Invest in Yourself First

Investing in yourself is about the best investment you can make.

The reason for this is when you invest in yourself, you are increasing your true personal worth. When you make investments in savings debentures, bonds, stocks, property or anything else that might give you are return on your money, you may be increasing your personal financial worth, but this does not necessarily mean you are increasing your true personal worth.

Your true personal worth transcends your financial worth, just the same as a person who learns how to fish is worth more than the fish that are caught. The values are different. You know that you can eat the fish and survive, but cannibalism is not a consideration, so a better illustration is a chicken. A chicken lays eggs which can be eaten, or hatched to produce more chickens. Therefore to kill the chicken is not necessarily the best idea if you are hungry. It is better to get the chicken to lay eggs and eat the eggs. Because one chicken is worth many eggs. Similarly, you don't kill the goose that lays the golden egg.

Investing in yourself is how you generate true personal wealth, because, even if you were to lose all your material wealth, you would still have the knowledge to overcome your adversity, survive, and become wealthy once again.

One of the problems that occurs when people obtain material wealth, without having to learn how to obtain it, is if they tend to lose it; this is because they were poor and not wealthy at all, and they will most likely remain poor unless they acquire the knowledge of how to be rich. If you do not know how to do something, you have to learn, and if you haven't learnt what to do, then you will not be able to do whatever it is that you need to do. When it comes to accumulating material wealth, you need to learn how to do it, just in case someone takes it away from you. And, never think that you cannot lose the wealth you have, because the people who are most likely to lose wealth are the ones who did not earn it, or learn how to obtain it and then keep it.

Sometimes, events can be such that you get caught with your pants down and unexpectedly find yourself losing what you might have spent a few decades accumulating. This can happen through marriage breakdowns or through bad business relationships or a series of disasters that were out of your control, like natural disasters, criminal sabotage, government decisions, and global economic factors. However, if you have truly invested in yourself, you will overcome your circumstances and bounce back very quickly. Once you have learnt how to do something like accumulate wealth and understand the principles required, then you will find your true value.

Value is something that is always recognized and appreciated for what it is. Knowledge is the most valuable thing you can possess, providing it is experiential knowledge. People of value will always be able to get what they are worth.

You might think that you are undervalued, but so are diamonds which have not been found, recognized for their value and cut. If you think you are undervalued, then you probably haven't learnt sufficient to be able to demonstrate your true value to other people. You may need some other skills that you have not yet possessed. In which case, you are probably like a diamond that has not been cut and polished.

One of the best ways to learn how to get the many facets of your true value to shine is to invest in yourself and find a mentor who can guide you in what is good, right and true for you. What you need is a source that will help you to find your true value by investing in yourself.

Happy Riches knows how to show you how. Happy Riches also runs an educational membership club which has a focus on people becoming healthy, wealthy and wise. Happy Riches can be found at http://www.happyrichesclub.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Happy_Riches

How to Get a Photographic Memory Fast

The adage that knowledge is power rings true ever more. Companies are looking for people who are intelligent, and able to apply this intelligence to their work. Having a photographic memory comes into play here, as the advantages of being able to recall every minute detail as if you had the object right in front of your eyes is a skill that cannot be more strongly emphasized.

This is an extremely useful tool to have, and one that is not quite that easy to pick up. If it was, everyone would have it, and where is the advantage in that? However, you too can start on the path to acquire a photographic memory with these 2 simple methods, also known as the visualization and association method. Once you have mastered this, you will find a significant improvement in your memory, and you will be halfway there on getting a photographic memory!

Method 1: Associate hard words with easy ones

Ever had a list of foreign mambo jumbo staring up at you from a piece of paper? Worried about forgetting the jargon that could make or break a meeting or a presentation for the big boss? This method will ensure that you will never again have problems in keeping those tough words rolling off the tip of your tongue, making you appear to be the expert on the topic. All this involves is breaking the word down into similar sounding words that you use in everyday life. For example, the word eschew can be broken down into similar sounding words of “a shoe”!

Method 2: Associating hard words with Images

This method can be used in addition to, or as a standalone from method 1. All it requires is an imagination, and the ability to assign a picture to a word. Using the earlier example of eschew, you could imagine yourself ducking to avoid a shoe being thrown. This will help you to remember both the word, eschew, and its meaning.

