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Jamaal McCoy

Motivated to Excellence

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Entrepreneur, foodie, business leader, athlete Jamaal McCoy values authenticity.

Jamaal McCoy’s early years set the pattern for his future. The highly successful Prescott businessman began his life as an Army BRAT who traveled widely with his family.

“I was born overseas in Germany, and we were stationed there again on two separate occasions,” McCoy said. “I have lived all over this great country, because home is where the Army sends you.”

After high school and college in Colorado, he moved to Las Vegas, where he lived for nearly 20 years, and where his business life began. Although involved in various businesses while in Las Vegas, McCoy said he spent the majority of his time in the automotive industry.

Before moving to Prescott with his wife and daughter, he was the general manager of Findlay Chevrolet. “The opportunity of relocating to Prescott was presented to me when the Findlay Automotive Group bought Tim’s Auto,” he said. “The idea of moving our family to a small town for a change of pace was appealing to me, so I made the leap.”

His 21 years with Findlay Auto Group, with five-and-a-half years in Prescott, included starting his career as a salesperson and advancing through the ranks to ultimately becoming a general manager and a partner within the group.

McCoy thinks highly of Toyota automobiles. “I actually own three of them,” he said. “Toyota quality is top of the line. They produce reliable, long-lasting vehicles with the top resale value in the market. Toyota is the No. 1 selling manufacturer in the world for a reason.”

His affiliation with Prescott was solidified by his involvement in the Prescott Chamber of Commerce. He has been on the Chamber Board of Directors for five years and also served as chairman of the board.

“I have been involved with numerous chambers during my career and our Prescott Chamber is head and shoulders above the rest. The Chamber’s mission is to be a leader in the community and provide our business community with the resources to thrive. Whether it is looking for opportunities for businesses to collaborate or helping small businesses develop and execute a business plan, our Chamber is ready to be that catalyst.”

McCoy has also reached out to help others as a motivational speaker, which he says he really enjoys. “I believe that there are no limits to what we can achieve. If we have reasons, such as purpose and a why, they will be the foundations to develop our core values. Our core values will define how we operate in life and what decisions we make. If we follow up with meaningful goals, the compass will be set to create the life of our dreams. I believe our book of life is being written, but it is our choice on whether or not we are writing it ourselves or if someone else is writing it for us.”

McCoy has a variety of other business interests focusing on the food industry. He is a member of an umbrella company, Krave Restaurant Group, which houses different brands and concepts. “We believe we have strength in diversity and leverage as a group. We have had the fortune of utilizing the knowledge attained from each restaurant independently to use it for the good of the entire organization.”

McCoy and Krave currently own four restaurants. “Our first purchase was Nana’s Café, which was formerly known as Café 10, and serves breakfast and lunch. Breakfast has always been my favorite meal of the day and I was a frequent patron of the restaurant before we purchased it. Barbudos Mexican Grill & Cantina was our second purchase. Our family loves Mexican food and always thought Barbudos was one of Prescott’s best kept secrets.”

Additional acquisitions included Vibes Juice Bar, specializing in cold-pressed juices, smoothies and acai bowls, and the recent purchase of Lucy Dee’s BBQ, with “amazing” flavors in their smoked meats. “I do consider myself a BBQ snob, growing up with parents who refined their BBQ skills while we moved across the South, including Mississippi, North Carolina and Texas,” McCoy said. “Barbecue has always been a dream of mine and we have big plans to expand our BBQ footprint.”

Both he and his wife are fascinated by food. “I would consider myself a food lover and my wife a foodie,” he said. “That combination has allowed us to set specific goals for food quality while refining the menus within our restaurants. As for my role, I consider myself a consultant to each business. We look for the right person to manage the day-to-day and back them up with a strong kitchen. My involvement is culture, processes, systems and profitability. My wife manages the menus and restaurant ambiance.”

In addition to the food endeavors, a different kind of business has recently been added to McCoy’s business portfolio: Prescott Fit Body Boot Camp. “As a former athlete, I know the impact that working out has on not only your physical health but also your mental health. The formula at Fit Body Boot Camp is 30-minute guided sessions that challenge the body and deliver results in a positive, supportive atmosphere. We combine High Intensity Interval Training with active rest and nutritional guidance.”

