You always thought working from home would be great. You could work in your PJs, listen to whatever music you wanted, drink your favorite brand of coffee, and, of course, get up at 7:55 and be at your desk before 8.00...So when your boss agreed to let you work from home part of the time (or when you left to start your own business), you were excited. You just knew you’d be much more productive, and much happier.And then, a little thing called “reality” kicked in. It’s not easy to stay productive and effective when you’re working at home, especially if you have family or housemates…
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Dumb Little Man - Tips for Life
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Staying Productive When You’re Working From Home
30 Jun 2009 | 12:40 am -
5 Gym Benefits You Probably Hadn't Thought Of
28 Jun 2009 | 11:00 pmFor the last 5 months, I have been going to the gym 3 times per week. In the past, I would only visit the gym sporadically (whenever I felt like it) which I'm sure many of you can relate to. Now though, after going regularly for a few months in a row, I'm starting to notice more benefits then people usually associate with working out.The main reason people go to the gym, of course, is for health reasons. People either want to lose a few pounds or they want to bulk up and build muscles. The latter was my primary aim and something I'm still focusing on, but there are other benefits I've gained… -
39 Ways to Live, and Not Merely Exist
28 Jun 2009 | 2:18 am"The proper function of man is to live - not to exist." -- Jack LondonToo often we go through life on autopilot, going through the motions and having each day pass like the one before it.That's fine, and comfortable, until you have gone through another year without having done anything, without having really lived life.That's fine, until you have reached old age and look back on life with regrets.That's fine, until you see your kids go off to college and realize that you missed their childhoods.It's not fine. If you want to truly live life, to really experience it, to enjoy it to the fullest,… -
How to Lose your Girlfriend
27 Jun 2009 | 2:19 amKnown fact - men and women are pretty different. There are things about women that men have spent years trying to understand and guess what, women don't always get men either. However, no matter how much of a "man's man" you are, there are things you have to notice about the woman you have been dating.The following is a guide to help you lose your girlfriend. So, if you are happy and want to remain in your relationship, do the opposite of what is listed below.Buy flowers for her twice a yearIf you only buy your girlfriend flowers on her birthday and your anniversary - she won't feel special. -
15 Excellent Web Apps For Managing Your Personal Finances
25 Jun 2009 | 9:00 amI'm sure I won't be exaggerating if I say that the effective management of your personal finances is a major key to reduced stress and increased happiness. While I am no finance wizard, common sense tells me that keeping an eye on the incoming and outgoing money is always beneficial.Since personal finance is a lucrative business, the internet has spawned upon a huge number of web apps that try to help you manage your money. I decided to check out a bunch of them and pick 15 such tools which seem good at implementing what they promise. If you have a system that works today, keep it. However,…
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Lifehacker
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RunPee Bathroom Break Tool Releases iPhone App [Downloads]
2 Jul 2009 | 2:00 pmiPhone/iPod Touch only: Remember previously mentioned RunPee.com, the ingenious website that tells you when to head out for a bathroom break during a movie so you don't miss any good parts? Now the site has released its first mobile version for iPhone users. Built on the same premise as the website, RunPee's iPhone app tells you the most opportune times to head out for a bathroom break (e.g., @ 35 mins.). Like the site, RunPee Mobile also lets you know how long each "PeeTime" lasts, and what happened while you were away. The application also has a built-in timer (which you can start at the… -
Keep Firefox Open When Closing the Last Tab [Firefox Tip]
2 Jul 2009 | 1:00 pmThe new Firefox 3.5 release brought a lot of great features, but one annoyance sent reader Mark looking for a solution: When you close the last tab, the browser closes instead of opening a blank tab. Changing the behavior back to the way it used to work is very simple: just type about:config into the address bar and find the browser.tabs.closeWindowWithLastTab entry in the list—using the filter makes it easy. Once you've found that key, double-click on it to change the value from true to false, and Firefox should no longer close when you close the last tab. For more, check out the top… -
Tidy Office in a Tiny Closet [Featured Workspace]
2 Jul 2009 | 12:00 pmMost closets are just the right size to stash a workstation away in and offer one very enticing feature: the ability to shutter your desk away at a moments notice. Lifehacker reader splitlog wanted to increase the available floorspace in his room. Where best to stash a big desk? In the closet of course. He still has room above the desk on the shelves to stash some clothing but the rest of the closet is a dedicated workspace. The whole project cost next to nothing, besides a small basic/tray from Home Depot that was turned upside down and mounted behind the crosspiece running underneath the… -
Evernote Comes Out on Top [Faceoff Followup]
2 Jul 2009 | 11:30 amWe recently asked you to choose between popular note-taking applications Evernote and OneNote, and when the dust settled and smoke cleared, the free, cross-platform Evernote emerged victorious. Its margin of victory was slim-ish, though, ousting Microsoft's OneNote by around 10 percent. Check out the full showdown and reasons for reader choices here. -
Open a New Command Prompt from Explorer with a Hotkey [Autohotkey]
2 Jul 2009 | 11:00 amReader Kevin used his ubergeeky AutoHotkey scripting skills to create a hotkey that opens a command prompt window at the same location as the folder you are browsing in Windows Explorer. To use the script, you simply hit the Ctrl+Alt+H shortcut key sequence while looking at a folder in Windows Explorer and a new command prompt window will open, already set to the same working directory. We've already covered how to open a command prompt window from the context menu, but this method is even simpler. To create this hotkey for yourself, create a new AutoHotkey script or add the following to your…
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DIY Life
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ShelterPop Swap: Throw a Margarita Party!