Often times, there is a very simple explanation for our lack of ability in recalling information – we never learnt it in the first place. Sure, we’ve heard it said once, or seen it on paper, but it did not register into our long term memory. By using these 2 methods, you will be able to impress the information into your mind and you will not have any trouble in recalling the words or information that you need to anymore!

http://www.photographic-memory.org/

How to Pass an Interview!

Nine Steps to Interview Success

These days, the average person changes their career seven to ten times within their life span. This means that the average person is going to send out several hundred copies of their resumes in their lifetime…and yes, they’re going to have to go through several interviews in their lifetime.

Scary, huh?

If the interview process makes you nervous, well, you’re not alone. But right now, it’s time to stop worrying. You’re about to learn the nine vital steps for interview success…how to pass any interview you face!

Step 1: Research the Company that you are being interviewed for:

It’s a pretty obvious trick: research the company you’re interviewing for and be prepared to show off what you know about them. Way too many people show up for an interview without having the first idea about what the particular company stands for. The truth is that you should know at least something about the company’s mission, its general business process, and its particular needs. Know how long the company has been in business and whether they’re financially sound and profitable. Research the company with a view to determine what you can do to help them achieve their goals. Be prepared to say specifically how your personal goals and experience are going to be valuable to the company.

Step 2: Know your resume:

In virtually any interview situation, you’re interviewer is going to ask you questions about your resume, about your experiences and even about the quirky stuff you’ve listed to pad it out. You should read your resume over and over, and know the details of it because you never know when you’re going to be asked about your chess playing experience or your interest in literature. Make sure there’s nothing detailed on your resume that you’re uncomfortable talking about.

Step 3: Dress for Success:

Appearance can become nine-tenths of the law if you don’t pay attention to it. For every interview, make sure you wear garments that are professional and appropriate the position that you’re seeking. Your clothes should be comfortable, clean, and pressed. Don’t create a crisis for yourself on the morning of the interview when it comes to your clothes. Pick out your outfit and make sure it’s ready the night before your big interview.

Step 4: Make sure that you wake up early and are on time:

Just as you shouldn’t let your wardrobe run you down on the big day, you shouldn’t let traffic or public transport delays upset you either. It’s also crucial that you don’t get lost on the way so have directions –and confirm them if you have to – well before you set off. These days, with MapQuest, you have no excuses. Make sure you leave the house early, and plan to be at the interview at least ten minutes early.

Step 5: Review interview questions:

Interviews may be pretty scary but they’re also pretty predictable. It doesn’t take much to predict the basic questions you’re going to be asked. Here are some examples:

Tell me about yourself?

Tell me about a time you failed miserably in your career?

What is your greatest strength/weakness?

Where do you see yourself five years from now?

What are your salary expectations for this position?

Why should we hire YOU?

Prepare sample answers to these questions. Memorize a couple of key responses. Remember that no matter who you’re interviewing for or with, if it’s a job interview, the basic focus is going to be on your experience, your goals, and your potential to contribute to the company. Be sure you can argue a case for yourself on these key points.

Step 6: Let the interviewer lead you:

The interviewer is the one running the interview but you can set the pace. Wait for the interviewer to ask the questions. Take your time to listen to the questions. Give your answers carefully; make sure they are considered. That said, each of your answers should be given with an energetic and enthusiastic voice. Above all, smile and enjoy the interview. Be courteous and always thank the interviewer at the end of the interview. Tell them that you’re well qualified for the job, and that you will prove it to them upon being hired. Don’t be afraid to be confident in yourself and your abilities.

Step 7: Ask for the next step:

The interviewer will ask most of the questions but you will have a chance to get a word in shortly. Find out what will happen next, and what you should expect after the interview. When should you be hearing from them about the job? When will the hiring decision be made?

Step 8: Send a thank you note:

Everything you do regarding your interview has consequences. Just as a good sales person follows up on a lead, after each interview you attend you should be sure to send a thank you note to the employer and the interviewer, thanking them for their time. Going the extra mile in this way will generally show that you’re qualified for the position, or at least that you’re a serious and diligent person.

Step 9: Follow-up:

Of course, sending a thank you note is something you do immediately after the interview. A reasonable period after, usually a week or two at least, you should take one further step to follow up. Call the company offices and ask if you can speak to the hiring manager who interviewed you. You can start the conversation by asking if they received your note. Then you can ask them if any decisions were made and, if not, approximately when you should call back or otherwise expect to hear from them. Don’t be pushy; above all, be polite and courteous, even if a response is not forthcoming.