Where I Find Inspiration

My inspiration has been, and always will be, my family. Specifically, my mother and grandmothers, who I watched work tirelessly to provide for their families. They instilled in me the drive, determination and focus to achieve at the level that I have. As for a role model in business, I am a huge Simon Sinek fan. He is more of an author than a businessman but his philosophies and teachings I have used as blueprints for how I operate in business.

Favorite Leadership Book for Entrepreneurs

I have three books that I always recommend for various stages in the journey. I start with “The Carpenter,” by Jon Gordon, then “The Go Giver,” by Bob Burg, followed by “Infinite Game,” by Simon Sinek.

Favorite Places to Visit

My favorite place to visit is D.C. because of its thought-provoking architecture and history. My favorite place to vacation is Cabo, Mexico, due to the relaxation, beautiful beaches and amazing food.

Favorite Game

Monopoly, hands down. I love that the average game is going to take you a few hours to play, which means more time with family and friends. I also enjoy the ability to watch how different personality types process decisions to make, whether it is buying property, homes or hotels. Monopoly also teaches how certain financial decisions can affect the game’s final outcome.

Most Admired Character Trait

Authenticity. The true value one can give is one’s self. Authenticity in business results in conveyance of intentions through words and actions. Transparency and understanding build trust among associates. QCBN

By Betsey Bruner, QCBN

Photo by Kay Lyons: Business leader and serial entrepreneur Jamaal McCoy drinks from the well of possibilities as an owner in local restaurants such as Vibes Juice Bar. 

Understanding Leadership

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As a leader, you must understand that your success is tied to the success of those under your leadership.

Most new leaders imagine that their new positions are all about them and the new title they have acquired. After all, the moment you are appointed a leader, everyone should follow you and respect you. Unfortunately, this couldn’t be further from the truth. Leadership is something that you need to work hard at, and your appointment as a leader is not the destination but rather the beginning of a long journey. This journey begins with the understanding that as a leader, you are more of a servant to others. Read on to find out more about what leadership truly is.

Good Leadership is About Putting Others First

One of the most interesting things about leadership is that each leader is unique when it comes to their style of leadership and what they bring to the table. However, in the midst of all that uniqueness, there are certain qualities that should be uniform. For instance, every good leader must have integrity, they should be able to communicate well, and they must be able to positively influence those under their leadership.

When you look at all these qualities of a good leader, you will notice that they don’t have much to do with the leader, but those they are leading. A leader who puts others first cultivates a motivating, uplifting and inspiring environment that boosts the confidence of their team. This doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to become best friends with everyone on your team. Putting the needs of others first just enables you to ensure that all your team members have the resources they need to carry out their tasks effectively.

You must also remember to give appreciation. This enhances your team members’ self-esteem and creates a connection that encourages even more collaborative relationships.

A Good Leader is a Great Listener and Motivator

As a leader, you must understand that your success is tied to the success of those under your leadership. This is why you shouldn’t focus too much on your needs. All you will achieve by focusing on yourself is limiting your influence. Instead, most of your time should be spent listening to others and motivating your team members. Focusing on others in this manner is just good business sense.

While some leaders believe that the success of those they lead is a threat to their position, the opposite is true. When you focus on helping others succeed, you create new opportunities for them to grow. This will help them improve their skills and become stronger contributors to the team. As a result, your entire team will be better able to meet its responsibilities, putting you in a better position to achieve your goals.

A Good Leader Should Take Time to Understand Their People

Every good leader must strive to create an open line of communication with their team members. This will enable them to achieve two things. Firstly, they will be able to influence ethical and honest behavior. Apart from that, they will also be able to fully understand their team members so they can customize their interactions and communication styles to suit each individual.

This means that as a leader, you must take time to figure out which communication mode is preferred by each individual on your team. For instance, some members prefer face-to-face communication, while others prefer email. By practicing this, you will become a leader who is authentically interested in people, and your leadership won’t just be about you and what you want.

By looking at the qualities of good leaders, you will quickly find out that as a leader, leadership is not about you and what you want. Instead, it is about serving others, caring for their needs, motivating them, coaching them and empowering them to become the best versions of themselves. This is a winning strategy because there is no way you can become a great leader if the people you are leading are not reaching their maximum potential. It’s only when they start winning that your goals as a leader will be achieved! QCBN

By Jamaal McCoy

Jamaal McCoy is the general manager of Findlay Auto Group Prescott. He can be reached at 928-443-8300 or jmccoy@findlayauto.com.

