Start by getting your free resources here.
Understand "The Success Cycle" from Tony Robbins as mentioned in the video and make it happen! Be certain and decide to take massive action.
Wednesday 19 August 2015
How to Take Massive Action and Get Massive Results
Start by getting your free resources here.
Understand "The Success Cycle" from Tony Robbins as mentioned in the video and make it happen! Be certain and decide to take massive action.
Tuesday 18 August 2015
Sharpen the Saw | A story for Success
One day two woodcutters have argued, which of them will cut more wood during a day.
In the morning two men took up their positions. First they worked at one speed. But in an hour one of them has heard, that the other one stopped cutting trees. Realizing that this was his chance, the first woodcutter started to cut trees with double efforts.
Ten minutes passed, and he heard that the second woodcutter started to work again. They were working almost synchronously, when the first woodcutter heard that his opponent has stopped again. The first woodcutter continued working, feeling the smell of victory.
This lasted all day long. Each hour one of the woodcutters stopped for ten minutes and the other one continued to work. When time expired, the first woodcutter, who worked without any stopping, was absolutely sure that he won the prize.
He was very surprised to know that was mistaken.
— How did that happen? — He asked his partner. — Each hour I heard that you have stopped the work for ten minutes. How could you cut more trees than I? It’s impossible!
— It is very simple, in fact, — answered the second woodcutter. — Each hour I stopped the work for ten minutes. And when you were cutting the trees, I sharpened the axe.
Source
This story of the woodcutters is a beautiful metaphor for "Sharpen the saw", the 7th habit in Stephen Covey's famous book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
. It's about self renewal in the four areas of life physical, social/emotional, mental, and spiritual as mentioned in the book.
For me this book meant a shift in focus and has proven to be very beneficial in the way I work with people. I can only recommend this classic!
In the morning two men took up their positions. First they worked at one speed. But in an hour one of them has heard, that the other one stopped cutting trees. Realizing that this was his chance, the first woodcutter started to cut trees with double efforts.
Ten minutes passed, and he heard that the second woodcutter started to work again. They were working almost synchronously, when the first woodcutter heard that his opponent has stopped again. The first woodcutter continued working, feeling the smell of victory.
This lasted all day long. Each hour one of the woodcutters stopped for ten minutes and the other one continued to work. When time expired, the first woodcutter, who worked without any stopping, was absolutely sure that he won the prize.
He was very surprised to know that was mistaken.
— How did that happen? — He asked his partner. — Each hour I heard that you have stopped the work for ten minutes. How could you cut more trees than I? It’s impossible!
— It is very simple, in fact, — answered the second woodcutter. — Each hour I stopped the work for ten minutes. And when you were cutting the trees, I sharpened the axe.
Source
This story of the woodcutters is a beautiful metaphor for "Sharpen the saw", the 7th habit in Stephen Covey's famous book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
. It's about self renewal in the four areas of life physical, social/emotional, mental, and spiritual as mentioned in the book. For me this book meant a shift in focus and has proven to be very beneficial in the way I work with people. I can only recommend this classic!
Monday 17 August 2015
Exercise: 7 benefits of regular physical activity
You know exercise is good for you, but do you know how good? From boosting your mood to improving your sex life, find out how exercise can improve your life.
Want to feel better, have more energy and perhaps even live longer? Look no further than exercise. The health benefits of regular exercise and physical activity are hard to ignore. And the benefits of exercise are yours for the taking, regardless of your age, sex or physical ability. Need more convincing to exercise? Check out these seven ways exercise can improve your life.
No. 1: Exercise controls weight
Exercise can help prevent excess weight gain or help maintain weight loss. When you engage in physical activity, you burn calories. The more intense the activity, the more calories you burn. You don't need to set aside large chunks of time for exercise to reap weight-loss benefits. If you can't do an actual workout, get more active throughout the day in simple ways — by taking the stairs instead of the elevator or revving up your household chores.
No. 2: Exercise combats health conditions and diseases
Worried about heart disease? Hoping to prevent high blood pressure? No matter what your current weight, being active boosts high-density lipoprotein (HDL), or "good," cholesterol and decreases unhealthy triglycerides. This one-two punch keeps your blood flowing smoothly, which decreases your risk of cardiovascular diseases. In fact, regular physical activity can help you prevent or manage a wide range of health problems and concerns, including stroke, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, depression, certain types of cancer, arthritis and falls.
No. 3: Exercise improves mood
Need an emotional lift? Or need to blow off some steam after a stressful day? A workout at the gym or a brisk 30-minute walk can help. Physical activity stimulates various brain chemicals that may leave you feeling happier and more relaxed. You may also feel better about your appearance and yourself when you exercise regularly, which can boost your confidence and improve your self-esteem.
No. 4: Exercise boosts energy
Winded by grocery shopping or household chores? Regular physical activity can improve your muscle strength and boost your endurance. Exercise and physical activity deliver oxygen and nutrients to your tissues and help your cardiovascular system work more efficiently. And when your heart and lungs work more efficiently, you have more energy to go about your daily chores.
No. 5: Exercise promotes better sleep
Struggling to fall asleep? Or to stay asleep? Regular physical activity can help you fall asleep faster and deepen your sleep. Just don't exercise too close to bedtime, or you may be too energized to fall asleep.
No. 6: Exercise puts the spark back into your sex life
Do you feel too tired or too out of shape to enjoy physical intimacy? Regular physical activity can leave you feeling energized and looking better, which may have a positive effect on your sex life. But there's more to it than that. Regular physical activity can lead to enhanced arousal for women. And men who exercise regularly are less likely to have problems with erectile dysfunction than are men who don't exercise.
No. 7: Exercise can be fun
Exercise and physical activity can be a fun way to spend some time. It gives you a chance to unwind, enjoy the outdoors or simply engage in activities that make you happy. Physical activity can also help you connect with family or friends in a fun social setting. So, take a dance class, hit the hiking trails or join a soccer team. Find a physical activity you enjoy, and just do it. If you get bored, try something new.
The bottom line on exercise
Exercise and physical activity are a great way to feel better, gain health benefits and have fun. As a general goal, aim for at least 30 minutes of physical activity every day. If you want to lose weight or meet specific fitness goals, you may need to exercise more. Remember to check with your doctor before starting a new exercise program, especially if you haven't exercised for a long time, have chronic health problems, such as heart disease, diabetes or arthritis, or you have any concerns.
Source
Want to feel better, have more energy and perhaps even live longer? Look no further than exercise. The health benefits of regular exercise and physical activity are hard to ignore. And the benefits of exercise are yours for the taking, regardless of your age, sex or physical ability. Need more convincing to exercise? Check out these seven ways exercise can improve your life.
No. 1: Exercise controls weight
Exercise can help prevent excess weight gain or help maintain weight loss. When you engage in physical activity, you burn calories. The more intense the activity, the more calories you burn. You don't need to set aside large chunks of time for exercise to reap weight-loss benefits. If you can't do an actual workout, get more active throughout the day in simple ways — by taking the stairs instead of the elevator or revving up your household chores.