2 Jul 2009 | 10:00 amFiled under: food, entertainingAs a Southern girl now living in the Pacific Northwest, I rarely skip my weekly Mexican food fix. There's nothing that can't be cured with chips, salsa, and a frosty margarita. But, I hate paying $8 or more for a cocktail. And, given that an authentic margarita has just three ingredients, I think I can manage to shake it up and save a few bucks. Our ShelterPop sisters not only supply the perfect margarita recipe but they also make suggestions on how to throw the perfect summertime margarita party -- including how to make this DIY cocktail umbrella lamp. The… -
DIYkid - Marker Cap Pencil Holder
2 Jul 2009 | 8:00 amFiled under: Kiddie CraftsIt's pouring down rain, the kids are getting restless -- time for a craft to keep everyone busy! The perfect kiddie craft -- in my opinion, anyway -- is one that you can create out of items you've already got laying around your house. And it's also really helpful when you create something that can make your life easier down the road.Today's craft achieves both those goals. A marker cap pencil holder is made from the caps of used up markers and one lone sock -- things you can rescue from the trashcan. And when it's complete, it'll make an adorable place for your kiddo… -
Michael Jackson: Craftsters, Artists Pay Tribute
2 Jul 2009 | 6:00 amFiled under: craftsMichael Jackson is being remembered this week via online arts and crafts forums. Some items up for viewing (and often for sale) predate the superstar's June 25 death but are now receiving renewed Web exposure. An array of brand new Jackson-themed works are also appearing as crafters and artists begin paying tribute to the performer.Some gems in the mix include this Blue Planet Creations black canvas tote bag with sequin glove design. While you're over at Etsy, check out this nicely designed mini toss pillow cover by piece of melon. The off-white cover features Michael… -
Build a Raised Vegetable Garden
2 Jul 2009 | 4:00 amFiled under: gardening and plantsMy no-dig vegetable garden is still in its infancy. I have a big ole pile of grass clippings mixed with kitchen compost, as per the instructions of veggie guru Patricia Lanza in her wonderful book, Lasagne Gardening.Problem: This decaying pile is located in my front yard. A real visual treat for my neighbors, I'm sure. Honestly, it looks like I got halfway to the curb with a ton of garden waste then simply gave up and dumped it all on the lawn.As a considerate citizen, I want to tidy things up with a low retaining wall. Trawling the Internet in search of… -
4th of July DIY: 5 Summer Sippers
2 Jul 2009 | 2:00 amFiled under: food, entertainingFrappes. Slushes. Sangria. Just the sweet sound of these drinks conjure up visions of deck parties, frosty pitchers, and those cute little drink umbrellas. Instead of opting for the same old soda for the July 4th picnic this year, why not stir up these summery drinks to keep your guests cool and refreshed? It's drinkwise-DIY at its simplest: refreshing, thirst-quenching, and made from natural, low-cost ingredients. Cheers! Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
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Unclutterer
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And the winners of the Alice.com $250 shopping giveaway are …
2 Jul 2009 | 7:23 amThank you to EVERYONE (all 1,313 of you!) who participated in our Alice.com $250 shopping credit giveaway. Now let’s get on to the good stuff … At 10:00 a.m. ET this morning, I closed the comments and counted up the entries. Then, I headed over to the Random Integer Generator at random.org and entered in the data: Out popped the following numbers: 94 — Aliya 811 — David I have contacted the winners and they will be receiving $250 credits in their accounts at Alice.com. (I’m a wee bit envious!!) Congratulations to our winners and thank you to Alice.com for their… -
Control cable-clutter with a monkey braid
2 Jul 2009 | 4:30 amAn excellent post on cable clutter from The Closet Entrepreneur has been making the rounds this week. It shows how to use a monkey braid (or chain sinnet) to shorten cables so they stay out of the way and don’t get tangled. I tried it out with a particularly annoying 25′ 13-pin MIDI cable I use frequently and it works just as advertised. Sometimes the best things in life really are free. (via Lifehacker) -
Unitasker Wednesday: The Beaba Babycook
1 Jul 2009 | 7:30 amOkay, I know that choosing unitaskers from Williams-Sonoma is so simple that it’s like shooting fish in a barrel … but I can’t help myself! There are so many wonderful unitaskers lining their shelves. It’s fruitless for me to try to steer clear. I am drawn to their shiny, unitasker-ness like a moth to a street lamp. I can’t help myself. This week’s winner of the unitasker title is the Beaba Babycook. Simply by using a pot, a steamer insert for that pot, and a blender (or potato masher or food processor or even the back of a sturdy fork) that you already… -
A year ago on Unclutterer
1 Jul 2009 | 7:15 am2008 Time-saving tips Tips to help you save time doing chores. The transforming diaper bag The Hoppop is a diaper bag that transforms into a baby seat. Folding efficiently can save space Real Simple has a how to guide on the correct way to fold just about anything. June 2008 wrap up These are the things that made June 2008 memorable at Unclutterer. 2007 A man in uniform Steve Jobs is a man who knows what he wants to wear. -
Alice.com giveaway
1 Jul 2009 | 4:30 amAs a “thank you” to us for testing their service in the private beta (gamma?) launch, Alice.com has given Unclutterer TWO $250 credits to give away to our readers. If you’re a winner, $250 will be credited to your Alice.com account for you to spend through their service. And, because they have nice low prices, you can actually get quite a bit of stuff for $250 (and you don’t have to spend it all in one trip, any balance will remain in your account for another shopping session). I love generous presents for our readers! To enter for a chance to win one of the $250…
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Stepcase Lifehack
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The Benefits of Automation
2 Jul 2009 | 6:00 amAutomation is the use of control systems to control processes, reducing the need for human intervention. Putting this into context, automation is having technology do things for you so that you don’t have to. Automation is all around us. When you’re at a set of traffic lights, there isn’t a traffic light operator that decides when to change the light from red to green. It is done automatically. The street lights come on at night automatically. There are no lamplighters running around turning each light on anymore. We can apply this same idea to our own life. Granted, most of… -
Take Back Your Personal Power (Part 1)
1 Jul 2009 | 6:00 am“But I know What’s Best for You…” Do you ever feel like you’re a mere pawn in someone else’s game; a powerless player that is regularly used, abused and manipulated for the gain and self interest of others? Self interest that’s often thinly disguised as some kind of action, decision or “plan” that’s somehow in your best interest? Isn’t it amazing how some people know what’s best for their life and yours? If only you and I had the ability to think and choose for ourselves; things could be so different. Have you ever felt like your life (or part of your life) has… -
10 More Linux Resources for Kids
30 Jun 2009 | 7:00 amYesterday, I wrote about Linux distributions designed with kids’ needs in mind and some of the software for children that runs on Linux. Today I thought I’d share some of the other resources I came across while researching a likely candidate to install on my nephew’s and niece’s new PC. Switching Your Kids to Linux by Scott K. This is a great primer for parents getting ready to give their kids a Linux system. The author walks parents through the steps of getting your kids ready, such as making sure open source software like Firefox, Pidgin, and Thunderbird are already installed… -
Seven Great Questions to Ask at a Job Interview
30 Jun 2009 | 6:00 amIf you are going for an interview as a prospective employee then you should do some research. Read the job description and requirements carefully. Browse the web site to see how the organization presents itself. Search for news items and comments about the company on news sites and blogs. For the interview itself you should dress smartly and appropriately. It is important to have some questions prepared and here are a few that could really help: 1. What exactly would my day-to-day responsibilities be? It is essential that you clearly understand your role and the tasks that you would… -
Linux for Children
29 Jun 2009 | 7:00 amI recently took possession of a pair of older PCs – the natural consequence of nagging one’s older relatives to get something a little more “post-Columbian” – and of course my first instinct is to refurbish one as a Linux PC for my nephew and niece, ages 7 and 5. My nephew, especially, is computer-obsessed, and I figure that giving him a complete child-friendly, education-focused PC might encourage some more productive “play” than he gets using mom and dad’s PC. Kid-Friendly Linux Distributions Believe it or not, there are several distributions of Linux intended for use by…
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MAKE Magazine
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The Walnut Creek model railroad
2 Jul 2009 | 3:30 pmNow this is a train layout, 1,800 sqaure feet of it. It's the pride and joy of the Walnut Creek Model Railroad Society, Walnut Creek, CA, who've been at it since 1975. I like how the piece on Wired.com opens: Before SimCity -- even before Dungeons and Dragons -- back when "computer" was a job title, people still found ways to vaporize countless hours of free time designing and maintaining private universes. In the analog world, such parallel realities were built with tweezers, glue and a spouse's permission to cover the basement with papier-mâché massifs and plywood plains. And this, on the… -
A PAC for geeks?