Living a Life of Gratitude

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Focusing on gratitude helps you put a space between thought and action.

Grateful people are happier and healthier. It may seem cliché but there’s research to prove focusing on the good in life improves your physical, social and emotional well-being. It helps you unearth more meaning in your life, sleep better and cope positively with stress.

What is Gratitude?

Gratitude is a positive, but complex, emotion with several interpretations. Some say it’s the action of saying thank you when someone gives something. Others say it has a biological and societal component that helps humans thrive in social environments.

Regardless of where you fall on the spectrum, it’s clear introducing a gratitude practice into your daily life has several benefits:

Purges Negative Emotions

There’s no room for toxic emotions in someone who practices gratitude every day. Being thankful helps you appreciate the good in your life, making it easier to let go of jealousy, dissatisfaction, envy and other negative feelings. It even keeps chronic conditions like depression, anxiety and stress at bay.

Helps Cultivate Deeper Relationships

When you’re aware of the value others add to your life, it shows in your words and actions. Your peers will notice your new selfless form of love and find themselves gravitating to you; some may not even know why. Your relationships with them become deeper and more fulfilling.

Increases Self-Control

Focusing on gratitude helps you put a space between thought and action. It cultivates within you a sense of awareness that lowers your anxiety levels and increases your patience, focus and discipline. This lets you live in the moment without making rash decisions or saying or doing things you’ll regret later.

Boosts Physical and Mental Health

Living a life of gratitude not only helps you build stronger relationships with others, it also changes you on a biological level. In a study published on the website for the American Psychological Association (APA), researchers asked patients with heart failure to write in gratitude journals for six weeks. Results found those who actively took part in this experiment improved their sleep, reduced the presence of inflammation in their bodies, and eased their symptoms of heart failure.

How to Practice Gratitude

Expressing gratitude is more than saying thank you to the person who opened the door for you or bought you a gift. Scientifically, it is more than an action or mere word. It’s a positive emotion with a biological purpose.

The practice of gratitude begins when you affirm the good in your life. Accomplishing this goal is much easier if you follow these tips:

Begin Journaling

This is one of the most effective ways to practice gratitude. Do it whenever you like, it doesn’t matter if it’s once a day or once every four. Just be specific, let your feelings out, and speak your truth.

Add an extra level to your practice by writing about what you appreciate about your life. Take this moment of reflection to breathe into the positive feelings welling up inside of you. This is a great way to end the day, start it or lift your mood when you’re feeling down.

Smile More

The physical act of smiling changes the way you feel inside, the reason doesn’t matter. Consequently, this affects the energy you put out and how people react to you. In fact, a genuine smile can ease the tension in a frustrating social interaction in seconds.

One More Thing

Living a life of gratitude has many positive benefits on several different levels. But it can take hours, days, even months to see significant changes. Stay the course and don’t lose hope. Remind yourself that growth in gratitude takes time. Appreciate the good things in life, pay it forward, and know you’re headed in the right direction. You’ve got this! QCBN

By Jamaal McCoy

Jamaal McCoy is the general manager of Findlay Auto Group Prescott. He can be reached at 928-443-8300 or jmccoy@findlayauto.com.

Your Network is Your Net Worth

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Lay the strength of your foundation by embracing a “Go Giver” mentality and watch your network grow to amazing heights!

There are many advantages to having a strong and expansive network. For instance, when you are part of a network of successful people, you will gain valuable insight into trends as well as insider information on profitable ventures. That is why it’s important to use several channels to hone your existing relationships and foster new ones. Building a network of aspiring, motivated, positive-minded individuals can push you a step closer to your goals.

Circle of Trust

Networking is all about balance. This means that for your circle of influence to be impactful, you should give as much as you take. For instance, if you ask for someone’s help or use their contacts for your own gain, it’s important to ensure that you also give back when called upon. This means you need to be able to trust members of your network, and they should trust you as well. That’s why it’s important, whenever you network, to link with individuals whose reputation and ethics you believe in.