No. 2: Exercise combats health conditions and diseases
Worried about heart disease? Hoping to prevent high blood pressure? No matter what your current weight, being active boosts high-density lipoprotein (HDL), or "good," cholesterol and decreases unhealthy triglycerides. This one-two punch keeps your blood flowing smoothly, which decreases your risk of cardiovascular diseases. In fact, regular physical activity can help you prevent or manage a wide range of health problems and concerns, including stroke, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, depression, certain types of cancer, arthritis and falls.
No. 3: Exercise improves mood
Need an emotional lift? Or need to blow off some steam after a stressful day? A workout at the gym or a brisk 30-minute walk can help. Physical activity stimulates various brain chemicals that may leave you feeling happier and more relaxed. You may also feel better about your appearance and yourself when you exercise regularly, which can boost your confidence and improve your self-esteem.
No. 4: Exercise boosts energy
Winded by grocery shopping or household chores? Regular physical activity can improve your muscle strength and boost your endurance. Exercise and physical activity deliver oxygen and nutrients to your tissues and help your cardiovascular system work more efficiently. And when your heart and lungs work more efficiently, you have more energy to go about your daily chores.
No. 5: Exercise promotes better sleep
Struggling to fall asleep? Or to stay asleep? Regular physical activity can help you fall asleep faster and deepen your sleep. Just don't exercise too close to bedtime, or you may be too energized to fall asleep.
No. 6: Exercise puts the spark back into your sex life
Do you feel too tired or too out of shape to enjoy physical intimacy? Regular physical activity can leave you feeling energized and looking better, which may have a positive effect on your sex life. But there's more to it than that. Regular physical activity can lead to enhanced arousal for women. And men who exercise regularly are less likely to have problems with erectile dysfunction than are men who don't exercise.
No. 7: Exercise can be fun
Exercise and physical activity can be a fun way to spend some time. It gives you a chance to unwind, enjoy the outdoors or simply engage in activities that make you happy. Physical activity can also help you connect with family or friends in a fun social setting. So, take a dance class, hit the hiking trails or join a soccer team. Find a physical activity you enjoy, and just do it. If you get bored, try something new.
The bottom line on exercise
Exercise and physical activity are a great way to feel better, gain health benefits and have fun. As a general goal, aim for at least 30 minutes of physical activity every day. If you want to lose weight or meet specific fitness goals, you may need to exercise more. Remember to check with your doctor before starting a new exercise program, especially if you haven't exercised for a long time, have chronic health problems, such as heart disease, diabetes or arthritis, or you have any concerns.
Source
Friday 14 August 2015
"Be Happy for No Reason"
50% of happiness is in your genes....so some people are just naturally happy, but another 50% is NOT in your genes.
As it turns out only 10% is related to life's circumstances and a whopping 40% is controlled by YOU!
You can control your happiness and make it into a habit to be "happy for no reason". Marci Shimoff has written this beautiful book about it, which guides you in 7 steps to a state of happiness for no reason. Check it out for yourself!
Have a great weekend and speak to you soon!
Thursday 13 August 2015
Fail Your Way to Success by Changing your Mindset
One of the reasons Magic Johnston did so well after failure, may have been because he had a growth mindset. People who have a growth mind-set believe that, while everyone may differ in their level of intelligence or ability, fundamentally we can increase this level through hard work.
Magic had a natural sporting ability and by working hard he increased this. If he had possessed a fixed mind-set, which is to believe that one is born with a certain level of intelligence and ability that cannot be changed, then learning from failure would not have been an option.
For example, if you believe that intelligence cannot be increased then failure is going to make you feel hopeless and depressed because there is not much you can do to increase it. Studies have shown that people who are told that intelligence can be raised through hard work and effort do better than those who have been told that intelligence is "fixed".
Do you have a growth mindset or a fixed mindset?
If you have a fixed mind-set take time to think about your view of intelligence? Do you feel anxious and depressed after failing? Do you avoid tasks because of fear of failure? Do you put less effort into tasks because you feel hopeless about making progress? Do you find that when you are carrying out a task you are worried about how good you look at it, rather than what you are learning from it? Do you miss learning opportunities because of fear of failure? If you answered "yes" to some of these questions then you probably do possess the belief that intelligence is fixed.
There is hope. Studies have shown that we can change our mind-set. Reading and thinking about the growth mindset can activate a change in our views of intelligence. Next time you fail, pay attention to how you respond to this. What can you learn from the failure? How can you improve your performance through this setback?
(Dweck, 2000. Self-theories: Essays in Social Psychology. See also evidence section. )
Read more about a successful mindset and view one of Carol Dweck's presentations about "the growth mindset" in this article.
Source
Magic had a natural sporting ability and by working hard he increased this. If he had possessed a fixed mind-set, which is to believe that one is born with a certain level of intelligence and ability that cannot be changed, then learning from failure would not have been an option.
For example, if you believe that intelligence cannot be increased then failure is going to make you feel hopeless and depressed because there is not much you can do to increase it. Studies have shown that people who are told that intelligence can be raised through hard work and effort do better than those who have been told that intelligence is "fixed".
Do you have a growth mindset or a fixed mindset?
If you have a fixed mind-set take time to think about your view of intelligence? Do you feel anxious and depressed after failing? Do you avoid tasks because of fear of failure? Do you put less effort into tasks because you feel hopeless about making progress? Do you find that when you are carrying out a task you are worried about how good you look at it, rather than what you are learning from it? Do you miss learning opportunities because of fear of failure? If you answered "yes" to some of these questions then you probably do possess the belief that intelligence is fixed.
There is hope. Studies have shown that we can change our mind-set. Reading and thinking about the growth mindset can activate a change in our views of intelligence. Next time you fail, pay attention to how you respond to this. What can you learn from the failure? How can you improve your performance through this setback?
(Dweck, 2000. Self-theories: Essays in Social Psychology. See also evidence section. )
Read more about a successful mindset and view one of Carol Dweck's presentations about "the growth mindset" in this article.
Source
Wednesday 12 August 2015
5 Steps to Personal Growth and Development
“There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self.”
~Ernest Hemingway
Setting out on a journey of personal growth and development can seem overwhelming at first. If you browse the self-improvement or personal development sections of any book store, you’re likely to find hundreds if not thousands of books promising to help you lose weight, make more money, or find the partner of your dreams.
But true personal growth is not about buying a book and letting it sit on your shelf at home, or attending a seminar and feeling like you’ve accomplished something.
True personal growth and development starts with making the decision that one of the most important things you can do in life is to constantly improve, get better, and become a better version of your former self.
And then it’s about committing that you’ll work every day on doing that.
It can start with something simple, like recognizing your self-talk and replacing negative thoughts with more positive thoughts.
Or you can take it to the next level by setting specific goals and creating a plan to achieve them. But if you’re just setting out on a journey of personal growth, where should you start?
