How To Become Rich!”

Follow This Simple Advice To Instantly Change Your Life

By Andy Shaw Rule 1 – Know What You WantThe rule virtually every unsuccessful person breaks… this is the primary reason for their failure to succeed... is that they don’t know what they want. They know they need to know this but they just don’t ever quite get round to figuring it out. Or they know they need it and then come up with some useless wishy washy example of what they want. Like, I want to be rich… Or as a successful person says… Useless!

This sort of wishy washy goal is 100% useless. You must have a targeted goal that you could tell someone what it was and they would be able to follow a route to it. Clear and conceivable. Knowing what you want is the same as knowing you want to go to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington DC, USA on 4th July 2015… That is knowing what you want. Anyone can follow that direction, it is clear, it is conceivable.Rule 2 – Focus on What You Want Once you have your core dream sorted out and you know exactly what you want, you must first have had it in your mind. So you must go and experience having it at some point in the future. (Putting a time restraint on a dream is wrong – despite what the experts tell you, I just used that previous example to explain a point.) You must experience what your life will be like to have had your dream. You keep doing this until you have had it and seen it in so much detail that it becomes something that is now likely to happen. Then you focus on possible routes for you to get there. You provide your mind with stepping stones and lots of them at each step. What I mean by this is you give your mind possible options that it could take to get you to your goal. You are providing your mind with ways to conceive you could actually do it. The stepping stones start from where you are now.As you go through this process, focusing on what you want and possible ways to get there. Eventually you will reach a point in your mind where you know that it is not possible for it not to happen, if you just start to take steps towards your dreams. What you have done is created the dream and the possible steps to get there in your mind first. Now by focusing on your dream your subconscious mind can see possible ways to bring it into your reality. "Successful people are considered strange people before they become known for their success. This is because they know what they want and are focusing on it." Rule 3 – Be Grateful For Having Had Your Dream When you are going through and applying Rule 2, you should naturally reach the point where you want to feel grateful for having had your dream. However, your mind will try and stop you at this point by telling you… “Well you haven’t had it yet have you, so what have you got to feel grateful for?” This is the mindset of an unsuccessful person killing off their dreams. You see, your mind shows you a logical argument and normally the unsuccessful person would listen to that voice inside their head… This is why they are unsuccessful. However, on this occasion look out for the feeling, the feeling of you wanting to feel grateful. This feeling isn’t lying to you, it is showing you what to do. Your mind is lying to you. If you want to create the millionaire mindset then you have to get back to where you were when you were younger and life was simpler… You have to learn to trust your feelings again and learn to ignore your mind’s voice. Rule 4 – Wait To Feel Compelled To ActAll creation is done in your mind first. Once you have conceived the idea; conceived the thoughts of how you could get there and provided plenty of different options to get there. And when you have also experienced feeling grateful for getting there, then you have had your dream… When you get to this stage you will know it because you will at some point (time doesn’t matter, I don’t know when) feel COMPELLED to act. This feeling will come over you and you will want nothing more than to get on with it. This is like sticking nitrous oxide in the fuel mixture… You are going to move forward in ways that will surprise even you, that’s if you wait for this feeling. If you want the feeling to happen sooner, just spend more time designing your goal in your mind. Designing the steps to get there and feeling grateful for being there. Action steps are all about bringing into reality that which you have already had in your mind. You are the Architect, once the dream has been fully designed so that you can see it in your life in every detail then it is time to bring it into reality. And you will know this because the feeling will magically propel you forward. Rule 5 – Focus On The Step You Are On You will be compelled to act and you will know what you are to do. Some of your time will be spent on creating your dream and the remainder will be on living with where you are now and completing the job you are in now. Now this step is of vital importance to remember if you want to not only get but hold onto the millionaire mindset. You must focus on what you are doing 100% and do it to the very best of your ability when you are focusing on it. What I mean by that is obvious for your dream, but most who fail do not realise that it must also be true for the job you are at now. You must become excellent at that too while you are still there. Take a very workman style approach to it, do you current job to 100% of what is needed and enjoy it as much as you possibly can while you are doing it. You should enjoy it, whatever it is, as it is enabling you to go and spend the remainder of your time focusing on your dream and creating that. Love where you are in life now. You can desire more and you can demand more and go and create more, but be happy and safe in the knowledge that you are cultivating your millionaire mindset, and one second after finishing your current work you are switching and focusing on creating your dream. Rule 6 – Listen To Your Hunches While you are on your journey of creating the life you desire and acquiring your millionaire mindset, you must learn to listen out for your hunches. These are coming from your subconscious mind.  As you focus more and more on your dream and designing it, you will be subtly asking yourself questions about how you can get that element done or get past this step.Your subconscious mind is listening; it goes out and finds the answers for you and it gives them to you at the best possible time. However, it is not the voice inside your mind. Your subconscious mind doesn’t speak to you, it serves you up feelings and hunches, or just plain gives you the answer as if from nowhere. So you need to re-tune into your subconscious mind and learn to trust and follow your hunches…You will be surprised and amazed as to where they will take you. "Successful people instinctively follow their gut feelings. Unsuccessful people have let others convince them that they cannot trust themselves." Rule 7 – Go Deeper Into Your Design While you are taking steps and following your hunches then there will be down times between the steps of you taking action. This is when your body needs to relax. What could be more relaxing than dreaming some more about your design. So this is a perfect time to go and experience your design in greater detail wherever you are in life. Let’s say you are on the train or in a cab, or waiting at the supermarket checkout. These are now your times to go and day dream about the life you are taking steps now to create. The teachers had it wrong by the way, daydreaming is an essential element. It is not the waste of time the teachers told you… Let me spell that out so that I get you to understand... Daydreaming is an E-S-S-E-N-T-I-A-L part of creating the life of your dreams. So go deeper, let’s say one part of your dream included owning a Ferrari. Know what Ferrari it would be, the colour (red of course), the model, the engine size. Now if you are driving then why not imagine what it will feel like to be driving your Ferrari, the feel of the leather, the sounds of the engine. There is no depth limit here, you can go in and smell the fumes if you like, deploy your senses. It’s going to feel pretty good when you are in this part of your design, however, this is like a reward for you. It is for the down time in between you working diligently on your current job and in between you taking the steps required to bring your design into reality. These are the basic steps to cultivating and creating the millionaire mindset. This is the mindset where you just know you will do it.