A Platform to Exchange Ideas

There is a lot you can learn from listening to other people. It’s important to understand that success is largely attributed to the amount of information and ideas you have. If you manage to create a network of high-value individuals, you will be able to trade ideas to sustain long-term relationships and mutual trust.

Support From High Profile Individuals

Everyone passes through some hurdles either in their career or in business. This can be because of a lack of resources, knowledge or even finances. That’s why it’s important to create a circle of influence with capable and supportive individuals. When times are tough, you can look to those people for support, and they will help you get out of difficult situations. They can provide good advice or even financial support to help you manage your challenges effectively.

Access to Valuable Opinions and Tips

Networking is a great way to find individuals who share your interests. Fortunately, nowadays, there are many ways you can network without even leaving your house. For instance, you can participate in online platforms and forums and chat with like-minded people who can share their experiences and knowledge with you. It’s also important during those conversations to ask and answer questions so you can create a dialogue and build trust. You never know which one of those people will recommend you when there’s an opportunity that matches your skill.

Being Part of a Network Makes You Noticeable

Most people who seek publicity for business and fame leverage more on networking. If you are part of a network, and you have a valuable skill, people will quickly notice you, and that will make you relevant. Once you stand out and people know that you provide exceptional services, it creates room for strong partnerships. Therefore, if you want more visibility, it’s important to take the time to nurture your networking strengths.

Networking Improves Creative Intellect

Most of your aspirations and innovations come from the people with whom you surround yourself. Therefore, if you manage to build a network of people from different backgrounds, cultures and careers, your intellectual ability will increase significantly. Sometimes, even the simplest interaction with a single person can transform your work and result in a breakthrough. That’s why it’s important to find like-minded people and share ideas. This will help strengthen intellect and also foster growth in their careers and in business. Networking helps to unleash your creative talent.

There are a lot of benefits that come from networking. However, if you want to create meaningful and rewarding connections, you must take care of your network. A functional network requires maintenance. You can do this by sending your contacts personalized messages here and there and genuinely offering help when you can. Showing that you are not just there for your benefit goes a long way. As with anything, building requires a strong foundation. Lay the strength of your foundation by embracing a “Go Giver” mentality and watch your network grow to amazing heights! QCBN

By Jamaal McCoy

Jamaal McCoy is the general manager of Findlay Auto Group Prescott. He can be reached at 928-443-8300 or jmccoy@findlayauto.com.

Culture of Caring

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Why do you do what you do, what do you believe in, and how can you be more impactful?

Business is about people, so you have to invest a lot in people if your business is to grow. One way to do that is to practice a culture of caring. This idea encompasses a lot of things. For instance, leaders should understand what it is to be a servant leader who cares about employees, and employees should care about each other and for customers. Apart from that, everyone in your company must care about the goals and the purpose of the company.

Why should you focus on building a culture of caring? Because it impacts the company’s bottom line. Your company culture impacts employee engagement, and this, in turn, has an impact on retention, and productivity. You’ll also find that culture has an effect on customer experience. If your employees care about customers, then they will love what they do and invest their time and effort into ensuring that customers are happy. On the other hand, employees who don’t care about customers will likely make customers feel undervalued and neglected.

To develop this culture of caring, you need to answer several questions. Why do you do what you do, what do you believe in, and how can you be more impactful? Here are some ways to create a culture of caring for your business.

Clarify Your Purpose.

The first step in building a culture of caring should be to align your beliefs as a company with what you do. To support your company’s purpose, employees must understand it. Apart from that, customers must also believe in that purpose in order to engage with your brand. This means everyone must understand your product and why it matters.

When marketing your products, don’t just focus on telling people what you do. Instead, communicate your company’s “why.” People should understand the belief system that drives your company. For instance, as a company that manufactures cleaning products, you can try to make people know that your focus is not on having them purchase your newest bleach. Instead, communicate that you want to help build a cleaner world. That is the why. Once that purpose is clear, you can move on to the how, which, in this instance, is by making products like the bleach that you want to sell.

Once people understand that you want to build a cleaner world, they will believe in your purpose and trust your products. After all, a company that wants to build a cleaner world will not cut corners or deliver substandard products.

Determine What Drives and Motivates Your Team

It’s crucial to find out what keeps team members engaged, excited and motivated. Therefore, you must find out what they enjoy about their jobs. One of the best ways to find out such information is to conduct a survey. You can also ask for such feedback during meetings. Once you have this information, you can use it to improve the current process in your company. This will enable employees to improve and contribute to their work experiences and it will also help establish unity within the company.

