Monday, June 23, 2008
I Ask, You Answer: Advice for Your Younger Self
The idea is to give you a chance to share your knowledge with the rest of the world — and to give you the opportunity to see what your fellow readers are doing!This question is :Knowing what you know today, what advice would you offer to your younger self 5, 10, or 20 years ago? Let us know your answer in the comments.
Three Basic Steps to Get Your Desire with the Least Effort
How can we get what we want? The book Simpleology contains five laws to help you get what you want:
The Law of Straight Lines: The shortest path between two points is a straight line. If you want to get a particular result, take the fastest and most direct route. Don’t add any extra steps.
The Law of Clear Vision: In order to hit a target, you need to see it clearly. You must have a clear vision of exactly what you want in order to get it.
The Law of Focused Attention: In order to hit a target, you must focus sufficient attention on it until you hit it.
The Law of Focused Energy: In order to accomplish something you must focus sufficient energy on it until you have done so.
The Inescapability of Action/Reaction: There are two things from which you can never escape: action and reaction.
All these laws are useful. After spending some time to ponder them, I think we can summarize them into three basic steps you should do to get your desire with the least effort:
1. Know exactly what you want
While I’m sure most of us have an idea about what we want, I don’t think many of us know exactly what we want. For instance, if you want to have your own business, do you know what kind of business you want to build? How will it look - in detail - several years from now?
To know exactly what we want, a helpful practice is visualization. We should visualize the situation we want to achieve. Imagine how it looks, how it sounds, and how people’s life is changed by it.
Knowing exactly what you want will help you determine whether or not something you encounter could help you. If you don’t know what you want, it is much easier to get distracted by irrelevant things along the way. But if you know exactly what you want, you will see clearly whether or not something is relevant.
2. Always follow a straight line
Do only the things that bring you closer to your destination. Do not waste your time to do extra things which will make it longer to reach your goal.
There might be things you do, perhaps even daily, that take you away from your goal
This, unfortunately, is easier said than done. Without realizing it, you might have some habits which do not bring you closer to your goal. There might be things you do, perhaps even daily, that take you away from your goal. They make you follow a curved line instead of a straight one.
For instance, maybe your goal is increasing the amount of your saving by, say, 100%. However, you still spend $5 daily to get your favorite coffee and snack. If we assume that there are 30 days a month, $5 daily will become $150 a month and $1800 a year, a substantial amount. As you can see, this habit doesn’t help you reach your goal.
So, in whatever you do, it is wise to ask: "Is it a straight line?" And when the answer is no, you should stop doing it.
3. Sharpen your saw
While doing things which brings you closer to your goal is important, you will waste a lot of time and energy if you do not do them with a "sharp saw". It’s dangerous to be busy; we may work too hard trying to make things happen without realizing that our saw has become blunt. In such situation we could work very hard but accomplish very little. You might then be surprised when someone else - who seem to work less than you do - surpass your achievements.
A good way to know whether or not you have a sharp saw is by watching yourself. Can you accomplish much in a given amount of time? Does your creativity flow well? Are you now in - or close to - your peak performance?
If the answer is no, then you need to sharpen your saw. The action you should take depends on your situation. Perhaps you need to take some time away from your work, or perhaps you need to learn a new tool. Examine your situation, and do what it takes to bring you back to peak performance. The time investment to sharpen your saw is well worth it. With a sharp saw, you will be able to achieve more with less time and energy.
The Law of Straight Lines: The shortest path between two points is a straight line. If you want to get a particular result, take the fastest and most direct route. Don’t add any extra steps.
The Law of Clear Vision: In order to hit a target, you need to see it clearly. You must have a clear vision of exactly what you want in order to get it.
The Law of Focused Attention: In order to hit a target, you must focus sufficient attention on it until you hit it.
The Law of Focused Energy: In order to accomplish something you must focus sufficient energy on it until you have done so.
The Inescapability of Action/Reaction: There are two things from which you can never escape: action and reaction.
All these laws are useful. After spending some time to ponder them, I think we can summarize them into three basic steps you should do to get your desire with the least effort:
1. Know exactly what you want
While I’m sure most of us have an idea about what we want, I don’t think many of us know exactly what we want. For instance, if you want to have your own business, do you know what kind of business you want to build? How will it look - in detail - several years from now?
To know exactly what we want, a helpful practice is visualization. We should visualize the situation we want to achieve. Imagine how it looks, how it sounds, and how people’s life is changed by it.