WHEN YOU’RE HIRED…THINGS TO THINK ABOUT…

If you are hired, remember that you need to stand up to your promises. You should always be putting 110% effort. An unspoken trick to get comfortable in interviews and to always get the job you want: in every job you accept, make yourself shine. Regardless of how much you are paid or how much responsibility and work you’re given, take the initiative to do more. The more you’re prepared to do for your job, the future each of your jobs will take you. Don’t worry about being rewarded, just keep working hard, and it will pay off. I guarantee it.

http://www.zohrasarwari.com/

Tips For Problem Solving

There are many situations, both in our personal and professional life, which throw up problems that need specific attention. Think about it, we solve problems and make decisions everyday at home, at work, at play, even at the grocery store! So, are there any ways of doing it any better than we do already?

Some problems and decisions are very challenging and demand a lot of thought, emotion, and research, while others can be very simple to deal with. But if you keep the following tips that we've put together for you in mind and apply them, you will find it very easy to solve any kind of problem that you are up against.

1. Positive attitude: Begin with a positive attitude. When we are faced with a problem, our typical reaction is to wonder why such a thing has happened to us. Don't waste your time in recriminations and self-pity; accept that there is a problem and look at it as a learning opportunity. Do not be afraid of making mistakes. Sometimes, in order to find the best solution to a given problem, you may have to go through a hundred bad solutions first. The most important thing is to accept that it is OK to make mistakes. How else would you learn otherwise?

2. Open mind: When you are faced with a problem, approach the task with an open mind. Don't assume that there is only one answer and that you already know it. Often, there are multiple solutions to any given problem. Stop for a second and take the time to understand what the problem is truly about before applying a solution. Be open to all possibilities.

3. Global view: Things often look very different when we look at them from a vantage point. Think of it as a "helicopter" view. By looking at the big picture, you might actually be able to understand the problem in its entirety and right context. Once you have done that, you can determine the best course of action.

4. Smaller chunks: If the problem you are facing appears too huge for you to handle all at once, do not fear. Try and break it up into smaller, easily manageable chunks. A problem is like a jigsaw puzzle - when you are confronted with a 1000 pieces, that you have to put together, you can easily feel overwhelmed and give up. But try taking small sections of the puzzle at a time and soon you will have solved the entire problem.

5. Rational thinking: Never approach a problem when you are angry or upset. Emotions or stress can cloud your thinking and judgment. It is best that problems are dealt with logically. Take a step back, calm yourself and think through the problem instead of springing into action when you are all wound up.

Often, working oneself into a frenzy over a problem poses a large hurdle in the way of its resolution. Use your energy thinking about the solutions instead.

Hi, I'm Akhil Shahani, a serial entrepreneur who wants to help you succeed. If you like to work smart, check out http://www.SmartEntrepreneur.net It's full of articles and resources to help you start and grow your business successfully. Please visit us & download our special "Freebie of The Month" at http://www.smartentrepreneur.net/freebie-of-the-month.html

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Akhil_Shahani

Creating Your Vision

Creating Your Vision

"Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one" Albert Einstein

I feel that one of the most important ingredients in your formula for success is having a clearly defined and vivid vision of where you want to be. At first the “how” is not that important, you need to create a vision that gets you so excited that you develop the mentality that you will stop at nothing to get what you want. Many people first focus on the how than very quickly find themselves overwhelmed with too many details and just as quickly talk them selves out of pursuing their goals. You have to take a leap of faith and trust that the how will be shown to you as you go along. Do you remember the days as a kid with dreams of epic proportions? What happened those dreams? You got older and domesticated by a society that says that having those dreams is foolish. That’s nonsense, why wouldn’t you want to accomplish the things that even as a kid you knew would make you happy. I encourage you to dream like you once used to.

“Shoot for the moon…even if you

Miss you’ll still be amongst them stars”- Beanie Sigel(rap artist)

One way I keep myself motivated and keep my vision alive is through my picture book. In my book I have everything that I want and every morning I look at it to remind me what I want in life. Go right now and get some magazines and cut out every picture of the things you want and places you want to visit, don’t be thinking if you can actually get those things now, dare to dream. Remember your mind thinks in pictures, look at your picture book until in becomes as vivid as possible in the theater of your mind. Your mind cant tell the difference between something you remember or something you experience in real time.