5 Tips for Presenting to Executives

by Guest Author on August 14, 2012

Presenting to your peers is (relatively) easy. The stakes aren’t high. If you screw up, they’ll usually let it slip.
But executives are different. Executives get things done through delegating to other people. So, they are always looking for who they can trust – and who they can’t. Make a good impression and the exec is likely to give you more responsibility in the future. Make a bad impression and you earn a place on their “do-not-trust” list. Either way, it affects your career.
Executives are a special audience for presentations. And the stakes are high. Here are FIVE TIPS to keep in mind to ace your next executive presentation.
1. Get to the point in one minute
Executives exist in high-pressure environments. With 80 hour weeks, emergencies cropping up, high stress loads and demanding bosses and shareholders. TIME is one of their most precious commodities.
So don’t waste it by arriving late, fumbling with the projector (“why won’t it connect?”), making long rambling introductions and so on. Get to the point as quickly as you can. Within the first minute, if at all possible. There’s a good chance the exec is itching to interrupt you and barrage you with questions so get to your main point before the presentation is derailed.
2. Talk about problems winning in the marketplace
Executives don’t care about today’s problems. That’s someone else’s job. Executives have their minds focused on the next three years and what it will take to beat competitors, reach new customers, hold onto existing customers and increase margins. So, talk to them about the problems they will have winning in the marketplace, and how your ideas will help them. If you can’t talk to them about that, you’ll get bumped down to some department head – and well you should.
3. Sell a vision before discussing the details
This is especially true for sales people. Don’t walk into a meeting with an executive and start talking about your super-wonderful fully-guaranteed remote-controlled electronic bobbin. Execs will immediately focus on cost and product features, often ending the meeting with “We’ll get back to you” so they can have someone research prices.
Instead, focus on painting a vision of a better future – hopefully one that maps onto their three-year goals. Once they’re nodding at the vision – and ONLY after they’re nodding at the vision – should you talk about your product’s details. Cost is likely to be less of a concern now.
4. Lead with stories, not data
Executives respect data and making data-driven decisions. But they are also realistic about what data can – and cannot – tell you. They’ve seen many projects fail despite the glowing research results. And they’ve seen boot-strap projects succeed despite the lack of any data to back it up.
Executives often trust their guts more than they trust data. They consider customer stories, quotes from their largest channel partners and competitor moves just as valid as data. So use that. Come to executive presentations armed with lots of stories and introduce stories first, then the data to back it up.
5. Don’t be afraid of executives; be afraid FOR them
Because the stakes are high, and executives often shoot presenters for sport, people are naturally nervous presenting to executives. But this fear will only work against you and broadcast your lack of confidence. So, adopt a different mindset: be afraid FOR executives.