Knowing exactly what you want will help you determine whether or not something you encounter could help you. If you don’t know what you want, it is much easier to get distracted by irrelevant things along the way. But if you know exactly what you want, you will see clearly whether or not something is relevant.
2. Always follow a straight line
Do only the things that bring you closer to your destination. Do not waste your time to do extra things which will make it longer to reach your goal.
There might be things you do, perhaps even daily, that take you away from your goal
This, unfortunately, is easier said than done. Without realizing it, you might have some habits which do not bring you closer to your goal. There might be things you do, perhaps even daily, that take you away from your goal. They make you follow a curved line instead of a straight one.
For instance, maybe your goal is increasing the amount of your saving by, say, 100%. However, you still spend $5 daily to get your favorite coffee and snack. If we assume that there are 30 days a month, $5 daily will become $150 a month and $1800 a year, a substantial amount. As you can see, this habit doesn’t help you reach your goal.
So, in whatever you do, it is wise to ask: "Is it a straight line?" And when the answer is no, you should stop doing it.
3. Sharpen your saw
While doing things which brings you closer to your goal is important, you will waste a lot of time and energy if you do not do them with a "sharp saw". It’s dangerous to be busy; we may work too hard trying to make things happen without realizing that our saw has become blunt. In such situation we could work very hard but accomplish very little. You might then be surprised when someone else - who seem to work less than you do - surpass your achievements.
A good way to know whether or not you have a sharp saw is by watching yourself. Can you accomplish much in a given amount of time? Does your creativity flow well? Are you now in - or close to - your peak performance?
If the answer is no, then you need to sharpen your saw. The action you should take depends on your situation. Perhaps you need to take some time away from your work, or perhaps you need to learn a new tool. Examine your situation, and do what it takes to bring you back to peak performance. The time investment to sharpen your saw is well worth it. With a sharp saw, you will be able to achieve more with less time and energy.
How to stay confident and positive.....
For those people who have never been involved in starting a business or running a business, becoming self employed will seem like a rather daunting situation. Indeed those people who are currently employed will also hear of negativity and denial from employees and indeed colleagues. People will have concerns over their short term incomes, over the risks involved in setting up a business, or indeed will have concerns over the possibility of failure. And much of this negativity will be generated by colleagues, employers or even family around you.
This was of course a concern of mine.And more notably, I also find that there are times that these concerns over risk and failure attack me over and over again.
As I've mentioned previously, my initial inspiration for improving my life was from Steve Pavlina's website, a website which gives away free premium content that will inspire most. Reading Steve's website, and similar websites which I then found as a result, gave me the confidence required to believe that I could achieve all of the goals which I have set. I felt full of motivation to achieve everything I wanted, one of which was to become self employed and hence time independent. However, doubts were raised by others around me, and I suddenly found myself worrying about risk and failure in just a couple of days.
Fortunately, it didn't take me long to realise how to stay confident and motivated. You'll notice that there is a consistent theme in a number of similar personal development and entrepreneur blogs and websites. That's because the people who write these blogs are of similar mindset - they understand the value of being an entrepreneur and possess a certain entrepreneurial spirit. They are positive and motivated and convinced not only that they will succeed but also that like minded people will succeed alongside them.
I suppose the message is therefore to ensure that you are surrounded by these like-minded entrepreneurs. These people will never tell you that you might fail, but will fill you with confidence that you will succeed.
Take it from me, if you truly want to succeed at your goals, then you will achieve them.
This was of course a concern of mine.And more notably, I also find that there are times that these concerns over risk and failure attack me over and over again.
As I've mentioned previously, my initial inspiration for improving my life was from Steve Pavlina's website, a website which gives away free premium content that will inspire most. Reading Steve's website, and similar websites which I then found as a result, gave me the confidence required to believe that I could achieve all of the goals which I have set. I felt full of motivation to achieve everything I wanted, one of which was to become self employed and hence time independent. However, doubts were raised by others around me, and I suddenly found myself worrying about risk and failure in just a couple of days.
Fortunately, it didn't take me long to realise how to stay confident and motivated. You'll notice that there is a consistent theme in a number of similar personal development and entrepreneur blogs and websites. That's because the people who write these blogs are of similar mindset - they understand the value of being an entrepreneur and possess a certain entrepreneurial spirit. They are positive and motivated and convinced not only that they will succeed but also that like minded people will succeed alongside them.
I suppose the message is therefore to ensure that you are surrounded by these like-minded entrepreneurs. These people will never tell you that you might fail, but will fill you with confidence that you will succeed.