Visualization Exercises(meditation):

(Please read this whole section, I will explain why almost all self help fails to produce the results people want)

You can think of meditation as conscious sleeping. Just as you sleep to gain energy for your daily functioning, meditation is conscious sleeping that gives you all the energy(creative abilities) you need for what you intend to accomplish.

I also use lucid dreaming as another way to increase creativity, I will soon write a hub on lucid dreaming.(Lucid dreaming is when you actually become aware in your dream that you are dreaming, once properly trained you can control your dreams)

Use the power of meditation to help you achieve your goals. Strive to everyday meditate one minute for each year of your current age. I am 24, so everyday I try and meditate at least 24 minutes. If you are new to meditation check out this website on transcendental meditation .There are many techniques find something that feels good to you.

Quantum Mind Power

Daily Routine:

1. Pick a nice comfortable place where to meditate. Have an intention on what you plan to meditate on before hand. Ex. A destination you want to visit.

2. Find a comfortable position to sit. Sitting on a chair or on the floor, does not really matter as long as it is comfortable for you.

3. Cross your legs, clasp your hands together.(this helps make your own energy circuit and gives stability)

4.Close your eyes, than stop inner and outer chatter.

5. Relax, begin thinking that your whole body is becoming extremely relaxed.

6. Eyes should be closed.

7. You will notice that your mind is full of many thoughts. Your mind will than begin to ask questions to those thoughts and try and come up with answers whether they are known or unknown. This is why your mind(ego) can be your enemy if it mostly thinks in negative terms.

8. You will need to transcend your mind and thoughts in order to meditate. Your mind and thoughts are what separate you from your higher self, you can also think of your higher self as your subconscious mind don't worry about the labels.

9. You transcend your mind by simply observing your breath. Don't inhale/exhale consciously just observe your natural breathing. Don't go behind your thoughts, if you catch your self drifting just always come back to your breathing. Slowly the amount of thoughts reduces and your breathing becomes thinner and shorter. If you are able to keep all your focus on your breath, you will get to the point of no thought and no breath. This state of no thought is your connection to your divine being and energy body. The more you meditate the more benefits and energy that you will receive. Your own self awareness and consciousness will also expand.

10. You will feel a very pleasurable feeling meditating. If you feel any discomfort in your body these can be possible areas of disease or illness. If you meditate everyday you will heal your body naturally.

11. Now that you are in a state of no thought and total relaxation. Begin to think only on your intention. Remember whatever you think now is in a state that will be impregnated directly into your subconscious. It is incredibly important that you don't color any of your thoughts with any lack,limitation,dis belief or doubt. This is why almost all self help material does not produce the results people expect. Wishing for more money(or anything else) never works, the thought of wanting more money also has the thought of doubt attached to it. Ask your self how many thoughts that you think about have been modified in a way that is not beneficial to you. You just never realize that you are programming your sub conscious all day. This is why meditation is so powerful. You are able to make suggestions to your subconscious where the thought is not modified in any way shape or form. So if you want to make things happen fast you need to get rid of the concept of attaching time to yourthoughts. You have to remember that everything you get in your life comes based on the conditions that you set up and time is usually one condition that cuases the most frustration with people. Just as a computer programmer gives a computer instructions to complete a task, you program the most powerful computer you have which is your subconscious. Your conscious mind acts as the gate keeper as to what thoughts you let in. Now that you know this choose to become more aware and conscious about what you think all day long. Learn to see the world in a non linear way, remove time from your consiousness and watch how things show up in your life faster than you ever thought.

Thoughts = feelings = actions = results (just like that you can begin to shape your life)

12. Mentally rehearse every moment of it with all your senses. Dare to be like Peter Pan :)

13. Visualize in vivid detail, your intention as established fact. Also make sure you meditate only on days you feel good. Remember you want your thoughts to be as pure as possible. This also means that you really find out what you want, make sure its not something you want solely for ego purposes. Thoughts that involve the ego are usually always colored with negativity.

14. With time you will begin to be able to hold vivid pictures of anything(you will develop you third eye). The more you are able to hold onto an image in your mind the more power you give it.

