinct says they’re wrong, have the courage of your convictions and act accordingly. Just because an ‘expert’ said it, doesn’t mean you have to accept it.

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Please share this post with your friends:

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So go on, please share it now. If you can do that for me, I’ll be ever so grateful and you’ll be helping a keen blogger reach a wider audience.

And you’ll be helping your friends too. So you really can make a difference in the lives of others.

Thank you.

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Filed Under: Wisdom Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

How to get motivated and achieve big things

03/05/2026 by

How to get motivated and achieve big things is a common question I’m asked. Coming up with ideas is easy, but getting motivated can be much harder.

Do you have a problem getting motivated? You know what you’d like to do, but you just can’t seem to get going.

Many people feel this way, and, if I’m honest, I can be like that too. So whenever I struggle to get going, I like to watch a motivational video or listen to a motivational podcast or audiobook.

When I need a little push, I listen to people who inspire me. People like Jim Rohn, Tony Robbins, and Brian Tracy.

And here’s another inspiring speaker from TEDxVirginiaTech. In this video, Scott Geller talks about the psychology of self-motivation. I found this very useful, and I hope you will too. Certainly, it’s worth your time to listen to it.

How to get motivated

How to get motivated
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The advantages of work: Why you should take it seriously

03/01/2026 by

The advantages of work are many, but often people fail to appreciate the importance of their work. So my question to you today, dear reader, is, how do you regard your work?

Perhaps for you, work is just a source of income, but by no means your passion.

Maybe it’s something you must do simply because you desperately need an income, but it doesn’t leave you feeling energized and motivated to do the best job you possibly could do?

Perhaps mostly you’re just going through the motions, doing the minimum you can get away with each day and longing for the weekend and time off.

Maybe you’re the sort of person who prefers to spend your time in the office chatting and drinking coffee with your workmates.

Does any of this sound like you, dear reader, or possibly a slightly exaggerated version of you?

If that’s not you and your work is your passion, or at least you take it seriously, then this article is not really for you.

This article is for readers who feel less than energised by the work they’re currently doing and those who need a timely reminder that there are good reasons for taking work seriously.

The advantages of work:

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Work is your livelihood:

If you’re not pulling your weight in your current job, then you should know that it won’t have gone unnoticed. Just because your boss has yet to say anything doesn’t mean he or she hasn’t noticed.

And if you’re building a reputation for being a slacker, then it’s only a matter of time before the company will find a reason to get rid of you, if you’re not careful.

You must appreciate that a business cannot carry costs that add little or no value to that business. That is, it can’t if its aim is to survive, at least.

Commercial reality will very quickly kick any business in the butt should its management fail to keep tight control on costs.

Companies are not registered charities.

Any costs must be covered by the prices charged. If a business bears unnecessary costs for long then the result will be pricing that is simply uncompetitive. And if the business isn’t competitive, then it will lose out to the competition.

Think about that for a second. As a consumer, if Company A is selling a product at a lower price than Company B, where will you buy it? You’ll go for the best price every time. No customer loyalty will survive even a small saving in price. To believe otherwise would be naïve.

So if you’re not adding value, then potentially you’re at risk of losing your job.

Your work is your livelihood, so losing your job could actually hurt you. In fact, the best way to appreciate your job is to imagine your life without it.

Work provides you with a sense of purpose:

The very essence of what work is all about is simple. Work is just doing stuff for other people in return for money. It gives us an income, but it also gives us a sense of purpose.

Through work, we apply our skills and know-how to deliver an output or an outcome for someone else. That may be an individual or an organisation, but either way, we are paid for what we actually deliver.

Essentially, that’s the psychological contract we enter into when we agree to do work for someone else.

If we’re not delivering what we’re paid to deliver, then we’re not doing our job properly. We are not fulfilling the psychological contract that is work.

Taking pride in our work is important, too. Our sense of purpose should drive us to do the best we can with the skills we have, and we should be constantly seeking to improve.

If we don’t love what we do at any given time, then we should be looking for ways to change our mindset to take a more positive view.

If we view our work positively, then we’re more likely to be energised by it, and if we’re energised by it then we’re more likely to do it well.

Work is how we make a difference:

You must also recognise that there’s a big difference between being busy and delivering real results. Never confuse industry with effectiveness. The two are very different things.

If I’m paying you to paint houses, then the only measure I will use to judge you on is how well and how efficiently you paint houses. I don’t really care how helpful you might have been to the electrician or the refuse collector.

Being busy doesn’t count for anything unless you’re busy doing the right things. Doing the right things is how we make a real difference. And surely we’d all like to make a difference?

Other benefits:

Having a job actually provides us with many benefits.

For a start, the income it generates allows us to put a roof over our heads and food on our table.

Managed carefully, the money we earn will put clothes on our backs and allow us to heat our homes.

And of course, it provides so much more, too.

Having a job gives us status, and our own income gives us a degree of independence and freedom.

All these things together improve our self-esteem.