Take it from me, if you truly want to succeed at your goals, then you will achieve them.
Reaching and Touching Others.....
Reaching and Touching Others..... I have been constantly reviewing my set of goals since they were set, adding and amending goals, changing things around. It strikes me that although this list of goals has given me focus, the list will be ever changing as priorities change.I've analysed my goals a little more, and there is a theme with many of the goals which I have set that involve doing things that will impact others. One particularly strong desire I have is to write a book - preferably fiction - and get it published. A book that will maybe bring some enjoyment to the people that read it in the same way that I enjoy reading books written by others. Similarly, my desire would be for this blog to provide inspiration to others and help people to improve their lives as I am doing with mine.The point here is that I appear to have found another major goal for my life which is to influence, entertain and inspire others. With this find comes some clarity and some more momentum to completing this journey.
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Time Management Ideas
Time is a valuable resource that can be squandered by people who do not understand or practise time management. Without time management it is very easy to be "busy, being busy" while failing to achieve positive outcomes and goals. Life can be much less stressful if time is planned, organised and managed effectively.
Here are seven ideas that work for me.
1. SPEND TIME PLANNING AND ORGANIZING Using time to think and plan is time well spent. In fact, if you fail to take time for planning, you are in effect, planning to fail. Organize in a way that makes sense to you. Some people prefer a to use a software program like Microsoft Outlook. Others use a day planner, a diary or a wall calendar. Find the system that suits you best and then stick to it. Good planning requires routine and discipline.
2. SET GOALS Goals give your life, and the way you spend your time, positive direction. Set goals that are specific, realistic, measurable and achievable. Your optimum goals are those that cause you to extend yourself to "go the extra mile" as you strive for achievement. Clear goals will give your life path a much-needed sense of direction.
3. PRIORITISE Use the 80-20 rule originally stated by the Italian economist Pareto. He noted that 80 percent of the outcome comes from 20 percent of the tasks. Identify the 20 percent that is most valuable to you and then prioritise your time to concentrate most effort on those items. A simple and well-tried method of prioritisation is to flag items according to importance by giving them an A, B or C priority, with A being highest priority. Setting deadlines for tasks is another way of maintaining focus on your priorities.
4. USE A "TO DO" LIST Some people thrive using a daily "To Do" list that they compile at the end of the previous day or at the start of the new day. Such people may combine their "To Do" list with a calendar or a schedule. Others prefer a running "To Do" list that is continuously being updated. My wife uses the daily list, while I prefer the running list. We have each chosen what suits our individual needs. Decide which is the better system for you and try it.
5. USE YOUR INTERNAL PRIME TIME FOR PRIME TASKS This is the time of day when you are at your natural best. Are you a "lark" (you perform best at the start of the day), an "owl" (you perform best at the end of the day), or are you somewhere in between? Scheduling prime tasks during your internal prime time is a logical way to achieve more in a given amount of time.
5. BE FLEXIBLE Allow time for interruptions and distractions. I suggest the 60-40 rule. That is, plan 60% of your time but allow 40% to deal with interruptions, unplanned activities, meetings without notice, and other unpredictable events. When you expect to be interrupted, schedule routine tasks that can be temporarily halted with minimum stress. For your prime tasks, set aside the larger blocks of time that will be required without interruption. If you are interrupted during any task, pause briefly at the end of the interruption to refocus before you recommence your work. This brief pause will allow you focus on your "pause point" and assist continuity.
8. DIVIDE BIG TASKS INTO SMALLER SUB-TASKS A big task may seem daunting and lead to procrastination. A stress reducing time management technique is the "salami" method. This involves cutting the big task into small "slices" and then doing each of the smaller tasks in short manageable time slots. Often it is easier to do a big task in eight time slots of 15 minutes, rather than in one two-hour session. By doing a little at a time you will eventually complete the task.
7. REDUCE URGENT EMERGENCIES Some urgent emergencies cannot be avoided because they result from external influences. However this is not always the case. A task can become an urgent emergency because of personal procrastination. Urgent tasks usually have short-term consequences while important tasks are those with long-term, goal-related implications. Work towards reducing the urgent things you must do so you'll have more time for your important priorities. Attaching a realistic deadline to each task may help keep important items from becoming urgent emergencies.
Here are seven ideas that work for me.
1. SPEND TIME PLANNING AND ORGANIZING Using time to think and plan is time well spent. In fact, if you fail to take time for planning, you are in effect, planning to fail. Organize in a way that makes sense to you. Some people prefer a to use a software program like Microsoft Outlook. Others use a day planner, a diary or a wall calendar. Find the system that suits you best and then stick to it. Good planning requires routine and discipline.