Encourage Transparency

Trust is built on transparency and openness. This is why it’s crucial to share information and to acquire feedback. This will make employees feel like they belong. It’s difficult to establish a culture of caring in an environment where employees feel like they are not appreciated. How can they care for the customers when they feel like the company doesn’t care for them? So, to avoid situations where employees feel like they are not really a part of the company, hold regular check-in meetings and answer questions.

Show Empathy

To create a culture of caring, invest in what’s good for your employees. If you can manage to demonstrate that your organization cares for employees as people, it will be easier for them to reflect the same to everyone who interacts with your brand. Part of caring for your employees is giving them meaningful work and creating a fair work environment. This promotes employee engagement and retention.

These are some of the ways you can create a culture of caring. Please note that you should have a culture of caring in mind even when you are hiring. Focus on candidates that believe in and are ready to help you create a caring culture. When you forge a culture of caring in your company, you can benefit from internal success, which leads to external growth! QCBN

By Jamaal McCoy

Jamaal McCoy is the general manager of Findlay Auto Group Prescott. He can be reached at 928-443-8300 or jmccoy@findlayauto.com.

What Makes People Follow You?

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These qualities of great leaders and leadership make the difference between whether people follow you or not.

Great leaders inspire others to follow them. Indeed, many characteristics define great leadership, but if you’re wondering what makes people follow you, here are the most critical factors you need to know.

Trust

Trust is the foundation of any well-developed relationship, including your relationship with your team. Your team needs to be able to trust you if they’re to follow your directives. Therefore, cultivating a high level of trust enables you to create a work culture that is highly productive and where tasks are performed quickly.

The best way to develop trust is to create positive relationships on your team and prioritize the well-being of others. Also, it’s essential to prove you can deliver quality results and follow through on commitments. If you stay consistent with these three behaviors, you’re guaranteed to build trust.

Stability

If you provide a stable work environment for your team, they are more likely to stay loyal. This also increases your organization’s reputation, which can help you gain a large following from the industry’s talent pool. After all, stability means security and safety – a fundamental human need.

Stability can be achieved through open communication, provision of adequate resources and development of an “optimism culture.” In turn, you’ll get increased team engagement and effectiveness.

Balanced Empathy

Great leadership requires a touch of humanity and compassion. That means caring enough about your team members to put yourself in their shoes and respond intuitively to their needs. However, it also means maintaining a balance between conveying compassion and demanding only the best from your team.

This enables you to build a high-performing team that feels understood and appreciated. Such a team will follow you through the highs and lows of any project and will strive to ensure your organization comes out on top.

Confidence

Confidence is the ability to sell your goal to others so clearly they will ultimately buy into it. Genuine confidence can be highly infectious, and it inspires followership because people are naturally inclined to defer to authority figures.

If you want to portray confidence, you also have to look the part. For instance, great leaders often make an effort to be smartly dressed, take care of their health and pay attention to every aspect of their appearance, from their hairstyle down to the shoes they wear.

In addition, your posture, mannerisms, smile, handshake, tone of voice all speak volumes about whether you’re truly confident in your leadership role. One of the best ways to develop confidence is to choose a leadership coach or mentor that will help you develop the qualities you seek in yourself.

Uniqueness

It’s a given that great leadership means having enough charisma to attract followers, but being a unique leader goes well beyond this. There are leaders with charisma but no substance, so if you are a leader who’s always doing what they do best, then people will notice, and you’ll be able to stand apart from the crowd.

You’ll eventually be surrounded by a team of people that would like to keep working with you because of the novel work experience you provide. For instance, if you have a highly driven personality, you will inspire others to complement your efforts and move in the direction you want.

Likability

If you want to lead a team of people that not only follows you but can vouch for you, it’s essential to be likable. This is the secret to creating a following that lasts. In addition, being a likable leader means making an effort to develop personal relationships with your team members.

It means being approachable and giving people your time and attention when they need it. Finally, likable leaders are humble – they do not feel or act like they are better than others. Instead, they value and demonstrate integrity in every moment.