8 Young Entrepreneurs Top Tips for a Successful Business

Online start-up businesses run by young entrepreneurs are becoming a common phenomenon. With online business people facing very low barriers to market entry, many tech-savvy kids are getting in on the act and taking advantage of the opportunities that abound. While these entrepreneurs are more the exception than the rule, some of their successes are highly notable — myyearbook.com was initially founded by two high-school students, yet at one stage was the third-most popular social networking site in the United States, behind MySpace and Facebook. Of course, Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg was still in college when he established one of the most popular social networking sites in the world.

Sadly, these successes aren’t as common as they could be. While the world has countless enthusiastic young people with ideas and technical skills, there are many challenges facing these youthful entrepreneurs. These range from the natural — Venture Capitalists (VC) disputing their expertise, for example — to artificial (such as the age restrictions placed on some services that might otherwise be used to pay for start-up resources).

Here are some tips for the technically-minded young entrepreneur — both the aspirant service provider and the ambitious salesman — to help them overcome these challenges and succeed in their ventures.

1. Be ready to handle the challenges of a business.

Running a business isn’t that easy. With customers to deal with, clients contacting you at any hour of the day, products to maintain and possibly even staff to manage, operating a business is very intensive. Before you begin anything, consider whether or not you really want to be in business. Running a business isn’t for everyone — you may be technically minded, but running a profitable business is a different thing altogether.

Another important issue you will have to deal with is time! With school, work, and everything in between, you could soon find yourself trying to get through 30 hours of work every day. Running a business is more often than not a full time job, and at some point, you’ve got to give up somethings. Think about where you want to go in life, and make your decisions accordingly. For example, you could be part of a sporting team, or you could go into business, but you probably might not be able to do both. Often co-curricular and non-school (where applicable) involvements are the first to go; to maintain your social involvement, consider attending user groups, where you can also network and create opportunities for your business.

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2. Plan your idea on paper and be ready to explain it to others.

When you’re running a small business, opportunities can come up at the most unexpected times. You may run into a potential client at a party, a conference, or even a bus stop. You can’t let everyone know about your new product or service but the more people who do know, the more opportunities you’re likely to get, and therefore the better your chances of making it through your first few months in business. Get the word out!

Work out your business model and the most useful, concise description you can come up with for your goods or services. Working out a plan with pen and paper is often far more effective than typing it up, and gives you more time to think it out while you write. Be ready to explain your business to anyone at any time; with this plan in hand, you shouldn’t have any problems. Without a plan, your explanations can end up being inconsistent, sounding unconfident, and achieving little or no effect.

Get business cards printed and carry them around. At the very least, they give you something on which to scribble the contact details of potential clients. If you bump into anyone who might be in the market for your goods or services let them know what you do; briefly explain your business using the plan you prepared earlier and give them a card. When you meet in person, some people simply won’t take you seriously; a business card demonstrates that you’re serious about what you do.

3. Make good use of all the resources available to you.

Often, young entrepreneurs don’t have a lot of capital, but there are still many resources available to you and learning to take advantage of the available resources is going to give you a huge advantage as a young entrepreneur.

Lack of access to capital can often become a challenge for young entrepreneurs — basic business development resources such as ad campaigns can become a problem if you don’t have a budget. With a bit of thinking, however, many of these problems can be alleviated by taking advantage of the resources at hand.

4. Build your product to be as complete as possible before seeking financial assistance.

So, you’re developing your whiz-bang product, and suddenly you realise that the Flash charting library you’ve been using in your application actually costs $1200 for commercial use. You pick up the phone, call Uncle Rob and ask if he can lend you the cash. He politely declines. A series of calls to your other relatives end in a similar fashion.