5 Steps to Personal Growth and Development
1. Know yourself
This is the first and possibly the most difficult step. What are you good at? What are your weaknesses? What are those areas of your life that are really holding you back from living the life of your dreams?
Understanding yourself and what you want in life is the first, and possibly the hardest step to improving. But it’s also the most worthwhile.
2. Set your goals
Setting a goal and working toward it every day can give you renewed confidence and passion for life. What is it that you really want in life? Do you want to lose weight and have more energy? Do you want to be more successful in your career? Do you want to have better personal relationships?
Whatever your goals are, make sure you set them the right way and then you can…
3. Create a plan
Personal growth and development is a life-long journey, and like any journey, you’ll want to create a plan to help you get to your destination.
Based on the goals you’ve set for yourself, how can you turn into the type of person who will achieve it? You may need to learn more about diet and exercise if you want to become healthier, or maybe you’ll need to develop a specific skill to help further your career.
Whatever your goals are, create a plan to help you strengthen the areas of your life that will make achieving your goal come naturally.
4. Get better every day
The power of habit is pretty crazy. Your habits create your life. Brush your teeth every day and you’ll make your dentist visits go smooth. Save money each month and over time you’ll be able to build up a nice little nest-egg. Invest in your personal growth and development every day and you’ll be able to look back each month and year knowing that you’re becoming a better version of your previous self.
And if you do this with a specific plan to improve your strengths and shore up your weaknesses, you’ll be able to achieve huge levels of success in the areas of life you’re focusing on.
5. Get out of your comfort zone
Maybe you’ve read lots of self improvement books and that’s worked well for you.
Great. What about audio CD’s or MP3’s to listen to during your commute so you can pack in more info without having to squeeze in time at the end of the day? Or perhaps conferences and seminars to help you make more progress, faster?
Switching up the way in which you learn new information and apply that to a constantly improving version of yourself is a great way to get exposed to new types of information, while also building the confidence that you’re able to try new things and make progress against each.
The Takeaway
Setting out on a journey of personal growth and development can be one of the most important things you ever do. Making that decision can be the easy part – it’s committing to a daily habit of improvement that can be difficult. But if you know yourself, set your goals, create a plan, get better each day, and get out of your comfort zone, you’ll make huge progress in the areas of your life that are most important to you.
Source
Tuesday 11 August 2015
7 Tips to get your Brain Energized in the Morning
Okay, it's Tuesday morning and you're brain is still just not awake... then maybe it's time to look at these 7 tips to get your brain awake and energized!
1. Get up straight away. I am also guilty of hitting the alarm and snooze a little longer, but your brain will not wake up and it's the recipe for a "lazy" day. So set you alarm and commit to get out immediately, for me it's useful to have the alarm lying on the other side of the room.
2. Drink water. By drinking a glass of water after you get up you will activate your metabolism and feel refreshed.
3. Natural light. Open the curtains make sure there is sunlight, the brighter the better. When we don't have natural light our brains stay in a "sleep" mode, on the other hand bright sunlight triggers serotonin and dopamine to be released in the body. These give us a happy feeling, which boosts our brains to activity.
4. Exercise. I was never fond of this one and I still have an issue with heavy exercise in the morning. Since, starting the day with a good walk with the dog has proven to give me a massive impact on my energy levels. The dog loves it too!
5. Breakfast. Don't skip this one, it's like they say "breakfast is the most important meal of the day"! You need nutrition to get your mental processes running. Try to eat healthy in the morning, like oatmeal with some fresh blue berries, yummy!
6. Shower (cold). It's not really funny, but it's extremely useful to wake up your whole body including your brain!
7. Talk to people. A simple morning chat about the weather or so will boost your brain to wake up and be energized. For being social your brain has to work and will get you out of your "sleep" mode.
Boost your brain energy and start trying these tips for yourself!
1. Get up straight away. I am also guilty of hitting the alarm and snooze a little longer, but your brain will not wake up and it's the recipe for a "lazy" day. So set you alarm and commit to get out immediately, for me it's useful to have the alarm lying on the other side of the room.
2. Drink water. By drinking a glass of water after you get up you will activate your metabolism and feel refreshed.
3. Natural light. Open the curtains make sure there is sunlight, the brighter the better. When we don't have natural light our brains stay in a "sleep" mode, on the other hand bright sunlight triggers serotonin and dopamine to be released in the body. These give us a happy feeling, which boosts our brains to activity.
4. Exercise. I was never fond of this one and I still have an issue with heavy exercise in the morning. Since, starting the day with a good walk with the dog has proven to give me a massive impact on my energy levels. The dog loves it too!
5. Breakfast. Don't skip this one, it's like they say "breakfast is the most important meal of the day"! You need nutrition to get your mental processes running. Try to eat healthy in the morning, like oatmeal with some fresh blue berries, yummy!
6. Shower (cold). It's not really funny, but it's extremely useful to wake up your whole body including your brain!
7. Talk to people. A simple morning chat about the weather or so will boost your brain to wake up and be energized. For being social your brain has to work and will get you out of your "sleep" mode.
Boost your brain energy and start trying these tips for yourself!
Monday 10 August 2015
10 Habits of Couples in Strong and Healthy Relationships
What makes for a healthy romantic relationship differs from couple to couple. Forming a trusting and positive partnership takes effort and time. And unfortunately, it doesn’t just happen overnight. For any relationship to grow strong and stay strong, you need to put in some work. Below are some habits that will create and maintain a happy and healthy twosome.
Communication
Communication is key. It is one of the most important qualities in keeping a healthy relationship. However, not everyone knows how to communicate properly, or even communicate at all. Happy and healthy couples have their communication game down. They communicate the good. They vocalize their love for one another, saying “I love you” often and offering compliments to their partner. They also discuss the bad, instead of sweeping issues under the rug. In order to move forward and grow as a couple, you two need to be able to truly talk about your feelings. No matter how awkward or uncomfortable it feels, it will make for a long-lasting and fulfilling relationship.
Respect
Aretha Franklin sang a whole song about it, so you know it’s got to be important. Respecting your partner comes in many forms. Maintaining a joyful relationship means respecting your partner’s time, heart, character, and trust. However, there are many things people do in relationships that can break down respect between one another. Some of these include name-calling, talking negatively about the other to friends or family, and/or threatening to leave the relationship.
Quality Time, Not Quantity
It’s all about quality over quantity. It doesn’t matter how much time you and your partner spend together. The most important part is about the quality of this time. There’s a huge difference between having dinner at a table while talking about your day at work, versus having dinner while sitting on a couch watching the latest episode of The Voice. It’s fine to zone out together and enjoy distractions, but it’s crucial to make sure you two are still engaging and spending quality time together to maintain a deep connection.
Time Apart
Spending time together with your partner is important. But just as important is spending time apart. Being able to do your own things and remain independent is vital. When couples spend too much time together, it can create an unhealthy codependent relationship. Maintaining healthy boundaries and some autonomy will make for a long-lasting partnership.