2. SET GOALS Goals give your life, and the way you spend your time, positive direction. Set goals that are specific, realistic, measurable and achievable. Your optimum goals are those that cause you to extend yourself to "go the extra mile" as you strive for achievement. Clear goals will give your life path a much-needed sense of direction.
3. PRIORITISE Use the 80-20 rule originally stated by the Italian economist Pareto. He noted that 80 percent of the outcome comes from 20 percent of the tasks. Identify the 20 percent that is most valuable to you and then prioritise your time to concentrate most effort on those items. A simple and well-tried method of prioritisation is to flag items according to importance by giving them an A, B or C priority, with A being highest priority. Setting deadlines for tasks is another way of maintaining focus on your priorities.
4. USE A "TO DO" LIST Some people thrive using a daily "To Do" list that they compile at the end of the previous day or at the start of the new day. Such people may combine their "To Do" list with a calendar or a schedule. Others prefer a running "To Do" list that is continuously being updated. My wife uses the daily list, while I prefer the running list. We have each chosen what suits our individual needs. Decide which is the better system for you and try it.
5. USE YOUR INTERNAL PRIME TIME FOR PRIME TASKS This is the time of day when you are at your natural best. Are you a "lark" (you perform best at the start of the day), an "owl" (you perform best at the end of the day), or are you somewhere in between? Scheduling prime tasks during your internal prime time is a logical way to achieve more in a given amount of time.
5. BE FLEXIBLE Allow time for interruptions and distractions. I suggest the 60-40 rule. That is, plan 60% of your time but allow 40% to deal with interruptions, unplanned activities, meetings without notice, and other unpredictable events. When you expect to be interrupted, schedule routine tasks that can be temporarily halted with minimum stress. For your prime tasks, set aside the larger blocks of time that will be required without interruption. If you are interrupted during any task, pause briefly at the end of the interruption to refocus before you recommence your work. This brief pause will allow you focus on your "pause point" and assist continuity.
8. DIVIDE BIG TASKS INTO SMALLER SUB-TASKS A big task may seem daunting and lead to procrastination. A stress reducing time management technique is the "salami" method. This involves cutting the big task into small "slices" and then doing each of the smaller tasks in short manageable time slots. Often it is easier to do a big task in eight time slots of 15 minutes, rather than in one two-hour session. By doing a little at a time you will eventually complete the task.
7. REDUCE URGENT EMERGENCIES Some urgent emergencies cannot be avoided because they result from external influences. However this is not always the case. A task can become an urgent emergency because of personal procrastination. Urgent tasks usually have short-term consequences while important tasks are those with long-term, goal-related implications. Work towards reducing the urgent things you must do so you'll have more time for your important priorities. Attaching a realistic deadline to each task may help keep important items from becoming urgent emergencies.
Listen and Improve Your Communication Skill
There is no doubt that "gift of the gab", or the ability to speak clearly, is a valuable skill, however it was not speaking skill, but listening skill that helped me advance as an employee and later as an employer. I learnt very early in my career that good communication requires good listening. Listening is a very powerful and underestimated skill so I spent a lot of time and effort developing good listening practices.
Most people are not naturally good listeners, and folk with the so-called "gift of the gab" tend to be very poor listeners. Many good talkers think that listening is simply waiting for their turn to speak. They can allow the smallest things to distract them and I have found that many are so busy thinking up the next clever thing to say that often they are not comprehending what is being said to them.
Very few people are taught listening skills, although one of my students at the Australian Film Television and Radio School claimed he had been given listening lessons every time his dad had yelled at him: "Shut-up and listen!" That is certainly nothing like the listening lessons I'm talking about.
I have learnt that everyone knows something I don't know . . . my job is to listen long enough to find what that information is, and if it is useful … use it. I have learnt how to keep an open mind, how to give the speaker my full attention, how to ask clarifying questions and how to remember what was said.
Since the 1950's sociologists have talked about the "generation gap", the perceived inability for young people to get along with their parents. If the "generation gap" is true, why then is it that grandparents and grandchildren seem to get on so well together? Some cynics suggest that grandparents and grandchildren get on well together because they share a common enemy, but I believe it's because grandparents are mostly good listeners. They have time to listen properly to what their grandchildren are saying, with good eye contact and undivided attention. Many parents fail in this regard because they spend too much time talking and not enough time listening.
