Below: Playa de Bolonia, Atlantic Ocean, South of Spain, close to Tarifa (The North African Coast on the horizon)

If you are bored or just feel you are not happy or not satisfied, take a sheet of paper and write down these seven simple questions, go to a peaceful place, sit down, breathe, relax and honestly answer them:

1. PASSION: Do I have and feel passion for what I am doing?
2. PERSONALITY: Do I have personality and decide things on my own?
3. POWER: Do I feel at least mentally strong?
4. PLANNING: Do I plan what I will do on a regular basis?
5. PERSEVERANCE: Do I follow my plan and try to finish all tasks and do not give up if I get stuck?
6. PERFORMANCE: Do I obtain the desired results?
7. PAUSE: Do I take breaks on a regular basis to recharge energy and motivation?

If you answer on one or more of these questions with "No" you have probably found one or more reasons why you don't feel satisfied.

Once finished with the analysis you will say, well that's fine, but what can I do to change this?
Use the 8th P: PROACTIVITY and get it fixed ;)

AND!

Have a great day!

If you want to be successful AND happy I recommend you to play these three cards both in your personal and professional life:

1. Passion - Be passionate and enthusiastic with and about yourself and with and about what you do.

Show yourself and others your passion and motivation, display your enthusiasm and energy. Everything is possible if you believe its possible!

It is all in your mind and you are what you think you are. But you have to express what is in your mind trough emotion and actions.
Believe in your dreams with passion and nobody will be able to stop you! Believe in yourself and be yourself!
2. Vision - If you feel that strong and genuine power of your own enthusiasm and passion, then you have to move forward and start to envision what you want to achieve.

Write it down, draw a picture, associate a song or a video so that you can always see, feel and touch your vision and energize yourself during the tough and difficult moments and times, when you fail or are attacked by your fears to not succeed or when your doubts start hammering your mind. Keep your vision alive and present, its your bright shining pole star at your life's sky that guides you!

Have a great day!

Today I wanted to ask you to share with us which habits make you feel successful and happy, that make you feel confident that you are in the right place doing the right things. I will share mine so it will be easier to start for you.

A habit is something you do regularly and almost automatically but consciously. It can be as easy as having one glass of mineral water every morning as soon as you get up, reading a book 30 minutes a day, a one week vacation every year for skiing, a dinner with your wife or husband at every wedding anniversary.

My daily habits are:

1. Workout: After getting up, 15 minutes of gym: No weights, 7 easy exercises repeated twice. I do this at home and this includes some streching and a final meditation exercise of 3 minutes.
2. Shower
3. Prepare my kids breakfast and take them to shool
4. Have breakfast on my own, way to the office
5. Planning: Revise my daily agenda and get prepared for the day
6. Have a coffee with my team or other colleagues
7. Have lunch with my colleagues or customers
8. Drink some water and have a third coffee (Maybe too much coffee ;)
9. Go home and have dinner with my family, talk to my wife and my kids, relax (Some running), watch some TV and go to bed

There are also some daily "Habits in progress". Listen actively and speak less or 20 minutes reading for instance.

Caution: A habit that is not linked to survival needs can always be lost so don't think that if you have done something for three months every day that this habit will be there forever and will just pop up every day. You still have to decide every day to do it.

My weekly habits are:

1. Sunday evening at 7PM Familiy meeting where everybody has his speaking time he may use or give to another Family member. This meeting is to share important things for each of us with the other family members so everybody is aware. This meeting is used to discuss important family events such as vacactions, birthdays and any other important event. (This habit was just added a week ago and I am working on convincing everybody that it provides value :)
2. Monday morning: Weekly planning - personal and professional events - I put the "Big rocks" in my agenda and check for the ones I will have to prepare this week: Birthdays, anniversaries, customer meetings, meetings with my boss, events with friends and family, etc.
3. 1-3 times running between 30 and 60 min including an official 10k or 21k competition from time to time on a weekend
4. Saturdays: The organization&family day of the week - Groceries, things at home that have to be done, drive my kids to their events, assist to the soccer match of my son, play with my youngest kid. Saturday evening is usually booked for my wife and I. Dinner with friends, cinema and theatre are options we often choose.
5. Sunday is holy - Sharpen the saw: Sports (Tennis), activities with my family (I have a wife and three kids) and Friends - No exception! 

My only monthly habit is

"Stammtisch" (No clue how to translate this) every first Thursday with my German Expats here in Madrid - having a few beers and a nice conversation

My annual habits are
​

1. A long 2-4 weeks summer holiday with my wife and my kids. This is usually August here in Spain
2. A one week easter holiday with my wife and my kids.
3. Celebration of all close family and friends birthdays and our wedding anniversary
4. A 3 day - Family-off ski trip with my friends. This one was skipped for the last five years but must go back into my habits ;) -  to disconnect from work&family
5. Take a weekend-day in December and ask myself if I still do the right things and if I am in the right company doing the job that challenges and satisfies me and share these thoughts with my wife. Then think about a plan and take action if necessary.

This is much more what I initially thought! And honestly: The last one of the annual habits just popped up as an idea ;)

Feel free to share your habits, the ones that make the difference for you.

I am looking forward to seeing them!