And of course, work gives us a reason to get you out of bed each day.

Work is how we contribute to the society around us. Not just in what we actually do, but also in the taxes we pay. That’s how we pull our weight and justify membership in the society in which we live.

However, let us not forget the camaraderie we enjoy with work colleagues. People are social animals, and we need the company of others.

Yes, some of them will drive us nuts at times, but mostly they’re good people just like us, with lives just like ours and with whom we can relate.

We share their laughs, and we share their tears, too, at times; the good times and the bad times; it all makes life worth living.

Work allows us to engage with other people, and that’s very important.

Your work can be your legacy too:

Work is what we do for other people, and what we’ve done for other people is how we’ll be remembered long after we’re gone. So potentially your work is your legacy.

On that basis, whatever you do, strive to do it well.

It might not seem much to you, but it will matter to other people.

Have a sense of pride in your work, whatever it is. It doesn’t matter whether you sweep roads or you’re a skilled heart surgeon; we all have our place in society, and we all have our contribution to make.

And whatever role you play, no one is better than anyone else.

Enjoy your work or keep looking:

It’s important you find a way to enjoy your work because you spend a third of each day doing it.

Sometimes it’s just a case of looking at your work differently in order to appreciate what you have. However, sometimes, even then, for whatever reason, you’ll feel unhappy.

If you can’t find a way to enjoy your work, then find another job. One more suited to your natural talent, perhaps. However, until you find the right thing, you must grit your teeth and do your current work to the best of your ability.

And never, ever just walk away from a job without having another one to go to.

It is ironic, perhaps, but it’s always much easier to find another job when you already have one.

Without a job, a potential employer might wonder whether you’re unlucky or just a loser. And usually, employers will be reluctant to take a chance on you if they’re unsure.

Conclusion:

The importance of work to our lives and our self-esteem should not be underestimated. So do the work you’re paid to do and do it well. Do that, and success can be yours.

Don’t do your job properly, and you’ll struggle to hold on to it for very long. Lose it, and almost certainly you’ll regret it.

That’s the nature of work, it always has been, and it always will be.

Phil Sutton

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9 truly inspirational quotes worthy of a moment’s reflection

02/25/2026 by

If something to inspire you is what you’re seeking today, then I have nine truly inspirational quotes just for you.

Four of them may be from the same author, but they’re all worthy of reflection. I found them inspirational, and I hope you do too.

Enjoy them all, and then please pass them on to your friends and colleagues.

9 Truly Inspirational Quotes
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Truly Inspirational Quotes:

  1. Time is a created thing. To say ‘I don’t have time’ is like saying, ‘I don’t want to.’ ~Lao-Tzu.
  2. Time is not something you FIND or MAKE. The clock and the calendar move on at their own pace, with or without you. Your choice is how you use it. ~Michael Josephson
  3. Sometimes life doesn’t turn out how you had expected or hoped. That doesn’t mean you can’t or won’t be happy. If you don’t limit yourself to your first version of your life there is always a bright future ahead. If you believe that the best is yet to come you will be right. ~Michael Josephson
  4. Doing what you like is FUN. Doing what you love is HAPPINESS. Doing what you want is FREEDOM. Doing what you say is INTEGRITY. Doing what you can is SERVICE. Doing what you must is DUTY. Doing what you should is CHARACTER. ~Michael Josephson
  5. It is not enough to exist, you must LIVE. It is not enough to survive, you must THRIVE. It is not enough to care, you must COMMIT. It is not enough to seek success, you must seek SIGNIFICANCE. It is not enough to live long, you must LIVE WELL. ~Michael Josephson
  6. Life is what you make it. You can be more than you are, but it won’t happen by accident. You need a “why,” and with a “why,” you’ll be able to bear any “how.” ~Lucius B. Wack
  7. Live every day as if it’s your last, because one day it will be. ~Anonymous
  8. Enjoy the life you have and make the most of every moment, because you’ll be dead for a long time. ~Anonymous
  9. Everyone has something to offer. If you can solve problems for other people, you’ll always earn a living. ~Joseph Crosby
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How to turn enterprise into money and riches

02/15/2026 by

Today, the question I am exploring is how to turn enterprise into money and riches. But let’s start with a quote.

Being poor is sh*t. ~Bob Geldof

The media personality and former rock star Bob Geldof’s communication style tends to be blunt and to the point. He’s not a man to sugarcoat his words, or so it seems. However, he does make an important point here.

People may tell you that money isn’t important, but next to oxygen, it’s essential for a life worth living. You couldn’t live long without it today.

Exactly how much money you need depends on your preferred lifestyle, of course. However, even for a fairly basic lifestyle, a reasonable income is necessary.

None of us wants to be poor, of course. Fortunately, we don’t have to be. It’s possible to turn enterprise into money and then money into wealth and riches.

And what do I mean by enterprise? I mean your energy, your resourcefulness, your imagination, your know-how and skills, your ambition, and your determination to make life better for you and your loved ones.

