SUCCESS TIPS Four Keys to Success 1. 2. 3. 4.

Decide exactly what you want and where you want to go. Set a deadline and make a plan to get there. ... Take action on your plan; do something every day to move toward your goal. Resolve in advance that you will persist until you succeed, that you will never, ever give up.

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Dr. P. P. Joy 2016 Joy P. P. 2016. Pineapple Research Station (Kerala Agricultural University), Vazhakulam - 686 670, Muvattupuzha Ernakulam, Kerala, India. Tel: 0485-2260832, 9446010905; Email: [email protected], Website: http://prsvkm.kau.in

Success Tips - Student learning Four Keys to Success 1. 2. 3. 4.

Decide exactly what you want and where you want to go. Set a deadline and make a plan to get there. ... Take action on your plan; do something every day to move toward your goal. Resolve in advance that you will persist until you succeed, that you will never, ever give up.

http://carleton.ca/sasc/learning-support-services/ten-tips/ Home / Learning Support Services / Ten Tips

Check out our “Ten Tips” series below… Academic Reading Building your Research Skills Critical Thinking Delivering Oral Presentations Developing Study Skills Evaluating Web Research Improving Memory and Concentration Skills Making the Most of Learning Support Services Managing your Time Managing Procrastination Mature Students Note-Taking in Lectures Power Point Presentations Reducing Exam Anxiety Setting Goals Tips for New Students Working Effectively in Groups Writing an Essay Writing an Essay Exam Writing a Multiple Choice Exam

10 Tips for Academic Reading 1. Know your purpose Though you may read instructions word by word, you really should not read a complex journal article one word at a time. Understanding the purpose of your reading is critical to the development of effective reading strategies. For example, when studying for a multiple-choice exam, you’ll most likely focus on facts and small details. Reading in preparation for writing an essay, on the other hand, requires a “big picture” approach. 2. Develop sound note-taking skills Taking notes as you read a text improves your understanding of the material. Keep the purpose of the reading in mind and use a note-taking style that works for you. Most importantly, don’t wait until exam time to begin taking notes on your readings. Writing notes as you read each week helps identify points of confusion and improves your chances of remembering the material over a longer period of time. Check out 10 Tips for Note-Taking for more ideas. 3. Concentrate on what’s being done, and not only on what’s being said Pay attention to both the author’s purpose for writing (which is often different than your purpose for reading) and the organizational structure of the writing. For example, is the author making an argument or comparing two things? If arguing, what are the sub-arguments and supporting points? 4. Get to know the genre Understanding the type of text you’re reading gives you a better idea of where key information is located, which will save you time by speeding up the reading process. Authors structure information differently in a textbook, for example, than they do in a novel, journal article, or lab report. Try to remember how authors use different genres to organize content and look for patterns that recur in your readings.

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5. Read actively Engage with the text by asking yourself questions as you read and by trying to igure out what’s coming up next. Is information missing or are your questions unanswered? Do you understand the key points? Do you feel the author’s ideas are clear and well supported? 6. Keep a dictionary on hand Avoid simply guessing at a word’s meaning if you’ve never come across it before or are unsure of its meaning in a new context. Look it up in a dictionary! Understanding the meaning of a word can help you avoid misunderstanding what the author is trying to say. 7. Set aside blocks of reading time It takes a considerable amount of time to read an academic text. Give yourself enough time to complete your weekly readings and be realistic about how long it usually takes. 8. Read material before class, not after Reading assigned articles or chapters before class puts you ahead of the game. Note-taking in class is made easier and a familiarity with what’s being talked about will help you to absorb course concepts more quickly. 9. Summarize your readings Many textbooks have chapter summaries and most journal articles have abstracts that detail their contents. Look for a synopsis in your reading and review it closely to make sure that you’ve understood the central points. Jotting down a summary of your own will improve your chances of remembering key ideas and will leave you with great study notes for exams. 10. Use the academic support available to you Effective reading strategies for universitylevel texts aren’t always self-evident. Drop by Learning Support Services for more information about reading techniques that can save you time and help you retain content.

10 Tips for Writing Multiple-Choice Exams 1. Practice makes perfect When studying, make use of any practice exams, past tests, or study guides that are available to you. Many instructors will mention these resources at some point during the course, so take note! Also, many exams from up to three years ago can be found in the Library Photocopy Centre (150 ML).

6. Pick before peeking Before looking at the choices provided, form an answer to the question in your head and then see if it’s in the list of alternatives. You’ll be surprised by how often you already know the answer. You might want to cover the answers with a piece of paper to resist looking at them before you have your own answer.

2. Review your class notes Many multiple-choice exams ask questions about material that was covered during lectures as opposed to the textbook. Pay close attention to exam hints that your instructor might mention during class time.

7. Strategic weeding If your answer isn’t listed and one of the alternatives doesn’t seem to be right, start by eliminating the obviously wrong choices. Try to narrow your selection down to partner choices—two answers that are either opposites or are nearly identical with the exception of a few words. One of these alternatives is often the right one.

3. Plan your time accordingly Answer the questions that you feel conident about irst. Highlight the questions that are causing you problems and come back to them later. This technique will allow you to read all of the exam questions and will give you a chance to identify material that might help jog your memory. 4. Read the question carefully Time limits can sometimes make you feel that speed is of the essence, causing you to skip over simple words that are crucial to iguring out exactly what’s being asked. Take your time and read each question carefully. Spending more time reading each question reduces the time it takes to select an answer. 5. Identify key words Circling or underlining key words in the question helps to narrow down the question’s meaning. The correct answer will match every part of the stem (the phrase that forms the question), so pay special attention to negatives (“none”, “not”, “neither”), superlatives (“most”, “best”), and qualiiers (“usually”, “often”, “generally”, “may”). Multiple-choice questions containing absolutes (“always”, “never”, “every”) are often wrong, as they need to be an indisputable fact.

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8. Trust your instincts, even if you have to change your answer Although you’ve probably been told to stick with your irst instinct no matter what, it’s okay to change your answer if you realize that another response is correct. It’s a myth to trust only your irst instinct, but try not to second guess yourself too much. Base any changes on concrete reasoning, not just a feeling. 9. Stay away from the numbers game When it comes to multiple choice, playing the odds doesn’t pay off. When all else fails, the answer isn’t always “C”. Similarly, just because the last three answers were “D” doesn’t mean the next one won’t be as well. If you have to guess, do your best to narrow your answer down to as few alternatives as possible and then pick the one you feel most conident about. 10. Learn from your mistakes Although it’s easy to just look at your grade and move on, take a few minutes to review your exam after it’s been returned to you. Try to identify whether it was the question design or your understanding of the course material that caused you to answer incorrectly. You can use that information to avoid repeating the same mistake on future multiple-choice exams.

10 Tips for Writing Essay Exams 1. Think of the big picture Essay exams usually require you to focus on major concepts or themes within the course rather than on minor details. Review your class notes and readings extensively, marking down recurring themes as you go along. 2. Anticipate the questions Listen carefully in your lectures for hints given by your instructor about what to expect on the exam and devote a portion of your study time to predicting potential essay questions. Practice outlining your answers to possible questions. 3. Form a study group Working with others to review course material, discuss exam strategies, and construct potential questions are useful techniques to ensure that you are fully prepared for your exam. If you’ve missed something important, classmates can ill you in on what you need to know. 4. Recognize the “question words” Understand what it means to “analyze”, “compare”, “contrast”, “discuss”, and “explain” before the exam begins. These words are directives and are asking you to answer the exam question in a speciic way. 5. Review and respond immediately Read all of the questions before answering and write down key points, headings, words, or ideas that come to mind for each. Writing down your initial thoughts and ideas early in the exam can help refresh your memory when you return to the question later. 6. Plan it out Before you start writing your answer, take a few minutes to outline your essay. Think through your thesis or purpose statement as well as the main points you want to cover.

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7. Map your time Count the number of essay questions you’re expected to answer and compare that number to how much time you have to complete the exam. Answer questions that are worth more marks irst, followed by the ones that are worth less. Also, if you’re spending too much time answering a single question, move on to other ones. It’s important to attempt an answer for every question on the exam. 8. Keep it simple Choose a relatively simple structure for your essay rather than an overly-complex thesis statement and organizational pattern. If you studied, you’ll know more than enough course content, so skip the long introductions and get to your main points as quickly as possible. 9. Integrate the question When writing out your response, use what you know to address the speciic question and integrate the question into your thesis statement or introduction. This will help you to connect your points and to discuss them in greater detail throughout your essay. 10. Be well-rested and prepared Fatigue and hunger can diminish your concentration skills and negatively affect your memory. Get plenty of sleep before your exam and arrive on a full stomach–you’ll notice a considerable difference in your performance. Being prepared also means that you will feel more conident and less inclined to consider cheating. Cheating on tests and exams is a violation of the Academic Integrity Policy. Check out our 10 Tips for Reducing Exam Anxiety for more ideas.

10 Tips for Writing an Essay 1. Read the assignment directions carefully One of the main determinants of a good essay is that it thoroughly and completely answers the assigned question(s). Read the directions to your assignment carefully, paying special attention to key words like “describe”, “analyze”, “contrast”, “compare”, or “review”. 2. Narrow your topic A suficiently narrowed topic can help you to focus your ideas effectively. If your topic is too broad, you may need to address a number of complex issues and you’ll be more likely to run off on tangents or make sweeping generalizations. 3. Organize your information Rather than trying to use all the information you’ve collected at once, organize your material by grouping it using relevant themes, concepts, or even periods of time. 4. Create your paper’s outline Determine you paper’s purpose, audience and central focus and then create an outline. List major ideas that you’d like to include and arrange them in an order that moves from general ideas to more speciic. 5. Think critically A valued skill in university is the ability to think critically. Unless you’re explicitly asked to do so, avoid merely summarizing information. Instead of simply repeating what other authors have already written, think critically about their ideas and then comment on the material. 6. Rewrite and revise Start the writing process early and plan to produce multiple drafts. The irst attempt at your essay will be full of mistakes but that’s okay–it’s called a “rough” draft for a reason. Concentrate on the content in early drafts and work on transitions, organization, style, and grammar in later ones.

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7. Avoid plagiarism Refraining from plagiarism may seem like a given, but it’s an easy (and costly) mistake. Know what constitutes plagiarism by becoming familiar with Carleton’s Academic Integrity Policy. Examples of violations and sanctions, as well as the full policy, are available on the Student Affairs website at carleton.ca/student affairs. Record reference information for any source(s) as soon as you use them and verify that you’ve quoted or paraphrased authors in the correct manner. 8. Cite with style Different disciplines use different citation conventions. Unless you’re certain of the style to use in your assignment, ask your instructor or TA for clariication. It is important that you know the rules of citation. You can take our academic integrity quiz, found on the Student Academic Success Centre website at carleton.ca/sasc, or visit the Student Affairs website at carleton.ca/ studentaffairs for more information about the Academic Integrity Policy. Citing the sources you use in your essay can take a while, so be sure you leave yourself enough time before your essay is due. 9. Proofread your paper Before you hand in your essay, read it over carefully from start to inish. Proofreading your essay shows that you care about your work. If at all possible, wait a few days between inishing your paper and proofreading it. Distancing yourself from your work can help you to spot errors or problem areas that you might not have seen otherwise. 10. Visit a Writing Tutorial Service tutor If you need to talk to someone about your paper and would like to get expert advice, visit the Writing Tutorial Service. Located in Learning Support Services, Writing Tutorial Service tutors can assist you with all your academic writing needs through one-on-one appointments and writing workshops. Please note, tutors can help you learn how to proofread your writing, but they won’t do it for you. Find out more online at carleton.ca/wts.

10 Tips for Working Effectively in Groups 1. Listen actively Foster a productive environment for discussion by actively listening to what your group members have to say. Pay close attention to what you hear, resist the urge to interrupt, and clarify your understanding by paraphrasing or summarizing other students’ comments. If your group members seem hesitant to express themselves, take the lead by voicing your own ideas. Saying what is on your mind will demonstrate to your group that it is okay to take risks and it will encourage a positive group dynamic. 2. Establish a common goal Do not assume that because you are in a group everyone has the same goal. Be sure to go over the purpose of the group project and determine what each individual would like to get out of it. If the main goal is unclear, devote time to brainstorming and deining a shared objective. 3. Assign roles Each group member will have his or her own particular strengths and weaknesses. Have an honest conversation with other group members about what they believe they can contribute to the group and base individual roles on tasks and activities that each person is conident he or she can fulill. 4. Create a timeline If your group needs to meet regularly, establish a timeline with speciic dates and deadlines. Discuss what is required and who is expected to do what and when. 5. Outline your objectives At the beginning of every group meeting, outline what you need to accomplish. Deining objectives can help clarify any confusion that might hinder progress. Similarly, before going your separate ways, relect on what was covered in your meeting and ensure that each group member knows what is expected for future meetings.

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6. Divide and conquer If you are collaborating with a group on a large project, it may be in your best interest to divide it into smaller, more manageable tasks. Individual members of the group, or even sub-groups, can then be assigned primary areas of responsibility. 7. Be wary of “groupthink” When working in groups, people are prone to altering their opinions, views, and/or perspectives to match what they believe the rest of the group is thinking. This is called “groupthink” and it often results in the group making a decision that individual group members disagree with. Remember, working in groups does not necessarily mean conforming. If you disagree with a decision or a direction the group is taking, ensure that you express your opinion. 8. Resolve conlicts quickly and fairly Conlicts often arise in group work. Don’t view conlict resolutions as resulting in a “winner” and a “loser”–instead, recognize the value of compromise. Also, do not avoid addressing conlict; it can be a productive experience resulting in good group discussion and productivity. 9. Exchange contact information If your group is working on a ongoing project, it’s important to compile a list of everyone’s contact information (i.e., phone numbers and e-mail addresses). Be sure to give every group member a copy of the list so that you all know how to contact each other. It’s also good to know group members’ general availability for meeting (keeping mind that this may change over time). 10. Book a group study room When looking for a place to meet, consider booking a group study room (located at Learning Support Services on the fourth loor of the MacOdrum Library). These rooms can be booked up to two weeks in advance and are an ideal location in which to work (each has a table, several chairs, and a whiteboard). Visit Learning Support Services’ website for more information at carleton.ca/lss.

10 Tips for Critical Thinking 1. Question while you read Critical thinking involves questioning and challenging commonly held assumptions. This process should begin as you start to read material for your research. When reading, it’s important to pay particular attention to the main points or themes of the reading and evaluate any claims, assumptions, or arguments that are presented. Ask yourself (i) do you agree with the author’s conclusions? and (ii) what kinds of common beliefs underlie the message being delivered? Check out 10 Tips for Academic Reading for more ideas. 2. Object Do not just accept an argument because you see it in writing or hear it from an expert. Question the validity of the information being presented and think of possible counter arguments. Pay attention to references, and take note of the publication year to ensure that the information is current. 3. Consider opposing points of view When comparing perspectives on an issue, look carefully at both sides of the debate. Strike a balance by seeking out authors with opposing viewpoints and incorporate your own opinions into what you ind. Watch out for biased explanations and don’t let your own emotions interfere with your objectivity. 4. Take the audience into account Think not only about what the writer or speaker is emphasizing, but also about why certain information is being highlighted. Focus on the reasons it might be important to persuade a person, group, or organization to think in a speciic way and question the beneits associated with convincing an audience of this viewpoint. 5. Write it out Writing is not simply a process of copying the thoughts in your head onto a piece of paper. Much of our thinking is done through the act of writing. Writing out arguments for and against 196-09 5M 09

an issue and putting criticisms and perspectives into your own words will help you arrive at a better understanding of the material. As a result, you will be able to think critically about the topic at hand. 6. Elaborate When you come to a point where you feel you have looked at the material from every possible angle, push yourself to elaborate more. Focus on issues and/or ideas that originally seemed insigniicant and form questions for which you don’t yet have answers. 7. Make a visual representation In an effort to organize and evaluate information, use visual representations that might help give you a clearer picture. Concept maps, low charts, diagrams, and tables are especially valuable for identifying patterns and trends. 8. Test propositions Assess various conclusions by analyzing the kind of reasoning they are based on. Deductive reasoning, for instance, moves from the general to the speciic and usually results in hypotheses that can be tested in some way. Inductive reasoning, on the other hand, moves from speciic observations to more general claims and is more practical for forming conclusions than it is for testing them. 9. Keep it simple When forming your own conclusion, base your premise on Occam’s Razor. This principle states that when comparing two theories of equal explanatory power, choose the simpler of the two. Simpler conclusions have fewer assumptions, beliefs, and logical connections that need to be supported with evidence. 10. Engage in self-regulation Be critical of the work of others as well as your own. Take time to relect on how you reach your conclusions and critique your own practice. The methods that led you to construct your personal point of view should withstand the same scrutiny that you apply to other information.

10 Tips for Note-Taking in Lectures 1. Location, location, location Arrive on time for your lecture and ind a seat that has a clear view to the front of the room. Try to ind a spot where you can hear your instructor clearly and you are away from any potential distractions. The front and centre of the classroom often provides the best seats. 2. Record main points With the pace of your lectures, you’ll never have enough time to copy down every detail. Instead, focus on jotting down the main points and concentrate on listening to what’s being said. 3. Use your own words Note-taking is often viewed by students as a process during which they write down exactly what the professor says. Taking an active approach to note-taking dispels this traditional view and requires you to do more than transcribe the lecture. By putting information into your own words, you’ll develop a clearer picture of how class concepts it together and you’ll gain a better understanding of the content. 4. Listen for cues Listen for changes in your instructor’s voice and watch for facial expressions that signal important points. Also, keep your ears open for key ideas that are emphasized and/or repeated throughout the lecture. It’s not uncommon for instructors to drop explicit hints about assignments and probable exam questions during class. 5. Use a signal system To help you recall important lecture points, use a highlighting system or a series of marks (such as a star) to remind you of cues you observed or important hints that were dropped. Highlighting crucial information will come in handy when it’s time to review your notes and/ or study for mid-terms and exams. 6. Write clearly and concisely If you need an interpreter to help you make sense of your handwriting, you will be in trouble down the road. Make an effort to write as 197-09 5M 08

legibly as possible. Using shorthand or creating your own list of abbreviations can help you record things more quickly, without sacriicing readability. 7. Divide and conquer Give the ‘Cornell Method’ a go. Divide your page into two vertical columns (a smaller one that takes up a third of the page and another that takes up the remaining two-thirds). Use the larger column to record main points and examples. Use the smaller column for key words, interesting phrases, and questions. When reviewing your notes at a later time, you can add relections that correspond to main ideas in the lectures. 8. Review your notes Reviewing your notes within 24 hours of the lecture signiicantly improves your ability to recall the information. Work with other students to review and compare perceptions and understandings of course content. 9. Binders are better While more cumbersome than spiral bound notebooks, binders offer greater lexibility for your lecture notes. Handouts distributed during class can be inserted next to your notes and you can add separate pages written during review sessions or Peer Assisted Study Sessions (offered by the Student Academic Success Centre in selected courses). To keep things in order, remember to number and date notes written in every class. 10. Make a backup If you use a laptop to take notes in class, create a regular backup of your work. Just to be on the safe side, print a hard copy of your notes after each class.

10 Tips for Creating Effective PowerPoint Presentations 1. Know your material Identify key slides before you begin and know where they are in the overall order of your presentation. This will allow you to lip back and forth between different slides without having to scroll through each of them individually. Also, only include material that you know you’ll be discussing. 2. Keep it simple Clipart, wordy text, and busy background images on your slides can be distracting during a presentation. Limit the amount of visual cues you use and reduce lengthy text to bullet points or short phrases. 3. Proofread your slides Review your slides thoroughly and look for grammatical errors and spelling mistakes. Spell check doesn’t always catch everything, so it’s important that you take your time to review your content carefully. You can also try proofreading your slides in a different order than they’ll appear during your presentation. Being too focused on the content can cause you to skip over simple errors. 4. Set up early Always try to visit the room that you’ll be presenting in a few days in advance. Get a sense of where you’ll be standing, note any potential obstructions to the audience’s sightline, and ind out where all the equipment is. If possible, test the projector to ensure you don’t have any technical issues (e.g. changing font types). 5. Avoid repetition Your PowerPoint slides should provide your audience with a basic outline of what you’re presenting. Avoid reading from the slides directly. Instead, use what you’ve included in your slides as mental prompts to talk about what you want to cover in detail.

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6. Be consistent Use the same font type, text size, and formatting in all your slides. Consistency in your presentation will make it easier for your audience to follow what you’re saying. Along the same lines, it’s also a good idea to use only one heading per slide. 7. Use large fonts Ensure that the font you use is big enough to be seen at a distance. On average, an 18 to 28 point font is ideal for most slides. 8. Don’t hide from the audience While you may be proud of your PowerPoint presentation slides or overhead, it’s important that you don’t admire what’s on the screen too closely. Talk directly to your audience and keep your back to the projected slides. Use a pointer or the mouse to draw the audience’s attention to something you’d like to highlight. 9. Bring closure to the presentation Slides that review or summarize what you’ve talked about at the end of your presentation are as important as the slides at the beginning outlining what you’re going to cover. 10. Make sure you have a Plan B While today’s technology is more reliable than ever, create a backup plan in case of last minute room changes, machine failure, or other unforeseen circumstances. Making handouts and/or copies of your overheads will save you from having to scramble. Also, be sure to save your presentation in different ways. Keeping your PowerPoint ile on a CD, DVD or USB lash drive will come in handy if the computer you’re using doesn’t have a disc drive, an accessible USB plug, or access to the Internet.

10 Tips for Delivering Oral Presentations 1. Start preparing early While it’s possible to deliver a presentation impromptu, you’re far more likely to make a good impression by preparing well in advance. Choosing a topic that interests you will help you maintain your enthusiasm throughout the planning and delivery stages. 2. Tailor your talk to your audience While planning your presentation, you will need to ind out who your audience is, why they are coming, what they want to know, and how much time you have. Be sure to avoid using jargon or material that would be completely unknown to your audience. 3. Deine a clear purpose Understanding the purpose of your presentation is crucial for determining what information you’ll use to get your points across. For example, do you want to inform your audience or do you want to persuade them to adopt a particular point of view? Including a straightforward purpose statement in your introduction will help your audience know what to expect. 4. Simplify To ensure that you cover all the basics, narrow your topic down to roughly ive major points and elaborate on them fully. Rather than adding more information, work on creating a concise outline and develop smooth transitions from one point to another. 5. Write it the way you’ll say it Simply reading what’s on your PowerPoint slides or overheads is a sure way to lose your audience’s attention. If you are nervous about forgetting what you want to say during your presentation, try preparing cue cards or point-form note cards – you can use these as references throughout your presentation if you need to refresh your memory. 6. Grab and hold your audience’s attention Your introduction plays a large role in the reception of your presentation since it sets the tone. Do your best to establish a rapport with the audience. Although you can tell a 199-09 5M 09

joke to break the ice, it’s probably safer to use anecdotes, a good quotation, or an intriguing question to grab your audience’s attention. 7. Rehearse in a comfortable setting You can minimize your public-speaking fears by practicing in front of friends, classmates, or family members. Good presentations are rehearsed several times before they’re delivered. Re-read your outline and focus on the sequence of ideas rather than on memorizing every word. Also, when practicing: (i) make note of the time it takes for you to complete your presentation, (ii) make frequent eye contact, and (iii) ask your practice audience to give you constructive feedback. 8. Don’t give in to panic Experiencing a little nervousness before you start your presentation will keep you on your toes, but anxiety can be debilitating. Place your hands on a podium if you ind that they are shaking. Or if direct eye contact makes you uncomfortable, try looking at foreheads instead. Also, try to minimize your use of unwanted illers like ‘um’ and ‘uh’ and slow down the speed of your delivery to show your audience that you’re in control. 9. Supply visual aids When properly used, visual aids such as handouts, overheads, or slides can reinforce what you’re saying and can add to the professionalism of your presentation. If you decide to use multi-media, check the layout of the room beforehand and test any technology you’ll be using. Check out 10 Tips for PowerPoint Presentations for more ideas. 10. Allow time for questions Leave time at the end of your presentation for your audience to ask questions. If you’re presenting to a smaller group, you may also want to consider encouraging questions during the presentation itself. Allowing for questions gives your audience the opportunity to personally engage with your topic. Remember, ‘I honestly don’t know’ is a perfectly acceptable answer to any question that you don’t have a response for.

10 Tips for Managing Your Time 1. Keep a schedule In order to manage your time effectively, you need to know how you’re actually using it. Use a weekly schedule to track everything that you spend your time on. Listing what you do and how long it takes you over the period of a week will give you a sense of what you need to plan for. 2. Prioritize tasks List everything you’d like to get done in an average week and then rank the tasks from most important to least important. There are only so many hours available (given that you have to sleep), so some things just might not be possible. Experiment with labelling each task “Must Do,” “Should Do” or “Could Do”. This might help give you a clearer picture of your biggest priorities. 3. Be realistic When setting your schedule, remember to account for the realities of life, including: time for commuting, interruptions, and breaks in between tasks. Be realistic about the time you have and avoid over-committing yourself. 4. Do what you can do today Putting off an unwelcome task will eventually catch up with you. At some point, you’ll end up with a stressful day full of unpleasant tasks. Doing your best to stay on top of your schedule will go a long way towards reducing your stress level. 5. Recognize procrastination Are you cleaning the bathroom again for the third time this week? Procrastinating isn’t just unproductive – it can eat away at your precious time. Be aware of how you’re spending your time and learn to resist activities that you haven’t accounted for in your schedule.

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6. Save the best for last To stay motivated, try completing more dificult tasks irst. Working on the easier tasks can be discouraging if you know that you have harder tasks planned for the end of the day. 7. Set achievable goals Think about your short-term and long-term goals and organize your time in a way that allows you to work towards achieving them. The more realistic your goals are, the more motivated you’ll be to make them happen. 8. Break larger tasks down into more manageable activities When looked at as a whole, completing a big task can sometimes feel impossible. By dividing a large task into small, more manageable components, you’ll feel more conident and motivated. Schedule small parts of a single task over an extended period of time and mix those tasks up with other activities. 9. Adjust to demands Not everything is always going to go according to plan. Don’t panic. There are things in life that happen when we least expect it. Similarly, some tasks can take much longer to complete than originally anticipated, while others will take less time. The key to managing your time is to adjust your schedule accordingly. This can be done by reviewing tasks every couple of weeks and then changing your schedule to relect differences in the time planned versus the time spent. 10. Drop-in to consult with an expert If these tips aren’t enough to help you to manage your time effectively, drop in to Learning Support Services to take part in one of our timemanagement workshops. You can also schedule an appointment through the SASC Ofice in 302 Tory to meet with a Study Skills Specialist for personalized and expert advice on managing your time.

10 Tips for Managing Procrastination 1. Know it when you see it There are days when you know exactly when, why, and how you’re procrastinating. Other times, it’s a little harder to recognize it in your own behaviour. Convincing yourself that you can do less if you accept a lower grade or substituting one activity (like cleaning) for a more important one (like studying) are as much forms of procrastination as watching TV or hanging out with friends just before a test or paper is due. If you want to stop procrastinating, you have to recognize when you’re doing it. 2. Be positive Taking a positive approach to whatever you’re doing can help motivate you and will reduce procrastination. Instead of thinking that you have to do something, tell yourself that you’re choosing to do it. When you succeed at a task, acknowledge your hard work and don’t pass it all off as luck or coincidence. 3. Overcome perfectionism Perfectionism can increase your stress level and lower your productivity, which can lead to procrastination. Accept the fact that no one will ever be perfect. Accomplishing the goals you set out for yourself is what makes you successful, even if you occasionally stumble along the way. 4. Set clear goals Setting clear and meaningful goals can help you to focus your energy on meaningful tasks. A general rule for setting realistic goals is to make sure you allot your time accordingly. Think honestly about how much time it’ll take to get a job done, and then double it. By monitoring your progress and making the necessary adjustments to your schedule, you’ll accomplish more than you thought possible. 5. Prioritize With so many opportunities to do new and exciting things in university, it’s easy to put studying off to another day. Avoid giving in to impulsiveness by writing down all of the tasks that you have to get done. Rate each task on a 201-09 5M 09

scale of 1 to 10 and focus on inishing the higher priority tasks before the lower ones. Check out 10 Tips for Managing Your Time for more ideas. 6. Break it down Big projects and papers can be overwhelming and might lead to procrastination if you don’t know where to start or if you think there’s simply too much to do. Rather than tackling a huge project all at once, work on smaller sections of the task over a longer period of time. 7. Pick your spot If you’re not getting anything done at home, get out! Similarly, if you’re running into too many people you know, or there are too many distractions to stay focused, ind a more suitable environment to work in. Look for a study space that has minimal distractions and is a place where you have access to all the materials you need to complete your tasks. 8. Get organized Create a detailed daily schedule with blocks of time set aside during the day for different tasks. Setting up your schedule in advance prepares you mentally for accomplishing your tasks. Since you can’t predict when an unexpected event might throw you off track, ensure that you build a little lexibility into your schedule. If you can, plan to take short breaks between activities. 9. Set reminders Leave yourself easy-to-see reminders to keep you focused. Put them on the TV, your bedroom door, the bathroom mirror, or anywhere else where you can’t miss them. 10. Reward yourself Rewarding yourself for inishing every task on your list of things to do serves two purposes: (i) it makes you aware that managing procrastination is a process with several steps and (ii) it motivates you to do more. Promise yourself phone time, TV time, Internet time, a get-together with friends, or anything else that you consider a reward.

10 Tips for Evaluating Information on the Internet 1. Compare sources If you can ind one website on your topic, there are probably hundreds (or thousands) more. Compare websites that contain similar information to see if conclusions are well supported and if omissions are noted and/or explained. Generally, the more the information between websites differ, the more cautious and critical of the information you need to be. 2. Identify the message When reading information online, it’s important to distinguish between fact (a piece of information that can be proven or disproven), opinion (a judgment or assessment that cannot be falsiied), and propaganda (a message aimed at inluencing opinion to further a cause). Be aware that no imposed standards exist to ensure the accuracy of information on the Internet. 3. Check accuracy Compare the information that you ind online to what you’ve read elsewhere and decide if the website repeats the same information, if it contrasts with it, or if it adds to other opinions. Ensure that all of your web sources are documented, that references are accurate, and that footnotes, endnotes, and in-text citations are used to support presented facts. 4. Determine the origin To help you conirm the validity of a website, determine its origin. Sources can usually be found at the very top or bottom of the page. Check to see if the page is authored. Is the author an expert or qualiied professional? Is there a link to ind out more about the creator(s) of the website? If the page is sponsored, do you know by whom and, more importantly, why? 5. Ensure currency Locate a date on the website that tells you when the material was irst written, when it was posted online, and/or when it was last revised. The accuracy of information, especially statistics or facts, is highly dependent on the year it was published or updated. 202-09 5M 09

6. Recognize bias People, groups, and organizations distribute information for many reasons. When reading online information, it’s important to look for bias and think critically about how someone might beneit from presenting this information in a given way. 7. Follow web-links When web-links are provided, check to see if they function and are relevant. A broken weblink is a good indication that the site may be outdated. Also, look for a balance of internal and external web-links–this means that there is more information to back up what is being presented. If a website only provides internal web-links, this is a strong indication that you should verify the information on the website using other sources. 8. Know your domains Educational (.edu) sites are the most reliable sources of information. Non-proit/research organizations (.org) and government agencies (.gov) often provide accurate data, but keep in mind the views may be biased. Commercial (.com) sites often have a inancial incentive to promote certain products, and information that doesn’t encourage sales may be omitted. Network related (.net) websites don’t fall into any of the categories above and therefore any material offered by them should be critically assessed. 9. Separate advertising and content Commercial sites often use advertising in an effort to sell something and/or cover the cost of maintaining their website. When researching online, ensure that you are able to make a distinction between content and advertising, and be wary of information that is presented to persuade rather than inform. 10. Protect your information Some websites require you to register (or sign up as a member) in order to access their information. If you are required to provide conidential or personal information, ensure that appropriate encryption is available on the website.

10 Tips for Building Your Research Skills 1. Understand the assignment Before you begin gathering information, it’s important that you understand what is expected of you. Look at the assignment details in your course outline and/or assignment sheet and identify key words and directions. For example, are you being asked to critically analyze an issue by evaluating evidence? Or are you being asked to develop an argument that supports one stand rather than another?

6. Formulate a search strategy When researching, you’re likely to ind yourself sorting through too much information or scrounging to ind more. Knowing the ins and outs of library resources and online databases will reduce the amount of time you spend searching and will help you locate more relevant material. Visit a research expert at Reference Services on the main loor of the library to get help and direction.

2. Narrow your topic A broad topic will require you to cover more material than you have time for and can prevent you from following assignment directions correctly. Choose a topic that you are interested in and then reine your focus to a particular aspect of that topic. You can narrow your topic by concentrating on a speciic time period, geographic region, or even an historical, social, or psychological angle. If you aren’t sure if your selected topic is a good it for the assignment, be sure to ask your professor and/or TA.

7. Keep track of your searches Keep a detailed log of what you’ve already searched (key words, related topics, etc.) and how you searched (library catalogue, online, etc.) so that you don’t repeat a search strategy. You may want to consider using RefWorks as an online personal database and bibliography creator. Visit library.carleton.ca for more information.

3. Track your progress Record your thoughts as they evolve during your research. Whether you’re standing at the bus stop or relaxing with friends, write down ideas when they come to mind. These might include random thoughts, questions, lists of words relating to your topic, potential directions of inquiry, interesting quotations, etc. 4. Draft an outline An outline is a useful way to track your progress as you gather information. Fill it in as you do your research so that you can determine what areas need further evidence or substantiation. 5. Read selectively There is never enough time to read every article written about your topic. Skim texts selectively to determine which books and articles are valuable and usable. You can do this by scanning the abstract, introduction, and conclusion, and then asking yourself where this information will it into your assignment. 203-09 5M 09

8. Know your resources Every discipline has its own set of commonly used resources. Ask your instructor or TA about well-known books and articles about your topic. You should also meet with one of the library’s subject specialists who can help you ind discipline-speciic resources. 9. Organize your notes Sort through your notes/research by grouping the information you’ve collected in points and sub-points. For this task, you can use cue cards–writing out one card for each point related to your topic and including both direct quotations and information in your own words. When doing this, it’s important that you include all of the information you’ll need for citing the source (e.g. the book’s title, the author’s name, the year of publication, relevant page numbers, etc.). 10. Stay motivated It is easy to lose interest after reading information on the same subject over and over again. Stay motivated by working on smaller parts of the assignment over longer periods of time and reward yourself after completing important phases.

10 Tips for Improving Memory and Concentration 1. Limit distractions Every time you are distracted from a task, you lose time dealing with the interruption, and getting back on track later becomes dificult. By reducing distractions, you improve your chances of being able to concentrate for longer periods of time. Avoid studying in environments where people or things are likely to distract you, and stay away from temptations that will lure you away from the task at hand. 2. Be engaged It’s harder to maintain a high level of concentration if you’re unmotivated to learn about the material/subject. Stay engaged by choosing sides in an academic argument or by making a concerted effort to study something you’re interested in. 3. Use a concentration counter You can actually help your mind to focus by becoming consciously aware of those moments when you’re having dificulty concentrating. While studying, monitor yourself by keeping a tally of every time you have a break in concentration. You’ll soon be amazed that the number of breaks decreases just by being aware of your own natural tendencies. 4. Mix it up Your ability to concentrate and retain material will improve signiicantly if you alternate periods of study or research with breaks. Rather than committing to one long study session and trying to absorb everything at once, spread the work out over shorter sessions on different days. 5. Choose the right time Some people prefer to work on assignments in the mornings because they feel they have more energy or there are fewer distractions. Others like to work later in the day or in the evenings when they’ve had time to get themselves in the right frame of mind. Both your memory and your ability to concentrate will improve if you choose a time to study when you know you are at your mental peak. 204-09 5M 09

6. Teach it to someone else One of the most effective strategies for improving your memory is to teach the material to others. Teaching requires you to put complex concepts and ideas into your own words. This will strengthen your understanding of the material and will increase your ability to recall it. 7. Learn special techniques There are several techniques for memorizing information. If you’re having dificulty remembering material, consider using one of the following four techniques: (i) associate: mentally link the material to a person, object, or event (ii) use mnemonics: take the irst letter of each item in a category to form a word or sentence that you can remember easily (iii) visualize: try to remember the way the information is presented on the page (iv) recite: write it in your own words to help transfer material from your short-term to your long-term memory. 8. Survey irst Research shows that knowing what material is coming up next increases retention and improves memory. Before you begin an academic reading, take a few minutes to survey chapter headings, bolded terms, abstracts or section summaries, main points, and other general features of the text. 9. Use memory tools Flash cards, a popular memory tool, are essentially cue cards that contain key pieces of information. Flash cards are portable, can be used in combination with recitation techniques, and can help students effectively learn deinitions and/or formulas. 10. Review immediately Research has found that your short-term memory has a limited capacity. The longer the time between hearing or reading information and reviewing it, the more you will forget. Review material within 24 hours of learning it to improve your chances of remembering it later.

10 Tips for Developing Study Skills 1. Identify your learning style The key to inding useful study strategies is to identify your own learning style and to generate a study plan suited to your particular strengths and weaknesses. Ask yourself whether you prefer to work individually or in groups. Similarly, are you a visual learner, an auditory learner, or the hands-on type? 2. Manage your time effectively You won’t be able to try any of the study skills strategies you have learned unless you can ind the time to put them to good use. Make a list of all your assignments and activities, prioritize them, and then plan out a realistic schedule to get things done on time. Check out 10 Tips for Managing Your Time for more ideas. 3. Designate a study space Finding an appropriate place to study is just as important as selecting your study techniques. A good study environment is comfortable, contains any materials you’ll need, and is free of any distractions. Think about the conditions that allow you to work well before you sit down to start studying. 4. Go to your classes prepared Going to every one of your class lectures dramatically improves your ability to succeed. Get the most out of your courses by reading any assigned texts before the class and by preparing a list of questions you want answered. 5. Read selectively Learning to read an academic text is an acquired skill. Experiment with different reading methods to improve your ability to remember material. For some, the SQ3R strategy works well: survey a chapter before reading it; formulate questions as you read (or try changing each section heading into a question); review the text with your questions in mind; review the reading to verify that your questions have been answered; and, inally, recite each answer out loud or write it down. Check out 10 Tips for Academic Reading for more ideas. 205-09 5M 09

6. Take extensive lecture and reading notes A sound note-taking system will help keep you focused, and you will be left with valuable study notes afterwards. There are several ways to take notes. Find a system that works for you, or develop one that you’re comfortable with. Avoid writing down every word your instructor says and focus on key concepts. Also, review your lecture or reading notes within 24 hours of writing them to signiicantly improve your recollection of the material later on. Check out 10 Tips for Note-Taking in Lectures for more ideas. 7. Devise test-taking techniques There is more to writing a test or exam than simply regurgitating information. The structure of a test or exam and the way you are expected to answer certain questions within it can throw you off track, even if you know the course material. Always read test and exam directions carefully, plan the amount of time you want to spend on each question, and review your answers. 8. Learn from your mistakes A reliable way to improve your grades is to review the comments made on your tests, exams, or assignments. Discover where you went wrong and then use feedback to solve future problems. 9. Know your resources Fewer students than you would think take advantage of campus resources. Instructors, TAs, and PASS Facils can provide much needed support during their ofice hours. In addition, Learning Support Services provides one-on-one appointments and group workshops for help with academic writing, study skills, and much more. 10. Visit a study-skills specialist If you’re having trouble determining your learning style or inding study strategies and techniques that work for you, visit the Student Academic Success Centre to schedule an appointment and complete the study skills intake form.

10 Tips for Setting and Achieving Goals 1. Consider changes Stop and take a moment to relect on where you are now and where you would like to be in the future. What changes can you make to your current routine that could positively affect your life? Consider all areas of your life in this process, including: education, career, inances, family, personal relationships, spirituality, and community contributions. 2. Personalize your choices When making important decisions, you have to be true to yourself. Be sure that the goals you are working towards are ones that you personally believe in and want to achieve, as opposed to the goals that others might want you to have. 3. Plan in phases With your goals in mind, establish long-term, mid-term, short-term, and immediate plans. Start with long-term plans that include larger goals that you want to achieve over a longer period of time (e.g. by your graduation date), and then develop progressively smaller goals that you can accomplish in a shorter period of time (e.g. by the end of the semester). 4. Be precise If you set goals that are too broad, it can be dificult to meet them. Strive for precise and measurable goals so that you can track your progress and pinpoint any potential problems. 5. Challenge yourself If you set your sights too low, you will inevitably accomplish your goals, but the process won’t be very inspiring. If you set them too high, you are liable to be frustrated by failure. By setting your goals slightly above your level of comfort, you will feel challenged and will get a greater sense of fulillment from completing them. 6. Take action Broader goals (like career or family aspirations) can help you realize your lifetime ambitions. But if you only focus on ‘big picture’ goals, reaching them can begin to feel unmanageable and you’ll 206-09 5M 09

lose motivation over time. For each broad goal, it’s important to list some ‘action items’. These are tasks that you can accomplish now (or in the near future) that will progressively guide you towards achieving your broader goals. For example, if your career goal is to be a university professor, search for a volunteer tutor position now and apply for it. Taking immediate action reduces procrastination and builds the momentum needed to accomplish larger goals. 7. Base ambitions on performance Set your goals based on your performance rather than on a desired outcome. For example, instead of setting a goal like “get accepted to CU’s MA History program”, set your goal to be “earn a high CGPA and apply to graduate programs that interest me”. You cannot control outcomes, but performance is something you can make happen. 8. Establish priorities Attempting to complete too many goals at once will spread your efforts out too thinly and will reduce your chances of success. Prioritize your goals by assigning them a level of importance from 1 to 10. Once you’ve done this, work towards accomplishing a smaller number of your high priority goals before moving on to the others. 9. Reassess Your goals will change as you grow as a student and progress through your degree. Because of this, it’s important that you take the time to regularly review your goals. When you reassess your goals (maybe at the end of each term) be sure to resolve any conlicting goals, re-prioritize your objectives, and don’t hesitate to add new goals. 10. Write them down Write down each of your goals in detail. Use only positive statements and write your goals out as though you’ve already accomplished them. A written record (that includes deadlines) is often helpful because it provides a sense of permanence that you may need for planning your steps to success.

10 Tips for Making the Most of Learning Support Services 1. Take part in a workshop Throughout the year, you’re invited to attend free, 20-minute info sessions that are designed to help you achieve your academic goals. Whether you’re looking to brush up on time management, note-taking, presentation or leadership skills, or just about anything else related to your day-to-day life at the university, Learning Support Services has something for you. Visit our website at carleton.ca/lss for a current list of workshop dates and descriptions. 2. Get study-skills advice Is there a study skill that you’re looking to improve? Do you need advice on how to cope with academic demands? Make an appointment with a study-skills specialist and take positive steps towards improving your study habits and improving your grades. 3. Become a better writer Tutors from the Writing Tutorial Service are available to meet with you one-on-one to discuss any aspect of your writing assignment. Whether you’re just getting started or simply need help with the inishing touches, writing tutors can guide you towards a more effective paper. The Writing Tutorial Service is located on the fourth loor of the Library. 4. Stay for a while With all the comforts of a lounge and the resources of a computer lab, you have every reason to use Learning Support Services as your main study area. And when you need a hand, free student support is only a few steps away. 5. Collaborate with others Learning Support Services, part of the Learning Commons, is devoted to collaborative study. Our sofas and chairs are mobile and students are encouraged to work together and discuss matters collectively.

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6. Book a study room Group-study space can be hard to ind around campus, particularly if you’re looking for a spot where you can work with a group in privacy. Learning Support Services has group-study rooms that can be booked up to two weeks in advance. To book a room, drop by our main Help Desk located on the fourth loor of the library, call us at 613-520-2600, ext. 1125, or email [email protected]. 7. Talk to someone who understands Learning Support Services is partly staffed by Peer Helpers, who are themselves students at Carleton. Peer Helpers are trained to provide relevant and timely advice and are in a position to understand your needs because they’ve been in your shoes. 8. Stop running around With support service partners from across campus offering programs in the Learning Commons, there’s little need to go from place to place in search of academic support. Learning Support Services provides assistance for a number of academic issues and most of the help you’re seeking is located in one convenient location. 9. Contact us online Not planning on coming to campus today? We can still help! We have a number of resources available on our website at carleton.ca/lss including writing resources, citation guides, and our 10 Tips Video Series. 10. Read through our resources Learning Support Services has a growing list of resources available both on campus and online. Use our “10 Tips” Series, available at the Student Academic Success Centre, Learning Support Services, or online at carleton.ca/lss, to improve your academic performance. Check our website often for updates and additions.

10 Tips for New Students 1. Put yourself out there Every year, there are thousands of new students at Carleton University who feel nervous or anxious about making a fresh start. To ease the transition to university life, make a conscious effort to meet new people both inside and outside the classroom. 2. Resist the urge to skip class With no one looking over your shoulder or checking up on you, it’s easy to justify sleeping through an early morning class or taking an extended weekend break. The truth is that going to all your classes is the best way to improve your chances of academic success. Resist the urge to skip now and you’ll see the beneits of being in class as your exams approach. 3. Stay on top With classes, activities, and friends all competing for your time, it can become dificult to stay on top of all the things you need to do. Don’t let your coursework and readings pile up–spread out your assignments and allocate enough time be able to stay on track. Check out 10 Tips for Managing Your Time for more ideas. 4. Ask for help It’s not uncommon, in any year of your studies, to feel overwhelmed by university demands, but your irst attempt at making the grade can be particularly dificult. If you feel like you need help, don’t hesitate to ask for it. Learning Support Services caters to students’ academic needs and, with a variety of drop-in sessions and workshops, we can help you manage your workload. 5. Strike a balance Too much of something often means too little of something else. While your classes, assignments, and exams are obviously important, take the time to balance your life with other essential activities. Getting enough sleep, eating properly and, yes, socializing are all essential to your well-being and academic success. 208-09 5M 08

6. Get involved Taking part in special events, volunteering, joining a club, or becoming a member of a team are just some of the activities that can make you feel more connected to the Carleton community. Creating social networks, whether academic or non, broadens your options when you’re looking for friendship, support, and balance. 7. Make use of instructors’ and TAs’ ofice hours Take a few minutes to meet your instructors and TAs by dropping by during their posted ofice hours. Too few students take advantage of this opportunity to clarify course concepts or to better understand assignments. There’s no better way to ind out more about what you’re learning than to ask questions in person. 8. Take a chance University presents the chance to expand your horizons and to explore new opportunities. Make the most of your experience at Carleton by trying something different. Challenge yourself by taking a course you are interested in but know little about or take in an event you never imagined you’d go to before. 9. Establish a routine Regular class and study routines help you cope with stress that might arise from managing your course load. Set aside blocks of time to complete readings, review notes, and work on assignments between classes. 10. Seek out programs and services designed just for you Carleton’s Student Experience Ofice (SEO) offers a series of programs, events, and services that are speciically geared towards irst-year university students. Check out carleton.ca/seo for more information about transition support offered by the SEO.

10 Tips for Reducing Exam Anxiety 1. Be prepared Knowing the material you’re going to be tested on is the best way to reduce (or eliminate) exam anxiety. 2. Keep it in perspective Set a realistic goal for the grade you want to earn on your exam and then work towards it. Don’t let fears about your performance overwhelm you–your entire future doesn’t hinge on this one exam. Also, ensure that the amount of time you spend studying for an exam is relective of its value in your overall course grade–don’t study excessively for an exam that’s only worth 10 per cent of your inal mark. 3. Avoid cramming If you spread out studying throughout the entire term, you’ll avoid having to cram before the exam. Cramming usually involves memorizing material but the pressure of an exam limits your ability to recall memorized information. Taking the time to review and relect on course material throughout the term improves your ability to recall what you’ve learned when you need to. 4. Relax Is your stomach doing somersaults as you enter the exam room? You’re not the only student feeling this way. Stress is a natural response that most students experience when confronted by exams. If you begin to feel overly anxious before or during the exam, use deep breathing or other relaxation techniques to calm yourself and stay focused. 5. Eliminate negative thoughts You can minimize exam anxiety through selfmonitoring–interrupting negative thoughts and using positive self-talk. Focus on what you do know, rather than on what you don’t. Build your conidence through rational thinking. If you feel you aren’t meeting the goals you set out for yourself, make a note of the progress you’re making and take measures to improve your performance the next time.

