‘Tis better to Take than to Receive. Really? This kind of thinking can send your head spinning, but should it? Consider my take on these 5 ‘Takes’ and how you might use them to improve your business and personal results:

Take time to assess – Who are you? What do you want? What do you spend your time on? Do you take daily action toward the goals you set, the outcomes you desire and the future you see? Or do you just react to the day as it unfolds?

Take responsibility – No blame game here. Where you are, what you do, the actions you take (or don’t take), all belong to you and you alone. Say yes to the right things. Say no to the right things. Knowing when to say no requires even more discipline.

Take direction – Where did we get the idea that we have to go it alone or that we need to have all the answers? How did we ever come to the conclusion that being in business means that you have to be good at all the things that are required to run a successful business? It is one of the biggest mistakes that we can make. Decide what you want and who can help you. Surround yourself with people who have experience in areas that you don’t. Who do you know? Think about the people you’ve met at your networking events. If you don’t go to these events with the specific goal to meet people who can help you or who you can help as well as to meet people who may be interested in what you do, you are missing the point of being there. Engage with the experts and the results will speak for themselves.

Take Steps Everyday – Identify your goals and take one connected step after another according to your plan and realistic timeframe.

Take Action – The bridge that connects your thoughts to your results is action.

So go ahead, start taking today. It’s good for you!