Career Success Guide

"Sorry, What's Your Name Again?" - Six Steps to Relieve the Most Common Memory Worry

2008-11-06T18:26:00.000-08:00

by Roger Seip
Author of Memory Training for Students

If you live in fear of forgetting prospects' names, sometimes within mere seconds of being introduced to them, you're not alone. Surveys show that 83% of the population worries about their inability to recall people's names. Ironically, while most of us hate having our names forgotten or mispronounced, the majority of us claim we just "aren't good at remembering names" or putting faces together with names when we meet people again.

If you have difficulty recalling names, you know that the two most common scenarios are forgetting the name instantaneously upon being introduced to someone new, and failing to recall the name of someone you've met and interacted with in the past and should know but just can't pull up from your memory bank.

Forgetting names becomes more than just an embarrassing social faux pas in sales. Straining to recall a name can so preoccupy you that you are unable to fully pay attention to your client or prospect. He or she may perceive you not only as unfocused and easily distracted, but also as not very bright if you're unable to devote your full attention to him or her. Even worse, if you forget the name of a client with whom you've worked in the past, he or she may view your memory lapse as a betrayal of trust, which can cost you a great deal of money if that client severs the relationship.

Integrating Learning Styles to Improve Name Recall

While common, this frustrating phenomenon can be relatively easy to overcome when you commit to taking steps to improve your memory. The most important key to really effective learning of any kind is understanding that there are three learning styles: visual, auditory, and kinesthetic (physically interactive). The more you can apply all three of these styles to a task, the more quickly and solidly you will learn anything.

Practice each of the following steps to improve your name recollection in every sales and social situation.

When you're first introduced to someone, look closely at his or her face and try to find something unique about it. Whether you find a distinctive quality or not is irrelevant; by really looking for a memorable characteristic in a new face, you're incorporating the visual learning style. And a word of advice: if you do find something that really stands out about someone's face, don't say anything! Within minutes of meeting someone new, it's generally a bad idea to exclaim, "Whoa! That's a huge nose!"

The next step utilizes both auditory and kinesthetic learning styles. When you meet someone, slow down for five seconds, and concentrate on listening to him or her. Focus on the prospect and repeat his or her name back in a conversational manner, such as "Susan. Nice to meet you, Susan." Also make sure to give a good firm handshake, which establishes a physical connection with the prospect.

Creating a mental picture of someone's name incorporates the visual sense again. Many people have names that already are pictures: consider Robin, Jay, Matt, or Dawn to name just a few. Some names will require you to play with them a bit to create a picture. Ken, for example, may not bring an immediate image to your mind, but a "can" is very close. Or you might envision a Ken doll. The point is not to create the best, most creative mental image ever, so don't get caught up in your head during this step of the process, thinking, "Oh, that's not a very good picture. What's a better one?" The worst thing you can do when learning is to stress yourself out and overthink the process. If an image doesn't come to you right away, skip it and do it later. You'll undo all of your good efforts if you're staring dumbly at your prospect, insisting, "Hey. Hold still for a minute while I try to turn your name into a picture!"

Once you've identified a mental image that you associate with a person's name, the next step is to "glue" that image to the person's face or upper body. This bridges that gap many people experience between being able to recall faces but not the names that belong to those faces. If you met a new prospect named Rosalind, for example, you might have broken her name down into the memorable image of "rose on land." Now you must create a mental picture that will stick with you as long as you need it and pop into your head every time you meet her; this should be something fun, even a little odd, that will bring "rose on land" to mind when you see her face. You might imagine her buried up to her neck in earth, with roses scattered around her, for example. Because you created the image, it will come up next time you see her and enable you to recall her name.

At the end of the conversation, integrate auditory learning by repeating the prospect's name one more time, but don't ever overuse someone's name in an effort to place it more firmly in your mind. Use the prospect's name only right at the beginning of the conversation, and then again at the end; if you feel like you can do so naturally, you might insert someone's name once or twice in a natural fashion during the course of the conversation, too. But if you've ever had a stereotypically pushy salesperson use your name a dozen times in a five minute conversation, you know how annoying, even weird, this can be, so don't overdo it.

Writing is a form of kinesthetic learning - you're getting a part of your body involved in the learning process - so if you're really serious about wanting to remember people's names for the long term, keep a name journal or a log of important people you meet, and review it periodically.
Forget Me Not: It's the Effort That Matters Most

The most important thing to know about this memory process is that even when it doesn't work, it still works! For example, if you get stuck trying to make a picture out of someone's name, skip it for now. The next day, when you have a chance, give the matter a few minutes of concentrated thought. If you still can't get a picture, stop and take up the matter a week later. Even if you're still unsuccessful at creating a mental image, you've thought about the prospect's name so much, there's now no way you'll ever forget it! So you've actually accomplished what you set to do in the first place.

People can't remember names for one main reason: they're just not paying attention. This process forces you to think. If, for example, you struggle with the step of creating a mental picture, the other steps - looking at the prospect closely, shaking his or her hand confidently and repeating the name a few times - are easy to do, will solidify the name in your memory, and will ultimately convey a positive image of you to clients and prospects. That positive image will certainly make you memorable to prospects, enabling you to close more deals and increase your bottom line.

2008-11-06T18:25:00.000-08:00

Various Speed Reading Techniques

by Melvin Ng
Author of 16 Minute Speed Reading Program

The ability to speed read is an important skill in today's world, where - whether we are students or at work - we are often expected to read hefty amounts of materials on a daily basis. As a result, improving your speed reading technique is something each and every one of us should not only do, but maintain. What, then, are speed reading techniques?

Speed reading - the essential elements

Before you start to learn any particular speed reading technique, you need to consider that all speed reading techniques rely on three essential elements:

1. A desire to improve you reading speed;

2. A willingness to give new ideas a chance; and

3. Motivation, discipline and continued practice.

Without these three key elements, no speed reading technique is going to succeed.

Speeding reading technique (1) - Skimming

Almost all successful speed readers will attest to the fact that they are a successful speed reader because they have a form of peripheral vision that allows them to see large amount of data on a page and to "skim" what they are reading. In short, speed reading like this means that one is not reading each and every word on the page, but merely scanning through the material. Using this speed reading technique, every now and then you will come across a keyword or phrase and it is this that will provide you with the essence of what is being written. The rest of the information on the page is discarded.

Although this speed reading technique would seem to indicate that the reader does not fully comprehend what has been written, in fact studies have shown this is not the case - majority of speed readers using this technique actually increased their comprehension of the reading materials!

Speed reading technique (2) - first sentence reading

Unlike speed reading technique (1), in speed reading technique (2), the reader will read the first sentence of each paragraph, in order to get the crux (main idea) of the idea behind the paragraph and will then skim read the remainder of the paragraph. This process is then repeated on down the page until such time as all the reading material has been exhausted.

Using speed reading technique (2), it is generally understood that the reader will glean enough information from the first sentence not to be overly concerned about the information contained in the remainder of the paragraph, where the writer will merely be reinforcing the notion set out in sentence one. However, this technique does fall-down on one major point - it pre-supposes that a paragraph only has one idea, which is clearly not always the case! If you find that you are reading material where the writer has used multiple ideas in the same paragraph, you may need to adapt your speed reading technique to one of the other speed reading techniques.

Speed reading technique (3) - Group wording

There is a term in speed reading circles that is seen as being one of the major demons of reading: "subvocalization". Subvocalization is a clinical term for word-for-word reading - and it's a huge no-no in speed reading techniques. Subvocalization slows reading down, without providing any upswing in comprehension to counter the lost reading time.

Group wording, as the name suggests, is where the reader looks at a group of words and phrases at the same time. Using the group wording technique, speed readers are able to read large chunks of information at the same time - thus, saving time.

Additional speed reading techniques

Aside from the specific speed reading techniques in 1 to 3 above, there are a number of habits/practices that are generally considered counter-productive to speed reading - thus will have an affect on your speed reading abilities. In no particular order, these include:

* subvocalization - as already stated, this is where you speak out the words you read. It's a major cause of slow reading. Unfortunately, as most of us are taught to speak out the words we read when we learn to read as children, it is also one of the hardest habits to break. All that can be said is that you keep plugging away at trying to eradicate this habit.

* digressing - digressing is where the reader will read a passage, then return to re-read it, usually in the mistaken belief that they will be able to comprehend better what has been written on a second read. Again, in speed reading circles this is seen as a major no-no, bad habit, which needs to be broken!

Conclusion

So, if you want to improve your speed reading skills, you need to remember not to subvocalize or re-read passages, and to read great chunks at one time by broadening your eye-span. Simple really! Actually, in fairness, it will take time to learn, and don't expect to get it right the first time. Don't push this issue too much, as pushing it may prove to be counter-productive.

What To Do If You “Bomb” A School Test Or Exam

2008-11-06T18:24:00.000-08:00

by Dr Marc R. Dussault
Author of Speed Studying Techniques

Everyone’s had the unfortunate experience of studying endlessly for a test and yet still failing thanks to sheer anxiousness or some other outside problem.

You might be planning and hoping on becoming a great scholar in your chosen area of study, but human nature and past experience tells us that you will make some blunders along the way, you’re only human you have to expect this and not be deterred when it happens, but rather allow your failures to make you more determined.

Failure moves us closer to our goals, as that is when we cross analyse and study where we went wrong.

A baby doesn’t give up on learning to walk, it tries over and over again until it succeeds no matter what. Young adults and adults, however, often tend to give something only a few tries before abandoning hope, and we shouldn’t. Learn from mistakes, don’t be discouraged by them; you will succeed by putting thought into your efforts, and that ability can only come with experience. So in a way, you achieve success simply by making enough mistakes.