As an entrepreneur, you have ideas with a lot of potential. Just as you will eventually sell your product to potential customers, selling your product to potential financial backers is even more important, and this makes explaining and clarifying those ideas a priority. Develop your product as much as you can before seeking financial support; if possible, put together a demonstration video. The more you can demonstrate your idea, the more convincing you’ll be. Building on the advice that we discussed in point 2 above, potential financial backers — especially venture capitalists — are very important to the success of your business, and deserve an appropriate amount of your attention.

5. Maintain a professional communication channel.

When dealing with clients, you may find yourself working with mature professionals who are high up in their respective corporate hierarchies. Getting them to take you seriously is the tricky part.

If at all possible, live locally, but work globally. Run your life in your local neighbourhood, but until you’re older and feel confident to deal with clients in person or over the phone, you might consider restricting your customer base to offshore clients (although for US-based entrepreneurs this isn’t always an option). Assume the role of a mature industry professional, and you’ll be treated like one. When you go professional, age won’t matter unless you make it matter. Preparing stunning introductions and speeches always helps for the times when you have to work locally; keep a standard speech in mind and make sure you can deliver it confidently as needed.

When you’re working globally, keep communication to email — definitely don’t offer instant messaging as a method of communication. With email, you have a chance to gather your thoughts, and to work out how to respond to clients. As a young entrepreneur, you often have to tread carefully and make sure you don’t lose anyone from your limited customer base. With email, you can take the time to prepare a professional response that conveys your intended image. Instant messaging should be avoided at all costs, especially if you plan to contact clients using the same instant messaging profile you use to contact friends — this creates all sorts of opportunities for revealing your lack of experience.

6. Monitor progress and keep track of tasks.

The last thing clients want is for you to miss a deadline because you were out on a date or partying with friends. Keep a reasonable separation between your professional and social lives — the so-called work/life balance — but keep track of your progress in your life as an entrepreneur, and maintain a close eye on your daily operations.

Often a dedicated calendar and marker pen are sufficient, but develop a system that works for you and allows you to keep track of deadlines, pending tasks, and goals. Importantly, establish many goals, and give each a definite deadline; then make sure you achieve these goals within the time frame you have given yourself. Of course, this is easier said than done, and requires a lot of self-discipline.

Make sure you keep an eye on the big picture, of course. Work out when you expect to start generating revenues, when you want your products and services to be ready, when you aim to secure your first customer, and so on. If you see progress in general sliding, consider putting in a few extra hours here and there, or (if possible) hiring some help — reliable offshore freelancers are plentiful, and the kid next door might not mind helping you out here and there in return for a bit of pocket money (although again, this might be a bit too close to home).

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7. Be prepared to fail.

Let’s be honest — most start-ups just don’t take off. However, this eventuality shouldn’t be confused with “failure.” Every time you start a business, you gain a new raft of experiences, extend your skill set, and learn valuable lessons for your future enterprising.

In the event that your business doesn’t make it big, and you end up pulling out of it, look back on what you’ve learned and consider what you plan to do next time. Chances are that you intend to start another business in your lifetime; when you do, you’ll be one business the wiser, and ready to deal with new challenges. There’s always another opportunity; dust yourself off and keep on going! You haven’t failed; you’ve progressed.

8. Have fun!

You might have built a fantastic product and sold it to half of your target market. Perhaps it even made you rich and famous and put you on the cover of TIME magazine at 18! But at the end of the day, the question is: did you have fun?

It may be the case that your product doesn’t take off, you can’t find any suitable buyers, or the world simply isn’t ready for your product or service. In any case, always keep an eye on the big picture, and make sure you enjoy what you’re doing. Entrepreneurialism requires a lot of enthusiasm — you can face some serious challenges if you don’t take pleasure in your daily business activities.

Read more: http://www.entrepreneursdiscuss.com/8-young-entrepreneurs-top-tips-for-a-successful-business.php#ixzz22fWAiOcV

The dictionary defines persistent 
as... "Refusing to give up or let go;
persevering obstinately".Being 
really persistent requires 
developing a kind of tunnel vision 
so that our entire focus is on the 
goal and we can see nothing but
finding the way of achieving that 
goal.

When striving to reach a goal 
there will always be challenges to 
be met, hurdles to be jumped, or, 
even, the occasional unavoidable 
detour.

Like a roadmap that shows us the 
way to get from point A to point 
B, our best laid plans wont show 
us all the pitfalls and obstacles 
along the way.