Essentially, you can make your life better simply by making it better for other people.

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What is work?

The key message today is that you don’t need to be employed by a commercial enterprise or corporation to earn money.

While being employed is one way to earn money, it’s also perfectly feasible to establish your own business and earn a living by being self-employed.

And in the age of the Internet, it’s never been easier to start a business, even if you have very little money to invest.

Remember also that you can start a business initially as a part-time side hustle while being employed until it’s generating enough income for that business to become your primary means of making a living.

And never forget, for most people, the only way you’ll ever get seriously rich is through your own business.

Certainly, unless you’re a Wall Street investment banker or a lawyer, you’re unlikely to get seriously rich being someone’s employee, trading your time for money.

The key to success in business

The key to success in your own business is to find a way to solve problems for people for profit. That’s the way to turn your enterprise into money. And it’s a lot easier than you might imagine.

Let’s face it, there’ll always be plenty of customers for products and services, some of which are yet to be invented.

People will always have problems, and they’ll always need solutions to those problems.

Remember, every product sold by a company is a solution to a problem, or at least it should be.

Turn enterprise into money

-If you continually educate yourself on skills and know-how, then you can create wealth by seeking out customers for whom you can deliver solutions to their problems and/or provide them with services for which they have a need.

If you can satisfy those customers, then you’ll make money, and quite possibly a lot of money, if you can scale up that business as your customer base grows.

Manage your money wisely, and you can build your wealth too.

Determination, hard work, and an eye for problems to be solved are the main ingredients for business success. Your enterprise really can lead you to great wealth.

You don’t have to be poor

You don’t have to be poor unless you’ve given up and you’re just accepting that being poor is your lot in life. It’s not, and nor should it be.

You’re perfectly capable of generating your income, dear reader.

You just need to do stuff for other people and find a way to add value to their lives. In this case, adding value means solving problems or making their lives easier and/or better in some way.

Help yourself by helping others get what they need

It all comes down to your willingness to find a way to serve others. Simple!

There are opportunities there for you to take every single day of the week if you’re enterprising and ready to solve problems for other people. However, you do need to be fleet-footed.

The best time to start a business might have been last year, but the next best time is right now.

And age is no barrier to starting a business either. Remember, Colonel Sanders was 65 years old when he started KFC, and Ray Kroc was 52 when he started building the business we know as McDonald’s.

It can be done, and people do. Why not you? Go on, just go for it! Real riches can be yours.

Good luck!

Phil Sutton

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How to know your life purpose in 5 minutes

02/09/2026 by

How to know your life purpose in 5 minutes? Now there’s an interesting question.

If you ask yourself five simple questions, you can identify your purpose, and with that knowledge, you can succeed.

If you speak with successful people, they’ll usually have a strong sense of their life purpose.

However, most people in life are unaware of their life purpose.

Far too many people in this world are unhappy with their lives because, for whatever reason, they feel they haven’t made the best use of their natural talent.

Too many people that I meet in their 40s and 50s seem to feel their lives have been mostly wasted so far.

Now, I’m not referring to complete losers here.

I’m talking about people who actually appear to have what we all crave, i.e. an affluent lifestyle and well-paid jobs.

However, just because they’ve made some money doesn’t mean they feel they’ve made the best of their lives.

Money’s important for living, of course, but having a sense of purpose and a feeling that we’re making a difference in other people’s lives is also very important if we want to be happy with our lives. And surely we all want to be happy?

Do you know your life purpose, dear reader?

Would you say you’re happy with your life?

I strongly believe that we’ve all been put on this earth for a reason.

We all have our part to play, and we all have a unique contribution to make.

Certainly, we all have a unique set of talents.

So surely, if we know what we have to offer, we’re closer to knowing our life purpose?

If what we do is congruent with our life purpose, then we can make a real difference to the world around us and to other people, too.

HOW TO KNOW YOUR LIFE PURPOSE
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How to know your life purpose:

The question is, where to start?

Well, if you have absolutely no idea what your life purpose is, then a little self-analysis is a good place to start. However, what questions should you be asking yourself?

In the video below from TEDx Talks Adam Leipzig offers some inspired thinking on how to find your life purpose.

In the video, Adam suggests some simple questions to ask yourself that will quickly lead you to a sense of what your life purpose should be.

I found this video inspirational and really useful, and I recommend it to you.

Recommended Reading:

Finally, as Adam Leipzig suggests in the video, Amazon offers an enormous range of books on this subject.

Hopefully, the video will have helped you without the need for further reading.

However, maybe you feel the need to explore the topic further. Perhaps you would like to purchase some books on the subject to add to your personal reference library.

If so, then here are two books you might consider:

  1. The Life Purpose Workbook: A 5-Step Guide to Find Your Purpose and Create the Life You Want by Avis J. Williams
  2. Life Purpose: How To Find Your Reason For Living by Claire H Perkins
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