If you beat yourself more, you will only feel worse. When you feel miserable, your energy and motivation go down and you get trapped in a downward spiral. The only way to move out of this trap is to take a decision that you will not let yourself down and get mad and also that you will not give up thus letting you down.

No one will be drowned if they fall down in a puddle of water face down, unless they remained in that position; this is the mental make up you need to carry within yourself.

If you subscribe to the mindset that what is initially deemed as “failure” can actually lead to bigger and better successes in the future, you will find yourself motivated at times when all seems to be lost. For example, if you bomb an exam you spent weeks studying for, you should remind yourself that even though the results were not what you expected, you tried your best, and learned from the experience.

Thinking like this, you will never really fail a test, because mentally you will know that you’ve come out ahead whatever your grades say. So put yourself in a headspace where everything is progress towards eventual success, and you will be able to reach that success more easily no matter what you aim for.

When you feel especially vulnerable, you’re also more likely to feel as though you don’t measure up to others, as though your inadequacies loom large in comparison to your peers. But I can assure you that although others may sometimes count your areas of weakness as their areas of strength, you shouldn’t infer that you’re in any way inferior. On the contrary; you have your own unique set of strengths which cannot be duplicated. The only comparisons that are necessary to make are with your own personal best.

If you are absolutely committed to a goal, you will find a way to make it happen. Think of a recent accomplishment you’ve had that you worked hard to achieve. Was there any doubt that you’d get what you wanted? Is it not true, if you are really honest with yourself, that when you have come up short in the past it’s in part, because you really didn’t give it your all?

You have to be honest with yourself and match your level of intensity and effort with your results. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. If you don’t try very hard, don’t expect miracles overnight and sometimes even when you do try hard, the miracles still don’t come I once heard that miracles are hidden amongst a lot of hard work, determination and failure Pressure under fire creates diamonds and that will be your result also if you persist and long enough, study success and aspire to success, you will become your own miracle!

Maximizing Your Study Time for Better Results

2008-11-06T18:22:00.000-08:00

by Roger Seip
Author of Memory Training for Students

The daily schedule for many young students today could rival that of several top-level executives. With soccer practice, dance, scouts and clarinet lessons taking up much of the evening, when do students get to focus on their studies? Too often students get overwhelmed with the amount of work left over at the end of the day.

They look at study time in one big sum and get distracted and exhausted before they even begin. To solve this problem, you may not be able to adjust your child’s schedule, but they can change their study techniques. Here are 3 study techniques that will help any student maximize their study time.

ß They should start by separating and segmenting their study time. Break it up into smaller bits. No matter how brilliant you are a concentrated attention span lasts only about 20 minutes. So break your 2 or 4 hours study sessions into groups of 15 or 20 minutes. During the break, stand-up, walk around, grab a bit to eat or something to drink and then get back to the grind for another 15 or 20 minutes. This not only helps create spaced repetition, which is crucial for retention, but helps make study sessions less stressful and daunting.

ß Another tool to help in maximizing study time is to use random practice. When reviewing lists or concepts don’t go in order. Skip around to force your brain to pull from an entire group of information. This aids in understanding the purpose or meaning behind a concept instead of merely its place in line. The simplest way to implement random practice is through the use of a study partner.

ß Use a Study Partner. When at all possible, it is very beneficial to study with another student who shares the same educational goals and motivation. A study partner can help identify areas of weakness and ensure that topics don’t get skipped. It’s also beneficial to witness how another student takes in and stores information. For this reason and others, it is better for the study partner to be another student, but parent don’t be afraid to fill this position. The progress gained from working with a partner is general is worth it.

Proper and efficient study techniques will follow a student through all levels of education and learning. Establishing good habits and skill sets, no matter how small or insignificant they may seem at the time, will prove to reap massive rewards in the long run. So while little Johnny and Suzy might need their first day planners before the third grade, don’t let it stop them from becoming the best students they can.

Roger Seip is a nationally known memory trainer. He has helped thousands of students across the country improve their memory as well as study habits. His new program, The Student’s Winning Edge - Memory Training, teaches students how to train their memory to study more effectively and get better grades.

Improve Your Memory by Arousing Your State of Mind

2008-11-06T18:20:00.000-08:00

by Martin Mak
Author of "Unleash Your Mighty Memory"

Being mentally alert is a state of mind and we are obviously not always alert. Our mood and general level of physiological arousal will tend to range from deep sleep through drowsiness to a normal waking state; occasionally we experience a state of high agitation or excitement, and under extreme conditions, terror and panic.

High arousal tends to be accompanied by changes in the electrical activity of the brain as recorded by electroencephalogram (EEG), and by an increase in heart rate, palm sweating and electrical conductivity of the skin. Arousal can also be altered by manipulating the environment or through drugs. Hence loud noises will tend to increase arousal, whereas the deprivation of sleep will tend to decrease it. Amphetamines or the caffeine in a cup of coffee will tend to lead to higher arousal, while a tranquilizer will tend to reduce it. Other drugs such as alcohol have more complex effects, initially increasing but then decreasing arousal.

Do our state of arousal influence our memory? Clearly in an extreme case, it has a profound effect; a subject who is asleep has a very limited performance repertoire. It has been suggested that we are able to learn when we are asleep. Unfortunately objective tests of the effectiveness of sleep teaching suggest that nothing is learned except the few bits of information that are registered during the occasional periods during the night when we approach a waking moment, in between long periods of deeper sleep. If you wish to learn, it is advisable to be conscious at the time.

Any individual can have a very wide range of levels of arousal at any moment, and there is no doubt that performance is sensitive to arousal level. In general, performance improves as arousal increases up to some peak, beyond which it deteriorates, a relationship known as the Yerkes-Dodson law after the two people who first pointed it out Taking the two extremes, neither the moment prior to falling asleep nor the moment of blind panic are likely to be particularly efficient states of mind for the performance of any task. Different tasks are optimally performed at the different levels of arousal. For example, the level at which you are likely to run fastest or hit hardest will be higher than that which is best for knitting a sweater or solving a crossword puzzle.

How can we determine the optimal arousal level for memory? Like much else in human memory, this is not an easy question to answer. It depends crucially on when the learned material is subsequently recalled. If recall is immediate, then performance is best when level of arousal is relatively low; higher levels of arousal lead to poor initial performance, but in the long run they produce better learning.

This was shown most clearly in a series of experiments conducted by Kleinsmith and Kaplan in 1963 in which subjects were presented with the task of learning to associate numbers with words. The words were selected as being either relatively neutral (swim, dance) or as having emotional overtones (rape, vomit). Three groups of subjects were tested, the first recalling after a delay of two minutes, the second after a 20-minute delay, and the third after a delay of one week. The low-arousal words were initially well recalled but showed marked forgetting. Recall of the high-arousal words actually improved with time. Kleinsmith and Kaplan argue that high levels of arousal help the memory trace to consolidate, but that during the early stages of consolidation they make retrieval difficult. The high-arousal items therefore have a short-term they benefit from good consolidation.

Taking these findings a step further, we can therefore remember things better with we attached vivid imagery to it. For example, if you want to remember a dental appointment at 10 in the morning, you can picture a bowling ball coming towards your mouth and your teeth become bowling pins (10-pins - 10 am).

Memory strategies have come up that can help people improve memory, learn complex mathematical formula, foreign languages etc. Such memory techniques and memory training are useful not only for school work, but also in our daily and professional lives to help us cope.

Martin Mak has developed a new program to help you improve your memory and enhance your learning experience. Find out more with his popular and free ecourse

Get better grades by harnessing the power of the "80/20 Rule

2008-11-06T18:18:00.000-08:00

by Dr Marc R. Dussault

Author of Speed Studying Techniques

Did you know that there's a principle whereby you can actually achieve 80% of your results with 20% of the work? This is called the Pareto Principle, and it really does work. In short, it states that we get 80% of results from 20% of our effort. To expand on this further, we can also apply this principle to academic success.

Most students don't have the essential study skills they need. Because of this, they spend most of their time preparing for exams less efficiently than they need to, which means that most of their time is wasted. Why should they do this when they could study in a highly targeted fashion and obtain 80% of their study success with only 20% of the effort?

School success does not necessarily rely on intelligence, but on knowing how to play the game. A student of average intelligence who has learned study skills is far more likely to succeed than a highly intelligent student who hasn't. When applied to academic success, the Pareto Principle is not just about effort but about focus.

Most students don't have the specific and strong focus needed while they study. In fact, only 20% of total study efforts are usually focused, which means that 80% of the time spent studying is wasted.

You need to focus on the right material when you prepare for exams, but when you have so much study material, how do you know what you should focus on?

Australian State education departments have syllabus documents written for each subject in your course of study. Those who are most successful will focus their study on outcomes specified in the documents. Most often, these documents are available online and can be downloaded to your own computer. These will often also include glossary of terms essential to understanding and completing the course of study.

If you need help covering essential material, you can also purchase study guides specific to the state you live in for reasonable prices. These guides can save you time by providing important headings and sub-headings with summaries of essential information for exam success. These books can also fill in gaps in information that can occur as a result of absences and variations from school education standards.

Marks are based on meeting course outcomes and marking criteria. This means that successful results can't be separated from curriculum expectations. Oftentimes, parents don't understand how the education system is so different these days compared with when they were at school. They believe that their children's grades are a direct reflection of their academic abilities.

However, more often than not, children have not learned how to produce work that will produce good grades. Once they know how to play the game, they are able to get better grades. They are also able to save a lot of wasted time reading over course material.