Love Languages
Gary Chapman created the notion that men and women have five love languages. The concept is that people have unique ways of feeling loved. The five love languages are: words of affirmation, receiving gifts, quality time, acts of service, and physical touch. It’s important to know what love language speaks to you, along with your partner’s, and they might be different. Telling each other what makes you feel loved and special helps both of you stay connected. Furthermore, make sure you are attending to your partner’s love language consistently.
Appreciation
Often, we forget to let other people in our lives know that we appreciate them. We think it, but we don't remember to show it. This occurs in our romantic relationships as well. Show your special someone that you love him or her. This could be done by words, cards, flowers, acts of kindness, or more. Remember, a flower a day keeps the relationship fights at bay. Okay, maybe not every day, but you get the point.
Positive Vs. Negative
Sometimes we get caught up in the negative. We hate our jobs, are annoyed with our friends and our boyfriend or girlfriend is getting on our last nerve. Uh oh, have we been drinking too much of that half empty glass? It’s vital that we look at our partner’s positive qualities versus the negative. Nobody is perfect, and that includes our significant other. So instead of focusing on the bad in the other person, let's make a conscious effort to look at the good.
Pick and Choose Your Battles
There are arguments to be had in every relationship. It’s crucial to bring issues to the forefront and work through the hard times together. However, I don’t think arguing over your girlfriend using your favorite coffee cup should be one of those. You don’t want to be the girl who cried "argument," do you? Pick and chose your battles wisely, because people in happy and healthy relationships do.
Sex
Let’s talk about sex, baby. Let’s also talk about how important it is in cultivating a flourishing relationship. Sex is simple. The more you have it, the more you want it. The other side of that is true as well. The less you have it, the less you want it. And, unfortunately, the less you feel connected to your partner will follow. Keep your sex life alive and interesting. "Spicing it up" is not just meant for the kitchen.
No Comparisons
The grass isn’t always greener on the other side. Or even if it is, it might not be the kind of grass you would even like. We often compare our lives to others — what jobs people have, their homes, or their clothes. And with the help of social media, we tend to compare our relationships as well. But the happiest of couples don’t look to see what the grass looks like on the other side. They are happy with the view out their own front door.
Source
Friday 7 August 2015
Happiness in Relationships | Mars vs Venus
It's almost weekend!
Mars: What do you do for your wife/girlfriend to make her happy?
Venus: What do you say to show your appreciation?
Just watch this hilarious video about the differences in man and woman and learn a few simple but effective tips to be happy in your relationship.
Have a wonderful weekend!
P.S. Want to learn more? Go and get the "Bible" of relationship books:
Mars: What do you do for your wife/girlfriend to make her happy?
Venus: What do you say to show your appreciation?
Just watch this hilarious video about the differences in man and woman and learn a few simple but effective tips to be happy in your relationship.
Have a wonderful weekend!
P.S. Want to learn more? Go and get the "Bible" of relationship books:
Thursday 6 August 2015
Why Steve Jobs Took Long Walks and Why You should Too
Why Everyone From Beethoven, Goethe, Dickens, Darwin To Steve Jobs Took Long Walks and Why You Should Too
One day, when Marc Andreessen, the money man behind such tech giants as Facebook, Twitter, and Zynga, was out driving around his home in Palo Alto, California, he nearly hit a crazy old man crossing the street.
Looking back at the fool he had nearly run over he noticed the trademark blue jeans and black turtle neck. “Oh my god! I almost hit Steve Jobs!” he thought to himself.
It was Jobs that day, out on one of his many walks around the Palo Alto area, where Apple are based. Steve Jobs was famous in the area for his long walks, which he used for exercise, contemplation, problem solving, and even meetings. And Jobs was not alone. Through history the best minds have found that walking, whether a quick five minute jaunt, or a long four hour trek, has helped them compose, write, paint, and create.
Here are five reasons that walking is one of the best ways you can spend your time, and how it can help you think better, get more done, relate better, and live longer.
01. It will help make you more creative
Though most people have always thought that their best ideas came when the were on the move, now there is scientific evidence to back them up. A 2014 study from Stanford University in the US has shown that people are much more creative when they are walking around as opposed to when they are sitting still. Marily Oppezzo and Daniel Schwartz, who both authored the paper, studied 176 college students as they completed certain creative thinking tasks.
In this study, the authors used an experiment known as Guilford’s Alternative Uses Task. As part of this, they participants were asked to list as many alternative uses for a common object as they can. For instance, a knife could be used to spread butter, to cut bread, to stab someone, or to flick peas. The answers were then scored on originality, number of ideas and detail.
In their study, Oppezzo and Schwartz got the students to perform this task in a few different variations. Either sitting indoors or sitting outdoors, or walking on a treadmill indoors, or walking outside.
They found that when people were walking, either on the treadmill or outdoors, they were 60% more creative than when sitting around.
What’s more, when the participants took a second test after walking, they were still more creative, showing the positive effects of walking continued even after they sat down again.
Though there is no further research into how exactly walking makes you more creative, it is likely that it helps to increase blood flow all around your body, including to the brain to stimulate creativity.
Another interesting finding from the study was that there was no difference between walking on a boring treadmill indoors, and being outside among the birds and the bees. This shows that it is not the environment or sensation that is making walkers more creative, but just the act of walking alone.
It wasn’t all good news for walking in the study though. The researchers also found that if you had to do focused thinking while walking, answering questions that required a single correct answer, the results were no better than when sitting.
This study should give you some evidence if you want to build walking into your daily and business life. A simple walk outside can aid your creative brain if you find yourself stuck at a desk and unable to elicit the next bright spark. Instead of sitting, waiting for inspiration to strike, head outside for five minutes and see if the extra blood flow can get the creative juices flowing.
02. It will help you stay healthy
In a TED talk two years ago, Nilofer Merchant, a business innovator that pounds the same Silicon Valley streets as Andreessen does and Jobs did, advocated the virtues of meetings on the move. She had trouble fitting exercise into an already hectic day so started taking her meetings standing up.
For many it will be many more as they sit at their desks for the working day and then head home to slump in front of the TV or computer. This is not good for us. Not only are our flabby behinds not built for sitting, but neither are our hearts.
Physical inactivity can lead to heart disease, diabetes, and a large number of cancers. It just doesn’t do us any good to sit around all day. Merchant describes sitting as the new smoking – something which we all do now that is slowly killing us, and that in 10, 20, 50 years time people will look back on as crazy.
In fact, walking is as close to a magic pill that we have. Just 30 minutes of walking each day is enough to dramatically reduce your risk of heart disease, colon cancer, breast cancer and dementia.
Though a good 30 minute walk each day would be best, if you do not have time then you can consider breaking it down into more manageable chunks. 10 minutes in the morning, at noon, and in the evening each will add up and help get your body used to a bit of exercise and like help your heart and brain out as well.
