A few months ago in my travels across the blogging world, I came upon this chart on Jeff Moore’s site, Everyday Power Blog, that opened my eyes to some bad habits I wished to avoid—that is, if I wanted to be a success.
It was created by Mary Ellen Tribby, Founder and CEO of Working Moms Only.com and contributor to the Huffington Post. For this month’s IWSG contribution, I’d like to pass it along for use as a general “P’s and Q’s” checklist:
Where do you fall? If you’re like me, you may possess characteristics from both sides.
The key is to eliminate the traits on the right side, replacing them with their counterparts on the left that are indicative of a successful person. Following this chart should also help boost your confidence level, thereby minimizing insecurities.
Peace and continued success,
ML Swift
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![A Great Group of Folks](http://mlswift.files.wordpress.com/2012/12/insecurewriterssupportgroup1.jpg" width="173" height="148" /></a> "Insecure Writer's'Support Group")
This post was written as a part of Alex J. Cavanaugh’s Insecure Writer’s Support Group. We post the first Wednesday of every month and share our solutions to common difficulties, encourage other writers to meet their insecurities head-on, and seek supportive shoulders to tear-stain when we’ve received just one too many rejections. If you’d like to join the group (and we’d love to have you), follow the link to Alex’s site, grab a badge, and put your name on the list. I’ll see you next month!
M.L. Swift, Writer 
That is an eye-opener. Successful people are also those you want to be around.
I will freely admit I don’t keep a journal though!
Good to hear from you, Mike. We’ve missed you.
Yeah, I saw a few bad ones slowly creeping in and wanted to stop them in their tracks and get back to doing the things necessary to do well. Plus, the left side consists of more admirable traits—plain and simple.
Thanks, Alex…I missed everyone too, but definitely needed the month away. Death of loved ones is a fact of life, but not one without a great deal of pain.
Interesting chart. Really makes one think 🙂
Yes, Tonja, it does indeed! I’ve certainly seen ways in which I could improve.
Great post, Mike. I’m like you. I have traits from both sides.
Hmm… I wonder if the guys are going to take issue with the fact the successful person is depicted as a woman and the unsuccessful one as a man.
Anyhow, good to have you back. You’ve been on my heart a lot lately.
Thanks, Melissa, and sooo good to see you. I’ve needed to send you an email, but am just coming out of my fugue state, so to speak. I have literally thousands of emails backed-up, which also tells me that I subscribe to too much stuff! Except yours still do not come! I’ll send you an email soon. Getting back into the online groove.
Welcome back to the blog-o-sphere! Like everyone else, I have missed you. My world is a better place when I know my buddy, Swifty is out here grinding it out.
Yes, back to the grind…except the grind has changed a little bit and I need to re-examine the situation and adjust my priorities. I know that I’ll be concentrating more on my writing than blogging. It’s lacked severely and I have more creative time available. Good to see you, Rob.
Excellent post. Make a decision to Be Happy. Don’t let the Sad into your life.
Or as Groucho Marx said, “I, not events, have the power to make me happy or unhappy today. I can choose which it shall be. Yesterday is dead, tomorrow hasn’t arrived yet. I have just one day, today, and I’m going to be happy in it.”
Very nicely put, CD! Thanks for coming by my blog!
*DRAGON TACKLES MIKE* My friend!!!! I am so very happy to see your words once around in the blogsphere. We’ve missed you (we as in dragon and dwarves). I’ve been thinking of you every single day of the last month. I hope you’re doing better.
Thanks for the info. I have things of both sides too. Working on that. 🙂 Dragon hugs.
Nothing better than dragon love with a smattering of dwarf admiration! Thanks for the warm welcome back. Got LOTS to catch up on, and will be by the lair soon. Good to see you, Al. 🙂
Yay for having you back! Missed your writing and your posts. What a great chart this is, Mike. Like you, I think I probably fall a bit on both sides. Now to eliminate a few on the right side. Hugs to you my friend. Still sending prayers your way.
Thanks, Julie. Lots to do with a shift in priorities, but I’m handling it better than expected. Keeping close to home. Of course, three weeks of constant rain and my sciatica flaring up ensured that.
I love this chart, and will keep it handy.
I’m sure I’m somewhere in the middle on that chart, strengths and faults and all.
You’ve been missed here. Hope all is well with you. Good seeing you back here.
Thanks for swinging by, Gus. Good to see you. I’ve literally THOUSANDS of emails to sort through, but I have managed to read some of your posts, including the one about the new cover. I’ll be by and post some thoughts…all good, btw. I see the scarf has become trademark. 🙂
Waaaay fun chart, Swift. And yeah, I definitely am on both sides–depending on the day! (Or time of day!) And so glad you’re back. We’ve missed you!!!