You can also use the Pareto Principle as part of your university study. In this case, you are given initial course documents that outline the topics you will cover in the semester's course. You may also be given initial course documents that tell you what readings and other textbooks you may have to utilise. In addition, you'll be given assignments and due dates at the beginning of your coursework, so that you can plan your study time accordingly.

Most university courses, especially those in the humanities, require students to do a lot of essay writing and reading. This means that good planning and summaries are mandatory. If you read the essay questions ahead of time and then make notes from your readings, your study time can be greatly reduced by up to 80%. In other words, 20% of your effort can give you much greater results. If you apply targeted effort above this, you can further improve your marks.

This means that focusing your attention for shorter periods of time can make you more successful academically. This is provided, of course, that you focus on the right things. Don't just focus on what teachers tell you in class or what other students tell you. Take a look at the official written material you have in front of you and use it as a guide. Then, write good essays and make sure you cover all of the required course content. In this way, you should be able to improve your academic performance substantially. In addition, you'll do it much more easily than you otherwise might be able to.

About the Author:
About the author: Dr Marc R. Dussault can show you how to get the best grades With the least effort. Visit the "Get Better Grades" website for more helpful tips on acheiving great marks by studying more efficiently.

INCREASE YOUR BRAIN CAPACITY AND PERFORM AT PHENOMENAL LEVELS

2008-11-06T18:13:00.000-08:00

Increase Your Brain Capacity

And Perform At Phenomenal Levels!

Did you know that most people use less than 5% of their brain's capacity?

In fact, in terms of mental circuitry, you are likely to be using less than 1%. Think where could you get in life using way more!

Read on to find out how Brain-Guide's Ultimate Pack (BSTN) will boost your Brainpower, Improve your Test Scores, Increase your IQ, Strengthen your Memory Retention Mechanisms And So Much More!

Most People Never Get Close To Fulfilling Their Brain's Potential

With More than 100 Billion Neurons, Each Capable of Interacting Directly With 20,000 Others (and Indirectly With Billions) Your Mental Ability Is practically Infinite. Unfortunately - more than 98% of the population in the US and western Europe are showing nothing but poor-to -fair results in their lives: At Work, at school, in their relationships. They feel stuck and unaccomplished, they are financially troubled, some feel as if they had "missed the train", though deep inside they still believe that they can be more, have more, know more and that they still have a chance in life.

And They Do! For the past 10 years, brain research had leaped and the human mind was carefully studied and thoroughly examined. It is now scientifically proven: people can change their lives completely by improving the way their mind operates!

SHARE WITH ME YOUR COMMENTS!

Savants: Charting ‘islands of genius’

2008-11-06T18:00:00.000-08:00

By David Martin
CNN

FOND DU LAC, Wisconsin (CNN) — Forty-four years after starting work at a children’s psychiatric ward in Wisconsin, Dr. Darold Treffert still struggles to explain how the human brain is capable of producing the remarkable feats he witnessed there.

One boy had memorized Milwaukee’s bus schedule and could say where all the buses were at any moment in the day. Another could put together complicated puzzles without hesitation — even if the pieces were upside down. A third boy could list world events that happened on any given day.

Treffert came to realize these boys have savant syndrome, and thus began a lifelong quest to understand how people with sometimes severe mental disabilities could exhibit what he calls "islands of genius."

Treffert says a savant’s brilliance generally falls into a single category: lightning-fast math skills or calendar calculating or spatial skills or near picture-perfect memory or musical ability.

Such dazzling mental skills defy easy explanation. (Watch the mystery of savants — 3:38)

"I have come to the conclusion that until we can explain the savant we can’t explain ourselves," said Treffert, often considered the world’s leading expert on savants.

Treffert, an adviser on the movie "Rain Man," serves as the unofficial arbiter of who qualifies as a "prodigious savant" — possessing skills that would dazzle even without a disability. There are only about 100 recognized prodigious savants in the world.

Jazz pianist Matt Savage is one of them. The home-schooled New Hampshire teenager was diagnosed with autism as a child and did not like to be exposed to any noise until he was 6. Audio therapy and a toy piano unlocked his gifts.

"Our house had been completely quiet," Matt’s mother, Diane, said. "No music. No sound. And then my husband and I heard ‘London Bridge’ being played perfectly down in the playroom. We looked at each other. Matt had just started playing: from nothing to playing perfectly."

Matt, now 14, releases his seventh album on his parents’ record label this month. Even he does not understand how he is able to play as well as does, improvising effortlessly on the piano.

"It kind of transfers from the brain to the fingers. It goes through your body. That’s how it feels," Matt said.

Stephen Wiltshire is another prodigious savant. His genius is the ability to see something once and draw it in exquisite detail — even something as complicated as a city skyline. (Watch brain scans look for the secrets of genius — 2:05)

George Widener, too, is a prodigious savant. Widener says he has been diagnosed with a mild form of autism called Asperger’s Syndrome. He knows without thinking the day of the week for any year in the past or future. He now uses these calendar skills to produce critically acclaimed artwork, combining his love of numbers and calendars with an astonishing memory of days and dates in history.

Listening to Widener is like flipping through a stream-of-consciousness almanac:

"June 7th, that was the date Robert the Bruce died in 1329. He was the first king of Scotland. That was a Wednesday. I remember reading Daniel Boone, 1769, started a survey on June 7th in Kentucky … King Louis the 14th became king, 1654. That was a Wednesday."

Orlando Serrell did not possess any special skills until he was struck in the head by a baseball when he was 10. He has remembered where he was and what he was doing almost every day since.

Serrell is what Treffert calls an "acquired savant," someone who exhibits savant skills after suffering a head injury or a stroke to the left hemisphere of the brain. Treffert believes the brain injury somehow frees acquired savants from the language and logic that rules our everyday lives. (Listen to a savant’s extraordinary musical gift)

"We tend to think of ourselves as having this blank disc in the marvelous piece of equipment called the brain, and what we become is everything we put on this disc. And I’m saying there is much more to us. That we come with software," Treffert says.

In short, Treffert says, there is genius in all of us. How to unlock that genius remains a mystery.

Victory at Last!

2008-10-19T09:54:00.000-07:00

In the shadow of the recent Olympic Games, we can look back and recall the high level of dedication and focus displayed by the athletes striving to attain the crowning glory of victory. For example, in a sprint event on the track, we see how all aspects of the race are focused on the pursuit of victory.

The athlete first invests years of preparation and training before finally being ready for the actual event. After a final period of mental preparation and rehearsing his race strategy, he enters the starting blocks. The race only begins with the sound of the gun and the explosion of the competitors out of the blocks.

The actual start of the race foretells its conclusion and from that point on, every action is focused on the sole purpose of gaining the victory. No unnecessary effort is expended and the racers do not stray to the left or right. The crossing of the finish line is the culminating fulfillment of all the planning, preparation and training.

What a wonderful picture of God's plan to provide for the redemption of mankind!God began effecting His plan by declaring His intention to rescue us from our bondage of sin. The revelation of this intent appears numerous times throughout the Bible and John the Baptist identifies Jesus as "the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world" (John 1:29).Jesus' period of preparation and training for the coming "race" included time spent in the synagogue exploring the Scriptures as a child, the time of temptation in the wilderness and the calling of the disciples.

The fulfillment of Gods' plan to provide for our redemption was, of course, the death and resurrection of our Lord. But when did the final race begin? Was there an event that set it in motion and foretold the coming glorious victory?Certainly, all Jesus did during His public ministry focused on bringing Him ever closer to the goal and as He crossed the finish line, He declared, "It is finished." If this is so, then could the start of the race have been His first public act ? Did the miraculous changing of water to wine at the wedding feast at Cana signal the start of His race? See John 2: 1-11.Could this seemingly frivolous miracle be a pivotal event in the overall theme of the Bible?It both connects and marks the transition between God's unfulfilled plan to redeem us (as revealed by the old covenant represented by the ceremonial cleansing water) and the actual work of redemption (provided through the new covenant represented by the wine).

The wine points us to Jesus' death and ultimate triumph through its representation of His blood. The substitution of the water with wine illustrates how the demands of the old covenant law were completely satisfied by the blood of the new covenant. (from Simply Water to Wine? www.dougemberley.ca)~Father God, I am amazed at how You revealed the race that Jesus came to run through this miracle. May my life reflect Your grace today and may I triumph in the victory You secured for me. In Jesus' name, amen.

