The BOWA Blog

Manage Your Time Effectively

by Bert Oliva

There is one thing we all have in common. You, Me and every billionaire in the world. Can you guess it? “TIME.” What separates most people from the high-income earners is how that time is spent. I hear a lot of complaints from people ALL THE TIME about not having enough time in their day for the things they really want to do. But have you really analyzed how you spend your time?

Are you procrastinating, making excuses, or doing a lot of useless busywork? The most successful people in the world run their days effectively by using agendas. They can be digital or hand-written but nonetheless they should be updated every evening or every morning before you begin your day.

One recommendation I have is to chart and track yourself for one week and see where you spend your time.

Include the following areas:
– Wake up time
– Time getting dressed
– Breakfast time
– Commute time
– Personal Calls
– Productivity time
– Lunchtime
– Personal time
– Fitness time
– Dinnertime
– Leisure time
– Bedtime

List anything else your day might include.

However, you must do this for 7 days. In your productivity time section I want you to list out each task. Include two sections: one for completed and one for rollovers to the next day’s column.

Once you have tracked yourself for a week, see where you are spending most of your time. This will help you evaluate your time and make the necessary adjustments to get more out of your day and move your success to the next level.

Live Life,
Bert Oliva

Are You Listening To Your Own Advice?

by Bert Oliva

Recently I was having a conversation with someone and we were talking about how growing up, sometimes the person who brought us up always had some sort of lesson or tool that they wanted to share with us. Now that we’re older, sometimes that tool kicks in when someone near us is going through a tough time and we say, “You know what my mother used to say? You know what my cousin used to say? You know what my grandfather used to say? Etc.” And we share that piece of advice with the person.

My question to you is, do you tell yourself that advice? Do you share it with yourself when you are going through a tough time? When things are not going as planned? Do you actually take the time to reflect on the advice and knowledge you already have within yourself?

If you do, great. However, if you don’t, then start looking inside. Start paying attention. A lot of what you are looking for is already inside of you. You don’t have to keep searching. Start with that piece of advice. The one that you give to others. The one that was given to you when you were growing up. Start applying it and you will start seeing a change in your life.

Live Life,
Bert Oliva

Rebirth

by Bert Oliva

Our lives are cycles. We are born, we live, and one day we will pass away. Within this large life cycle are many smaller cycles. We have cycles of education, cycles of relationships, and even cycles of business.

The beauty of these cycles is that there is always a chance for rebirth, for changing ourselves, our circumstances, and our lives. As a cycle comes to a close, there is another beginning that may be even more exciting, with more opportunity and inspiration.

Enjoy riding the cycles of your life like you enjoyed riding a bicycle as a child. Life goes up and down. There are moments that you will not be utterly happy and there are moments that you will be completely ecstatic.

All of these moments are fleeting and each is a gift in and of itself because each is a chance for you do to some introspection. Look within and see if you are happy with whom you are and whom you have become. If you do not like something you see, change it. Begin a new cycle. Start a rebirth for yourself. You hold all the power within your own hands.

Live Life,
Bert Oliva

Are You At The Finish Line?

by Bert Oliva

“I’ll get to that tomorrow…” “Once I get the promotion, I’ll take that vacation…” “I can’t do that now, because I have so many things to do first…”

How many different excuses can you think of to keep you from working on your goals and dreams? How many justifications do you have that explain away why you have wasted another day not doing what it is you are destined to do?

Stop it. Just stop. Stop making excuses, justifications, and tomorrow statements. The only guaranteed moment you have in your life is this very one. So why are you wasting it?

What is it that you are meant to do? What is it that you are called to? Then why are sitting on the sidelines of your life instead of running in your race towards your finish line?

Everything you need is within you. You already know everything you need to know. Just begin.

As Guy Kawasaki says in his book, The Art of the Start, “Doing, not learning to do, is the essence of entrepreneurship.” And that quote is true of anything we choose to do with our lives.

So, stop thinking, researching, and justifying. Just start.

Live Life,
Bert Oliva

We Need Change

by Bert Oliva

The only thing that is constant in our world is change. Truly. Every single moment you breathe in, the moment you were in has been lost. Everything is changing all of the time.

So, why is it that most of us have trouble with change? Because we are creatures of habit. Our brains like to make patterns and sense out of things. That’s difficult to do when drastic change occurs, which is why so much of our subconscious mind fights change with every ounce of our being. This is why you find yourself unnerved, uncomfortable, and even angry when chance occurs. Your subconscious mind is literally fighting the facts of the situation.

However, when we alter our view of change, it eases our subconscious minds. Embrace change. Change is a good thing. It’s a necessity. With change comes new opportunities, new challenges, and new experiences.

Start getting excited about change. No matter what is on the horizon, when you embrace change, you are ready for the next challenge.

Live Life,
Bert Oliva

How To Be Selfish

by Bert Oliva

How much are you sacrificing? How often do you find yourself going to bed without ever being able to take even 5 minutes for yourself? Are you putting yourself last in your own life?

Women are especially prone to doing this. They tend to put their children, their families, their significant others, their jobs, and every other responsibility and loved one before themselves. This self-sacrificing behavior is what makes them great caretakers. However, everything must be done in balance.

Putting others first is a very admirable quality, yet if you are consistently putting yourself last, you will eventually end up resenting your circumstances.

When you are on an airplane, the safety video will tell you to make sure to put your oxygen mask on first before helping others. This is because if you do not take care of yourself, you will not be able to help others.

This is true for all aspects of your life. It is time to start being selfish. Not to the point where it hurts others, but to the point where you are taking care of yourself. Take time for yourself. Treat yourself. Love yourself.

If you do not dedicate time to caring for yourself, you can never expect anyone else to.

Live Life,
Bert Oliva

Train Your Mind

by Bert Oliva

“I’m alive, I’m awake, and I feel great.” This affirmation is probably my favorite affirmation by Tom Hopkins. Whenever I start my day with this affirmation, it almost always guarantees that my day will be amazingly positive.

Our minds are the most powerful tools we have, yet we tend to forget to train them and hone them. Like any other tool, the more you sharpen your mind and practice with it, the stronger your mind will be.

Affirmations are one of the most powerful and simplest ways to train our minds. By focusing on positivity, our minds are more likely to see positivity around us and attract it.

If you do not have an affirmation that you connect with, then try using Tom Hopkins’ simple one. Start your day repeating, “I’m alive, I’m awake, and I feel great.” Repeat it for at least 45 seconds. You will be amazed at how just 45 seconds will set the tone for your day.

Live Life,
Bert Oliva