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6. Focus on the present, not the future Thinking you should have studied more, or that poor performance will negatively impact your inal grade will distract you from the task at hand. Focus your energy on managing things you can currently control (like relaxing and thinking positively). 7. Know what to expect Uncertainty can lead to anxiety. Set realistic expectations for what you think will be on the exam by generating a list of possible questions from your notes. Seeing questions on the exam that you predicted will reinforce the fact that you’re well-prepared. Also, being prepared means that you will feel more conident and less inclined to consider cheating. Cheating on tests and exams is a violation of the Academic Integrity Policy. Examples of violations and sanctions, as well as the full policy, are available at carleton.ca/studentaffairs. 8. Arrive early Eliminate the stress of being late for an exam by planning to arrive early. While waiting for the exam to begin, try a relaxing activity, like reading a magazine or taking a walk. Anxiety is contagious, so try to steer clear of other students who seem to be giving in to their nervousness. 9. Stay alert When focusing on studying and exam preparation, it’s easy to neglect your physical health. Remember that if your body is worn down, your brain will be too. Make a concerted effort to eat and sleep properly during the exam period. Also, do your best to limit your caffeine and sugar intake, as both can increase your stress level. 10. Stick with your routine Changing your sleeping pattern or diet in the days leading up to exams may take you out of your comfort zone. Even though it’s dificult to manage your time during an exam period, try to maintain a productive and healthy routine.

10 Tips for Mature Students 1. Figure out how you learn Your brain may not process information in the same way as the last time you were in school. Take the time to experiment with how you take notes, prepare for class, and study so you know what methods are most effective for you. Check out 10 Tips for Developing Study Skills for more suggestions/ideas. 2. Ask for help When you don’t understand something, take advantage of the knowledge your professors and TAs possess, and make use of university services such as Learning Support Services and the Student Academic Success Centre. Don’t feel you should be exempt from confusion because you are a “grown-up.” Check out 10 Tips for Making the Most of Learning Support Services for more suggestions/ideas. 3. Manage your time proactively As a mature student, you likely have much more on your plate than just school, so time management can be challenging. Make a schedule that includes schoolwork, your job, family time, and time to relax. Stick to your schedule as much as possible, and don’t skimp on the downtime – this is what will keep you sane when your workload feels overwhelming. Check out 10 Tips for Managing Your Time for more suggestions/ideas. 4. Socialize It’s easy to feel isolated as a mature student because your life outside of school is probably very different from your classmates’. This doesn’t mean it’s impossible to make friends; you already have things in common with those around you, such as the material you are studying and the pressures and adjustments that come with university life. Check out a faculty society or stop into the Bill Ellis Centre for Mature and Part-time Students (BECAMPS) where it will be easy to ind people with whom you have things in common. 5. Organize your inances You may need to make some adjustments to your spending habits, especially if you are going 334-09 5M 09

from working full-time to paying full-time tuition fees. Drawing up an annual budget will help you see where things may be tight, and the staff at the Awards Ofice can always give advice on loans, scholarships, and bursaries if an extra source of income is required. 6. Keep your friends and family in the loop Your new status as student may have you working longer hours than before, leaving those who care about you feeling like you’ve dropped off the face of the planet. Keep them involved by telling them about what you’re studying and the kinds of assignments you’re doing – this way, your new life won’t leave anyone feeling too disconnected. 7. Get your boss on board If you are still working while in school, make sure your employer is supportive and willing to be lexible. It is dificult enough to juggle work and school without the two butting heads. If you foresee your job being a signiicant problem, examine your priorities and consider a lighter course load or reduced work hours. 8. Take a minute for a reality check It’s a good idea to step back every now and then and get a little perspective. If you are doing nothing but work, then you are not looking after yourself or your relationships. Make sure you’re having fun, and ask your friends and family for help if you are overwhelmed. 9. Share your life experience You may feel like an outsider surrounded by all the “kids” in your classes, but some of them might be happy to receive a word of advice or encouragement from someone older than them. A bit of guidance from someone who’s been out in the real world can go a long way – you never know what kind of difference you might make in someone’s day or in someone’s life. 10. Be conident Managing the many aspects of your life may not be easy, but think back to when you decided to go back to school – if you didn’t believe you could do it, you wouldn’t have taken the plunge!

2 https://www.dcccd.edu/SS/OnCampus/SuccessTips/Pages/default.aspx

Stude t Su ess Tips

Take a look at the information below or download the PDF (76KB). Work to Your Strengths Develop a Strong Work Ethic Plan Ahead Make Connections Take Care of Your Body, Mind and Spirit Work to Your Strengths Research has shown that people who use their natural talents and gifts are happier and more successful than people who are trying to overcome a weakness. For example, if you are a math wizard, but hate writing essays, a career in journalism might be a stretch for your skill set. It sounds like a no- ai e , ut ou’d e su p ised ho ofte stude ts let other people in their life (parents, spouses, friends, family members) unduly influence their career choice. Re e e , it’s ou life a d ou’ll e the o e li i g ith the positi e a d egati e o se ue es of ou de isio . Ha e ’t ide tified ou strengths yet? Visit the career center at your college for a variety of services at no charge. In addition, visit our Student Success Tools page. Develop a Strong Work Ethic Pursuing a degree is work that will pay off for years to come but, make no mistake, it is work. There will be times when you want to put off an assignment, intentionally turn in less than your best work or maybe even drop out. Make a commitment to yourself to work ha d, do ou est o k a d fi ish hat ou’ e sta ted. “u essful stude ts persevere – especially when they feel like quitting. Everyone has those feelings at one time or another. But successful students find the help they need to get through tough times. You may need to get extra help from your professor or a tutor, or you may need to ask a friend or colleague to be your cheerleader throughout your journey to success. Do what it takes to get the job done. Plan Ahead Do ’t ait u til the last i ute to do thi gs (fo e a ple, appl fo ad issio s a d/o fi a ial aid, egiste fo classes, complete your assignments or head out to class). By starting tasks early, you will ensure that you have time to take care of any unforeseen obstacles that might cause delays. If you know that it takes 15 minutes to get to class in good traffic, give yourself an extra 15 minutes in case there is a traffic jam. If you have a major project that counts fo t o test g ades, do ’t ait u til the ight efo e it is due to sta t. You ight ha e p o le s fi di g the information you need; your computer might break or your printer might run out of ink. If you are enrolling in a college of DCCCD for the first time, use this checklist to help you plan. Make Connections According to the 2009 Community College Survey of Student Engagement, students who have personal relationships with other students, college faculty and employees are more likely to succeed and accomplish their educational goals. Why? As mentioned above, there will be times in your college career (and your life) when you feel like giving up. When you do, it helps tremendously to have others around you who care enough to encourage you to persevere and who can offer strategies and alternatives that you may not have known or considered before. The following are some ways you can make connections with others at your college:  Clubs and Organizations  Learning Communities  Service-Learning  Study Groups Take Care of Your Body, Mind and Spirit “u essful stude ts k o that thei od , i d a d spi it a e i te o e ted. You o ’t do ou if you have physical, mental or emotional challenges. How do you take care of yourself?  Eat healthy foods  Get at least eight hours of sleep each night  Avoid self-medicating with alcohol and/or illegal drugs  Maintain healthy relationships and personal support systems  Be as kind to yourself as you are to your friends

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Tips for Successful Students: Guidelines and Thoughts for Academic Success Adapted and shortened in 2005 by Alison Lake and Carl von Baeyer from a web page by Steve Thien, Kansas State University, which was based on the following articles in The Teaching Professor. Larry M Ludewig, "Ten Commandments for Effective Study Skills," Dec 1992. John H. Williams, "Clarifying Grade Expectations," Aug/Sep 1993. Paul Solomon and Annette Nellon, "Communicating About the Behavioral Dimensions of Grades," Feb 1996. Successful students exhibit a combination of successful attitudes and behaviors as well as intellectual capacity. Successful students . . . 1. . . . are responsible and active. Successful students get involved in their studies, accept responsibility for their own education, and are active participants in it! Responsibility is the difference between leading and being led. Active classroom participation improves grades without increasing study time. You can sit there, act bored, daydream, or sleep. Or you can actively listen, think, question, and take notes like someone in charge of their learning experience. Either option costs one class period. However, the former method will require a large degree of additional work outside of class to achieve the same degree of learning the latter provides at one sitting. 2. . . . have educational goals. Successful students are motivated by what their goals represent in terms of career aspirations and life's desires. Ask yourself these questions: What am I doing here? Is there some better place I could be? What does my presence here mean to me?Answers to these questions represent your "Hot Buttons" and are, without a doubt, the most important factors in your success as a college student. If your educational goals are truly yours, not someone else's, they will motivate a vital and positive academic attitude. If you are familiar with what these hot buttons represent and refer to them often, especially when you tire of being a student, nothing can stop you; if you aren't and don't, everything can, and will! 3. . . . ask questions. Successful students ask questions to provide the quickest route between ignorance and knowledge.In addition to securing knowledge you seek, asking questions has at least two other extremely important benefits. The process helps you pay attention to your professor and helps your professor pay attention to you! Think about it. If you want something, go after it. Get the answer now, or fail a question later. There are no foolish questions, only foolish silence. It's your choice. 4. . . . learn that a student and a professor make a team. Most instructors want exactly what you want: they would like for you to learn the material in their respective classes and earn a good grade.Successful students reflect well on the efforts of any teacher; if you have learned your material, the instructor takes some justifiable pride in teaching. Join forces with your instructor, they are not an enemy, you share the same interests, the same goals - in short, you're teammates. Get to know your professor. You're the most valuable players on the same team. Your jobs are to work together for mutual success. Neither wishes to chalk up a losing season. Be a team player! 5. . . . don't sit in the back. Successful students minimize classroom distractions that interfere with learning.Students want the best seat available for their entertainment dollars, but willingly seek the worst seat for their educational dollars. Students who sit in the back cannot possibly be their professor's teammate (see no. 4). Why do they expose themselves to the temptations of inactive classroom experiences and distractions of all the people between them and their instructor? Of course, we know they chose the back of the classroom because they seek invisibility or anonymity, both of which are antithetical to efficient and effective learning. If you are trying not to be part of the class, why, then, are you wasting your time? Push your hot buttons, is their something else you should be doing with your time? 6. . . . take good notes. Successful students take notes that are understandable and organized, and review them often.Why put something into your notes you don't understand? Ask the questions now that are necessary to make your notes meaningful at some later time. A short review of your notes while the material is still fresh on your mind helps your learn more. The more you learn then, the less you'll have to learn later and the less time it will take because you won't have to include some deciphering time, also. The whole purpose of taking notes is to use them, and use them often. The more you use them, the more they improve. 7. . . . understand that actions affect learning. Successful students know their personal behavior affect their feelings and emotions which in turn can affect learning.If you act in a certain way that normally produces particular feelings, you will begin to experience those feelings. Act like you're bored, and you'll become bored. Act like you're uninterested, and you'll become uninterested. So the next time you have trouble concentrating in the classroom, "act" like an interested person: lean forward, place

4 your feet flat on the floor, maintain eye contact with the professor, nod occasionally, take notes, and ask questions. Not only will you benefit directly from your actions, your classmates and professor may also get more excited and enthusiastic. 8. . . . talk about what they're learning. Successful students get to know something well enough that they can put it into words.Talking about something, with friends or classmates, is not only good for checking whether or not you know something, its a proven learning tool. Transferring ideas into words provides the most direct path for moving knowledge from short-term to long-term memory. You really don't "know" material until you can put it into words. So, next time you study, don't do it silently. Talk about notes, problems, readings, etc. with friends, recite to a chair, organize an oral study group, pretend you're teaching your peers. "Talk-learning" produces a whole host of memory traces that result in more learning. 9. . . . don't cram for exams. Successful students know that divided periods of study are more effective than cram sessions, and they practice it.If there is one thing that study skills specialists agree on, it is that distributed study is better than massed, late-night, last-ditch efforts known as cramming. You'll learn more, remember more, and earn a higher grade by studying in four, one hour-a-night sessions for Friday's exam than studying for four hours straight on Thursday night. Short, concentrated preparatory efforts are more efficient and rewarding than wasteful, inattentive, last moment marathons. Yet, so many students fail to learn this lesson and end up repeating it over and over again until it becomes a wasteful habit. Not too clever, huh? 10. . . . are good time managers. Successful students do not procrastinate. They have learned that time control is life control and have consciously chosen to be in control of their life.An elemental truth: you will either control time or be controlled by it! It's your choice: you can lead or be led, establish control or relinquish control, steer your own course or follow others. Failure to take control of their own time is probably the no. 1 study skills problem for college students. It ultimately causes many students to become non-students! Procrastinators are good excuse-makers. Don't make academics harder on yourself than it has to be. Stop procrastinating. And don't wait until tomorrow to do it! Successful students can be distinguished from the average student by their attitudes and behaviors. Below are some profiles that typically distinguish between an "A" student and a "C" student. Where do you fit in this scheme? The "A" Student - An Outstanding Student ATTENDANCE: "A" students have virtually perfect attendance. Their commitment to the class is a high priority and exceeds other temptations. PREPARATION: "A" students are prepared for class. They always read the assignment. Their attention to detail is such that they occasionally can elaborate on class examples. CURIOSITY: "A" students demonstrate interest in the class and the subject. They look up or dig out what they don't understand. They often ask interesting questions or make thoughtful comments. RETENTION: "A" students have retentive minds and practice making retentive connections. They are able to connect past learning with the present. They bring a background of knowledge with them to their classes. They focus on learning concepts rather than memorizing details. ATTITUDE: "A" students have a winning attitude. They have both the determination and the self-discipline necessary for success. They show initiative. They do things they have not been told to do. TALENT: "A" students demonstrate a special talent. It may be exceptional intelligence and insight. It may be unusual creativity, organizational skills, commitment - or a some combination. These gifts are evident to the teacher and usually to the other students as well. EFFORT: "A" students match their effort to the demands of an assignment. COMMUNICATIONS: "A" students place a high priority on writing and speaking in a manner that conveys clarity and thoughtful organization. Attention is paid to conciseness and completeness. RESULTS: "A" students make high grades on tests - usually the highest in the class. Their work is a pleasure to grade. The "C" Student - An Average Student ATTENDANCE: "C" students are often late and miss class frequently. They put other priorities ahead of academic work. In some cases, their health or constant fatigue renders them physically unable to keep up with the demands of high-level performance. PREPARATION: "C" students may prepare their assignments consistently, but often in a perfunctory manner. Their work may be sloppy or careless. At times, it is incomplete or late. CURIOSITY: "C" students seldom explore topics deeper than their face value. They lack vision and bypass interconnectedness of concepts. Immediate relevancy is often their singular test for involvement. RETENTION: "C" students retain less information and for shorter periods. Less effort seems to go toward organizing

5 and associating learned information with previously acquired knowledge. They display short-term retention by relying on cramming sessions that focus on details, not concepts. ATTITUDE: "C" students are not visibly committed to class. They participate without enthusiasm. Their body language often expresses boredom. TALENT: "C" students vary enormously in talent. Some have exceptional ability but show undeniable signs of poor self-management or bad attitudes. Others are diligent but simply average in academic ability. EFFORT: "C" students are capable of sufficient effort, but either fail to realistically evaluate the effort needed to accomplish a task successfully, or lack the desire to meet the challenge. COMMUNICATIONS: "C" students communicate in ways that often limit comprehension or risk misinterpretation. Ideas are not well formulated before they are expressed. Poor listening/reading habits inhibit matching inquiry and response. RESULTS: "C" students obtain mediocre or inconsistent results on tests. They have some concept of what is going on but clearly have not mastered the material. http://www.educationcorner.com/habits-of-successful-students.html

Ha its of Highl Effe ti e Stude ts

The key to becoming an effective student is learning how to study smarter, not harder. This becomes more and more true as you advance in your education. An hour or two of studying a day is usually sufficient to make it through high school with satisfactory grades, but when college arrives, there aren't enough hours in the day to get all your studying in if you don't know how to study smarter. While some students are able to breeze through school with minimal effort, this is the exception. The vast majority of successful students achieve their success by developing and applying effective study habits. The following are the top 10 study habits employed by highly successful students. So if you want to become a succesful student, don't get discouraged, don't give up, just work to develop each of the study habits below and you'll see your grades go up, your knowledge increase, and your ability to learn and assimilate information improve. 1. Don't attempt to cram all your studying into one session. Ever find yourself up late at night expending more energy trying to keep your eyelids open than you are studying? If so, it's time for a change. Successful students typically space their work out over shorter periods of time and rarely try to cram all of their studying into just one or two sessions. If you want to become a successful student then you need to learn to be consistent in your studies and to have regular, yet shorter, study periods. 2. Plan when you're going to study. Successful students schedule specific times throughout the week when they are going to study -- and then they stick with their schedule. Students who study sporadically and whimsically typically do not perform as well as students who have a set study schedule. Even if you're all caught up with your studies, creating a weekly routine, where you set aside a period of time a few days a week, to review your courses will ensure you develop habits that will enable you to succeed in your education long term. 3. Study at the same time. Not only is it important that you plan when you're going to study, it's important you create a consistent, daily study routine. When you study at the same time each day and each week, you're studying will become a regular part of your life. You'll be mentally and emotionally more prepared for each study session and each study session will become more productive. If you have to change your schedule from time to time due to unexpected events, that's okay, but get back on your routine as soon as the event has passed. 4. Each study time should have a specific goal. Simply studying without direction is not effective. You need to know exactly what you need to accomplish during each study session. Before you start studying, set a study session goal that supports your overall academic goal (i.e. memorize 30 vocabulary words in order to ace the vocabulary section on an upcoming Spanish test.) 5. Never procrasitinate your planned study session. It's very easy, and common, to put off your study session because of lack of interest in the subject, because you have other things you need to get done, or just because the assignment is hard. Successful students DO NOT procrastinate studying. If you procrastinate your study session, your studying will become much less effective and you may not get everything accomplished that you need to. Procrastination also leads to rushing, and rushing is the number one cause of errors. 6. Start with the most difficult subject first. As your most diffult assignment or subject will require the most effort and mental energy, you should start with it first. Once you've completed the most difficult work, it will be much easier to complete the rest of your work. Believe

6 it or not, starting with the most difficult subject will greatly improve the effectiveness of your study sessions, and your academic performance. 7. Always review your notes before starting an assigment. Obviously, before you can review your notes you must first have notes to review. Always make sure to take good notes in class. Before you start each study session, and before you start a particular assignment, review your notes thoroughly to make sure you know how to complete the assignment correctly. Reviewing your notes before each study session will help you remember important subject matter learned during the day, and make sure studying targeted and effective. 8. Make sure you're not distracted while you're studying. Everyone gets distracted by something. Maybe it's the TV. Or your family. Or maybe it's too quite. Some people actually study better with a little background noise. When you're distracted while you're studying you (1) loose your train of thought and (2) you're unable to focus -- both of which will lead to very ineffective studying. Before you start studying find a place where you won't be disturbed or distracted. Some people this is a quite cubical in the recesses of the library. 9. Use study groups effectively. Ever heard the phrase "two heads are better than one"? Well this can be especially true when it comes to studying. Working in groups enables you to (1) get help from others when you're struggling to understand a concept, (2) complete assignments more quickly, and (3) teach others whereby helping both the other students and yourselve to internalize the subject matter. However, study groups can become very ineffective if they're not structured and if groups members come unprepared. Effective students use study groups effectively. 10. Review your notes, schoolwork and other class materials over the weekend. Successful students review what they've learned during the week over the weekend. This way they're well prepared to continue learning new concepts that build upon previous coursework and knowledge acquired the previous week. We're confident that if you'll develop the habits outlined above that you'll see a major improvement in your academic success. http://www.usnews.com/education/blogs/professors-guide/2010/08/17/top-10-secrets-of-college-success

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Se rets of College Su ess

Auditioning your professors and adjusting your attention span are among these writers' suggestions. By Lynn F. Jacobs and Jeremy S. HymanAug. 17, 2010, at 9:15 a.m.+ More It's out! Our new book, The Secrets of College Success, is now available "wherever books are sold." For loyal followers of this U.S. News blog—and for web surfers who just stopped by—we offer our 10 best tips for college success (the book has 627 more): 1. Take control. For many students, the most striking difference between college and high school is that at college there's no one there to stand over you and tell you what to do. Getting to class, doing the homework, getting your papers in on time—all of these are things you're going to have to do without a parent or teacher to beat on you. Step up to bat and take responsibility. You're in charge of this thing. 2 Audition your professors. Many entering students think they should just take the "standard first-year program" their adviser hands them, and be done with it. But a far better idea is to go to the first class or two and assess the professor. Ask yourself: Is the material presented clearly and forcefully? Does the class have a clear point? Is the professor at least moderately engaging? Is this someone I feel I can learn from? If the answer to any of these questions is "no," drop the class and find another. [Read 10 Warning Signs of a Bad Professor.] 3. Get to class. Most students have a "cutting budget": the number of classes they think they can miss and still do pretty well in the course. For four, five, six, seven classes, you might think: "No problem, I'll get the notes." But, miss seven classes and (if the course has 35 meetings) you've missed 20 percent of the content. This can do major damage to your GPA come the tests. 4. Adjust your attention span. You're used to getting your content in short, entertaining blasts: one- to three-minute YouTube videos, hyperabbreviated text messages, and 140-character tweets. But your professor is thinking in terms of a 50-minute lecture, divided into perhaps two or three segments. Retrain your attention span to process long— very long, it will seem—units of content (rather than zoning in and out as things strike you). [Get tips on how to Pay for College.] 5. Study; don't "study." Though nobody quite tells you this, at college most of the work is done outside the classroom. Rule of thumb: one hour of lecture, two hours of preparation. As soon as the semester starts, find

7 yourself a quiet place to study and block out the times of the week you're going to do the studying. Above all, don't count study-related activities as actual studying: copying over your notes, getting the e-readings, listening to the lecture again, and "getting acquainted" with your study group are all fine activities, but they don't count as studying. 6. Always answer exactly the question asked. More points are lost on tests and papers by not answering the question asked than by giving the wrong answer. Professors go to great lengths to craft appropriate questions (and sub-questions) and expect head-on answers to exactly what they asked—rather than general surveys of an area, dumps of everything you know about the subject, or rambling garbage. 7. Take each test three times. Before the exam, construct a pre-test (use questions from the study guide, from last year's exam, or from hints the professor dropped in lecture) and take it under "test conditions" (write it out, under strict time limit, with no looking at the book). At the actual exam, write full answers that draw on all the course materials (lectures, readings, and discussions) and that would be clear to any intelligent reader. Then, when you get your test back, go over any comments your instructor has written and do the question again in your head, given the new information. 8. Connect with your professor (or TA). The single most underutilized resource at college is the office hour, now available in-person, by e-mail, or by Skype. You might not have realized it, but professors are required to be in their office two to four hours a week to meet with students and help them with the course. Your tests and papers will go better if you've had a chance to ask about things you're confused about, and, with any luck, received some guidance from the professor about what your thesis sentence should be or what's going to be on the test. 9. Never major on the way in. There's tremendous pressure these days at many colleges for students to declare a major either at orientation or very early in the first year. Unless you're 100 percent, positively, without a doubt sure about what you want to study, don't. A much better idea is to take three or four courses in the field—some introductory, some advanced—and then see what it's actually like to work in that field. And don't double or triple major unless there's some academic reason to do so: marketing and Mandarin Chinese, or chemistry and microbiology, go well together; art history and ichthyology—well, that's a combination for the birds. 10. Pursue your passion. Amidst all the distribution courses, general education requirements, prerequisites, and must-do's for the major, it's easy to forget what your intellectual interests, gifts, and passion were in the first place. Each semester, be sure to take at least one course in something you're good at and are really interested in. The joy of doing something you enjoy—and doing it well—will go a long way to making up for all the unpleasant things you have to do at college. Guaranteed. Got your own tips for college? We'd love to hear them. Drop us a note at [email protected]. http://www.gallup.unm.edu/vert/new-students/advising/tips.php

Tips fo “tude t “u ess: Su eedi g i College College Success 101: 3 Credit Hours. This course is designed to equip you with the skills you'll need to make the most of your college experience. We will help you understand your own strengths, weaknesses, interests, and priorities so that you can make informed decisions regarding courses of study and career paths. During this course we will seek to instill in you the skills you'll need to succeed as a student, as a parent, and as a powerful and active member of the community. Briefly put, successful students: 1. Accept personal responsibility for their college experience; 2. Know how they learn and how their learning preference affects their interactions with teachers; 3. Are active listeners; 4. Manage time effectively; 5. Take effective notes; 6. Prepare well for examinations; 7. Present clear, well-organized written and oral reports; 8. Set goals and develop strategies to achieve those goals. 9. Develop competencies for dealing with issues of cultural diversity and how "culture" impacts their college career; 10. Identify resources that are available on campus and in the community that can assist with problems related to academics, health, social life, financial aid, and other issues.

8 Myths and Facts There are many "myths" concerning the benefits of a college education, the importance of choosing a major, and the educational requirements of many familiar jobs. Here are a few misunderstandings that might help you down the path to a higher education. Myths and Facts Myth:

Fact:

You need an exact match between your major and a future career.

Though there are some careers that require specific training, such as nursing, engineering, accounting, etc. there are more careers that do not follow from a specific major. In fact, a recent study by the College Placement Council indicated that the majority of college graduates are successfully employed in fields not directly related to their academic majors!

Once you have a major, you must stick with it your entire college career.

Over 70% of college students change their major at some point during college.

Job market demand should be the primary determinant of an academic choice.

Selecting a major because it is currently "hot" on the market can be dangerous. Though it is important to look realistically at the potential for employment, the job market is difficult to predict. What is in demand when you are a freshman may not be in demand by the time you graduate. You are on much firmer ground when you select a major that truly interests you, and find a way to apply it to a career.

You must pursue certain specific majors in order to prepare adequately for professional schools such as dentistry, law, medicine, and business. Etc...

Most professional schools do not require a specific major, as long as you meet certain academic courses. For example, in recent years liberal arts majors have had greater success with acceptance to medical schools than biology majors.

Your academic major is the primary determinant for your future career success.

A college major is not enough to help you prepare adequately for a career. Internships, jobs, extracurricular activities, and volunteer work all contribute to your growth as a well-rounded person, and in developing your skills and abilities. In fact, employers place a very high value on these types of "extra" activities when looking for employees. Nearly half of all graduates change their career plans after they finish college, and the average person changes nearly 8 times in his/her lifetime.

"At the Bachelor's level your College major may not train you for a single, specific job. Instead, it seeks to develop your aptitudes and abilities so that you can use them in the broadest variety of careers. It is important to choose a major which allows your individual talents to flourish. Find a major that fits YOU rather than trying to fit yourself into a major. Undergraduate education is not so much a determinant of what you are to BE, as much as what you are prepared to BECOME." Sources: College is Only the Beginning, edited by John N Gardner & A. Jerome Jeweler, What Color is Your Parachute, by Richard Nelson Boles; What Can I do With a Major? By Lawrence R. Malnig Selecting a Major The Process... 1. Meet with your Academic Advisor to talk about the options you have available to you. 2. Consider your values and future goals. Do you want to stay in your hometown and near family? Select a major related to your interests, values and abilities.

9 3. Consider a field where there is a need in your community such as teaching and medical fields and computer science. 4. Talk with people who are working in a field that is interesting to you. 5. Volunteer with an organization to try something or to observe a professional. 6. Ask for help! You are not the only one wondering about what major to select. 7. You must select a major if you want to apply for Pell Grants or Scholarships. However, you can choose your major at any time. In fact, you probably will. So don't worry about it. More Tips for Success 1. GO TO CLASS! You might hear that in college, "a person can go to class any time he/she wants." NOT TRUE. Yes, maybe some classes will be boring, but not everything in life is interesting, and collegiate studies are not a matter of you being entertained. So learn to handle the "grunt work" and then you will demonstrate the pattern of good work habits that can only enhance your achievement. Once in class, pay attention! 2. UNDERSTAND THAT THE UNIVERSITY HAS RULES, PROCEDURES AND DUE DATES. Even if there are more rules than you can remember, always have a copy of your Student Handbook and Catalog. Remember that ignorance of what is required is no excuse for failing to perform. Confusion is one thing but ignorance of the rules says volumes. Do not become one who frequently states, "But no one told me..." 3. ACCEPT CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM 4. DO NOT BE AFRAID TO ASK QUESTIONS There is nothing wrong with being initially confused. Be patient with yourself! 5. GET INVOLVED Join a club or the Student Senate. Go to the Student Lounge in Gurley Hall for information 6. A DEGREE IS NOT AN ENTITLEMENT, YOU MUST EARN IT. 7. KNOW YOUR ACADEMIC SITUATION. If you are doing poorly in a course, be sure you know the deadline for withdrawing without penalty. 8. ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOURSELF AND YOUR BEHAVIOR 9. KEEP IN MIND THAT NOT EVERYONE GRADUATES WITH A BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN FOUR YEARS. 10. IGNORE RUMORS. Get the facts from a reliable source. 11. MAKE SURE YOUR INSTRUCTOR KNOWS YOUR NAME. VISIT YOUR INSTRUCTORS DURING OFFICE HOURS. Remember!!! DON'T BE AFRAID TO ASK QUESTIONS!! http://www.wikihow.com/Become-an-Excellent-Student

Ho to Be o e a E elle t Stude t Five Parts:Be organizedBeing attentiveStudying in a focused wayDoing homework properlyRevising sensiblyQuestions and Answers For the student, school can be one of the most difficult things to deal with. Learning how to study and get along with your peers will make the whole experience that much easier. Part1

Be organized 1. Be prepared. Bring everything you need with you to class. It would be a good idea to bring books, folders, pens, pencils, homework, review sheets and anything else you need. 2. Get organized. Staying organized in school is extremely important. If you are organized, then you are one step ahead in being successful. Keep a folder for each subject, that means that you put your math papers in your math folder, your Language Arts papers in your Language Arts folder, your science papers in your science folder, and so on. To make this easier, use color codes or label your folders. Part2

Being attentive 1. Pay attention in class. When a teacher is giving a lesson, take notes and if you don't understand something, raise your hand and ask questions. The more questions you ask, the smarter you'll get, believe it or not. Taking notes will help you think and help you understand what is being taught more. a. The teachers expect you ask questions and form an impression of you from how willing you are to do so.

10 b. Concentrate on staying focused. Keep your eyes on the teacher, keep your ears open, and take notes. 2. Avoid distractions in class. Do not distract others and don't be distracted by them. a. If friends are distracting you don't be mean; just tell them you are working and say "another time". 3. Review your notes when you have free time. Rewriting notes taken in class is helpful if taking exceptionally hard classes, such as legal studies, economics, engineering, etc. 4. Take some time to write some problems up, or you could ask someone to write them for you. Just remember, it doesn't hurt to go over what you have learned. Part3

Studying in a focused way 1. Start to read a little more. If you are not already a reader, start at your level and work your way up. You may not know this, but by reading challenging and difficult books, you can expand your vocabulary. 2. Create mind maps. Use of mind maps can be helpful for understanding hard topics. A mind map can help with revising before any exam or test. 3. Study in a constructive way. Study is one of the key factors at any level of an education. Spending 2 hours a day studying increases your grades. These two hours however, have to be constructive study. Remove all distractions; this will include mobile phones, television, loud/fast-paced music and talkative friends and family members as to ensure a calm collective environment. 4. Don't put off work for later. Make a daily routine for yourself, it really works. Keep all of your electronics such as your phone, iPod and laptop away from you as these cause distraction. When you come home from school, read through what the teacher had taught in class that day and practice a few math problems to be right on top. 5. Take short breaks while studying. For example: one 15 minute break every 2 hours. Don't lose your cool if you're stuck. Just take a break, then refocus on your work and you'll succeed. 6. Find out which chapter your teacher is covering tomorrow and read it before going to class. That way you become familiar with what he/she will be teaching and will be able to target areas that you do not understand so well. Highlight the explanations of difficult concepts and ask questions when you have doubts. 7. Go the extra yard. Attempt extra credit problems and assignments. Even if you are getting a 98% in a class, you can improve your grade and understand the material better. When you are finished with your work, ask your teacher if you can do extra work. Look in next year's subject book and try to figure out those problems. This will help your thinking skills and give you an advantage during the next school year. Don't skip ahead so far though that you fail to cover the fundamentals. The fundamentals are always essential for deep learning ability. Part4

Doing homework properly 1. Do your homework. Teachers give you homework for a reason. It is to review what you have learned that day. Take advantage of your free time. Do your homework on the way home from school and in any spare time. Unless you have a kind of school that gives you homework for reasonability and not to review. But most schools have it to review. Do as much at school as you can; you have the teacher there in case you need help. Make sure not to rush on your homework, to check over it, and to be neat. If you really want to be a successful student, you should know right from the beginning when you want to be great at anything, and when you have to put up with things that just don't seem fair. Doing your homework is not a big deal. Remember, homework can also help you develop good habits and attitudes. Always do what is asked of you. Part5

Revising sensibly 1. Study. It is advised to start studying at least a few days before a test. Make a studyschedule. If an extracurricular activity gets in the way of your studying, tell the person in charge of that certain event that you will not be able to attend that event, or you will have to leave early. However, there will be certain situations where you will have to attend. In this kind of situation, you will just have to study another day. This is where your study schedule comes in. Write out a schedule of the week of your test and find your free time. Always remember, use your time wisely. Study as if you are motivated for the outcome of your hard work. 2. Ask a parent or older sibling to look over your notes and create a mini-test for you three days prior to your test. Study before the night of your test.

Tips For Success At Mercer

2008-2009 A Do-It-Yourself Guide to Effective Study Skills Produced by the Ofice of Student Affairs

Welcome to

You may be a recent high school graduate about to start your very irst college courses, a new transfer student, an older student beginning or returning to school after many years, or a continuing student at Mercer. Regardless of the courses you are enrolled in, you have something in common with every other student at the college: You want to do your very best to achieve your academic goals with a feeling of personal pride and accomplishment. The faculty and staff at Mercer County Community College also want you to succeed. We are here to assist and to encourage you in every way that we can. As you follow the steps provided throughout this booklet, you will ind some practical ideas and suggestions to get you off to a good start – tips that you can put to use quickly in order to achieve academic success. 1 Develop and exercise good study habits! Stay awake. Listen. Start a study group. Make chapter outlines. Find a way of reinforcing course material that works for you. 2 Don’t be afraid to ask for help! Start with your instructor. Get to know your program coordinator. Check in with your Student Advocate. Visit the Learning Center (FA129). Visit the Library. 3 Don’t be afraid to ask questions! Speak up in class. Contact your instructor outside of class. 4 Come Prepared! Read all assigned readings before class. Make lists of questions to ask during or after class. Be prepared to discuss the material in class. Be ready for quizzes and exams. Have assignments ready to turn in on time (and keep a copy for your records). Don’t miss class simply because you don’t have your homework completed. 5 Come to class! Try not to miss any classes. Develop a system of back-ups in case your main system for childcare or transportation fails you. If you do miss class, contact the instructor as soon as you can. If you have any questions, or if you would like more help with academic or personal problems, contact your instructors, your academic advisor or speak with a counselor.

Good Luck . . . and have a wonderful year at Mercer! 1

Manage your time more efficiently -don’t let time manage you! As a student at Mercer, you probably ind yourself with many more things to do and decisions to make than you have ever had before. You may have to juggle a number of different responsibilities: job, family, studies, school activities, your social life, and -- of course -- class attendance. Also, it will be up to you to remember to turn in assignments on time, schedule meetings with advisors, notify the college if you move, register for classes, and pay your tuition on time. All of this may sound confusing and like a lot of work, but here are some simple steps to follow to help you plan and ind the time to do it all: Step 1.

Use a calendar to plan your time. s s s s s

Step 2.

With a daily and weekly calendar, take time to schedule all of your activities (Sample on page 3). Carry it with you at all times and keep it current with all changes and new dates entered promptly. Write in the important dates for the semester -- exams and dates when papers and other assignments are due. For each day of the week, ill in the hours when your classes meet, when you have to work, and when you plan to do other things. Once a week, take a few minutes to review your schedule and plan your time for the next week. Set aside time to study, to prepare for classes, and to relax. Be reasonable in planning your time. Don’t try to cram too much into your schedule. Once you know how much time you will actually need for studying and for your job, then you can decide to add other activities. Set priorities for each day.

s s •

Each morning, perhaps while you’re eating breakfast, review your daily schedule and make a list of what you need to do that day. Decide which things are most important and plan your day to be sure those things get done. Enter important dates into your cell phone, Blackberry, PDA, or planner.

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Sample Schedule Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

DRESS AND EAT

8:00 am

9:00 am

ENG 101

10:00 am

PSY 101 IST 101 PSY 101 IST 101 PSY 101

ENG 101

ENG 101

11:00 am

LUNCH

12:00 am

1:00 pm

STUDY

WORK

STUDY

WORK

STUDY

2:00 pm

BIO 113

BIO 113

BIO 113

3:00 pm

ACC 111

ACC 111

ACC 111

RELAX OR READ STUDY

RELAX

RELAX OR READ RECREATION RECREATION RELAX

4:00 pm

5:00 pm

6:00 pm

7:00 pm

8:00 pm

9:00 pm

10:00 pm

11:00 pm

DINNER STUDY

STUDY

STUDY

ENG. PSYCH. SCI. ACCTG. LIBRARY STUDY ENG. STUDY (REPORT) SCI. STUDY PSYCH. RECREATION OR REVIEW CLASS NOTES SLEEP

3

EIGHT HOURS OF STUDY DISTRIBUTED AS NEEDED AMONG 5 COURSES

Step 3.

Stick to your schedule; don’t procrastinate. s

s s

Step 4.

Don’t let the less important things in your schedule throw you off course. If you’re having trouble getting started on an especially dificult or unpleasant job, try: -- giving yourself a deadline; -- doing at least a little to get started. (Once you’ve actually started, it won’t seem as hard as you thought); -- breaking a big job into smaller parts; -- doing it at the time of day when you have the most energy; -- working with a partner. Don’t waste time “getting ready” to do things. Keep your class materials together and your desk or study area ready at all times. Learn to say “NO” to distractions -- to friends and extra activities that you don’t have time for. Use your planning to create good study habits and establish a routine for getting things done.

If you want to learn more about good study habits, two good books to look for are How to Get Control of Your Time and your Life, by Alan Lakein, and Studying Smart, by Diana Scharf-Hunt. It’s been proven that students who take a student success seminar, enroll in study skills workshops and get involved in student activities are found to have higher grade point averages and are more likely to graduate.

4

Get The Most Out Of Your Classes A Word About Attendance... The single most important factor in how well students do in college is class attendance. Quite simply, if you’re not in class, your instructors can’t teach you. Not all of the information you will need to know is in your books; and the explanations faculty can give you may be the deciding factor for whether or not you really learn and understand the materials. The best advice we can offer is this: Step 5.

Never miss a single class unless it is absolutely unavoidable -and be on time!

The irst few classes of the semester are especially important. That’s when your instructors will explain about your classes: -- what they expect from you -- what you will be expected to learn; -- what the assignments are and when they are due; -- when exams will be given and what kind they will be; -- what the course requirements and objectives are; -- how grades will be determined; and -- how to contact your instructor. This is also a time when instructors are beginning to learn who their students are and what they are like. It is your chance to start off on the right foot in order to be seen as a serious student by your teachers. Step 6.

Be an active learner: Come prepared, and participate in class. s

s

Do all of your homework and complete it on time. By doing this, you will avoid falling behind in each class, and you will be able to get the most out of class discussions and lectures. This is particularly true for math, science, accounting, technology, and other courses in which you must master one level before you can learn the next. Refresh your memory. Review your notes from the previous class session to refresh your memory, and to see the direction the course is taking.

5



s s s

s

s

Participate actively in class. Sit near the front of the class, pay attention, and join in class discussions and lectures. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Ask your instructor to explain any parts of your assigned reading, course requirements, or class discussions that you don’t understand. Make appointments to see your instructors. If you need more help, your instructors are ready to help you. Even if they can’t help you, they can direct you to someone else who can. That’s part of their job! A good time to make an appointment is during your instructors’ ofice hours. Ofice hours should be listed on their ofice doors. Also, learn your instructors’ names. If you’ve missed a class, or if you know in advance that you will have to miss a class, talk to your instructor. Find out what you’ve missed and how you can make it up. Ask, “What can I do to make up the class work?” rather than, “Did I miss anything?”

6

Improve Your Study Habits It is a generally accepted rule-of-thumb that for every hour you spend in class, you will need to spend at least two hours studying and preparing for class. Of course, some classes will require more of your time, others less. To help you use that time well, we have several suggestions: Step 7.

Techniques for studying effectively: s Plan a daily schedule. Set up regular study times for each of your classes – perhaps a couple of hours every morning and evening. Plan your most dificult subjects for times when you have the most energy and the least disruption. Remember to include time for long-term assignments. s Understand your assignments clearly. Know when each one is due. If you aren’t sure about something, ask your instructor to explain it. Do all of your assigned homework and don’t let late assignments lower your grades. s Try to see the “big picture.” As you study, try to see how information you learn in the beginning of your courses provides the basis for information that comes later. Once you see how facts and ideas it together and are related, you will ind it easier to understand and remember what you learn. s Practice concentration. During your scheduled study times, make every effort to concentrate. Locate a quiet area so that you don’t become distracted. Don’t allow your mind to wander or daydream. Also, try not to waste time preparing to study. s Review class and reading notes. There is absolutely no substitute for spending quality time reviewing what you have learned before and after class. Be patient. Read, think about what you’ve read, recite and review. Review class and reading material from previous assignments at least once a week. When test and inal exam times come, you will be well prepared. You won’t have to spend time relearning material from the beginning of the term. s Remember to keep up with your assignments. If you fall behind, it’s sometimes very dificult to catch up. Try not to worry about how much or how little time other students spend studying. Every person learns at his or her own pace.

7

Improve Your Reading Habits Step 8.

Techniques for reading effectively: (Reading a textbook is different.) s s

s

s

s

Preview your textbooks. Read the introduction, table of contents, chapter headings and subheadings to see how the content is organized; look for key themes. Skim each chapter before you read it, and -- look at the introduction, headings, subtitles, graphs, charts, diagrams, and any questions that are listed at the end; -- use pictures, charts, diagrams, and graphs as a way to remember information. Create your own visuals if it helps you. Make notes. Read the chapter, but while you’re reading: -- write down important facts or ideas in your notebook; -- make notes in the margin or highlight important words, phrases, facts, etc. to make them easy to ind; -- stop every now and then and see if you can explain to yourself what you’ve just read; -- write down anything you don’t understand so you can ask about it in class; -- write down anything that sounds like a good test question -- and the answer! Preview your notes and reread chapters to: -- answer your own questions; -- see how what you’ve read relates to the course outline and goals; -- relate the information in the chapter to your class notes and what you read in earlier chapters. Don’t fall behind in your assignments; in fact, try to read ahead whenever possible.

8

Take Better Class Notes Step 9.

Practice good organization in taking notes.

Keep a separate notebook for each course. You may want to attach the course syllabus to the inside cover of the notebook. s Do assigned readings before class. This will help you to know which information is most important and which you’ll need to clarify in class. Make good use of your daily schedule. s Take good lecture notes. Don’t try to write down everything your instructor says. Instead, listen carefully and take note of: -- key words, phrases, deinitions; -- ideas that are repeated and emphasized; -- ideas and facts important enough to be written on the board; -- examples and ideas that tie facts together. s Try to organize your notes as an outline. Less important facts should be indented under more important ones; OR write major topic headings on the left side of the page, and notes about the topic on the right. s Allow suficient writing space. Leave wide margins or extra space so that you can write in extra information, your own comments, and references to your assigned reading. s Make use of index cards. As you take notes, listen for things that sound like good test questions and jot them down in the margins. Later, you may want to put them on 3” x 5” cards that you can use (along with the questions you wrote down while reading your textbook) to prepare for tests. s Study your notes. As soon as you can, after your class is over, review your notes to be sure you understand them. If you think you missed something, check with another student or with your teacher. You may also ind that recopying your notes helps you to understand the material better -- it’s also a good way to study your notes. Whether you simply review your notes or recopy them, use a marker or underline to highlight especially important facts, ideas, and possible test questions so you can ind them easily. s

9

Develop Your Test-Taking Skills Taking tests and exams is an important part of college life. Tests give you and your instructor a reliable way to measure how well you are learning the material -- and they may determine what your inal grade will be. You want to do well on your tests, and there are a number of steps you can take that will deinitely help you to do your best. Step 10.

Prepare for testing.

Before the Test s Make a test schedule at least one week in advance. s Avoid cramming. Don’t wait for the last minute to begin studying. “Cramming” may help some students, but most information learned this way is quickly forgotten and seldom understood. Be sure you know what material the test will cover -- if in doubt, ask your instructor. s Review your class and study notes. No matter how often you’ve reviewed them before, it’s worth looking at them again to refresh your memory. Review your notes for possible test questions. s Review previous tests. Ask your instructor if tests from previous semesters are available for you to look at. Reviewing old tests will give you an idea of what the test will be like. s Study for the test with other students, and -- help each other understand the material; -- ask each other practice questions; -- talk to your instructor about information you still don’t understand. s Get a good night’s sleep before the exam or test so you can think clearly. Do your best on the day of the exam. On the Day of the Test or Exam s Arrive early. Get to class early enough to relax and get organized. Bring everything you will need for the test -- pencils, pens, calculators, etc. s Try to relax. Stay calm and listen carefully to all instructions, especially those about how much time you should spend on each question.

10



s Quickly review the entire test irst to see what the questions are like and what instructions you will need to follow. If you don’t understand something about the test, ask your instructor. s Read instructions carefully for each question so you know exactly what is being asked. Pay attention to key words such as some, all, never, and always. Don’t try to read something into the questions that isn’t there. Make a tentative decision about how much time you can afford to spend on each question. s Do easy questions irst. Don’t get bogged down by questions you don’t understand or that are dificult. Put a mark next to those questions and do the easy questions irst, taking your time so you don’t make careless errors. You can go back to the dificult questions later. Many students tell us that after they have done the easier questions, they feel conident and relaxed enough to tackle the harder ones; and sometimes, the other questions provide clues that are helpful. s Read objective test items carefully. On multiple-choice and true-andfalse tests, be sure to read all the items carefully before deciding on the best answer. Avoid reading things into test items, and look for the best answer. s On Essay Exams... -- Think about the questions and briely outline your answer before you begin writing; -- Don’t spend too much time on this, but know what you want to say and how you will cover the important points; -- Use examples and facts from class discussions and assigned reading; -- Make sure you answer the questions thoroughly. If you omit any portion of the questions, your instructor will assume you do not know the answer; -- Be neat; use standard English grammar, and proofread what you’ve written. s And For All Tests... -- Review your answers at the end of the test/exam. -- Leave time to review your answers before you turn in your test. Check to make sure you haven’t forgotten to answer any of the questions.

11

When Your Graded Test Is Returned Tests may determine your grade, but they can also help you learn more. Look at the questions you had wrong. Try to understand why you missed them, and make a point of learning the correct answers before the next test. Once again, ask your instructor for help if you need it; or make an appointment with your instructor to discuss what you are having trouble with, and get some suggestions for how you can improve. Don’t be discouraged. Realize that reaching a goal is not always without setbacks. Keep your energy focused positively. Using the Testing Center The Academic Testing Center is located in LA216 (ext. 3295) at the West Windsor Campus and KC311 (ext. 6695) at the James Kerney Campus. To gain access to the Testing Center, students must present a valid MCCC I.D.