However, the only way to avoid 
getting to a desired goal, if you 
have a good plan, is to stop 
working toward it or to return to
square one.

Persistence assures your arrival 
at your desired goal.

Persistence is fueled by passion. 
Its always a good idea to check 
just how committed and passionate 
we are from time to time. If that
passion needs to be rekindled
so that we can stay persistent in 
pursuing our goals we need to 
throw some fuel on the fire. 

Persistence is essential if you
are to be successful.

101 Personal Development Tips To Improve Your Life!

by Yee Shun-Jian on August 16th, 2010

Welcome to RichGrad.com - THE award-winning Personal Development Blog that has touched more than a million lives since July 2007

Sign up for my Free Personal Development Newsletter to receive tips on overcoming your fears, building your confidence & leading a richer life!

1. If you don’t eat breakfast, make it your first new habit. It doesn’t have to be cold cereal or something prepackaged – try fruit, some quick scrambled eggs, or a bagel with cream cheese – but be sure to take advantage of this meal to start your day with high energy.
2. Try going on a gluten-free or vegan diet for a week to see how you feel. Research shows that over-processed grains tend to impede digestion, so avoid wheat and barley. You might experience a rise in energy levels and overall improved health.
3. Get cooking. Borrow some cook books from your local library, take some webinars, or just try out interesting online recipes. It’s much better for you than eating out.
4. Buy yourself a planner. You’re more likely to remember things if you actually write them down (no, typing doesn’t count). You might even enjoy the opportunity to check off tasks as you complete them – it gives you a sense of accomplishment.
5. Start a garden. If you don’t have a backyard, start it in a window box. Herb gardens are easy and they yield a lot of fresh flavor.
6. Once you have a garden, start composting. Your biodegradable waste products can act as useful fertilizer.
7. Become a volunteer. If you already do this, branch out to another location. You can choose from a wide variety of venues, such as nursing homes, children’s hospitals, animal shelters, soup kitchens, or Parks & Rec programs.
8. Take time every day to do something for yourself. Read for pleasure, make a cup of hot tea and relax, or get some sun on the back deck.
9. Work on your communication skills. There’s always room for improvement, so edit your e-mails for clarity and conciseness.
10. Go to your local home improvement store, pick out some paint chips, and tape them to your kitchen walls. After a week has gone by, choose a color and give the room a new paint job. Spontaneity and change are good for everyone.
11. Go to conferences and listen to lectures to stay current in your field of expertise. No matter how much experience you have, there’s no substitute for knowing what’s new.
12. Take up a new sport. Try free running, disc golf, or rock climbing. You won’t have to invest much in equipment, and the rules are easy, so you can focus on having fun and getting some exercise.
13. Learn a new language. Ancient Greek may be a “dead” language, but many English words are derived from it. Learning about the roots of words can improve your vocabulary and understanding of the English language.
14. Start saving for retirement now. This is one of those things that shouldn’t be procrastinated, no matter how many figures are in your salary.
15. Rearrange the furniture in your home. It’s a quick and easy way to change the scenery and beat boredom.
16. Start doing yoga. If you already do, try power yoga. You’ll get rid of the day’s frustrations, make your muscles happy, and feel more peaceful.
17. Clean out your closet and donate unwanted items to a local charity. You’ll have a lot more space and others will be happy to benefit from your generosity. An added bonus is the excuse to shop for new clothes.
18. Improve your vocabulary. Dictionary.com has a word-of-the-day section (do you know what aeromancy means?) and vocabulary.com has resources and fun daily challenges.
19. Listen to classical music while you work. Try theclassicalstation.org for free online streaming (no matter where you live) and knowledgeable DJs.
20. Become a faster typist. Online typing games are fun and help you improve your skills. You might even get work done faster, leave earlier, and beat the traffic.
21. Join or form a book club. The advantage of forming one is that you get to pick the first book.
22. Start an emergency fund. You never know when you might need a big chunk of change. Even if you never have an emergency, you’ve got another savings account.
23. Stop worrying about what other people think. That’s their business, and your business is being yourself.
24. Go to the nearest aquarium, aviary, or zoo and learn some animal facts. You’ll be surprised at what you didn’t know about giraffe tongues.
25. Stay on top of your oral hygiene. Brush and floss regularly to avoid painful visits to the dentist, and ask your dentist to recommend a toothpaste for your specific needs.
26. Send gifts to people you know. When you’re out shopping and see something that would make a friend smile, buy it and give it anonymously.