How to sell yourself in an interview

2008-10-01T19:12:00.000-07:00

How to Create Sound Bites to Sell Yourself in an Interview
By Andrew Hewitt & Luc d'Abadie
Whether it's a brief conversation or a job interview with potential employers, you are always selling yourself. Most people ramble on about themselves-mixing in a combination of qualifications and features of past experience-hoping to keep the attention of the other person. Have you used this approach before? Do you know people who do?
The approach of just talking and hoping you communicate your qualifications for a specific job is not the most effective way of selling yourself. So how can you sell yourself to employers? And how can you do it effectively in 60 seconds or less?
The answer is to communicate in sound bites. What are sound bites? A sound bite is a 15-60 second bite of information delivered in a way that captures the attention of the person you are speaking with. Not too much detail-no fluff, all stuff! A sound bite can be a short story or piece of information that effectively communicates the point you are trying to make in less than 60 seconds.
The ABCs of Making Sound Bites
Sound bites have three parts:
the problem or challenge you faced
the specific action you took
the result of that action
By blending together these three pieces of information in a sound bite you will have a concise and powerful bite of information that will hold the attention of listeners.
Before you get into the interview, create sound bites specific to the job you are interviewing for. To do this, review the job description and note the qualifications it requires. Then, think back to all the unique experiences you have had-anything from sports teams to summer jobs. If you created a Focused-resume, you should already have many sound bites to draw from. Find the unique experiences you've had that will demonstrate you meet the job qualifications.
Here are some examples of sound bites and the specific qualification they highlight:
Teaching (30 seconds)"In my Junior year I volunteered at my old high school to teach math. I had a strong background in math and remembered how busy things got for the teachers. Every Wednesday I would spend the afternoon giving seminars on specific math concepts to the students who felt they needed the extra help. I would then stay after school and tutor the students in small groups and individually. The school was glad to have the extra help, especially with some of the students who were in danger of failing. I really enjoyed working with the students and teaching. The head of the math department told me I was as good as any of the teachers in the school."
Event Planning (45 seconds)"Last year I had a deep urge test my mental and physical capacity and thought that a seven-day hiking trip in Western Canada called the West Coast Trail would be a great place to do it. I was faced with the challenge of planning the entire excursion while meeting the unique needs of everyone who came on the hike-all from the opposite end of the country of the trail and the hikers. Over the course of six months I proceed to round together seven other people who wanted to do the hike. I booked the trail for the best weekend in August, managed the payment from all seven people and organized the logistics of getting to the trail, the equipment from hiking boots to tents and all the other fine details associated with planning the adventure. The hiking trip was a sure success and a life changing adventure for all eight of us and it ran smoothly from start to finish. People still talk about how smoothly the trip ran."
Working under pressure (40 seconds)"My boss comes into the mailroom where I worked. She says to me â€˜You know anything about PowerPoint?' I knew some basics of the program, but at the time I was far from an expert. Before I could even answer her she handed me a stack of paper and said, â€˜I have to give a presentation to the CEO in three hours. I am confident you can turn it into a great presentation....'. Finishing that presentation in time took immense focus and prioritization. I had to stay cool, calm and collected in order to work efficiently and not let the pressure of the deadline get to my head. Two and a half hours later I had finished the presentation and sent it to my boss for a review. She was very impressed. There were no spelling or grammar errors that she was expecting to correct. She said that it was better than Power Point presentations she put together over several weeks. I certainly felt pressured, but staying calm and staying focused allowed me to perform to my max potential.
How you learned from your mistakes (60 seconds)"Three months ago my computer crashed. It was the week before I had three huge papers due not to mention the months of other information I had on the computer. After I got over my devastation I knew it was time for a killer back-up system. I called everyone I know who knows anything about computers and a week after my computer crashed I had a new hard drive and a system for backing up my computer each and every week, which I do religiously!"
Ability to work under little supervision and be innovative (60 seconds)"It was my first day of my internship at . In the morning my boss introduced me to the office and showed me where I would be working. After barely finishing the tour of the office my boss casually mentions to me, â€˜I'm going to be travelling for the next week. I'll see you when I get back, just keep yourself busy.' I hadn't even got my login and password for my computer yet and now I was completely on my own. I spent the afternoon reading the company Intranet and decided the next day I would take action and find work. I walked from office to office talking to the team members about what the organization was up to where they needed the most help. After a morning of doing some photocopying and other small jobs I was back where I started. I then went back to each person and asked them what was one thing that Taylor (my boss) had always wanted to get done but never had the time to do. I heard the same answer three times and knew that updating the company service manuals and corresponding website pages was the project I was looking for. With the help of the team I spent the next week updating all six service manuals and the website. When my boss got back he was shocked to see I didn't play solitaire for seven days and even more shocked to see the service manuals had been updated."
Leadership (20 seconds)"I was VP of Marketing for the Management Student Society at my school. The President had an unfortunate death in the family three weeks before a huge fundraiser event. No one was appointed to take the President role so I jumped in the driver's seat. With the short timelines I was able to gain the respect from the team, effectively delegate responsibilities and pull off an amazing event. The event brought in $15,000 more than we had planned and upon his return the President was extremely impressed. I am going to run for President next year."
Teamwork and Bilingual (50 seconds)"I was three weeks late for the start of my semester away in France. I barely knew any French and the purpose of my trip was to further my knowledge of the written and spoken language. In my Economics class I was thrown into a group who had already been working together for a few weeks. The teacher thought I might be able to help the group out-it was clear they were having difficulties getting along. There were students from all over the world in this group and the diversity seemed to create language barriers and a ton of frustration. Over the next two months we worked together to complete a large research paper and prepare a presentation. In the beginning one group member ended up leaving and there were many tough conversations. My focus was first to be accepted into the group and then work to get everyone working together towards a common goal. In the end we got a B+ on our paper, which was above the class average of B and we did an outstanding presentation. I learned a ton about working with people, especially people of different cultures and I really improved my French. My teacher later thanked me for turning the group around. The best part was that I now have friends all over the world because of that group work experience."
Attention to detail (30 sec)"My auntie was about to publish her new book. She knew I was a big reader and asked me if I would take a read through it to find any typos. I happily accepted the task and spent the next three days going through the book line by line. At the end of 250 pages I found 16 typos and 3 grammatical errors. It turned out that my auntie had given the same task to three other people and they each only found five or six typos without even noticing any grammatical errors. My auntie was impressed with my attention to detail and my ability to outshine these other individuals."
Your objective in any job interview is to convince the interviewer you are qualified for the position and can deliver great results to their company. Your sound bites should do this one by one and 60 seconds at a time. By using 15-60 second sound bites you can communicate you have the qualifications needed for the job and do so in an effective manner. It is also a great way to demonstrate you have great communications skills-a skill needed for any job.

The Power of Informational Interviews

2008-10-01T18:22:00.000-07:00

The Power of Informational Interviews

Informational Interviews differ from traditional interviews in two ways. First, you interview a
company, instead of a company interviewing you. Second, you are seeking information, not direct
employment. Consider informational interviews an important part of researching whether a specific career is right for you.

Let’s face it, it’s hard to know if you’ll like being a financial analyst, for example, until you know what a financial analyst job entails. Informational Interviews allow you to determine the ins
and outs of any job risk free. By interviewing someone who works as a financial analyst you easily find out the nitty gritty. As a bonus, you’ve just made a POWERFUL connection with
someone who has access to the jobs you want. And guess what?

There’s a good chance this person will become your ambassador to help you get in the door and land a really cool job! So how does a student go from having a decent understanding of the job they are interested in to setting up an informational interview to actually going through with it?

Step 1: Determine Who You Want to Connect With
Find the email address or phone number of a person in a leadership role who is working in the
career field you want to investigate (preferably at a company you would love to work at). Although this may seem like the least exciting step in the process, it is the most important. Who you meet with will determine how valuable the information is you gather and the likelihood of it leading to future opportunities. Be creative—information is always available to those who are creative about finding it.

Step 2: Make Contact and Set Up an Interview
Get in touch either through email or over the phone and ask if you could treat the person to coffee or lunch to get his or her advice and insights. It is always better to talk to the person over
the phone if you can, although this is not always possible. If using email, send a sincere (but not
too long) email explaining your curiosity for this line of work and your interest in learning how the person became successful in the industry.

HOT TIP
It has been proven that you
are twelve times more
likely to hear the words
“You’re Hired” by conducting
informational interviews
than relying on traditional
job hunt methods
such as submitting resumes
and replying to online
job postings.

Visit this link for complete download: http://www.focusedstudent.com/focus-zone/assets/Special%20Report%20-%20Informational%20Interviews.pdf

The Power of Concentration (Remez Sasson)

2008-10-01T18:11:00.000-07:00

When I was a child, I saw how a magnifying glass could burn a piece of paper, when the rays of the sun were focused through it. The fire could start only when the sun's rays were concentrated to a small point. When the magnifying glass was moved too far away or too close to the paper, the rays were not focused enough and nothing happened. This experience describes vividly the power of concentration.

This power can be described as focused attention. It is the ability to direct the attention to one single thought or subject, to the exclusion of everything else.

When our mind is focused, our energies are not dissipated on irrelevant activities or thoughts. This is why developing concentration is essential to anyone who aspires to take charge of his or her life. This skill is essential for every kind of success. Without it, our efforts get scattered, but with it, we can accomplish great things.

Concentration has many uses and benefits. It assists in studying and understanding faster, improves the memory, and helps in focusing on any task, job, activity or goal, and achieving it more easily and efficiently. It is also required for developing psychic powers, and is a powerful tool for the efficient use of creative visualization.

When this ability is developed, the mind obeys us more readily and does not engage in futile, negative thoughts or worries. We gain mental mastery and we experience true peace of mind.
This ability also plays an important role in meditataion. Without it, the mind just jumps restlessly from one thought to another, not allowing us to meditate properly.

Do you now realize, why it is very important and worthwhile to develop and improve the ability to concentrate?

To develop this power you need to train and exercise it. Forget all your excuses about not having the time or being too busy. Do not say that the circumstances are not appropriate or that you cannot find a quiet place to exercise. With a little planning, desire and motivation you can always find the time to exercise each day, no matter how busy you are.

The Restless Mind
Thoughts claim our attention incessantly, and waste our time and energy on unimportant and useless matters. They actually rule our life. We have become so used to this slavery, that we take it for granted, and have become unconscious of this habit, except on certain occasions.

While breathing, we do not need to pay attention to each inhalation and exhalation. We become conscious of the process of breathing, only when we have some difficulty with breathing, such as when our nose is clogged, due to a cold, or when we are in an unventilated room.