12

Maintain A Positive Attitude For Success Students who succeed at college do so because they have a positive attitude. They realize that no college or curriculum is perfect. Students who succeed value their education and look for opportunities and services to enrich their lives. When they experience times of doubt and discouragement, they do not concentrate on negative feelings. Your attitude will affect your entire college experience. To be successful, keep it positive! s Take control of your own life’s direction and success. You alone are responsible for how well you do at Mercer. Know what you must do to succeed in each class and stick to it! s Develop the personal determination, persistence and strong work habits needed for success in school and in life. Always keep trying, believe in your own abilities and use every assignment and test/exam as an opportunity to demonstrate your capability. s Find out what your options are if you are having problems. If you feel overwhelmed, don’t suddenly stop attending classes. Never hesitate to ask for help and information from your instructor, counselor, division chairperson or dean. Admitting that you have a problem and asking for help will not be held against you; rather, it may be the single most important step you take toward guaranteeing your own future success. s Maintain a balance between your study hours and work hours, if you must work while attending Mercer. In general, full-time students -- those taking 12 or more credits -- should not work more than 20 hours a week. Try to schedule your work hours so they don’t conlict with your classes and study times. Remember to allow yourself some leisure time also! s Register early each semester so you can arrange your academic schedule to make juggling your job and classes as easy as possible. Members of your family may not understand the new demands your college courses will place on you. Try to work out your schedule in advance and share it with your family. s You have made a smart decision by enrolling as a student at Mercer. Keep your academic goals high on your list of priorities. It’s up to you to choose success. We hope these suggestions will give you

13

Some of Mercer’s Support Services To Help You Succeed Academic Support Services (FA129) can be contacted for general help and information, or help with inding a study group at 609-586-4800 ext. 3422 or email, [email protected]. A detailed schedule listing our tutors’ areas of expertise and hours is available as a handout. A schedule is also available at http://www.mccc.edu/pdf/tutor_schedule_ww.pdf Counseling Services (SC229, SC238), Kerney Campus (KC216) provide professional counselors at both campuses to counsel you regarding your personal, social, career and academic growth. They are well-trained and will do whatever is necessary to ensure your success at Mercer. Counselors are available day and evening hours. English as a Second Language-ESL (SC252) students may use the Writing Center for assistance in ESL courses. Students may also go to the Kerney Campus (KC311) for assistance. Day and evening hours are available. Kerney Learning Center (KC311), located on the third loor of the James Kerney Campus, provides computer-assisted instruction, tutoring and testing for courses in reading, writing and math. All credit students may obtain assistance in using the computer system and receive individual tutoring throughout the semester. West Windsor Campus-Learning Center (FA129) offers tutoring in all levels of reading, writing, and mathematics, plus chemistry, biology, physics, accounting, economics and computer science. Specialized tutoring is also available for introductory math and English courses. Tutoring at MCCC is free and is on a “drop in” basis. No appointment is necessary. Tutoring is individualized instruction in an academic subject that supplements classroom instruction or lecture hall experience. Tutoring is an integral part of the educational process. Working with a tutor does not have to be viewed as something that occurs only when you are experiencing dificulty. Tutoring is not a substitute for attending classes, taking class notes, completing assignments or studying independently.

14

Library (WW) (JKC) MCCC’s libraries provide resources and staff to support your academic needs. Included in the collection are over 60,000 books, compact discs, newspapers, periodicals, audio and videocassettes. There are VCRs, a tape duplication machine for copying foreign language tapes, graphic calculators, and CD players to complement collection resources. Additionally, many instructors place articles and supplemental readings on reserve at the circulation desk. Remember that the library is an extension of your classroom. Library staff works with faculty to make sure that you have access to the information you need to thoroughly research a topic and improve your ability to make better grades. There is also a 56-seat computer lab located in the library. (Temporarily available in LA232 while the Library is under construction) A valid MCCC identiication card is required for admission. Policies and rules for using the lab and accessing the Internet are available in the lab and must be read before using the computers. Lab monitors are available to assist you with questions. Programs for Academic Services and Success (PASS) (SC238) includes the Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF) programs, the Student Support Services (SSS) programs related to helping students adjust to college academically, socially and Retention Services. Peer tutoring, mentoring, counseling and special workshops are available. Special Services (FA129) provides continuing support to students with documented learning and physical disabilities. Various support services have been established to assist students according to individual needs: •฀ Academic Accommodations •฀ Academic Advisement •฀ Professional Tutorial Support •฀ Assistive Technology Students with special needs enrolled at the college can access services by: •฀ Self-identiication: It is the responsibility of the student with a disability to identify herself/himself to the Ofice of Special Services and to request appropriate accommodations. •฀ Providing documentation: Eligibility for services and accommodations for students with disabilities is based on the student providing appropriate documentation. Documentation can include medical reports, learning and psychological evaluations, or physical therapy evaluations. School IEPs and transition plans are not documentation of a disability. •฀ Completing the intake packet: Available from the Ofice of Special Services, this packet contains some of the necessary paperwork needed by our ofice, including the Request for Academic Modiications. Student Advocates are qualiied counselors located in each academic division to assist students in personal, career and academic matters. (see front of booklet) Transfer & Career Services (SC229) provide service to students wishing to transfer to other institutions of higher learning and services to students exploring majors and careers. An appointment is necessary for individual counseling. Workshops are provided throughout the year.

15

Learn About Mercer: Read The College Catalog and The Student Handbook The College Catalog and the Student Handbook may be the most valuable books on campus. In them you’ll ind important information about: s The Academic Calendar -- including dates for exams, registration, and holidays or vacation periods. s Rules and regulations of the college -- including what to do if you need to withdraw from a class. s Information about grades and staying in college. s Requirements for each degree and certiicate program. s Course descriptions. s Services that are available on campus and where to ind them. s Who’s Who on campus -- who you need to see for answers. If you don’t have a catalog or a Student Handbook, stop in the Admissions Ofice, 2nd loor, Student Center or the Information Desk, 1st loor, Student Center. At the James Kerney Campus, pick up a copy at the Student Services Ofice, room KC 218. Since these books are updated periodically, be sure you have the latest edition. And be sure to read them! They may not be the most exciting books you’ll read this year, but you’ll be glad you did.

For more information also check out

www.mccc.edu 16

1

Success Tips - Career Four Keys to Success 1. 2. 3. 4.

Decide exactly what you want and where you want to go. Set a deadline and make a plan to get there. ... Take action on your plan; do something every day to move toward your goal. Resolve in advance that you will persist until you succeed, that you will never, ever give up. http://www.myenglishpages.com/site_php_files/reading-tips-for-career-success.php

10 Tips to succeed in your career Because the world has become so competitive, you will have to do your best to secure your share of success. The following are tips to get you ahead in your career. 1. Priorities and goals What are your priorities of the day? Make a list and of your priorities and plan your day. The tasks of the day must be outlined with the most important and urgent ones on top. Likewise determine your short-term and long-term goals and evaluate your progress frequently. 2. Be focused Are you really present physically and mentally. Try to block out all distractions so that you have the time to truly focus on your tasks and career. 3. Broaden your skills Nothing remains the same and so do job requirements. Update your knowledge and skills. Seek improvement of your know-hows. Attend seminars, conferences, read books, be an eternal learner. 4. Socialize Be ready to participate in social functions. Be open to new acquaintances. Meet new people and deal with them respectfully and enthusiastically. Be an active listener; you will surely learn something new... 5. Know your merits Know your strengths and weaknesses. If you think you deserve a position or promotion, claim it. 6. Accept challenge Through challenge you will reach areas of your personality you have never discovered before. It is a good idea to step away from your comfort zone to explore new horizons. If you settle into a routine and play it safe all the time, you will never get ahead in your career. 'If you always do what you've always done, you'll only get what you've already got' 7. Communication Learn to communicate effectively. Listen to what others are saying and focus on how to give and receive constructive feedback, to persuade effectively and to ask for help and collect information. 8. Avoid gossip Avoid office gossip about colleagues and the boss. Be respectful and work for the good of the company. 9 Relax Relax and do something different, a hobby that you love doing. Take time off for yourself. This will help boost your productivity during week days. 10. Seek satisfaction If you are disappointed with what you are doing, try to transform it into something you love. If you fail, it might be a good idea to do something different. As Confucius said: 'Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life. '

2 http://www.inc.com/peter-economy/5-powerful-ways-to-build-a-successful-career-by-the-big-3-0.html

5 Exceptionally Powerful Ways Millennials Succeed at Work Instead of trying to copy someone else's blueprint for success, create your own. You just might be surprised by the results. At just 28 years of age, Varun Mehta has already held key positions at Boston Scientific and Johnson & Johnson. Today he is a VP at the Clutch Group--leading the company's financial services practice. If you ask him the secrets of building a wildly successfully career before the age of 30,Mehta will first tell you that you shouldn't try to copy what others have done--you already have the answers within you. "There is no secret formula, no blueprint to success in business," he says. "To try to mimic one is to lose before you even get in the game. The idea that you can recreate success is a myth." According to Mehta, there are five strategies millennials use to build successful careers. And guess what? They just happen to be great advice for people at any age. 1. Innovate Instead of waiting for change to find you, continuously innovate in your job to stay ahead of it. Take the initiative to come up with ideas for doing things better--and then have the courage to advance and implement them. Says Mehta, "Experience isn't required for innovation. Thinking differently is. Look at everything and figure out where and how you can contribute, and then do so." 2. Collaborate One of the best ways to advance your career is to think, "How can I help others succeed?" When your team wins, you win along with it. It's not all about you--when you're a team player, you build a strong foundation for your own success. According to Mehta, "Who gets credit is irrelevant. What matters is that as a team you are doing great work, achieving your goals. Steer people in the right direction. Make others look good--your clients and colleagues, bosses, and employees. Be a true team player, and success will come back to you tenfold." 3. Google it With Google at your fingertips, you no longer have to tell your boss "I don't know" when you're asked a question you don't know the answer to. Instead, you can say, "I will find out," and have an answer quickly and easily. Says Mehta, "Today, we have an opportunity most people didn't, to surf our way to becoming an expert or at least dangerously close--with Google as a secret weapon." 4. Rethink dedication  The 10 Best European Cities for Starting a Business  23 Mother Teresa Quotes to Inspire You to Be a Better Person  20 Things Truly Great Bosses Do Every Day  How Casper Became a $100 Million Company in Less Than Two Years When a boss gives you an assignment, as a dedicated employee you usually jump right in--sometimes without thinking. Instead of racing to a solution, step back for a moment and think about how you can do it better and smarter. Go beyond normal dedication to think about alternatives. Apply logic to your work. Do more than is asked of you. There is always a better, faster way to do things. As Mehta suggests, "Work smarter--not harder--and you will outwit your competitors and move up in your company at a rapid pace." 5. Chase skills, not titles We all want to get promoted in our jobs, and achieve the job titles that go along with those promotions. This is a mistake. People get so focused on what they should do that they lose sight of what they could do. Your success in the long run won't come from working for a dream company or holding a prestigious job title. It depends on the skills and abilities you learn and bring to the table. Says Mehta, "Think of your career in terms of building blocks, each block representing a set of skills--and then do the work. Do whatever it takes to acquire the skills that will help take you to the next level. This takes guts and a willingness to turn a traditional career path on its head." Remember--you cannot copy success. But you can design it.

3 http://astridbaumgardner.com/articles/21-10-top-tips-for-building-a-successful-career

10 Top Tips For Building a Successful Career Building your career is exciting because it provides an opportunity to shape your life in the way you want. It can also be scary when you do not know what it is that you want to do and when you are not sure how you can make a living. The more you are in charge of your process, the better you will feel. So here are my top 10 tips to help move you forward as you create your career. 1. Know your values The place to start building career success is with yourself. First, zero in on your values. Values are the core principles that run your life. The more your career aligns with and honors your values, the deeper the sense of satisfaction you will derive from what you do. 2. Play to your strengths Second, find your strengths. It is easier and a lot more fun to play to your strengths than to compensate for weaknesses. A great resource for identifying your strengths is Strengths Finder 2.0 by Tom Rath where you buy the book and then take an on-line assessment which generates a report of your top 5 strengths. Then see how you can start playing to YOUR strengths! 3. Live your passions Some people are able to live their passions every day. For others, tapping into passions is more challenging. Passions are often buried by belief systems and judgments that convince you that what you love is not worthy of or capable of sustaining you in a career. If that is your situation, think back to those childhood passions and see what it would take to introduce more of those things into your life right now. 4. Use your favorite skill sets What are you good at doing? A great resource is the 7 Success Stories exercise in Richard Nelson Bolles' seminal work, What Color Is Your Parachute? Think of the times that you have been successful and then zero in on the specific steps that you took to get there. These will tell you your best skills. Now pick your favorite skills and see how you can apply them in your career. 5. Figure out how much money you need to make For anyone entering the job market or thinking about a career switch, take a long hard look at your finances. Do a budget. Decide on what kind of lifestyle is really important to you. Then think about how much money you need to make to support yourself in that lifestyle. 6. Have a plan Once you have answered all of the foregoing questions, do some research into different career scenarios that combine your values, strengths, passions and favorite skills sets AND provide you with the money that you need to make. Imagine yourself in those careers. What will you be doing all day? Whom will you be working with? What do you want to accomplish? Then go out and find out more about these areas. Make a long-range plan for your career search and set quarterly, monthly and weekly SMART goals. 7. Stay flexible There are probably a number of different areas that you could see yourself working in. Experiment and see what you like best! Volunteer at a local non-profit. Join a committee. Take a class. Do you need additional skills? Take a course or go for another degree. Do you need another job or two before you are ready for your ideal job? That's okay since you are moving in the right direction! 8. Network Here's the real secret of career building: the best jobs come up because someone who knows you thinks that you would be the right person for the job. So networking is a critical piece of career success. Yet many people are afraid to network, thinking that it is somehow impolite to ask others for help. Even worse, they way wonder why would anyone want to spend time with someone new to the field. And here's another insight: networking does not have to be scary. Think of networking as connecting with another person so that the two of you are in sync and are relevant to each other. Yes, you have something to contribute! People are always looking for talent and those big executives/stars were once beginners just like you.

4 9. Get support Seek out people who understand your situation or are a positive influence. Join a support group or create your own with like-minded friends. Hire a coach. Form your own personal board of directors. This is not the time to be with naysayers! 10. Be good to yourself Building a career can be tricky so be good to yourself. Create a nourishment menu of fun, free things to do that make you feel great. Keep a success journal documenting all the things that you do well. If negative self-talk is holding you back, come up with a mantra or affirmation that can remind you of yourself at your best. Make these practices a habit throughout your life! http://careerplanning.about.com/od/workplacesurvival/tp/Planning-For-Career-Success.htm

11 Tips for Career Success How to Have a Fulfilling and Satisfying Career Who wants career success? You do, of course. Your career may be the most important thing in your life ... or it may not be. There's no arguing, though, that it certainly is a significant part of it. We spend at least 40 hours at work each week. That's a lot of time! In addition to paying the rent and putting food on the table, your career should be fulfilling. Following these 11 tips will help you make sure it is. A satisfying career will make you happier. Wonwoo Lee / Image Source / Getty Images • Choose Your Occupation Wisely Before you decide to pursue any career, ask yourself this question: "Can I see myself doing this all day, everyday, for many years?" Life is too short to spend it wishing you were doing something other than what you are. More » • Don't Let Anyone Tell You What Choice is Best for You Ignore those who say, "Pick this field because it has lots of opportunities right now," "You will make loads of money so it doesn't matter if you hate your job" and "I like this career and therefore you will too." These statements play to some of the myths surroundingchoosing a career and they all ignore one important thing: your career choice is a personal decision and it is one that will have a significant effect on your life for many years. Oh, and by the way, the relationship between earnings and job satisfaction is minimal. More » • Measure Your Own Success How do you define success? Is it the size of your paycheck or having the corner office? Is it the feeling you get when you know you did a great job on a project (praise from the boss doesn't hurt) or the one you get when you know you helped someone? Perhaps you feel successful after putting in a day at work and coming home at a reasonable hour to spend time with your family. Since everyone measures success differently, only you can determine what it means to you. Your satisfaction with your career is strongly linked to how successfully you feel you have met your own, and not anyone else's, definition of it. • Don't Be Afraid to Ask for Help As much as you think you know, you don't know it all. There are people who have more experience than you do and with that experience comes knowledge. In order to have access to that knowledge, make sure your network is filled with contacts other than your peers. Establish a relationship with a mentor who can guide you through your career. More experienced contacts can help you with things like learning more about an occupation you are considering, getting the lowdown on an employer before a job interview or solving a problem at work. More » • Always Acknowledge People Who Help You It may sound simple, but it's truly a significant gesture: always thank those who offer you assistance. Whether someone gives you five minutes of his time or an introduction to a potential employer, it's important you let him know that what he did meant something to you. And when that person or another needs help, you can return the favor. Consider it good karma. More » • Own Your Mistakes You know what they say about mistakes. Everybody makes them and you are no exception. Of course you will do what you can to avoid making a serious error, but sometimes they happen anyway. While your instinct may be to run away and hide, that is actually the worse thing you can do. Admitting your error, finding a way to fix it or at least taking an action that lessens its effects, will help restore your reputation. More »

5 • Be Your Own Cheerleader Root for yourself because if you aren't your own biggest fan, who will be? Take note of and pride in all your successes and positive attributes. Don't wait for someone else to tell you "job well done!" Reflecting on your own achievements will spur you on to accomplish even greater ones. • Don't Beat Yourself Up From time to time a little voice inside your head might whisper (hopefully not shout) that you aren't good enough or smart enough. Tell it to shut up! Unfortunately there will be plenty of people quite willing to bring you down. Don't do it to yourself. When you make a mistake, admit it, fix it and move on. If you are missing a skill or have some other shortcoming, take whatever measures necessary to improve. • Never Feel Like You Are Stuck No matter how careful you were about choosing the "right" career, at some point you may become disheartened with it. Give yourself permission to explore other options. You will probably be able to come up with a bunch of reasons not to, but remember the first tip about life being too short to spend it wishing you were doing something else? The older you get, the more you will come to believe it. More » • Lose the Negative Attitude For some people, every silver lining has a cloud. They see only the negative side of things, always finding something to complain about. Don't be that person. You will bring yourself down and you will bring others down with you. A negative attitude saps yours and everyone else's energy. That's not to say you should ignore problems. Instead look for ways to fix them. More » • Listen More Than You Speak You can learn a lot by listening...and miss a lot if you don't. Whether your boss is explaining a project to you or telling you about his weekend, it is important that you understand what he is saying. Careful listening will keep you from misunderstanding instructions and will help you build rapport with others. If you listened carefully to your boss's story about his hiking expedition, you may discover that you have a love of this activity in common. Who knew? More » Related Articles 9 Common Mistakes To Avoid When Picking a Career Picking a Career Path Practical Answers to Common Career Planning Questions 10 Ways to Make a Career Expert Cry 5 Things to Do If You Make a Mistake at Work Quitting Your Job

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Our Expert Recommends How to Make the Right Career Choice Common Mistakes to Avoid When Choosing a Career Career Planning Myths Careers A to Z Careers By Field and Industry Real Career Stories How to Get Along With Your Colleagues Make a Good Impression at Work Job Advice to New Graduates

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http://www.bayt.com/en/career-article-1301/

Twenty Tips to Career Success Optimize your career with these twenty sure-fire career boosters. The writing has been on the wall for some time; it's a competitive world out there and in the complex labyrinths of the ever-evolving globalized corporate world, job security is a thing of the past. A recentBayt.com survey of over 6,000 professionals in the Middle East indicated that in the past 5 years, most professionals have held at least 2 jobs, with 30% of those surveys holding 4 jobs or more. So how does one ensure that one's career survives and even thrives amidst the conflicting forces, turbulent currents and ongoing challenges out there?

6 Below the career experts at Bayt.com, the Middle East's #1 job site, highlight some key tips to propel your career forward and to ensure sustained and long-term career success:1. Set goals Be clear on where you would like to go with your career and formulate a 1, 3 and 5 year plan to get there. Set realistic milestones and targets, take inventory at frequent intervals and update these plans regularly. 2. Find a mentor Identify someone in your field who can advise and counsel you in matters career-related and refer to this mentor in making the important career decisions as well as in negotiating the nuts-and-bolts issues that confront you on a dayto-day basis. 3. Mentor somebody Become a mentor yourself to a younger professional to stay networked, build a reputation in a different peer group and stay abreast of developments in other divisions or companies. 4. Know yourself Be honest about your strengths and weaknesses so you can work on them and try to see yourself as your peers see you bearing in mind that perception is everything. 5. Never stop learning Invest in yourself by becoming a life-long learner. No matter how valuable our skills are, chances are they can be updated and upgraded through ongoing learning and training. Take responsibility for your own development and make sure you stay ahead of the learning curve by constantly updating your professional skills and credentials. 6. Hone your communications skills Communication skills are essential to career success. Learn to give and receive constructive feedback, to persuade effectively and to solicit help and garner resources. Effective communications also entail learning to listen actively and attentively. 7. Keep the company's goals in mind Treat your company as your most important client and don't lose sight of the company's vision, mission, values and objectives in anything you do. Also bear in mind the company's policies and procedures and seek to work within them or work with the leadership teams that amend or improve them. 8. Use your performance appraisals effectively Performance appraisals are your opportunity to take on added responsibility and discuss where your career is headed and how you can propel it in the right direction by garnering the appropriate resources and support; use them appropriately. 9. Network Whether it's through joining professional associations or being active in college or high school alumni clubs or other networking forums, it is important to remain networked in the community and to continue to broaden your circle of influence and network of contacts. 10. Volunteer Represent your company in a community initiative or join a local community drive to make a difference and heighten your visibility outside of your immediate professional circle of influence. Treat others as you would like to be treated - manners, respect and generally courteous behaviour travel a long way in the workplace. 11. Never bad-mouth bosses or peers The surest way to lose the respect and trust of your boss or peers is to bad-mouth those you work with or previously worked with. Avoid office gossip and spreading negative opinions at all costs. 12. Upgrade your job Bearing in mind that responsibility is taken, seldom given, always be on the look-out for new functions and responsibilities to add to your job description. Make yourself an indispensable part of the team by showing an eagerness to grow in your job and continuously being open to new methods, ideas and initiatives that positively impact the company's bottom line.

7 13. Develop a reputation as an expert in your field Seek to become known as a true professional, a star player, someone who goes an extra mile in his/her job and who is a genuinely invaluable resource in a particular area. A reputation as an outstanding performer is your best asset in negotiating raises and promotions. Bayt.com Specialtieswill help you establish yourself as an expert in your field as you share relevant questions and answers and network with other professionals on the platform. 14. Promote yourself Make sure others in the company, especially your superiors, know of your role and your accomplishments. Publicize your achievements and don't be afraid of blowing your own horn in order to get the recognition, praise and promotions you deserve. 15. Be passionate about what you do The best way to excel is to be genuinely passionate about what you do. Enthusiasm is both visible and infectious and you will find others in the organisation as well as clients naturally gravitating towards you as your eagerness and passion for your job makes itself known. 16. Look the part The most accomplished professionals are not necessarily the best dressed but good grooming and professional attire do convey the image you want to portray and leave an important lasting first impression. 17. Work smart To get so e he e e , sta t appi g out he e ou a e ight o . Make a ui k list of hat ou’ e ee up to over the past year, including professional projects, accomplishments, and challenges. Then, take a wide-angle view – think like a journalist and ask yourself: Why does this matter? What are the trends here? Your goal is to quickly pi poi t hat’s o ki g a d hat is ’t, so ou a ake the s a test pla fo ou e t step. 18. Leave your personal problems at home No matter what is happening with the kids, the neighbours or the family dog, the workplace is only for dealing with workplace matters; leave all personal issues strictly at home. 19. Be a team player Today's workplace necessitates being a teamplayer and working well with others. Be co-operative, eager and always willing and prepared to pitch in to make a project succeed. 20. Learn to love SMART goals In order to always stay on schedule, break your work into SMART goals. SMART is an acronym for the five steps of Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time- ased goals. It’s a si ple tool to go e o d the eal of fuzz goal-setting into an actionable plan for results. Remember, if you follow these simple career tips you are not only optimizing your career, you are optimizing your life. http://www.marcandangel.com/2008/02/26/40-quick-tips-for-career-happiness-and-success/

40 Quick Tips for Career Happiness and Success WRITTEN BY MARC CHERNOFF There is no magic formula for attaining instant career happiness and success. Happiness and success in the working world is more of a strategic goal one must progressively work toward. It’s ki d of like uildi g ou d ea house. You architecturally map out a plan, research all your options, pour a solid foundation, and begin building from the ground up. There are, however, plenty of steps you can take to make your venture a bit more proactive. Here are 40 quick tips that should help push you in the right direction. 1. Understand that career happiness involves doing what you love. 2. Understand that career success is excelling at doing what you love. 3. Invest your emotions into your trade but detach your trade from a specific employer. 4. A higher salary buys temporary comfort, not prolonged happiness. 5. Be social and friendly with your boss, but do not attempt to be his or her best friend. 6. Make at least one good friend at work you can trust. 7. Follow in the footsteps of a mentor you can learn from. 8. Be the expert. Never stop perfecting your trade. 9. Always accept a challenge, especially if your superiors are watching. 10. If you are really miserable, do not be afraid to make a drastic career change. Just make sure you plan for it.

8 11. When it comes to your colleagues… Be patie t. Be tolerant. 12. Whe it o es to ou oss… Be espe tful. Go out of your way to assist him or her any chance you get. 13. You will make mistakes. Learn through each of your mistakes and never allow the fear of making one hold you back. 14. Do not stall on taking the first step in any task. The first step is always the hardest, and once taken, it sets up the momentum needed to more easily knock out the remaining steps. 15. Make your own career choices. There is no good reason to let someone else do this for you. 16. Work for an employer that provides you with the potential for future personal growth within the company. 17. Employers can have vastly different corporate culture models. Have an open mind and learn to embrace the corporate culture. If you have a solemn distaste for it, you might want to switch employers. 18. If you are ready for more responsibility, tell your boss you are ready. Also, always ask for performance feedback on your current responsibilities. 19. Never struggle with reinventing the wheel unless you have to. Most of the time adding your own personal touch on top of the successful ideas already being used by your employer is the best way to go. 20. Maintain a positive attitude even in moments of stress. It makes you appear confident and in control. Your colleagues and superiors will notice this. 21. Avoid being entrenched in foolish office gossip. 22. Get outside and take a walk at lunch time. Also, try to get in a little exercise before or after work. Exercise strengthens both the body and mind. 23. We are all born with certain strengths and talents. Leverage these against your career goals and objectives. 24. Learn to communicate effectively with your colleagues and always be honest and clear. Yes, I a do it. o No, I eed to o plete a othe task fi st e ause… 25. Always be cognizant of what people are doing around you. Be vocally grateful if they assist you and assist them when you can. Your superiors will perceive you as being a team player. 26. Smile on the job every time the opportunity permits. 27. Take full advantage of your employers 401K retirement match from day one. 28. Prioritize your objectives every week and enter them into a calendar or planner. Try to split your tasks into two atego ies: Must Do This Week a d Will Do Whe I Ca . 29. A super high salary is not the key to a successful career, but you should still feel comfortable with what you are paid. 30. Have your employer direct deposit 5% – 10% of every paycheck straight into your savings account. 31. Get enough sleep. You will give up a considerable fraction of your potential ability to successfully do your job if you are exhausted. 32. Never give up on a task. Instead, learn to readjust your approach when necessary. It is okay to take a break if you are overly frustrated. 33. Start on your most difficult tasks for the week first thing Monday morning. Once complete, the rest of your week will seem like a breeze. 34. When you are on deadline for a deliverable unplug your network cable and stay offline. This should help you avoid time sinks like aimless web browsing, instant messaging, and reading miscellaneous emails. 35. Only attend meetings if you are on schedule with the tasks that are required of you. If you are behind, kindly ask your boss if you can skip it. Just make sure the results you produce are visible. 36. Network with other people in your industry. Attend conferences. Create a LinkedIn page and maintain it. Regular professional networking will open the door to future career opportunities. 37. RTFM (Read The F***ing Manual). Whenever you start a new project at work the first thing you should do is read every piece of written material you can find on whatever you will be responsible for. 38. If it makes you happy and you can maintain productivity, listen to music while you work. Most a age s o ’t complain about it if you continue to deliver quality output. 39. Try to keep your commute time to a minimum. One of the most stressful parts of any job is the commute. If possible, find a job near your home or move near your job. 40. Set realistic, achievable career goals for yourself. Work diligently with the end in mind. I would love to see some comments with additional tips for career happiness and success if anyone has them to share.

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Success Tips - Life Four Keys to Success 1. 2. 3. 4.

Decide exactly what you want and where you want to go. Set a deadline and make a plan to get there. ... Take action on your plan; do something every day to move toward your goal. Resolve in advance that you will persist until you succeed, that you will never, ever give up. http://www.wikihow.com/Be-Successful-in-Life

Ho to Be Su essful i Life Three Parts:Achieve External SuccessAchieve Internal SuccessPut yourself in Right EnvironmentCommunity Q&A Regardless of how old you are, where you live, or what your career goals are, everybody's ultimate goal in life is to be happy and successful. Read this article to learn how to achieve success in both your external life (i.e. your circumstances) and internal life (i.e. emotional well being). Part1

Achieve External Success 1. Identify your passions. Before you can achieve success, you will have to define what success means to you. While it may take years to realize what you want to do with your life, identifying your passions, interests, and values will help you set goals and give your life a sense of meaning. Ask yourself the following questions: a. What do you want your legacy to be? b. How would you like to be remembered by others? c. How do you want to make your community a better place? d. What are your subjects of interest in your life? 2. Make a list of your goals, and what you might do to achieve them. Be sure to address both short-term and long-term goals; try to think beyond financial/career goals. a. Consider which subjects you enjoyed studying in school, and why. This can help give you an idea of what you may be best at or more interested in. 3. Live purposefully. In order to achieve your dreams and be the person you want to be, you will have to start paying attention to your actions. Ask yourself, is what I'm doing going to lead me to where I want to be in life? a. If you find yourself constantly bored, daydreaming about the future or past or counting down the minutes until the day ends, it is probably because you feel disconnected from what you're doing. Consider changing careers or majors to a field that you care about but remember that it could mean changes you are not thinking of. Does that job pay enough to support yourself? Is it something you might get bored of eventually? Do I really want to commit to that job? b. Cherish your time. Try to spend your free time doing things that you enjoy doing, rather than wasting time. For example, rather than spending your weekends watching television, spend them partaking in your hobbies or spending time with loved ones. c. Remember that the concept of "wasted time" is relative. Not everything you do has to be productive in the conventional sense, but it should be engaging and enjoyable. 4. Be educated. Education gives you the knowledge, skills, and credibility to achieve your maximum potential. In terms of financial success, statistics have shown that the more education you have (i.e. the higher degree you achieve), the more money you are likely to make. a. In 2011, the median weekly earnings for high school graduates was $638 while those with bachelor's degrees made $1053. That same year, those with masters or doctoral degrees made $1263 and $1551. b. Not all education has to be formal. Apprenticeships and long-term training programs are also positively correlated with higher incomes.

2 5. Manage your finances. Learning how to manage your money will help ensure your financial stability over time, regardless of your income. a. Keep track of your expenses. Review your bank statements often and notice where you spend your money. If you do your banking online, be sure to keep personal records as well. This will help you prevent over-spending and ensure that your bank statements are correct. b. Understand your income. When calculating your income, be sure to take into account the federal, state, and social security taxes that will be deducted from your gross pay. The resulting number is your net pay, which is what you end up taking home with you. c. Prioritize spending. Your first priority should be spending money on basic necessities like food, shelter, and clothing. Don't spend money on luxuries like expensive clothes, cars, or vacations until you have first satisfied your basic necessities. Be honest with yourself and differentiate between your basic needs and your luxuries. d. Save money. Every month, you should deposit some of your money into a savings account. Consider asking your employer to directly deposit a portion of your income into your savings account. 6. Manage your time. Putting off important tasks until the last minute can cause you unnecessary stress, and increases the likelihood of errors. Manage your time so that you have enough time to complete a task effectively. a. Use a paper or electronic planner to help keep you organized throughout the day, week, and month. b. Make a list of all the things you need to do in a given day, and check off each task as you complete it. This will help you stay organized and motivated. Part2

Achieve Internal Success 1. Enjoy the present moment. If you are constantly dwelling on the past or daydreaming about the future, you are missing out on the present moment. Remember that the past and the future are simply illusions, and that real life takes place here and now. a. Start paying attention to negative thoughts so that you can learn to silence them and enjoy the present moment. If a negative thought arises in your head, then acknowledge it, label it a negative thought, and then let it fade away. b. Get in the habit of paying attention to the small details around you. Appreciate the feeling of the sun on your skin, the sensation of your feet walking on the ground, or the artwork in the restaurant you are eating in. Noticing things like these will help you silence a rambling mind and appreciate every moment. 2. Don't compare your own life to other peoples' lives. Unfortunately, many people measure their own success by comparing it to the success of those around them. If you want to feel accomplished and happy, you will have to stop comparing your life to other peoples' lives. a. Many people have the tendency to compare the low points of their own lives with the high points of other peoples' lives. Remember that no matter how perfect somebody's life may seem, behind closed doors everybody deals with tragedy, insecurity, and other difficulties. b. Rather than comparing yourself with people who are "better off" than you, think about all of the people who are homeless, chronically ill, or living in poverty. This will help you appreciate what you have rather than feeling sorry for yourself. 3. Count your blessings. No matter how much you achieve in life, you will always feel unhappy if you constantly focus on what you don't have. Instead, devote time every day to appreciating the things you do have. Think beyond material items; appreciate your loved ones, and remember happy memories. 4. Look after your health. A healthy body supports a healthy mind. Eat a balanced diet and ensure that you aren't lacking in any necessary nutrients. Establish the cause of any problems you may experience, such as a lack of energy or a lack of concentration and deal with them by discussing with a doctor, nutritionist and related health professionals. Get plenty of exercise too but align it with what you love to do rather than what you feel you have to do but dislike. Part3

Put yourself in Right Environment 1. Environment. The environment around us has a huge impact on us on all levels of conscious(subconscious and unconscious) . This includes the place we live in, friends we have, things we read, people we see and the list goes on. Environment is contagious. Thomas A Edison said he was able to become a successful inventor because he placed himself in the company of people who were much more smarter than him and [1]then he

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was able to learn from them. We offer most of our thoughts in[2] response to the environment we are subjected to. a. Try this experiment. Put yourself in company of people who are into gambling, or anything in particular they are interested in, for sometime and then monitor your thoughts and emotions. Most likely your thoughts will be correspondent to the environment you subjected yourself to. Have you noticed that you feel serene and calm when you go to a beautiful lake or some beautiful natural environment? 2. Macro-Environment. The entities with which we spend most of our time lie in Macro environment. The place you live, the place you work, the colleagues, friends with whom you spend most of the time etc. All these are part of macro environment. Its very important that you put yourself in a macro environment which motivates you constantly to become successful. This also includes You, if you spend a lot of time with yourself(you are the environment in this case) and you have a reactive brain then most likely you will have reactive thoughts unless you change your environment. 3. Micro-Environment. These are entities with which we don't spend much time with, for example coffee shop, people you say hello to, grocery store, new people you meet at bars etc. This usually don't have a long term impact on you unless you change it into macro environment. Community Q&A Answered Questions What if you don't have peace of mind, good friends, money, nor the things which make you happy? Make an effort to seek and obtain that which you consider will help you to be fulfilled. However, realize that objects do not make you happy, so seeking money as a means of happiness can only leave you feeling hollow. Instead, try to be peaceful by giving some time to yourself to have peace in mind. Try to go for outings so that you can have a change from routine life. Try to spend your time with good people who can become friends. Try to work hard to earn good money so that you can lead the life that you think will help you be fulfilled. If you don't have, strive rather than feel deprived. Is it true that a woman can take part in the success of a man? It's true that a woman can take part in a man's success, just as it's true that she can take part in his failure. Not just a woman that a man is in a relationship with, but a man's closest friends will all influence his outcomes. For anyone who truly desires success it's crucial to have the right kind of people around. Select the right people to be around you as this will help you in life. Tips Keep yourself inspired by anything that inspires you: music, photography, fashion etc. Nothing else ignites a flame in you but a great source of inspiration. Having positive role models in your life can help keep you motivated and lead you in the right direction. Your role model may or may not be somebody you know personally. Learn about your role model's life story and try to adopt his or her work ethic. Warnings Never get jealous about others achievements, rather work hard to reach greater heights.

http://www.success.com/article/30-tips-to-take-control-of-your-life-now

Tips to Take Co trol of Your Life No

1. Identify where you are stuck in your life. Take steps toward getting unstuck, even if it means pushing well beyond your comfort zone. Action is the only remedy for fear. 2. Develop your observing ego by stepping outside yourself and seeing who you are during the day. How do you come across to others? Do you like what you see? If you don't, modify your behavior. 3. Identify your biggest strengths and make sure you use those strengths in your profession. If you do, it's likely you have found your passion. 4. Scared to speak up? Preparation and practice can help you pull off the perfect speech. Oh, and don't forget to give yourself a positive pep talk. You can do it! 5. Get a good night's sleep. Not only will eight hours keep you mentally sharp, but a full night's rest can keep your appetite in check too. Experts recommend eight hours for everyone. 6. Is the Web site for your business representing your company in the best light possible? If not, spruce it up.

4 7. Set benchmarks for the progress of your business. Are you holding yourself accountable for meeting them? You should be. 8. Write to achieve. Write down your goals and dreams to declare yourself in the game. It's like holding up an "Open for Business" sign for your life. 9. Keep a notebook with you at all times. If you wake up at 3 a.m. with a brilliant idea, write it down. A blank notebook becomes a suggestion box for your brain, opening you up to new ideas. 10. Think of a favorite memory. When your mind is on overload, recalling a great memory can relax your mind. And it just might make you smile too. 11. Don't compromise when you feel strongly about something. 12. Develop a love for learning. 13. Write a handwritten note to the people in your life you want to connect with the most. 14. Round up your friends and family. Regularly inviting others to do something fun like ice skating, shopping or meeting for coffee can improve your relationships. 15. Become a student of your chosen career. 16. Commit to your dreams. Don't be afraid or too proud to make short-term sacrifices to achieve your goals. 17. Listen to mentors. Take advice from a trusted source in your industry. 18. Set deadlines. Define a specific timeframe for your goals and take small action steps to meet them. 19. Act enthusiastic and you will be enthusiastic. 20. Visualize by beginning with the end in mind. 21. Wake up to music and not an alarm. 22. Throughout the day frequently ask yourself: Is this activity moving me forward to achieve my most important lifetime goals? 23. Limit your television viewing to a few hours per week. 24. Plan your day the day before and plan your week the week before. 25. Realize failures bring about success. Risk is all about trying, getting in the game. You can't succeed if you aren't in the game. 26. Have confidence. Decide you are confident and have a more playful, less serious attitude about life. Most successful people do. 27. Write your own mission statement. 28. Get your priorities straight. The way you get meaning into your life is to devote yourself to loving others, to your community and to creating something that gives you purpose and meaning. 29. Let yourself experience emotion. Know what love, grief and pain are. 30. Live every day like it's your last. Be prepared for the end. Ask yourself: Am I ready? Am I doing all I need to do? Am I being the person I want to be? - See more at: http://www.success.com/article/30-tips-to-take-control-of-your-life-now#sthash.wJj1SF6T.dpuf

Thi gs Su essful People Ne er Do Agai We all make mistakes but the people who thrive from their mistakes are the successful ones. Henry Cloud Ne e go a k. What does that ea ? F o o se atio s of su essful people, li i al ps hologist a d autho of Never Go Back: 10 Things You'll Never Do Again (Howard Books, June 2014), Dr. Henry Cloud has discovered e tai a ake i gs that people ha e—in life and in business—that once they have them, they never go back to the old way of doing things. And when that happens, they are never the same. In short, they got it. Yea s ago, a ad usi ess de isio of i e led to a i te esti g dis ussio ith e to , D . Cloud sa s. I had lea ed a alua le lesso the ha d a , a d he eassu ed e: The good thi g is o e ou lea that lesso , ou e e go a k. You e e do it agai . I o de ed, hat a e the ke a ake i gs that su essful people go through that forever change how they do things, which propel them to succeed in business, relationships, and life? I began to study these awakenings, esea hi g the o e the ea s. Although life and business have many lessons to teach us, D . Cloud o se ed doo a s of lea i g that high performers go through, never to return again. “u essful people e e agai …

5 . ‘etur to hat has t orked. Whether a job, or a broken relationship that was ended for a good reason, we should never go back to the same thing, expecting different results, without something being different. 2. Do anything that requires them to be someone they are not. I e e thi g e do, e ha e to ask ou sel es, Wh a I doi g this? A I suited fo it? Does it fit e? Is it sustai a le? If the a s e is o to a of these uestio s, ou ette ha e a e good easo to p o eed. 3. Try to change another person. When you realize that you cannot force someone into doing something, you give him or her freedom and allow them to experience the consequences. In doing so, you find your own freedom as well. 4. Believe they can please everyone. Once you get that it truly is impossible to please everyone, you begin to live purposefully, trying to please the right people. 5. Choose short-term comfort over long-term benefit. Once successful people know they want something that requires a painful, time-limited step, they do not mind the painful step because it gets them to a long-term benefit. Living out this principle is one of the most fundamental differences between successful and unsuccessful people, both personally and professionally. 6. Trust someone or something that appears flawless. It s atu al fo us to e d a to thi gs a d people that appea "i edi le." We lo e e ellence and should always be looking for it. We should pursue people who are great at what they do, employees who are high performers, dates who are exceptional people, friends who have stellar character, and companies that excel. But when someone or something looks too good to be true, he, she, or it is. The world is imperfect. Period. No one and no thing is without flaw, and if they appear that way, hit pause. 7. Take their eyes off the big picture. We function better emotionally and perform better in our lives when we can see the big picture. For successful people, no one event is ever the whole story. Winners remember that – each and every day. 8. Neglect to do due diligence. No matter how good something looks on the outside, it is only by taking a deeper, diligent, and honest look that we will find out what we truly need to know: the reality that we owe ourselves. 9. Fail to ask why they are where they find themselves. One of the biggest differences between successful people and others is that in love and in life, in relationships and in business, successful people always ask themselves, what part am I playing in this situation? Said another way, they do not see themselves only as victims, even when they are. 10. Forget that their inner life determines their outer success. The good life sometimes has little to do with outside circumstances. We are happy and fulfilled mostly by who we are on the inside. Research validates that. And our internal lives largely contribute to producing many of our external circumstances. And, the converse is true: people who are still trying to find success in various areas of life can almost always point to one or more of these patterns as a reason they are repeating the same mistakes. E e o e akes istakes…e e the ost su essful people out there. But, what achievers do better than others is recognize the patterns that are causing those mistakes and never repeat them again. In short, they learn from pain— their own and the pain of others. A good thing to remember is this: pain is unavoidable, but repeating the same pain twice, when we could choose to lea a d do so ethi g diffe e t, is e tai l a oida le. I like to sa , e do t eed e a s to fail….the old o es a e o ki g just fi e! Ou task, i usi ess a d i life, is to observe what they are, and never go back to doing them again. - See more at: http://www.success.com/article/10-things-successful-people-never-do-again#sthash.rmkLs49F.dpuf

‘oh : A Good Life Co tai s These Esse tials

The values that make up the foundation of a life well lived—a d, o su p ise, o e is t o e of the Jim Rohn The ultimate expression of life is not a paycheck. The ultimate expression of life is not a Mercedes. The ultimate expression of life is not a million dollars or a bank account or a home. The ultimate expression of life is living a good life. Bonus: The essential list of Jim Rohn books

6 Here's what we must ask constantly, "What, for me, would be a good life?" And you have to keep going over and over the list—a list including areas such as spirituality, economics, health, relationships and recreation. So, what would constitute a good life? Jim Rohn has a short list: 1. Productivity. You won't be happy if you don't produce. The game of life is not rest. Yes, we must rest, but only long enough to gather strength to get back to productivity. What's the reason for the seasons and the seeds, the soil and the sunshine, the rain and the miracle of life? It's to see what you can do with it—to try your hand to see what you can do. 2. Good friends. Friendship is probably the greatest support system in the world, so don't deny yourself the time to develop it. Nothing can match it. It's extraordinary in its benefit. Friends are those wonderful people who know all about you and still like you. I lost one of my dearest friends when he was 53—heart attack. As one of my very special friends, I used to say that if I was stuck in a foreign jail somewhere accused unduly, and, if they would allow me one phone call, I would call David. Why? He would come and get me. That's a real friend—somebody who would come and get you. And we've all got casual friends, friends who, if you called them, they would say, "Hey, if you get back, call me and we'll have a party." You e got to ha e oth eal f ie ds a d asual f ie ds. 3. Your culture. Language, music, ceremonies, traditions, dress. All of that is so vitally important that you must keep it alive. The uniqueness of all of us, when blended together, brings vitality, energy, power, influence, and rightness to the world. 4. Spirituality. It helps to form the foundation of the family that builds the nation. And make sure you study, practice and teach—don't be careless about the spiritual part of your nature because it's what makes us who we are, different from dogs, cats, birds and mice. 5. Don't miss anything. My parents taught me not to miss anything, not the game, the performance, the movie, the dance. Just before my father died at 93, if you were to call him at 10:30 or 11 at night, he wouldn't be home. He was at the rodeo, he was watching the kids play softball, he was listening to the concert, he was at church—he was somewhere every night. Go to everything you possibly can. Buy a ticket to everything you possibly can. Go see everything and experience all you possibly can. Live a vital life. If you live well, you will earn well. If you live well, it will show in your face; it will show in the texture of your voice. There will be something unique and magical about you if you live well. It will infuse not only your personal life but also your business life. And it will give you a vitality nothing else can give. 6. Your family and the inner circle. Invest in them, and they'll invest in you. Inspire them, and they'll inspire you. Take care of the details with your inner circle. When my father was still alive, I used to call him when I traveled. He'd have breakfast most every morning with the farmers at a little place called The Decoy Inn out in the country where we lived in Southwest Idaho. When I was in Israel, I'd have to get up in the middle of the night, but I'd call Papa. I'd say, "Papa, I'm in Israel." He'd say, "Israel! Son, how are things in Israel?" He'd talk real loud so everybody could hear. I'd say, "Papa, last night they gave me a reception on the rooftop underneath the stars overlooking the Mediterranean." He'd say, "Son, a reception on the rooftop underneath the stars overlooking the Mediterranean?" Now everybody knew the story. And giving my father that special day only took five or 10 minutes. If a father walks out of the house and he can still feel his daughter's kiss on his face all day, he's a powerful man. If a husband walks out of the house and he can still feel the imprint of his wife's arms around his body, he's invincible all day. It's the special stuff with your inner circle that makes you strong and powerful and influential. So don't miss that opportunity. The prophet said, "There are many virtues and values, but here's the greatest: one person caring for another." There is no greater value than love. So make sure in your busy day to remember the true purpose and the reasons you do what you do. May you truly live the kind of life that will bring the fruit and rewards that you desire. Find the very best of Jim Rohn's life philosophies—foundational principles that anyone can learn to achieve success in both business and in life—in his influential book Leading an Inspired Life. - See more at: http://www.success.com/article/rohn-a-good-life-contains-these-6-essentials#sthash.Nb2unfuY.dpuf

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‘oh : Perso alit Traits of a Great Leader The qualities of skillful leadership Jim Rohn If you want to be a leader who attracts quality people, the key is to become a person of quality yourself. Leadership is the ability to attract someone to the gifts, skills and opportunities you offer as an owner, as a manager, as a parent. Jim Rohn calls leadership the great challenge of life. Must Read: 15 Traits of a Terrible Leader What s i po ta t i leade ship is efi i g ou skills. All g eat leade s keep o ki g o the sel es u til the e o e effe ti e. He e s ho : 1. Learn to be strong but not impolite. It is an extra step you must take to become a powerful, capable leader with a wide range of reach. Some people mistake rudeness for strength. It's not even a good substitute. 2. Learn to be kind but not weak. We must not mistake weakness for kindness. Kindness isn't weak. Kindness is a certain type of strength. We must be kind enough to tell someone the truth. We must be kind enough and considerate enough to lay it on the line. We must be kind enough to tell it like it is and not deal in delusion. 3. Learn to be bold but not a bully. It takes boldness to win the day. To build your influence, you've got to walk in front of your group. You've got to be willing to take the first arrow, tackle the first problem, discover the first sign of trouble. Like the farmer, if you want any rewards at harvest time, you have got to be bold and face the weeds and the rain and the bugs straight on. You've got to seize the moment. 4. Learn to be humble but not timid. You can't get to the high life by being timid. Some people mistake timidity for humility. But humility is a virtue; timidity is a disease. It's an affliction. It can be cured, but it is a problem. Humility is almost a God-like word—a sense of awe, a sense of wonder, an awareness of the human soul and spirit, an understanding that there is something unique about the human drama versus the rest of life. Humility is a grasp of the distance between us and the stars, yet having the feeling that we're part of the stars. 5. Learn to be proud but not arrogant. It takes pride to build your ambitions. It takes pride in your community. It takes pride in a cause, in accomplishment. But the key to becoming a good leader is to be proud without being arrogant. Do you know the worst kind of arrogance? Arrogance from ignorance. It's intolerable. If someone is smart and arrogant, we can tolerate that. But if someone is ignorant and arrogant, that's just too much to take. 6. Learn to develop humor without folly. In leadership, we learn that it's OK to be witty but not silly; fun but not foolish. 7. Learn to deal in realities. Deal in truth. Save yourself the agony of delusion. Just accept life as it is—the whole drama of life. It's fascinating. Life is unique. Leadership is unique. The skills that work well for one leader may not work at all for another. However, the fundamental skills of leadership can be adopted to work well for just about everyone: at work, in the community and at home. Read More: 1. Rohn: 4 Tips for Setting Powerful Goals 2. Rohn: 3 Money Habits That Separate the Rich From the Poor 3. Rohn: A Good Life Contains These 6 Essentials - See more at: http://www.success.com/article/rohn-7-personality-traits-of-a-great-leader#sthash.LuRhULbA.dpuf

Ho to Thi k Your Wa to a Better Life Tony Jeary I want to share with you a very simple mindset hack that you can use right now to change direction in your life. Related: It Only Takes 6 Steps to Change Your Life What ou e a out to ead is si ple. That s h it orks. “o, if ou e illi g to ast aside o e o pli ated solutio s a d i stead go st aight fo esults, the keep eadi g. The Inherent Dangers of Success If ou e e e ee o a sail oat i the iddle of the o ea , the ou e ealized just ho s all a d insignificant a bunch of wood and canvas is against the mighty winds of the ocean.

