To achieve success, we need to remain on the path of personal development aimed at developing the inner strength to NOT take things personally.

Reacting emotionally wastes power and blinds one from recognizing the golden opportunity to succeed that present in every situation.

One of the most valuable success secrets is simply this: Reacting emotionally is the opposite of professionalism because it holds one back from professional progress.

When you take something personally you stray from the path of self help wisdom because your ability to respond in your own best interest is being compromised.

Emotional reactions cloud judgment and prevent one from seeing the way to succeed.

Personal growth for success therefore involves developing the discipline to respond STRATEGICALLY rather than personally to whatever another person says or does.

To respond strategically means that you remain emotionally neutral in your response to what happens and consider your options for ascending the ladder of success.

While taking things personally may be your habitual reaction pattern, you can overcome it and advance along the path of self-improvement for success.

Self-growth is the product of self-work. As you work on changing your response from emotional to strategic, you will gradually transform your response-pattern into one that is more aligned with the path to your success.

You can use the power of positive thinking to help you here.

Look back to the last time that you reacted emotionally to something that someone said or did. Spend a few moments envisioning yourself remaining calm, confident and secure within as you review that scene in your mind.

Envisioning yourself as you want to be is an application of positive thinking that brings about self-transformation.

Another success key for changing emotional reaction patterns into strategic response patterns is to focus on your goals.

When you clearly know what you want to achieve, the outcome you really want most, it is easier to discipline yourself to respond strategically instead of reacting emotionally.

You will achieve more personal success AND satisfaction as you replace emotional reaction habits with more conscious and disciplined strategic responsiveness.

Author's Bio: 

* Author, Seminar Leader, Motivational Speaker, Consultant (www.wisie.com) (www.boblancer.com)

* Host of the WSB Radio Show Bob Lancer's Answers, focusing on the challenges of parenting, marriage and personal / professional development.

* Motivational Speaker for Large and midsized companies, associations, government agencies, schools, hospitals, youth groups and other organizations

* Child Behavior Expert of WXIA TV News (Atlanta's NBC TV affiliate)

* Host of Atlanta's Radio Disney show Ask Bob (helping kids deal with their issues)

* Featured Parenting Expert in local and national media

As a public speaker, seminar leader and consultant for over 25 years, Bob Lancer has been inspiring audiences around the nation and overseas, and setting them on a more direct and fulfilling path to total life-success, with his empowering insights and strategies.