We all want to succeed in life. We want to succeed in our personal relationships. We want to succeed in our professional lives. Yet despite this desire to succeed we so often do not find success. Just what is the secret to success in our personal and professional lives? Being proactive.

It is easy to place the blame for our failure to succeed on the many factors that influence our lives. Perhaps we were born with certain disadvantages or at least with no noticeable advantages. Perhaps our early years are at fault. Perhaps today it is our family, our employer, our community, or the current economic climate that is causing us to fail. While trying to displace the blame is certainly a very human reaction it is only a reaction. Assigning blame for our failures, even if we accept the blame for ourselves, will not do one thing to change our failure. However if we move past the blame game and start to think proactively — better yet become proactive — then we will be on the path to success.

The blame game is very limiting. Not only does it set you up to repeatedly fail, it does nothing to encourage growth. However once you move past blame and begin to think about what you can do and what you can change. Once you begin to take advantage of your inherently human abilities and strengths you are bound to find success. Human beings have imagination and independent will. This means we can analyze a problem, come up with a creative solution, and implement the plan. We have the power to change ourselves and our lives. This is the true path to success.

Many people are familiar with the term — proactive — however they simply believe it means to take action on our own initiative. While this is certainly a key component of the word. Becoming a proactive person is more than simply taking action. It goes deeper than that. Being proactive means that you not only take action but you also take responsibility for yourself. This means giving up the blame game for good.

In order to ensure your success you must accept your personal responsibility for your own failure and success. Do not blame others, conditions, or the past, but rather choose to respond to failure or success in a positive way.

Remember that failure does not have to be the end of the road but can rather be the beginning of a whole new path. If you can accept the blame for your mistakes and learn from them then take those lessons to forge a new plan of action then you are bound to find success.

You are a resourceful and imaginative person. These qualities are among your inheritance as a human being. If you use the qualities to take responsibility for your actions and generate new initiatives then you are bound to find more success in your personal and professional lives.

Ever considered learning to speak, read and write another language? If you have, the Italian language is a good pick. The language alone is being spoken by over 70 million speakers and the country where this romantic language came from speaks for itself. Going down the records of history, Italians have contributed major events to the people of this generation. Italy has many of its glorious achievement in the major districts of the country for all to see. And the food is undoubtedly loved by everyone from anywhere in the world.

If these reasons aren’t enough for you to realize how interesting to learn the language is going to be, then you just probably don’t get it or you’re just not interested at all. Moving forward, the Italian language can be learned as well by anyone. Obviously, the internet and modern life of today play a big role in these aspects of learning any self-help subjects and the very reason why almost anyone given a chance can learn not just the Italian language but all the other languages possible to learn today.

The good news just doesn’t end there. Out of passion and mere interest to learn the Italian language, an individual can earn a career boost by just being fluent with this language. Of course it isn’t easy to have everything done but in due time, speaking the romantic language is a piece of cake. With that mentioned, career opportunities comes easy too, there are many career areas an Italian speaker can try. A foreign language translator here and abroad is a possibility. Even being a teacher for a second language is also an option.

When Italian basic is learned, learning advanced Italian later on can even increase one’s career development. Although, there are some pre-requisite qualifications, it’s not very difficult anymore these days to enhance one’s learning since the convenience and availability of trusted language programs online is abundant. It’s also a hassle-free approach to learn at home since there’s no pressure and interruption from the usual day’s schedule.

Learning the Italian language or another foreign language benefits you and you alone. It helps enrich and expand your vocabulary and reduces unemployment vacancy. There are just endless beautiful things to gain from learning the language so allow your self be enthralled by the opportunity.

It’s a New Year with probably yet another long list of resolutions. But will you actually do them? Or are you the type of person that has the best of intentions and sets goals but can never seem to get started on them, or you half-start them and never find the time or motivation to finish them?

Well don’t worry, you’re not alone! We all suffer from procrastination at some point in our life. The good news is that there is a cure. Just think “SNOW” and follow these 4 steps:

STEP 1: STOP

The reason you procrastinate is because the emotional force or feeling isn’t strong enough to propel you to take action forward. A positive feeling is being counteracted by a negative feeling, making you feel neutral, unmotivated and leaving you sitting on the fence. The problem comes when we feel guilty about it. This adds to the emotional hot pot! So the first step is to simply STOP rather than struggle.

STEP 2: NOTICE

Be observant. What is it that you’re actually avoiding? What is driving the negative emotion or feeling for the activity at hand? What are you afraid might happen? Writers are notorious procrastinators. With good intentions they’ll sit down in front of the key board, but will quickly become distracted by the pile of washing in the corner, that layer of dust on the shelves and those dishes that need washing. For writers, usually it’s the fear of not writing anything readable that stops them from writing at all. This is the counter-force. Notice what your counter-force is.

STEP 3: ORDER

When you bring order into a situation, it is incredible how it can make things feel a little simpler. So the best thing to do is to is take out a piece of paper and simply write a list of all the steps involved. The secret is to break them down into really detailed small steps (e.g., take the file off the shelf, place it on the table, open it to page 10, etc.). You’ll find yourself whizzing through your list and it’s this momentum that carries you through the rest of the task.

STEP 4: WHISTLE

Yes, you read correctly. Once you’ve written your list, simply take the first step and whistle while you work. Try it doing it now without smiling! You’ll notice that it quickly shifts your mood and makes you realize how ridiculous you’re being. It’ll help you take that all important first step, and then motivate you to move on to the next one. By taking small steps forward, before you know it you’ll have finished completely. And what’s more, you would have done it with a smile on your face too!

Finally, don’t let procrastination hold you back from reaching your goals and highest potential this year. If you’d like some extra support and inspiration to stay motivated and on track, why not sign up for my free downloadable One Big Gulp! Kit, which you will find at http://www.onebiggulp.com. Remember, it’s your life, your choice, so live your greatest life!