You can be them. You can be better than them.
11. "I'm really sorry."
We've all screwed up. We all have things we need to apologize for: Words. Actions. Omissions. Failing to step up, step in, or be supportive.
Pick someone you need to apologize to--the more time that's passed between the day it happened and today, the better.
But don't follow up your apology with a disclaimer like, "But I was really upset..." or, "I thought you were..." or any statement that in any way places even the tiniest amount of blame back on the other person.
Say you're sorry, say why you're sorry, and take all the blame. Then you'll both be in a better place.
12. "I'm the king of the world!"
Maybe Leo was on to something. According to Harvard professor Amy Cuddy, two minutes of power posing--standing tall, holding your arms out or towards the sky, or standing like Superman with your hands on hips--will dramatically increase your confidence.
Try it before you step into a situation where you know you'll feel nervous, insecure, or intimidated. (Just make sure no one is watching.)
It may sound freaky but it works.
13. "Yes."
You're busy. Your plate is full. There are plenty of reasons to sit tight, stay safe, keep things as they are. But that also means tomorrow will be just like today.
Say yes to something different. Say yes to something scary. Say yes to the opportunity you're most afraid of.
When you say yes, you're really saying, "I trust myself."
Trust yourself.
14. "No."
Still, you can't do everything. You can't help everyone. You may want to but you can't.
Sometimes you just need to say no: to a favor, to a request, to a family member. Sometimes you really need to be able to focus on what is important to you.
Say no at least once before the end of the month--the harder to say, the better.
And don't worry if you feel selfish: When your heart is in the right place, what you accomplish by spending more time on your goals will eventually benefit other people too.
15. "You're fired."
Maybe there's an employee you really need to let go but haven't. Or maybe there's a customer, or a vendor, or even just a friend.
Sometimes the best addition starts with subtraction. Pick someone who is dragging you down or holding you back, and let them go.
16. "It's not perfect--and that's okay."
Yeah, you only get one chance to make a first impression. Yeah, perfection is the only acceptable outcome.
Unfortunately, no product or service is ever perfect, and no project or initiative is perfectly planned.
Work hard, do great work, and let it fly. Your customers will tell you what needs to be improved--which means you'll get to make improvements that actually matter.
You can't find out until you let go.
You can't really do anything until you let go.
17. "That's not my job--but who cares?"
Job descriptions are fine until they get in the way of getting things done.
No matter what your role or what you've accomplished, you're never too good to roll up your sleeves, get dirty, and do a little grunt work. No job is ever too menial, no task too unskilled or boring.
The next time you see something that needs to be done, do it.
18. "Maybe I should do it that way."
Sure, we're all individuals. (Okay, I'm not.) We should always set our own courses and follow our own paths--most of the time.
Sometimes, the best thing to do is copy what made someone else successful. Pick someone who has accomplished what you would like to accomplish, and follow that path.
One time, don't try to reinvent a perfectly good wheel.
19. "Jeez, that was stupid. We should do it again!"
Sometimes the dumbest things result in our fondest memories: The time you and two employees stayed up all night loading trucks and listening to every Zeppelin album in order; the time you and another employee drove all night so you could arrive at the customer's warehouse first thing the next morning to sort defective product; the time you and a crew stayed in the plant all weekend during a snowstorm, sleeping on cots and eating vending machine food and cranking out orders...
Each happened over 20 years ago, but my memories are vivid.
Do something seemingly stupid or outrageous or crazy--the harder, the better. You probably won't love it while it's happening, but the result will be doing something cool and creating a memory that will always make you smile.
20. "Hi, Mom!"
Your parents love you. They want the best for you. They will always be there for you.
They won't be around forever. Call them.
21. Nothing.
Self talk is awesome, but sometimes, at the end of a day when you've worked incredibly hard and kicked serious ass and still made time for friends and family and done everything possible to make sure all the important pieces of your world are in place and taken care of...
...Look in the mirror, smile, and just nod at the person looking back.
Sometimes the best way to end a great day is with a silent acknowledgement of achievement and, more importantly, fulfillment.