8 A d et it s ot o l possi le ut o o pla e to lea e the sho e i a sail oat a d etu u ha ed. How is this possible? The answer is simple: When the captain of the sailboat knows precisely where he wants to go, those mighty and dangerous winds become tools in his hands for moving him to his destination. Paint Your Perfect Picture Most people cannot answer this question: What does ou pe fe t da look like? In other words, they are in a sailboat without a plan. Life is like the mighty wind. Powerful, sometimes dangerous and even unpredictable. The people who have a specific plan are able to harness life and use it to propel them toward their goals. Those who cannot become victim to its push and pull. Plan Your Destination Strategically It takes more than just desire to plan a boating trip. You need maps, knowledge of the water, familiarity with your sailboat and (if you can get it) an experienced captain. The surefire way to sink a ship is to set sail without any of those things. Sounds crazy right? It is, and yet many who pursue success do exactly that. They make a plan but refuse to use the roadmaps and blueprints available to them. They have no knowledge or experience that they can rely on, and they often refuse to call on the help of more experienced individuals and mentors. You a ou te a t this, if ou e s a t a d use ou head. Learn to be strategic about your plan. Are you ready to set sail on your success adventure? - See more at: http://www.success.com/blog/how-to-think-your-way-to-a-better-life#sthash.aZeA0kWi.dpuf

https://www.virgin.com/richard-branson/my-illustrated-top-10-tips-for-success

My illustrated top 10 tips for success | Virgin Delighted to see so many people sharing my top 10 tips article on the BBC. One of the most rewarding parts of success is being able to share what you have learned to try to help others. Like many people, I learn better through experience than theory. Also, if presented with huge reams of text, I tend to lose interest quite quickly. Lots of us are more visual learners, so I wanted to expand my 10 tips with some imagery to illustrate the points. Hope you enjoy them, and let me know your own top tips for success. 1. Follow your dreams and just do it You will live a much better life if you just do it and pursue your passions. Those people who spend their time working on things they love are usually the ones enjoying life the most. They are also the ones who dared to take a risk and chase their dreams. 2. Make a positive difference and do some good If you aren't making a positive difference to other people's lives, then you shouldn't be in business. Companies have a responsibility to make a difference in the world, for their staff, their customers - everyone. 3. Believe in your ideas and be the best Belief in yourself and belief in your business ideas can make all the difference between success and failure. If you aren't proud of your idea and believe in your plans, why should anybody else? 4. Have fun and look after your team Fun is one of the most important - and underrated - ingredients in any successful venture. If you're not having fun, then it's probably time to call it quits and try something else. If your staff are having fun and genuinely care about other people, they will enjoy their work more and do a better job. Find people who look for the best in others, praise rather than criticise, and love what they do. . Do t gi e up On every adventure I have been on - whether setting up a business, flying around the world in a balloon or racing across oceans in a boat - there have been moments when the easy thing to do would be to give up. By simply not giving up, brushing yourself down and trying again, you'll be amazed what you can achieve.

9 6. Make lots of lists and keep setting yourself new challenges If you don't write down your ideas, they could be gone by the morning. Write down lists to keep track of your goals, and you'll be amazed what challenges you overcome. 7. Spend time with your family and learn to delegate The art of delegation is one of the key skills any entrepreneur can master. If you find people who can take on tasks you aren't good at, it frees you up to plan for the future. It also gives you time to spend with your family, which is the most important thing of all. 8. Try turning off the TV and get out there and do things Rather than sitting in front of a screen all your life, switch off the TV or the computer and go out into the world. There's so many fascinating people to meet, exciting adventures to embark upon and rewarding challenges to take on that there's no time to lose. 9. When people say bad things about you, just prove them wrong Some people will react to success by trying to hang onto your coat tails. The best thing you can do is to not only ignore them, but to prove them wrong in every single way. We've had a particular writer claiming Virgin Galactic is a white elephant - we'll prove them wrong when we go to space later this year. 10. Do what you love and have a sofa in the kitchen As long as you are surrounded by the people you love, doing what you love, it really doesn't matter where you are. When we are on Necker we tend to spend most of our time in the kitchen. If you've got a bedroom too, and a partner that you love, you really don't need much else. What are your top tips for success? For the chance to pitch your own ideas, enter this year's Pitch 2 Rich competition. http://www.briantracy.com/blog/personal-success/personal-success-keys-to-success-change-your-life/

Life Cha gi g Tips For Perso al Su ess

Personal Success change your life, keys to success, Personal Success Personal success is achievable for anyone who practices the four keys to success and I believe that you will change your life for the better. Everyone wants personal success and to learn the keys to success. Everyone wants to have a happy, healthy life, do meaningful work, and achieve financial independence. Everyone wants to make a difference in the world, to be significant, to have a positive impact on those around him or her. Everyone wants to do something wonderful with his or her life. Over and over, I have found that the keys to success are a single piece of information, a single idea at the right time, in the right situation, and change your life. I have also learned that the great truths are simple. One Common Goal Lu kil fo ost of us, pe so al su ess is ot a atte of a kg ou d, i tellige e, o ati e a ilit . It s ot ou family, friends, or contacts who enable us to do extraordinary things. Instead, the keys to success are our ability to get the very best out of ourselves under almost all conditions and circumstances. It is your ability to adapt and change your life. You have within you, right now, deep reserves of potential and ability that, if properly harnessed and channeled, will enable you to accomplish extraordinary things with your life. Get my FREE report Roots of Resilience and develop your ability to overcome difficulties, adversities, obstacles and setbacks. Four Keys To Success The great keys to success to change your life have always been the same. 1. Decide exactly what you want and where you want to go. 2. Set a deadline and make a plan to get there. (Remember, a goal is just a dream with a deadline.) 3. Take action on your plan; do something everyday to move toward your goal. 4. Resolve in advance that you will persist until you succeed, that you will never, ever give up. This formula is your key to success and has worked for almost everyone who has ever tried it. It will require the very most you can give and the best qualities you can develop. In developing and following these keys topersonal success, you will evolve and grow to become an extraordinary person.

10 Learn From The Experts To Change Your Life You will not live long enough to figure it all out for yourself. And what a waste it would be to try, when you can learn f o othe s ho ha e go e efo e. Be F a kli o e said, Me a eithe u thei isdo o the an borrow it f o othe s. The g eat t aged is that ost e p efe to u it, to pa full p i e i te s of ti e a d t easu e. Your greatest goal in life and in personal success should be to acquire as many of them as possible and then use them to help you do the things you want to do and become the person you want to become. Program Yourself For Personal Success You will change your life by achieving just one important goal, you create a pattern, a template for personal success in your subconscious mind. You will change your life and be automatically directed, and driven toward repeating that success in other things that you attempt. By overcoming adversity and achieving one great goal in any area, you will program yourself for success in other areas as well. In other words, you learn to succeed by succeeding. The more you achieve, the more you can achieve. Each of the keys to success, especially the first one, builds your confidence and belief that you will be successful next time and achieve ultimate personal success. Unlimited Potential The only real limits on what you can do, have, or be are self-imposed. Once you make a clear, unequivocal decision to change your life by casting off all your mental limitations and throw your whole heart into the accomplishment of so e g eat goal, ou ulti ate pe so al su ess is i tuall gua a teed, as lo g as ou do t stop. If you enjoyed reading this and would like to learn more, read my true story, Many Miles to Go. In it, I explore an important truth that has led me to the kind of success I enjoy today and I reveal my proven method for creating, nurturing and maintaining the mindset you need to achieve anything you want to! This book will change your life! http://happyproject.in/7-tips-success/

TIPS ON HOW TO BE SUCCESSFUL AND EFFECTIVE IN LIFE Sandip Roy

YOUR 7 STEPS SUCCESS MASTERPLAN [This is a guest-post by Stephanie Norman, a professional writer from Sydney] Is the e so eo e ho does t a t to e a o e su essful a d effe ti e pe so ? Well, the e a e p o a l so e people who would love spending their days watching TV shows, eating, sleeping, and doing nothing useful. Most of us do t d ea a out e o i g su h pe so s. We a t to a hie e g eat goals a d e a e a ple fo the generations to come. Are you doing anything to realize those goals? What precise actions did you undertake today? Every moment of your life is important, so you need to make an effort to use it effectively. The following 7 tips will show you how. 1. START WITH SELF-EVALUATION Before you can make precise steps towards becoming a more successful and effective individual, you need to evaluate your current capacity and situation. Then, you need to compare that state to the goals you want to achieve. How much space is there between the person you are and the individual you want to become? O e of the fi st ha ges ou should ake is i the a ou use ou ti e. That s he e the e aluatio egi s. Take otes a d t a k ou a ti ities th oughout the da . Afte fe da s, ou ll oti e a patte . You ll p o a l e og ize the activities that are consuming your time and efficiency. There is a name for them: distractions. You need to become aware of these weaknesses and do everything to avoid them. Whe ou e aluate ou apa it p ope l , ou ll k o ho u h o k ou a e a le to ha dle. Thus, ou ll e a le to organize the activities throughout the day and achieve maximum result with minimum effort. 2. PLAN EVERY MOMENT The goal of effi ie does t lea e ou ith the lu u of lost ti e. You eed to pla ou da i advance and take all steps you need to take in order to achieve a goal on time. Write the to-do list. You need a reminder of the things ou pla , so ou o t e o fo ta le a out lea i g a pa ti ula task out of the list. You can write the daily tasks on paper or in your phone/tablet; just keep them in a place that will be easily accessible throughout the day. You could use Evernote for keeping your notes. 3. LEARN HOW TO DELEGATE! It does t atte ho ell ou o ga ize ou ti e; so eti es ou o t e a le to take the e ti e o kload o ou own. When you want to be more efficient, you have to perform perfectly on each and every task you have. Quantity prevents you from delivering quality, so sometimes you have no other choice: you have to delegate part of your work to a team or to someone you hire.

11 Fo e a ple, let s sa ou a t to p o ote ou usi ess o li e, ut ou a t i est e ough ti e i iti g profound blog posts. There are plenty of professional writers you can hire online. They can help you write the content through a collaborative process, but they can also complete the piece according to your instructions. The ai thi g to keep i i d is that ou ll e o e o e effi ie t he you delegate the work to someone who can complete it better than you. 4. MANAGE YOUR TIME Wasting your energy on multiple tasks is not the perfect way of becoming more effective. Focus is the key to success. Make sure to know your priorities and act in accordance with them. Have you heard of the Pareto principle (also known as the 80-20 rule)? Italian economist Vilfredo Pareto realized that 80% of the effects came from 20% of the causes. How is this rule applied in your efficiency? 80% of the results you achieve will come from 20% of your efforts. Those % a e ou p io ities. Whe ou fo us ost of ou e e g o the , ou ll a hie e the ulti ate le el of effectiveness. 5. YES IS NOT ALWAYS THE RIGHT ANSWER People have a deep need to be liked by others. The ego is the sole cause of such tendency. You care about the way people pe ei e ou, so ou ight a ept o e o k tha ou e apa le of a hie i g just e ause ou do t a t to ui the i p essio . This eha io leads to a huge p o le : ou o t e able to finish all tasks on time, and you o t e a le to a hie e the ualit ou e e pe ted to deli e . Think twice before accepting a tricky offer. You have free will and the right to choose. Value your time and have your priorities in mind before you accept to help others without improving your own efficiency. Think twice before accepting a tricky offer. You have free will and the right to choose.CLICK TO TWEET 6. CLEAN THE WORKING SPACE! You o ki g spa e is a o plete ess? The it s o o de h ou e o sta tl u de st ess mess = stress; they even rhyme! . You a t e effe ti e he ou ha e to fi d ou a th ough the lutte a ou d ou. Take a da to bring everything back to order. Organize your documents and put every piece of paper in its place. Once you achieve order, it will be easy for you to maintain it. You get si k the e e thought of lea i g? That does t ea ou a egle t the eed fo o de . You a hi e a cleaning service that can do the hard work for you. 7. DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT! You can surely achieve notable success if you stick with a well-established routine. However, routine has its way of u de i i g ou effi ie . If ou do t do a thi g diffe e t, ou ll soo get o ed of ou dail a ti ities; o atte ho o itted ou a e to the goals ou e set. T so ethi g new! Start exercising, visit new places, try exotic meals, and surpass your insecurities. Meet new people and learn from them! Whe ou e pe ie e life i its full ess, ou ll e o e apa le tha e e to a o plish the ig goals o ou list. Evaluate, Plan, Delegate, Achieve! That s Your Way to Great Success! Evaluate, Plan, Delegate, Achieve! That’s Your Way to Great Success!CLICK TO TWEET FINAL WORDS There are periods in your life when you would rather remain passive. This state may be caused by a great disappointment, but it may also be a result of boredom. Whatever the case is, you have to get out of it. Think about the goals you had and do your best to actualize them! Develop a good strategy and create daily to-do lists that enable you to achieve the big goals step-by-step. Every si gle o e t is i po ta t, so ou ette lea ho to a age ou ti e if ou do t a t to aste ou pote tial as a human being. ——– Author Bio: Stephanie Norman is a contributing blogger and professional writer with 4 years of experience from Sydney. She writes business, creative, and academic content as a freelancer for Australian Writings, a company that offers assignment help for students. Self-development, tourism, and reading thought-provoking books are the favorite things for her to do in free time. You can follow her at Facebook and Google+. √ A Courteous Call: If You Enjoyed this, Please Share it on Facebook or Twitter or LinkedIn below.

12 http://www.lifehack.org/articles/productivity/20-things-smart-people-dont.html

Thi gs S art People Do t Do

PRODUCTIVITYBY DJORDJE TODOROVIC The first question that merits an answer is what makes an individual smart. Is it the abundance of facts that one can memorize? Is it the above average, or exceptional, IQ? Perhaps, it is the wisdom to make a sound decision at the crucial moment, or knowing how to make the best out of the bad situation. Maybe it is the ability to take as many aspects as possible into consideration before deciding on the future course of action. It is probably a good combination of all the previously mentioned traits. Of ou se, if so eo e is s a t a d su essful, it is ha d to pi poi t hat e a tl is espo si le fo that pe so s su ess a d ell ei g. T uth e told, it is fa easie to oti e hat these s a t people do t do, a d a rive to a conclusion as to what is to be avoided. As long as we circumvent these negative things, the rest will come naturally. . The do t o erlook the possi ilit to sa e o e Prudence is a virtue, not to be mistaken with greed or stinginess. Being able to handle your finances and save, by avoiding unnecessary expenses, is an admirable quality. In fact, it is surprising how many small details there are, warranting closer scrutiny. These seemingly meaningless expenses can be easily avoided, and the amount of money you can save can amount to something rather significant. For starters, buying a tap filter can reduce the money spent on bottled water. Opting to refill a printer cartridge, rather than buying a new one is another judicious investment. Replacing light bulbs inside your home with those that conserve energy, is yet another wise choice. Utilizing apps to reduce credit card processing fees, or choosing a big bank as your provider, instead of your local town bank, is also a good decision. The internet has an unfathomable amount of quality content, both educational and entertaining. Paying for a cable or magazine subscription is undeniably meaningless. Almost anything you are after can be found online, at cheaper price, either as a streaming service, or as an online news article. The point is, learn how to fully realize the things you are already paying for or have at your disposal – that s hat being smart is all about. . The do t hea il rel o others There is nothing wrong with having friends, family members or coworkers you can trust and rely on. Everyone should have someone they can count on when things go south. Heavily relying on someone, however, only portrays you as powerless. As a smart individual, you should never indulge such a commodity. You can have a brilliant mind, outstanding intelligence, etc. but if you do not put those traits to good use, then you will only come off as incompetent. When you are in need of assistance, pay close attention, see if your problem was truly difficult. In a great number of cases, it is our fear and insecurity that prevent us from acting. The e is al a s a thought What if I o l ake thi gs o se? The thought is perfectly justified. The unwillingness to o e o e su h a fea o the othe ha d, is t. . The do t a t irrespo si l Do ot istake this state e t as “ a t people do t ha e fu o “ a t people a e o i g. You a ha e fu , ou can have a drink, or have a good laugh. Irresponsibility does not equal uninteresting, it only means you like to have an organized lifestyle. Superior organization leads to greater efficiency, whether you are a student, an employee, a business owner, an artist, or a celebrity. We all have certain responsibilities, and they are not always imposed by someone else. Putting them off for no valid reason is simply packing to travel into a more stressful future. Almost everyone experiences how being irresponsible tends to backfire, but smart people simply practice what they learn from such inconveniences. . The do t feel defeated just e ause the eed to ree aluate their o i tio s Our environment, our parents, our education and our past are all responsible for forging our convictions and our pe eptio of the o ld. It leads to a eatio of hat is efe ed to as u elt hi h oughl t a slates as selfe te ed o ld . Umwelt is more connected to how we create the image of the world surrounding us by using our sense, but it can be extended to our point of view on philosophical matters. The convictions we acquire throughout life are not wrong per se, but are very likely to be proven incompatible when exposed to an entirely new experience or more difficult questions that need answering. Also, if you move out and change the environment you are likely to witness different patterns of behavior, simply because education, or lack of education in some areas, resulted in the blooming of other other human qualities. Sooner or later, our convictions are challenged and sometimes they will triumph, sometimes they will be trumped. Smart people constantly challenge their convictions; they do not discard them. They reshape them, and they allow

13 the to g o p opo tio all ith thei e e pe ie e. Do t iss out o the oppo tu it to oade ou i d-set, you are not defeated if you gained something valuable. . The do t d ell o their errors To clarify, this refers to companies that manufactured a bad product, or movie directors who made bad movies, etc. It is ot u o o to o e up ith a idea fo so ethi g that appea s like a t ue aste o k fo us, ut o e it s realized, the general public may not be that impressed. It can feel humiliating and really unpleasant, however it happens, whether we like it or not. When you are making something intended to be appealing to the masses, and in the end fail, start over again from scratch. If you want to i p ess, liste to ou audie e, do t t to pat h up the p odu t, o ake se uels, i a attempt to prove your vision was brilliant. This kind of behavior will only cost you your credibility, and even when you manage to come up with something good, people ight ot e e othe to gi e it a t . It o t ake ou eithe eak o foolish, if ou k o he to give up. It will only give you more time to work on your comeback. . The do t per it their past to hold the a k The past cannot be erased, and it does not come back to haunt us, it simply never leaves. We need to learn how to cope with it, and not allow it to interfere with our future achievements. If there is nothing useful to be recovered from the past experience, simply close those doors and let it go. Past experiences shape who we are today, and our previous struggles can build a strong character, but people tend to use their past to justify their mistakes or behaviour. Perhaps we use these excuses to gain understanding from others, or to make it easier to forgive ourselves. Still, if you acknowledge your flaws but refuse to do something about them just because you have an excuse, then ou ha e hose a eas a out, a d that s ot hat s a t people do. . The do t rel o good lu k to sol e their problems Hope fo the est ut e p epa ed fo the o st. A good uote to e guided he ou i est ou ti e a d efforts into something. Hope for the best possible scenario is what motivates us, whereas preparing for the worst prevents us from falling apart. On the other hand, simply hoping for the things to work themselves out is no different from being lazy. Luck should only take credit for a fragment of your success, considering that relying on it too frequently will only suffocate your ambition. Besides, smart people would never permit luck to take glory for all their hard work. When you pour your heart and soul i to a hie i g ou goal, it ould e disappoi ti g to gi e good fo tu e the title of ajo o t i uto . . The do t egle t i portant aspects of their business One of the key factors responsible for success is attention to details or just paying good attention in general. When one is trying to be a smart business owner, he or she is generally governed by the idea that with a quality product, success is guaranteed. The logic is not entirely flawless, since even if you can offer a top quality product at a better price than your competition, you are still a far cry from a lucrative business. The absolute necessity for a successful selling period is credibility, meaning you will need to have a good advertising tactic. This implies striving towards omnipresence and professional appearance, which brings us to the most efficient tool for spreading this kind of brand awareness, and that is your website. The impact of the website should never be underestimated; people will judge you as a professional based on your website design, its responsiveness, authority and its content. There are numerous people who offer an amazing type of service or products, in person, but simply look like amateurs online. Start off by finding a good web hosting service, to ensure your sites responsiveness, proceed with quality design, and finally, eloquently describe your product or service. Clearly, this is a single example of an important aspect, there are others as well. like providing a good customer service and creating efficient incentive plans etc. But the point is never to push in one direction. Always work on numerous fronts. . The do t hesitate to lear fro their istakes Mistakes are inevitable. Sooner or later something goes wrong, and an unaccounted for variable emerges, and places a grave dent in our previously well-laid s he es. You a t al a s ha e e e thi g u de ou o t ol, a d e do ot have the degree of awareness necessary to view every possible angle. Mistakes are there to remind us of our flaws, and force us to mitigate the impact they have on our lives. Honestly, mistakes can teach us a lot about our lives, and ourselves, but only if we let them.

14 Learning from your mistakes means finding what is worth salvaging from your unfortunate experience, realizing what went wrong and finding a way to avert it in the future. Smart people use this input to work on themselves, and change the things they have the power to change. Arrogant people look for excuses, and choose to blindly believe in their judgement without any retrospect. Not only does this kind of behaviour hinder your future success, it also drives people, and allies, away from you. . The do t gi e up o their ideas just e ause other people do t agree ith the I know that it was stated how knowing when to give up and start anew is a good thing, and how being too stubborn or pushy will ultimately yield bad results. Well, a wise person knows when he or she should push the envelope and stand firm when the situation takes a turn for the worst. There is a difference between when someone gives your idea a chance and did not like it in the end and someone not giving your idea a chance at all. We are all entitled to constructive feedback on why our ideas or products are not satisfactory. If someone wants to discard our efforts based on a hunch, do not let them. Fight for your chance to shine, or try finding someone else who will hear you out and appreciate your idea. There is always a possibility that someone is intimidated by your expertise; thus that person wants to hinder your development. If you want to publish or launch something, look for more than one opinion. Even if the first one is flattering, look for more. Constructive criticism can be used as a precious insight for the future. . The do t ake stro g re arks that a ake the look eak i the future A tio s speak loude tha o ds. Do t feel o e o fide t a d use words of grandeur to describe your future actions. It only makes you look like an attention seeker, who will inevitably lose his or her credibility. C edi ilit is of the ut ost i po ta e fo o e s futu e a d ell ei g, a d e all k o ho i Bo ho ied olf the loss of credibility had a strong impact on the outcome of the situation. If you want to be taken seriously and to e espe ted, do t talk ig ithout a ea s to a k it up. “i pl let ou ha d o k tell ou tale. . The do t lose the opportunity to broaden their experience This is losel o e ted to the p e iousl e tio ed o i tio s, like F ied i h Nietzs he said, The e a e o ete al fa ts, as the e a e o a solute t uths. You a e e e o e a o plete ei g, a d ou should ever set such goals for yourself. However, making ongoing endeavors towards progression in various areas is indeed what a smart person would do. Science constantly expands our understanding of the world; it constantly tests theories and comes up with new ones. Even old or proven findings are never left alone, they are re-examined, redefined, and updated. They are constantly after progress, investigating what is most likely the truth, not what they want to believe the truth is. It is a good way to expand your database. After all, scientist are usually those who have the qualities, or are perceived to have qualities, of smart people. The majority of smart celebrities were and are scientists. . The do t k o ho to a k off fro a good ause Much like with the good idea, wise people do not back off from a cause worth fighting for. Revolutions were led and achieved thanks to these individuals, and luckily, our society is still flawed and can provide us with many causes worth fighting for. We are often criticized by our parents, superiors, or teachers about our tastes, our interests and our hobbies. Honestly, they can be right from time to time, but throughout the course history, a fix has emerged. Older generations tend to scold things they do not fully understand, and are too self-absorbed to even give them a chance. I agi e just ho a a t fo s, i te s of usi , ooks, a d fil ge es ould ot e he e toda if people did t regard them as good ideas. Today, video games are struggling with the same issue. They are held responsible for violent and troublesome behavior in youth, and people do not consider them a medium capable of delivering deeper moral values. . The do t aste the pote tials of their gadgets Lacking knowledge related to a certain field, or lacking the necessary skill to accomplish a particular task, does not automatically make someone incompetent. Smart people have a good way of overcoming these obstacles; they can find solutions to compensate for their shortcomings. Using your gadgets to their full extent can prove to be rather beneficial in a variety of scenarios. Obviously, smartphones and tablets have internet connection and access to Google, thus all you need to do is know how to utilize these browsers efficiently. Almost anything you want to know has a recorded or a written tutorial online, meaning as long as you are connected to the World Wide Web, you will have the means to solve tricky problems.

15 App stores have an applications galore, and a great number of them are really remarkable. Sure, there are those which are utter nonsense, but every smartphone and tablet device should have a few useful apps installed. For example, you should have apps that help you with your data management, making your job significantly easier, in terms of organization. Apps that can help you navigate when you are on unfamiliar terrain, thus boosting your level of security. Apps that can help you find good restaurants while in a foreign country, like Yelp. Additionally, language boundaries are significantly mitigated by use of translating apps, and even though they are not one hundred percent accurate, they can still aid you a great deal. . The do t o eresti ate their a ilities “hell s F a ke stei a d Goethe s Faust tell a o de ful autio a tale a out ho e e the ightest a o g us a suffer a tragic downfall, simply because they overreached past their limitations. Ambition and hard work are healthy and nothing to be ashamed of, but without moderation, these qualities can be dangerous. Primarily, you are likely to exhaust yourself continually, which can be indeed stressful and it can have a negative impact on your health. The insatiable desire for advancement in a particular field can cloud your perspective, and make you lose grip on other important aspects of life. Ultimately, we can end up being alienated from our peers, and it can be sad to have no one you can share your success with. “e o dl , ou i d has its li its too, a d e ofte a ti el thi ki g a out the p o le does t get us a he e. We need to know when we are stuck and to take a break. In other words, we need to allow our subconscious processes to grab the reins, and see what happens. You d e su p ised just how frequently certain answers simply dawn on you. Moreover, even when the answers appea o ious, it is ette to e a i e the agai i the o i g, pe haps the o t see as ideal as the did the day before. . The do t ake redu da t e e ies Regardless of your status, whether you are a rising star entrepreneur, or an employee in a small firm, you are likely to encounter enemies, nemeses, competition, whatever you want to label particular individuals. These people are not malefic in nature. Your convictions, ideologies or points of view are only incompatible. The problem is that you can never know what they may do if they feel provoked, and they are probably perceiving you in the same manner, which results in unnerving animosity. It is important to define a difference between enemies created by circumstances, and enemies created by our actions. We have already established how our competition can induce minor paranoia, so it is better not to incite any redundant conflicts. When you socialize with stubborn and hot headed individuals, rest assured that you are not the only one who notices their traits. Trying to prove a point and creating an argument with these people will get you nowhere. A smart thing to do is just nod, or say you do not agree, and end the discussion. When entering partnerships, do a thorough check on your potential allies, see if they are not prone to deceive you, but also make su e ou do t a ide tall do so ethi g that a e ie ed as t ea he ous. Fu the o e, if ou a e going through a divorce, see to it that you do not separate on completely bad terms, since creating a relationship ased o a ts of spite o t do a o e any good. . The do t allo their pride to get i the a Ti e to uote o e of fa o ite a ga a tists, Tite Ku o: If it usts, it a e e e t usted. If its o e fails to o t ol it, it ill ut hi . Yes, p ide is like a lade. “pi itual tea hings usually label pride as a bad characteristic, but reality tends to tell a different story. Having pride is completely acceptable, but being consumed by it is quite inconvenient. It is not rare that once you become so brilliant, you tend to automatically castigate the opinion of everyone around you. Not only that, but you may often find yourself rejecting a good proposal or initiative simply because you are not the one who thought of it. Smart people rely on their reasoning and if too much pride interferes with it, then it is a feature not worth nurturing. . The do t put all the eggs i o e asket This one is a no brainer. Never fully invest yourself for the sake of realizing a single idea. Always have backup plans, alternatives, contingencies etc. It was already established that people may not be impressed with your design, or that so ethi g a go o g if e do t a ou t fo all the a ia les. This does t i pl that ou should e dis ou aged a d a k off he thi gs do t go as pla ed, ut this atte ill be addressed later on.

16 . The do t lie to the sel es that e er thi g ill e eas Fi all , do t li e i the illusio that life ill e easy. Your efforts may be thwarted on more than one occasion. Bright and intelligent people know how to pick themselves up and make a comeback. They work on their confidence, and do t e pe t thi gs to get easie . E e he thi gs appea to e eas , do t d op ou gua d – it s al a s uiet before the storm. Smart people love challenges and the thrill that comes from overcoming an obstacle. Having some downtime is refreshing, but confronting and tackling new problems is what they live for. . The do t take u e essar risks We all found ourselves, at some point in life, when we could have taken a risk in exchange for a greater gain. In the event you are an adrenalin ju kie, a otto like high isk, high e a d is ot a ad thi g to li e . Bei g s a t a d al ulated e ofte o t adi ts ith this app oa h, si e it is ot i plied that ou o t fa e isks, but it limits you to only those that are necessary. Even small risks with significant gain, like lottery, are a poor choice; if you have some extra cash, save it and wait for it to accumulate. Do not depend on people who are more or less strangers, or wildcards, and stay away from the fluctuating stock markets. Work hard to achieve success – do t e ta talized the possi ilit to ha ge ou life overnight.

Sig s You re E eptio all S art Though You Do t Appear To Be

PRODUCTIVITYBY VLADIMIR ZIVANOVIC You could say that there plenty of not-so- ight people alki g a ou d, ut it s ot that the e a e so a of the , it s just that the a e usuall the loudest. There are a lot of extremely intelligent people out there, but they simply do t ad e tise the fa t that the a e s a t. It o es atu al to the , a d the t to li e thei li es f eel a d without consciously drawing attention to themselves. You can call it modesty or plain old good manners, but these people tend to look and sound quite average, until they surprise you with a gem of wisdom. Here are some of the tell-tale signs that you might be one smart cookie, without appearing so. . You re a ight owl As recent research suggests, those who prefer to stay up late, and do their best work at night, average higher IQ scores than morning people. That ei g said, sta i g up late o t agi all ha k ou ai i to ei g s a te – smarter people are just more likely to work and party during the night, and sleep in. While all your friends are fast asleep, you are browsing the web for information, reading, learning to play the guitar and finishing up different projects – since this happens behind the scenes, your knowledge and skills will often be a surprise to people. . You re the sile t t pe You ll fi d plenty of misconceptions about quiet people, e.g. being labeled as introverts, socially awkward and so on. This is t e essa il t ue, a d hile ot all quiet people are necessarily smart, highly intelligent people will often refrain from speaking if they are accessing a situation. They will take some time to think about what was said and prepare an adequate response, and they find silence better than pointless small talk. 3. You face your problems You a fi d ou self fa ed ith a u h of diffi ult p o le s, ut a s a t pe so o t let that i g the do . A very smart person will know how to prioritize and deal with problems as they arise, before things even get a chance to start spinning out of control. If you are the type of person who faces problems and welcomes challenges, always dancing on the age of your comfort zone, chances are that you are fairly intelligent. 4. You hang out with smart and creative people The company you keep is a good reflection of who you are as a person. Exceptionally smart people will tend to hang out with people like them, i.e. smart, creative and cultured. There are always some exceptions, but if about 80% of the people in your life are intelligent and interesting, you probably fit that description as well. 5. You strive for perfection There might not be anything that hints at great intelligence in your appearance or speech, the way you conduct yourself is an excelle t i di ato . I tellige t people al a s st i e fo pe fe tio , so ea h ti e ou see the ou ll e able to notice a few small improvements. They are always a bit different than before. This perfectionist mentality is applied to all aspects of life, from trying to look their best or working on being a great speaker, to spending hours practicing their golf swing or dart throw. 6. You tend to be quite self-critical There are plenty of narcissists out there who sometimes lie to themselves and others about how good they are at so ethi g, so it s a eath of f esh ai to see so eo e ei g self-critical and accepting critique. Although someone might not be actively trying to i p ess a d o e off as s a t, the a ilit to a k o ledge o e s o faults a d the willingness to work on correcting them can give their intelligence away.

17 7. You like to stay informed Intelligent people like to be up to date with the latest development in a number of different fields, always trying to improve themselves bit by bit. A smart person will stay up to date with local and global news, as well as try to learn all he or she can about topics that are directly related to their life or are interesting to them. Gathering information, learning new things and developing useful skills is a lifelong goal for highly intelligent people, and they will always have a way of keeping themselves busy. . You re o sta tl o upied ith to s of differe t proje ts Speaking of keeping busy, a good indicator that you are dealing with a very smart person is the fact that they always have a few projects that they are working on. They might be brushing up on their French and learning a few useful Mandarin phrases, reading up on DIY home repairs, taking dancing lessons, working on some new recipes in the kitchen, or compiling a book on early medieval architecture. While a lot of people like to keep busy, a smart person will fill their free time with activities that help them improve in one way or another. Not all smart people are very productive, but it can be a good indicator of higher intellect. 9. You ask all the right questions Whe talki g to a s a t pe so ho does t lo his o he o ho , ou ll oti e that the do t t to hija k the conversation or start long monologues. They will actually sit there quietly and listen to what you have to say, allowing for a few moments of silence here and there as they think things over. However, once they ask a question it really hits the spot. They actually give helpful advice or even get you to come to the right conclusions on your own. If your friends enjoy talking to you and tell you that you are a good listener, you are probably a good friend, and an intelligent one at that. . You do t thi k that ou are e eptio all s art Due to something called the Dunning-Kruger effect people with a low level of competence will tend to overestimate their abilities, whereas highly competent people will tend to sell themselves short. This is due to the fact that the more intelligent, informed and skilled you are, the more you realize just how much space there is to further improve and you are not satisfied with your current knowledge or skill level. True intelligence cannot really be hidden away or masked effectively, nor is this the point of exceptionally smart people ho appea see i gl o al. The ea thei i tellige e p oudl , ut the do t flau t it, although these ten signs are a dead giveaway.

Ti

Ha its That Could Totall Cha ge Your Life

PRODUCTIVITYBY ANNIE MUELLER Research, as well as common sense and personal experience, is showing usthat small steps get us to far away places. The key is to consistently take those small steps in the same direction. Building a big, life-changing habit is difficult: it s ha d to keep the illpo e goi g lo g e ough to see ha ge. But uildi g a ti ha it? That s doa le. BJ Fogg, Director of the Persuasive Tech Lab at Stanford, has done extensive research this very topic. The Fogg Method uses the effectiveness of tiny, specific habits to create big changes in behavior. Here are 25 tiny habits you could add i to ou life. The do t see like u h, ut if ou p a ti e the egula l , they can change your energy level, your fitness, your relationships, your work, your community, and your e i o e t… i ig a s. Tiny Habits for Better Physical Health . D i k a glass of ate fi st thi g i the o i g. We ofte do t get e ough ate i ou s ste s, a d get so us th oughout the da that e do t thi k a out stoppi g to eple ish ou suppl . O e eple ish ith soda o offee or tea but not water. Trigger yourself by leaving a big glass out on the counter or table. Or do what I do, and get a big t a el ug ith a lid. At ight, I fill it up ith a lot of i e a d a it of ate , a d i the o i g it s aiti g fo e: a nice, cool cup of water. Flush the toxins, kickstart your system, wake yourself up. 2. Park as far away as you can from the door. Fight the effects of a sedentary lifestyle by getting more steps into your day whenever you can. In fact,simple things like a longer stroll from the car to the door might be more effective than a vigorous work-out at counteracting the effects of long hours at a desk. 3. Eat raw fruit or vegetables with every meal. Think: a green side salad, a slice of melon, some berries, a few carrot sticks and cucumber slices. Not only will you get more nutrients in, you will also be getting in more fiber and potentially helping your body lose weight, retain energy, and decrease hunger. 4. Stand up and stretch every hour, on the hour. Trigger yourself with a beep on your phone or watch (do people still wear those?) or computer. Sitting for extended time periods is a bad idea for both your body and your brain. You eed a e tal a d ph si al eak, a d it does t ha e to e a ig deal. Just stop, when your on-the-hour beep

18 sounds at you. Stand up where you are, reach over your head, take a deep breath, touch your toes, roll your shoulders. 5. Carry a small bag of nuts or beef jerky everywhere you go. Something protein-rich will help stave off hunger as ell as keepi g ou f o getti g to that a e ous poi t he ou ll eat a thi g i sight, o atte hat the alo ie count is. Getting a little more protein in your diet can help boost your metabolism and build your muscle, as well. Tiny Habits for Better Mental Health 1. Ask open-ended questions. Instead of throwing out questions just so you can insert your own opinion, ask bigger, better questions. Avoid asking questions that can be answered with a simple Yes or No. Try questions that start with What do ou thi k a out…? a d Ho ould ou….? o What is ou e pe ie e ith…? The liste to the answers with the attitude that you are here to learn. Having an open perspective and initiating deeper conversations will help you to relate with others, cultivate empathy, keep your own problems in perspective, make new friends, and learn new ways of approaching life. Imagine the wisdom you would gain in five or ten years if you just have one of these conversations every week. . Keep a t a of a t supplies out o ou ta le/desk/shelf. Do t fo e o e e e pe t ou self to lo k i a e tai number of minutes or productions. Just keep them out, in reach, so that when you feel like doodling around with something artistic, it is effortless. Bonus points: switch the art medium out every week or month (pastels, crayons, watercolors, ink, clay, playdough, carving knife & wood block). 3. Sit in sile e fo a fe i utes e e da . We do t ha e to all this editatio , e ause that ight e a little too i ti idati g. You do t ha e to sit oss-legged. You do t ha e to lose ou e es. You do t ha e to e )e -like in anyway. Your brain can be fl i g a hu d ed iles a hou , ut do t sa o do a thi g. Just sit, o fo ta l , a d breathe for a few minutes. 4. Jot down everything on your mind for a few minutes at the end of the day. This is a brain dump in the easiest way possi le. It s ot a ig deal like a daily journal or to-do list or planner might feel. Keep a simple notebook by the bed, a d gi e ou self a fe i utes to pou out e e thi g that s o ou i d efo e ou go to sleep. Do t edit. Let it all out, in any format, in any order. It does t ha e to ake se se, e e to ou. Studies show that this type of writing can reduce anxiety and depression. Alternative: use a voice recorder and simply talk, in unedited stream-ofconsciousness style, for a few minutes into your recorder. 5. Repeat a personal mantra to yourself when you hit stress points. Make it something simple to remember that calms you and reminds you of the important things in life. This is a simple way to retrain your brain and tell it how to respond to stress. Instead of letting stressful points send you into a panicked mode, you pull out your mantra and tell ou ai that it s goi g ot e oka . A fe of fa o ites: This too shall pass. I am stronger than I think. I can learn hat I eed to lea he I eed to lea it. I e ha dled o se tha this. I a ot alo e. The e is f eedo he e. When I take responsibility, I take power. Tiny Habits for Better Productivity and Work 1. P ete d to e ou he o. Whe ou e fa ed ith a halle gi g situatio , a i ti idati g p oje t, a e a ee leap, an important meeting, think about a hero in your industry or career. Then ask yourself what this person would do in your situation. How would she handle it? Would he be intimidated? Fearful? Or confident and calm? Now imagine yourself doing exactly what you think your would do. This helps to clarify what the right actions are for you by removing the self-doubt and negative self-talk that can bog you down in uncertainty. 2. Do a 5-minute daily review at your desk at the end of the day. Before you leave work, or from your desk at home before you wrap things up for the day (or night!), take five minutes. Write down what you accomplished in a quick, ulleted list. W ite do hat ou did t a o plish that ou had hoped to, a d hat stopped ou. Do t eat yourself up for your failures, just notice, if you can, what caused you to get off track. And notice how much you did accomplish. This type of review is a way to help your brain focus on the positive (I did accomplish something today) and will help you to become more aware of the things that tend to derail you or distract you from productive work. 3. Turn off all notifications for at least one long block of work time every day. Our brains are not adept at switching f o o e task to a othe . The si gle di g of a e ail otifi atio o te t, e e if it s a out so ethi g o pletel unimportant, can cause you to lose up to 40% of your work time. Is it really worth it? Maybe if you have infinite time at ou disposal… But e all k o that ou do t. “o do ou self a d ou a ee a fa o , a d sile e all the di gs a d chirps for at least one long block of time (2 – 4 hours). 4. Respond to all invitatio s a d oppo tu ities ith I ll he k ale da . “top the k ee-jerk response that you gi e, hethe it is egati e o positi e. Ma e ou e too ui k to sa o I a . O a e ou e a people-pleaser a d ou e too ui k to sa es, a d fi d ou self over-booked and overwhelmed. Give yourself time to evaluate ea h oppo tu it si pl aki g it ou p a ti e ot to a s e ight a a . I stead, sa , I ll he k ale da a d

19 let ou k o . The , he ou ha e a little ti e, he k ou ale da , ou priorities, and determine what you can fit it in. 5. Spend 5 minutes a day thinking about the process you will take that will get you to your career goals. This is the right kind of positive visualization. Visualizi g the e d esult does t usuall help ou get the e. But isualizi g yourself doing the steps you will take to reach your end goal can help you to actually follow-through on those steps when it is time. Tiny Habits for Better Relationships . Call, te t, o e ail o e f ie d o fa il e e a da . “ta i g i tou h has e e ee easie , ut it s all too eas to o l o e t ith the people e see at o k o the o es ho just o t stop sho i g up i our Facebook feed. Reach out a little further than that to stay connected with the friends and family members you value. It only takes a few minutes to invest in a relationship, with the result that you have a strong network of people around you, both near and far. 2. Write a thank you note every week. This can be an exercise solely for you: write a thank-you note to someone ho s passed o ut i pa ted ou life, a d tell the all the thi gs ou ish ou ould sa i pe so . O ite a ote of thanks to someone who is or was part of your life and send it to that person. Cultivating gratitude helps to lessen the fear in your life. How much better would your life be if you had trained yourself to be appreciative instead of afraid? 3. End your night with a word of thanks or encouragement. This is the kind of simple habit that can make or break a lifelong relationship. Before you roll over and go to sleep, let your significant other know you accept and value him or her. You do t ha e to e ela o ate: I lo e ei g ith ou, o Tha ks fo ei g the e fo e, se ds the right essage. If ou e ot i a elatio ship, gi e ou self a o d of tha ks o e ou age e t. “ou ds sill ? Ma e. But it can help build your confidence and keep you from letting one bad day spiral into depression. 4. Pause before you answer or respond to people. Train yourself to listen well, by giving yourself time to think up your response in that pause, not while the other person is talking. This not only shows that you value what the other person is saying (which communicates acceptance and respect) but it also gives you time to weigh your attitude and words. In a high-tension situation or stressful conversation, a simple five-second pause might be what keeps you from blowing up and ruining a relationship you value. . Gi e ou self a ti e out. Life happe s. You e goi g to hit poi ts he ou feel st essed, f ust ated, angry, or i patie t. That s oka , e ause if ou a gi e ou self a ti e-out the ou a keep thi gs i pe spe ti e. You a t expect yourself to be a non-emotional robot, but you can train yourself to take a five-minute break from humanity when things are getting to you. Walk around the block, lock yourself in the bathroom, take a quick drive with the i do s do a d the usi la i g. Fi d the ti e-out hai that o ks fo ou, a d use it. Tiny Habits for a Better Community and Environment 1. Take a short walk around the block with a trash bag and pick up litter. This weekly or daily ritual will help you to be more aware of how you treat your daily environment, and you never know the effect it can have on others. Sometimes just one person taking the time to make something better can spark others to take better care of things, as well. 2. Stop and say hi to your neighbors. Make it a habit to do a little more than a nod or smile. It takes just a moment, whenever you see them out, to walk over and say hello. Create a friendlier community and help the people around you get plugged in, too. Some of my best friends are neighbors who were willing to lean over the fence and chat for a i ute. No the e the o es alli g to see if I eed a thi g he they run to the store, or offering to babysit my kids if I ot feeli g ell. . Bo o efo e ou u fo ig pu hases. It s ot al a s possi le, ut h ot t it? “a e o e a d help the environment. Make it a habit to borrow first, try it out, and see if it s hat ou eall eed/ a t/ ust ha e. The t to u used efo e ou u e . O iousl this o t appl to e e ig pu hase… ut it ill appl to a lot. 4. Set aside money for giving. It can be a small amount. Really. Five dollars can make a big difference to somebody. Out of e e pa he k, o e e o th s total i o e, put aside a s all it fo gi i g. It has to e o-stringsattached, and anonymous is the way to go whenever possible. Help out your neighbors. Donate to a charity. Buy that homeless guy a meal. We are all part of the same human family. . Keep ou ike out he e ou a see it. No, ou do t ha e to use it… Just put it out the e, i f o t of ou, he e you can eyeball it. Every day, when you run to the car and hop in. Wait, you do t ha e a ike? H . Ma e all up a neighbor and see if you can borrow one.