15. Get up and go have a great day :) notice how much energy you have the rest of the day. As you advance in your discipline, you will have a lot of fun basically creating your day before it starts.

Beliefs:

To start making that vision a reality you will have to change some of your beliefs and adopt beliefs that will help you reach your goals. Because if you have this great vision of you retiring on your own private beach but deep down you don’t believe you can do it, you have already sabotaged yourself. Your desire and your belief are in conflict with each other and therefore you will not manifest what it is that you want into your life. If you want to be a good leader one day but you currently have the belief that you are a shy person, it will not happen. You need to truly make a decision to adopt the belief that you are really outgoing. When you truly decide to do something you will find a way to do it.

“Nothing happens unless first a dream” – Carl Sandburg

Some Ways to shape your beliefs:

1. Always think Success- as soon as you think about failure forget about it and don’t let anymore negative thoughts snowball. The more attention you give a thought the more powerful it will become than you will make it harder for yourself to get back to a productive mind state. The only way to change how you feel is to think about something else. Whenever you feel doubt, fear, and failure creeping into your mind have a default thought that you can use to avoid giving attention to mental poison. As soon as I feel I am entertaining thoughts of negativity I immediately begin to think about relaxing on a beach and affirm to myself that “I attract abundance to all areas of my life”. The more I try and have the feelings of being on the beach with no worries and remind myself that I am in complete control of how I feel, I immediately feel the negativity begin to melt away as I begin to focus on my new positive thought.

2. Develop the belief that you are better than you currently feel- don’t look at your weaknesses as a burden but as an opportunity to improve your self. When I find something I don’t like about my personality I don’t get down on myself for it, I just realize that now I have something I can work on to make myself better. Most importantly love and accept who you are, not who you will or should be.

3. Believe that sky’s the limit- if you have little goals you will have little success, the bigger your dreams the more potential for your possible success. Even If you think your dream is too big, strive to reach that dream, because you will end up at a better place than if you would have set your sights on a smaller goal. The trick is to really believe you can do it, this just isn’t wishful thinking. Wishful thinking never got anyone anything, you need to find out what you want and get out there and get it. If you really want that house on the beach your mind will come up with ways to help you get it.(develop faith in your self)

How to remove junk beliefs:

1. Meditate on your old belief and tell the truth about it. Now replace it with a belief that will better serve you. Meditate on it until you feel you have changed that belief.

Now when you accept these beliefs it means you will have to raise your standards and develop a strategy that will put you on the road to accomplish what you set forth. Do whatever you have to do. Read any books that will spark your interest or help you discover any distinctions that will point you in the right direction. Find a role model, a person who has already accomplished what you want. Find out what some of their beliefs, interests, body language, image, etc. is and adopt them as your own. Your role model can serve as a blue print, the goal is to cut down on the trial and error so you can get where you want faster than you ever thought possible. You can take all the qualities from all the people you admire and add your own personal touch. Just think of if it as if you are trying to build the person you want and know you can be. Thomas Edison is one of the greatest inventors in history, he was able to elaborate, modify and adapt on other peoples ideas. You don’t have torecreate the wheel just constantly be aware of any success ingredients you come across and make them part of your identity. Think of your mind as a warehouse the more you learn and store will eventually serve as an inventory for future reference, which will breed new ideas and perspectives.

Consistency is key we are all creatures of patterns and habits. In order to become the person you desire to be, start by changing your patterns. Think of all the quality traits you must possess, make a pattern which uses those traits efficiently than strive to be consistent. Consistency will develop into habits and this is key because if you fail to be consistent with your actions you will not be consistent with who you desire to be. This lack of confusion between your actions and what your mind knows you are capable of leads to tremendous amounts of stress, confusion, and even depression. Many other consequences also come from a lack of consistency.

This is why awareness of self is critical; you need to be constantly evaluating your self. Decide if the persona you are currently displaying is the reality that you want for yourself,because with enough time thats what your reality will become.

Thank you for reading my hub, I love to hear anyones opinion or suggestions. Good luck to everyone.

http://www.howtogetyourshineon.com

4 Good Reasons to Forgive

Much has been said about the virtues of forgiveness, yet many today who need to forgive are unable or unwilling to do so. This is mainly due to the wrong understanding of what forgiveness is. Most people, when given a clearer understanding of what forgiveness is, become more willing to do so.