2 Jul 2009 | 1:00 pmIntroducing Syn/Ack Pac, a Political Action Committee for "SysAdmins, Tinkerers, CodeMonkeys, Makers, Technologists, Warranty Voiders, and Geeks of all types." Why Do Geeks Need a PAC? Non-profit groups like the Electronic Frontier Foundation, Public Knowledge and many others do a great job evangelizing, lobbying, and litigating on our behalf. But as non profits, they're unable to particpate in the political process. That political void is what SYN/ACK PAC seeks to fill, bolstering the efforts of our non profit friends with our participation in campaigns and elections, we'll make sure we… -
Tangible drum machine
2 Jul 2009 | 12:00 pmHere are instructions for building a drum machine with a tangible visual interface. A camera above the paper drum board reads the positions of physical objects and translates them into sounds, as indicated on the labels on the objects. It looks fairly easy to make, with most of the components from paper and card. The d-touch Drum Machine Read more | Permalink | Comments | Read more articles in Music | Digg this! -
Metallurgical eye candy
2 Jul 2009 | 10:00 amAn alloy of 1.3% copper, 0.3% magnesium, and 0.3% manganese in aluminum, etched with potassium permanganate and lye. So I woke up this morning all pumped up to blog about metallography. If you don't already know, metallography is a type of scientific microimaging that involves mirror-polishing metal surfaces and then etching them with various reagents to reveal their microstructures, which are often of breathtaking beauty. "Griffith Cannon Flash," by Dr. Frederick E. Schmidt, from the iron of a cannon used at Gettysburg. Unfortunately, there aren't a lot of these images online. ASM… -
Motorcycle brake rotor repair kludge
2 Jul 2009 | 9:00 amMy dad recently took a minor tumble on his motorcycle. He's fine, but the bike was banged up a bit, including a bent brake rotor. Consensus among his buddies in the Magna Owners of Texas was that the rotor would have to be replaced, but of course they're pricey, and since the rotor was "shot" anyway, Dad figured he might as well try to straighten it and see what happened. Here's what he did, in his own words: Since I had mounted the tire/wheel on the axle in my vice to polish the wheel, it was a simple matter to rig up the "feeler" shown in the first picture to check out the rotor flatness.
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The Art of Manliness
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How to Give Praise Like a Man
1 Jul 2009 | 6:18 pmEditor’s note: We previously covered how to give criticism like a man. But it’s equally to know how to render effective praise. So today Tom Cox is going to gives us a primer on how to do so. Tom Cox is a consultant, author and speaker based in Beaverton, Oregon. He has worked in nearly every private sector industry as well as the public sector, improving any process that involves people. His weekly radio program “Tom on Leadership” is here and his blog is here. One of the most powerful forms of human communications is praise. We are surrounded by opportunities to… -
The Best of Art of Manliness: June 2009
1 Jul 2009 | 8:06 amJune was a fantastic month for The Art of Manliness. The 30 Days to a Better Man Challenge was a big success. We had over 600 people sign up for the official Community group. Thanks to everyone who participated! Keep your eyes open for the 30 Days to a Better Man eBook. Also, traffic reached an all time high of 600,000 visits and our subscriber count reached 39,000. Thanks to everyone who has helped spread the word about AoM. We don’t have an advertising budget, so any growth we have is because readers like you are telling your friends about us. July is going to be an exciting month… -
The Ultimate Guide to Buying the Perfect Engagement Ring
1 Jul 2009 | 7:52 amFind the girl who is the “one.” Check. Ask her father for her hand in marriage. Check. Plan the perfect proposal. Check. Buy engagement ring. Hmmmm….. Buying an engagement ring can be an overwhelming task. There’s a lot of pressure on this purchase. It’s a symbol of your love for your girlfriend, and it’s a token of your willingness to take the relationship to the next level. Plus, it doesn’t help that your fiance will be showing off the ring to her friends and family. For many men, the purchase of their lady’s engagement ring will be… -
30 Days to a Better Man Wrap-Up
30 Jun 2009 | 4:41 pmDuring the month of June 2009, The Art of Manliness ran a series of posts called “30 Days to a Better Man.” Each day we created a task for Art of Manliness readers to complete that would help them improve in different facets of their lives such as relationships, fitness and health, career, and personal finances. We also had a very active Better Man Community Group where participants reported in how they did on the task and gave suggestions and encouragement to other members. Over all, I was very happy with the project and feel that lots of men got something out of it. Below,… -
How to Build Sturdy Basement Shelves
30 Jun 2009 | 8:10 amEditor’s Note: Every now and then, we feature an excellent blog post that was originally posted in The Art of Manliness Community by a community member. Today we’re featuring an article from one of our most prolific community members, Will. Thanks for the great write up, Will! If you’re thinking about learning a handy skill, making bookshelves as one of the most practical and satisfying to tackle. Every man has a desire to make some furniture that will be used in his home day after day. And bookshelves are a great introduction to this craft. I recently undertook a project to…
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Ramblings From A Glass Half Full
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Why Social Media Is Like a Screwdriver - Think Utility, Not ROI
28 Jun 2009 | 1:39 pmI hear a lot about the “ROI of Social Media” these days, and every time I do, I cringe. Over last 27 years I’ve done a ton of ROI calculations determining if an investment of “X” in something (call it “Y“) could, or did, produce an adequate return on that investment, based on predetermined thresholds. So, if my threshold was 10%, and my X investment in Y returned 12%, I was either good to go or popping a champagne cork. Let’s now consider “Social Media“. Here’s my first problem - most people aren’t buying these… -
The Secret(s) of Work
21 Jun 2009 | 1:17 pmAfter doing something for 27 years, you’d think that you could figure it all out and know how to “do” it really, really well, and gain fulfillment too. That “something” for me is work (aka what we do to make a living). And nope, I haven’t quite figured it all out yet - which I gather isn’t unusual given that a Google search for “Secret of Work” produced no less than 181 Million entries. Keep in mind I’m not talking about the classic cause and effect here - that is, the objective results of the labor, which is in most cases… -