27. Improve the quality of the air around you. Get an air filter to keep irritating and potentially harmful particles out of your nose, airways, and lungs.
28. Decide what you want in life and go after it. Don’t be too picky about your choices – you know what you want, so get out there and chase it.
29. Pick up some self-development audio courses and listen to them in the car. Drive time is usually wasted, but it’s easy to make use of it.
30. Learn to play a new instrument. The piano is a great choice because it’s easy to learn, but difficult to master. Piano skills also apply to many other instruments, and you can even take piano lessons online.
31. Become a more informed global citizen: learn the capital of every country, take geography quizzes to fill in blank maps, and learn to match each country to its flag.
32. Enjoy the little things. New office supplies, a different flavor of coffee creamer, or a haircut can do the trick.
33. Clean out your car. Driving to work every morning in a cluttered vehicle is sure to start each day with unnecessary stress.
34. Do one thing every day that scares you. Consistency may be comfortable, but it won’t teach you anything.
35. Compliment other people. You’ll learn to see the best in them, and they’ll appreciate your kindness.
36. Go to a restaurant that serves a type of food you’ve never tried before. Jump in and order something that scares you.
37. Lift weights at least three times a week. You don’t have to join a gym; just buy a dumbbell and switch arms. For bicep curls, four sets of ten is the ideal amount to gain muscle mass.
38. Prioritize your daily tasks. Tackle the most important and difficult ones first, then the ones you don’t like. You’ll feel accomplished, and by the end of the day, you’ll be stress-free and working on easy, enjoyable tasks.
39. Become a mentor. You’re an expert in something that someone else out there wants to learn, so why not volunteer your time and knowledge?
40. Never “talk small” about yourself. Underestimating your abilities is an open invitation for others to do the same.
41. Keep plants indoors at home and at work. They produce extra oxygen, get rid of carbon dioxide waste, and brighten up the room.
42. Get to know your parents. Even though you grew up with them, there are a lot of things about them you don’t know. They’re wise resources, so take advantage of them.
43. Have an opinion. And not just any opinion – be well informed about what’s important to you, don’t apologize for being knowledgeable, and don’t be afraid to tell others what you think.
44. Leave your social networking sites alone for a week. Every time you’re tempted to click, call a friend and schedule some real face time.
45. Neutralize negativity. It’s easy to think you’re being “realistic” when you’re actually a pessimist, so try to see things as being even better than they are. What do you have to lose?
46. Get tasty antioxidants by eating dark chocolate. It has less sugar than most candies and can actually improve your health.
47. Enjoy your body and take good care of it. It’s the greatest instrument you’ll ever own.
48. Read a biography of a person you admire. You’ll learn more about why you admire them and get some tips on how to adopt a similar lifestyle.
49. When tackling difficult tasks, divide them into manageable sections. This will make your work seem less overwhelming.
50. Go out to see a jazz band. It’s a beautifully relaxing genre of music that will have you tapping your foot and buying new CDs.
51. Adopt a pet from a local animal shelter. If you already have a pet, teach it a new trick (cats can fetch, too). Pets are great companions and teach you caring skills.
52. Stop buying unhealthy, expensive coffee drinks from the corporate world. Support local coffee shops or make your own, and avoid those flavored syrups.
53. Keep a journal. It’s a healthy outlet for creative ideas, lets you express yourself, and shows you how much goes on in your mind every day.
54. Go camping. If you don’t have a tent, find a friend who does and plan a weekend escape powered by granola bars and beef jerky.
55. Give money away. Sure, it’s important to save money, but it feels great to give. Choose a cause that’s important to you and make consistent donations.
56. Turn off the TV. Why just watch other people doing jobs they enjoy? You could be investing TV time in the interest of getting your dream job.
57. Buy a book on a topic that’s always interested you, but that you’ve never really learned about. There’s no time like the present.
58. Get help when and where you need it. If you’re new to something, chances are that someone you know can help you get started.
59. Take dancing lessons. You never know when you might need to spontaneously ballroom dance for impressive company. Plus, you’ll improve your coordination.
60. Don’t waste your time on jealousy. There’s always someone out there who is better at what you’re doing. Focus on what’s unique and positive about the way you do your job.
61. Drink enough water and eat your fruits and vegetables. Create your own food pyramid based on your specific nutritional needs and stick to it.
62. Finish what you start. If you begin to learn a new skill, re-decorate your bathroom, or even read a book, make sure that it gets done.