Here are some good reasons why you should forgive:

1. Forgiveness is about YOU

Many people are of the opinion that forgiving a perpetrator allows the perpetrator to escape punishment. They think that forgiveness is about giving the perpetrator a second chance at the expense of the injured party.

The truth is forgiveness is all about the injured and is for the benefits of the injured. The focus of forgiveness is for the injured to finally be able to let go of the pain that has continued to hurt him or her even long after the initial assault. It is to help the injured find peace within so that he or she can move on in life without having to continuously carry the pain of the injury.

Forgiveness does not mean condoning the act or absolving the perpetrator of his or her responsibility for the action. It does not mean that the injured will tolerate being inflicted with the same injury again and again. It does not mean reconciliation although reconciliation may happen if the injured wishes.

Forgiveness means standing up for your rights and your self worth. It means drawing a boundary about what you will accept as OK and what is not OK. It means having the courage to assert your rights and responsibilities.

2. Forgiveness is the best revenge

People who have been badly hurt by an intimate person such as a spouse, partner, parent, sibling or close friend sometimes erroneously believe that by staying in the hurt, they are somehow indirectly punishing the perpetrator. They see it as their way of getting back at the perpetrator.

This logic does not hold water because very often the perpetrator does not really care about you in the first place or else he or she would not have cause the injury. In addition, continue to wallow in the pain only prolonged the injury long after it has happened. If it was the intention of the perpetrator to hurt you, clinging on to the pain only multiplies his or her success at hurting you.

In fact, the best revenge of the injured is to live a good and happy life after the injury. This is the surest way to foil the perpetrator's "success".

3. Forgiveness improves your health

Studies have shown that an unforgiving heart suffers increased risk of stress, anxiety, depression, anger, hatred, jealousy, ill will, sadness and insomnia. In addition, an unforgiving heart also risks high blood pressure, heart attack, skin eruptions, arthritis, backache, stomach ulcer, migraine, frequent cold and perhaps even risk of malignancy.

Genuine forgiveness, on the other hand, can have the opposite effects. There is reduced stress, anxiety, depression, anger, hatred, jealousy, ill will, sadness and insomnia as well as a reduction in physical ailments. On top of that, studies have also shown that those who are forgiving tend to grow old with more peace and satisfaction, and less afraid to face death.

So, a forgiving person benefits from improved health in all areas, i.e. physical, emotional, mental and spiritual.

4. Forgiveness makes you a better and stronger person

Another myth about forgiveness is that only the weak forgives. The truth is that only the strong can forgive. That is because forgiveness requires the courage to truly face the emotional pain and injuries, to embrace them and then to eventually let them go. This task is so difficult and painful that many are not able to face it but it is a necessary initial step towards forgiveness.

So, only the strong can forgive. The good news is that once the injured is able to go through the process of forgiveness, he or she will grow to become stronger. There will be a change in his or her fundamental belief systems as well as a renewed purpose and meaning to life. Life will be re-invigorated once again when the old hurt can be left behind without becoming a burden.

So, if you have been hurt before and find it hard to forgive, seriously consider all these good reasons why you should forgive and start to learn how to forgive. It's going to do you a world of good. I promise.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tim_Ong

Improving Your Interpersonal Skills

What are interpersonal skills? These are the skills that enable you to work efficiently with others without any personality conflict. These skills will help you build good working relationships with your clients, employees and business associates. Working well with others involves understanding and appreciating individual differences. Therefore, interpersonal skills play an important role in determining how well you manage your interactions with customers and employees. How you behave with them can determine your success or failure. Try the following helpful tips to improve your interpersonal skills:

o No one wants to be around someone who is always morose and frowning. Maintain a positive, cheerful attitude about work and life. Practice smiling often.

o Be generous with praise and words of encouragement. If you let others know that they are appreciated, they'll want to give you their best. If you have to criticize, do it gently and give suggestions for improvement.

o Pay attention to people. Make eye contact and address people by their first names. Ask them for their opinions and suggestions. Really listen to what they have to say.

o Keep your promises. If you tell your customer that you will have the item in stock by the end of the week, make sure it is there. But make promises sparingly and do not commit to doing something that you cannot accomplish.

o Treat everyone fairly and do not play favorites. Avoid talking and discussing others behind their backs.

