how to build an Exceptional Character for yourself

Contrary to popular belief, accolades are not really what success is about. To be rich is to have money and status, but to be wealthy is to have physical, emotional, mental and spiritual wellness plus financial abundance. Exceptional people are those who seemingly have it all. They focus on cultivating their inner worlds and the more soft-spoken qualities of their character because they know to be wholly successful, it takes being a really good human being. What makes one truly exceptional is his achievement combined with his tremendous character and integrity.

So how can one develop exceptional character and integrity? What produces these traits?

• Become other person centric – The path to exceptional and remarkable character is found by creating value for other people. If you focus on other people, on their needs and what makes them special, you will find yourself naturally acting with character and integrity because your selfishness will fade. How can you be selfish when you see so much greatness in others? Many people talk of character traits such as honesty, fairness, compassion, generosity, and courage. These traits become natural and effortless when you become other person centric.

• Contribute first – Never start by focusing on what you can get; focus on what you can give. Winners give 100%; they don’t get 100%. Your positive actions produce the fruits of existence. Contribute first and the rewards will take care of themselves.

• Develop mental toughness – Build defenses in your mind against negative influences. Quit listening to the voice in your head that says you cannot succeed. Kill the idea that some obstacles are too large to overcome. Smash the idea that success is pure luck and you are not one of the lucky ones. You can begin to shutdown the negative voices in your life and replace them with positive voices. If you hang out with a habitually negative influence, find a new friend. There is no point in consistently being fed negative thoughts and images. You can’t change other people; you can only change yourself. And if enough of us change ourselves, we will change the world.

• Encourage everyone around you to be the best they can be – Try to surround yourself with people who want to be the best they can be. Try to encourage everyone around you to be the best they can be. Don’t do it directly. Do it through positive reinforcement. When you see someone begin to move in a positive direction, encourage them, tell them you think they have made a great decision, the kind of bold move that is right for them. When they succeed, tell them you knew they could do it. When they experience a setback, remind them it is only temporary and that things will work out if they learn from the setback, make changes, and persist.

• Praise effort, progress, and success – Never use fear, anger, or shame to motivate. Use constructive criticism, but use it sparingly and only after maintaining considerable patience. Never give false praise or phony complements, people will see right through your lack of authenticity. But when you see strenuous effort, real progress, and outstanding achievement, notice it, recognize it, and celebrate it.

• Do the right thing even when it is unpopular – Doing this as a young person may be one of the most difficult things you will ever do. Many of us have failed this test. But that doesn’t mean you have to. Your heart knows what is right; listen to it and follow it. Listen to your conscience and it will give you the right answer in every difficult situation.