It is the same with thinking. We become conscious of the constant onslaught of our thoughts, and of our inability to calm them down, only when we need to concentrate, solve a problem or study. We are also acutely aware of them when we have worries or fears.

Look at the following familiar situation. You need to study something for your job or for an exam. You sit comfortably on the sofa with the book in your hands and start reading. After a while you feel hungry and go to the kitchen to eat something.

You return to read, and then hear you people talking outside. You listen to them for several moments and then bring your attention back to the book.
After a while you feel restless and switch on the radio to listen to some music. You continue to read for a little while, and then remember something that happened yesterday, and you start thinking about it.

When you look at your watch, you are amazed to find out that one complete hour has passed and you have hardly read anything.

This is what happens when one lacks concentration. Imagine what you could have accomplished, if you could control your attention and focus your mind!

Work that requires physical strength, such as carrying heavy loads for example, develops physical strength. Yet, it is not as exercising daily to the gym in a systematic manner. It is the same with concentration. Reading, studying and trying to pay attention to what we do, develop some of this ability, but practicing exercises diligently each day is something else, it is like training in a gym.

Inner resistance to developing concentration
In order to develop this ability we have to train our minds. Most people think that concentration is a strenuous and tiring activity, and that it involves exertion and tension, which are difficult and unpleasant.

This belief starts at an early age. Parents and teachers expect children to study, do their homework and get good grades. This brings up in the children a feeling of being coerced and forced to do something they don't like doing. When they are too often told that they are not concentrating good enough, they develop a loathing for concentration, and often for studying too.

These become associated with coercion, lack of freedom, doing something they do not like to do, and which is against their will. When they grow up, it is no wonder that their powers of concentration are weak, and they have no desire to strain their minds.

Though most people acknowledge the fact that good concentration is a great asset, yet most of them do nothing to strengthen it, mostly because they don't know how. Reading and thinking about its benefits, and about the reasons why it should be cultivated, can help to change the attitude toward it.

Concentration can be fun if approached in the right way. It should be practiced with joy, fun, optimism, and understanding of its great possibilities. It has to be approached in a positive manner and then success dawns.

The benefits of developing concentration
Sometimes you can find strong powers of concentration in yourself. When you really and earnestly want to excel in your studies, pass an important exam or solve a problem, this power becomes available to you. In such cases, it appears because of some need or desire, but developing it in a systematic way brings it under your control, and grants you the ability to use it intentionally, whenever you need it. To do so, you need to practice special exercises on a daily basis.Here is what you can gain by developing this power:-Control of your thoughts.-The ability to focus your mind.-Peace of mind.-Freedom from futile and annoying thoughts.-The ability to choose your thoughts.-Better memory.-Self-confidence.-Inner strength.-Will power.-Decisiveness.-The ability to study and comprehend more quickly.-Inner happiness.-Enhanced capability to develop psychic abilities.-More powerful and efficient use of creative visualization.-

Enhanced ability to meditate.-And much more...
Seems too good to be true? Develop the power of concentration and find out for yourself!

To your sucess!

Achieving Your Dreams and Goals

2008-10-01T18:08:00.000-07:00

Achieving Your Dreams And Goals
Turning dreams into realityBy Remez Sasson
Achieving your dreams and goals depends on several factors:

1. You should have a specific goal.

2. You have to be sure that you really want to achieve your goal.

3. You need to have a clear mental image of your goal.

4. You need a strong desire.

5. You need to disregard and reject doubts and thoughts about failure.

6. Show confidence and faith and persevere until you gain success
How many people fulfill all the above-mentioned requirements? Just a few! Most people do not know that there are some laws governing success, which should be followed.

It is so easy and simple to daydream and then say, "Well it is just a daydream. It will never come true". It is so easy to give up due to lack of faith.

Achieving your goals shouldn't be a tough ordeal. In fact, it can be fun and pleasure, if you go in the right way. It is not hard physical work that brings success. Great success does not require hard physical labor. In fact, you need to do mental work.

Visualization and repeating affirmations make up this mental work, and are important stepping stones to achieving success. When you visualize and affirm you focus and channel your energies toward your goal. Your mind is geared toward finding solutions to bring your goal into manifestation.

By thinking in a positive manner on your goal, and not letting any doubts enter your mind, your intuition starts working, you see opportunities, and you have energy at your disposal to follow your goals and dreams.
Some people listen to subliminal messages, for programming their minds for success. There are many CD's available today, which implant subliminal messages into the mind, so as to activate its power. Some people prefer to use them, because this does not require any effort on their part. It is said that these subliminal messages, which go straight to the subconscious mind, bring faster results. Maybe they do, but then you have no control on what goes into your mind.

When you visualize and affirm your goals or write down, you gain much more then just programming your mind passively with subliminal messages. The attention, intention and energy you channel toward visualizing and affirming, develop in you inner strength, concentration, willpower and self-discipline. You actively develop your inner powers.
One of the advantages of visualization and affirmations is that you can use them wherever you are, at any time, without the necessity of any external instruments. All you need is your mind.

Success appears in various ways, sometimes in a miraculous way, sometimes in an ordinary way, and sometimes through an opportunity that appears. A door opens, but you have to get in and take advantage of the opportunity.

Correctly following these methods will bring you more ambition, inspiration and motivation, which would enhance your chances of success.
Remember, there are big goals and there are many small daily goals, which visualization and affirmations can make them easier and faster to achieve.

People often erroneously think that goals mean only big goals, such as:becoming wealthy, getting an expensive car,possessing a big house with a swimming pool,building a very successful business.

The truth is that the following are no less important goals:getting to work on time,spending more time with the family,reading a book,going to see a movie,eating less.
How do you visualize and affirm?Are there any special rules and instructions?Yes, there are!Like any other subject, if you want to do it right you need to study it right. It is simple and easy to learn to achieve success through visualization and affirmations.

Dear, I see you at the top!

Quick Tips to Overcoming Low Self Esteem

2008-10-01T17:58:00.000-07:00

Make no mistake about it; overcoming a low self esteem increases your chances of success in life. The career path you choose, or the relationships that you nurture will benefit to some degree when it comes to your level of self esteem. Overcoming a low self esteem can be a long process, but I have five quick tips to get you pointed in the right direction.

1) Learn to love and accept yourself Overcoming a low self esteem starts from within. It amazes me how many people walk around who are not happy with themselves. They walk around with fake smiles, and when you ask how they are doing they pretty much lie and say everything is ok. The word love is thrown around so freely. When you love someone it means you embrace them to the fullest regardless of who they are or what they have done. It’s kind of love what they call “tough love”. It’s this same type of love that you should have when it comes to yourself. We all fall down. We all make mistakes. That’s a given. The key to overcoming a low self esteem is getting back up once you have fallen. Remember that in order for someone to care for and love you, its only right that you love yourself first.

2) Self-Appreciation Looking at self-appreciation and acceptance the two are different but they are connected. You can’t have one without the other. As you examine your life, try to highlight the areas that you shine in. Those are the areas that you should try to work at to become stronger. To many times we pick something that we are not capable of accomplishing and we try to work harder at those things. Know your niche. Know what you are good at, and focus your hard work, dedication, and persistence on things that you are familiar with and have a strong foundation in. Have appreciation or better yet praise yourself for those good qualities. Don’t spend time on criticizing yourself for the traits that you lack or are not good at.

3) Never compare yourself to others As a child growing up, I remember comparing myself to many superstar athletes. I remember fantasizing about wanting to be a certain individual. As I look back on that, those same comparisons tend to follow us as we become adults. Society tends to put expectations on us. How we should look, what we should wear, what we should drive? If you truly have the desire to overcome a low self esteem, you must learn to live your life for you and not try and please others. You must learn to never base you achievements on the accomplishments or goals of others. Set your own goals, follow your own dreams, set your own boundaries, and make your own individual statement. Don’t plagiarize, be the unique individual that your higher power has intended you to be. We all are different. Each of us has something unique to give to the world. Take a stand, be different, and let the winner inside of you come out.

4) Self bashing will kill you We are all human. Everyone will make a mistake at some point in their life. In fact some will make many more than others. We must remember that when we make mistakes, never beat yourself up. Use the mistake as a learning tool. It should be stored in memory and used to prevent us from making the same mistake in the future. Always remember that we learn from trial and error. Use that to your advantage.

5) Surround yourself with positive people Overcoming a low self esteem starts with what you see and hear. The things that are presented to you have a lasting effect. The individuals that you surrounded yourself with in the past have shaped you into the person that you are today. If you want to feel good about yourself, why spend time with someone who constantly puts themselves down. If you want to go somewhere in life, why would you spend time with someone who has no goals, dreams, or purpose in life. Surround yourself with positive people. Attend conferences and Network with people that will push and motivate you to do the impossible and accomplish goals. Seek out positive successful people and mimic their behavior. These are the first five tips in building up a low self esteem. Overcoming a low self esteem is a process that takes time and patience. There will be moments where you feel like there is no change. There will be moments when you feel as if you are wasting your time. There will come a time when you will want to associate with those same individuals that appear to be going nowhere in life. This will be the time when you must stand up, stand out, and persevere. This will be the time when you must hold on and know a brighter day and a brighter future is coming. Yes it will take time, but remember a baby doesn’t learn to walk over night. He has to crawl before he can walk. He must go through the learning curve. He must take his bumps and bruises. Finally when the child has put his time in, he is blessed with the gift to walk. Endure your bumps and bruises and in the end you will be blessed with a more happier and more successful life.

I believe you can! Just do it.

