Building Your Competitive Advantage
With Awesome Soft Skills Training


Duncan Nugget® #41: Size Doesn’t Matter?

Dec

It’s not the size of the step; it’s the direction that’s important. People get so frustrated about mistakes and mishaps because they are overwhelmed by the thought of what’s required to make things right.

If you’ve been walking down the wrong path in life, one step in the right direction will put you closer to your goal. Think about that.

If you’ve got a big project to tackle, one step puts you closer to completion.

One step. It’s called progress.

Million-Dollar Question: What is one step you are committed to taking right now?



 

Duncan Nugget® #49: Self-Motivation

Mar

“How do I stay motivated?

Good question. That’s a question people ask me all the time. And I tell them the same thing every time:

“Motivation has an ebb and flow like the tide. Even if they love what they do for a living, people are not in a state of high motivation all the time. It’s all about being about to make the downtime less frequent. It’s about being able to do what needs to be done even when you don’t feel like doing it. Action comes before motivation.”

Suggested Reading:
What comes first–action or motivation?



 

Duncan Nugget® #23: Productivity

Oct

People always ask me a question:

“Al, where do you find the time?”

They want to know how I am able to have over 100 speaking engagements per year, write dozens of articles, maintain two blogs and two websites, run two businesses (currently starting a third), serve on two boards, chair a steering committee, volunteer for over hundred hours per year, mentor dozens of students one on one, and have time for my family. The answer is simple:

I don’t try to find time; I make time.

For example:

By spending 1 less hour per day surfing the web or watching TV, you will have an extra 28-31hrs. every month to work on achieving your goals. That’s 336-372 hours per year!


Suggested Reading:
A State of Mind Called Time



 

Duncan Nugget® #31: Productivity

Oct


“Plan tomorrow’s actions today.”
– Al Duncan

Before you go to sleep every night plan (in writing) the ACTIONS you will take tomorrow. This increases your focus and productivity because it keeps you from thinking about what you’re supposed to be doing and actually doing what you’re supposed to be doing.



 

A State of Mind Called Time Pt. III

May

“In all our deeds, the proper value and respect for time determines success or failure.”

—El Hajj El Malik El Shabazz (Malcolm X)



Have you ever met somebody that’s always late for class, work, and everything else, but has the nerve to be mad because he or she didn’t get to leave on time?

Please tell me that’s not you. Are you one of those people that likes to be “fashionably late”?

I know this violates proper nightclub etiquette but…



 

Duncan Nugget® #120: Goal Getting

Apr

There’s a BIG difference between goal setting and goal getting. Here’s a tip to make sure you’re practicing the latter and not only the former.

Break large goals into small, easily achieved steps. This will create a pattern of success and provide you with you milestones to celebrate.

Suggested Reading:
My Success Journal: For Young People
by Al Duncan



 

[VIDEO] Duncan Nugget #1: Write and Succeed

Dec

Have you ever heard the story about the guy who was trying to build a skyscraper, but he didn’t have any plans or blueprints? I can tell you right now that you have never heard that story.

Why?

Because is it doesn’t exist!

Nobody would try to build a building like that without planning it out in writing…first. Even if someone could build it without using blueprints, it would still be much simpler if things were planned out on paper. It works the same way for you and building your life.

You tend to accomplish a lot more when you put your goals, ideas, plans, and the necessary action steps in writing. Write and succeed.

Whether digitally or by hand, write down you goals, ideas, and plans.

Million-Dollar Question: 
How soon are you going to put your goals, ideas, plans,
and 
the necessary action steps in writing?


___________________
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Do you really believe you have a greater chance of success when you write things down? Why or why not?

2. Write down one of your main goals. What is the next action step you can take on that goal? How soon are you going to do the action step? (HINT: “Today” would be an awesome answer.)

3. What are some of the excuses people use for not writing down their goals, ideas, and action plans? How do YOU avoid those kinds of excuses?

4. What tool(s) do you like to use for keeping track of your actions steps? (To-do list, calendar, phone, journal, etc.) What makes it/them effective for you?

5. If you had to teach a class on the importance of writing down your goals, ideas, and plans, what would your main point be? What makes your point so important?

Additional Reading: 3 Keys To Help Young People Track Progress On Goals



 

The Leading Soft Skills Training Program for STEM Students. Check out S3TEM.com


The 5 Soft Skills Clusters


Click here for a list of soft skills definitions, and behavioral indicators.