03. It will help you be more productive
If you’ve ever watched the TV show The West Wing you will have heard of the phrase “walk and talk”. In every single episode, the busy staffers of the presidential office were “just too busy, goddammit” to sit around and have meetings, so they would always be discussing, conniving, and gossiping on the move. Though this has become a cliché, something the cast now send up, it’s actually a brilliant idea.
Meetings on the move or walking meetings are very “in vogue” at the moment, particularly in Silicon Valley. The idea being that there is no reason really to hold a meeting over a big piece of wood, so why not take it outside and get some exercise at the same time. Nilofer Merchant says that walking meetings now account for 70% of her exercise during the week, and that they are far more productive than other types of meetings.
For one, there is little distraction. People leave their blackberry’s and smartphones in their pockets when out of a walking meeting, and obviously do not have one eye on their computer screen as can happen when you meet with someone in their office. Plus, you know that you are not going to be disturbed if you are out and about. Of course, this leads to problems for some people.
Also, people do not know how to act or conduct themselves in such meetings. How do you take notes on the move, for instance? (hint: the same way you do when sitting down – with a pen and paper). Merchant says that, though people can feel awkward about such meetings, they soon see the benefits and are happy to go for walk and talks if you give them a heads up. They then can dress appropriately in sneakers instead of high heels.
Of course, the previously mentioned health and creativity benefits also make walking meetings far better than their sit-down cousins.
If you want to start having your meetings on the move, the best idea is to start with a colleague that also wants to get out and about. Arrange a walking meeting each week where you can discuss work issues together and brainstorm ideas. Then you can reach out to others to gauge interest. As Merchant says, give people warning that you are going mobile and you will probably not have any complaints, and probably a lot more ideas.
04. It’s a great way to communicate
Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg both like first meetings with people to be on the move. This is because a walking conversation is so much more natural and distraction-free than most other types of meetings.
Part of this is because these type of meetings are not so great in that there are more than two people. Though you can get a group of people together for a mass walk and talk, it makes more sense for these meetings to be a one-on-one. The job interview for my first job in science was a walking meeting, as me and my soon-to-be boss walked through the streets of Lausanne, Switzerland discussing where we wanted neuroscience to be in 20 years time.
You might find that if you are having difficulty communicating an idea to a colleague, then you both heading outside and taking the idea for a few laps around the local park helps immensely.
Again, it is likely that the increased blood flow helps you to come up with not only more creative ideas and solutions to problems, but also helps you express those ideas more fluently and helps you communicate with co-workers.
05. You will be following in the footsteps of giants
Steve Job's
penchant for walks was revealed in the recent Walter Isaacson biography of the Man and the reason for walking’s recent renaissance within the tech elite, but he was hardly the first creative genius to discover that ideas flourish on the move.
Beethoven was an avid walker, taking short breaks to stretch his legs while working, and then spending his afternoons wandering around Vienna. He always took a pencil and paper with him to write down anything that struck him. You can see, or rather hear, the influence of these woodland walks in his symphonies, particularly his 6th Symphony, known as his Pastoral Symphony for its country and woodland elements.
Beethoven’s love of walking rubbed off on another genius of the time, Goethe. The composer and the poet meet in the resort town of Teplice on the Czech-German border and went for a walk and talk through the town. Perhaps, though, this is not the best example of a great walking meeting as, though Beethoven originally idolized Goethe, this was very much a case of never meet your idols. The two disliked each other and never met again. Though I hope Goethe continued his walks.
Another of history’s walking enthusiasts was Charles Dickens. Whether in London or at his country house in Kent he always took long walks. And when I say long, I mean long. Dickens could rack up 30 miles a day, or rather night, walking. He would walk whenever the mood took him and whenever he had something to think about, continuing around the streets of London or the country lanes of Kent until the issue was resolved in his head.
This may be a case of the cure is worse than the disease – walking 30 miles each day is unlikely to be very good for you or your joints. If 30 minutes is the minimum you are supposed to walk, then 30 miles is probably nearing the maximum. But it worked for Dickens, as he created some of his most remarkable and memorable characters when out walking, either through thought or through observing the city and people around him.
Another Victorian heavyweight that enjoyed a ramble around Kent was another Charles, Charles Darwin. Darwin had a gravel path installed at his home, not unlike a race track, that he would walk around each day as he thought about problems. The number of laps he did depended on the difficultly of the problem at hand. He would stack stones at the start of his walk and the knock them down one by one as he went round, describing the difficulty of the problem as a three, four, or five-flint problem.
Mark Zuckerberg, the founder of Facebook, in particular is very fond of a walking meeting. If you are lucky enough to be being considered for a high up position at Facebook, don’t expect to be interviewed by Zuckerberg in his office. No, the man will take you on a tour of the campus, pointing out the different divisions and sounding you out about your experience and thoughts on the company. His piecè de résistance is to finish the walk and talk meeting on a promontory overlooking Silicon Valley and the other tech giants, telling you that he is bigger, better, and richer than all below, in true super-villain style. Presumably you get pushed off if you decline his offer.
Jack Dorsey, co-founder of Twitter and now heading up digital finance company Square, takes all new hires at Square for his ‘Gandhi walk’ on their first Friday. This is an epic walk through the streets of San Francisco to the Square offices while he espouses on the guiding principles behind Square.
If you are choosing to spend your afternoons rambling in the woods, or chose to take people out for a wander rather than meet in a stuffy office, you know you are in good company.
Take a walk today!
The conclusion is… walking is great. Not only will it make you more creative, it will help you get those ideas over to your colleagues better and allow you to fit more into your day. All while helping you not to die early. Fantastic.
So, why don’t we do it? Well, sometimes it’s cold outside, or raining, or we are feeling sluggish, or any other of a thousand reasons we have to not get up and out each day.
But if you start with just finding a few extra minutes each day for a walk, or try to move some part of your day, such as meetings outside, then you’ll find that walking is as natural as… walking. You’ll think more, do more, learn more, and live longer. Get walking!
By: Andrew Tate Source
One day, when Marc Andreessen, the money man behind such tech giants as Facebook, Twitter, and Zynga, was out driving around his home in Palo Alto, California, he nearly hit a crazy old man crossing the street.
Looking back at the fool he had nearly run over he noticed the trademark blue jeans and black turtle neck. “Oh my god! I almost hit Steve Jobs!” he thought to himself.
It was Jobs that day, out on one of his many walks around the Palo Alto area, where Apple are based. Steve Jobs was famous in the area for his long walks, which he used for exercise, contemplation, problem solving, and even meetings. And Jobs was not alone. Through history the best minds have found that walking, whether a quick five minute jaunt, or a long four hour trek, has helped them compose, write, paint, and create.
Here are five reasons that walking is one of the best ways you can spend your time, and how it can help you think better, get more done, relate better, and live longer.
01. It will help make you more creative
In this study, the authors used an experiment known as Guilford’s Alternative Uses Task. As part of this, they participants were asked to list as many alternative uses for a common object as they can. For instance, a knife could be used to spread butter, to cut bread, to stab someone, or to flick peas. The answers were then scored on originality, number of ideas and detail.