COLLEGIATE ENTREPRENUERS ORGANIZATION

2008-09-29T21:28:00.000-07:00

The Collegiate Entrepreneurs' Organization (CEO) is the premier global entrepreneurship network serving more than 500 colleges and universities.
Their mission is to inform, support, and inspire college students to be entrepreneurial and seek opportunity through enterprise creation. If you have the blood of an entrepreneur or a big idea waiting to be implemented, take advantage of what this great organization has to offer.
> www.C-E-O.org

International Study Abroad Organization

2008-09-29T21:27:00.000-07:00

For almost twenty years, International Studies Abroad (ISA) has been helping students see the world. ISA currently offers study abroad programs in Spain, Italy, France, England, Mexico, Costa Rica, Argentina, Chile, Peru, and the Dominican Republic. Each academic program is designed to help students gain a cultural understanding that can only be achieved by living and studying in another country.
As an ISA program participant you can study Spanish, French, or Italian at any proficiency level or can choose from programs taught entirely in English. Many ISA programs also offer the unique opportunity to enroll in courses with local students. As a result of the wide variety of ISA programs available, you are able to select the program that best suits your personal interests and individual academic goals. By becoming fully immersed in the culture, customs, and ideals of the host country, you gain skills, experiences, and memories that will last a lifetime.
> www.studiesabroad.com

Intern & Volunteer in Your Choice of 20+ Countries

2008-09-29T21:08:00.000-07:00

Have an inclination to see the world? Have an urge to help underprivileged nations? Have an enthusiasm for exciting excursions? If so, Global Crossroad offers programs you will want to check out.
They offer many exciting volunteer abroad and internship abroad experiences, mini-escapes and summer escapes, paid teaching programs, rural community insights and cultural immersion programs to international volunteers in 20 marvelous countries across Asia, Africa, and Latin America, with more countries becoming available soon.
Their unique and stimulating programs engage volunteers in breathtaking journeys to exotic lands. This program could very well offer you the most life-enriching experience you have ever had.www.GlobalCrossroad.com

Overcome Shyness Within 24 Hours

2008-09-29T18:25:00.003-07:00

Shy people abound everywhere. Millions of people all over the world are shy. If you look around you, you will find a few people you know that are shy.What about you? Are you a shy person? Is your being shy affecting you in your day to day activities?Today, I'm going to reveal to you how to overcome all traces of syness in you and become an incredibly magnetic person who's loved, desired and admired everywhere.I'm going to reveal 3 tips to can use to overcome all forms of shyness in you. Here they are...1) Ask Yourself Why?Anytime you find yourself in a situation where you're shy, just ask yourself why you're shy. Search within you for about a minute. You will discover that the reson why you're shy isn't worth it. You'll probably laugh at yourself and wonder why you should be shy over such flimsy reasons.2) Relax and SmileThis always works. Anytime you feel shy or you go to a place where you're normally shy to go, just take a deep breath, relax and wear a smile. Make the smile a permanent feature on your face. When people see that you're relaxed and full of smiles, they usually return such smiles and they go out of their ways to make you feel comfortable.3) Always Look GoodBefore you leave the house in the morning or anytime at all, make sure you take a second look at yourself in the mirror. If you're not very impressed with what you see, you have to make adjustments. It is after you're totally satisfied with what you see that you can then go out.Ask yourself: If someone else looks like the way you look, will you take a second look? Once you're satisfied that you look great, step out of the house and you will be surprised at how great you feel and how confident you are.These three tips are tips that has been proven to work for ages. Use them and they will surely work for you.

Overcome Shyness Within 24 Hours

2008-09-29T18:20:00.000-07:00

Career DNA

2008-09-24T18:08:00.000-07:00

Be positive (and proactive)Instead of moaning about a bothersome problem at work, figure out how to solve it. In First-Job Survival Guide: How to Thrive and Advance in Your New Career, workplace consultant Diane Decker addresses "difficult co-workers." A culture of negativity "can become contagious, like a cold or virus." So be the one to help stop it. You're "going to be viewed as a positive contributor, especially by management. What a breath of fresh air, literally, for someone to come forward and say, 'Here's what I've thought of to eliminate [the problem] and here's what some other companies are doing.'" Bonus points if your solution will "benefit the entire organization rather than just yourself."

Do more than you're paid to do Many of us already feel overloaded at work, but consider putting in "free time" as a way to boost your visibility and demonstrate skills that get overlooked in your "day job." Every workplace has big projects that need to be tackled and committees that need to be chaired, but often few employees willing to take them on. If you're licensed in CPR, consider heading the company's fledgling first aid committee and use your passion about workplace safety to enlist other volunteers. Or if you're an engineer dying to share your love of math with kids, develop a tutoring program for students in your community. You'll display strong organizational skills as well as interest in your profession's future. But be sincere -- if you're only handling the school-supplies-for-needy kids project because you're angling for a promotion, think again. Ask yourself if you'll be glad you took on the task whether or not it comes with a public thank-you.
Expand your knowledgeChicago's museums are places where people from all walks of life find common ground and expand their horizons. Most offer docent training for volunteers. Think of it as free education -- and education never hurt anyone's career. A new area of expertise makes you a more valuable and interesting employee -- and you never know who you'll meet or what opportunities might open up along the way. The Field Museum, Chicago Architecture Foundation, Chicago History Museum and DuSable Museum are among local institutions with

Internet postings for volunteers.

Take a leadership classIf your workplace does not invest in professional development, search the Web for conferences, workshops and training events to attend on your own time and dime. You can expect to pay from $200 for a two-day leadership training workshop at a suburban hotel or $1,300 for a one-day mutual fund credit analysis workshop in New York City. A management training course called "Chart Your Course" challenges female executives to do everything from swab the deck to captain a tall ship. Cost? About $3,000. Anticipated return on the investment? Enhanced resume, job performance and contacts. How to let the bosses at work know about your initiative? When you return to your job, offer to present a 15-minute mini-workshop to share what you've learned with colleagues. It may change the bosses' minds about the value of professional development -- and get you noticed as a self-starter and team player.

Expand your circlePromise yourself that you'll do at least ONE thing each month that will help you expand your professional "circle of friends." "People think of networking as trying to get a job or get a lead as opposed to building up relationships," says Diane Decker, workplace consultant and founder of Mount Prospect-based Quality Transitions. Even if you're thrilled with your job or company, get out there and make networking a priority. "If we're just staying within ourselves, not considering other options, it doesn't help us think about new possibilities."

Decker, author of First-Job Survival Guide: How to Thrive and Advance in Your New Career (JIST Books, $12.95), suggests attending a professional meeting of a group not in your field, but where a subject you care about (perhaps communications skills or integrated marketing) will be discussed. It'll provide you with a new way to learn and think about the topic. Or devise a system of regularly following up with contacts you've already made. Invite one out for coffee or lunch. It'll do wonders for your professional self-confidence.

Manage prioritiesCommit to creating and maintaining your work and life priorities. And realize, says career and life transition coach Leslie Godwin, that "work-life balance" may be tough to achieve. "I believe we have certain priorities and we need a way to keep those priorities straight," says Godwin, author of From Burned Out to Fired Up: A Woman's Guide to Rekindling the Passion and Meaning in Work and Life (Health Communi-cations Inc., $13.95). Having these "guiding principles" helps "reduce those distractions that make your life a big checklist." So make your gym workouts, your son's basketball game, and dinner with the girls just as sacred as your office's quarterly sales meeting. The business case? "People will stay at their job longer, be more productive, and create a more positive atmosphere in the workplace," says Godwin, as employee turnover is demoralizing -- and expensive. "There's a huge downside to having a workplace that doesn't allow people to have a good quality of life."

Boost your imageTake a good look in the mirror. It sounds harsh, but if you wish to be recognized as a professional, you must be honest about the image you project. Image and wardrobe consultants have helped many a CEO and television anchor. But did you know that Chicago's large department stores provide similar services at no charge? (Phone ahead to make sure there is no minimum purchase requirement.) Whether assembling an entire wardrobe or helping you find the perfect power suit, these shopping experts will give advice, pre-select items and have them waiting for you. They'll also keep in touch when new items come in that would compliment your existing wardrobe. Call to inquire about personal shopping services and schedule an appointment. Other fashion experts recommend cleaning your closet to find new ways of using what you already have. Old favorites often find new life when you mix up what's on your shelves or make a trip to the shoeshine or tailor for repairs and alterations.

2008-07-31T18:12:00.000-07:00

"Purpose, Passion, Persistence Pull-ups"

To help you put some fuel (i.e., persistence) behind your passion, I want you to answer the following questions (without bias, judgment, or concern about what others might think, or how you might feel later). Just focus.

If God was sitting right next to you and said, "I want to use you, to work with you and through you in order for you to build my kingdom in heaven and serve others here on earth."

1.) Would you accept His offer?

If yes, what if God responded, "If you accept this, I'm willing to give YOU the choice of how you would best want to serve Me and others (in any way your heart desires based on you unique gifts)."

2.) How would you choose to serve Him and humanity?

3.) In what setting (type of environment) would you want serve in (be specific)?

4.) If money and time was not a concern, would you be willing to serve in this way and in this type of setting for free and forever?

5.) Why would you want to serve in this way?

After you write your answer(s), compare your responses to your purpose (i.e., calling). Are your responses consistent with your purpose? If so, you've hit your passion. You are on the road to living your purpose. If your responses are not consistent with your purpose, you have to reassess your gifts (i.e., talents, skills, and abilities), as well as your motives behind using them.