The SOBCon2010 “Reserve Now, Pay Later” Program
14 Jun 2009 | 1:33 pm(photo by Chris Garrett, from SOBCon09) SOBCon09 is now history, and all the “digiloggers” have returned to the blogosphere, blending the analog with the digital and keeping the human ahead of the platform. With this wind at our backs Liz Strauss and I have forged ahead with planning for SOBCon2010, and we’re pleased to report that we have a date and a place: April 30- May 2, 2010 Summit Executive Center Chicago, Illinois That’s right, we’ll be gathering again at the same great facility where we’ve held the last two SOBCons- We also have a theme for 2010 -… -
You Are What You Earn (or the Secret of Life, Part III)
7 Jun 2009 | 1:51 pmRemember the old Smith Barney commercial with John Houseman? In it he uttered one of those unforgettable lines that will forever be emblazoned in my memory: “Smith Barney - they make money the old-fashioned way - they eaaaaaarn it” I was thinking about that line a lot lately, and the significance of “earning”. The dictionary defines earn “to receive as return for effort” and “to come to be duly worthy of“. In other words, when we truly “earn”, it was undoubtedly the result of a great deal of time and energy devoted to something. -
The New Age of Nice: Right Sentiment, Wrong Word
31 May 2009 | 2:45 pmIn case you haven’t heard , we have entered into yet another new phase in human development - the “New Age of Nice“. It was declared as front page news (with a big smiley face) in this past Sunday’s New York Times. The article made its case by citing the recent popularity of Judd Apatow’s movies and their “nice” characters like those played by Paul Rudd, and the humble, polite and amicable Kris Allen, the latest winner of “American Idol”. And there’s a earnest little blog, “Operation Nice“, which is recruiting readers…
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Shanel Yang . com
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How IQ Tests Make You Smarter
1 Jul 2009 | 1:01 amPhoto by Jeff Blazer When you learn how to solve one type of problem, your brain remembers the “trick” that solved that problem and stores it for future use with new similar problems. So, the more different types of existing problems and solutions you are willing to let your mind play with, the more solutions to future problems you will have at your mental fingertips in your own portable personal computer that is your incredible brain. Which is also why playing with IQ tests and brain teasers actually makes you smarter. To be smart means knowing: (1) a lot of useful stuff,… -
Answers to IQ Tests and Brain Teasers
29 Jun 2009 | 1:01 amPhoto by ekai Here are the answers to the IQ tests and brain teasers from the last post. ANSWERS TO IQ TESTS a. The Hats in the Box Remember that there were only 5 hats in the box to pick from: 2 white and 3 black. Each of the 3 men picked out one and put it on his own head without seeing the color of it. The man at the back saw the two hats in front of him. Yet, when he was asked if he knew what color his own hat was, he said, “No.” That means the two hats he saw in front of him did not help him figure out what color his own hat was. If he had seen 2 white hats in front of him,… -
How to Think Outside the Box
26 Jun 2009 | 1:01 amPhoto by Torsten Hofmann Thinking outside the box is nothing more—and nothing less!—than the ability to see a problem from more than one angle and, thus, discover newer and better ways to solve it. But, why would you want a better solution to a problem if you already have a solution that works? Because: (1) we humans are naturally curious to learn more all the time; (2) we are lazy about physically demanding or mundane tasks and would love to find ways to minimize them as much as possible; and, (3) we also get bored easily and want ever more exciting forms of entertainment and leisure. -
What Do Men Want in a Woman?
24 Jun 2009 | 1:01 amPhoto by 0k4mi Honestly, I don’t really know what men in general want in a woman. I know what a lot of different men I’ve personally known said they wanted in a woman. But, hey, I’m a woman, so maybe they were telling me the truth, maybe not. Maybe they tell their guy friends something totally different. Besides, I have a sneaking suspicion that a lot of guys just tell a woman whatever they think she wants to hear. None of them told me, for example, that the girl of his dreams has a hot body and is terrific in bed, though I’m sure those things are near the top of any… -
What Do Women Want in a Man?
22 Jun 2009 | 1:01 amPhoto by Gret@Lorenz What women want in a man changes over our lifetimes. These are just my observations. No research data here. Merely my observations from decades of people-watching and thousands of conversations with friends and sisters, and friends of sisters, about what we all wanted in a man throughout all those years. I also spent thousands of hours reading books and magazines on this topic. Finally, I did do 15 hours of field research observing and interviewing men and women in a restaurant/bar/ nightclub called Bobby McGee’s in Burbank, CA, for a sociology and law course at…
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Lifestyle Blogs on Blogged
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Multaq Approval Marks Comeback for Sanofi’s Heart Drug
Health Blog Multaq, Sanofi-Aventis’s treatment for heart-rhythm disorders, has made a comeback. Rejected by the FDA in 2006 because of safety concerns, the agency has approved Multaq, the company announced today. -
Rose Ann DeMoro: Go Ahead, Tax those Benefits, It's Central to the Health Plan
The Huffington Post Enough already on the hand wringing over the plan to start taxing employee health care benefits. The tax is not a threat to the type of reform plan expected to emerge from Congress. It's a central element -- to pay for the massive public bai... -
Protect Your Pets This Independence Day
SayEducate | Making Life Decisions Simplified The 4th of July holiday is one of the most favorite summer celebrations for young and old alike. As our nation prepares to celebrate its 233rd family petsbirthday, Americans are purchasing hot dogs, slaw, chips, soda and of course, entertainment in the form of fireworks. -
Diet Tip: Be Tardy For Office Treats
FitSugar I don't know about you, but at least weekly in my office, someone sends out an email about some delicious food in the kitchen, whether it's freshly baked muffins or a box of See's candy. Getting... -
Mississippi Continues to be Fattest State in America
dBTechno Results of a new survey find that obesity rates are on the up across America with the state of Mississippi continuing to lead the way. The survey was put together by the Trust for America’s Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and has some scarey findings.