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Thi gs ‘eall Su essful People Do Quietl PRODUCTIVITYBY ALICIA PRINCE We all want to believe we have the potential to be super successful. When it comes down to it, the prime thing that separates successful people from the rest of us are smart decisions. A common pitfall on the way to success is boasting, exaggerating, or losing your perspective. However, by changing the way we approach challenges, we can better position ourselves to attack the next obstacle successfully. Let s take a look at this i spi i g ideo fi st. At : , it s when you have to pay extra attention to. To help unlock the secrets of successful people, the following seven qualities are ones you should try to do quietly. They Network One thing truly successful people do quietly is network. In the professional world, networking is a balance between corporate interests and personal relationships. This means that overwhelming your new connections with business concerns can easily work against you. Not only that, but advertising far and wide your intentions to network could lead to new connections catching wind of your business strategy. This often makes people feel as if the have bee used and will impede your ability to form meaningful connections. They Start New Projects Successful people also start new projects with humility. Whether a new undertaking is at home or work, if your project is ultimately shelved, postponed, or changed, advertising your new undertakings too early could make you look foolish. That and bragging too much about new opportunities can be a tempting setting in which to lampoon ou u e t o old positio s. Do t fo get that o ki g ou p e ious positio s is othi g o e tha ego u amok. Nearly everyone starts off small, and making fun of this will likely alienate those beneath your position. Additionally, being too open about fresh projects could give competitors inside information and allow them to offer competing products or services that are better than yours. They Deal With Challenges Other things successful people do modestly is conquer challenges. Much like being too open about upcoming p oje ts, gi i g a a too u h i fo atio a out the halle ges ou e u e tl fa i g ight gi e competitors an extra edge. Not only that, challenges and assignments tend to look more intimidating while you are dealing with them; and seeming too stressed out or swamped could make you appear less capable, especially if your boss, or future employers, are considering you for a project. If you complain widely regarding feeling overwhelmed, you may miss out on a new opportunity or promotion. They Incubate Ideas Successful people also know to consider ideas quietly. Even if an idea you have leads to a successful project or venture, it usually takes time to refine a concept before it makes any sense. In addition, competitors are happy to steal ideas f o othe s, so it s ette to uietl sit o a plan u til ou e putti g it i to p a ti e. They Interact Socially with Humility Much like networking, interacting socially is something successful people do quietly. Flaunting accomplishments and opportunities is off putting and abrasive. Additionally, nobody appreciates it when somebody habitually drops names. Basically, treat everyone you interact with as equals and value and foster humility. They Manage Employees Ethically Another way successful people become and stay successful is by managing any employees under them privately and with respect. Employees always prefer when their superiors communicate with them in private. This way you avoid potentially embarrassing someone in front of others and preserve a professional atmosphere. They Invest Finally, something potential successful people do quietly is invest. Whether you are investing in real estate or stocks, gi i g a a all ou pe so al details a o e off as ass if the people ou e sha i g this ith a e ot as financially secure. Additionally, giving away too much information about your investments is another way to give competitors information they can use to further their pursuits.

21 http://www.positivityblog.com/index.php/2015/11/12/mark-twain-success/

Mark T ai s Top Tips for a Si ple a d Su essful Life by HENRIK EDBERG The a ho does ’t ead good ooks has o ad a tage o e the a ho a ’t ead the . Na e the g eatest of all i e to s. A ide t. Clothes ake the a . Naked people ha e little o o i flue e o so iet . One of my favorite people of all time to find timeless tips from must be the always witty and perceptive Mark Twain. Twain was an American lecturer, satirist, humorist and the author of classic books like The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. A d this eek I d like to sha e of fa o ite tips f o hi fo li i g oth a si ple life ut a more successful one. I hope ou ll fi d these tips a d st ategies as helpful as I e fou d the to e o e the ea s. . The se ret of getti g ahead… The se et of getti g ahead is getti g sta ted. The se et of getti g sta ted is eaki g ou o ple o e hel i g tasks into small manageable tasks, and then starting on the fi st o e. When you start to look too far into the future any task or project can seem close to impossible. And so you shut down because you become overwhelmed or fearful (of success or failure) and you start surfing the internet aimlessly. So instead:  Break that task down into small and practical steps.  Then just focus on taking the first step today. That is all you need to focus on, nothing else. By taking the first step ou ha ge ou e tal state f o esista t to he , I doi g this, ool . You put yourself in state where you become more positive and open, a state where you may not be enthusiastic about taking the next step after this first one but you are at least accepting it. And so you can take the next step. And the next one after that. Until you have arrived at your destination and at completion. 2. Less talking, more doing. A tio speaks loude tha o ds ut ot ea l as ofte The e a e asi all t o t pes of people. People ho a o plish thi gs, a d people ho lai to ha e a o plished thi gs. The fi st g oup is less o ded. It s ofte eas to talk ut de elopi g the ha it of ei g a pe so of a tio is uite a it ha de . Being in the habit of breaking down your task into smaller pieces is one of the most effective things you can do to take more consistent action. Two other habits that work very well for me are to:  Start your day with a positive morning routine. A good start often leads to a good day. A bad or indecisive start often leads to a pretty mediocre day. So create your own morning routine that reliably gets you off to a good or great start. Mine includes a good breakfast, positive information as I eat my first meal of the day and getting started with my most important task of the day right away when I start working.  Block out the distractions. Before you take one of those small steps forward make sure you have created a zone where you are a lot less likely to be distracted or disturbed. So shut down your internet or use a blocker program fo ou ost isited e sites. Put ou pho e i sile t ode a d so e he e he e ou a t see it fo a while. Close the door to your room. Then get to work. 3. Be courageous in the face of fear. Cou age is esista e to fea , aste of fea – ot a se e of fea . Being courageous can be difficult but if you want to live the life you want to live then sometimes you have look into the face of fear and get going or keep going anyway. And although it is rarely easy to be courageous I have found a few ways to make it easier.  Ask yourself: what is the worst that could happen? Do t just thi k a out it fo a fe se o ds. “it do ith a pen and piece of paper or your laptop. Write it all out as you think about what the realistic worst-case scenario would be. Then write down a plan for how you can come back from such a scenario. This brings clarity, defuses fuzzy fears and helps you realize that you can most often bounce back pretty quickly even if the worst-case scenario somehow becomes reality.  Share your fear with someone. B just keepi g it o the i side it s eas to uild a fea up i to this assi e nightmare and extremely dangerous thing. By sharing and by getting some input from a levelheaded friend or family member he or she can help you to alleviate the fear and inner pressure. And you can gain a much healthier perspective on things again.

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Accept the fear. It is a natural impulse to try to deny the fear when shows up in your life. Perhaps you try to not think about it, you try to push it away. I have found that in many cases it is actually better to just accept that fear is here right now. After a few minutes of fully taking in this uncomfortable feeling and accepting it then it starts to lose steam. You have stopped feeding more energy into the fear. And it just seems to float away – or at least becomes smaller – and you feel more open and centered. 4. A good compliment is a wonderful thing. I a li e fo t o o ths o a good o pli e t. Compliments are awesome. But make sure you make it:  A genuine one. Make sure you really mean it or it may have the opposite effect as your insincerity shines through.  Something a bit unexpected. Like a great taste in old soul music rather than something the other person has heard a hundred times like for example about looks.  Something that is important to the other person. 5. Keep positive company. Keep a a f o people ho t to elittle ou a itio s. “ all people al a s do that, ut the eall g eat ake ou feel that ou, too, a e o e g eat. I have mentioned this many times. But it bears repeating. Spend more time with positive people, books, music, movies, podcasts and websites. Spend your time in an environment that lifts you up. And spend less time or no time with the negative sources out there. Make a conscious choice and start to shape your environment instead of just going along and reading, listening to, watching what people in general or people around you may be in the habit of consuming. 6. Focus on what is truly important for YOU. Ma a s all thi g has ee ade la ge the ight ki d of ad e tisi g. Make a conscious choice to focus on what is most important in YOUR life. And not on the things that various companies – or other people – may tell you are the most important things. Like I mentioned last week, a note with the 4 most important things in your life smartly placed where you will see it every day – in your workspace etc. – helps you to keep your mind consistently on your top priorities. And if you want a couple of practical tips that will help you to declutter your ad/information intake then:  Ask yourself: is this useful? If for instance a TV-sho o agazi e is t i gi g e a thi g useful – fun, fascination, useful tips etc. – the h a I spe di g ti e o it? It s ki da eas to just fall i to a ha it of doi g stuff or consuming things without really having much of a reason for doing so.  Find out what you really like to do. That will probably be more interesting that surfing the internet or TVchannels randomly. And so these less exciting things just tend to fall away from your life as you find – or spend more time with – things that you really like to do, like for instance a new hobby. . Whe e otio s are e plodi g… ait. Ti e ools, ti e la ifies; o ood a e ai tai ed uite u alte ed th ough the ou se of hou s. It s eas to ake ad de isio s he ou a e full of egati e e otio s. A d it is e eas to e o e iled up, a g or defensive when you, for instance, receive some criticism or when someone is attacking you verbally. This is ot a good positio to e i to fi e a a a epl if ou do t a t to i d up aki g the situatio o se. And to lash back at this person or to not be the better person here can really hurt your self-esteem. It might feel good for a while to do so but it is a dirty high that comes with a hangover of feeling worse about yourself and subtle or not so subtle self-destructiveness. But how do you control the impulse to attack, overreact or make a hasty decision?  Remind yourself of the potential consequences. I do t a t to hu t self, self-esteem or make bad decisions with negative consequences. By repeatedly reminding myself of these potential consequences then they will also often pop up automatically when I receive criticism or when I am angry.  Count to at least 10 and take a few belly breaths. Then respond. This simple way of calming yourself down and regaining so e pe spe ti e a sa e ou a lot of t ou le a d help ou a oid sa i g so ethi g ou a t take back.  Accept how you feel. If you have a little more time than under a minute then take a look at tip #3 again and try to accept how you feel to lessen the big emotions more quickly.  If possible, wait until tomorrow or at least later today. By then the most negative feelings will most likely have lost their steam and you can see things with more clarity and cool. And take action in a better and smarter way.

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Success Tips - Business Four Keys to Success 1. 2. 3. 4.

Decide exactly what you want and where you want to go. Set a deadline and make a plan to get there. ... Take action on your plan; do something every day to move toward your goal. Resolve in advance that you will persist until you succeed, that you will never, ever give up. https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/247540

Success Tips – Business

Being successful often means learning from those who have already achieved their goals. Having a mentor is an amazing blessing to an entrepreneur, but not everyone can find one in person. If ou ha e t et fou d ou pe so al usi ess gu u, he e a e tips fo ou g o aspi i g e t ep e eu to help get you started. 1. Challenge yourself. Richard Branson says his biggest motivation is to keep challenging himself. He treats life like one long university education, where he can learn more every day. You can too! 2. Do work you care about. The e s o dou t that running a business take a lot of time. Steve Jobs noted that the only way to be satisfied in your life is to do work that you truly believe in. 3. Take the risk. We never know the outcome of our efforts unless we actually do it. Jeff Bezos said it helped to know that he ould t eg et failu e, ut he ould eg et ot t i g. Related: The 3 Key Elements to Make Your Business a Success 4. Believe in yourself. As He Fo d fa ousl said, Whethe ou thi k ou a , o thi k ou a t, ou e ight. Belie e that ou a su eed, a d ou ll fi d a s th ough diffe e t o sta les. If ou do t, ou ll just fi d e uses. 5. Have a vision. The founder and CEO of Tumblr, David Karp, notes that an entrepreneur is someone who has a vision for something and a desire to create it. Keep your vision clear at all times. 6. Find good people. Who ou e ith is ho ou e o e. ‘eid Hoff a , o-founder of LinkedIn, noted that the fastest way to change yourself is to hang out with people who are already the way you want to be. 7. Face your fears. O e o i g fea is t eas , ut it ust e do e. A ia a Huffi gto o e said that she found fearlessness was like a muscle -- the more she exercised it, the stronger it became. 8. Take action. The world is full of great ideas, but success only comes through action. Walt Disney once said that the easiest way to get sta ted is to uit talki g a d sta t doi g. That s t ue fo ou su ess as ell. 9. Do the time. No one succeeds i ediatel , a d e e o e as o e a egi e . As “te e Jo s isel oted, if ou look losel , ost o e ight su esses took a lo g ti e. Do t e af aid to i est ti e i ou o pa . 10. Manage energy, not time. Your energy limits what you can do with your time, so manage it wisely. 11. Build a great team. No one succeeds in business alone, and those who try will lose to a great team every time. Build your own great team to bolster your success.

2 12. Hire character. As you build your team, hire fo ha a te a d alues. You a al a s t ai so eo e o skills, ut ou a t ake so eo e s alues fit ou o pa afte the fa t. Related: 7 Reasons Rock Star Entrepreneurs Hit Home Run After Home Run 13. Plan for raising capital. ‘i ha d Ha o h, a e tu e apitalist, has this ad i e fo up o i g e t ep e eu s: It s al ost al a s ha de to aise apital tha ou thought it ould e, a d it al a s takes lo ge . “o pla fo that. 14. Know your goals. Ryan Allis, co-fou de of iCo ta t, poi ted out that ha i g the e d i i d e e da e su es ou e o ki g to a d it. Set goals and remind yourself of them each day. 15. Learn from mistakes. Many entrepreneurs point to mistakes as being their best teacher. When you learn from your mistakes, you move closer to success -- even though you initially failed. 16. Know your customer. Da e Tho as, the fou de of We d s, ited k o i g ou usto e as o e of his th ee ke s to su ess. K o those you se e ette tha a o e else, a d ou ll e a le to deli e the solutio s the eed. 17. Learn from complaints. Bill Gates once said that your most unhappy customers are your greatest source of learning. Let unhappy customers teach you where the holes in your service are. 8. Ask for usto ers’ i put. Assuming what customers want or need will never lead to success. You must ask them directly, and then carefully listen to what they say. 19. Spend wisely. When you spend money on your business, be careful to spe d it isel . It s eas to spe d too u h o foolish thi gs and run out of capital too soon. 20. Understand your industry. To Hsieh, the fou de of )appos, o e said, Do t pla ga es ou do t u de sta d, e e if ou see lots of othe people maki g o e f o the . T ul u de sta di g ou i dust is ke to ha i g su ess. 21. Deliver more than expected. Google's La Page e ou ages e t ep e eu s to deli e o e tha usto e s e pe t. It s a g eat a to get oti ed in your industry and build a loyal following of advocates. Being a successful entrepreneur takes a lot of work, a lot of vision and a lot of perseverance. These 21 tips, from entrepreneurs who have already found success, will help you navigate the path much more easily. What s your favorite success tip for entrepreneurs? Share it below in the comments section below. Related: 3 Truths Wise Entrepreneurs Learned the Hard Way

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10 Great Tips for Success in Both Life and Business Sometimes what helps us to be successful in our professional lives is not such a great idea in our personal lives — competition is a quality that comes to mind. At the same time, we all have a limited amount of time each day to do the things that we want to do. “o fo the sake of sa i g ti e a d e e g , I sha i g a list of tips that ill help ou e su essful i oth life a d i business. 1. Add Value No atte hat ou do a d he e ou go, ou a t go o g ith addi g alue. “i pl put alue is anything that people are willing to pay for. In your professional life, the more value you can offer the more money you can make. In your personal life, more value translates to closer relationships and strong personal growth. The best way to add value is to find the intersection between what people are willing to pay for and what service or product you can offer that is aligned with your values, strengths and goals. How are you adding value to your employers and loved ones today? What can you do to increase your ability to add value?

3 2. Follow Your Passion ‘eadi g u e ous iog aphies o g eat people a d f o o pe so al o se atio s a d e ou te s, I e realized that those who achieve greatness professional and personally follow their passion. The reason why great people are few and far in- et ee is e ause ost people do t e e k o hat thei passio is. Fo those that do figure out their passion, ost of the do t follo thei passio o siste tl . This is o e of the ai easo s why people do t ea h thei goals. Do you know what your passion is? If not, what are you going to do to find out? If you do know what you passion is, are you following it? 3. Be Extraordinary If you do the same thing as everyone else, it s ha d to e su essful. It is i po ta t to fi d the edge a d the push past it. That is how you become noticed and get what you want. Whether it is money, meaningful relationships and/or a sense of personal accomplishment, the extraordinary person attracts them all. How are you extraordinary? If you feel just ordinary, what are you going to do to become extraordinary? For those ho do t k o , ou a a t to he k out a ti les o log a d also How to go from Ordinary to Extraordinary. 4. Start Now There are many factors that go into become a success in both your professional and personal life but the one factor that is required is taking action. Most people miss out on reaching their full potential because they never start. They are always preparing, planning and waiting for the best time to start. If I waited until I was ready, I would not have a coaching practice, a website, a blog, a workshop, etc. The stars rarely align and you will never be completely ready so just start now and adjust along the way. A e ou aiti g fo so ethi g efo e ou sta t? What is ou pla i g to doi g atio? What s really the worse thing that a happe if ou got sta ted ight o ? If ou a e so eo e that s just ee aiti g, stop eadi g this post a d get started on what you have been wanting to do. This article will still be here when you get back. 5. Hunt for Good Mentors People ho ake it usuall edit thei su ess to a e to o a g oup of e to s ho eall helped guide the to get to where they are. Mentors have gone down the road that you want to travel and can guide you to get to your destination faster than if you went at it alone. If you want to be healthy, you would find a mentor who is already healthy. If you want to be rich, then you have to find someone who is already rich. What surprises me is how rarely people engage in mentoring relationships and those who do usually find mentors in only one aspect of their lives. If you want to be successful, be active about finding mentors that will help you achieve what you want. Jeff Goins has a nice short article on finding mentors. Do you have a mentor in your life now? If not, ask yourself what barriers are preventing you from finding or establishing a mentoring relationship? If you do have a mentor, do you have one for the different aspects of your life (financial, health, professional, personal, spiritual, relationships, parenting etc.)? 6. Build a Support Group While mentors serve as a guide with whom you review your past actions and plan your next steps, a support group are your companions that help you with during the actual execution of your plan. This may be in the form of a mastermind group or accountability partner where you keep each other accountable for your goals and to help each other deal with situations that may arise while you are on your journeys. It is extremely helpful to have someone you know that is willing to listen to your frustrations and self doubt and to encourage you and remind you of ho fa ou e al ead o e. Who is in your support group? 7. Personally Know Your Finances Numbers scare a lot of people. Start talking about assets, liabilities a d et o th a d people s e es just glaze o e . If you are one of these people who run away from numbers, please stop running because you are hurting yourself. If you want to be financially independent, you need to know how to keep score. If you have your own business or want to su essfull i est, fi a es tell ou ho ell ou a e doi g a d e eal the health of a usi ess. If ou do t u de sta d fi a es, ou ha e to lea . It s eas o e ou get o e the li iti g elief that ou a e o good at numbers. For those interested in learning more, you may want to check out these personal finance resources. Do you know you net worth? If you are bad at numbers, what specifically makes you believe that? How can you improve your financial intelligence? 8. Get Help I have a tendency to try to do everything myself and in some ways it is good and in many ways it is bad. It is important to know and understand all aspects of your life and business but that does not mean having to do all the tasks involved in maximizing your potential in those areas. It is true that we can always learn new things and become

4 competent in them but what is also true is that we are only given 24 hours each day and to live full lives, it is more effe ti e to do hat e do est a d to outsou e tasks that e e ot good at to people ho e el at them. Delegating effectively takes trust and the ability to clearly communicate what you want. For those that want to outsource, Elance is a nice way to find some quality freelancers. How are you spending your time? Is it doing things you are awesome at? If not, what are you doing that you can outsou e o delegate so ou a de ote o e ti e doi g hat ou e g eat at? What s stoppi g ou f o outsourcing or delegating? 9. Learn Sales Ma people i ge he the hea the o d sales. I ould e e e i sales, that s a sleaz jo . It is e a tl this type of thinking that stops people from being their best. Sales is nothing more than persuading someone of something. When you are looking to get a date, you are selling. When you are interviewing for a job, you are selling. When you are trying to persuade your spouse or kids to go to Europe for your family vacation, you are selling. In a professional setting, sales is paramount and the lifeline for any business. If you want to get the most out of life and business, learn the skills for effective selling. I am beginning a series of blog posts on How to Sell on my blog and you can learn from other successful sales trainers by reading material from Zig Ziglar, Brian Tracey and Og Mandino. Whe ou hea sales , hat asso iatio s o e to i d? A e the positi e o egati e? Do ou k o the ho to sell effectively? If not, how do you plan to learn? 10. Be Resilient Things rarely work out the way you planned and there will always be distractions and stumbling blocks that you have to deal with when you are on your road to success. The key point to remember is to persist and to develop the courage to move on even when everyone around you is telling you it is ok to give up. This does not mean stubbornly holding on to your original plan but rather continuing to pursue your goal as long as the reasons for doing so is still alid Make su e ou k o the Wh of hat you want). When everything seems to be going wrong, keep in mind that the oad to su ess is pa ed ith a thousa d failu es so ea h failu e a tuall i gs ou lose to he e ou want to be. If you have trouble being resilient, check out the 6 Effective Ways to Be Persistent. How often to you quit because things got tough? Would you descrive yourself as an unshakeable optimist? Do you ie p o le s as oppo tu ities o a i g sig s? Ho do ou ie failu e a d a e ou aki g su e that ou do t make the one mistake people make when learning from their mistakes? This is not an exhaustive list, but it does provide a good starting point. I would love to hear what tips you have found especially useful in both life and business in the comments section. (Photo credit: Road with an Arrow Going Up via Shutterstock) Love this article? Share it with your friends on Facebook You may also like 7 Things Really Successful People Do Quietly 10 Lists to Keep If You Want to Be Successful 13 Signs Of A Toxic Parent That Many People Don't Realize Robert Chen helps high performers reach their full potential. Read more of his writing at EmbracePossibility and RobertChen.com. Also, check out his book. Read more posts written by Robert Chen You may also like 7 Things Really Successful People Do Quietly 10 Lists to Keep If You Want to Be Successful 13 Signs Of A Toxic Parent That Many People Don't Realize 15 Habits People Turning 30 Should Master To Path Their Way For Success 14 Things Phenomenally Successful People Do Differently 23 Body Language Tricks That Make You Instantly Likeable How to Find Your Passion People Judge Your Personality Based On These 7 Small Things 7 Things Successful People Do That They Will Never Tell You! 5 Real Ways to Actually Make Money Online 10 Things You Need To Stop Doing If You Want To Be Successful Ho “ a t People Deal With People The Do t Like 15 Small Things You Can Do Every Day To Become Highly Successful 20 Things Smart People Don't Do 10 Money Mistakes Successful People Don't Make

5 6 Effective Ways to Become Persistent 12 Weekend Habits of Highly Successful People 10 Important Qualities For Success That Are Often Overlooked This Is What The Schedules Of Successful People Look Like 8 Signs You Have A Strong Personality That Might Scare Some People 7 Harsh Truths That Will Lead You To Success How to go From Ordinary to Extraordinary 20 Reasons You Should Start Your Own Business This Is How You Become Unattractive And You're Not Aware of It 3 Keys For Success in Life 5 Shocking Ways Your Lifestyle Can Determine Your Success 10 Habits Successful People Give Up to Increase Their Productivity 15 Things You're Not Taught In School That Determine Your Success This Is What Will Happen When You Start Drinking Honey Water Every Day 13 Common Bad Habits That Hold You Back From Success 25 Tiny Habits That Could Totally Change Your Life Which Personality Type Are You? 10 Things To Do To Change Your Life Forever 11 Things Successful People Do By Age 30 6 Habits Of Highly Successful People Before Bedtime 16 Great Personal Finance Resources & Blogs 9 Things You Need To Stop Doing If You Want To Be Successful People Who Become Highly Successful In Their 20s Have These 6 Mindsets In Common 7 Reasons Why "C" Students Will Be The Most Successful People In World 8 Signs of a Man Who Will Never Ever Stop Loving You  

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7 Things Really Successful People Do Quietly PRODUCTIVITY BY ALICIA PRINCE We all want to believe we have the potential to be super successful. When it comes down to it, the prime thing that separates successful people from the rest of us are smart decisions. A common pitfall on the way to success is boasting, exaggerating, or losing your perspective. However, by changing the way we approach challenges, we can better position ourselves to attack the next obstacle successfully. Let s take a look at this i spi i g ideo fi st. At : , it s he ou ha e to pa extra attention to. To help unlock the secrets of successful people, the following seven qualities are ones you should try to do quietly. They Network One thing truly successful people do quietly is network. In the professional world, networking is a balance between corporate interests and personal relationships. This means that overwhelming your new connections with business concerns can easily work against you. Not only that, but advertising far and wide your intentions to network could lead to new connections catching wind of your business strategy. This often makes people feel as if the have bee used and will impede your ability to form meaningful connections. They Start New Projects Successful people also start new projects with humility. Whether a new undertaking is at home or work, if your project is ultimately shelved, postponed, or changed, advertising your new undertakings too early could make you look foolish. That and bragging too much about new opportunities can be a tempting setting in which to lampoon ou u e t o old positio s. Do t fo get that o ki g ou p e ious positio s is othi g o e tha ego u amok. Nearly everyone starts off small, and making fun of this will likely alienate those beneath your position. Additionally, being too open about fresh projects could give competitors inside information and allow them to offer competing products or services that are better than yours. They Deal With Challenges Other things successful people do modestly is conquer challenges. Much like being too open about upcoming projects, gi i g a a too u h i fo atio a out the halle ges ou e u e tl fa i g ight gi e o petito s a extra edge. Not only that, challenges and assignments tend to look more intimidating while you are dealing with them; and seeming too stressed out or swamped could make you appear less capable, especially if your boss, or

6 future employers, are considering you for a project. If you complain widely regarding feeling overwhelmed, you may miss out on a new opportunity or promotion. They Incubate Ideas Successful people also know to consider ideas quietly. Even if an idea you have leads to a successful project or venture, it usually takes time to refine a concept before it makes any sense. In addition, competitors are happy to steal ideas f o othe s, so it s etter to quietly sit on a plan u til ou e putti g it i to p a ti e. They Interact Socially with Humility Much like networking, interacting socially is something successful people do quietly. Flaunting accomplishments and opportunities is off putting and abrasive. Additionally, nobody appreciates it when somebody habitually drops names. Basically, treat everyone you interact with as equals and value and foster humility. They Manage Employees Ethically Another way successful people become and stay successful is by managing any employees under them privately and with respect. Employees always prefer when their superiors communicate with them in private. This way you avoid potentially embarrassing someone in front of others and preserve a professional atmosphere. They Invest Finally, something potential successful people do quietly is invest. Whether you are investing in real estate or stocks, giving away all ou pe so al details a o e off as ass if the people ou e sha i g this ith a e ot as fi a iall secure. Additionally, giving away too much information about your investments is another way to give competitors information they can use to further their pursuits. Love this article? Share it with your friends on Facebook Alicia Prince is a writer, filmmaker, and artist, splitting her time between Vancouver and Los Angeles. @alishuhsaurus Read more posts written by Alicia Prince  Share  More

10 Lists to Keep If You Want to Be Successful PRODUCTIVITYBY DJORDJE TODOROVIC The human mind is truly incredible, and we should all strive towards creating a tenacious memory we can rely on. Many lucrative professions or hobbies require such a trait—actors, musicians, artists and entertainers in general do countless drills, just so the required information can be embedded in the memory with certainty. Clearly numerous doors that lead to a successful future are unlocked if one has a great memory. Although beneficial, it is not an essential ingredient within the success formula—what you lack in memory can always be compensated with diligence. Keeping track of crucial elements in your life through list-making is still an unrivaled tactic for counterbalancing fee le e olle tio . B utilizi g o sta t e i de s, e a ha e sig ifi a tl g eate o ga izatio , e o t e under the impression we have forgotten something, and we will have a clear insight into which task has a stamp of immediacy attached to it. Here are ten suggested lists that warrant implementation, in order to track achievements and nurture ambition. 1. List of Goals What ou get a hie i g ou goals is ot as i po ta t as hat ou e o e a hie i g ou goals. —Zig Ziglar Goals and ambition is what drives us and motivates us, but we need to ask ourselves what is it that we want in order to feel truly accomplished. Your list of goals should consists of all the items that you deem are necessary to truly respect yourself. It can be financial stability, a place you can call your own, starting your family, being independent, etc. People have different criteria when it comes to goals, and this list in particular is ever-growing; it changes as you mature, but it always feels great when you cross something out of it. Without such a list, you lose direction of where your life is heading, and we all need some inner guidance to focus on—a good reason to get up in the morning. 2. List of Tasks Happi ess does ot o e f o doi g eas o k ut f o the afte glo of satisfa tio that o es afte the a hie e e t of a diffi ult task that de a ded ou est. —Theodore Isaac Rubin Tasks are actually milestones on the road to goal completion, and these lists have a tendency to become quite copious. New tasks emerge on a daily basis, regardless of whether you are an employee, a student, or a freelancer. Despite the fact that they are arduous, we always have some sense of achievement once the task is complete, or

7 he a e tai p o le is sol ed. B a oidi g to ake su h lists a d lists of ou dail tasks, the ll si pl pile up a d eventually become a hindrance. In the event you have larger tasks that need more than a day, a week or a month before they can be completed, then break those tasks into smaller daily assignments, and put them on the list as well. As long as you monitor larger tasks while completing minor daily milestones, you will have a greater grip on progression and continuous source of motivation. List and sticky notes are actually quite potent tools for increase in productivity, especially while we are working from home. Lastly, it is worth mentioning that you should also have a list of personal tasks, or tasks you do for the sake of selffulfillment. These are related to your personal goals, and governing passions—writing a book, painting, crafting etc. These tasks will define you and offer a much greater sense of achievement, so give it your all to create something you can be proud of. 3. List of Contacts Wishi g to e f ie ds is ui k o k, ut f ie dship is a slo ipe i g f uit. —Aristotle It would be delusional to assume you can make it all on your own; however, at the same time, a flawed partnership can result in disastrous outcome as well. It is extremely difficult to find compatible allies and contacts, since friends and family—in other words, people close to you—may not be the best choice for a business partner. If you want to enter into a partnership with someone, make sure the person shares the same vision. Tread lightly and try to as e tai ou pote tial pa t e s le el of elia ility. Throughout life, we come across skillful, capable and talented people, whose competence might be needed in the future, depending on your line of work of course. Do not be hesitant to offer a helping hand when they are in need, since you can gain a valuable contact. The point being: make a special list of all important contacts, like reliable programmers, handymen, lawyers, etc. Remember not to only reach out when you are in need. You need to maintain a healthy and natural relationship and be there for those people if they require your assistance. Truth be told, it can be arduous to forge strong friendship bonds, but having important acquaintances and becoming an important acquaintance is very much possible. Without such a list, you are leaving yourself vulnerable to possible future complications; moreover, make sure this list is well-kept since once you lose a contact like this one, it can be somewhat troublesome to recover such data. Just be sure you have recovery data tools at your disposal to mitigate the damage if something were to happen to your phone. 4. List of Expenses A ise pe so should ha e o e i thei head, ut ot i thei hea t. —Jonathan Swift This may be a quite mundane piece of advice, yet it is very often neglected. As we all know, there are two types of expenses: those that are necessary, (bills, taxes, food) and those expenditures used for indulging some personal cravings. There is a degree of restraint that the majority of us lack in order to approach the matter with a satisfying level of prudence. To say it bluntly, we treat our wants like our needs, and necessities and primary obligations are pushed in the background. Of course, this a sou d a it e agge ated, ut the t uth is the p essu e of a o su e s ultu e e e tuall e o es o e hel i g, esulti g i a pu hase e should t e a le to affo d at the ti e. This kind of behavior can be avoided by utilizing lists, and turning them into an omnipresent reminder of what is truly important. B aki g lists of all the o thl e pe ses e a e o ligated to pa , e ll ha e a lea o e ie ith ho u h resources are there at our disposal. On the other hand, without this list filled with meticulous calculations, we are prone to believing that we have more freedom to engage in a shopping spree, ultimately causing our bills to pile up; thus, we end up a step closer to a financial suicide. Handling finances properly, or the fact that we prioritize the costs of living, is a responsibility that signifies maturity. Success is commonly measured by the amount of wealth and without adequate spending tactics, you prevent its accumulation. 5. List of Useful Tools If ou e the t pe of pe so ho has to fulfill ou d ea s, ou e got to e esou eful to ake su e ou a do it. —Vin Diesel Toda s so iet astl depends on the use of technology—we exchange information, conduct calculations, measure time, etc. This level of reliability also suggests liability. If something were to happen to our cell phone or personal computer, it would be a sizable setback that could harm our capabilities severely. As mentioned, losing contacts can t ul e t ou leso e. It is e e o se ho e e , to ha e ou life s o k lost a d o p o ised.

8 Useful tools are not only limited to recovering damage; they also encompass tools that make your job easier. With efficiency and a greater level of competence, you are a step closer toward success. Using the right apps and tools can make up for our lack of skills in a particular area, or simply help us manage our work in a more timely manner. Keeping a list of useful tools will come in handy whenever you are faced with more common problems, like finding a good restaurant for a business dinner, driving through unfamiliar terrain, task management, learning, and there are eventools capable of helping you recover stolen property. Even though the list is not as crucial as the ones mentioned so far, it is undeniable that having it can save you a lot of time if the need for it ever arises. The Internet is a vast sea of both useful and useless tools, and by filtering out those that a e i ele a t, ou o t ha e to o du t ou tless sea hes he ou a e i eed of ade uate tools fo problem solving. 6. List of Self Improvements The i ute that ou e ot lea i g I elie e ou e dead. —Jack Nicholson Reasonable to assume this one is unavoidable, and it always deserves to be mentioned. It is safe to assume we are all aware of our shortcomings; if not all of them at least some of them. Think about yourself, make a list of all the things you would like to improve or change, then consider how to implement those changes. Despite the fact that those who are close to you do not pressure you into changing or improving, you should always make constant endeavours to do so, for your own sake. The list of improvements should consist of physical changes, changes spiritual in nature, abandoning bad habits etc. No one expects you to change entirely in a short time period, but making a decision to change one thing on a yearly basis is a viable resolution, quite easy to execute. The list is there simply to remind you which improvement to prioritize, and build up your confidence after each completion. Refusing to change can either result in lack of confidence and depression, or becoming an overconfident and self-absorbed person that no one will tolerate for long; both of these traits are contradictory to your quest for a successful future. 7. List of Creative Ideas Do ot go he e the path a lead, go i stead he e the e is o path a d lea e a t ail. —Waldo Emerson Throughout history, people who made the most significant impact on the world were those with a revolutionary way of thinking, those who dared to challenge the established order and alter the status quo. For an idea to be classified as creative, it needs to be new, it needs to make sense, and it needs to have some sort of use. For example, creating something to help the disabled communicate online, or simply type—that way, people who have lost their limbs could blog or become creative writers, and show the world a piece of their mind. Thus a keyboard in a form of braces could enable them to type using their tongue; however I am not an engineer, so I do not know whether something like this is possible. Whenever a new idea comes to your mind write it down, then browse the web to see if you indeed have stumbled upon something ground-breaking. Once your list has grown, then you need to start pondering on the subject to see whether it holds closer scrutiny. Ask for a second opinion and see what you would need to realize your idea. In a ajo it of ases, this is ho su essful people a e eated. ‘est assu ed that it is e possi le that people o t e impressed with your creativity as much as you are, but do not allow yourself to be discouraged—after all, perseverance has a crucial role in a career as well. Monitoring your thoughts incites productive thinking and hones your focus; it keeps our mind occupied. Letting your good ideas slide is only a wasted potential that will put your progress in a halt. 8. List of Future Plans The futu e is u e tai ut the e d is al a s ea . ―Ji Mo iso We ha e all hea d state e ts like To o o is a ste , Li e fo toda , a d You a t affe t the futu e. Personally, I heavily disagree with such a point of view. Although I do agree that, in particular circumstances, making plans for the future is doing Sisyphus work, not planning it at all seems utterly mortifying. I also believe that everyone makes some sort of plan; the problem is this fear of uncertainty that thwarts our will to act. To make your resolve more adamant, compile a list of your future plans, see what you need in order to make them come true. This one is very similar to the first list—the one with goals; the difference is, it does not have to involve your personal future. Rather, it is list of upcoming important events, important changes in law, or upcoming trends, useful software, etc. It will keep you well-informed and prepared, since staying updated and relevant are essential virtues for lucrative businessmen.

9 9. List of Contingency Plans You p a fo ai , ou gotta deal ith the ud too. That s a pa t of it. —Denzel Washington Every action has an equal and opposite reaction, meaning there is nothing you can do without consequences. Every attempt to be more successful usually has a set of barriers attached to it, or risks. Even though risks are inevitable, being prepared for the aftermath is always a good and necessary thing. When you plan your business incentives, or when you plan to invest in something, make sure you compose a thorough pros and cons list, as well as a list of possible negative scenarios. In the event that positive aspects outweigh the negative ones, you can be more encouraged to proceed further. Make an effort to be constantly prepared for the backlash of major initiatives, and contain the possible damage. The lack of contingency implies recklessness, and it was adamantly made clear how this approach contradicts advancement. Make leaps of faith only when you have no other options to explore. 10. Bucket List The itte est tea s shed o e g a es a e fo o ds left u said a d fo deeds left u do e. —Harriet Beecher Stowe Finally, learn to live for the sake of experiencing what life has to offer. It is invigorating, to say the least, and it keeps your regrets at minimum. One of the reasons why we want to be successful is to actually fulfil our dreams or complete our bucket list, to look back on our life during old age with a warm smile rather than a frown. Feel free to put even the impossible things on your bucket list, and find the next best thing using your creativity. Whenever you reach a rough patch in your life, take a look at you bucket list and see what is the most plausible thing to do in order to restore your will power and keep going. Love this article? Share it with your friends on Facebook I am a creative writer at MyCity Web, and a linguist, with a degree from the English Language and Literature department. I love science fiction, epic fiction and horror movies, TV series, books and comic books. I am also a fan of video games, board games and trading card games. Read more posts written by Djordje Todorovic  Share  More

“ig s Of A To i Pare t That Ma

People Do ’t Realize

PARENTINGBY HOLLY CHAVEZ Quick Summary 1. They Fail To Provide You With Affirmation And Security 2. They Are Overly Critical 3. They Demand Your Attention . The Make To i Jokes A out You 5. They Cause You To Justify Terrible Behavior 6. They Do Not Allow You To Express Negative Emotions 7. They Scare Even Their Adult Children 8. They Always Put Their Feelings First 9. They Co-Opt Your Goals 10. They Use Guilt And Money To Control You 11. They Give You The Silent Treatment 12. They Ignore Healthy Boundaries 13. They Make You Responsible For Their Happiness Most parents genuinely do their best to provide their children with a happy and healthy upbringing, but even these individuals can accidentally make mistakes that may result in future therapy appointments. Unfortunately, some parents go beyond the occasional mistake and veer into the toxic category. Regardless of whether or not a parent is purposefully being toxic, there are several behaviors that can cause so much emotional and mental damage to a child that it ends up greatly affecting them even after they have grown up. If you experienced any of the following situations as a child, the odds are high that one or both of your parents were at least slightly toxic. 1. They Fail To Provide You With Affirmation And Security Some people believe that showing tough love is an important way to ensure that their children are able to take care of themselves in the future. If you were the recipient of this approach on a regular basis, you might even believe that this has had a positive impact on your life. However, if you practically fall apart now because of any perceived failure o eje tio , the this ost likel ste s f o a pa e t s to i efusal to provide you with the right amount of security

10 and affirmation while you were young. Tough love might work sometimes, but it cannot be the only approach a parent takes if they want their child to become a well-rounded adult. 2. They Are Overly Critical Everyo e s pa e ts iti ize f o ti e to ti e. Without this o po e t, e ight e e lea ho to do u e ous things properly, such as everyday chores like washing laundry. A toxic parent takes this to extremes by being overly critical about everything their child does. Parents can make the mistake of believing that they do this to make sure their children avoid making costly mistakes. Unfortunately, what this behavior really does is causing the child to develop a harsh inner critic that can be borderline crippling during adulthood. 3. They Demand Your Attention Toxic parents often turn their children into their own parental substitutesby demanding their attention at all times. This can be seen as bonding between the parent and child, but it is really a parasitic relationship that requires too u h of the hild s ti e a d e e g he the should e fo used o lea i g othe skills. Although it may be difficult at times, a well-rounded parent will allow their children enough space to grow and be kids without demanding constant interaction to suit their own needs. . The Make To i Jokes A out You All parents occasionally pick on their children, but when the so-called jokes become commonplace, this can be a huge problem. You do not need to accept this type of behavior just because your parent has always joked about something such as your height or weight. Ultimately, this is an undermining tactic that can make you feel very badly about yourself. If a parent has a legitimate concern to address with their child, they should be honest and noncritical, as opposed to making mean jokes. 5. They Cause You To Justify Terrible Behavior Did you grow up believing that your parent was physically or emotionally abusive to you because you deserved it? If so, you may still be justifying the terrible behavior of others at your own expense. Toxic parents can twist any situation to suit their needs, and this leaves children with two choices: accept that their parent is wrong or internalize all of the blame. In most cases, children, even those who are adults now, choose the latter option. 6. They Do Not Allow You To Express Negative Emotions Parents who efuse to u tu e thei hild s e otio al eeds a d ake light of thei egati e e otio s a e setti g up a future where the child will feel unable to express what they need. There is nothing wrong with helping children see the positive side of any situatio . Ho e e , ei g o pletel dis issi e of a hild s egati e feeli gs a d e otio al needs can lead to depression and make it more difficult for them to appropriately handle negativity as adults. 7. They Scare Even Their Adult Children Respect and fear do not need to go hand-in-hand. In fact, children who feel loved, supported, and connected are much more likely to be happy as adults. Although discipline of some sort will inevitably be necessary from time to time, non-toxic parents do not use highly fearful actions and words that are permanently damaging to the human psyche. Children should not need to be afraid to be respectful, and adults should not need to end up feeling anxious each time their parent calls or emails. 8. They Always Put Their Feelings First Parents may believe that their feelings should come first during family matters, but this is an antiquated way of thinking that is not going to foster positive relationships. Even though parents do need to make the final decision about everything from dinner to vacation plans, it is necessary to consider the feelings of every family member — including the children. Toxic individuals constantly force children to suppress their own feelings in order to appease their parents. 9. They Co-Opt Your Goals Did one of your parents become interested in everything you were doing to the point where they took over or even duplicated ou? This a see like the a tio s of so eo e ho is i te ested i thei hild s life, ut hat it ofte does is making it harder for the child to actually meet their goals. For example, if you have to sell 50 boxes of cookies at the same time that your mother decides to make cookies and pass them out to the neighbors, it is going to be a lot harder to hit your sales goal. This behavior can derail you throughout your entire life if you allow your parent to keep getting away with it. 10. They Use Guilt And Money To Control You Every child has experienced a guilt trip from their parents, but toxic individuals resort to this tactic on a regular basis. Even as an adult, your parent might still be controlling you by giving you expensive gifts and then expecting something in return. If you fail to do as they want, they will then try to make you feel guilty about it because of e e thi g the ha e do e fo ou. Health pa e ts k o that hild e do ot o e the a spe ifi espo se i exchange for money or gifts, especially when these items were not asked for in the first place.

11 11. They Give You The Silent Treatment It can be hard to talk to someone when you are angry, but shutting out a child with the silent treatment is very damaging and immature. Dishing out this passive-aggressive treatment hurts any type of relationship and makes the recipient feel pressured into fixing the situatio , e e he the did t do a thi g o g. If a pa e t is too ad to have a rational conversation, they should excuse themselves for a few minutes instead of blatantly ignoring their child. 12. They Ignore Healthy Boundaries Parents can justify keeping a close eye on their children and, in certain situations, it may even be necessary to do a bit of snooping to keep them safe. However, everyone needs to be able to set boundaries for themselves, especially teenagers. Parents who are toxic override these boundaries at every turn, and this causes numerous problems. For e a ple, a to i pa e t ill ope thei hild s doo ithout k o ki g fi st. This sets up a patte that akes it ha d for their children to properly recognize and understand boundaries later in life. 13. They Make You Responsible For Their Happiness If one of your parents spent a lot of time telling you how much they gave up for you in connection with their unhappiness, then they were placing unrealistic expectations on your role in their life. No child should be held a ou ta le fo thei pa e t s happi ess. Also, pa e ts should e e de a d that hild e gi e up thi gs that ake them happy in order to even out the score. Being forced into this situation will make it difficult for adult children to understand that we are all responsible for our own happiness. Removing toxic people from your life may seem impossible, especially if one of them is a parent. Unless you take action, though, it will be much harder to correct the emotional and psychological damage that was done to you during your childhood. On the plus side, any toxic parent who recognizes themselves within the 13 points in this article can turn to a trained counselor for assistance with breaking their negative behavioral patterns. Love this article? Share it with your friends on Facebook Holly Chavez is a freelance writer, journalist and entrepreneur. She enjoys sharing articles about relationships, lifestyles and entertainment with her readers. In her free time, she reads and works on her favorite arts and crafts projects. Read more posts written by Holly Chavez  Share  More

15 Habits People Turning 30 Should Master To Path Their Way For Success COMMUNICATION MOTIVATIONBY KAYLA LASAGA “u essful people a e si ply those ith su essful ha its. – Brian Tracy Most of us hope that the ti e e tu , life just agi all falls i to pla e. U fo tu atel , that s ot ho it o ks. We a t just blow the candles out from our thirtieth birthday cake and hit the fast track to life. Success when turning 30 is all relative to personal perspective, and finding that path means identifying what success actually looks like to you. If ou e tu i g a d ha e et to feel su essful, do t e ala ed e ause ou e ot alo e. To uild a su essful future for your thirties and beyond, forget about comparing your life to others, and start putting your energy into mastering theses 15 habits. G eat people, o atte thei field, ha e si ila ha its. Lea the a d use the i you o uest fo g eat ess. – Paula Andrew 1. Self-Validation I e talked to ea ly 30,000 people o this sho , a d all 30,000 had o e thi g i o o : They all a ted alidatio …I ould tell you that e e y si gle pe so you ill e e eet sha es that o o desi e. – The Oprah Winfrey Show If you are searching for validation from others before you take your first steps to success, you may never get there. Finding validation from within means that you are freeing yourself to trust in your life s pu pose, he o o e else does. Once you begin to trust yourself, more people will want to hear what it is you have to say. Successful people seek self-validation by embracing their own self worth, even when someone is trying to tear them down. While some negative comments can be very constructive for their personal growth, others can be just plain rude. Successful people always remember their life purpose and they always believe in their abilities.  Do t take egati e o e ts too se iousl  Do remind yourself of your strengths daily and experiment with daily mantras

12 2. Body Empowerment Thi ty as so st a ge fo e. I e eally had to o e to te s ith the fa t that I a o a alki g a d talki g adult. -C.S. Lewis Your body can be a great tool for success. People tend to base first impression on appearance, so something as subtle as poor posture can really damage your alpha composure, no matter how well dressed you may be. Successful people empower their body by treating it like a temple. They eat balanced meals with fruits and vegetables to keep a strong mind and a healthy body. They stand tall and confident, insist on eye contact, and they shake hands firmly to debut their confidence. Taking care of their body also means exercising regularly, avoiding fast foods, and dressing the part.  Do t let ph si al li itatio s dete i e the est of ou life  Do know success is not about what you have, but how you use what you have 3. Living In The Now O e ust si ply take the days of thei li es as they happen. If you spend time worrying over what is to come, which may or may not happen, then you will only be wasting precious days you will wish in the future you could have he ished a it lo ge . ― R.J. Gonzales You want to live in the present because you a t ha ge the past a d the futu e is et to o e. Mo e ts a change on a dime, and over planning anything can ultimately become a waste of time. It can be easy to remain stagnant or stuck on an idea, but the goal is to move onward and upward with the present to achieve success. It s a e that ou ill e e fi d a su essful pe so ogged do f o thei past. The te d to al a s e p ess a d address all of the skeletons in their closet. Successful people are also always prepared for the unexpected, but continue to keep a strong momentum for the present in order to reach their goals ahead.  Do t elie e the e s o l o e a to a hie e ou su ess  Do use past experiences to make wiser decisions in the present 4. Organization O de is the sa ity of the mind, the health of the body, the peace of the city, the security of the state. Like beams in a house or bones to a body, so is order to all things. – Robert Southey Organizing your sleep schedule, your work schedule, or even your workout schedule, can help keep you on a productive track. Starting each day with goals and objectives to complete, can really give you something to work towards. Setting aside time for each individual project allows you to feel fulfilled when you see work actually being accomplished. Fo su essful people, it s all a out s hedules a d lists. It s ot a out pla i g e e se o d of e e da , ut si pl outlining priorities and listing the steps that are needed to meet deadlines and complete projects on time.  Do t a igate a ou d e e o e else s s hedule  Do make time for hobbies, reading, traveling, and relaxing (this is important for your creativity and well-being) 5. Time Management “u essful people ake thei de isio s ui kly a d ha ge thei i ds slo ly. Failu es ake thei decisions slowly a d ha ge thei i ds ui kly. ― Andy Andrews The olde I get the o e I ealize ho alua le ti e is. The e s o l hou s i a da , a d to ake the ost of that time, we have to make quick decisions, we have to do what we love, and we have to stop complaining if we are not illi g to ake a ha ge. To use ou ti e isel ask ou self, A I doi g a thi g ight o that is a ou ti g to life goals? If ot, ask ou self, What a I e doi g ight o to help self su eed? J.K. Rowling is a prime example of a successful person who made great use of time. Although she struggled to find o k afte he di o e, she used he f ee ti e to ite hile he daughte atte ded s hool. C eati g the Ha Potte se ies, ‘o li g e t f o welfare to best-seller because she made use of her unemployment.  Do t ultitask; this leads to holes i ou o k  Do turn 6 individual tasks into 1 bigger task by creating flow in your schedule. i.e Avoid the back and forth commutes to the city and make one big trip, checking one thing off your list at a time. 6. Separation From Technology Lea i g to po e -down technology is an important life skill with numerous benefits. It is becoming a lost art in our ever-connected world. But the wisest of us take ti e to lea the dis ipli e. A d li e fulle li es e ause of it. – Becoming Minimalist (Website) F o pe so al e pe ie e, I e ee addi ted to so ial edia, he ki g follo e s, likes, o e ts, a d essages. It s st a ge ho ui kl it a become a full time job. I soon realized that I needed step away from social media because it was actually more of a burden than it was worth. The trick is to find balance and to not forget the reason why you began your path to success in the first place.