63. Take frequent breaks. Once you’ve completed a task, reward yourself with some time away from work.
64. If you’re holding grudges, let go. Forgiving the people around you for petty grievances will go a long way toward improving your outlook on life.
65. Buy tickets to an orchestra concert or opera. This is an experience everyone should have at least once in life.
66. Don’t worry about the future. Worrying is ineffective and can only hurt you.
67. Plan a trip to a foreign country. If life is a book, experiencing only one country is equivalent to reading only one page. Learn about and appreciate other locations and ways of life.
68. Get rid of one credit card. Having too many can spell disaster for your finances, so keep the number at a minimum (1-3).
69. Give aromatherapy a try. It can reduce stress and help prevent colds and other minor health problems. Lavender is a good choice for when you want to calm down.
70. Learn to laugh at yourself. Play Quelf or another zany board game with your family or friends – you’ll learn just how funny everyone can be.
71. Build others’ confidence. Ask coworkers, friends, or family members to teach you something they’re good at.
72. Pay attention to people who give you advice. You may not always want to take it, but it’s free wisdom from experience.
73. Find an interesting radio show that grabs your attention, then work it into your schedule. Try on “This American Life” for size or browse NPR.
74. Make your own business cards that advertise YOU, not your company. As a unique individual, you have assets beyond your job title, so why not acknowledge them professionally?
75. Sleep better and longer. Use a natural supplement like Melatonin (available at your local pharmacy) to relax before bedtime.
76. Take up a hobby to challenge yourself. Try online courses or local community college classes that demand creativity.
77. Set aside some “me” time and go to the spa, get a manicure (guys can get away with it), or indulge in new skin care products. A daily facial sunscreen means better skin later in life.
78. Stop making excuses. More importantly, stop believing your excuses, move past imaginary obstacles, and give yourself the full spectrum of possibilities.
79. Smile often. It will improve both your mood and your appearance.
80. Find the nearest art gallery, take a friend, and go browse through the paintings and sculptures. It’s a fun and edifying experience.
81. Become aware of your breathing. Use exercises to calm down in stressful situations.
82. Start eating organic produce. Pesticides and chemicals can damage your stomach lining and digestive tract, so try to avoid them as much as possible for your physical wellbeing.
83. Vary your routines. Try shifting exercise time from morning to evening. You can also be spontaneous with meal choices.
84. Don’t expect anyone else to support you. Take responsibility for your own life, wellness, and finances.
85. Get a professional massage. Muscle knots cause discomfort and massages can even help detoxify your body.
86. Find out which historical sites are in your local area. Read up on them, then go visit.
87. Watch your body posture. If you’re slumping, try to correct it. You can purchase an exercise ball and use it as your desk chair to improve posture.
88. Try living more sustainably. Conserve water at home by checking for leaks, watering plants with excess water from the shower, taking shorter showers, turning off the faucet while you brush your teeth, etc.
89. Buy a book of puzzles you’ve never tried before. If you’re a crossword junkie, try Sudoku, and vice versa.
90. Learn the constellations and set aside some free time at night to go stargazing in an unpopulated area. You’ll witness stunning beauty and escape the suburbs for some quality alone time.
91. Manage your e-mail account by creating folders and sorting messages as you receive them. Set specific times for checking it so you’re not constantly wasting time by keeping it open.
92. Go on a date. It doesn’t matter whether or not you’re already in a relationship; dates are fun and keep things fresh.
93. Drink organic milk. It lasts longer in your refrigerator and has more Omega3, vitamins, and antioxidants.
94. Join a public speaking society like Toastmasters. The skills you learn can apply to anything from acing interviews to playacting.
95. Organize a charity event. It can be anything from a yard sale (donate proceeds to a charity) to an elegant ball. Be sure to involve your friends, coworkers, and family.
96. Find value in yourself rather than in your belongings. You’re not defined by what you have, but by who you are.
97. Take a nap to replenish your energy supply. This can last anywhere from 5 to 30 minutes and will prevent you from crashing.
98. Avoid work overload. Your friends and family need to spend time with you, so don’t let overtime come between you and healthy relationships.
99. Remember compliments you receive. You may want to keep a collection of cards and letters of recommendation you’ve received.
100. Take good care of your feet. Wear shoes that fit and avoid footwear that causes you harm. Indulge in some insoles to prevent aches at the end of the day.
101. Be patient. Good effort isn’t always rewarded right away, but improving yourself is a worthy cause, so keep at it.