Stepping Out in Faith

2008-07-31T18:07:00.000-07:00

I’ll be the first to admit that I’m not much of a risk taker. Honestly speaking, I think this has a lot to do with my fear of making the wrong decisions. I’m currently trying to de-condition my pessimistic ways of thinking, so that I may begin seeing the hypothetical glass as being half full, rather than half empty.

My father always says that the people who take risks are the ones with the best stories to tell, and when I think about it, he’s absolutely right. Success rarely falls into people’s laps; successful people have usually worked hard and have taken many risks to get to where they are.

Uncertainty and fear are usually a college student’s worst enemies because they hinder us from reaching our full potential. We’re imprisoned by the question, "What if I’m wrong?" This is our biggest mistake. Rather than dwelling on the possibilities of failure, we should concentrate on the benefits of success. Therefore, we should be asking, "What if I’m right?" If we don’t believe ourselves, neither will anyone else. So in order to achieve our vision, we must believe in them first.

Risks are full of lessons that impact our growth and development, as well as our perceptions. Analyzing reasons for wanting to do something should determine whether it’s worth the risk. If risks are motivated by a personable passion, then we must learn to step out on faith. When you feel something churning in your soul, and your heart and mind are in accord, faith allows you to believe in the intangible. If this feeling is present, it’s almost impossible to avoid taking the risk.

Accomplishments that stem from taking risks build our confidence and willingness to step out on faith. There’s nothing more rewarding than having our efforts result in achievement. Though all risks will not be rewarding, we should appreciate the experience and walk away with something positive.

When taking risks, always remember:

1. Analyze your reasons for wanting to take a risk. . . your purpose should not be self-centered, but reflective of all who will be affected.

2. Consider the best and worst case scenarios. . .and if the rewards outweigh the regrets, GO FOR IT!

3. Don’t allow your dreams to be swept away -- You can’t let yourself or anyone else talk you out of your vision. The most influential people in life have been courageous risk takers.

4. If you decide to take a risk, focus on the positive. . .Believe it, and you will achievement it.

5. Be persistent and confident when taking a risk. . . Conduct formal or informal research using available resources, aggressively pursue what you believe in, and STEP OUT ON FAITH!

6. If you find that you’re running the wrong race, realize that God allows U-turns. . . Even if you’re not always right, you get a spiritual "A" for effort.

7. Understand that every path you choose involves a learning experience. . .Even mistakes will inevitably lead to valuable lessons in other aspects of your life.

8. TALK TO GOD. . .ask and you shall receive!

Above all, remember that in order to get the best fruit in life, you must be willing to go out on a limb; or you can just sit around and wait until they [fruit] fall off the tree (rotten and spoiled).

Please come back again, and next time share us with a friend. Live purposefully.

Stepping Out on Faith

2008-07-31T17:38:00.001-07:00

I’ll be the first to admit that I’m not much of a risk taker. Honestly speaking, I think this has a lot to do with my fear of making the wrong decisions. I’m currently trying to de-condition my pessimistic ways of thinking, so that I may begin seeing the hypothetical glass as being half full, rather than half empty.
My father always says that the people who take risks are the ones with the best stories to tell, and when I think about it, he’s absolutely right. Success rarely falls into people’s laps; successful people have usually worked hard and have taken many risks to get to where they are.
Uncertainty and fear are usually a college student’s worst enemies because they hinder us from reaching our full potential. We’re imprisoned by the question, "What if I’m wrong?" This is our biggest mistake. Rather than dwelling on the possibilities of failure, we should concentrate on the benefits of success. Therefore, we should be asking, "What if I’m right?" If we don’t believe ourselves, neither will anyone else. So in order to achieve our vision, we must believe in them first.
Risks are full of lessons that impact our growth and development, as well as our perceptions. Analyzing reasons for wanting to do something should determine whether it’s worth the risk. If risks are motivated by a personable passion, then we must learn to step out on faith. When you feel something churning in your soul, and your heart and mind are in accord, faith allows you to believe in the intangible. If this feeling is present, it’s almost impossible to avoid taking the risk.
Accomplishments that stem from taking risks build our confidence and willingness to step out on faith. There’s nothing more rewarding than having our efforts result in achievement. Though all risks will not be rewarding, we should appreciate the experience and walk away with something positive.
When taking risks, always remember:
1. Analyze your reasons for wanting to take a risk. . . your purpose should not be self-centered, but reflective of all who will be affected.
2. Consider the best and worst case scenarios. . .and if the rewards outweigh the regrets, GO FOR IT!
3. Don’t allow your dreams to be swept away -- You can’t let yourself or anyone else talk you out of your vision. The most influential people in life have been courageous risk takers.
4. If you decide to take a risk, focus on the positive. . .Believe it, and you will achievement it.
5. Be persistent and confident when taking a risk. . . Conduct formal or informal research using available resources, aggressively pursue what you believe in, and STEP OUT ON FAITH!
6. If you find that you’re running the wrong race, realize that God allows U-turns. . . Even if you’re not always right, you get a spiritual "A" for effort.
7. Understand that every path you choose involves a learning experience. . .Even mistakes will inevitably lead to valuable lessons in other aspects of your life.
8. TALK TO GOD. . .ask and you shall receive!
Above all, remember that in order to get the best fruit in life, you must be willing to go out on a limb; or you can just sit around and wait until they [fruit] fall off the tree (rotten and spoiled).
Schannon is a RealWorld University student intern and senior public relations major at Florida A&M University in Tallahassee, Florida. She is a native of Detroit, Michigan.
Thank you for visiting RealWorld University where success is the only major. Please come back again, and next time share us with a friend. Live purposefully.

Study Habit Essentials

2008-07-11T04:06:00.000-07:00

Study Habit Essentials
By Veronica Toney

Ever been in the middle of a test and suddenly overcome by an intense gut-wrench? It's the one that says, "I swear I knew the answer to this question yesterday," but today you stare at the question trying to will your brain to rewind 12 hours. This brain freeze is the result of memorization. Many times we think we've really learned something when all we've really done is memorize it. Simple changes, such as where you study, when you study and whom you study with can prevent these meltdowns.

Habitat Habit
Environment has a big impact on learning. If you use one area for everything, it will be hard to differentiate study time from hang-out time. But, if you designate a space for studying, the brain will know you mean business. You should also be able to control distractions in this area. If the TV, radio and telephone are too tempting, your bedroom might not be the best place to study. Try a public library or quiet coffeehouse where talking will be at a minimum.
There's a reason why school is held during the day. It's because the brain functions better during daylight hours, so study during the day or early evening. Also, set aside a specific time for studying. Studying at the same time everyday will increase retention. Soon the brain will get the message that this time is learning time.

Distraction Subtraction
Distractions not only come from the environment, but also from you. Wandering minds, boredom and homework overload can all add hours to the study process. An easy way to tame a wandering mind is to release extraneous thoughts. Keep a pad of paper handy and write down excess thoughts for later. Spending too much time on one subject is boring. Mix it up! Start with short tasks and then move to bigger ones. Don't spend more than two hours in a sitting on any one subject. This ensures that your brain has time to digest what it's just learned.
Everyone likes rewards, including you. Set a goal for each study session. This can be pausing at a certain page number when reading or completing a certain number of problems when doing math. Once you reach your goal, reward yourself with a snack. Knowing that something good awaits you will increase concentration while working.

Boredom Forum
The saying 'two heads are better than one' also applies to studying. Studying in groups helps connect the dots. Putting multiple people's notes together will give you a more complete reference guide. However, while group studying is beneficial, it can also be detrimental. One way to guarantee the benefits of learning in a group is to study with an odd number of people. This ensures that there is always a tie-breaker. A simple way to make sure everyone participates is to assign everyone a job. For example, assign each person a chapter that he or she is responsible for leading during the meeting. One of the most important jobs is the task monitor. This person makes sure the group stays on task by squashing off-topic discussions. Another key position is the snack director. This person coordinates the brain food and decides when the food should be distributed.

Study groups are fun ways to learn, but they should not be the only time you review a subject. Before each study group, you should prepare by reading the relevant material and think of questions to ask. This way the group reinforces what you've already learned.
The key to successful studying is consistency. Location, timing and frequency all promote learning and prevent the stomachache that comes after a night of intense memorization

Millionnaire Recipe - Panacea to Lasting Wealth

2008-07-11T04:02:00.000-07:00

By Robert Kiyosaki, author of the #1 NY Times bestseller Rich Dad Poor Dad

For Millions of People, Graduation Means Joining the Rat Race
1.3 million college graduates will exit academia for the work force this year, armed with a sheepskin and laden with debt. This debt, $22,221 on averageâ€¦ as reported by Student Monitor LLC, a leading market research firm, represents both credit card debt and student loans. Debt that, according to that company's survey stats, will take eight years to pay off. And, in most cases, there's more where that came from. It'll take the shape of car loans, revolving credit and even mortgages.

In Rich Dad's world,
is that vicious cycle of living paycheck to paycheckâ€¦ and the conventional wisdom that getting a good education, good grades and a safe, secure job (with "good benefits") will lead to "the good life." Or, at least, a steady pay check so that there's money to make monthly payments on expenses and debt.
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These new grads are in good company: millions of Americans contribute their fair share to the $100+ billions in credit card debt ($46.6 billion with Capital One Financial alone) in the US. Debt that, in many cases, will take decades to pay off.
Nearly 90% of college grads surveyed in 2004* reported that they were "prepared" for the responsibility of credit cardsâ€¦ over half (56%) of them didn't know the APR (annual percentage rate of interest) on those cards. In this case, ignorance may not be bliss.