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Instructables: exploring - featured
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Nerf Mods: A Beginner's Guide
2 Jul 2009 | 10:25 amThis Instructable will introduce you to the vast world of Nerf gun Modifications. It covers basic ideas and aspects of Nerf gun modifications. Beginners can be easily repelled from Nerf gun modifications by seeing a modification "write-up" that seems complex. Many modification writ... By: geek27 -
DIY Bamboo Jew's Harp.
2 Jul 2009 | 7:28 amToday I will learn you how to make bamboo Jew's harp, with the minimum of tools. This kind of jew's harp can be great to learning, for me the only problems it's that the vibration is not so long, so you can't do really really nice melody. But it's enought to offer at kids, or at friends, original a... By: pedro8 -
Gameboy Sculpting: "Bricking" Your DMG
2 Jul 2009 | 12:54 amEver wanted to do something to your DMG besides paint it? Me too, so I busted out my sculpting tools today and some Aves Apoxie Sculpt and went to town. My original idea was to just do some red Mario style bricks, but in tradition of the DMG's nickname "Grey Brick" I decided to do just tha... By: Kyle Robinson -
Pocket Flower Press
1 Jul 2009 | 7:24 amHave you ever been out for a stroll and found some pretty flowers that you want to preserve only to find that by the time you arrive home they are crushed, wilted, and no longer good for pressing. Well suffer no more with this handy pocket-sized flower press, now you can press flowers on the go! W... By: ChrysN -
How to repair cigarette burns on carpet
30 Jun 2009 | 8:31 pmOver the years I have forked out money to carpet cleaners to repair carpet burns. Until lately when I watched one guy do it and learned there super money making trick. Forget paying carpet cleaners or carpet repair men 45 bucks a burn. You can achieve the exact same result for free with simple tools... By: west49rules
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Productivity501
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Interview: Productive Time of Day
2 Jul 2009 | 11:00 amWe interviewed a number of people and asked: What time of day do you feel you are most productive and why? (198) Here are their answers. What about you? Leave your thoughts in the comments. I feel most productive in late morning and early afternoon. My energy peaks at this time of day, and I have found I am able to focus more on important tasks. I am not a morning person, so usually I end up going around in circles or repeating something- basically, wasting my time. Late afternoon, beginning around 3, I begin to get sluggish and often need a nap! It is important to know when your… -
10 Cell Phone Tips
1 Jul 2009 | 11:00 amCell phones are playing an increasingly important part in most people’s lives. Here are 10 things to consider when you get ready to upgrade phones. 1. Connectivity Does the phone connect well with your computer and other devices? Some phones have bluetooth and can keep your address book synchronized every time you come near your computer. Others require a USB connection. Some only have synchronization software that works with particular operating systems. Make sure you know that the device will connect with the things that are important to you before you buy it. 2. Email… -
Why You Need Personal Capital
30 Jun 2009 | 11:00 amI’ve been exploring several business opportunities recently, so I’ve been thinking a lot about capital. If we want to do X it will take $1500 of capital. If we want to do Y it will take $4000 of capital. Our options in business greatly depend on the amount of capital we control. Capital represents the ability to do something. Better yet, it creates an option for you to choose a particular path. Without enough capital, that particular path is not available to you. When it comes to our personal performance, capital is an important concept. True, we don’t usually call… -
Fewer Financial Institutions
29 Jun 2009 | 11:00 amLast year I finally got fed up with all the statements I was getting from various financial institutions. I had retirement accounts with 4 or 5 different companies and stock accounts with 2 or 3 others. It was very difficult to keep track of what was doing well and what was doing poorly. I finally settled on two institutions; one for retirement type accounts and one for my non-retirement savings, checking and investments. I contacted both institutions and gave them a list of what I wanted to move over. On the retirement side of things, the transition went very smoothly. They filled… -
Networking in Large Companies
25 Jun 2009 | 11:00 amNokia has an interesting culture for promoting informal mentoring. When someone new comes on staff, their manager sits down with them and makes a list of the people they need to meet. The manager helps give the new employee an idea of what they should discuss with each person on the list and explains why building that particular relationship is important. Nokia then supports this practice by giving the new employee time to visit with each person on the list–even when that means traveling to other company locations. The result is a very strong collaborative culture that gives new…
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PracticalHacks
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Air New Zealand’s “Bare Essentials of Safety” video
2 Jul 2009 | 4:36 amIf you’re an avid traveler, you’ve likely heard about Air New Zealand’s “Bare Essentials” safety video – part of the airline’s “Nothing to Hide” campaign – in which all of the employees featured in the video (and accompanying tv ad) wear nothing but body paint. Proving an airline can have a sense of humor during tough [...] -
Fodor’s: When to use cash vs. frequent flyer miles
2 Jul 2009 | 4:24 amFodor’s editor Doug Stallings covers 5 times you should always use flyer miles, and 4 situations that are more suited to purchasing tickets with cash: Frequent Flyer Miles: When Should You Use One or the Other? In addition to some solid tips, Doug’s article also includes links to several sites useful to frequent air travelers. One of [...] -
Aww fer chrissakes, they updated Firefox!
1 Jul 2009 | 4:00 amMore bad news from the interwebs… those merry pranksters over at Mozilla Labs upgraded/updated Firefox – they released v 3.5 in the last couple of days. It’s wonderful, it’s marvelous, it’s faster, it hard boils eggs in a minute and a half, and I’m sorta pissed off. Firefox 3.5 does seem to be a solid improvement. [...] -
Stop undressing in airports with the Spec-Ops TSA-compliant “Better BDU” belt
30 Jun 2009 | 4:59 amLike one of Pavlov’s dogs, the moment I enter an airport and hear those tinny sounding PA announcements, I robotically begin shedding items… my watch, keys and Blackberry go into a zippered compartment on my bag, and as I stroll toward the TSA checkpoint I take my belt off and stow it. It’s become [...] -
Ultimate guide to carry-on bags – @ SmarterTravel
27 Jun 2009 | 8:01 pmSmarterTravel published their “Carry-On Bags: The Ultimate Guide” a few days ago. Click on the link to view the original post; you can view and save the Free guide.
