* Contribution: This refers to contributions we make to our jobs, to our families, to our customers, to our friends, to our environment, and ultimately to our world. Peter Drucker says in his book, The Effective Executive, that a focus of contribution is hallmark of personal and professional effectiveness. The great turn-on, great motivator, for self-made millionaires, comes from knowing that what they are doing for others is valuable, and that it is enriching, ennobling, and enhancing lives of others. All self-made millionaires concentrate continually on increasing value of what they are doing for others.

* Responsibility: This means taking 100% acceptance for your life, for everything that happens to you. Losers make excuses; winners make progress. Losers blame others; winners accept total responsibility for their lives. Everything that will ever happen to you is up to you. Everything that you are today is your responsibility. It is not your family's; it's not your spouse's or children's. It is not government's; it is not your boss'. It is yours.

* Effort: Every single study has revealed that there are no shortcuts to success, no substitute for hard work, and that sooner you get your shoulder to wheel, and put in those extra hours and develop those talents, skills, and abilities, sooner you will become successful.

* Time Management: You never get time; you always have to make time for things that are most important. Manage your time effectively by doing it NOW, setting priorities, concentrating on one thing at a time, and keeping your life in balance.

* Stay with it: In everything you do, stay with it, apply your drive. A quality that ties in closely with persistence is courage, willingness to take risks. Persistence and courage are functions of your belief in yourself. Thomas J. Watson, founder of IBM, said it very well many years ago when he stated, "Do you want to be successful? Then double your failure rate." The more times you fail and learn from those failures, faster you achieve success.

So, secrets of success suggest that we never stop learning; that we read, listen to audiocassettes; view DVD’s; attend seminars. Do all you can to become a perpetual learning machine. You are most valuable and precious asset you will ever have. Invest in yourself by working on yourself, every day.

Remember: When you maximize your potential, everyone wins. When you don't, we all lose.

See? If only one of them took initiative to speak out what's in his or her mind, then that particular dilemma would be over.

Now why would people prefer to keep their complaints and criticisms to themselves? What's holding them back?

It's because they do not want to be rejected. Most, people, if not all, would like to be accepted and to be perceived as likeable in eyes of others.

So can you get your message across without hurting their feelings?

Substitute negative statements with positive ones.

Instead of saying "You don't understand," say "Let me explain." Instead of remarking "You're wrong," say "Permit me to clarify." Instead of stating "You failed to say," just mention "Perhaps this was not stated."

There are certain words that affect a person more negatively in comparison with other words that have same meaning.

Nothing could be more pleasing to ear than hearing someone else say that you are right. In this case, be prepared to let other people know that you respect their opinions. You may add your comments at end, but acknowledge them first.

Say: You're right, although ... Great suggestion, however ... I agree with your opinion, however ... I would feel same way if I were you, although ... I understand your situation, however ...

Reassure your counterparts that decision made will benefit both parties. People need to feel that they have made right choice.

Communication is a gift. Use it wisely for everyone's advantage.