These qualities of great leaders and leadership make the difference between whether people follow you or not. Applying them inspires others to greatness and helps you become a better leader – always a win-win! QCBN

By Jamaal McCoy

Jamaal McCoy is the general manager of Findlay Auto Group Prescott. He can be reached at 928-443-8300 or jmccoy@findlayauto.com.

Characteristics of Successful Teams

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There are some obvious characteristics that you can find across all successful teams.

Most industry-leading businesses get to where they are because of successful teams. Each business needs to have a cohesive, high-performing team to stay ahead of the competition.

But, what makes a team successful? There are some obvious characteristics that you can find across all successful teams. These include adaptability, collaboration, strong communication, empathy and mutual respect. Here are the characteristics in detail.

Strong Communication

Members of successful teams communicate effectively and openly with each other. This allows them to share their thoughts, opinions and ideas with the team. Apart from just voicing their concerns, strong communication also allows them to hear and consider what others have to say. In any business or organization, communication is crucial. It allows team members to keep track of progress when working towards a common goal. Poor communication can lead to situations where work is left incomplete/incorrect. It can also lead to conflicts within the team.

Goal- and Result- Oriented

The whole idea behind team building is to achieve common goals. Most successful teams agree on setting goals based on outcomes and results instead of the amount of work being done. These teams come up with clear plans that detail how they will achieve their objectives as a group and on an individual level. This enables the team to have a clear direction and gives them specific goals to work towards collectively.

Everyone Puts in a Fair Share of Work

Members of successful teams contribute their fair share of the workload. Members understand their responsibilities, purpose and how they fit into the whole plan. That way, no one will be confused when it comes to how each contributes to the running of the business. This way of doing things enables every team member to feel a sense of belonging to the team and commitment to the work. They are not just doing work to pass the time. Each member cares about the success of the business or organization.

They Support Each Other

Teamwork is all about support. Members of successful teams understand this concept; therefore, they are always available and happy to help others when they need assistance with work. This makes the team highly productive since the organization also supports it through access to the required resources.

Teams are Made Up of Diverse Members

A successful team is made up of individuals of varying skills and skill levels. Each team member is unique. Therefore, they will offer the skills, knowledge and experiences that others might not possess. This level of diversity ensures that the team doesn’t lack when it comes to required skills. Each individual in the team will assume a particular role based on what that member is good at. The team should also vary in terms of personalities, age groups and cultures.

Good Leadership

Without good leadership, it’s almost impossible to have a successful team. A high-performing team is led by a leader the members trust and respect. This leader stands in as the glue that holds the team together. Apart from that, they are also responsible for setting the pace and offering encouragement and motivation to others.

Highly Organized

A successful team is highly organized. Organization is crucial when running businesses. There can be no success when people are working in a chaotic environment. Each team member is responsible for organizing their tasks, while leaders and management ensure that all resources are available and each team member is meeting deadlines.

Apart from everything mentioned above, successful teams have a lot of fun. This prevents burnout. Also, working in an enjoyable environment reduces conflict and pushes people to get more work done! QCBN

By Jamaal McCoy

Jamaal McCoy is the general manager of Findlay Auto Group Prescott. He can be reached at 928-443-8300 or jmccoy@findlayauto.com.

Habits for Success

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Which Habits Do Successful People Keep?

The habits you keep can, to some extent, determine whether you’ll be successful or not. The good news is there’s a science to developing good habits. It’s called the Habit Loop, and according to Charles Duhigg, author of “The Power of Habit,” it is a neurological loop that governs repetitive behavior.

There are three elements to this Habit Loop: cue, routine and reward. The cue is the trigger for the habit, the routine is the behavior that reinforces the habit, and the reward is what makes the habit worthwhile. So, for instance, let’s take the habit of taking the stairs instead of the elevator.

The cue might be an emotional state of envy caused by seeing your close friend suddenly get fitter and more attractive. This causes you to start taking the stairs more (routine). With each routine comes the reward – in this case, the pat on the back you give yourself for getting more in shape. In a nutshell, that’s how some people develop habits that lead to success.

Which Habits Do Successful People Keep?

Take a bunch of successful people, analyze their habits, and you’ll start to see a few trends. Below, you’ll find some of the more common ones.