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Put Things Off
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OUT NOW: Put Things Off for iPhone
5 Jun 2009 | 8:18 am56 sleepless nights after cooking it up, I’m delighted to announce that Put Things Off — the laid-back todo list for iPhone and iPod Touch — is now available in the iTunes App Store worldwide. [iTunes link] I’d be thrilled to Grandma-sized morsels if you’d support me by checking out the demo on my new Spiffing Apps site, spreading the word, and buying the app if you like the look if it. Did someone say cake? You’re back already? With questions? How lovely. Help yourself to cake and take a seat. I’ll go ahead and make some wild assumptions about what… -
Give Up and Buy an iPhone
21 Apr 2009 | 7:29 amI deeply distrust all forms of technology, none more so than the microwave oven. In the terrible event that I must use one — say, to dry wet socks or reheat my dampened enthusiasm for British tennis players — I do so only after glancing away, grimacing awkwardly, and shielding my testicles with a bread board. Such healthy disrespect for all things buzzing is what keeps me alive, despite a niggling urge to try cleaning our blender in the bath; I have a long-standing theory that electricity and water would mix just fine if you did it fast enough.1 The part where I confess It may… -
The End of Free Content
18 Mar 2009 | 6:59 amThe magazine and newspaper industry is flopping like a wet pancake in the wind. Circulation is dropping, advertisers are flocking, and readers are moving online.1 When paid content became free and easy to access, ad revenue dropped like a shrink wrapped goose in a hailstorm. Ask the average blogger how much they make by giving their content away. Then ask your local newspaper editor the same. Both will sheepishly display their net worth: some crusty epidermis from the pit of their belly buttons topped with an economy-sized serving of Polyblend. Change is in the air But bloggers and hobbyists… -
Stick a Chart in it
20 Feb 2009 | 3:41 amThe science of padding When it comes to report writing, give someone the choice of waffling their existence away like a sad dough boy in a hot grill press, or expiring in front of their Word document, and most will choose option three: they will stick a chart in it. Charts are everywhere these days, and few of them do us much good. But the most abominable thing about charts is this: creating a good one when you need some quality document padding in a hurry is impossible. A graph and a half Like me, you probably spent years scribbling all manner of pointless line graphs and bar art at school,… -
Why you need luxury loo roll
26 Jan 2009 | 6:28 amThe loo roll hall of horrors You can tell if a company values its customers by the quality of its toilet paper. That rough stuff you have to fold 16 times before grating across your rump like twisted metal on a block of 30-year old parmesan speaks as much about the company’s disregard for your custom as it does for their undeclared war on your bottom. Good customer service trickles from the shiny sales people and free coffee right down to the bathroom floor, suspicious puddles and all. And, while many will be tempted to cut costs by downgrading or neglecting to replenish such minutiae…
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Gail Goodwin's Blog
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Moving Through Life
24 Jun 2009 | 10:58 pmIn case you’re wondering why you haven’t heard from me this week, we’re in the process of moving from our home from Colorado to a new home in Montana. The past two weeks have been spent sorting and packing our treasures for the 1000 mile trek. And boy, has this brought up a lot of stuff for me! Physically relocating from one place to another is just like moving from one place to another emotionally, through the changes in our life. Why is it then, that we wait until we’re ready to move to rid ourselves of excess baggage, in both a physical and metaphysical way? I…
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Schaefer's Blog
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The GREATEST List of GREAT Book Lists
28 Jun 2009 | 9:00 pmI tweeted a few days ago how much I love reading book lists. It doesn’t seem to matter who makes it or what is covers, I will always stop what I’m doing to read through one. I’m not sure what it is that causes the intrigue, but as I’ve discussed it with others it seems I’m not the only one who loves them. So, in an attempt to consolidate some of the best book lists I’ve found in one easy place, I present to you the following: THE GREATEST LIST OF GREAT BOOK LISTS!!! 1. The Modern Library 100 Best Novels 2. The Modern Library 100 Best Nonfiction 3. -
It’s All About Tribes
21 Jun 2009 | 10:19 pmIt seems there is lots being written about tribes these days. Here are three interesting examples: Tribes in Iraq and Afghanistan Three years ago (though I just found it recently, shame) Stephen Pressfield wrote an article called, “It’s the Tribes, Stupid,” where he makes a convincing argument that what we are fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan is not Islam, but rather “…tribalism articulated in terms of religion.” He argues that tribalism seeks security over freedom, hence strongmen, not democracies, have ruled their cultures for years. Pressfield… -
The Unpursuit of Happiness?
14 Jun 2009 | 10:20 pmIt is an oft-repeated, but accurate axiom that “things” are not the key to attaining happiness. For those who have traveled the third world, the smiles of men and women who live on less per year than we make in a few days deal a mighty blow to our notions of the good life and what is necessary to attain it. We tell ourselves that keeping up with the Jones’ is a fool’s game, but our credit card statements say otherwise. Like many truths of life it seems that those regarding happiness are often relegated to the later years, after we’ve spent ourselves into… -
On Writing – John Updike
10 Jun 2009 | 9:00 pmFor the past year I’ve become fascinated with great writers, many thanks to Ben Casnocha for tipping me off to Tobias Wolff, John Updike and some good literary blogs. The following comes from the L.A. Times blog, Jacket Copy. See full post here. It’s always interesting to hear someone talk about their passions, but even more so when it is a writer. That their job is one of communicating and story-telling makes their descriptions more potent and memorable. A pitcher might say that he likes pitching because he’s always been good at it and he likes the roar of the crowd,… -
Blueberries, Almonds and Red Wine
8 Jun 2009 | 11:00 pmWe’re told a lot what we should eat and drink these days. Most of the time it just annoys me. It’s probably because since birth I’ve been blessed with an incredibly high metabolism, allowing me to live outside the normal nutritional rules. Much to my mom’s befuddlement, as a boy I would eat her healthy meals then make myself an Oreo sundae or put chocolate chips on my Eggo waffles in the morning. My poor eating habits accelerated rapidly once I wasn’t under her watchful eye, but still without any detriment to how much I weighed or looked. Will, my…
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LifeClever ;-)
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The “Milton Glaser: To Inform & Delight” Giveaway—Winner Chosen!