13 Technology brings much convenience to successful people, but success does not mean being held captive of your own devices like a GPS system. Successful people are people who recognize when they should turn their phone down or off. They understand how important it is to step away from technology to spend time alone or with their family. This is because mental breaks are important for their sanity, and a great way to declutter their active minds.  Do t let ou pho e a d so ial edia otifi atio s o ou.  Do make designated times throughout the day to check yours devices so you can avoid checking for notifications every 3-5 minutes. (wasting time) 7. Selecting The Right Relationships “u ou d you self ith o ly people ho a e goi g to lift you highe . – Oprah Winfrey It s ot a out utti g e e o e out of ou life ho has e e do e ou o g; it s a out su ou di g ou self ith like-minded people who will put in as much energy as you. Successful people avoid others who are negative, disabling, and manipulati g. It s eas fo a su essful pe so to ut someone out of their life if the relationship does not add up to 50/50.  Do t thi k that ou o e a o e ou ti e if the stu p ou g o th o d ai ou e thusias  Do give time to the people who deserve it 8. Open-Mindedness C iti al feed a k is the eakfast of ha pio s. Defe si e ess is the di e of lose s. – Dharmesh Shah “o eti es ou feeli gs a e hu t he so eo e poi ts out o e of ou fla s, ut it s part of the territory when you become successful. Being open minded allows to you take criticism and apply it in positive light. Sometimes the judgment of others can just be their fear of the unknown, and you have to just open your mind to their world and u de sta d that the ha e diffe e t thoughts, ideas, elief a d alues f o ou, a d that s oka . If ot, feed a k a really wear you down. Successful people are accepting to new ideas and have mastered compromise and colabering. They have no expectations of others, other than the truth and respect. By keeping an open mind they put more energy into their self, rather than the business of other people.  Do t gossip, sp ead u ou s, o st et h the t uth of othe s.  Do confront people in private if you hold concerns for their actions and/or words. 9. Supporting Others You e e o ith the a ility to ha ge so eo e s life – do t e e aste it. – Dale Partridge Befo e you dis iss a egi e s o k, e e e ho u h you su ked he you sta ted. You p o a ly sucked o se, a tually. – Jason Fried Turning 30 means that you should be getting out of any selfish ways to help make a difference. It takes teamwork to be successful and now that you are coming into your own, this is the best time for you to not only surround yourself by mind-liked people, but also encourage them and build lifelong partnerships. “u essful people do t a t to fall do the a it hole of o pa iso . The a t to i spi e, uild, a d et o k with like-minded people that they believe in. It s all a out uildi g u it a d o ki g as a tea to e o e su essful together. Often they make kind gestures to help others excel without expecting anything in return, however, when a pay it forward gesture is made they are grateful.  Do t lead so eo e for solely your own benefit, be respectable  Do feel proud to see someone achieve success knowing you played a role in their greatness. 10. Getting Uncomfortable You do t ha e to e g eat to sta t, ut you ha e to sta t to e g eat. – Zig Ziglar O sta les a e those thi gs you see he you take you eyes off the goal. – Henry Ford To be successful in life, you need to take risks. In order to take risks you need to stop worrying about what might happe if it does t o k out. Yes, it a ea ei g in an uncomfortable situation, but instead of looking at something like a financial burden, think of it as an investment in your future. The a e su essful e ause the t e thi gs, a d the k o that the e s a e eptio to e e ule. Ve a Wa g, once known as a professional figure skater, moved into fashion with no formal experience. She spent 17 years working as an editor for Vogue, and when she was denied the editor-in-chief position she left the company. For the next two years Vera worked as a design director for Ralph Lauren, but after struggling to find the right dress for her up o i g eddi g, she left the o pa to ope Ve a Wa g B idal House Ltd. The est is histo .  Do t sta stag a t if ou a e ot g o i g  Do understand that as long as you are not hurting anyone in the process of success, taking risks will help you rise above

14 11. Letting Go Of Perfection “u ess o sists of goi g f o failu e to failu e ithout loss of e thusias . – Winston Churchill To let go of your type-A personality, sometimes you have to just remind yourself that this will not be your last and only chance. Success is to follow your passion, and passion needs to be implemented into your lifestyle. If you think you will nail everything in one go, you might be fooling yourself. The ai i g edie t to su ess is failu e, so it s o su p ise that ost su essful people ha e the apa it to let go of perfection to take their first steps. They know that success is ongoing and learning never stops.  Do t thi k that pe fe tio e ists, it does t  Do know that you can make something perfect for you, for the moment, but like time, everything eventually evolves, including your idea of perfection. 12. Addressing Problems Telli g people o does not need to be an act of reje tio . Lea i g to say o the ight ay a p o e you e a atte ti e tea ate. – Brian de Haaff, cofounder and CEO of Aha! Labs Inc. Whe ou add ess a p o le at the oot, ou a e u i g ou self ti e a d e e g . Whethe that s ad itti g a mistake before the mistake has even surfaced, keeping open communication with the people around you, or using a st o g No to a oid u sta le situatio s. No e the less, ei g p oa ti e i e e situatio ill e e efi ial to ou. Before anything gets out of hand, successful people like to source the root of their problem as soon as possible. This helps them bypass hours, days, or even weeks of troubleshooting a situation.  Do t ush p o le s u de the ug, that s he e p o le s go to a ifest a d a i ate u til the become unmanageable.  Do be aware of high-risk potential problems (like knowing the fire doors on a airplane), keep a close eye without obsessing. 13. Being A Leader If you a e ho est, t uthful, a d t a spa e t, people t ust you. If people t ust you, you have no grounds for fear, suspi io o jealousy. – Dalai Lama To be a leader, you mentor the people around you instead of having expectations of them. Success is teaching, rather than barking demands and reminding people why you are the one barking. Most successful people are successful because they lead and encourage, rather than bully others around with their supe io status.  Do t gloat, people o t espe t that ualit  Do your part, get in the action, get messy, and have fun with the people around you, ou e a tea pla e 14. Working Hard Nothi g is i possi le, the o d itself says I possi le – Audrey Hepburn I ill ot aste ti e o se o d thoughts. My life ill ot e a apology. It ill e a state e t. ― Andy Andrews To make success out of the impossible you have to believe that you can make something out of anything. You have to always go that extra mile, and no matter how crazy of an idea you may have, just go for it. It might just be the next best thing. At 36 years old, Julia Child, had o ed to Pa is, F a e ith o e pe ie e i g eat food. It did t take lo g fo he interest in French cuisine to spike, steering her in the direction famous Le Cordon Bleu cooking school. By the age of she had pu lished the ook Maste i g the A t of F e h Cooki g , a d e t o to ha e he o TV sho . “u essful people do t al a s k o hat the a e goi g to e su essful at, ut ith health lifest le ha its a o e can find success in new or old passions.  Do t dis ou age ou ideas e ause it has t ee do e efo e  Do see opportunity in the untouched field 15. Perseverance I the iddle of e e y diffi ulty lies oppo tu ity. – Albert Einstein Failu e is a p e e uisite fo g eat su ess. If you a t to su eed faste , dou le you ate of failu e. – Brian Tracy The goal is to not let any hiccup or roadblock discourage your passion to dream big. Turn that dream into reality and never give up on yourself. “u essful people a t e stopped o e the sta t. The ight ot al a s k o hat they are trying to achieve in the moments, but all of their failed attempts usually lead to a form of greatness.  Do t see failu e as a dead-end but as an opportunity to grow  Do learn from your mistakes and the mistakes of others

15 Fo the ost pa t, atu als a e yths. People ho a e espe ially good at so ethi g ay ha e so e i ate inclination, or some particular talent, but they have also spent about ten thousand hours practicing or doing that thi g. ― Meg Jay The e a e o se ets to su ess. It is the esult of p epa atio , ha d o k a d lea i g f o failu e. – Colin Powell http://www.investopedia.com/articles/pf/08/make-money-in-business.asp

9 Tips For Growing A Successful Business To succeed in business today, you need to be flexible and have good planning and organizational skills. Many people start a business thinking that they'll turn on their computers or open their doors and start making money - only to find that making money in a business is much more difficult than they thought. You can avoid this in your business ventures by taking your time and planning out all the necessary steps you need to reach to achieve success. Read on to find out how. 1. Get Organized To be successful in business you need to be organized. Organization will help you complete tasks and stay on top of things to be done. A good way to do this is to create a to-do list each day - as you complete each item, check it off your list. This will ensure that you're not forgetting anything and you're completing all the tasks that are essential to the survival of your business. 2. Keep Detailed Records All successful businesses keep detailed records. By keeping detailed records, you'll know where the business stands financially and what potential challenges you could be facing. Just knowing this gives you time to create strategies to overcome the obstacles that can prevent you from being successful and growing your business. 3. Analyze Your Competition Competition breeds the best results. To be successful, you can't be afraid to study and learn from your competitors. After all, they may be doing something right that you can implement in your business to make more money. 4. Understand the Risks and Rewards The key to being successful is taking calculated risks to help your business grow. A good question to ask is "What's the downside?" If you can answer this question, then you know what the worst-case scenario is. This knowledge will allow you to take the kinds of calculated risks that can generate tremendous rewards for your business. 5. Be Creative Always be looking for ways to improve your business and to make it stand out from the competition. Recognize that you don't know everything and be open to new ideas and new approaches to your business. 6. Stay Focused The old saying that "Rome was not built in a day" applies here. Just because you open a business doesn't mean that you're going to immediately start making money. It takes time to let people know who you are, so stay focused on achieving your short-term goals and give the rest time to come together on its own. 7. Prepare to Make Sacrifices The lead-up to starting a business is hard work, but after you open your doors, your work has just begun. In many cases, you have to put in more time than you would if you were working for someone else. In turn, you have to make sacrifices, such as spending less time with family and friends in order to be successful. 8. Provide Great Service There are many successful businesses that forget that providing great customer service is important. If you provide better service for your customers, they'll be more inclined to come to you the next time they need something instead of going to your competition. 9. Be Consistent Consistency is key component to making money in business. You have to consistently keep doing the things necessary to be successful day in and day out. This will create long-term positive habits that will help you make money over the long term. Conclusion Starting and running a successful business can be rewarding and challenging. Success requires focus, discipline and perseverance. However, success will not come over night - it requires a long-term focus and that you remain consistent in challenging environments. For more on being successful in business, see 4 Steps To Creating A Stellar Business Plan andSmall Business: It's All About Relationships.

16 https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/246929

8 Highly Effective Business Success Tips for Entrepreneurs Being an entrepreneur means that you'll often blaze your own trail: No career guides, counselors or maps will guide you from one step to the e t: You'll ha e to ake it up as ou go. I e ee a e t ep e eu hole adult life a d it s the o l a ee I e e e k o . I a a , that akes e lu k : I e e o e ot o l o fo ta le ith, ut actually good at, forging ahead into unchartered territory. Related: Seek Your Strategy for 2015 on a Vision Quest Ho e e , like e e o e else, I e fa ed o e ts of dou t a d uncertainty and plenty of sleepless nights. As I look back at the steps that led me from my first sale -- standing next to my grandfather Joe at a folk festival when I was just a young kid -- to my assorted entrepreneurial ventures today, some common themes emerge. 1. Keep the big vision in sight. A big vision will take you far. I put this tip first because when things go wrong on the path to your success, and they will, keeping the big vision in mind will enable you to steer your way back to a successful course. It may not always be the course you imagined, but your big vision becomes your north star, which in turn helps you navigate and orient yourself through the darkness. I believe in this so much, I even co-wrote a book on the subject with my brother. Your vision is your foundation, compass and celestial beacon, lighting the way forward. 2. Fuel your vision with perseverance. What should go hand-in-ha d ith a ig isio is the pe se e a e ou ll eed to keep o i g fo a d. If ou e a Game of Thrones watcher, there was a great line in a recent episode when Stannis Baratheon was being advised about the lack of wisdom in starting a battle in the snow. He responded: We a h to i to o e a h to defeat, ut e go fo a d, o l fo a d. Sometimes, when things get challenging on your path as an entrepreneur, you have to commit yourself to moving forward, regardless of the discomfort and fear surrounding the next steps. When you fuel your big vision with pe se e a e a d the spi it of o l fo a d, ou e e tuall eet ou su ess. 3. Make a plan, but be flexible. You need a few sets of plans, even if each is only a few pages. A business plan, with an accompanying marketing outline, are important blueprints for success. They help you map out the major landmarks of the road ahead, define your success and break the journey into important metrics you can track your progress against. I ot o e fo a gia t, o ust pla o od ill a ess, ut I do ad o ate a o e odest go-to plan that can act as your basic instruction manual and hold you accountable to specific numbers. The easo I do t suppo t highl detailed plans is that I believe you need the flexibility to alter the course as necessary. Sometimes, large changes to the plan will be necessary. Related: How to Establish a Vision Statement Employees Will Get Behind 4. Embrace your expertise. If ou e al ead i atel good at so ethi g, o ha e a skillset, e a e it. Do t t to e all thi gs fo all aspe ts of ou usi ess. Hi e out o sig o t a ts ith age ies fo the thi gs ou a t do, a d fo us o your strengths as ui kl a d ofte as possi le. Do t e a ja k-of-all-trades and a master of none. . Do ’t rei e t the heel. What is al ead o ki g i othe people s usi ess odels, i ou i dust , i soft a e appli atio s a d othe business operations that you can emulate instead of re-create? Do t aste ou ti e t i g to set up s ste s he you can simply purchase and install one, saving precious time and spending little money. I always keep my burn rate in mind and run as lean as possible. But sometimes the best decision is to take on the expense of some good systems so ou do t ha e to aste ti e a d ake istakes uildi g ou o . . Do ’t ur out. This is t just a stale pie e of ad i e: You health is lite all the ost i po ta t thi g in your life. When your body gi es out, ou e do e. You hea t does t a e ho good a usi ess ou ha e; ou i ulato s ste is t all that impressed with your money or accomplishments. . . you get the point. Personally, I try to eat really good food, get good sleep and take as much time as I can manage day by day to laugh with my kids and see my wife. You will burn out if you sacrifice your physical and mental health on the altar of your business. So, take care of yourself. 7. Leverage everything. Life hacks may seem like just viral fodder on the internet, but they can teach an important mini-lesson in leverage. When you use leverage to your advantage in every aspect of your life, you go further, faster. Leverage outsourced help to streamline tasks and gain traffic time for important phone calls. Leverage down time waiting anywhere (the do to s offi e, ou kid s s hool, ou e ha i s aiti g oo , ou ai li e flight) to get stuff done.

17 8. Keep your sense of humor. If ou a t laugh at ou self, ou e issi g out. I as al ost asleep the othe ight he I thought of a fu e e t that had happened earlier that day, and I suddenly found myself erupting with laughter so loud I woke the dog. Laughing is a good cure to diffuse stress, infuse some lightheartedness into life and get some perspective on the fact that, hey, this is only life after all -- ou do t ha e to take it so se iousl . So, try to laugh more and stress a little less. It strengthens your emotional and mental well-being, keeps other people from getting under your skin and keeps you cool and collected, plus a lot more fun to be around. Related: Pump Up Your Team by Encouraging Employees to Visualize Their Success http://smallbiztrends.com/2014/06/success-tips-for-small-business.html

11 Success Tips From Small Business Leaders Jun 23, 2014 by Deborah Shane In Management 20 Whethe it s a out ho to use so ial edia, getti g th ough the ea l da k da s of a sta tup, o a out a keti g your business, getting advice can help you succeed. The video below contains success tips from 11 business leaders. It was shot at ICON14 in Phoenix, Arizona. ICON is the Infusionsoft customer conference that attracts 3,000 attendees, most of them small businesses or serving small businesses like yours and mine. I as the e o ehalf of “ all Busi ess T e ds aptu i g so e a o the aisle i te ie s from presenters and attendees. And out of all the su ess tips, hat s fa o ite? Well, it s f o Clate Mask, CEO of I fusio soft, ho sat do and talked frankly about the brutally tough early days of the company he co-founded over a decade ago. Infusionsoft, which got$54 million in venture capital from Goldman Sachs, bootstrapped its way for years before earning that large injection of growth capital. Mask says that in the early years, every single day was a struggle for survival. And while cash flow and business experience atte , the eal se et, he sa s, sta ts i ou head ith ou su ess i dset, attitude a d positi e thi ki g. This is hat gets ou th ough the st uggle. Below is the video (accompanied by a brief recap of key quotes): Tip 1: In Social Media, Be Where Your Customers Are K o he e ou usto e s a e ha gi g out o li e. You do t ha e to e e e he e. Be he e ou usto e s a e…a d o u i ate ith the the e. – Laurie McCabe, Partner SMB Group, SMB-GR.com Tip : Ne er “top Net orki g. Do ’t Gi e Up Ne e stop et o ki g, e e stop pushi g. It s eas to gi e up he e e od a ou d ou … is telli g ou ou a t do it . You ha e to e a ou d positi e people. The push o . – (Starts at 1:08) Tom Force, Owner, ICE Keytags Tip 3: Twitter Provides Powerful Market Research T itte is the est thi g that e e happe ed to s all usi ess o e s. You a liste to ou o petito s o customers, and they do t e e k o ou e liste i g. – (Starts at 2:01) Melinda Emerson, Author of Succeed as Your Own Boss Tip : It’s all A out Mi dset a d Positi e Thi ki g Ou fi st th ee ea s e e utall tough… e e da as a out su i al. The I e e e ed a lesso f o fathe . You i d is e e thi g, et it s ot hat ou k o , ut athe ho ou deal ith it. It is a out ou i dset a d positi e thi ki g. – (Starts at 2:43) Clate Mask, Founder and CEO, Infusionsoft Tip 5: Wearable Tech Keeps You Fit The ea a les te h t e d is keepi g people fit, keepi g the a ti e, a d keepi g the i toe ith thei fit ess goals. – (Starts at 7:10) Tishin Donkersley, Editor in Chief, AZTechBeat.com Tip 6: A Handwritten Thank You Note Will Wow Customers O e si ple a to o usto e s is tha k-you cards — a handwritten note, a thank-you card saying tha k ou fo u i g f o e . – (Starts at 8:09) Ramon Ray, Technology Evangelist, SmallBizTechnology.com Tip 7: Share Information on Facebook That is Great for Your Customers Ha i g a Fa e ook p ese e as a eal estate p ofessio al is itall i po ta t. Bu e s a d selle s a e the e. Make su e ou a e sha i g i fo atio that is g eat fo the o su e , ot just eal estate people. – (Starts at 9:09) Bill Harney, CEO,Keeping Current Matters Tip 8: To Get PR, Offer Yourself up as a Thought Leader If ou a e a lo al s all usi ess, look at lo al edia fo P‘. ‘ead those pu li atio s, fo ge elatio ships, fi d out what t pes of sto ies the jou alists a e o e i g, a d offe ou self up as a thought leade o a topi . – (Starts at 9:49) Laura Collins, PR at Infusionsoft

18 Tip 9: Put Processes in Place in Your Business to Ask for Referrals Put p o esses i pla e i ou usiness that ask for referrals. And make sure the customer experience is above e pe tatio s. – (Starts at 11:21) Jonathan Graves, President, Graves Organization, Inc. Tip 10: Your Sales Pipeline Should Qualify Leads at Every Step You eed to set up a p o ess to o e t the ost leads possi le. Put the i a sales pipeli e … a d add he kpoi ts to dete i e those ho a e ualified, e sus those ho a e t. – (Starts at 11:52) Justin Roberts, Infusionsoft Expert, Infusionsoft Tip 11: Entrepreneurship is Lonely. Reach out to Mentors and Peers E t ep e eu ship is o e of the lo eliest p ofessio s i the o ld. The e t ep e eu s that a e eall su essful ea h out in networking groups and peer associations — o just to o e pe so . The eed that thought pa t e . – (Starts at 13:00) Jeff Mask, Vice President, Infusionsoft For more success tips, see The Seven Stages of Small Business Success.

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15 Critical Business Success Tips for Startups and Small Businesses It s ha d to elie e that I o i g up o eight ea s as a e t ep e eu . As e e g o at CMI, I e lea ed o many critical resources and I keep them pinned to my office wall — such as Mark Flet her’s 15 Startup Commandments, Dharmesh “hah’s Startup Triplets, and Fast Co pa ’s 10 Common Mistakes Startups Make. Although it s ha d to lea l ide tif hat su ess fa to s ha e ee the ost iti al du i g ou jou e o the oad less t a eled, he e a e the o es that I elie e ha e ade the ost i pa t o e, o ou o pa , o ou a azi g employees, and — most of all — on our valued customers. 1. Be the leading informational provider for your industry. Content marketing works. We have tremendous flexibility in our business model simply because we deliver valuable and compelling industry information to our customers and prospects. Our daily updates, our weekly e-newsletters, our quarterly magazine, and our annual research all help to position us as the go-to resource for content marketing information. Without all this, I cannot imagine how difficult it would be to grow our business, not to mention the sheer cost of sales. 2. Invest in the right people. Although our people are some of the leading experts in the entire industry, we hire first based on attitude and flexibility. People with great attitudes who are fun to work with can learn and do just about anything. 3. Give employees permission to fail. We tell all ou e plo ees the follo i g: Do hat ou ha e to do to e su essful. Do t ait fo pe issio . Ask fo fo gi e ess late . Whethe this is a solid poli o ot, it helps ou e plo ees to take isks a d e o e leade s. 4. If you partner, plan the exit strategy first. I cannot express how critical this is. If you partner with anyone, plan that someday the divorce will happen. 5. … Or just do ’t partner. I e pe ie e, ost pa t e ships si pl do t o k, a d can hamper the creativity of the organization. Just be careful. 6. Risk everything, every day. One of our advantages is that we are willing to try anything if we believe in what it can provide for our customers, or if we believe that we can gain a competitive advantage. We reach decisions quickly, and change these decisions slowly if and when they are changed. 7. Success is impossible without failure. I saw this statement o fo e Ka sas asket all pla e Tho as ‘o i so s a tattoo a d I ould t ag ee o e. The e e e o e ts he I did t elie e the usi ess as goi g to ake it. Looki g a k, it as those o e ts that have defined our organization. I no longer afraid of failure, but keenly aware of what new opportunities arise because of it. 8. Do ’t fall in love with your product or service. This almost cost us the entire business. Although our content marketing matching service, Junta42, was working and profitable, e e e t g o i g the usi ess at a ate that as a epta le. But Ju ta as a a d, although I knew it needed to evolve, it took everything I had to pivot the business in a new direction. Discarding the product we began the business with was the best business decision — and the hardest one — I ever made. 9. Get a good attorney and accountant. Never do any of this yourself.

19 10. Rely on your instincts. If the numbers are right, but your gut feels differently, go with your gut — every time. This little piece of advice has served me well. 11. Do ’t listen to your friends. The majority of my friends thought I was crazy for leaving a high-paying executive job to start a business. Again, go with your gut. 13. Write a book. How can you be the leading e pe t i ou i dust ithout a ook? Ho estl , I ot su e. Write the book for your i dust a d it ill e o e the g eatest usi ess a d ou ll e e ha e. It ill also lead to a azi g speaki g opportunities that you would never get without the book in hand. 13. At first, try everything … then focus. When you are a micro-sized usi ess, ou a affo d to t a little it of e e thi g. That s pe fe tl OK. But o e ou get to a point where the business model is fleshing itself out, then you need laser focus. 14. Give content gifts to industry leaders. It is your responsibility to know who the influencers are in your industry who can help make or break your business. Once you identify those people, you need to be sharing their content on a consistent basis, whether that is through Facebook, Twitter, or building lists like we did with the Junta42 Top Content Marketing blogs. The more unsolicited gifts of content ou a gi e, the o e othe s ill etu the fa o … helpi g to uild ou usi ess i to the futu e. 15. Have fun! If ou ake up i the o i g a d ou a e t e ited a out goi g to o k, so ethi g is o g ith ou usi ess. The last five years have been an amazing experience that only can happen to someone who has launched a business. I find myself in the unique place of not wanting for anything in life. I want to offer a sincere (and I mean it) thank you to all those people (especially our employees) who have helped make our business successful. And a special thank you to my wife and family for their unwavering support every step of the way. Get in-depth education in person at the Content Inc. Summit. The Content Inc. Summit is held as part of Content Marketing World (September 11). Learn directly from Joe Pulizzi, Andrew Davis, Matthew Patrick, and other entrepreneurs on how to grow your business with content.  7 Books That Will Inspire More Successful Content Marketing  2016 Content Marketing Toolkit: 23 Checklists, Templates, and Guides  Content Marketing – It s Going to Get Weird  Do t Follow a Funnel, Create Content for an Engine [Research] http://www.briantracy.com/blog/business-success/7-tips-for-growing-a-successful-business/

7 Strategies To Grow Your Successful Business What does it take to e su essful i toda s usi ess o ld? It takes a lot of thi gs to u a su essful usi ess. To sta t, ou ha e to ha e a p odu t that s a ted o eeded, a d it has to e p ope l p i ed. That s just the beginning. Tips For Growing Your Business In order to have a successful business, practice these things. If your business strategy is lacking in a particular area, its time to fix it. These are seven tips to grow your business. 1) Be Hands-On And Meticulous In order to grow your business, the business owner needs to be there all the time and hands on, like a doctor. A business owner can never be afraid to do the small tasks. He or she should pitch in and straighten up boxes or pick up thi gs. “ all thi gs do get oti ed, so atte tio to detail is e i po ta t. 2) Show Your Passion Selling is a transfer of enthusiasm. Business owners need to show their enthusiasm for their product or service, as well as for their customers. Besides showing passion, business owners need to be optimistic. In business, there are all kinds of problems. You have to look for the good in every situation and look for the lesson in everything that goes wrong. 3) Focus On The Customer The pu pose of usi ess is ot to ake a p ofit. It s to eate a d keep a usto e . You a t the to o e the fi st time, then come again and finally bring their friends. How you are doing is directly related to how many satisfied customers you have. To increase customer satisfaction, you have to listen to your customers and be involved in their buying experience.

20 4) Become More Competitive Unless you have an exclusive monopoly, competition is everything and differentiation is the key to successful selling. You a t e a e-too o pa . You must have a competitive advantage. If ou do t ha e o e, eate o e. It all comes down to your USP or unique selling proposition. This is what makes you better than your competitors. It a e ou lo atio , ou p odu t, ut ofte it s ou. Whe usto e s thi k of a usi ess, the ofte thi k of the people who make up that business and especially the owner. 5) Mind The Money In putting together a business strategy, business owners should always focus on sales, revenues and cash flow, and to know every day how much money is being made. Focus on your net profit, not your gross profit. This gives you a more realistic view of how the business is doing. Look to idealize ou usi ess. Thi k a out hat ou pe fe t business would look like, and figure out what you need to do to create it. 6) Be The Best Successful business owners are always striving for excellence. They want to be the best at what they do. Being the best is about being in constant motion, working harder and faster. Being the best is also about wanting to learn more. 7) Measure Your Success Everyone defines success differently. The best measure of success: Number one, you should enjoy what you do. That s the ulti ate su ess. Ne t, ou should o siste tl hit ou u e s, it sho s that ou k o hat ou e doing. Lastly, you should love your product or service, and you should love your customers. If you do all these, you a t help ut e su essful. Conclusion All of these tips to growing a successful business are important. Having your own business is challenging and rewarding. It is important to plan and set your goals in the long term. Thank you for reading this blog on how to grow a successful business. To learn more about where you can improve areas of your business today, click the button below download my FREE BUSINESS STRATEGIC PLANNING QUESTIONNAIREand answer the questions in it to analyze your own business and come up with a great strategy for yourself. http://compass.ups.com/7-tips-from-successful-entrepreneurs/

7 must-know tips from successful entrepreneurs Small business owners share hard-learned lessons from the trenches. Did you know that, according to theSmall Business Administration, only a third of new businesses survive 10 years or more? What can you do to make your small business one of the thrivers? To find out, we asked entrepreneurs who have succeeded. 1. Love what you do. The road to success is a hard one. But, according to Lisa King, owner of Brownie Points Inc., which sells gourmet brownies and holiday gift baskets, it's a lot easier if you're passionate about your business's purpose. "If you don't [love what you do], it's hard to be successful," she says. She adds that this helps you stay positive: "You need to maintain your optimism. Once it's gone, you're done." 2. Build a team immersed in your vision. "For me, it's more than just hiring experienced people. It's important to demonstrate the type of organization we want to be," says Mike Mondello, president of SeaBear, which supplies fresh and smoked wild salmon directly to consumers. To bring to life the vision of building a seafood brand based on world-class, sustainable wild salmon, Mondello used a team meeting to showcase a fisherman whose way of catching fish resulted in a better end product. 3. Come up with innovative ways to solve problems. Necessity really is the mother of invention. Just ask Robin Brocklesby of Creative Coverings, which rents specialty linens for formal events. When customers were having difficulty returning the linens they had rented, Brocklesby turned to UPS for a creative solution. The result was out-of-the box innovation: Return the linens in specially designed bags (with an estimated life span of 300 uses) rather than larger boxes. 4. Create a delightful customer experience. Several components come together to win customers, and everyone at the company needs to know their own role in retaining customers. "It's mission critical that everyone on our team understands how they fit into the brand and what they bring to the value chain that delivers a successful customer experience," Mondello says.

21 King notes that shipping plays a vital role in her customers' experience, particularly since Brownie Points provides a perishable product. "You need to know that you're partnering with someone who can manage your shipments and make sure your packages arrive on time," she says. 5. Quickly learn from your mistakes. Mistakes are inevitable. The key is to learn from them – fast. A decade ago during the holidays, SeaBear outsourced its call center. Customer orders were soon riddled with errors. "When a customer had a need outside the norm, the call center couldn't handle it with the customer care our own professionals could," Mondello recalls. The solution? SeaBear immediately stopped outsourcing and personally contacted all the customers who were negatively affected. Also, the company has learned to test any new process during a quiet time of the year. 6. Rely on people smarter than you. You can't know and do everything. You must rely on others. "Surround yourself with people who know more than you do," King advises. "I was a schoolteacher [prior to going into business] and there were a lot of things I had to learn," she recalls. To fill in the gap, King selected vendors or has hired people who had the knowledge or skills she lacked. 7. Never sacrifice quality. "The key to the success of any business is to establish a philosophy and have everyone in the business buy into it," says Larry Sweet, founder and president of Save-A-Load Inc. The company manufacturers load bars for truckers and delivery companies for the cargo area to hold items in place during transport. Sweet's philosophy of putting quality first has resulted in double-digit revenue growth since the company's founding in 1993. The manufacturer stands behind its product quality by providing a lifetime warranty and relying on UPS to deliver its best-in-class product to customers worldwide. Have your own tips? Share them below. Recommended for you:  7 tips for turning your online shopping cart into a surefire moneymaker.  5 ways to transform your returns policy for business success.  How do you achieve 3,000 percent growth? Ask Southern Tide.  3 ways to 'outship' your competition, part III. http://smallbusiness.findlaw.com/starting-a-business/tips-for-a-successful-small-business.html

Tips for a Successful Small Business Write a business plan, any business plan You have a passion, and you'd like to make it your profession. No matter how enthusiastic you are about your small business, though, it won't be successful unless you have a plan in place for how you're going to start and run it. It doesn't matter how long or detailed your plan is, as long as it covers a few essential points. Most successful small businesses will need to have a break-even analysis, a profit-loss forecast and a cash-flow analysis. A cash-flow analysis is especially important since you could be selling your products like hotcakes, but if you won't be paid for six months, you could still run out of money and have to close your doors. A business plan is essential because it allows you to experiment with the strategy for your business on paper, before you start playing for keeps. Determine how you'll make a profit Profit is, after all, the ultimate goal of any successful small business. You should examine your business' expenses (rent, materials, employee compensation, etc.) and then figure out how much you will need to sell to cover those costs and start generating a profit. This is known as a break-even analysis. Start with as much of your own money as possible Many small business owners cover their start-up costs entirely through loans, with the expectation that they will begin paying back the loans with the profits from their new business. New businesses can take months or years to generate a profit, however, and loan payments can really become a millstone around the neck of a fledgling operation. If you can save up as much of the start-up capital yourself before you open your doors, you will help ensure that loans won't sink your new business. Remember, also, that there's an outside chance that a lender will call a loan or add unfavorable terms if your business isn't as successful as you initially planned. If you provide as much of the startup money as possible, it will lessen the odds of a nasty surprise like this hindering your business.

22 Protect yourself Most small businesses are sole proprietorships or partnerships. While these types of businesses are nice and easy to form, they also expose their owners to liability for business debts and judgments. Creditors and judgment holders can come after the owners' personal assets, like savings accounts and homes, once the business' money is depleted. While insurance can reduce this liability somewhat, it's worth it to consider forming a corporation or limited liability corporation (LLC). These business structures will shield owners from personal liability, but there are more rules and requirements associated with them. Start small Everyone wants their small business to be successful, with multiple locations, lots of employees and loads of revenue, but you have to learn to walk before you can run. Don't spread yourself too thin or take on too many expenses at the beginning, especially if your income might take a while to catch up to your ambitions. By starting small, you ensure that you can survive the inevitable hiccups associated with running a small business. Those entrepreneurs who begin with modest operations can recover and learn from their mistakes without taking on a lot of debt. Starting small will help your small business grow into a successful enterprise. Get it in writing While, it's nice to do business with a handshake, there's no substitute for a well-written contract. Indeed, many contracts are not valid unless they are in written form. The exact number of this type of contract varies between states, but here are a few common examples:  Sales of goods worth more than $500  Contracts lasting more than a year  A transfer of ownership in copyrights or real estate While contracts can be valid when orally made, they are much harder to prove and enforce. Make sure you get all agreements in writing -- it will save you headaches down the line, and could even save your business. Keep your edge There are many ways to gain a competitive edge over other businesses in your industry: you could have a better product, a more efficient manufacturing or distribution process, a more convenient location, better customer service, or a better understanding of the changing marketplace. The best way to hold onto your competitive edge is to protect your trade secrets. A trade secret is that information that isn't known to others that gives you a competitive advantage in the market. There are many kinds of trade secrets, and trade secrets receive legal protection as long as their owners take steps to keep them secret. Those steps could be anything from marking confidential documents to requiring partners and employees to sign nondisclosure agreements. Another way to hold onto your competitive edge is to stay proactive. If you know that your business is going to face challenges or encroachment by a competitor, don't wait to react -- plan ahead and you'll stay ahead. Hire the right people Don't just hire the first person to come along with the basic qualifications you need. Look for someone with motivation, creativity and the right kind of personality to make it in your industry and fit in with your business. Then, once you've found that person, treat them well, engage them and make sure that you create the environment that they will thrive and give their all in. Make sure you create the right kind of employee relationship Lots of businesses try to save money by hiring people as independent contractors rather than full-time employees. The IRS will impose large penalties on businesses that do not withhold and pay taxes for workers that it considers full-time employees rather than independent contractors. Here are some things the IRS will look at to determine whether a worker is an independent contractor or a full-time employee:  The worker performs tasks that are essential for your business  The worker only works for your business  The worker works 40 hours a week, or nearly 40 hours  The worker receives instructions and training from you, and you exercise control over how the worker does their job Also be sure to create an "at-will" relationship with your employees. Employers can terminate at-will employees for any reason, which is essential if an employee isn't working out. There are many ways to make it clear that the employment relationship is at-will, including in employee handbooks and through offer letters. Don't make any promises to employees about the length or terms of their employment, as these could become binding on you later.

23 Pay your bills and taxes on time It should go without saying, but it's important to pay what you owe -- especially when dealing with the IRS. The IRS can impose harsh penalties and even come after a business owner's personal assets if the owner doesn't remit payroll taxes on time. It's also important to pay your regular debts in a timely fashion. If you get a reputation for stalling on a debt, you could find it difficult to form business relationships in the future. Plus, if you stay current on your debts and pay them as you incur them, it will help you avoid being overwhelmed by cash flow problems if several debts come due simultaneously. Consider Getting Professional Legal Help It should go without saying that entrepreneurs wear many hats -- but "attorney" shouldn't be one of them. While you will have to get acquainted with the laws and regulations that will impact your business, sometimes it's important to leave the details to the professionals. Contact a business and commercial law attorney or employment law attorney in your area for help. - See more at: http://smallbusiness.findlaw.com/starting-a-business/tips-for-a-successful-smallbusiness.html#sthash.tvkfKqNj.dpuf

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Success Tips - Quotes Four Keys to Success 1. 2. 3. 4.

Decide exactly what you want and where you want to go. Set a deadline and make a plan to get there. ... Take action on your plan; do something every day to move toward your goal. Resolve in advance that you will persist until you succeed, that you will never, ever give up.

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Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success. Henry Ford Together, Progress Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts. Winston Churchill Courage, Failure The price of success is hard work, dedication to the job at hand, and the determination that whether we win or lose, we have applied the best of ourselves to the task at hand. Vince Lombardi Work, Best, Dedication Don't aim for success if you want it; just do what you love and believe in, and it will come naturally. David Frost Love, Aim, Naturally Success is simple. Do what's right, the right way, at the right time. Arnold H. Glasow Time, Simple Always be yourself, express yourself, have faith in yourself, do not go out and look for a successful personality and duplicate it. Bruce Lee Faith, Successful, Duplicate The starting point of all achievement is desire. Napoleon Hill Desire, Point Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. Albert Schweitzer Love, Happiness, Successful Try not to become a man of success, but rather try to become a man of value. Albert Einstein Value, Rather Desire is the key to motivation, but it's determination and commitment to an unrelenting pursuit of your goal - a commitment to excellence - that will enable you to attain the success you seek. Mario Andretti Commitment, Motivation Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm. Winston Churchill Failure, Loss Action is the foundational key to all success. Pablo Picasso Action, Key Success is nothing more than a few simple disciplines, practiced every day. Jim Rohn Simple, Few, Practiced Success is how high you bounce when you hit bottom. George S. Patton Bottom, Bounce, High Success is a lousy teacher. It seduces smart people into thinking they can't lose. Bill Gates Teacher, Smart Take up one idea. Make that one idea your life - think of it, dream of it, live on that idea. Let the brain, muscles, nerves, every part of your body, be full of that idea, and just leave every other idea alone. This is the way to success. Swami Vivekananda Life, Alone, Brain A successful man is one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks others have thrown at him. David Brinkley Foundation, Thrown Happiness lies in the joy of achievement and the thrill of creative effort. Franklin D. Roosevelt Happiness, Creative Strive not to be a success, but rather to be of value. Albert Einstein Value, Strive, Rather No man succeeds without a good woman behind him. Wife or mother, if it is both, he is twice blessed indeed. Godfrey Winn Good, Blessed, Wife

2 It is no use saying, 'We are doing our best.' You have got to succeed in doing what is necessary. Winston Churchill Best, Succeed, Saying All you need in this life is ignorance and confidence, and then success is sure. Mark Twain Life, Ignorance, Confidence Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome. Booker T. Washington Life, Obstacles, Overcome I've failed over and over and over again in my life and that is why I succeed. Michael Jordan Life, Succeed, Again The size of your success is measured by the strength of your desire; the size of your dream; and how you handle disappointment along the way. Robert Kiyosaki Strength, Dream, Desire The foundation stones for a balanced success are honesty, character, integrity, faith, love and loyalty. Zig Ziglar

Good, better, best. Never let it rest. 'Til your good is better and your better is best. St. Jerome In order to succeed, we must first believe that we can. Nikos Kazantzakis Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it. Charles R. Swindoll Accept the challenges so that you can feel the exhilaration of victory. George S. Patton Failure will never overtake me if my determination to succeed is strong enough. Og Mandino Either you run the day or the day runs you. Jim Rohn A creative man is motivated by the desire to achieve, not by the desire to beat others. Ayn Rand You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream. C. S. Lewis What you do today can improve all your tomorrows. Ralph Marston Keep your eyes on the stars, and your feet on the ground. Theodore Roosevelt The secret of getting ahead is getting started. Mark Twain Always do your best. What you plant now, you will harvest later. Og MandinoBest, Harvest, Plant The secret of getting ahead is getting started. Mark Twain Ahead, Secret Keep your eyes on the stars, and your feet on the ground. Theodore Roosevelt Eyes, Stars, Feet Believe in yourself! Have faith in your abilities! Without a humble but reasonable confidence in your own powers you cannot be successful or happy. Norman Vincent Peale Faith, Happy, Confidence It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop. Confucius Slowly, Matter, Stop Infuse your life with action. Don't wait for it to happen. Make it happen. Make your own future. Make your own hope. Make your own love. And whatever your beliefs, honor your creator, not by passively waiting for grace to come down from upon high, but by doing what you can to make grace happen... yourself, right now, right down here on Earth. Bradley Whitford Life, Love, Hope Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time. Thomas A. Edison Time, Greatest, Giving The will to win, the desire to succeed, the urge to reach your full potential... these are the keys that will unlock the door to personal excellence. Confucius Excellence, Win, Door Don't watch the clock; do what it does. Keep going. Sam Levenson Watch, Clock If you can dream it, you can do it. Walt Disney Dream Problems are not stop signs, they are guidelines. Robert H. Schuller Problems, Guidelines Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can. Arthur Ashe Start With the new day comes new strength and new thoughts. Eleanor Roosevelt Strength, Thoughts

3 Aim for the moon. If you miss, you may hit a star. W. Clement Stone Aim, Star, Moon Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Willing is not enough; we must do. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Knowing, Apply A good plan violently executed now is better than a perfect plan executed next week. George S. Patton

The best preparation for tomorrow is doing your best today. H. Jackson Brown, Jr. Best, Today, Tomorrow The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched - they must be felt with the heart. Helen Keller Best, Beautiful, Heart I can't change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination. Jimmy Dean Change, Wind Start by doing what's necessary; then do what's possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible. Francis of Assisi Impossible, Start Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence. Vince Lombardi Attainable Try to be a rainbow in someone's cloud. Maya Angelou Cloud, Rainbow If I have seen further than others, it is by standing upon the shoulders of giants. Isaac Newton Others, Shoulders Nothing is impossible, the word itself says 'I'm possible'! Audrey Hepburn Impossible, Possible Let us sacrifice our today so that our children can have a better tomorrow. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam Today, Sacrifice We know what we are, but know not what we may be. William Shakespeare We must let go of the life we have planned, so as to accept the one that is waiting for us. Joseph Campbell Life, Accept, Waiting Put your heart, mind, and soul into even your smallest acts. This is the secret of success. Swami Sivananda Success, Soul, Heart It is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light. Aristotle Onassis Darkest, Light, Focus Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle. As with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it. Steve Jobs Life, Love, Work If opportunity doesn't knock, build a door. Milton Berle Build, Door, Knock Change your thoughts and you change your world. Norman Vincent Peale Change, Thoughts Believe you can and you're halfway there. Theodore Roosevelt Halfway As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them. John F. Kennedy Gratitude, Forget My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style. Maya Angelou Life, Humor, Compassion There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it. Edith Wharton Light, Mirror, Candle I believe in pink. I believe that laughing is the best calorie burner. I believe in kissing, kissing a lot. I believe in being strong when everything seems to be going wrong. I believe that happy girls are the prettiest girls. I believe that tomorrow is another day and I believe in miracles. Audrey Hepburn Best, Kissing, Happy No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted. Aesop Kindness, Matter No matter what people tell you, words and ideas can change the world. Robin Williams Change, Words, Ideas

4 Health is the greatest gift, contentment the greatest wealth, faithfulness the best relationship. Buddha Best, Health, Greatest You must do the things you think you cannot do. Eleanor Roosevelt Cannot A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself. Joseph Campbell

Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated. Confucius Simple, Insist The most important thing is to enjoy your life - to be happy - it's all that matters. Audrey Hepburn Happy, Enjoy, Matters Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment. Buddha Future, Dream, Moment Life isn't about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself. George Bernard Shaw Creating, Finding We do not remember days, we remember moments. Cesare Pavese Remember, Moments Life is a dream for the wise, a game for the fool, a comedy for the rich, a tragedy for the poor. Sholom Aleichem Wise, Fool, Dream Very little is needed to make a happy life; it is all within yourself, in your way of thinking. Marcus Aurelius Thinking, Happy In the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years. Abraham Lincoln Count Life is not a problem to be solved, but a reality to be experienced. Soren Kierkegaard Problem, Reality Life is a song - sing it. Life is a game - play it. Life is a challenge - meet it. Life is a dream - realize it. Life is a sacrifice offer it. Life is love - enjoy it. Sai Baba Love, Meet, Sacrifice The truth is you don't know what is going to happen tomorrow. Life is a crazy ride, and nothing is guaranteed. Eminem Truth, Crazy, Tomorrow The purpose of our lives is to be happy. Dalai Lama Purpose, Happy, Lives If you live long enough, you'll make mistakes. But if you learn from them, you'll be a better person. It's how you handle adversity, not how it affects you. The main thing is never quit, never quit, never quit. William J. Clinton Mistakes, Adversity, Learn Throughout life people will make you mad, disrespect you and treat you bad. Let God deal with the things they do, cause hate in your heart will consume you too. Will Smith God, Disrespect, Heart I have found that if you love life, life will love you back. Arthur Rubinstein Love, Found Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?' Martin Luther King, Jr. Others, Persistent This life, which had been the tomb of his virtue and of his honour, is but a walking shadow; a poor player, that struts and frets his hour upon the stage, and then is heard no more: it is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing. William Shakespeare Idiot, Shadow, Fury One way to get the most out of life is to look upon it as an adventure. William Feather Adventure The privilege of a lifetime is being who you are. Joseph Campbell Privilege, Lifetime The good life is one inspired by love and guided by knowledge. Bertrand Russell Love, Knowledge, Good My life is my message. Mahatma Gandhi Message Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don't resist them - that only creates sorrow. Let reality be reality. Let things flow naturally forward in whatever way they like. Lao Tzu Changes, Reality, Flow Life isn't a matter of milestones, but of moments. Rose Kennedy Moments, Matter The true secret of happiness lies in taking a genuine interest in all the details of daily life. William Morris Happiness, Details

