You're living your life. You are responsible for your own happiness. Only you can achieve your goals. Only you can create your success. While you're undoubtedly looking for a way to benefit others, your life is still in your hands. And that means that your opinion is the only one that matters. The opinions of others may serve as wise counsel and may open your eyes to new ideas, but it's your perspective that will determine your future. You need to make your opinion count. How do you do that? Here are five suggestions.

• First, start by recognizing that the other perspectives you hear are always secondary to your own. Don't dismiss them, but never live by them.
• Second, listen to your heart and to your instincts. Those opinions are an outgrowth of your core person. They are part of you and no one knows more about what's right for your life than you do.
• Third, make decisions based on the best available information. When you're informed it's much easier to trust your own judgment.
• Fourth, remember that no one else will be there in those quiet moments when you're alone to claim credit for your successes or responsibility for your disappointments. In the end, you'll answer to yourself. Will you feel better if you made your opinions count in your life or if you ignored them?
• Fifth, think about the the wonderful and inspiring stories that have motivated you. They all have something in common. They all involve someone who knew what they believed and acted upon it. Now it's time for you to create your success story.

Your opinion should count. Instead of letting it serve as a mere background voice, bring it to the forefront of who you are and what you're doing. Be the best that you can be today. Make your opinions count. Choose your words well, all leaders do. incorporate traits of leadership by leading from within.