10 Jun 2009 | 11:18 amThank you everyone for the great comments. I’ve selected a winner and it’s Jimmy Vu Nguyen. We’re looking forward to that mind map! I’m running a little contest for my friends at Art House Films to promote their new documentary, Milton Glaser: To Inform & Delight. Yes design nerds, that’s the Milton Glaser—the designer who created the famous I ♥ NY logo. The prize is Milton Glaser’s latest book, Drawing is Thinking. The film will be playing on June 19th in San Francisco at the Roxie. Here’s the official synopsis: For many, Milton Glaser is… -
Meet me at AIGA SF Portfolio Day 2009
6 May 2009 | 11:36 amI’ll be reviewing portfolios for the AIGA San Francisco chapter on Saturday, May 30, 2009. It’s an all day event, and it’ll be my sixth year as a reviewer. I enjoy it every time, and I’ve yet to make someone cry. Am I too nice? Perhaps, this will be my lucky year. ;-) It looks like reservations are still available. So sign up if you’re looking for a job in this terrible economy or if you simply want portfolio feedback from Bay Area design studios. Space is limited, so register soon: AIGA SF Portfolio Day Registration -
Say bye bye to Hallmark!
22 Apr 2009 | 4:25 pmCan’t find greeting cards that live up to your design standards? Check out Paper Culture, a new greeting card company co-founded by my friend and former MetaDesign colleague, Hui-ling Chen. The cards are modern, cute, and delightful. Best part, you can even personalize them with your own photos or text. Right now, a majority of the cards are baby-oriented. But I expect to see a larger variety of different event cards once the business gets going. Here are some more sample images: Don’t forget to check out my previous post on other cool greeting card companies: Where to Find… -
Why design is political
2 Apr 2009 | 6:05 amHere’s a little something I wrote ages ago which I should have shared with you. Never too late: Simple problems (problems which are already defined) are easy to solve, because defining a problem inherently defines a solution. The definition of a problem is subjective; it comes from a point of view. Thus, when defining problems, all stake-holders, experts, and designers are equally knowledgeable (or unknowledgeable). Some problems cannot be solved, because stake-holders cannot agree on the definition. These problems are called wicked, but sometimes they can be tamed. Solving simple… -
How to write a positioning statement
1 Apr 2009 | 9:58 amI don’t have a prank or joke for you today. But, I do have a new post on the SMB Marketing Guide blog. It’s a short, but practical, guide on how to write a positioning statement. I even wrote like a poem. Here’s a little teaser for you: Your product is one among millions. With so many products, why should a customer choose yours? Positioning answers this question. A product’s “position” is the place it occupies in the customer’s mind. All products have a position— even if it’s the position of “unfamiliar” or “irrelevant to me” or “not very good”.
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Stew Friedman
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Become a More Creative Leader — Think Small
15 Jun 2009 | 7:20 amWhat kind of leadership do we need now? This was the question I asked last week at the beginning of a day-long workshop attended by a group of senior-level women at a major technology firm headquartered on the west coast of the US. And I've been asking this question of thousands of other business professionals over the last year or so in similar settings around the country. Just a few days ago, in Puerto Rico, I asked it again at a gathering of business executives and, again I heard pretty much the same thing. By far, the most common responses? Adaptive, flexible, and innovative. Because of… -
The Power of Preventive Assessment
20 May 2009 | 11:42 amI just returned from Toronto where I spent some time in the hands of an amazing corps of health care professionals at Medcan, North America's biggest preventive health clinic. I heard more than one story of how Medcan's preventive assessments saved lives — and enormous medical cost. Medcan's CEO, Shaun Francis, is an alumnus of my Total Leadership course at the Wharton School, which he took in 2003, and he kindly invited me to try the service his firm provides. I was blown away. In less than a day, I underwent a comprehensive set of health assessments — all done with great care,… -
The Most Compelling Leadership Vision
8 May 2009 | 12:10 pmA distinguished woman rose to speak in the front of a room of 40 fellow employees during a Total Leadership workshop I was conducting earlier this week at a large pharmaceutical company's headquarters. "Joyous laughter — this is the sound I hear throughout the home I have built and now maintain for mentally ill women in Puerto Rico. They are surrounded by people who love and care for them. They are enjoying life." Juana, let's call her, was telling the brief (one-minute) story of her personal leadership vision; a description of the impact you're having on your world and the legacy… -
The Soloist: Creating a Sound Distinctly Yours
24 Apr 2009 | 1:28 pmSteve Lopez's magnificent story (a book and now a movie) about his friendship with Nathaniel Ayers — the homeless cellist stricken with schizophrenia — provides powerful lessons about leading change that instruct and inspire. As I read the story, I found myself coming back to three themes that resonated with my own teaching on creating sustainable change in all aspects of life: 1. Reduce fear to enable change. Imagine being so afraid of losing what you value that you don't want to have anything worth caring about. At one point in this can't-stop-reading narrative, we find Ayers… -
Will the Next MBA Grads Take More Risks?