So what is Rich Dad's answer to the Rat Race dilemma so prevalent in our society? That's easy: Financial Education. And we're not alone in that mission. In mid-April of 2005, the Federal Reserve unveiled a new website that Fed chairman Alan Greenspan calls "an online tool that offers students easier access to a wealth of information in the areas of economics, banking and financial services."

In 2002, Greenspan was quoted as saying that a good foundation in math would improve financial literacy and "help prevent younger people from making poor financial decisions that can take years to overcome." He added, "People need to be able to read, write and speak basic financial concepts in order to make informed investment decisions."

"The challenges Americans face - with social security, consumer debt, bankruptcy law changes, and retirement planning - don't begin at age 65. They begin at age five, when kids enter school." - Robert Kiyosaki
Sources: Student Monitor research; MBNA and Capital One Financial reports; The New York Times

Lessons for Graduates:
Work to learnâ€¦ not to earn: Sometimes a pay check is less important than the lessons you get from working.
Who's giving you advice?: Most people struggle financially because they take advice from the wrong peopleâ€¦ like sales people or poor people.
Learn humility: When your ego gets in the way, you miss the lesson.
Know the difference between assets and liabilities - and good debt and bad debt
What words did you learn in school?: You learned the words for your major, but did you learn the words of investing?
Challenge yourself to CHOOSE to be rich: Riches is a state of mind.

Find Your Passion and You will find a JOB

2008-07-11T03:58:00.000-07:00

Find Your Passion and You Will Find a Job

Do you know the #1 reason why students are turned down for jobs?

It's not because they lack specific skills or have too many 'C' grades. The reason is because they lack focus. Employers know that Generation Y (your generation) is famous for job hoping. Job hoping costs companies hundreds of thousands of dollars in wasted training every year. Employers want applicants who know exactly what they are looking for in a career.
Fortune Magazine did a study proving that employees who are passionate about their work are 127 times more productive. Who would you want to hire, a student who is fired up about the job opportunity or a student who has sent their resume to a few dozen companies hoping one would bite?

The best way to increase your odds of getting hired and finding a job you truly enjoy is to start with what fires you up. What are you passionate about?

Remember, your best lies in your passion.

Eghebi Chukwuekwu.

Myths About Choosing a Major - Surest transit to blossom in career pursuit

2008-07-11T03:52:00.001-07:00

Myths About Choosing a Major

By Prof. Joe Martin

"You can lead a student to college but you can't make him think."
This is particularly true when it comes to choosing a major.
Choosing a major can be one of the most stressful times in a student's life. Why? Because most students feel like they'll face the firing line if they make the wrong decision.
"Should I choose what I like or should I choose a major that offers the most money?"
"Should I choose the easiest major or should I major in what my parents think is the best major?"
Decisions, decisions, decisions, when will the stress ever stop?
Believe it or not, you're not the only one stressed. Surveys show that the "average American worker" will change jobs five times before they retire. If this is true, why are college students put under so much pressure to choose the "right major"?
As a professor who advises many students on their choice of a major, and as a former student who changed his own major and almost gave his father a heart attack, I would like to offer the following tips in choosing your major:
1. Major in success, not a degree field.
That's the reason we created this site. Most students are unhappy or unsatisfied with college because they major in minor things. When potential employers asked me about my college major, I always told them that I majored in "success" and minored in public relations (my actual major). (By the way, my first major was computer science). Majoring in success means, regardless of the field you choose, your major won't determine whether you will succeed in the "real world." Instead, focus on making yourself the best person you can be (personally and professionally), regardless of your major. Believe me, if you fail in life, it won't be because of your major.
2. Choose a major only if it will lead you to a job that you would be willing to work for FREE!
A recent survey reported that 85% of working Americans would change professions if they won the lotto tomorrow. Some might ask, "Who wouldn't?" My answer would be, someone who loves what they do. And I'm one of them. Choosing a major is a lot easier than most students think, but it becomes difficult when society, professors, parents, friends, and circumstances pull us in different directions. Then we find ourselves making decisions out of desperation rather than inspiration.
3. Don't choose a major based on the dollar value of the major.
Yes, you do need to make a decent living when you graduate. Yes, doctors, lawyers, engineers (and probably 90% of all majors) make more money than teachers do. Yes, your parents want you to be on your own and self-supporting. But what's more important, your happiness or pleasing others? You've heard the saying that "if you do what you love, the money will follow." The reason you've heard it so much is because it's true. Even if you choose a major because of the financial promises, how far do you really think you'll go in a job or career you don't particularly like? That's right, not far. Purpose proceeds profits, and if you pursue your passion, the profits will follow. Trust me on this one.
4. Work backwards by choosing courses first, then choosing your major.
That's how I managed to change my major from computer science to public relations. I was doing extremely well academically (3.5 GPA) in computer science, but I wasn't having a lot of fun. I just couldn't imagine myself programming computers for the rest of my life (that's no knock against computer people). So I started sifting through my college catalog looking for courses that seemed somewhat interesting to me. I read each course description and wrote down the names of the most interesting ones. At the end of my exploration of courses, I looked for the major where most of the courses came from and viola! I picked public relations. I don't think this is the best approach, but it worked for me.
5. Don't try to make a square peg fit into a round hole.
If you discover what your true passion and personal interests are and your college or university doesn't offer it as a major or doesn't offer any courses in it, either start looking for a another college or start taking some correspondence courses. Look for anything that will engage you in what you love. Don't let your college catalog limit your options, and don't choose a major because it's "close" to what you want. "Close" just means you're going to be "close" to being truly happy with your major. Would you settle for a mate that's "close" to what you're looking for or exactly what you're looking for?
6. Talk to professionals who are having fun in the career you would like to have.
You can either buy the experience or borrow it. I suggest you borrow the experience by conducting informational interviews with people who are working in the kind of job that you want. Ask them for advice on the best major for their field. See what they would do if they could go back to college and do it all over again. Just make sure you don't talk to an "85 percent-er" -- you know, the ones who don't like their jobs. Find someone who loves their job and loves to talk about it.
7. Don't choose a major because it's easier.
Will you graduate? Yes. Will you make good grades? Probably. Will you graduate on time? Perhaps. Will you master the necessary skills and make the necessary contacts to get into the field you really want to pursue? No.
One of the major benefits of college is the opportunity to network. By avoiding the "tough" major that you really like, you're denying yourself the opportunity to network with the professors in that field and the contacts they've established. It's not just who you know, but who they know and who knows you. Life is simple, either you pay now and play later or play now and pay later. Either way, you're going to pay. Although parents and professors make choosing a major seem like it's one of the most important decisions in your life, it's not. There are many other more important decisions to be made in the "real world" after you graduate, like marriage, your home, your career, children, your faith, your health, etc.
If you would like offer our RWU audience advice on how you chose your dream major, please write us and tell us about it. We would love to hear from you. Thanks for visiting RealWorld University, come again and tell a friend.
Live purposefully. God bless.

An extract from Focusedstudent.com

Attaining your biggest dreams

2008-07-09T03:50:00.000-07:00

AYou have a dream, so what’s next? How do you bring your dream to pass? What do you do when you hit insurmountable roadblocks? Like the captain of a ship in the midst of a brutal storm, careerguidetransit will safely guides you through the rough waters to your port of destiny.

You were born to win and we will inspire you to take your life out of neutral and get busy about fulfilling your God-given vision!

I Have a Dream!If you have a dream, or if you want to discover your vision, remember this: God loves dreamers.

He gives visions, and He is attracted to people who love to dream big.
Don’t forget that you are unique, special, and irreplaceable.
You are not meant to be like anyone else.
When you decide to be part of the norm, your destiny is shortchanged. God wants you to stir up the gift He has given you and to develop it to the fullest.
Take a Lesson From The Winners and Doers…What is the difference between the dreamer who realizes his dream, and the dreamer whose dream becomes a nightmare of unfulfilled hopes?

The dreamer who succeeds is someone who has a clear vision and acts on it. As long as a person can hold on to his vision, then there is always a chance for him to move out of his present circumstances and toward the fulfillment of his purpose.

Living Your Life’s Vision!If you feel trapped, underemployed, or underutilized in your job; if you own your own business and want it to grow; if you want to know how to pursue your goals in life; if you are the leader of an organization or group; if your children are grown or in school now, and you are considering reviving old interests, or wherever you are in life right now, my desire is that you will be inspired, motivated, and challenged to get back in the race toward your dream, to get back the passion toward your goal.

I want you to achieve your greatest in God’s purpose for your life. I want you to get off the rocking horse and find a living stallion— your life’s vision.
To do this, you need to understand and put into practice principles that transcend current trends and even conventional wisdom.
In this way, your success will not be dependent on the state of the economy, what careers are currently in demand, or what the job market is like. You will not be hindered by what people think you are capable of or your initial lack of resources.

Take Your Life Out of Neutral!You are the sum total of the choices and decisions you make every day. You can choose to stay where you are, or you can choose to pursue your dream. I challenge you to stop making excuses for why you can’t accomplish what you were born to do.
Take your life out of neutral.

You possess the power and the responsibility to determine your future and destiny. Remember, you were created to accomplish something that no one else can accomplish.
Never expect anything less than the highest thing you could go after. Don’t let people tell you, "You shouldn’t have high expectations." Dream big.
No matter how challenging it gets, don’t give up, because your vision is the key to fulfilling your life’s purpose.

Action Steps

Write down your biggest dreams
Ask your self the ultimate question "HOW" (the utmost tool in bringing your dreams into reality)
Draw out a "DO PLAN" (the working out of your dreams)

email: gospelchuks@gmail (outline what you want to pursue and I will give you an upthrust to your dream reality)

SEE YOU AT THE TOP!