You are so fun and energetic, Morgan! And you must have it twice as tough as the rest of us…you know…seeing as though you’re ginger. 😉
Great chart. I’ve seen exhibits from the yellow side. I hope I don’t. But I probably do from time to time. Do traffic rants count?
Traffic rants count. 🙂 Good to see you, Mary.
That. Is. AWESOME!!! I’m glad to see I’m on the right side for a change. Whew!
~ Alex’s #3 minion of the month, Nancy
Thanks for swinging by, Nancy, and for helping out Alex this month. Good to see you and don’t be a stranger!
We all strive to be on the success side, but must admit, I fear the monster of change under my bed (as opposed to the angel of change left under the cushions of my couch and down the side of the driver’s seat in my car).
Good to have you back!
Being a military kid enabled me to embrace change more readily than others, I believe, what with the constant moving and need to change course midstream. I like the excitement that change can bring…the new possibilities.
Thanks for coming by, and I’ll be over soon. Another dark cloud is hovering and the wind is a’blowin’.
Ha, loved the chart. The lists make sense. I have to admit I’m on the fence regarding change. I’m both excited by it and fearful of it, lol.
A natural state, indeed, Lyn. The unknown consequences of change get that adrenalin flowing, which is present in both fear and excitement. The element of danger is the determining factor.
Excellent graphic! So much truth in so little space.
I like it like that! Just the facts, ma’am…or sir, as the case may be. Thanks for coming by, Jeff.
If you’re trying to develop more insecurities within us then…. 🙂 Just joking. Yes, there are a couple of traits on the right side that can be diminished and at least one totally wiped out. But I try daily to be a left-sided type of individual. That’s the only to be successful as a person.
Yes, I’m all about spreading those insecurities, Nancy! Actually, this is more about confronting bad habits and changing them, leading to less insecurity. But I’m with you…I have waaay too many traits from the “unsuccessful” side than I’d like. 🙂
Hope you’re doing well, Mike, and nice to see you posting again.
Hanging in there, Mark. Taking it easy, but starting to get to back to work. And I’ve much to work on!
There’re some interesting points there. I think your title is especially insightful. Yep, it’s up to us alrightie. Good to see you and your attitude back, mate.
I popped by your place the other day…looks like you’re still busy, as I also need to be! Good seeing you, Erica. 🙂
That’s a great chart. I think the only problem I have is too much TV – usually endless repeats that I’ve already seen – I like familiarity.
Annalisa,
Great to see you. We are a TV family, but I’ve learned to either tune out the noise, or shut it off completely. I try to only allow myself prime-time shows or movies.
Glad you’re back, Mike, and thanks for the link to the interesting article. 🙂
Good to see you, Lexa! Thanks for stopping in…I thought these links were helpful.
Oy! I’m guilty of some of those “bad” things. I do work on being the positive, congratulatory, helpful, goal-setting etc. kind of person. I fall down a bit on getting angry. It’s the Irish and Italian genes that I blame . . . see there, I blame others, too. Sheesh! I better print out the chart and post it where I can see it daily. Thanks for this and thanks for stopping in at The Write Game to say hi!
Thank YOU for coming by, Lee. I’m doing the same. Printout and keep myself in check.
For some reason WordPress ate my first comment. It was something to effect that I have some of those bad traits and need to print out the chart so I can see it everyday. The first comment was so much more interesting! 🙂
Thanks for saying hi at The Write Game today! Great to find your blog.
Your first comment to the blog is moderated, and I’ll see if a message can’t display to that effect. It was in “Pending.” I just approved it, and now all future comments will go straight through. 🙂
what a great chart! and i love the cartoons emphasizing the actions.
very encouraging post!
Thanks, Tara, and great to see you! Yes, this chart is definitely going on my bulletin board.
Mike, it’s good to see you. I like the chart and it definitely is a keeper. I have traits on both sides too.
I hope that life is getting better and better each day.
Thanks Tyrean.
I’m able to face each day now without tears in my eyes, so I guess things are getting a little easier.
Hi Mike!
Welcome back to the bloggosphere. Glad to see you blogging again.
Just stopped by to let you know that you’ve won a prize for the Paying Forward Awards. Congrats! Please contact me at mishagericke(AT)gmail(DOT)com to claim your prize.
Hey Misha!
Goodness! Thank you for the prize, and I’ll email you right away.
Funny thing…I just went to your blog (I’m finally figuring out how to improve my visiting time through Bloglovin’) just to see what was up. I had no idea about this prize! So it was nice to see you here.
Look for my email! Thanks again!