5 You will never be happy if you continue to search for what happiness consists of. You will never live if you are looking for the meaning of life. Albert Camus Happiness, Looking, Happy A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives. Jackie Robinson

Work hard for what you want because it won't come to you without a fight. You have to be strong and courageous and know that you can do anything you put your mind to. If somebody puts you down or criticizes you, just keep on believing in yourself and turn it into something positive. Leah LaBelle Work, Believing, Strong Yesterday is not ours to recover, but tomorrow is ours to win or lose. Lyndon B. Johnson Tomorrow, Recover, Win In order to carry a positive action we must develop here a positive vision. Dalai Lama Action, Vision, Order Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see a shadow. Helen Keller Sunshine, Face, Shadow Find a place inside where there's joy, and the joy will burn out the pain. Joseph Campbell Pain, Joy, Burn Correction does much, but encouragement does more. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Correction The most important thing is to try and inspire people so that they can be great in whatever they want to do. Kobe Bryant Great, Inspire, Whatever Once you replace negative thoughts with positive ones, you'll start having positive results. Willie Nelson Thoughts, Start, Negative I truly believe that everything that we do and everyone that we meet is put in our path for a purpose. There are no accidents; we're all teachers - if we're willing to pay attention to the lessons we learn, trust our positive instincts and not be afraid to take risks or wait for some miracle to come knocking at our door. Marla Gibbs Trust, Purpose, Accidents No matter what you're going through, there's a light at the end of the tunnel and it may seem hard to get to it but you can do it and just keep working towards it and you'll find the positive side of things. Demi Lovato Light, Tunnel, Matter Positive anything is better than negative nothing. Elbert Hubbard Negative Believe that life is worth living and your belief will help create the fact. William James Life, Worth, Help Your smile will give you a positive countenance that will make people feel comfortable around you. Les Brown Smile To succeed, you need to find something to hold on to, something to motivate you, something to inspire you. Tony Dorsett Inspire, Motivate, Succeed Your attitude is like a box of crayons that color your world. Constantly color your picture gray, and your picture will always be bleak. Try adding some bright colors to the picture by including humor, and your picture begins to lighten up. Allen Klein Attitude, Humor, Color I believe if you keep your faith, you keep your trust, you keep the right attitude, if you're grateful, you'll see God open up new doors. Joel Osteen Trust, God, Faith Did I offer peace today? Did I bring a smile to someone's face? Did I say words of healing? Did I let go of my anger and resentment? Did I forgive? Did I love? These are the real questions. I must trust that the little bit of love that I sow now will bear many fruits, here in this world and the life to come. Henri Nouwen Life, Love, Smile Live life to the fullest, and focus on the positive. Matt Cameron Life, Focus, Fullest The joy of life comes from our encounters with new experiences, and hence there is no greater joy than to have an endlessly changing horizon, for each day to have a new and different sun. Christopher McCandless Life, Joy, Sun Positive thinking will let you do everything better than negative thinking will. Zig Ziglar Thinking, Negative

6 If you're not making mistakes, then you're not doing anything. I'm positive that a doer makes mistakes. John Wooden Mistakes, Doer You're going to go through tough times - that's life. But I say, 'Nothing happens to you, it happens for you.' See the positive in negative events. Joel Osteen Life, Events, Negative You've done it before and you can do it now. See the positive possibilities. Redirect the substantial energy of your frustration and turn it into positive, effective, unstoppable determination. Ralph Marston Energy, Turn, Effective When you wake up every day, you have two choices. You can either be positive or negative; an optimist or a pessimist. I choose to be an optimist. It's all a matter of perspective. Harvey Mackay Choices, Matter, Optimist If you have a positive attitude and constantly strive to give your best effort, eventually you will overcome your immediate problems and find you are ready for greater challenges. Pat Riley Best, Attitude, Challenges Always Do Your Best. Your best is going to change from moment to moment; it will be different when you are healthy as opposed to sick. Under any circumstance, simply do your best, and you will avoid self-judgment, self-abuse and regret. Don Miguel Ruiz

The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character - that is the goal of true education. Martin Luther King, Jr. Character, Goal, Teach The roots of education are bitter, but the fruit is sweet. Aristotle Fruit, Bitter, Roots It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it. Aristotle Educated, Entertain Education's purpose is to replace an empty mind with an open one. Malcolm Forbes Purpose, Empty, Open The only person who is educated is the one who has learned how to learn and change. Carl Rogers Change, Learn The whole purpose of education is to turn mirrors into windows. Sydney J. Harris Mirrors, Purpose The goal of education is the advancement of knowledge and the dissemination of truth. John F. Kennedy Knowledge, Truth, Goal Develop a passion for learning. If you do, you will never cease to grow. Anthony J. D'Angelo Learning, Passion, Grow The philosophy of the school room in one generation will be the philosophy of government in the next. Abraham Lincoln Government, Philosophy Education is the key to unlock the golden door of freedom. George Washington Carver Freedom, Door, Key Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire. William Butler Yeats Fire, Lighting Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime. Maimonides Teach, Fish, Lifetime The great aim of education is not knowledge but action. Herbert Spencer Knowledge, Great An investment in knowledge pays the best interest. Benjamin Franklin Best, Knowledge, Investment Education is what survives when what has been learned has been forgotten. B. F. Skinner Forgotten, Learned Education is the best friend. An educated person is respected everywhere. Education beats the beauty and the youth. Chanakya Best, Beauty, Youth You are always a student, never a master. You have to keep moving forward. Conrad Hall Student, Forward, Moving A library is the delivery room for the birth of ideas, a place where history comes to life. Norman Cousins Life, History, Ideas It is a miracle that curiosity survives formal education. Albert Einstein Curiosity, Miracle, Formal Education is the ability to listen to almost anything without losing your temper or your self-confidence. Robert Frost Losing, Listen, Temper The object of education is to prepare the young to educate themselves throughout their lives. Robert M. Hutchins Themselves, Prepare, Educate The only fence against the world is a thorough knowledge of it. John Locke Knowledge, Fence

7 Education is the movement from darkness to light. Allan Bloom Light, Darkness To educate a man in mind and not in morals is to educate a menace to society. Theodore Roosevelt

It takes a great man to give sound advice tactfully, but a greater to accept it graciously. Logan Pearsall Smith Great, Advice, Accept The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step. Lao Tzu Journey, Begins, Step Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. Ralph Waldo Emerson Path, Trail, Lead We are made wise not by the recollection of our past, but by the responsibility for our future. George Bernard Shaw Future, Wise, Past It's the little details that are vital. Little things make big things happen. John Wooden Details, Happen, Vital Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment. Jim Rohn Discipline, Bridge It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see. Henry David Thoreau Matters If you're trying to achieve, there will be roadblocks. I've had them; everybody has had them. But obstacles don't have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don't turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it. Michael Jordan Work, Achieve, Roadblocks Step with care and great tact, and remember that Life's a Great Balancing Act. Dr. Seuss Life, Great, Balancing The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing. Socrates True, Knowing Talent is God given. Be humble. Fame is man-given. Be grateful. Conceit is self-given. Be careful. John Wooden God, Grateful, Humble The more you like yourself, the less you are like anyone else, which makes you unique. Walt Disney Unique, Less, Anyone Knowledge comes, but wisdom lingers. It may not be difficult to store up in the mind a vast quantity of facts within a comparatively short time, but the ability to form judgments requires the severe discipline of hard work and the tempering heat of experience and maturity. Calvin Coolidge Work, Time, Knowledge Whatever you do in life, surround yourself with smart people who'll argue with you. John Wooden Life, Smart, Surround One's philosophy is not best expressed in words; it is expressed in the choices one makes... and the choices we make are ultimately our responsibility. Eleanor Roosevelt Best, Choices, Philosophy For beautiful eyes, look for the good in others; for beautiful lips, speak only words of kindness; and for poise, walk with the knowledge that you are never alone. Audrey Hepburn Knowledge, Good, Alone True wisdom comes to each of us when we realize how little we understand about life, ourselves, and the world around us. Socrates Life, Realize, True Work like you don't need the money. Love like you've never been hurt. Dance like nobody's watching. Satchel Paige Love, Work, Money Quick decisions are unsafe decisions. Sophocles Decisions, Quick, Unsafe By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest. Confucius Experience, Reflection A good head and a good heart are always a formidable combination. Nelson Mandela Good, Heart, Head A man must be big enough to admit his mistakes, smart enough to profit from them, and strong enough to correct them. John C. Maxwell Strong, Mistakes, Smart Be as you wish to seem. Socrates Wish, Seem

8 People don't notice whether it's winter or summer when they're happy. Anton Chekhov Summer, Happy, Winter The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails. William Arthur Ward Change, Realist Just as treasures are uncovered from the earth, so virtue appears from good deeds, and wisdom appears from a pure and peaceful mind. To walk safely through the maze of human life, one needs the light of wisdom and the guidance of virtue. Buddha

Let my soul smile through my heart and my heart smile through my eyes, that I may scatter rich smiles in sad hearts. Paramahansa Yogananda Sad, Eyes, Soul Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened. Dr. Seuss Cry, Happened A smile is happiness you'll find right under your nose. Tom Wilson Happiness, Nose The real man smiles in trouble, gathers strength from distress, and grows brave by reflection. Thomas Paine Strength, Brave, Reflection Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around. Leo Buscaglia Life, Power, Listening If you smile when no one else is around, you really mean it. Andy Rooney Mean We shall never know all the good that a simple smile can do. Mother Teresa Good, Simple, Shall A smile is the light in your window that tells others that there is a caring, sharing person inside. Denis Waitley Caring, Light, Window A smile is a curve that sets everything straight. Phyllis Diller Curve, Straight, Sets Smile, it's free therapy. Douglas Horton Free, Therapy Smiling is definitely one of the best beauty remedies. If you have a good sense of humor and a good approach to life, that's beautiful. Rashida Jones Life, Best, Beauty Smile in the mirror. Do that every morning and you'll start to see a big difference in your life. Yoko Ono Life, Morning, Mirror After every storm the sun will smile; for every problem there is a solution, and the soul's indefeasible duty is to be of good cheer. William R. Alger Good, Sun, Soul Look back, and smile on perils past. Walter Scott Past, Perils A kind heart is a fountain of gladness, making everything in its vicinity freshen into smiles. Washington Irving Heart, Fountain Always keep your smile. That's how I explain my long life. Jeanne Calment Life, Explain Remember even though the outside world might be raining, if you keep on smiling the sun will soon show its face and smile back at you. Anna Lee Sun, Face, Remember Colors are the smiles of nature. Leigh Hunt Nature, Colors, Smiles I think that anybody that smiles automatically looks better. Diane Lane Looks, Smiles, Anybody What sunshine is to flowers, smiles are to humanity. These are but trifles, to be sure; but scattered along life's pathway, the good they do is inconceivable. Joseph Addison Life, Good, Flowers A smile is the universal welcome. Max Eastman Universal, Welcome Be thou the rainbow in the storms of life. The evening beam that smiles the clouds away, and tints tomorrow with prophetic ray. Lord Byron Life, Rainbow, Clouds

9 Smile, for everyone lacks self-confidence and more than any other one thing a smile reassures them. Andre Maurois Lacks They might not need me; but they might. I'll let my head be just in sight; a smile as small as mine might be precisely their necessity. Emily Dickinson

If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude. Maya Angelou Attitude If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change. Wayne Dyer Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything. George Bernard Shaw Progress, Impossible Since we cannot change reality, let us change the eyes which see reality. Nikos Kazantzakis Reality, Eyes, Cannot Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek. Barack Obama Time, Waiting, Wait Without a struggle, there can be no progress. Frederick Douglass Progress, Struggle You must take personal responsibility. You cannot change the circumstances, the seasons, or the wind, but you can change yourself. That is something you have charge of. Jim Rohn Wind, Personal, Seasons You must be the change you wish to see in the world. Mahatma Gandhi Wish God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. Reinhold Niebuhr Wisdom, Courage, God Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future. John F. Kennedy Life, Future, Law Never believe that a few caring people can't change the world. For, indeed, that's all who ever have. Margaret Mead Caring, Few, Indeed The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it, and join the dance. Alan Watts Dance, Move, Join There is nothing permanent except change. Heraclitus Except, Permanent To improve is to change; to be perfect is to change often. Winston Churchill Improve, Perfect I hope everyone that is reading this is having a really good day. And if you are not, just know that in every new minute that passes you have an opportunity to change that. Gillian Anderson Hope, Good, Reading When we are no longer able to change a situation - we are challenged to change ourselves. Viktor E. Frankl Ourselves, Situation If you do not change direction, you may end up where you are heading. Lao Tzu Direction, Heading If there is no struggle, there is no progress. Frederick Douglass Progress, Struggle It may be hard for an egg to turn into a bird: it would be a jolly sight harder for it to learn to fly while remaining an egg. We are like eggs at present. And you cannot go on indefinitely being just an ordinary, decent egg. We must be hatched or go bad. C. S. Lewis Bird, Learn, Fly Some people don't like change, but you need to embrace change if the alternative is disaster. Elon Musk Disaster, Embrace Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself. Leo Tolstoy Himself, Changing Sometimes if you want to see a change for the better, you have to take things into your own hands. Clint Eastwood Hands Just when I think I have learned the way to live, life changes. Hugh Prather Life, Changes, Learned All change is not growth, as all movement is not forward. Ellen Glasgow Growth, Forward, Movement

10 They always say time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself. Andy Warhol Time, Changes Change is inevitable. Change is constant. Benjamin Disraeli

One of the most beautiful qualities of true friendship is to understand and to be understood. Lucius Annaeus Seneca Beautiful, True The greatest gift of life is friendship, and I have received it. Hubert H. Humphrey Life, Gift, Greatest A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out. Walter Winchell Friend, Rest, Walks A friend is what the heart needs all the time. Henry Van Dyke Time, Heart, Friend There is nothing on this earth more to be prized than true friendship. Thomas Aquinas Earth, Prized, True Walking with a friend in the dark is better than walking alone in the light. Helen Keller Alone, Dark, Light I cannot even imagine where I would be today were it not for that handful of friends who have given me a heart full of joy. Let's face it, friends make life a lot more fun. Charles R. Swindoll Life, Heart, Today Friendship is always a sweet responsibility, never an opportunity. Khalil Gibran Sweet Friends are the siblings God never gave us. Mencius God, Siblings, Gave A single rose can be my garden... a single friend, my world. Leo Buscaglia Rose, Garden, Friend Remember that the most valuable antiques are dear old friends. H. Jackson Brown, Jr. Remember, Antiques It is one of the blessings of old friends that you can afford to be stupid with them. Ralph Waldo Emerson Blessings, Stupid Don't walk behind me; I may not lead. Don't walk in front of me; I may not follow. Just walk beside me and be my friend. Albert Camus Beside, Friend, Lead Let us be grateful to people who make us happy, they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom. Marcel Proust Grateful, Blossom, Souls Friends show their love in times of trouble, not in happiness. Euripides Love, Happiness Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into friend. Martin Luther King, Jr. Love, Capable, Enemy Friendship... is not something you learn in school. But if you haven't learned the meaning of friendship, you really haven't learned anything. Muhammad Ali Learn, Meaning, Learned Rare as is true love, true friendship is rarer. Jean de La Fontaine Love, True, Rare A true friend freely, advises justly, assists readily, adventures boldly, takes all patiently, defends courageously, and continues a friend unchangeably. William Penn Friend, True, Takes One loyal friend is worth ten thousand relatives. Euripides Friend, Relatives My best friend is the one who brings out the best in me. Henry Ford Best, Friend, Brings The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement, who can tolerate not knowing... not healing, not curing... that is a friend who cares. Henri Nouwen Grief, Healing, Moment Love is blind; friendship closes its eyes. Friedrich Nietzsche Love, Eyes, Blind Sometimes being a friend means mastering the art of timing. There is a time for silence. A time to let go and allow people to hurl themselves into their own destiny. And a time to prepare to pick up the pieces when it's all over. Octavia Butler Art, Time, Friend In the sweetness of friendship let there be laughter, and sharing of pleasures. For in the dew of little things the heart finds its morning and is refreshed. Khalil Gibran Morning, Laughter, Sharing The only way to have a friend is to be one. Ralph Waldo Emerson

11

I am determined to be cheerful and happy in whatever situation I may find myself. For I have learned that the greater part of our misery or unhappiness is determined not by our circumstance but by our disposition. Martha Washington Happy, Situation, Cheerful Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions. Dalai Lama Actions, Ready There is only one happiness in this life, to love and be loved. George Sand Life, Love, Loved Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony. Mahatma Gandhi Harmony The best way to pay for a lovely moment is to enjoy it. Richard Bach Best, Moment, Enjoy If you want to be happy, be. Leo Tolstoy Happy Be happy with what you have and are, be generous with both, and you won't have to hunt for happiness. William E. Gladstone Happy, Generous, Hunt True happiness is... to enjoy the present, without anxious dependence upon the future. Lucius Annaeus Seneca Future, Enjoy, Present Happiness cannot be traveled to, owned, earned, worn or consumed. Happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace, and gratitude. Denis Waitley Love, Experience, Gratitude Happiness depends upon ourselves. Aristotle Ourselves, Depends The moments of happiness we enjoy take us by surprise. It is not that we seize them, but that they seize us. Ashley Montagu Enjoy, Moments Some cause happiness wherever they go; others whenever they go. Oscar Wilde Others, Wherever Achievement of your happiness is the only moral purpose of your life, and that happiness, not pain or mindless selfindulgence, is the proof of your moral integrity, since it is the proof and the result of your loyalty to the achievement of your values. Ayn Rand Life, Pain, Integrity Happiness can exist only in acceptance. George Orwell Acceptance, Exist It is not easy to find happiness in ourselves, and it is not possible to find it elsewhere. Agnes Repplier Easy, Possible Try to make at least one person happy every day. If you cannot do a kind deed, speak a kind word. If you cannot speak a kind word, think a kind thought. Count up, if you can, the treasure of happiness that you would dispense in a week, in a year, in a lifetime! Lawrence G. Lovasik Lifetime, Happy, Week Happiness often sneaks in through a door you didn't know you left open. John Barrymore Door, Left, Open Remember that the happiest people are not those getting more, but those giving more. H. Jackson Brown, Jr. Giving, Remember, Happiest Happiness is not a matter of intensity but of balance, order, rhythm and harmony. Thomas Merton Balance, Harmony Most folks are as happy as they make up their minds to be. Abraham Lincoln Folks, Happy, Minds Our greatest happiness does not depend on the condition of life in which chance has placed us, but is always the result of a good conscience, good health, occupation, and freedom in all just pursuits. Thomas Jefferson Life, Freedom, Health True happiness comes from the joy of deeds well done, the zest of creating things new. Antoine de Saint-Exupery Creating, Joy, True A hug is like a boomerang - you get it back right away. Bil Keane

The best preparation for tomorrow is doing your best today. H. Jackson Brown, Jr. Best, Today, Tomorrow The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched - they must be felt with the heart. Helen Keller Best, Beautiful, Heart

12 I can't change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination. Jimmy Dean Change, Wind Start by doing what's necessary; then do what's possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible. Francis of Assisi Impossible, Start Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence. Vince Lombardi Attainable Try to be a rainbow in someone's cloud. Maya Angelou Cloud, Rainbow If I have seen further than others, it is by standing upon the shoulders of giants. Isaac Newton Others, Shoulders Nothing is impossible, the word itself says 'I'm possible'! Audrey Hepburn Impossible, Possible Let us sacrifice our today so that our children can have a better tomorrow. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam Today, Sacrifice We know what we are, but know not what we may be. William Shakespeare We must let go of the life we have planned, so as to accept the one that is waiting for us. Joseph Campbell Life, Accept, Waiting Put your heart, mind, and soul into even your smallest acts. This is the secret of success. Swami Sivananda Success, Soul, Heart It is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light. Aristotle Onassis Darkest, Light, Focus Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle. As with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it. Steve Jobs Life, Love, Work If opportunity doesn't knock, build a door. Milton Berle Build, Door, Knock Change your thoughts and you change your world. Norman Vincent Peale Change, Thoughts Believe you can and you're halfway there. Theodore Roosevelt Halfway As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them. John F. Kennedy Gratitude, Forget My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style. Maya Angelou Life, Humor, Compassion There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it. Edith Wharton Light, Mirror, Candle I believe in pink. I believe that laughing is the best calorie burner. I believe in kissing, kissing a lot. I believe in being strong when everything seems to be going wrong. I believe that happy girls are the prettiest girls. I believe that tomorrow is another day and I believe in miracles. Audrey Hepburn Best, Kissing, Happy No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted. Aesop Kindness, Matter No matter what people tell you, words and ideas can change the world. Robin Williams Change, Words, Ideas Health is the greatest gift, contentment the greatest wealth, faithfulness the best relationship. Buddha Best, Health, Greatest You must do the things you think you cannot do. Eleanor Roosevelt Cannot A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself.

The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character - that is the goal of true education. Martin Luther King, Jr. Character, Goal, Teach The roots of education are bitter, but the fruit is sweet. Aristotle Fruit, Bitter, Roots It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it. Aristotle Educated, Entertain Education's purpose is to replace an empty mind with an open one. Malcolm Forbes Purpose, Empty, Open The only person who is educated is the one who has learned how to learn and change. Carl Rogers Change, Learn The whole purpose of education is to turn mirrors into windows. Sydney J. Harris Mirrors, Purpose

13 The goal of education is the advancement of knowledge and the dissemination of truth. John F. Kennedy Knowledge, Truth, Goal Develop a passion for learning. If you do, you will never cease to grow. Anthony J. D'Angelo Learning, Passion, Grow The philosophy of the school room in one generation will be the philosophy of government in the next. Abraham Lincoln Government, Philosophy Education is the key to unlock the golden door of freedom. George Washington Carver Freedom, Door, Key Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire. William Butler Yeats Fire, Lighting Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime. Maimonides Teach, Fish, Lifetime The great aim of education is not knowledge but action. Herbert Spencer Knowledge, Great An investment in knowledge pays the best interest. Benjamin Franklin Best, Knowledge, Investment Education is what survives when what has been learned has been forgotten. B. F. Skinner Forgotten, Learned Education is the best friend. An educated person is respected everywhere. Education beats the beauty and the youth. Chanakya Best, Beauty, Youth You are always a student, never a master. You have to keep moving forward. Conrad Hall Student, Forward, Moving A library is the delivery room for the birth of ideas, a place where history comes to life. Norman Cousins Life, History, Ideas It is a miracle that curiosity survives formal education. Albert Einstein Curiosity, Miracle, Formal Education is the ability to listen to almost anything without losing your temper or your self-confidence. Robert Frost Losing, Listen, Temper The object of education is to prepare the young to educate themselves throughout their lives. Robert M. Hutchins Themselves, Prepare, Educate The only fence against the world is a thorough knowledge of it. John Locke Knowledge, Fence Education is the movement from darkness to light. Allan Bloom Light, Darkness To educate a man in mind and not in morals is to educate a menace to society. Theodore Roosevelt

A good teacher can inspire hope, ignite the imagination, and instill a love of learning. Brad Henry Love, Learning, Hope Education is the key to success in life, and teachers make a lasting impact in the lives of their students. Solomon Ortiz Life, Success, Education Good teachers know how to bring out the best in students. Charles Kuralt Best, Good, Students It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge. Albert Einstein Art, Knowledge, Joy You have to grow from the inside out. None can teach you, none can make you spiritual. There is no other teacher but your own soul. Swami Vivekananda Spiritual, Inside, Soul The task of the modern educator is not to cut down jungles, but to irrigate deserts. C. S. Lewis Educator, Modern, Task A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops. Henry Adams Influence, Affects The dream begins with a teacher who believes in you, who tugs and pushes and leads you to the next plateau, sometimes poking you with a sharp stick called 'truth'. Dan Rather Truth, Dream, Stick A good teacher, like a good entertainer first must hold his audience's attention, then he can teach his lesson. John Henrik Clarke Good, Teach, Audience

14 One looks back with appreciation to the brilliant teachers, but with gratitude to those who touched our human feelings. The curriculum is so much necessary raw material, but warmth is the vital element for the growing plant and for the soul of the child. Carl Jung Teachers, Gratitude, Soul You can get help from teachers, but you are going to have to learn a lot by yourself, sitting alone in a room. Dr. Seuss Alone, Help, Learn If I am walking with two other men, each of them will serve as my teacher. I will pick out the good points of the one and imitate them, and the bad points of the other and correct them in myself. Confucius Good, Men, Walking I was lucky that I met the right mentors and teachers at the right moment. James Levine Moment, Lucky, Mentors The whole art of teaching is only the art of awakening the natural curiosity of young minds for the purpose of satisfying it afterwards. Anatole France Art, Awakening, Purpose Teach love, generosity, good manners and some of that will drift from the classroom to the home and who knows, the children will be educating the parents. Roger Moore Love, Home, Good I am indebted to my father for living, but to my teacher for living well. Alexander the Great Father, Living I have learned silence from the talkative, toleration from the intolerant, and kindness from the unkind; yet, strange, I am ungrateful to those teachers. Khalil Gibran Kindness, Silence Every child should have a caring adult in their lives. And that's not always a biological parent or family member. It may be a friend or neighbor. Often times it is a teacher. Joe Manchin Family, Caring, Friend The thing I loved the most - and still love the most about teaching - is that you can connect with an individual or a group, and see that individual or group exceed their limits. Mike Krzyzewski Love, Group, Limits The one exclusive sign of thorough knowledge is the power of teaching. Aristotle Knowledge, Power, Sign A professor is someone who talks in someone else's sleep. W. H. Auden Sleep, Professor, Talks Teachers can change lives with just the right mix of chalk and challenges. Joyce Meyer Change, Challenges, Teachers Study how water flows in a valley stream, smoothly and freely between the rocks. Also learn from holy books and wise people. Everything - even mountains, rivers, plants and trees - should be your teacher. Morihei Ueshiba Wise, Water, Trees The five steps in teaching an employee new skills are preparation, explanation, showing, observation and supervision. Bruce Barton Employee, Skills, Steps When we become a really mature, grown-up, wise society, we will put teachers at the center of the community, where they belong. We don't honor them enough, we don't pay them enough. Charles Kuralt Society, Wise, Community Those who know how to think need no teachers. Mahatma Gandhi

Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever. Mahatma Gandhi Tomorrow, Learn, Die I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel. Maya Angelou Learned, Forget Learning never exhausts the mind. Leonardo da Vinci I learned the value of hard work by working hard. Margaret Mead Work, Value, Learned Education is what remains after one has forgotten what one has learned in school. Albert Einstein Education, Forgotten A wise man can learn more from a foolish question than a fool can learn from a wise answer. Bruce Lee Fool, Answer, Foolish I am always doing that which I cannot do, in order that I may learn how to do it. Pablo Picasso Learn, Order, Cannot I'm most proud of the blessings that God has bestowed upon me, in my life. He's given me the vision to truly see that you can fall down, but you can still get back up. Hopefully I'll learn from my mistakes and have the opportunity to strengthen and improve the next thing I do. Martin Lawrence Life, God, Mistakes

15 You don't learn to walk by following rules. You learn by doing, and by falling over. Richard Branson Rules, Walk, Learn I never learn anything talking. I only learn things when I ask questions. Lou Holtz Learn, Questions I am not afraid of storms for I am learning how to sail my ship. Louisa May Alcott Storms, Afraid, Ship Life is a series of experiences, each one of which makes us bigger, even though sometimes it is hard to realize this. For the world was built to develop character, and we must learn that the setbacks and grieves which we endure help us in our marching onward. Henry Ford Life, Setbacks, Character You cannot open a book without learning something. Confucius Book, Open, Cannot If we knew what it was we were doing, it would not be called research, would it? Albert Einstein Research, Knew We learned about honesty and integrity - that the truth matters... that you don't take shortcuts or play by your own set of rules... and success doesn't count unless you earn it fair and square. Michelle Obama Success, Truth, Integrity We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools. Martin Luther King, Jr. Together, Fools, Learn There is no end to education. It is not that you read a book, pass an examination, and finish with education. The whole of life, from the moment you are born to the moment you die, is a process of learning. Jiddu Krishnamurti Life, Education, Book The secret of success is learning how to use pain and pleasure instead of having pain and pleasure use you. If you do that, you're in control of your life. If you don't, life controls you. Tony Robbins Life, Success, Pain Your most unhappy customers are your greatest source of learning. Bill Gates Customers, Greatest, Unhappy One of the things I learned the hard way was that it doesn't pay to get discouraged. Keeping busy and making optimism a way of life can restore your faith in yourself. Lucille Ball Life, Faith, Optimism The ultimate lesson all of us have to learn is unconditional love, which includes not only others but ourselves as well. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross Love, Learn, Lesson I am still learning. Michelangelo He who learns but does not think, is lost! He who thinks but does not learn is in great danger. Confucius Great, Lost, Learn Prepare for the unknown by studying how others in the past have coped with the unforeseeable and the unpredictable. George S. Patton Unknown, Past, Studying The hardest job kids face today is learning good manners without seeing any. Fred Astaire

God wants us to know that life is a series of beginnings, not endings. Just as graduations are not terminations, but commencements. Creation is an ongoing process, and when we create a perfect world where love and compassion are shared by all, suffering will cease. Bernie Siegel Life, Love, God Life is the most exciting opportunity we have. But we have one shot. You graduate from college once, and that's it. You're going out of that nest. And you have to find that courage that's deep, deep, deep in there. Every step of the way. Andrew Shue Life, Courage, College The aim of education is the knowledge, not of facts, but of values. William S. Burroughs Education, Knowledge, Values You are educated. Your certification is in your degree. You may think of it as the ticket to the good life. Let me ask you to think of an alternative. Think of it as your ticket to change the world. Tom Brokaw Life, Change, Good I think young writers should get other degrees first, social sciences, arts degrees or even business degrees. What you learn is research skills, a necessity because a lot of writing is about trying to find information. Irvine Welsh Business, Research, Learn When my mother took her turn to sit in a gown at her graduation, she thought she only had two career options: nursing and teaching. She raised me and my sister to believe that we could do anything, and we believed her. Sheryl Sandberg Mother, Sister, Career A graduation ceremony is an event where the commencement speaker tells thousands of students dressed in identical caps and gowns that 'individuality' is the key to success. Robert Orben Success, Dressed, Students

16 For good nurture and education implant good constitutions. Plato Education, Good, Nurture It's very interesting, if you look at a study that was done by the Brookings Institute back in 2009, they determined that if Americans do three things, they can avoid poverty. Three things. Work, graduate from high school, and get married before you have children. Rick Santorum Work, Poverty, Study Really, the potential for, first of all, any college graduate today is enormously good. These are good times for anyone with a college degree today, particularly African Americans. With a college degree today, you really breach the unemployment rate. Alexis Herman Good, Today, College If a student takes the whole series of my folklore courses including the graduate seminars, he or she should learn something about fieldwork, something about bibliography, something about how to carry out library research, and something about how to publish that research. Alan Dundes Research, Library, Learn Since graduation, I have measured time in 4-by-5-inch pieces of paper, four days on the left and three on the right. Every social engagement, interview, reading, flight, doctor's appointment, birthday and dry-cleaning reminder has been handwritten between metal loops. Sloane Crosley Birthday, Time, Reading Never go to your high school reunion pregnant or they will think that is all you have done since you graduated. Erma Bombeck Reunion, High, Pregnant God will not look you over for medals degrees or diplomas, but for scars. Elbert Hubbard God, Scars, Medals I went through withdrawal when I got out of graduate school. It's what you learn, what you think. That's all that counts. Maya Lin Learn, Counts, Withdrawal The essence of Government is power; and power, lodged as it must be in human hands, will ever be liable to abuse. James Madison Power, Government, Hands It is virtually impossible to compete in today's global economy without a college degree. Bobby Scott Today, College, Economy My father, who was from a wealthy family and highly educated, a lawyer, Yale and Columbia, walked out with the benefit of a healthy push from my mother, a seventh grade graduate, who took a typing course and got a secretarial job as fast as she could. George Weinberg Family, Father, Mother Even though I disagree with many of the changes, when I see the privates graduate at the end of the day, when they walk off that drill field at the end of the ceremony, they are still fine privates; outstanding, well motivated privates. R. Lee Ermey Walk, Changes, Motivated You are graduating from college. That means that this is the first day of the last day of your life. No, that's wrong. This is the last day of the first day of school. Nope, that's worse. This is a day. Andy Samberg Life, College, Wrong The idea of winning a doctor's degree gradually assumed the aspect of a great moral struggle, and the moral fight possessed immense attraction for me. Elizabeth Blackwell Great, Winning, Struggle I accidentally forgot to graduate from college. Anne Lamott College, Forgot, Graduate At 20, I realized that I could not possibly adjust to a feminine role as conceived by my father and asked him permission to engage in a professional career. In eight months I filled my gaps in Latin, Greek and mathematics, graduated from high school, and entered medical school in Turin. Rita Levi-Montalcini Medical, Father, Career Earlier today, Arnold Schwarzenegger criticized the California school system, calling it disastrous. Arnold says California's schools are so bad that its graduates are willing to vote for me. Conan O'Brien Today, Vote, California Catholic school graduates exhibit a wide variety of qualities that will not only help them in their careers but also in their family and community lives. Joe Baca Family, Community, Help The college graduate is presented with a sheepskin to cover his intellectual nakedness. Robert M. Hutchins

A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots. Marcus Garvey History, Culture, Tree

17 A good decision is based on knowledge and not on numbers. Plato Good, Numbers Knowledge is power. Information is liberating. Education is the premise of progress, in every society, in every family. Kofi Annan Family, Education, Power The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination. Albert Einstein True, Sign Ignorance is the curse of God; knowledge is the wing wherewith we fly to heaven. William Shakespeare God, Ignorance, Fly Real knowledge is to know the extent of one's ignorance. Confucius Ignorance, Extent Human behavior flows from three main sources: desire, emotion, and knowledge. Plato Behavior, Desire, Emotion To know, is to know that you know nothing. That is the meaning of true knowledge. Socrates Meaning, True We are all born ignorant, but one must work hard to remain stupid. Benjamin Franklin Work, Ignorant, Stupid Wisdom is the right use of knowledge. To know is not to be wise. Many men know a great deal, and are all the greater fools for it. There is no fool so great a fool as a knowing fool. But to know how to use knowledge is to have wisdom. Charles Spurgeon Wisdom, Great, Men To know what you know and what you do not know, that is true knowledge. Confucius True Risk comes from not knowing what you're doing. Warren Buffett Risk, Knowing All our knowledge begins with the senses, proceeds then to the understanding, and ends with reason. There is nothing higher than reason. Immanuel Kant Reason, Higher, Proceeds The larger the island of knowledge, the longer the shoreline of wonder. Ralph W. Sockman Island, Wonder, Longer Science is the father of knowledge, but opinion breeds ignorance. Hippocrates Science, Father, Ignorance Knowledge is power. Information is power. The secreting or hoarding of knowledge or information may be an act of tyranny camouflaged as humility. Robin Morgan Power, Humility, Tyranny Knowledge has to be improved, challenged, and increased constantly, or it vanishes. Peter Drucker Improved, Challenged Perplexity is the beginning of knowledge. Khalil Gibran Perplexity, Beginning We are drowning in information but starved for knowledge. John Naisbitt Drowning, Starved The first step towards knowledge is to know that we are ignorant. Richard Cecil Step, Ignorant To know that we know what we know, and to know that we do not know what we do not know, that is true knowledge. Nicolaus Copernicus True Reading furnishes the mind only with materials of knowledge; it is thinking that makes what we read ours. John Locke Reading, Thinking, Furnishes If you first fortify yourself with the true knowledge of the Universal Self, and then live in the midst of wealth and worldliness, surely they will in no way affect you. Ramakrishna Self, Wealth, True I don't pretend we have all the answers. But the questions are certainly worth thinking about. Arthur C. Clarke Questions, Thinking Knowledge is power only if man knows what facts not to bother with. Robert Staughton Lynd Power, Facts, Bother They say a little knowledge is a dangerous thing, but it's not one half so bad as a lot of ignorance. Terry Pratchett

It takes a great man to give sound advice tactfully, but a greater to accept it graciously. Logan Pearsall Smith Great, Advice, Accept The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step. Lao Tzu Journey, Begins, Step Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. Ralph Waldo Emerson Path, Trail, Lead We are made wise not by the recollection of our past, but by the responsibility for our future. George Bernard Shaw Future, Wise, Past It's the little details that are vital. Little things make big things happen. John Wooden Details, Happen, Vital Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment. Jim Rohn Discipline, Bridge It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see. Henry David Thoreau Matters

18 If you're trying to achieve, there will be roadblocks. I've had them; everybody has had them. But obstacles don't have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don't turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it. Michael Jordan Work, Achieve, Roadblocks Step with care and great tact, and remember that Life's a Great Balancing Act. Dr. Seuss Life, Great, Balancing The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing. Socrates True, Knowing Talent is God given. Be humble. Fame is man-given. Be grateful. Conceit is self-given. Be careful. John Wooden God, Grateful, Humble The more you like yourself, the less you are like anyone else, which makes you unique. Walt Disney Unique, Less, Anyone Knowledge comes, but wisdom lingers. It may not be difficult to store up in the mind a vast quantity of facts within a comparatively short time, but the ability to form judgments requires the severe discipline of hard work and the tempering heat of experience and maturity. Calvin Coolidge Work, Time, Knowledge Whatever you do in life, surround yourself with smart people who'll argue with you. John Wooden Life, Smart, Surround One's philosophy is not best expressed in words; it is expressed in the choices one makes... and the choices we make are ultimately our responsibility. Eleanor Roosevelt Best, Choices, Philosophy For beautiful eyes, look for the good in others; for beautiful lips, speak only words of kindness; and for poise, walk with the knowledge that you are never alone. Audrey Hepburn Knowledge, Good, Alone True wisdom comes to each of us when we realize how little we understand about life, ourselves, and the world around us. Socrates Life, Realize, True Work like you don't need the money. Love like you've never been hurt. Dance like nobody's watching. Satchel Paige Love, Work, Money Quick decisions are unsafe decisions. Sophocles Decisions, Quick, Unsafe By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest. Confucius Experience, Reflection A good head and a good heart are always a formidable combination. Nelson Mandela Good, Heart, Head A man must be big enough to admit his mistakes, smart enough to profit from them, and strong enough to correct them. John C. Maxwell Strong, Mistakes, Smart Be as you wish to seem. Socrates Wish, Seem People don't notice whether it's winter or summer when they're happy. Anton Chekhov Summer, Happy, Winter The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails. William Arthur Ward Change, Realist Just as treasures are uncovered from the earth, so virtue appears from good deeds, and wisdom appears from a pure and peaceful mind. To walk safely through the maze of human life, one needs the light of wisdom and the guidance of virtue. Buddha

A woman's mind is cleaner than a man's: She changes it more often. Oliver Herford Woman, Changes If you haven't got anything nice to say about anybody, come sit next to me. Alice Roosevelt Longworth Nice, Sit, Anybody Do not take life too seriously. You will never get out of it alive. Elbert Hubbard Life, Seriously, Alive Always remember that you are absolutely unique. Just like everyone else. Margaret Mead Unique, Remember We are all here on earth to help others; what on earth the others are here for I don't know. W. H. Auden Others, Earth, Help

19 People who think they know everything are a great annoyance to those of us who do. Isaac Asimov Great, Annoyance I believe that if life gives you lemons, you should make lemonade... And try to find somebody whose life has given them vodka, and have a party. Ron White Life, Vodka, Party Roses are red, violets are blue, I'm schizophrenic, and so am I. Oscar Levant Roses, Red, Blue Don't talk about yourself; it will be done when you leave. Wilson Mizner Talk, Leave I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by. Douglas Adams Love, Deadlines, Fly One advantage of talking to yourself is that you know at least somebody's listening. Franklin P. Jones Talking, Listening, Somebody Procrastination is the art of keeping up with yesterday. Don Marquis Art, Yesterday I never said most of the things I said. Yogi Berra When you are courting a nice girl an hour seems like a second. When you sit on a red-hot cinder a second seems like an hour. That's relativity. Albert Einstein Girl, Courting, Relativity I can resist everything except temptation. Oscar Wilde Temptation, Except If you could kick the person in the pants responsible for most of your trouble, you wouldn't sit for a month. Theodore Roosevelt Trouble, Pants, Sit Get your facts first, then you can distort them as you please. Mark Twain Distort, Facts, Please I'm sorry, if you were right, I'd agree with you. Robin Williams Sorry, Agree Too much agreement kills a chat. Eldridge Cleaver Agreement, Chat A day without sunshine is like, you know, night. Steve Martin Sunshine, Night My fake plants died because I did not pretend to water them. Mitch Hedberg Fake, Pretend, Water Drawing on my fine command of the English language, I said nothing. Robert Benchley Language, Drawing A successful man is one who makes more money than his wife can spend. A successful woman is one who can find such a man. Lana Turner Money, Wife, Woman No man has a good enough memory to be a successful liar. Abraham Lincoln Good, Memory, Liar I may be drunk, Miss, but in the morning I will be sober and you will still be ugly. Winston Churchill Morning, Ugly, Drunk If two wrongs don't make a right, try three. Laurence J. Peter

Love is friendship that has caught fire. It is quiet understanding, mutual confidence, sharing and forgiving. It is loyalty through good and bad times. It settles for less than perfection and makes allowances for human weaknesses. Ann Landers Friendship, Good, Forgiving You can't blame gravity for falling in love. Albert Einstein Gravity, Blame Immature love says: 'I love you because I need you.' Mature love says 'I need you because I love you.' Erich Fromm Mature, Immature, Says Sometimes the heart sees what is invisible to the eye. H. Jackson Brown, Jr. Heart, Invisible, Eye Let us always meet each other with smile, for the smile is the beginning of love. Mother Teresa Smile, Beginning, Meet Keep love in your heart. A life without it is like a sunless garden when the flowers are dead. Oscar Wilde Life, Flowers, Heart The best thing to hold onto in life is each other. Audrey Hepburn Life, Best, Hold A flower cannot blossom without sunshine, and man cannot live without love. Max Muller Blossom, Sunshine True love is like ghosts, which everyone talks about and few have seen. Francois de La Rochefoucauld True, Ghosts, Few

20 Love is composed of a single soul inhabiting two bodies. Aristotle Bodies, Soul, Single Spread love everywhere you go. Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier. Mother Teresa Happier, Spread Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage. Lao Tzu Strength, Courage, Loved Friends can help each other. A true friend is someone who lets you have total freedom to be yourself - and especially to feel. Or, not feel. Whatever you happen to be feeling at the moment is fine with them. That's what real love amounts to - letting a person be what he really is. Jim Morrison Freedom, Feeling, Moment Love is life. And if you miss love, you miss life. Leo Buscaglia Life, Miss I have found the paradox, that if you love until it hurts, there can be no more hurt, only more love. Mother Teresa Hurt, Hurts, Paradox The sweetest of all sounds is that of the voice of the woman we love. Jean de la Bruyere Sweetest, Woman, Voice A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. Jesus Christ Command, Loved Love doesn't make the world go 'round. Love is what makes the ride worthwhile. Franklin P. Jones Worthwhile, Ride Love is like a friendship caught on fire. In the beginning a flame, very pretty, often hot and fierce, but still only light and flickering. As love grows older, our hearts mature and our love becomes as coals, deep-burning and unquenchable. Bruce Lee Friendship, Becomes, Light I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear. Martin Luther King, Jr. Great, Hate, Burden To love and be loved is to feel the sun from both sides. David Viscott Sun, Loved, Sides Where there is love there is life. Mahatma Gandhi Life Everything is clearer when you're in love. John Lennon Clearer Love is like war: easy to begin but very hard to stop. H. L. Mencken

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Success Tips - Plus Three Steps for Success: Planning, Execution & Redoing Many people want to achieve success in life, but it's easier said than done. There are so many distractions that it can be challenging to discipline oneself to accomplish a monumental goal. By keeping the following advice in mind, however, you can dramatically increase your chances of becoming successful in whatever you choose to pursue.

I. Planning 1. Imagine becoming successful. Einstein said the imagination is more important than knowledge. The more vividly and accurately you imagine your success, the easier it will be for the rest of yourself to follow through. The same way engineers first imagine a bridge and then build it, you can be the engineer of your success, too.

 Dedicate a few minutes every day to imagining your success. Imagine yourself in a movie in which you are successful. What are you doing in the movie? What is your success like? Savor the feeling of your success, and use it as motivation to stoke your fire.

 Cultivate a healthy motivation when imagining your success. Successful people all believe in themselves and their missions. At the same time, you do not want to alienate other people with extreme narcissism. Understand that other people want to be just as successful as you do; your goal should not be to trample over them to get what you want. 2. Find the purpose or goal of your life. Identify the things you love to do, the things that give you satisfaction. Once you identify what you love to do, use this information to find the purpose of your life or the objective of your life.

 Finding what you love to do will give you motivation along the way. Imagine being forced to do a triathlon when your true passion is chess. Pretty difficult, huh? Now imagine the opportunity to participate in a chess tournament. It's much, much easier to persistently chip away at your goal if your goal is something you enjoy doing.

 How do you figure out a purpose or goal in life? It's different for everyone, and for some it's difficult, but there are several ways you can try to figure it out:

 Talk with a career coach or visit a good psychologist.  Try out several different careers, remembering that even a less-than-fulfilling job can help you learn.  Try making a career out of something you love. Whether it's brewing beer or advising on art, you're more likely to be successful doing something you know you love. 3. Define the meaning of success as you see it. You cannot have success if you do not know what it means for you. Everyone views success differently and using someone else's standard for success is like eating another person's lunch and expecting to love it. Set clear goals and be realistic.

 How will you know when you have achieved your goals? Your standards should be quantifiable, or else you could spend your entire life chasing after a vague goal.

 For example, let's say you want to be good at your job. You get a promotion, you get a raise, but you still haven't reached your goal because you could always do better, right? You could always get promoted even further, or make even more money. Whatever you have will never be enough.

 Instead, create benchmarks: "My goal is to increase my productivity by 30% and only be late for work five times per year, at the most." These are quantifiable goals that when achieved, give you a sense of satisfaction and completion, making you feel successful and confident. 4. Selectively lower your confidence. You read it right: lower your confidence. It's a truism in business that you need to have high selfconfidence to get things done. But some people think, and for good reason, that lower self-confidence makes people more successful, for these reasons:

 Lower self-confidence makes you pay attention to critical feedback and helps you be more self-critical. If you're convinced you're God's gift to engineering, you probably won't be receptive to feedback. Nor will you be able to criticize yourself effectively. Successful people do exactly that.

 Lower self-confidence makes you work harder and prepare more. If you're not convinced you're going to nail your presentation next Monday, you're likely to spend more time practicing and going over your numbers. This is a great habit.

 Lower self-confidence makes you less narcissistic. Less narcissistic people are respected more by co-workers, and happy coworkers make a more successful team. It's no secret that respect will make you successful. 5. Set a timeline for when you want to achieve your objective. If you don't know when you will achieve your objective by, then it's hard to know whether you have failed. Give yourself a timeline that is difficult but doable. Winning a Tour de France from scratch in two years is not reasonable, but booking a comedy gig in front of at least 20 paying customers probably is. 6. Identify the things/skills/material needed to achieve your objectives. If you want to be a famous speaker, for example, you need a broad vocabulary, subject knowledge, speech writing, voice clarity, and presentation skills. This is identifying short term objectives to achieve long term goals. 7. Be curious about life. Many successful people have an insatiable curiosity. If they don't understand how something works or don't know the answer to a question, they find out. Often, this takes them on a quest of self-discovery, one in which the journey is just as important as the destination. 8. Identify the skills you need to sharpen and the skills you can outsource. Outsourcing is all about time-management. You may think of yourself as a superman or superwoman, but there are limits to your powers. Outsourcing certain less essential tasks gives you more time to focus on the things that are absolutely essential to your craft.