o Keep an open mind. Remember there is always room for discussion and compromise.

o Learn how to be an effective mediator and help sort out differences. By taking on such a leadership role, you will garner respect and admiration from those around you.

o Pay close attention to both what you say and how you say it. Your body language and tone of voice will give you away. Think before you speak and avoid misunderstandings or hurt feelings.

o Most people are drawn to a person who can make them laugh. Use your sense of humor as an effective tool to enhance your interpersonal skills.

o Try to see things from another person's perspective. Empathy is about being able to put yourself in someone else's shoes and understanding how they feel.

o There is nothing worse than a chronic complainer or whiner. Do not talk about your problems, instead focus on the other person's problem and try to help out.

To run a successful business as well as enjoying a fulfilling personal life, it is necessary for you to establish a good, comfortable relationship with:

o your customers - nothing puts off a prospective client more than an unhelpful attitude and surliness.

o your employees - to retain good employees, you have to be seen as a positive, cheerful boss.

o your business associates - networking is one of the keys to good business. By being known as a caring, cheerful person, you are likely to make more friends in your business circle.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Akhil_Shahani

Self Improvement Must Be Based on Self

Nearly every person realizes that they need to improve in some areas and are quite sufficient in others, but how does one determine where they need to improve the most or how much? This can cause quite a dilemma and suffice it to say that such a challenge often causes procrastination or hesitation in the self-improvement process. In business schools they teach students to use a SWOT Analysis when sizing up a potential business plan or the validity of a start-up company.

What is SWOT? Well, SWOT is not going and tearing the door down on the company, well hopefully not. SWOT stands for "strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats." In other words, these business students determine their company's strengths, weaknesses, potential opportunities and challenges they may face in the future. This is a good concept to learn for your self-improvement program, as you custom tailor what you need to move forward in life.

Did you notice that the SWOT Analysis is for judging your company, not someone else's company? So, think about this for a second, you need to judge yourself not try to match yourself against the rest of the world. Let's face it you are not going to beat Michael Phelp's gold medal count or Lance Armstrong's Tour de France wins. You must base all your self-improvement progress on you thus, you must start with you, and not worry about how everyone else stacks up.

So, what are your strengths? Surely, you have plenty, and honestly what are your weaknesses? How might you go about reducing these weaknesses? What are your opportunities, what is available to you presently with your strengths or once you shore up your weaknesses? Lastly, what are the threats you face, are they real, or is it just plain fear? This is where you can determine how everyone else factors into the equation, but realize that it is the last item on the list because self-improvement is based on you, not anyone else. Believe me, they have to deal with problems of their own.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lance_Winslow

Asking - A Skill Worth Knowing

There's every kind of asking and knowing. When creating a home or embarking on a make-over, there's much we already know and perhaps more we don't. What we think we know gives us some sense of comfort; like I've done this before, and therefore, I know how to proceed. Then there's the "I have no clue and what little I do know is of little use". Where to start?

Asking is a skill worth developing for creating your home, not to mention, for all of life. When you're on the way to creating a new space or making the existing one better yet, asking for help is imperative! Some of us feel we know it all. We're a dangerous lot. We're the ones that get in trouble and then wonder why. Then there's the group that thinks we don't know anything and go about asking everyone about every detail. This variation on the theme is equally dangerous. The goal is not to exhaust our resources but rather to use them wisely. So what's the way to asking how, who and what?

Start at the end with the what question. I know it's counter intuitive. What is the end? The end is the BIG Picture. The end result is the dream realized. What does that look like? How does it act? How does it serve? Draw the picture in your mind's eye; see it, feel it, wake up in your picture. Take an imaginary walk around the yard, the neighborhood, to the village, into the woods, check out the views. What does it feel like? Are you comfortable with it and within it?

If not, now is the time to change the picture. It's easier to make changes now than after the walls are moved or newly erected. Pulling magazine pictures, and writing about the emotional feelings of being within your imagined space is one of the hows. Taking photos of homes that look like your vision is another one. Creating your concept, your idea, your dream is where you check it out, flush it out, keep and discard with ease. By starting to name your vision, you're on your way to creating it. Is it a cape, a southwest stucco, a chateau or in my vision, a cottage?