Here is some good advice that I was given. When you are talking you learn nothing. When you are listening, the potential for learning is unlimited. I am very grateful that I received this advice because it is a great truth.
Are you a good listener? If you are, you have a valuable skill. If you are not a good listener, it is never too late to start. You will find practical suggestions on how to develop your listening skills in articles featured in the Positive Ideas section of this web site.
By Chris Joscelyne
Most people are not naturally good listeners, and folk with the so-called "gift of the gab" tend to be very poor listeners. Many good talkers think that listening is simply waiting for their turn to speak. They can allow the smallest things to distract them and I have found that many are so busy thinking up the next clever thing to say that often they are not comprehending what is being said to them.
Very few people are taught listening skills, although one of my students at the Australian Film Television and Radio School claimed he had been given listening lessons every time his dad had yelled at him: "Shut-up and listen!" That is certainly nothing like the listening lessons I'm talking about.
I have learnt that everyone knows something I don't know . . . my job is to listen long enough to find what that information is, and if it is useful … use it. I have learnt how to keep an open mind, how to give the speaker my full attention, how to ask clarifying questions and how to remember what was said.
Since the 1950's sociologists have talked about the "generation gap", the perceived inability for young people to get along with their parents. If the "generation gap" is true, why then is it that grandparents and grandchildren seem to get on so well together? Some cynics suggest that grandparents and grandchildren get on well together because they share a common enemy, but I believe it's because grandparents are mostly good listeners. They have time to listen properly to what their grandchildren are saying, with good eye contact and undivided attention. Many parents fail in this regard because they spend too much time talking and not enough time listening.
Here is some good advice that I was given. When you are talking you learn nothing. When you are listening, the potential for learning is unlimited. I am very grateful that I received this advice because it is a great truth.
Are you a good listener? If you are, you have a valuable skill. If you are not a good listener, it is never too late to start. You will find practical suggestions on how to develop your listening skills in articles featured in the Positive Ideas section of this web site.
By Chris Joscelyne
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Google Adsense - One More Secret for You to Make Money
Two types of persons can't make money with Google Adsence advertisement programme.
a) Ordinary persons who are unable to create good content for their website or blog. Result: They get less clicks or the clicks that don't earn much money.
b) Very clever persons who try to fool Google with copied content or who try to manage clicks on the ads from various sources.
Google is helping millions of people to earn money who are really serious in making some money and really ready to work hard for it. There is no such thing like 'easy money' with Google Adsence. For easy money find other sources.
Content rich: People often forget that it is content rich site or blog that has the capacity to earn money from Google Adsence. Unfortunately people indulge in trying all sorts of tacts and tricks to lure Google. But remember, these Google people are shrewd businessmen and they can enter your brain and heart to understand your clever tactics.
But people can't have a control over their tendency and they buy books and formulas or software to hit for quick-rich methods. But everything fail. Google is like that rich and beautiful female who is hell-bent to fail your every trick and tact. She loves sincere and dedicated persons and wants to be wooed in a straightforward and intelligent way.
What is the effect of content rich blog or site on the Google. You regularly get ads which pay more money per click. And you get visitors from everywhere who do more clicking. Simple writing or blogs created just for expression get those ads from Google which have very low per click rates. And people get surprised why they are earning so less.
So you know one more great secret now. Cheers and Goog Luck!
a) Ordinary persons who are unable to create good content for their website or blog. Result: They get less clicks or the clicks that don't earn much money.
b) Very clever persons who try to fool Google with copied content or who try to manage clicks on the ads from various sources.
Google is helping millions of people to earn money who are really serious in making some money and really ready to work hard for it. There is no such thing like 'easy money' with Google Adsence. For easy money find other sources.
Content rich: People often forget that it is content rich site or blog that has the capacity to earn money from Google Adsence. Unfortunately people indulge in trying all sorts of tacts and tricks to lure Google. But remember, these Google people are shrewd businessmen and they can enter your brain and heart to understand your clever tactics.
But people can't have a control over their tendency and they buy books and formulas or software to hit for quick-rich methods. But everything fail. Google is like that rich and beautiful female who is hell-bent to fail your every trick and tact. She loves sincere and dedicated persons and wants to be wooed in a straightforward and intelligent way.
What is the effect of content rich blog or site on the Google. You regularly get ads which pay more money per click. And you get visitors from everywhere who do more clicking. Simple writing or blogs created just for expression get those ads from Google which have very low per click rates. And people get surprised why they are earning so less.
So you know one more great secret now. Cheers and Goog Luck!
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