Waking Up Early Successful people understand too well that early birds catch more worms – they practice it, and it pays off. Take, for instance, Michelle Obama, the former first lady of the U.S. She reportedly starts her day as early as 4:30 a.m. Generally, when you wake up earlier, you have more time to plan for your day, which gives you more control over your life and the confidence to achieve new goals.

Reading Considering that books are regarded as distilled forms of knowledge, it’s not surprising that successful people have a habit of reading. For instance, Bill Gates – at one point the richest man in the world – reads 50 books a year. Therefore, whether you read for pleasure or to educate yourself, the path to self-improvement is lined with books.

Exercising Exercise is not only key to a healthier life, but it can also be crucial to success. According to Mark Zuckerberg, the young billionaire internet entrepreneur, exercising at least three times a week keeps him fit and gives him the energy to do what he does best. Additionally, whether you’re jogging, walking or doing Pilates, staying in shape boosts mental clarity and keeps you motivated.

Meditation Most people associate meditation with yogis or those on a spiritual path. However, it helps if you think of it as a bit of mindfulness. Oprah Winfrey, one of the world’s richest and most influential women, has developed a meditation habit and recommends it to everyone. Typically, meditation requires isolating yourself, preferably in the morning and in a quiet environment, for at least 15 minutes a day. This fosters a heightened sense of awareness that allows you to reflect and process everything happening in your life. You can also use breathing exercises to relax and increase your concentration. As a result, you’ll feel better, calmer and less stressed, all of which allows you to handle life and its challenges in a better way.

The Bottom Line

Knowing the science behind developing success habits helps to solve the mystery of why other people make it in life. To summarize, first understand how the Habit Loop works – cue, routine, reward. Then, take a look at the everyday habits of successful people and work at developing similar habits. Generally, it takes 21 days for a habit to take hold, so even if you have a few habits lined up for development, know you’ll be on the right track to success sooner rather than later! QCBN

By Jamaal McCoy

Jamaal McCoy is the general manager of Findlay Auto Group Prescott. He can be reached at 928-443-8300 or jmccoy@findlayauto.com.

Understanding the Power of Our Thoughts

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Your thoughts are powerful because they become your reality.

The profound power of our thoughts influences everything about us: who we are, what we accomplish and how we live. The thoughts that we manifest, whether positive, negative or neutral, send out vibrations and energy like the beam of a lighthouse even in the foggiest conditions. You may have heard of the law of attraction, but research has found that there are indeed neurochemicals and brain patterns to support this idea.

Backed by Neuroscience

Neuroscientists have studied brain scans and MRIs to learn that repetitive thoughts form neural pathways. In these pathways, neurons are fired together and thus become wired together. Put simply, the more one thought or belief is reinforced, the stronger these neural pathways become. Similar to the same route you take to work or the same path you navigate in the grocery store, these thoughts become automatic and become the habit of our thinking pattern.

Neuroscientists have also coined the term “neuroplasticity” to refer to our brain’s ability to rewire these neural pathways. Our minds have the agility to change, which is expressed and reflected in our points of view. With the flexibility to change our neural pathways, we can essentially change our thinking and thoughts, thus also changing our life experiences.

So, what do all these big medical words have to do with the power of our thoughts? It gives credibility to an otherwise intangible concept. Discussions of consciousness can sometimes teeter based on judgement and opinion. However, there is medical, biological and physiological evidence that supports the power of positive thinking (or, conversely, the devastating effects of negative thinking) habits.

The Law of Attraction

The law of attraction states that people tend to attract similar people, and people’s thoughts can attract similar results. Those who can envision a desired outcome or goal in their mind’s eye will see it manifest in due time. This is also supported in psychology with cognitive behavior therapy, where clients are coached to reframe their thoughts and perspectives with affirmations.

When someone becomes aware of their thoughts, they live their lives with more intention, working diligently to send out the positive energy they seek in return. Though it is subtle and invisible, your thoughts are immensely powerful in determining your mindset and perception of reality.

Powerful Energy

Thoughts are energy, which some classify as vibrations. When seeking to reach a significant milestone or accomplishment, creative visualization becomes an invaluable tool in the law of attraction. Creative visualization is somewhat like practical daydreaming. The amount of attention, interest and enthusiasm in your thoughts gives them power. These thoughts influence your subconscious mind, which in turn will affect your actions. Your thoughts also emit energy and vibrations to other minds and people. When we focus on our dreams and goals, relevant people begin to become attracted to your energy, stepping into your life to help you achieve your goals. Your thoughts have the ability to not only affect your life but can also alter someone else’s mind and thoughts.