In their study, Oppezzo and Schwartz got the students to perform this task in a few different variations. Either sitting indoors or sitting outdoors, or walking on a treadmill indoors, or walking outside.
They found that when people were walking, either on the treadmill or outdoors, they were 60% more creative than when sitting around.
To add to this, 81% of the participants saw an increase in creativity when they were walking.
What’s more, when the participants took a second test after walking, they were still more creative, showing the positive effects of walking continued even after they sat down again.
Though there is no further research into how exactly walking makes you more creative, it is likely that it helps to increase blood flow all around your body, including to the brain to stimulate creativity.
Another interesting finding from the study was that there was no difference between walking on a boring treadmill indoors, and being outside among the birds and the bees. This shows that it is not the environment or sensation that is making walkers more creative, but just the act of walking alone.
It wasn’t all good news for walking in the study though. The researchers also found that if you had to do focused thinking while walking, answering questions that required a single correct answer, the results were no better than when sitting.
This study should give you some evidence if you want to build walking into your daily and business life. A simple walk outside can aid your creative brain if you find yourself stuck at a desk and unable to elicit the next bright spark. Instead of sitting, waiting for inspiration to strike, head outside for five minutes and see if the extra blood flow can get the creative juices flowing.
02. It will help you stay healthy
In her TED talk she produced a startling statistic – we are on our butts for almost 10 hours of the day on average.
For many it will be many more as they sit at their desks for the working day and then head home to slump in front of the TV or computer. This is not good for us. Not only are our flabby behinds not built for sitting, but neither are our hearts.
Physical inactivity can lead to heart disease, diabetes, and a large number of cancers. It just doesn’t do us any good to sit around all day. Merchant describes sitting as the new smoking – something which we all do now that is slowly killing us, and that in 10, 20, 50 years time people will look back on as crazy.
In fact, walking is as close to a magic pill that we have. Just 30 minutes of walking each day is enough to dramatically reduce your risk of heart disease, colon cancer, breast cancer and dementia.
Though a good 30 minute walk each day would be best, if you do not have time then you can consider breaking it down into more manageable chunks. 10 minutes in the morning, at noon, and in the evening each will add up and help get your body used to a bit of exercise and like help your heart and brain out as well.
03. It will help you be more productive
If you’ve ever watched the TV show The West Wing you will have heard of the phrase “walk and talk”. In every single episode, the busy staffers of the presidential office were “just too busy, goddammit” to sit around and have meetings, so they would always be discussing, conniving, and gossiping on the move. Though this has become a cliché, something the cast now send up, it’s actually a brilliant idea.
Meetings on the move or walking meetings are very “in vogue” at the moment, particularly in Silicon Valley. The idea being that there is no reason really to hold a meeting over a big piece of wood, so why not take it outside and get some exercise at the same time. Nilofer Merchant says that walking meetings now account for 70% of her exercise during the week, and that they are far more productive than other types of meetings.
For one, there is little distraction. People leave their blackberry’s and smartphones in their pockets when out of a walking meeting, and obviously do not have one eye on their computer screen as can happen when you meet with someone in their office. Plus, you know that you are not going to be disturbed if you are out and about. Of course, this leads to problems for some people.
iPhone Separation Anxiety is real, and people do not like the idea about being away from their desks and electronic contact for any length of time.
Also, people do not know how to act or conduct themselves in such meetings. How do you take notes on the move, for instance? (hint: the same way you do when sitting down – with a pen and paper). Merchant says that, though people can feel awkward about such meetings, they soon see the benefits and are happy to go for walk and talks if you give them a heads up. They then can dress appropriately in sneakers instead of high heels.
Of course, the previously mentioned health and creativity benefits also make walking meetings far better than their sit-down cousins.
If you want to start having your meetings on the move, the best idea is to start with a colleague that also wants to get out and about. Arrange a walking meeting each week where you can discuss work issues together and brainstorm ideas. Then you can reach out to others to gauge interest. As Merchant says, give people warning that you are going mobile and you will probably not have any complaints, and probably a lot more ideas.
04. It’s a great way to communicate
Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg both like first meetings with people to be on the move. This is because a walking conversation is so much more natural and distraction-free than most other types of meetings.
Part of this is because these type of meetings are not so great in that there are more than two people. Though you can get a group of people together for a mass walk and talk, it makes more sense for these meetings to be a one-on-one. The job interview for my first job in science was a walking meeting, as me and my soon-to-be boss walked through the streets of Lausanne, Switzerland discussing where we wanted neuroscience to be in 20 years time.
The naturalness of two people walking along in deep discussion and thought is definitely why these walking meetings are catching on.
You might find that if you are having difficulty communicating an idea to a colleague, then you both heading outside and taking the idea for a few laps around the local park helps immensely.
Again, it is likely that the increased blood flow helps you to come up with not only more creative ideas and solutions to problems, but also helps you express those ideas more fluently and helps you communicate with co-workers.
05. You will be following in the footsteps of giants
Steve Job's
penchant for walks was revealed in the recent Walter Isaacson biography of the Man and the reason for walking’s recent renaissance within the tech elite, but he was hardly the first creative genius to discover that ideas flourish on the move.Beethoven was an avid walker, taking short breaks to stretch his legs while working, and then spending his afternoons wandering around Vienna. He always took a pencil and paper with him to write down anything that struck him. You can see, or rather hear, the influence of these woodland walks in his symphonies, particularly his 6th Symphony, known as his Pastoral Symphony for its country and woodland elements.
Beethoven’s love of walking rubbed off on another genius of the time, Goethe. The composer and the poet meet in the resort town of Teplice on the Czech-German border and went for a walk and talk through the town. Perhaps, though, this is not the best example of a great walking meeting as, though Beethoven originally idolized Goethe, this was very much a case of never meet your idols. The two disliked each other and never met again. Though I hope Goethe continued his walks.
Another of history’s walking enthusiasts was Charles Dickens. Whether in London or at his country house in Kent he always took long walks. And when I say long, I mean long. Dickens could rack up 30 miles a day, or rather night, walking. He would walk whenever the mood took him and whenever he had something to think about, continuing around the streets of London or the country lanes of Kent until the issue was resolved in his head.
This may be a case of the cure is worse than the disease – walking 30 miles each day is unlikely to be very good for you or your joints. If 30 minutes is the minimum you are supposed to walk, then 30 miles is probably nearing the maximum. But it worked for Dickens, as he created some of his most remarkable and memorable characters when out walking, either through thought or through observing the city and people around him.
Another Victorian heavyweight that enjoyed a ramble around Kent was another Charles, Charles Darwin. Darwin had a gravel path installed at his home, not unlike a race track, that he would walk around each day as he thought about problems. The number of laps he did depended on the difficultly of the problem at hand. He would stack stones at the start of his walk and the knock them down one by one as he went round, describing the difficulty of the problem as a three, four, or five-flint problem.