Here are 4 techniques that 
those of us who are always 
stressed out can use to help calm 
ourselves down:

1. Spend 15 minutes a day doing
some form of meditation. There 
are many benefits to meditation,
but a very big one is stress 
reduction. You'll live a longer, happier
healthy life!

2. One technique is to listen to 
uplifting music. Listening to 
music that not only has a  
soothing melody, but an uplifting 
message, can help to soothe our 
frazzled nerves and calm our
stress.

When times get tough, I often 
think of Wilson Phillips classic, 
"Hold On", but there are dozens of 
good ones out there. Choose music 
and lyrics that are hopeful.

3. Another technique is to read. 
Books on strength, personal power,
enlightenment, or self help can be 
good resources to help you change
your outlook and the things you 
say to yourself.

Rather than triggering habitual 
self-defeating thoughts, you can 
find yourself thinking of new
can-do concepts when times get 
tough. The Motivated mind would be 
a good choice.

4. Surrounding yourself with 
positive people can help with 
stress, too. Ideal friendships 
provide support when youre down, 
fun when youre up, wisdom when
youre lost, and positive  energy 
that reduces stress.

Good friends can inspire you to 
reach greater heights, and see your
strengths even when you dont. Pay 
attention to how your friends make 
you feel, and if theyre less than
supportive, start putting your
energy and time toward people who 
will make  you feel better.

Pixar storyboard artist Emma Coats has compiled nuggets of narrative wisdom she's received working for the animation studio over the years. It's some sage stuff, although there's nothing here about defending yourself from your childhood toys when they inevitably come to life with murder in their hearts. A truly glaring omission.

#1: You admire a character for trying more than for their successes.

#2: You gotta keep in mind what's interesting to you as an audience, not what's fun to do as a writer. They can be v. different.

#3: Trying for theme is important, but you won't see what the story is actually about til you're at the end of it. Now rewrite.

#4: Once upon a time there was ___. Every day, ___. One day ___. Because of that, ___. Because of that, ___. Until finally ___.

#5: Simplify. Focus. Combine characters. Hop over detours. You'll feel like you're losing valuable stuff but it sets you free.

#6: What is your character good at, comfortable with? Throw the polar opposite at them. Challenge them. How do they deal?

#7: Come up with your ending before you figure out your middle. Seriously. Endings are hard, get yours working up front.

#8: Finish your story, let go even if it's not perfect. In an ideal world you have both, but move on. Do better next time.

#9: When you're stuck, make a list of what WOULDN'T happen next. Lots of times the material to get you unstuck will show up.

#10: Pull apart the stories you like. What you like in them is a part of you; you've got to recognize it before you can use it.

#11: Putting it on paper lets you start fixing it. If it stays in your head, a perfect idea, you'll never share it with anyone.

#12: Discount the 1st thing that comes to mind. And the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th – get the obvious out of the way. Surprise yourself.

#13: Give your characters opinions. Passive/malleable might seem likable to you as you write, but it's poison to the audience.

#14: Why must you tell THIS story? What's the belief burning within you that your story feeds off of? That's the heart of it.

#15: If you were your character, in this situation, how would you feel? Honesty lends credibility to unbelievable situations.

#16: What are the stakes? Give us reason to root for the character. What happens if they don't succeed? Stack the odds against.

#17: No work is ever wasted. If it's not working, let go and move on - it'll come back around to be useful later.

#18: You have to know yourself: the difference between doing your best & fussing. Story is testing, not refining.

#19: Coincidences to get characters into trouble are great; coincidences to get them out of it are cheating.

#20: Exercise: take the building blocks of a movie you dislike. How d'you rearrange them into what you DO like?

#21: You gotta identify with your situation/characters, can't just write ‘cool'. What would make YOU act that way?

#22: What's the essence of your story? Most economical telling of it? If you know that, you can build out from there.