As you work to manifest your dreams and goals, the vision then becomes more certain. Your creative visualizations start to include more details and distinction. Your subconscious continually processes these thoughts, accepting these mental scenes as real experiences. Before long, your reality will match the creative images within your subconscious mind.

Your thoughts are powerful because they become your reality. By employing cognitive reframing and creative visualization techniques, you have the power to make incremental, intentional changes to your thinking habits. You’ll be able to determine the type of people you attract into your life and realize your accomplishments. It simply takes awareness to control this magnificent mental force, and you’ll have the life you’ve always visualized. QCBN

By Jamaal McCoy

Jamaal McCoy is the general manager of Findlay Auto Group Prescott. He can be reached at 928-443-8300 or jmccoy@findlayauto.com.

Practicing Powerful Daily Routines for Success

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With small, incremental changes, you’ll reflect and see that you are successful because of the following powerful daily routines.

Most Americans wake up feeling tired and sluggish. Many of us wake up with a mood that is neutral or slightly negative and we spend most of the morning trying to get caught up.

This article does not promise to makeover your entire life or guarantee that you’ll become a morning person ready to run five miles before the sun rises – unless that’s your goal, and if so, rise and grind! This article will, I hope, provide some opportunities for a shift in perspective. With small, incremental changes, you’ll reflect and see that you are successful because of the following powerful daily routines.

Only you can define what success means for you

Before you go out and buy planners, journals and organizers, spend some time in self-reflection. What is it that you want to achieve that would mean success?

The key to this is to be specific. When defining success, try to be as exacting as you can. Many people like to create SMART goals: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Timely. There are reasons for this.

It boils down to developing habits of success. If you can set personal SMART goals, you will find them achievable, thereby establishing a successful routine.

You’re re-wiring your brain. There are plenty of TED Talks, podcasts and books that talk about success and happiness. It can all be distilled into a specific area of psychology referred to as cognitive behavior therapy. You didn’t develop your habit of staying up late or not exercising in just a day, so it’s going to take that much more to unlearn and re-learn a new pattern in its stead.

Once you have a Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Timely goal laid out for yourself, write it down! There is no exception to this. Neuroscience research proves that the act of writing makes your mind more efficient by helping you focus on the important stuff.

Find a system of accountability

There’s a reason why so many New Year’s Resolutions never make it past February. We as humans are a fickle sort and are easily distracted. If we can think of an excuse not to do something (such as cultivate a routine for success), we will find that excuse. And then the habit fizzles out.

Make it a routine

This may seem obvious, especially for an article entitled “Practicing Powerful Daily Routines for Success,” but humans are creatures of habit. If you want to give yourself the best chance of success, plan your SMART goal in a way that you can achieve it routinely, preferably, daily. Here are some examples of goals that can quickly become routines, therefore having the most excellent chance of sticking and making you feel successful:

Make the bed every morning.

Lay out work clothes the night before.

Meditate before bed.

Turn off electronics by 11 p.m.

Again, your un-habits weren’t formed overnight, so it will take that much more effort to unlearn and then practice new habits in their place. You can do it!

Practice Gratitude Daily

Whether your daily gratitude practice is in meditation, prayer or journaling, this is a powerful daily routine that is transformative. It can be as small as finding gratitude every morning before your feet hit the floor or writing out something you’re grateful for while writing the day’s to-do list. Every person is different, but if you can incorporate, “Today I am grateful for…” as a daily routine, it will guarantee your success.

Practicing gratitude eases symptoms of anxiety and depression, fosters better moods and is linked to positive feelings and a sense of well-being. With a daily gratitude practice, you provide your brain with the neurochemicals that allow it to be primed for positive habits. Your daily routines for success will compound and you’ll find it to be easier to add new goals. Practicing gratitude is foundational to building your personal, powerful daily routine for success – one that only you can define.

Best wishes on your journey! QCBN

By Jamaal McCoy

Jamaal McCoy is the general manager of Findlay Auto Group Prescott. He can be reached at 928-443-8300 or jmccoy@findlayauto.com.