Jobs’ walks around Silicon Valley have led to this being a particularly common trait among young tech leaders.
Mark Zuckerberg, the founder of Facebook, in particular is very fond of a walking meeting. If you are lucky enough to be being considered for a high up position at Facebook, don’t expect to be interviewed by Zuckerberg in his office. No, the man will take you on a tour of the campus, pointing out the different divisions and sounding you out about your experience and thoughts on the company. His piecè de résistance is to finish the walk and talk meeting on a promontory overlooking Silicon Valley and the other tech giants, telling you that he is bigger, better, and richer than all below, in true super-villain style. Presumably you get pushed off if you decline his offer.
Jack Dorsey, co-founder of Twitter and now heading up digital finance company Square, takes all new hires at Square for his ‘Gandhi walk’ on their first Friday. This is an epic walk through the streets of San Francisco to the Square offices while he espouses on the guiding principles behind Square.
If you are choosing to spend your afternoons rambling in the woods, or chose to take people out for a wander rather than meet in a stuffy office, you know you are in good company.
Take a walk today!
The conclusion is… walking is great. Not only will it make you more creative, it will help you get those ideas over to your colleagues better and allow you to fit more into your day. All while helping you not to die early. Fantastic.
So, why don’t we do it? Well, sometimes it’s cold outside, or raining, or we are feeling sluggish, or any other of a thousand reasons we have to not get up and out each day.
But if you start with just finding a few extra minutes each day for a walk, or try to move some part of your day, such as meetings outside, then you’ll find that walking is as natural as… walking. You’ll think more, do more, learn more, and live longer. Get walking!
By: Andrew Tate Source
Wednesday 5 August 2015
Sitting is Bad for Your | Have Fun & Sit Less
You have probably heard by now, that sitting for longer periods is extremely bad for your body and mind. To understand why it's bad for you watch the video below. While you watch, stand up and give your sitting body a 5 minute BREAK.
Did you stand up during the video? If yes, well done!
No? Please do it now.
It's easy to say you should stand up, walk and sit less during the day, but you might work in an office and it's just easier to type while you sit down, right?
I know I'm sitting while typing this :-) Therefore a few simple tips to move a little more during the day.
Tips to sit less at work
Maybe you are moving around at work quite a lot, but as soon as you get home you might sit down more than is good for you. A few other tips:
Did you stand up during the video? If yes, well done!
No? Please do it now.
It's easy to say you should stand up, walk and sit less during the day, but you might work in an office and it's just easier to type while you sit down, right?
I know I'm sitting while typing this :-) Therefore a few simple tips to move a little more during the day.
Tips to sit less at work
- If you use public transport to go to work, take alternative routes to walk the last part. You will see new things and move more.
- You go by car to work? Park at the far end of the parking lot or even at the neighbours if that's okay. You will move a lot more each week, if done consistently.
- Drink a lot of water (or even coffee or tea) and use small cups. Each refill means you get to move around.
- Drinking means going to the toilet, use the one that's upstairs or further down the hall.
- Need a quick answer? Walk to your colleague and ask, instead of another email.
- Printing a document? Maybe there is one at the other end of the office instead of the one next to you?
- Stand up to get a file from the filing cabinet, instead of turning around on your chair.
- Go outside while having a lunch break, take your own food (cheaper and as healthy as you like) and walk around.
- Stand up and walk around each time you are on the phone. Your colleagues will get used to it.
- Automate a reminder to stand up at least every hour.
- Find a filing cabinet high enough to put your laptop on and work while standing. This will sure have a few colleagues questioning the situation. On the other hand you can see if you can get a standing desk.
Tips to sit less at home
Maybe you are moving around at work quite a lot, but as soon as you get home you might sit down more than is good for you. A few other tips:
- Watching tv? Stand up during each commercial, you can even prepare a list of things to do while commercials are on. Maybe you need to put the trash outside, get the post out of the mailbox or clean your cats litter?
- Need to get some groceries, use a shopping bag on wheels and walk to the store.
- Again, walk around while on the phone, use the toilet upstairs, drink little amounts and refill as much as you like.
I work from home
Some time ago I realized I was sitting quite a lot myself, always on the same chair at my office, at home. I simply do most of my work from home, therefore I walk about 10 meters to get into my office....
At some point I decided to challenge myself. I was not going to sit more then 8 hours a day for 30 days (including in front of the TV). After a quick calculation I realized I had to change some habits. The result:
 |
| Alternative use of an ironing board |
Do I need to explain that I did not have a standing desk or a cabinet high enough?
Other then this I have changed some habits, like always run upstairs to the toilet, walk our dog even more (he loves it), and walk around while on the phone.
I challenge you to commit yourself to do something like this too. Believe me it's fun to do, you need to use your creativity and it's for such a good cause: Your Health!
Let me know the results and if you have some other good ideas to sit less and move more, please share them!
Tuesday 4 August 2015
The way millionaires view money is different from everyone else
By: Steve Siebold
Doesn’t it seem like the rich keep getting richer while the middle class is stuck in the same old spot?
Economic inequality is a hot topic right now, and many people go as far as accusing the wealthy of having some sort of unfair advantage. Those are easy accusations to make, and they resonate well with some people. But the truth is, there are no unfair advantages.
Everyone has the same opportunity to acquire wealth.
The biggest thing holding back most people from striking it big are their thoughts, beliefs and philosophies about money. The differences between how the wealthy and the middle class look at money are as extreme as they are numerous. It’s as if the two groups are living on completely different planets.
So what are the money-making secrets of millionaires?
1. The wealthy focus on earning.
The masses focus on how to protect and hoard their money. The wealthy also know saving is important. But they know earning money is even more important. Most people are more concerned with the modest gains they accumulate from their savings and investments than they are with using their billion-dollar minds to create a fortune. Instead of focusing on clipping coupons and living frugally, the wealthy reject the nickel-and-dime thinking of the masses and focus their mental energy where it belongs: on the big money.
2. The wealthy use leverage.
In the minds of millionaires, leverage is everything. The wealthy strategically focus their efforts on the most profitable areas of their businesses while leveraging their contacts, credibility, and resources to maximize the results of every action they take. The middle class sees hard work as a badge of honor. The wealthy sees success as a more important badge of honor.
Think about what you were taught about hard work growing up. If you’re not exactly raking in the money, make a decision to let go of any limiting beliefs you have about hard work, and start thinking about how you can use leverage to become more successful.
3. The wealthy think about money in non-linear terms.
The masses trade time for money. This creates the belief that making money is a linear process directly connected to time. The average person believes the only way to earn more money — with the exception of raises and bonuses — is to work more hours.
Millionaires know big money requires thinking about it in non-linear terms. They are masters at generating money through ideas that solve problems. They realize there is no limit to ideas; therefore, there is no limit to how much money they can earn. Fortunes can be created almost overnight with the right idea at the right time, but only if the creator understands this non-linear phenomenon.