 Use the last example as a template; to become a great speaker, you need to improve voice and presentation skills as these are the basic skills needed for a speaker. But if you are lacking speech writing or subject knowledge skills, you can try to outsource them to an expert. This is called working smart. Many great leaders don't write their own speeches; they focus on delivering it right.

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II. Execution 1. Execute your small objectives, focusing on your main objective. Don't find reasons to procrastinate. Jump headfirst into the challenge and start chipping away. You never know what problems will present themselves before you step into the arena.

 Break your goal into small steps. Does the goal of starting a technology company seem impossibly unattainable? Break it down into smaller goals. Focus on streamlining your idea; then focus on getting funding; then move onto building a prototype, etc. If you have the vision to attack your goal piece by piece, it's easier and less daunting to execute. 2. Stay away from distractions as much as possible. Distractions are either the spice of life or the forbidden fruit, depending on your perspective. But let's be clear: it's almost impossible to be 100% focused on your task 100% of the time. Distractions are okay in low doses. But when your goals start taking a backseat to petty distractions, it's time to banish them. 3. Surround yourself with other people who are successful. When you’re surrounded with people who are highly-driven, it’s encouraging. You can bounce ideas off people, and they can even connect you with other people. Surrounding yourself with driven, successful people is a way to create a culture of success.

 Study successful people. Look around — who has the success that you envision for yourself? What are they doing? How do they approach life? Ask them for advice. Model some of your approaches around theirs, if possible. Knowledge is as free as it is powerful. 4. Trust other people to do their job. It's hard to be successful if you don't trust the people around you. You're constantly micromanaging everything, leaving yourself spread thin and the others miffed about you not giving them a chance. Being successful is partly about assembling an able team around you. If you can't trust others enough to let them do their job, you probably won't succeed at that.

 Trust in people because trust can be an incredibly motivating factor. If you trust in someone, they'll want to do well because they want to reward your trust in them. This is a powerful motivator.

 Trust in people because you need to. As John Donne once wrote, "No man is an island." What he meant by this is that no man works alone, entirely independently, however much he thinks he does. We depend on other people, whether we like it or not. Placing trust in other people is a necessity, not an option. 5. Find a mentor. A mentor is someone, usually with a bit more experience than you, who knows the trade, offers advice, and helps you in your pursuit. Behind many successful people are mentors. Mentors get satisfaction out of knowing that their guidance has literally bred success. A mentor will help you:

 Network. Networking is making connections with people who have connections. Contrary to popular belief, networking is mutually beneficial. You offer expertise, opinion, or opportunity to someone in exchange for something back.

 Troubleshoot. Troubleshooting is learning about how to make ideas or applications even better. Your mentor can help you figure out what you need to change in order to make your idea(s) even better.

 Strategize. A mentor will probably have more vision than you because s/he's been in the game longer, with more successes and failures. You can draw on their legacy of experience to strategize about the future. 6. Gather as much information as you can. Listen. Study. Understand. Learn. Repeat. Humans are amazing creatures because we can look at the world, make intellectual connections, and use those connections to make our lives better (or potentially worse). This is what information allows us to do. Never turn your "learning switch" off. You never know when your flash of insight will come! 7. Look at what the numbers are telling you. Did you ever have an idea about something but were afraid that the numbers (i.e. metrics) wouldn't back it up? That fear is normal, but it's a good idea to let the numbers give you guidance. Better to be wrong and adapt than to stubbornly insist you're doing it right when the numbers don't back that up.

 For example, in 2011, the CEO of Netflix, Reed Hastings, tried to convert the successful DVD-renting business into a streamingonly enterprise, provisionally called Qwikster. Hordes of Netflix devotees ended their subscription. Netflix's stock price dropped nearly 80% at one point.

 Instead of blindly continuing his vision for the company, Hastings reconsidered. He apologized for his actions, redoubled his efforts

to focus on content, and temporarily shelved Qwikster. Hastings let the numbers — and the people — tell him what to do. 8. Take calculated risks. Step out of your comfort zone. Successful people think big and act big. Don't wait for opportunities to fall in your lap. Sniff them out. Successful people make big investments (in their careers, in their businesses, in their education) and all investments involve risk. Study your risks, make sure the odds are in your favor, and take a leap. Be bold. Three calculated risks to consider:

 Partner with a competitor. Whether you're a long distance runner or rolling out back-end solutions to technology giants, partnering with the competition may help you pool your resources, motivate you to work harder, and build new relationships.

 Lead, don't follow. Leading the way can be dangerous. You're taking on the headwinds literally, perhaps, or you're banking on an idea — like Facebook or Google — that someone has already tried before. Summon up the courage to do something different.

 Hit singles and doubles, not home runs. Of course, hitting a home run isn't a bad thing at all! It's just that you can't rely on them to win the game every single time. Try letting singles and doubles add up to the same value as home runs. 9. Solve problems. People who are successful encourage progress by solving problems and answering questions. No matter where you are or what you're doing, look around and try and think of ways you can contribute. What are people struggling with or complaining about? How can you make life easier for them in an effective way? Can you re-design or re-organize some aspect of the situation so things run more smoothly? Can you create a product or provide a service that fills a critical gap? Which problems are you motivated to solve?

 Social problems. Facebook reinvented the way we interact with one another. Can you think of a similar social problem that needs reinventing?

 Technology problems. Companies like Dell design smaller and more powerful computer processors that help our user experience line up with our expectations. Can you help people do with technology what they already want to do?

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 Strategic problems. Consultants like IBM help other companies and individuals become more productive, profitable, and prudent. Can you help someone else solve a strategic problem?

 Interpersonal problems. Psychologists and marriage counselors help other people navigate the complex web of personal relationships that make up our lives. Can you help people better get along with one another? 10. Use technology, don't let it use you. Technology can be incredibly powerful; it connects us with people around the world in the blink of an eye; it computes algorithms accurately and quickly; it makes mundane tasks, like data entry, easier and less painful. But technology can be a burden if you let it. It can sap your energy and productivity, leading to wasted opportunity. The beauty and the bane of the internet, specifically, is that TED Talks can turn into watching Ted the movie quicker than you can say "ADD."

III. Redoing 1. Be persistent. You're going to fail — that much is a given. What will define you is how you pick yourself up after you've fallen. Don't give up. If your first attempt didn't work, don't quit.

 Don't let failure define you. When asked about his 10,000 failed attempts to develop a storage battery, the prolific American inventor Thomas Edison responded: "I have not failed, I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work."

 Don't make excuses. Don't rationalize your failure by placing the blame on someone or something else. Accept when something is your fault. This will help you identify what you need to change to get better. An excuse after failure is a refusal to make the situation better.

 Learn from your failures. Each failure is an opportunity to learn. If you make a mistake and refuse to learn, odds are you'll make that same mistake sometime down the line. If you make a mistake and learn from it, you won't waste your time making the same mistake again. 2. Accept that life is unfair. It's a fact. You can moan about it and wish that it were different, or you can go out there and do something about it. So stop wasting time about the unfairness of it all and think how to use the situation for your benefit. Newton could have complained about the apple falling from the tree and hitting his head. Instead, he identified the law of gravity and is now known as the father of physics. 3. Remember that success does not guarantee happiness. Success is equated with achieving a goal, but don't assume it will always bring happiness. Many people make the mistake that if they accomplish this or that, they'll be happier. Fulfillment and satisfaction have a lot more to do with how you approach life than with what you do in life. Keep that in perspective.

 Don't burn bridges along the way. A lot of life is about personal relationships, so don't forsake them. If you've invented a cheap, efficient way to make nuclear fission, but everyone dislikes you, you have no spouse, and no friends, will it be worth it?

 Value experiences over objects. Humans can be extraordinarily obsessed with money. It's strange, too, because scientists think that our memories of our experiences make us happier than objects we can buy with money. Focus on making great memories with great people along the way, and you should be happy. 4. Remove fear and doubt from your way of thinking. Focus on staying positive in every situation. You will be surprised how effective you can be when your thoughts are guiding your actions, not the other way around. If you fail, don't be fearful about starting over; be happy that you've been given a chance to be even more successful.

Tips  Trust yourself and believe in your abilities.  Not everyone will be happy for you and your success. Some people are insecure and jealous. Be prepared for them, and look past them until you find the people who are happy for you and who support you in all that you do.

 Always be humble. Too much pride will always be your downfall.  The key to becoming successful is finding one thing that you love and mastering that one thing.  There is not any shortcut for success. It's just the result of preparation, hard work and learning from failure!  Success does not come through willpower alone. It takes consistency and determination. Doing something once won't make a huge difference; it's when you do that one thing many times over that you can achieve success.

 What will make you a success is already in you.

Warnings  Do not worry too much about other people's views. Just adhere to what you want to achieve.  Pushing success on others usually backfires. Lead by example. If they see your accomplishments, they may start to wonder how they can do more of what you're doing.

 Be polite and respectful. Remember, you don't have to trample over other people to become successful. More at http://www.wikihow.com/Category:Goal-Realization-%26-Problem-Solving WATCH: Be a model in Word, Action, Thought, Character and Heart Plan and set SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Time-bound) goals, prioritize, execute, monitor, review, refine, achieve tasks and evaluate performance regularly for fulfilling your dreams. Work Culture founded on Punctuality, Integrity, Accountability and Competence. Form an excellent team, stay always challenged, stimulated, excited, motivated, driven and task conscious; solve problems, generate new ideas and turn them into practical actions and regularly bring out new technologies, products and services for the benefit of the human society. Always strive for improving productivity, efficiency and accountability by doing things better and making things better always. Scientifically generate, systematically organize, store, share and access data ensuring accurate information retrieval at any time. Quality People, Infrastructure & Work Culture for Quality Technology, Products & Services; Merit alone counts for Quality suitable for the purpose and one has know-how only when it is proven in real life by doing things better and making things better always. Success is ours if we have the will to succeed and determination to fight against evil.

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Famous Quotes / verses The greatest miracle, pleasure and confidence of man on earth is the presence of God. Listen to His Voice and abide in Him. The most powerful force is LOVE. Everybody seeks LOVE. God and man LOVE mutually. LOVE is eternal. Christianity means LOVE and PEACE with God and fellow men. Be an example for believers in word, deed, love, sprit, faith and purity (1 Timothy 4:14) Missionaries in Jesus act as a bridge with two way traffic between God and man (sinners). What man needs is pleasure (Freud) which we get when serving others (Albert Schweitzer). What man needs is power (Adler). What man needs is knowledge (Junk). The secret of happiness lies in poverty. SIN is always against God. There is always I in the middle of SIN. To be saved I to be crossed (+). Justification is momentary by faith while sanctification is life long disciplining by Holy Spirit. Ingratitude is the ugliest of all sins. Gratitude is the most beautiful flower in the garden of human heart. Thanksgiving is the best giving. Ia

a Fool For Christ’s Sake FFCS .

Obedience is superior to sacrifice. Youth needs a faith to believe, a song to sing and a flag to follow. Right anger is selfless, against right person, on right grounds, in right way, at right moment for right duration. A man of words without deeds is a garden without flowers. You can give others only what you have. People listen more to your deeds not your words. You are admired more for your deeds not your words. Words are few when the heart is full. Actions speak louder than words When all speak none hears. The secret of prayer is praying in secret. A family which prays and dines together stays together. Prayerfully sleep to awake with Psalms. If wealth is lost nothing is lost, if health is lost something is lost and if character is lost everything is lost. Early to rise, early to bed makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise. Christianity is the religion of heart and relationships; between God and man Either God keeps you away from sin or sin keeps you away from God. Idle heart is the home of devil. Jesus’ prayer: Joh 17: 11….Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are. .. 21: That they all may be one, as You Father, are in Me and I in You; that they also may be one in Us that the world may believe that You sent Me. Sow & Reap: Thought → Action → Habit → Chara ter → Destiny As you Sow so you Reap: Sown – More than sown - After some time – Sin will find you out in your conscience, body, eternity, You can be either problem creators (devil children) or problem solvers (God children). A tree is identified by its fruits; You exhibit the character of your father. Revolutions (Luke 1:51-53) Moral: The proud is scattered and the strength is shown Social: The mighty is put down and the lowly is exalted Economic: The rich is emptied and the hungry is filled. Bible parable is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning. Life path: God → Spirit → O2 → Blood → Heart → Ma Righteousness Where there is righteousness in the heart, there is beauty in the character. When there is beauty in the character, there is harmony in the home. When there is harmony in the home, there is an order in the nation. When there is order in the nation, there is peace in the world.

……….. Dr. APJ A dul Kala

Pure heart will have pure thoughts, pure imaginations and pure desires The most important resource is human wisdom and the most limiting is time. Christ is the key to wisdom and intelligence. With God all things are possible (Mathew 19:26)

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Your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God (2 Corinthians 2:5) The fear of the Lord is wisdom and to depart from evil is understanding (Job 28:28) The most efficient manager manages his resources most judiciously. Believe before you pray, Listen before you speak, Think before you write, Earn before you spend, Try before you quit, Live before you die. All Glory to God alone. 90% of advice we hear will be forgotten while 90% of the deeds we see will remain in memory. You can give only what you have; so, preach only what you practice. Success is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration. Forget yesterday and live today looking at eternity without worrying about tomorrow. The over-confident fails, confident succeeds and the under-confident marches ahead It is better to give than take, rebuke than praise, love than hate, forgive than revenge, listen than advice, obey than command, save than destroy, live than die, look forward and march ahead than look back and despair. It is better kindle a candle than curse the darness Pain with the pained for the pain Purpose of prayer is to glorify God. Survival of the fittest/fastest Out of tears and sufferings comes the greatest blessing. Your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. Fools bite one another; wise men agree together. We know a man by the company he keeps. Commonsense is not common. To err is human. Once bit; twice shy. A stich in time saves nine. One word is enough to wise. The will of the people is best law. Early bird catches the worm. Many dishes make many diseases. Hasty climbers have sudden falls. A candle that lights another loses nothing. A friend in need is a friend indeed. Empty vessels make great noise. A small leak is enough to sink a great ship. He who knows how to be poor knows everything. Second thoughts are better. If you wish to know a man, place him in authority. When money speaks, the truth is silent. A bad workman quarrels with his tools. Where there is will, there is a way. No pains, no gains. Necessity is the mother of inventions. United we stand, divided we fall. The darkest hour is before the dawn. When the state is corrupt, the laws are most multiplied. Easy got easy lost. Forewarned is forearmed. Master of himself will be master of others. Who knows most speaks least. Man proposes God disposes. Prevention is better than cure. Avenues for healthy exercise need not be sought in gymnasiums or playgrounds; doing your awn washing, agriculture, gardening, cooking and walking is often all that is required. Prosperity increases materialism, perversion, immorality and injustice of people. "Ethical management and leadership is the cornerstone for any successful business enterprise. It should be the mantra as you begin your careers"

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PohnX hnPb¯n\v… Xocpam\§Ä FSp¡pw ap³]v... Hmtcm hÀjmcw`¯nepw ]p¯³ {]Xo£Ifpw Xocpam\§fpambn k©cn¡phm³ B{Kln¡p¶hcmWv \½n `qcn]£hpw. F¶mÂ, AtX `qcn]£hpw ]et¸mgpw \mfpIÄ¡pÅn¯s¶ ]cmPb¯nte¡p IpXn¡p¶XpamWv A\p`hw. Ct¸mÄ, IÀ¡nSI\mfpIfpsS hdpXn Ignªv Nn§amkw h¶Wbpt¼mgpw \½n ]ecpw ]p¯³ Xocpam\§sfSp¡pw. F¶nt«m? GXm\pw \mfpIÄ¡pÅn¯s¶ ]gb Ime¯nse PohnX¯nte¡pw {]iv\§fnte¡pw \½Ä F¯ns¸SpIbmWv. F{XXs¶ ]pXnb Xocpam\§sfSp¯mepw Ahsbm¶pw ]men¡s¸SmsX \½Ä FhnsSbmWv ]cmPbs¸Sp¶Xv? F´mWv AXnsâ ImcWw F¶p Nn´n¨n«ptWvSm? A§s\ hcpt¼mÄ, Cu \nanjw hscbpÅ PohnXs¯¡pdn¨p Nn´n¡pt¼mÄ ]cn]qÀW kwXr]vXn tXm¶p¶ptWvSm F¶p tNmZn¨m "CÃ' F¶mhpw ]ecpsSbpw D¯cw. F¶mÂ, Hcp hnebncp¯en\p Xbmsd¦n C\nsb¦nepw \ap¡p \½n¯s¶ Ipsd amä§Ä hcp¯n¡qtS? F¦nÂ, C\n¸dbp¶ Imcy§Ä Xm¦Ä¡pthWvSnbpÅXmWv. H¶pd¸n¡mw. hnPbw Xm¦Ä¡pÅXmWv. ]t£, AXn\v ASnØm\]cambpÅ Imcy§Ä sN¿Wsa¶p am{Xw. F´mWv hnPbw? \½Ä B{Kln¡p¶sX´pw icnbmwh®w t\SnsbSp¯v kaql¯n\p ap¶n anI¨ {]XnÑmbbpÅ hyànbmhpI F¶Xv, AtÃ? F¶mÂ, F{XIWvSv IjvSs¸«n«pw ]eÀ¡pw Cu AhØbn F¯nt¨cm³ Ignbp¶nÃ. ]Icw, IjvS¸mSpIfpsS BsI¯pI \ncmibnte¡p amän PohnXs¯bpw ssZhs¯bpw ]gn¨v PohnXw XÅn\o¡pw. F´psImWvSv? PohnX¯n ]cmPbs¸Sm³ Bcpw B{Kln¡p¶nà F¶XpsImWvSpXs¶. ]t£, A[nIhpw kw`hn¡p¶Xv A§s\bmsW¶p am{Xw. F´mbncn¡Ww Cu ]cmPb ImcWw F¶p Nn´n¡p¶Xn\p ap³]v \ap¡v \½psS PohnX¯nsâ Ignª\mfpIfneqsS H¶p k©cn¡mw. t\m¡q. Ignª\mfpIÄ hscbpÅ PohnX¯n\nSbn Xm¦Ä¡p ]ng¨pt]mbXv FhnsSsbms¡bmWv? Xmsg¸dbp¶ kqN\IÄ¡v kzbw Hcp D¯cw IsWvS¯nt\m¡q. 1. F´p Imcyw sN¿pt¼mgpw "F\n¡v CXv sN¿m³ Ignbpw' F¶ Dd¨ Bßhnizmkt¯msS Rm³ {]hÀ¯n¨ncp¶p. 2. sN¿m\pd¸n¨ Imcyw "F´ph¶mepw sNbvXncn¡pw' F¶ \nÝbZmÀVyw F\n¡v DWvSmbncp¶p. 3. Rm³ sN¿m\pÅ Imcy§Ä `wKnbmbn sN¿p¶Xns\m¸w ssZh¯nepÅ AN©eamb hnizmkw Rm³ Im¯pkq£n¨ncp¶p. C{Xbpw Imcy§fn Xm¦Ä¡v AXoht_m[yapsWvS¦n Xm¦Ä hnPb¯nsâ ]mXbn¯s¶. ]t£, F¶n«pw ^eansömWv tXm¶p¶sX¦n Hcp Bß]cntim[\ IqSn \S¯nt\m¡mw. 1. Hmtcm Znhkhpw sNt¿WvS Imcy§Ä kw_Ôn¨v IrXyamb ]²Xn ap³Iq«n Xbmdm¡mdptWvSm? 2. GsäSp¯ tPmenIÄ ]qÀ¯nbm¡m³ ]cn]qÀW AÀ¸Wat\m`mhw ]peÀ¯mdptWvSm? 3. B{Kln¨p XpS§nb tPmen¡nsS kpJIcsa¶p tXm¶p¶ aäp hÀ¯am\§Ä tIÄ¡pt¼mÄ tPmen Dt]£n¨v kpJ¯nsâ ]n¶mse t]mImdptWvSm? 4. aäpÅhtcmSpÅ s]cpamä¯n XnIª kwba\ioew ]peÀ¯m³ km[n¡mdptWvSm? 5. BÀ¡pw CjvSs¸Sp¶ coXnbn {]k¶hZ\\mbn, bpànklambn {]hÀ¯n¡m³ IgnbmdptWvSm? 6. Hmtcm Znhkhpw Ahkm\n¡pt¼mÄ kzbw Hcp Bß]cntim[\ \S¯mdptWvSm? 7. s]cpamäw sImWvSv kzbw i{Xp¡sf krjvSn¡p¶p F¶v tXm¶nbn«ptWvSm? 8. hmb\bneqsSbpw _Ô§fneqsSbpw Adnhp t\Sm\pÅ Ahkc§sf ]pÑn¨pXÅmdptWvSm? 9. {i²¡pdhv, FSp¯pNm«w F¶nh sImWvSv Xm¦Ä¡v A_²§Ä ]nWbmdptWvSm? 10. kab¯n\p hne I¸n¡m¯Xpaqew kz´w Imcy¯nepw aäpÅhcpsS ap³]nepw \jvS§Ä h¶n«ptWvSm? Cu tNmZy§Ä¡v Xr]vXnIcamwh®apÅ D¯cw kzbw IsWvS¯m³ Ignbp¶nsæn Dd¸n¡mw, Xm¦fpsS PohnX¯n Ht«sd Xncp¯epIÄ BhiyambpWvSv. PohnX¯n hnPbn¡Wsa¶v AZayamb B{KlapsWvS¦n B Xncp¯epIfneqsS \ap¡v apt¶m«pt]mImw. HmÀ¡pI. PohnXw hnPbnIfptSXmWv; ]cmPnXcptSXÃ. CS¡me¯v \jvS§Ä kw`hn¡pI kzm`mhnIamWv. AXv _nkn\knsâ ImcyamsW¦nepw ]T\¯nsâ ImcyamsW¦nepw, C\n PohnX¯nsâ ImcyamsW¦nepw ØnXn hyXykvXaÃ. F¶mÂ, Cu \jvS§fpsSbpw \jvSs¸SepIfpsSbpw IY tIÄ¡m³ BÀs¡¦nepw XmXv]cyapsWvS¶mWv IcpXp¶sX¦n sXän. kzbw hnPbnbmhm\pÅ NmWIyX{´§fneqsS Hmtcmcp¯cpw PohnXw XÅn\o¡pt¼mÄ ]cmPnXcpsS IY tIÄ¡m³ BÀ¡pw XmXv]cyansöv kzbw Xncn¨dnbpI. AXv \½psS Al´sImWvSpÅ ]cmPbsa¶p hnebncp¯m\mhpw ]eÀ¡pw XmXv]cysa¶dnbpI. AXpasænÂ, \½psS IgnhptISns\ ]pÑn¡pIbmhpw aäpÅhÀ sN¿pI. Babpw apbepw IY tI«n«ntÃ? Ba F¶pw Cgtª\o§q. apbemIs«, Hm«¯n ap³]\pw. Hcn¡Â ChÀ Ccphcpw IqSn Hcp Hm«¸´bw \S¯m³ Xocpam\n¨p. Xm\ÃmsX aÕc¯n Pbn¡nsöpd¸n¨mWv apb Hm«w XpS§nbXv. Ipsd Ignªt¸mÄ Basb ImWmt\bnÃ. hnPbw Dd¸n¨v apb hn{ian¡m³

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XpS§n. hn{iaw Ignªv HmSn e£yØm\s¯¯pt¼mtg¡pw Ba AhnsS HmSnsb¯n hnPbw Dd¸n¨ncp¶p. Cu IY \nkmcsa¶p tXm¶msa¦nepw \½psSsbms¡ PohnX¯n CXn\v Gsd {]kànbpWvSv. NneÀ¡p hn\bmbn¯ocp¶Xv BßhnizmkanÃmbvabmsW¦n aäp NneÀ¡v AanXhnizmkamWv. kz´w Ignhn AanXambn hnizkn¨v Al¦cn¨p Ignbp¶hÀ¡v apbensâ A\p`hw Hcp ]mTambncn¡pw. CXv Hcp ]co£WamWv. Bßhnizmk¯nsâ ]co£Ww. ]co£Wimebnse ]co£WhkvXphpw \½ÄXs¶. ]co£W¯nsâ BsI¯pI hnPbambncn¡Wsa¦n AXn\v IrXyamb coXnbn¡qSn apt¶m«p t]mbmte ]äq. BZys¯ NphSv Gähpw {i²tbmsSbmbncn¡Wsa¶XmWv {it²bamb asämcp Imcyw. ]eÀ¡pw ]ngbv¡p¶Xpw ChnsS¯s¶. aäpÅhcpsS D]tZi§fn Pohn¡p¶hcmWv C¶s¯ Ime¯v _lp`qcn]£hpw. AXv C¶s¯ XeapdbpsS Hcp Ipg¸ambn¯s¶ ImtWWvSXpWvSv. F{X IgnhpÅhs\¦nÂt¸mepw kz´ambn Hcp Xocpam\saSp¡m³ ]et¸mgpw IgnbmsXt]mIp¶p. AXpsImtWvSm? aäpÅhcpsS D]tZiw tXSpw. Hcp]t£, tNmZn¡p¶ hnjb¯n bmsXmcp AhKmlhpanÃm¯ Bfmbncn¡pw D]tZiw \ÂIpI. (AbmfpsS A¸¯w Xsâ AdnhnÃmbva AwKoIcn¡m³ A\phZn¡pIbpanÃ.) Cu D]tZiw tI«p aS§p¶ hyàn bpànklambpÅ kz´w Xocpam\w t]mepw amänh¨mhpw A]csâ A`n{]mbw inckmhln¨v AXv {]m_ey¯nem¡m³ {ian¡pI. HSphnÂ, AdnhnÃm¯ Imcyw {]m_ey¯nem¡n ]cmPbs¸SpIbmhpw KXn. IkvXqcnarKs¯¸än tI«n«ntÃ? kz´w icoc¯n \ndsb IkvXqcn DXv]mZn¸n¡s¸«n«pw AXnsâ kpKÔw FhnsS\n¶pw hcp¶p F¶v At\zjn¨pt]mhp¶ arKamWv IkvXqcnarKsa¶mWv kmlnXy`mjyw. Xm¦fpsS Imcy¯n kw`hn¡p¶Xpw AXp Xs¶bmsW¶p ]dªm sXämsW¶p ]dbm³ Ignbptam? Xm¦fpsS ]cmPb¯nsâ ASnØm\ImcWw AXsöptWvSm?

PohnX hnPb¯n\v tUm. HmÉdpsS aqì {]amW§Ä :

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kzbw tNmZnt¡WvS Ipsd tNmZy§Ä

]mÝmXy {KÙImc\mb tUm. {KnKdn tÌm¡v Xbmdm¡nb Akm[mcWamb Hcp ]pkvXIamWv ""Z _p¡v Hm^v IzÌy³kv'' (tNmZy§fpsS ]pkvXIw). Cu ]pkvXI¯n tNmZy§Ä am{XtabpÅp; D¯c§fnÃ. Cu ]pkvXI¯nepÅ tNmZy§sfÃmw kzbw tNmZn¡phm\pÅ tNmZy§fmWv. AhbpsS {][m\ e£yamIs«. kzbw IsWvS¯epw. \ap¡p \s½¡pdn¨v \¶mbn«dnbmsa¶mbncn¡pIbntà \½psSsbms¡ [mcW? F¶mÂ, \½psS Nn´, hm¡v, {]hr¯n F¶nhsb¡pdn¨v F{Xam{Xw Aht_m[w \ap¡pWvSv F¶v At\zjn¡p¶Xv \ÃXmWv. \mw PohnX¯n h¨p]peÀ¯p¶ aqey§fpw hnizmk kwlnXIfpw [Àam[Àa [mcWIfpantÃ? Chsb¡pdns¨ms¡ F{Xam{Xw Aht_m[w \ap¡pWvSv? k¦oÀWamb {]iv\§fpÅ PohnXamWv \½ptSXv. F¶mÂ, \s½ aYn¡p¶ B {]iv\§sf¡pdn¨pw Ahsb \mw t\cnSp¶ coXnsb¡pdn¨pw \ap¡p hyàamb [mcWbptWvSm? ]et¸mgpw, BtemN\t]mepanÃmsX kzm`mhnIamb {]XnIcWatà PohnX {]iv\§tfmSv \mw kzoIcn¡p¶Xv? \½psS IgnªIme PohnXw kw`h_lpeambncp¶ncn¡mw. F¶mÂ, AhbnÂ\n¶p \mw ]mTw ]Tn¡pItbm shfn¨w kzoIcn¡pItbm sNbvXn«pWvSmhptam? \½psS `qXþhÀ¯am\þ`mhn Ime§sf H¶mbn¡WvSpsImWvSv PohnXs¯¡pdn¨v sam¯¯nsemcp ho£Ww \mw cq]s¸Sp¯nbn«pWvSmhptam? PohnX¯n hnPbw t\Sphm³ B{Kln¡p¶hsc kw_Ôn¨nSt¯mfw kzbw IsWvS¯epw kzbw hnebncp¯epw kzbw s]mfns¨gp¯psams¡ BhiyamWv. Cu \S]SnIsf klmbn¡p¶ Ipsd tNmZy§Ä ""tNmZy§fpsS ]pkvXI''¯nÂ\n¶v ChnsS ]IÀ¯pIbmWv: \n§Ä¡p PohnX¯n hyàamb e£y§fptWvSm? Ahbnsem¶p NqWvSn¡mWn¨psImWvSv AXp t\Sphm\pÅ ¹m³ F´msW¶v ]dbmtam? PohnX¯nepÅ F´v \·sb¡pdn¨mWp \n§Ä¡v Gähpw henb kt´mjhpw \µnbpapÅXv? \n§fpsS PohnX¯n\v ASp¡pw Nn«bpapsWvS¶v \n§Ä IcpXp¶ptWvSm? \n§fpsS PohnXs¯¡pdn¨v \n§Ä Gähpw CjvSs¸Sp¶ Imcyw F´mWv? AXpt]mse, \n§fpsS PohnX¯n \n§Ä Gähpw A[nIw shdp¡p¶Xv F´mWv? F´n\pthWvSnbmWv \n§Ä PohnX¯n t]mcmSp¶Xv? ]W¯n\pthWvSntbm? A[nImc¯n\pthWvSntbm? hnÚm\ k¼mZ\¯n\pthWvSntbm? kpc£nXXz¯n\pthWvSntbm? kvt\l¯n\pthWvSntbm? kpJt`mK§Ä¡pthWvSntbm? AtXm asäs´¦nepw Imcy¯n\pthWvSntbm? \n§Ä¡pÅ Zpioe§Ä GhbmWv? AhbnÂ\n¶p tamN\w t\Sphm³ \n§Ä Øncambn {ian¡mdptWvSm? \msf \n§Ä Dd¡apWcpt¼mÄ Hcp ]pXnb Ignthm KpWtam sXcsªSp¡phm³ \n§Ä¡p hcw e`n¨m F´mbncn¡pw \n§Ä sXcsªSp¡pI? \n§Ä Gähpw A[nIw BZcn¡p¶ hyàn BcmWv? B hyànbpsS GXp KpWamWv \n§sf BIÀjn¡p¶Xv? \n§fpsS HmÀabn X§n\n¡p¶ Gähpw kpµcamb A\p`hw GXmWv? \n§fpsS PohnX¯n \n§Ä t\Snbn«pÅ Gähpw henb t\«w GXmWv? CXnepw henb GsX¦nepw t\«w t\Sphm³ \n§Ä¡p tamlaptWvSm? \n§Ä Bscsb¦nepw shdp¯n«ptWvSm? DsWvS¦n F{XImew? F´p ImcWwaqew? \n§Ä Ft¸mgmWv Ahkm\ambn HcmtfmSv H¨sh¨v tZjys¸«Xv? AsX¡pdn¨v ]n¶oSv ZpxJw tXm¶ntbm? \n§Ä aäpÅhsc hn[n¡p¶Xp kzbw hn[n¡m\p]tbmKn¡p¶ am\ZWvUa\pkcn¨mtWm? AtXm AXnepw IqSnb Asæn Ipdª am\ZWvUa\pkcnt¨m? ]Wtam aäp k½m\§tfm X¶v \n§sf ""adn¡m³'' km[n¡ptam? A[nIw XmaknbmsX \n§Ä acn¡pw F¶dnbpIbmsW¦n PohnX¯n ]qÀ¯nbmIm¯ F´pImcys¯¡pdn¨mIpw \n§Ä¡v ZpxJw tXm¶pI? AXpt]mse, \n§Ä sNbvX F´p sXäns\¡pdn¨mIpw \n§Ä¡p ]Ým¯m]w tXm¶pI? \n§Ä F¶mWv Ahkm\ambn Bcpw ImWmsX IcªXv? AXv F´pImcys¯s¨mÃnbmbncp¶p? \n§Ä ]dbp¶Xpt]mseXs¶ {]hÀ¯n¡p¶bmfmtWm? asämcmsf hnizkn¡phm³ \n§Ä¡p km[n¡ptam? A§s\ hnizkn¡Wsa¦n AbmÄ¡pWvSmbncnt¡WvS {][m\ KpWw F´mWv? aäpÅhtcmSpÅ kw`mjW¯n \n§Ä kwkmcn¡p¶Xntem tIÄ¡p¶Xntem GXnemWv IqSpX {i²n¡p¶Xv? ASp¯ A©p hÀjt¯¡p \n§Ä F´psN¿phm\mWv B{Kln¡p¶Xv? ASp¯ A©p hÀjt¯¡p \n§Ä F´mbncn¡pw sN¿pI.? \n§Ä¡p asämcmfpsS Hcp klmbw Bhiyambn h¶m AXp kzoIcn¡phm³ Ffp¸amtWm? klmbw \n§Ä tNmZn¡ptam? \n§Ä¡p sXm®qdp hbkv hsc Pohn¡phm\pÅ hcw e`n¡p¶psh¶p IcpXpI. AXpt]mse, \n§fpsS Ahkm\s¯ Adp]Xp hÀjw apgph\pw Hcp ap¸XphbkpImcsâ imcocnImhØtbmSpIqSntbm Asæn am\knImhØtbmSpIqSntbm Pohn¡phm\pÅ hchpw e`n¡p¶psh¶p IcpXpI. Chbn GXmbncn¡pw \n§Ä sXcsªSp¡pI? \n§fpsS _Ôp¡fpw kplr¯p¡fpw \n§sf¡pdn¨v F´p hnNmcn¡p¶pthm AXp \n§tfmSv apJ¯pt\m¡n ]dbphm³ \n§Ä B{Kln¡p¶pthm? \n§fpsS kplr¯p¡Ä \n§sf XÅn¸dªm AhtcmSv \n§Ä £an¡ptam? \n§fpsS PohnXw GXp ZnibnemWp apt¶m«pt]mIp¶sX¶v CSbv¡nsS \n§Ä BtemNn¡mdptWvSm? Hcp hÀj¯n\Iw \n§Ä acn¡psa¶dnªm Fs´Ãmw Imcy§fnembncn¡pw \n§Ä C¶papX hyXymkw hcp¯pI? tNmZy§fpsS ]c¼c ChnsS Ahkm\n¸n¡pIbmWv. Cu tNmZy§tfmsSm¸w Chbv¡p kam\amb aäp tNmZy§fpw CSbv¡nsS \mw tNmZn¡pIbpw Ahbv¡p kXykÔamb D¯cw \mw IsWvS¯pIbpw AX\pkcn¨v PohnX¯n\v ]cnhÀ¯\w hcp¯pIbpw sNbvXm \mw [\ycmIpw.

t\Xmhn\p thWw, ]¯p KpW§Ä

1972þapX ]e GP³knIÄ bphm¡Ä¡nSbn \S¯nb kÀthIfn AhÀ t\Xm¡·mcn ImWm\m{Kln¡p¶ KpW§Ä hnhcn¡p¶p. Chbn {][m\s¸« 10 F®w Xmsgt¨À¡p¶p. t\XmhmIm³ B{Kln¡p¶hÀ Ch hfÀ¯nsbSp¡m³ {ian¡Ww. 1. kXykÔX, 2. hmÕeyw, 3. _p²niàn, 4. A\pI¼, 5. aäpÅhsc {ihn¡phm\pÅ k¶²X, 6. {]k¶X 7. ss[cyw, 8. [Àa\njvT, 9. hr¯n/kuµcyw (Ah\hsâ icocw hr¯nbmbn kq£n¡pI, DÅhkv{Xw hr¯nbm¡n [cn¡pI). Cleanliness, 10. Bib§fn k¼Zvkar²n. Treasure house of ideas

PohnX hnPb¯n\ v… Xocpam\§Ä FSp¡pw ap³]v

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How to Be Successful ……

9

bp.F³. t]m¸ptej³ Unhnjsâ 1995þse IW¡\pkcn¨v \qdp hbkn\p apIfnepÅhcpsS kwJy BtKmfXe¯n 1,35,000 Bbncp¶p. BtcmKy]cn]me\ cwK¯v ASp¯Ime¯p WvSmbncn¡p¶ KWyamb ]ptcmKXnbpsS ^eambn Cu kwJybn henb hÀ[\bpWvSmIpw F¶mWv IW¡m¡s¸Sp¶Xv. C¶p Pohn¨ncn¡p¶hcnse{X t]À \qdphbkv XnIbv¡psa¶v BÀ¡pw ]dbm\mhnÃ. F¶mÂ, PohnX¯n Nne \à ioe§fpw Nn«bpapWvSmbm \½psS PohnX¯nsâ Bbpkv \o«n¡n«phm\mWv Gsd km[yX. \½psS Bbpkv \o«n¡n«p¶Xn\v klmbIamb \qdp \nÀtZi§Ä CâÀs\änse þ saUn I¬kÄ«v tUm«vtIman ImWphm\nSbmbn. AhbnÂ\n¶p XncsªSp¯ Nne \nÀtZi§Ä Xmsgs¡mSp¡p¶p. 1. Znhkhpw F«p ¥mkv shÅw IpSn¡pI. 2. ]pIhen ]mSnÃ. 3. hymbmaw sN¿pI. 4. lrZbw Xpd¶v Nncn¡pIbpw DÃkn¡pIbpw sN¿pI. 5. hÀjwtXmdpw Hcp ^nkn¡Â sN¡¸v sN¿pI. 6. \à kplrZv_豈 ]cnt]mjn¸n¡pI. 7. `mh\ D]tbmKn¡pI. 8. cmhnse Dd¡apWÀ¶p ]pXnsbmcp Znhkt¯¡p ImepIp¯p¶Xn kt´mjw IsWvS¯pI. 9. BtcmKyIcaÃm¯ _Ô§fpw kmlNcy§fpw Dt]£n¡p¶Xn\pÅ ss[cyw DWvSmbncn¡pI. 10. PohnXs¯¡pdn¨pÅ ip`m]vXn hnizmkw DWvSmbncn¡pI. 11. ]cmPb¯nÂ\n¶p ]mTw ]Tn¡pIbpw Hmtcm sNdnb hnPb¯nÂt]mepw A`nam\w sImÅpIbpw sN¿pI. 12. PohnXs¯¡pdn¨v ]pXnb Aht_m[w e`n¡p¶Xn\pthWvSn ]cnNnXaÃm¯ Øe§fnte¡v hÃt¸mgpw bm{XsN¿pI. 13.BtcmKyw \in¸n¡p¶ Zpioe§Ä Hgnhm¡pI. 14. ]{Xw ssIbnseSp¯mepSs\ Nca Adnbn¸pIÄ hmbn¡mXncn¡pI. aäphmÀ¯ItfmsSm¸ambncn¡s« Ah hmbn¡p¶Xv. 15. PohnX¯n A\´amb hnPbkm[yXIfpsWvS¶ hkvXpX HmÀan¡pIbpw Ct¸mgs¯ Ahkcw \½ptSXmsW¶v hnizkn¨v {]hÀ¯n¡pIbpw sN¿pI. 16. ]pXnb Xeapdbpambn \nc´cw _Ôs¸«psImWvSncn¡pI. kmt¦XnI cwKs¯ hfÀ¨ DÄs¸sS a\knem¡m³ {ian¡pI. 17. kaImeo\ kw`h§sf¡pdn¨v hmbn¡pIbpw ]Tn¡pIbpw sN¿pI. 18. GsX¦nepsamcp \à k¶²kwLS\bn AwKambn tNÀ¶v kaql¯nsâ D¶a\¯n\mbn {]hÀ¯n¡pI. 19.kXyw am{Xw ]dbpIbpw \ÃImcy§Ä am{Xw sN¿pIbpw sN¿pI. t\ÀabpÅ a\:km£n BtcmKyw ]cnt]mjn¸n¡pw. 20. BtcmSpw i{XpXbpw hntZzjhpw h¨p]peÀ¯cpXv. \½n i{XpXbpw hntZzjhpw DWvSmbm Ah \s½ ImÀ¶pXn¶p \in¸n¡pw. 21. FÃmZnhkhpw IpsdZqcw \S¡pI. ]n¶oSv Aev]wIqSn \S¡pI. 22. ]pXnb kplrZv_豈 Øm]n¡pI. \½psS kplr¯p¡Ä hnhn[ PohnX]Ým¯e¯n \n¶pÅhcmbncn¡p¶Xn\v {i²n¡pI. 23. kwKoX¯n\v PohnX¯n {]m[m\yw \ÂIpI. 24. PohnXkz]v\§Ä Hcn¡epw ad¡mXncn¡pI. 25. \µnbpÅ lrZbapWvSmbncn¡pIbpw PohnX¯nse A\p{Kl§Ä \nc´cw F®pIbpw sN¿pI. 26. _Ôp¡sfbpw kplr¯p¡sfbpsams¡ hÃt¸mgpw k¡cn¡pI. 27. ]pXnsbmcp hm¡v FÃmZnhkhpw ]Tn¡pI. 28. aäpÅhtcmSv AhcpsS sXäpIfpw Ipä§fpw £an¡pI. 29. kaql¯nse hnhn[ {]iv\§sf¡pdn¨v Aht_m[apÅhcmbncn¡pIbpw Ahbv¡v ]cnlmcw IsWvS¯phm³ {ian¡pIbpw sN¿pI. 30. am\knIambn XpdhnbpÅhcmbncn¡pI. 31. km[n¡p¶ tPmenIÄ apS¡w IqSmsX sN¿pI. 32. PohnX¯n {]m[m\yapÅ Imcy§Ä Ghsb¶v IsWvS¯n Ah sN¿p¶Xn {i² tI{µoIcn¡pI. 33. [ym\n¡pIbpw {]mÀYn¡pIbpw sN¿pI. 34. icoc¯nsâ Xq¡w anXam¡n \nÀ¯pI. 35. DÅnepÅXv ]dbpI. a\knsem¶p hnNmcn¡pIbpw AXpad¨ph¨v kwkmcn¡pIbpw sNt¿WvS. 36. lrZbw Xpd¶p kvt\ln¡phm³ aSnt¡WvS. \½psS kvt\lw XnckvIcn¡s¸Sm\nSbmbmÂt¸mepw \mw kvt\ln¡mXncn¡cpXv. 37. F¶pw ip²hmbp izkn¡phm³ {i²n¡pI. 38. `£W¯n IqSpX ]¨¡dnIfpw ]g§fpw DsWvS¶v Dd¸phcp¯pI. 39. Znhkhpw X\nsb Aev]kabw sNehgn¡p¶Xn\v {i²n¡pI. PohnX¯nsâ Bbpkv \o«p¶Xn\v klmbIamb Nne \nÀtZi§fmWv apIfn sImSp¯ncn¡p¶Xv. Cu \nÀtZi§fntednb]¦pw {i²hbv¡p¶Xv imcocnImtcmKy¯nsâ Imcy¯neà F¶Xp \mw ad¡cpXv. imcocnImtcmKys¯¡mÄ {]m[m\s¸«Xp am\knIhpw B[ymßnIhpamb BtcmKyamWv F¶ Nn´mKXnbpsS ASnØm\¯nemsW¶v tXm¶p¶p Cu \nÀtZi§Ä AhXcn¸n¨ncn¡p¶Xv. \½psS Bbpkv ssZh¯nsâ Zm\amWv. ssZhw \ÂIp¶ Bbpkv ZoÀLmbpkmbn amdWsa¦n \mw \½psS am\knIhpw imcocnIhpamb BtcmKy¯nsâ Imcy¯n {i²nt¨ aXnbmIq. AXn\pÅ hnthIhpw Xmev]cyhpw \ap¡pWvSmIs«.

PohnX hnPb¯n\ v… Xocpam\§Ä FSp¡pw ap³]v

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How to Be Successful ……

10

Think before you write, Listen before you speak, Try before you quit, Earn before you spend, Live before you die.

Where there is righteousness in the heart, there is beauty in the character.

Believe you pray, there is harmony in the home. When therebefore is beauty in the character,

When there is harmony in the home, there is an order in the nation. When there is order in the nation, there is peace in the world http://www.wikihow.com/Be-Successful ……… Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam

PohnX hnPb¯n\ v… Xocpam\§Ä FSp¡pw ap³]v

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How to Be Successful ……

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hnPb¯nteçÅ ]SnIÄ 1. ssZhm{ib¯nepw Ønc]cn{ia¯mepapÅ Dd¨ e£yt_m[w thWw. e£yw ip²ambm hgnbpw ip²ambncnçw. 2. t\SmëÅ Imcyw hyàambn Ubdnbn FgpXn sh¡Ww. 3. {]XnZn\w \njvTm]qÀÆw ]Sn]Snbbn e£¯nteç apt¶dWw. Hä¨m«v¯n\v AX|¶Xnbnse¯³ {ian¡cnXv. 4. e£yw t\Sp¶Xn\v kab]cn[n sh¡Ww. kab]cn[nbnï Imcyw amänamän/\o«n\o«n sh¨v kabw ]mgmçw. 5. {]mÀ°n¨v ZrV\nÝbt¯msS _p²n]qÀÆw DWÀtÆmsS ØntcmÕmlt¯msS e£y{]m]vXn¡mbn {]bXv\n¡Ww. 6. ]cmNb`oXnbpw Zpc`nam\hpw shSnªv klk_p²ntbmsS [ocambn apt¶m«nd§Ww. 7. ]cmPb¯n \ncmis¸SmsX Ønc]cn{iaw \S¯Ww. 8. Xmakn¨pt]mbn F¶v Nn´n¡êXv. 9. \à amt\PÀ Gähpw æd¨v dnt¸mÀ«pIÄ Bhiys¸«v Gähpw Imcy£aambn Imcy§Ä sN¿pw. 10. Imcy£aXbpÅ HcmÄ Häs¡Spç¶ Xoêam\ambncnçw 20 X«pIfnembn 20 t]À tNÀs¶Sp¯v \S¸nemç¶ Xoêam\t¯¡Ä Øm]\¯në \ÃXv. aëjyÀ \n§Ä¡v sNt¿Ww Fì\n§Ä COnç¶sXms¡bpw \n§Â AhÀ ç sN¿phn³ (Mathew 7:12) _lpP\s¯ Aëkcn¨v tZmjw sN¿êXv (Exodus 23:2) \·ç ]Icw Xn· sN¿p¶Xv ss]imNnIw Xn·ç ]Icw Xn· sN¿p¶Xv arKobw \·ç ]Icw \· sN¿p¶Xv amëjoIw Xn·ç]Icw \· sN¿p¶Xv ssZhoIw t`mKn tcmKn XymKn tbmKn temI C¼§Ä tXSn kpJt`mK§fn ckn¨v t`mKnbmbn tZmj§Ä¡v ASnabmbn FÃmw \ãvs¸«v tcmKnbmbn kXy kphntijZqXp tI«v a\wXncnªv XymKnbmbn AëXm] hnhiXbn kphntijhmlnbmw tbmKnbmbn PohnX¯n XIÀ¨ hêt¼mÄ XIÀ¨sb t\m¡n XfcmsX XIÀ¨sb DbÀ¨bm¡m³ Ignbp¶ ssZhs¯ t\m¡Ww. DbÀ¨ hêt¼mÄ DbÀ¨bn aXnad¡msX DbÀ¨ X¶ ssZht¯mSv \µn hcWw.