My friends thought I had lost my mind when they took a first look at my soon to be new home. Well, perhaps I had. The part they were having trouble with was seeing me in a house that didn't look anything they had known me to live in before. True. I hadn't seen anything quite like this either, except I had an idea. I had no problem with this new right-sized cottage. Gratefully, when I showed my soon to be new house to my designer friends they were gracious enough to say nothing.....neither, what are you thinking nor, have you lost your mind?

Here comes the piece about asking others for help. I spent two days this week in a corporate seminar with high-powered business women and saw first hand just how difficult it is to ASK. Asking has a reputation; to some it signals incompetence inadequacy, stupidity. For others, not knowing equals failure, not a success, less than perfect. Asking requires vulnerability and the ability to say "I don't know". Actually, not knowing is a strength. New doors get opened. Collaboration has an opportunity to walk in. An opportunity to rearrange the molecules appears and learning and exploring have room to play together. The tightly held, preconceived notion of having all the answers is both exhausting and a missed opportunity.

It was clear I needed help. Getting help does not mean I had no ideas or opinions. It just meant I was open to more and different solutions than my doing it alone would bring.

I turned finding help into a game where every name lead to another and where every questions lead to an answer or another question. My intention seemed straight forward: sell my house and buy a new one. I asked around for recommendations for a real estate agent. Checking with a friend, in the commercial end of the business, I got two recommendations for agents on the residential side of the business. My question to him was; why do you think these two candidates are the best choices? My idea was to have a professional's opinion from someone who had co-brokered sales with residential agents. It was a kind of insider's view of how tit worked between the agents and the professional viewpoint of another professional. It worked out great!

The financing got more complicated. My barn-home was sold but with a long closing date, i.e., I had a sale but insufficient funds. I found the cottage I wanted to buy. What I now needed and came to know, was a bridge loan. The agent on the selling side of my soon to be cottage keep talking about her great financial connection. Having tried my resources for a quick (not quick) solution, I thought, why not, it's just a phone call. The "bridge" got built in record time and we closed within the seller's requested time frame...nearly instantly!

While we were closing on my house, I started looking for doctors to help cure and redesign some of it's problems. It's now July and I'm moving. There is no air conditioning in the cottage. Neither I, nor do contractors, do well in 90 degree humidity and never ending rain. So off I go to buy a couple of air conditioners and what do I also come away with? A painter. But, of course. The sales woman's husband is a painter and a great one at that. Guess who had time for my interior job while his outside work sat in the rain?

During this time of needing help, my advice is talk to everyone. Chat about the weather and find a painter. Chat with your seller about who did the electrical repairs in record time for the record-time closing. Keep asking, keep listening, keep talking about your project. And in this scenario, here comes my soon to be electrical guy and his friend and collaborator on many projects... my soon to be contractor.

Yes, I spoke with a total of three contractors. It's called doing the due diligence. There are things to know and to explore. How does this person approach the work? How do your personalities blend? What do you perceive to be his/her work ethic? How is it feeling as you go along in the process of discovery? What does the back of his truck look like? Visit his projects. Allow him to present his process. In this case, be quiet and listen loud.

And finally, what will your project cost and how did he arrive at these costs? Did you notice cost came last on the list? This, in my opinion, is appropriate. If all the other things don't line-up, the cost is immaterial. Shopping for a contractor solely on cost won't get you want you really want for your project. In reality, you are shopping for a relationship; the relationship that works for all sides. Remember everything is negotiable. This is not an invitation to beat 'em down. We're into win/win here. Consider the considerations with the contractor (and designer/architect, if there is one). What are the options on how to get to your budget? Do we want or need to do the work in stages? Are there materials choices to consider that could lower the cost or lower future maintenance? Do we need to rethink our needs, decide to do some of the work ourselves? Do we need to further clarify our want list from our 'can't live without' list? Bottom line; talk it through, explore the options, discuss them, get creative! And remember: the first answer is never the last answer...until it is.

Here's my recipe for creating change

-Be quiet. Share nothing until your ideas have settled within
-Try on the options, it's like shopping for a new outfit.
-Walk around acting as if
-Do nothing about "it".
-Keep on, keeping on until you know, just plain know, that what you're about to ask for, or to create, is the way you see it, dream it, want it.
-Then, and only then, start to share your vision.
-Be open to other ideas, weigh them in with your vision.
-Do these new ideas make yours even better? Great! you've just moved into collaboration.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jill_Butler