4. The wealthy see money through the eyes of logic.
The wealthy see money for what it is and what it’s not, all through the eyes of logic. Unfortunately, few people are able to think about money without clouding the subject with negative emotions, which come from dozens of middle-class beliefs that are ingrained in our minds when we are young. Emotions have a useful place in our lives.
But when it comes to thinking about money, put your emotions on the shelf and let reason be your guide. When you stop thinking about money through the eyes of emotion, you are free of the psychological chains binding you and free to earn all you can. Decide today to use logic to dictate your financial strategies and emotion to motivate yourself to stick to it.
5. The wealthy believe being rich is a right.
The average person believes being rich is a privilege awarded only to lucky people. World-class thinkers know in a capitalist country they have the right to be rich if they’re willing to create massive value for others. They believe if they make life better or easier for others, it’s their right to be rich. They’re always thinking of new ways to build a mousetrap — and are often scorned by the masses for being materialistic, self-absorbed and greedy.
The great ones believe they have the right to be as rich as the value they create. Stop believing self-made millionaires are just lucky. Start believing you are worth every dollar you earn and more.
The most important thing to remember about money is that regardless of your education level, IQ score, or performance in school, you have everything it takes to become a millionaire and earn all your desire. Stop thinking about money in terms of fear and scarcity, and start thinking about it through the eyes of freedom, possibility, opportunity and abundance.
If you’re rich, keep thinking the way you’re thinking. If not, maybe it’s time to change the way you think about money.
Steve Siebold is author of “How Rich People Think” and a self-made multi-millionaire who has interviewed 1,200 of the world’s wealthiest people during the past 30 years.
I hope these insights will help you as much as they did for me and more!
Source
Doesn’t it seem like the rich keep getting richer while the middle class is stuck in the same old spot?
Economic inequality is a hot topic right now, and many people go as far as accusing the wealthy of having some sort of unfair advantage. Those are easy accusations to make, and they resonate well with some people. But the truth is, there are no unfair advantages.
Everyone has the same opportunity to acquire wealth.
The biggest thing holding back most people from striking it big are their thoughts, beliefs and philosophies about money. The differences between how the wealthy and the middle class look at money are as extreme as they are numerous. It’s as if the two groups are living on completely different planets.
So what are the money-making secrets of millionaires?
1. The wealthy focus on earning.
The masses focus on how to protect and hoard their money. The wealthy also know saving is important. But they know earning money is even more important. Most people are more concerned with the modest gains they accumulate from their savings and investments than they are with using their billion-dollar minds to create a fortune. Instead of focusing on clipping coupons and living frugally, the wealthy reject the nickel-and-dime thinking of the masses and focus their mental energy where it belongs: on the big money.
2. The wealthy use leverage.
In the minds of millionaires, leverage is everything. The wealthy strategically focus their efforts on the most profitable areas of their businesses while leveraging their contacts, credibility, and resources to maximize the results of every action they take. The middle class sees hard work as a badge of honor. The wealthy sees success as a more important badge of honor.
Think about what you were taught about hard work growing up. If you’re not exactly raking in the money, make a decision to let go of any limiting beliefs you have about hard work, and start thinking about how you can use leverage to become more successful.
3. The wealthy think about money in non-linear terms.
The masses trade time for money. This creates the belief that making money is a linear process directly connected to time. The average person believes the only way to earn more money — with the exception of raises and bonuses — is to work more hours.
Millionaires know big money requires thinking about it in non-linear terms. They are masters at generating money through ideas that solve problems. They realize there is no limit to ideas; therefore, there is no limit to how much money they can earn. Fortunes can be created almost overnight with the right idea at the right time, but only if the creator understands this non-linear phenomenon.
4. The wealthy see money through the eyes of logic.
The wealthy see money for what it is and what it’s not, all through the eyes of logic. Unfortunately, few people are able to think about money without clouding the subject with negative emotions, which come from dozens of middle-class beliefs that are ingrained in our minds when we are young. Emotions have a useful place in our lives.
But when it comes to thinking about money, put your emotions on the shelf and let reason be your guide. When you stop thinking about money through the eyes of emotion, you are free of the psychological chains binding you and free to earn all you can. Decide today to use logic to dictate your financial strategies and emotion to motivate yourself to stick to it.
5. The wealthy believe being rich is a right.
The average person believes being rich is a privilege awarded only to lucky people. World-class thinkers know in a capitalist country they have the right to be rich if they’re willing to create massive value for others. They believe if they make life better or easier for others, it’s their right to be rich. They’re always thinking of new ways to build a mousetrap — and are often scorned by the masses for being materialistic, self-absorbed and greedy.
The great ones believe they have the right to be as rich as the value they create. Stop believing self-made millionaires are just lucky. Start believing you are worth every dollar you earn and more.
The most important thing to remember about money is that regardless of your education level, IQ score, or performance in school, you have everything it takes to become a millionaire and earn all your desire. Stop thinking about money in terms of fear and scarcity, and start thinking about it through the eyes of freedom, possibility, opportunity and abundance.
If you’re rich, keep thinking the way you’re thinking. If not, maybe it’s time to change the way you think about money.
Steve Siebold is author of “How Rich People Think” and a self-made multi-millionaire who has interviewed 1,200 of the world’s wealthiest people during the past 30 years.
I hope these insights will help you as much as they did for me and more!
Source
Monday 3 August 2015
5 Health Principles | Dr. Deepak Chopra
Dr. Deepak Chopra is an Indian-born American author and public speaker. He is an alternative medicine advocate and a promoter of popular forms of spirituality.
Chopra obtained a medical degree in India before emigrating in 1970 to the United States. As a physician he specialized in endocrinology and became Chief of Staff at the New England Memorial Hospital (NEMH). [1]
He states there are 5 principles that improve a healthier life.
1. Get good and enough sleep
2. Exercise
3. Control (negative) emotions
4. Meditate
5. Have a balanced diet
Anyway there is enough food for thought, but don't only think...Act!
[1] Wikipedia
Chopra obtained a medical degree in India before emigrating in 1970 to the United States. As a physician he specialized in endocrinology and became Chief of Staff at the New England Memorial Hospital (NEMH). [1]
He states there are 5 principles that improve a healthier life.
1. Get good and enough sleep
"Sleep is when our soul actually refreshes our Body"
2. Exercise
"My body is a projection of my consciousness"
3. Control (negative) emotions
"Meditation takes you beyond the mind's noisy chatter into the pure awareness that is the source of all your happiness, inspiration, and love"
5. Have a balanced diet
"If you find a better way to be happy than by overeating, your body will naturally return to it's balanced state"
So far these 5 health principles, but this is just in a nutshell, so please check some of his books like his most recent one: What Are You Hungry For?: The Chopra Solution to Permanent Weight Loss, Well-Being and Lightness of Soul
Or the bestseller: The Seven Spiritual Laws Of Success: A Practical Guide to the Fulfillment of Your Dreams
Anyway there is enough food for thought, but don't only think...Act!
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