24 Mar 2009 | 12:46 pmWho cares what games we choose...little to win, nothing to lose. So goes the chorus of the Strawberry Alarm Clock's 1967 #1 hit song, Incense and Peppermints. This phrase — an iconic representation of '60s counterculture — came to mind the other day as I read what one of my Wharton MBA students wrote in response to this question I posed to them as we began the fourth quarter of their first year: How are you thinking about the future in light of how the economic context has changed since you first arrived at Wharton in August 2008? She said that now is a great chance "for my…
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Zen Habits
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Why Your Email Inbox Is NOT a Good To-do List
1 Jul 2009 | 3:54 pmPost written by Leo Babauta. Follow me on Twitter. New York Times techonology writer David Pogue, a writer I admire, recently listed some of his best productivity tips — and it’s a good list. One thing I noted with interest is that he uses his email inbox as a to-do list, which is a fairly common practice. And while there’s certainly nothing wrong with that, and I’ve done it myself, I wanted to make a quick counterargument. An email inbox isn’t the best to-do list, and here’s why: 1. You can’t change the subject lines. This means your to-do list is… -
Why You (Almost) Never See a Fat Japanese (or, How I Lost 5 lbs. in Tokyo)
29 Jun 2009 | 5:38 pmPost written by Leo Babauta. Follow me on Twitter. One of the most striking things about my trip to Japan was how thin everyone was. I kept saying to my family, “There are no fat Japanese!” That’s not entirely true, of course. Aside from sumo wrestlers, there are some Japanese people who are fat — but at least in my two-week trip to Tokyo, they were pretty hard to find. Seriously: in America (including my hometown of Guam), you could walk around and half if not most of the people you see will be at least a little overweight. Many are outright obese. But in Japan,… -
The Most Powerful Way to Get Unstuck
27 Jun 2009 | 4:00 pmArticle by Zen Habits contributor Jonathan Mead; follow him on twitter. Have you ever thought about why you get stuck? I’m sure you have. There are entire industries built around productivity. There are multitudes of books, seminars, webinars, podcasts, blog posts, desktop apps, email apps, mobile apps, and physical products centered around helping you get things done. They are supposed to help you get unstuck, right? Because if you weren’t stuck, you wouldn’t need any of those things to keep you going. But what if you didn’t need any of those things? What if you could… -
All the Advice on Happiness You’ll Ever Need in One Post
25 Jun 2009 | 4:00 pmPost written by Leo Babauta. Follow me on Twitter. If there’s an underlying theme throughout Zen Habits, besides simplifying your life, it’s finding happiness. I’ve written dozens of articles on different ways to be happy, but it all boils down to one thing: be happy now — don’t wait for it. Still, for those who want more depth, I’ve compiled a couple dozen of my favorite happiness articles from the archives. I hope you enjoy them! (If not, you’ve missed the point.) 18 Practical Tips for Living the Golden Rule Feeling Down? 7 Ways to Pick Yourself… -
How to Kill Your Excuses
24 Jun 2009 | 4:00 pmPost written by Leo Babauta. Follow me on Twitter. We all make excuses. But the successful ones are those who can kill the excuses like the miserable maggots they are. I’m too tired. I don’t have the time. I don’t feel motivated. I’d rather do nothing. I don’t have the money, equipment, space. I can’t because … We’ve all made the excuses. Here’s how to kill them. See the positive. Excuses are usually made because we don’t feel like doing something — we’re accentuating the negative. Instead, see the fun in something, the…
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Business Hacks
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Zoho Projects 2.0 Adds Wikis, Chat, and Microsoft Project Integration
2 Jul 2009 | 9:30 amBack when I worked for Faceless Giant Corporation, LLC, I was part of a team that desperately needed a project-management tool. We were all over the place — Excel, Lotus Notes, countless PDFs and Word documents — to the point where the project simply couldn’t be managed efficiently. Oh, how I wish I could go back [...] -
Learn Twitter-Speak for All Your Twitter-Based Marketing Initiatives
2 Jul 2009 | 7:00 amIf you believe Rick, Twitter is an awesome and powerful marketing tool. I think it’s a pointless waste of time. If you are more Rick than Dave, then you might be interested in this Twitter-to-English dictionary. I was actually kind of jazzed to run across this, because while some of the terms are pretty common, some [...] -
Run Your Classic Palm OS Apps on the Palm Pre
2 Jul 2009 | 6:08 amIf you’ve had your eye on the Palm Pre, you probably know that the awkwardly named handset has access to the whole library of classic Palm OS apps thanks to Classic, a Palm OS emulator from Motion Apps. One concern a lot of people have had, though, is whether their particular favorite apps would work [...] -
Compare Shipping Rates with ShipGooder
1 Jul 2009 | 10:00 amIf you ship a lot of packages, you probably use the same courier for expediency’s sake. But if you ship infrequently, it makes sense to shop around for the best rates. ShipGooder makes it a snap to compare shipping costs between various couriers. All you do is plug in the origin and destination ZIP codes, then [...] -
$1.99 App Turns Your iPhone Into an Air Mouse
1 Jul 2009 | 9:00 amAnyone who gives presentations on a regular basis recognizes the value of a good “air mouse,” which lets you control your slideshows wirelessly as you move around the room. Instead of buying and bringing extra gear, why not go the app route? Mobile Air Mouse turns your iPhone into an air mouse, perfect for remotely controlling [...]
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Marc and Angel Hack Life
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How To Make Today Memorable
28 Jun 2009 | 11:06 pmNobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending. - Maria Robinson Yesterday is gone and tomorrow is just a figment of the imagination. So if you think about it, today is the only day you’re alive. Today is the day that matters the most. Here’s how to make it memorable: Try something totally new. – Variety truly is the spice of life. You can see or do something a million times, but you can only see or do it for the first time once. As a result, first time experiences usually leave a reflective mark in our minds for the rest of… -
How Love Begins
21 Jun 2009 | 9:39 pmThe greatest thing you’ll ever learn Is to love and be loved in return. - Natalie Cole On a chilly October night nine years ago… I would have preferred not to write to you. In fact, about a week ago, I put a post-it note on my computer monitor that said, “What would Skyman do?” (Skyman is my cat). It was supposed to remind me not to do things that Skyman wouldn’t do. Skyman would just wag his tail or wiggle his little nose, and hope that whoever he’s wagging or wiggling to understands that he’s hungry, or lonely, or in love, or whatever. But he certainly wouldn’t… -
How To Win a Race in Last Place
15 Jun 2009 | 8:21 amThis guest post was written by Alex Fayle, author of Someday Syndrome. When I was seven years old, I won a foot race in last place. An Outsider Due to foul play at other schools, the local school district enacts a mandatory policy during recess hours that segregates the schoolyard based on gender. Boys and girls are no longer allowed to partake in activities together. Given that my friends are almost all girls, I feel lost. I’m not rough and tough enough to feel comfortable with the boys, and yet my gender excludes me from hanging with my friends, the girls. So I learn to be an… -
20 Life Lessons I Learned in My 20’s
7 Jun 2009 | 9:38 pmWith an impending 28th birthday on my mind, I spent some quiet time this evening reflecting on my recent past. And I’ve come to realize that my 20’s taught me a lot about life. So, I figured I’d share a few lessons I’ve learned along the way. If you’re smiling right now, you’re doing something right. It’s not so much what you say that counts, it’ how you make people feel. The biggest mistake you can make is doing nothing because you’re scared to make a mistake. No matter how it turns out, it always ends up just the way it should be. Either you… -
The Art of Being Naked
31 May 2009 | 10:32 pmThe Girl She has dirty blond hair, a seductive smile, and the most engaging set of hazel green eyes I’ve ever seen. It’s the kind of engaging I can’t ignore… the kind that makes me want to engage too. Because she’s mysterious. And I’m curious. And I need to know more. Yet, I do my best to avoid making eye contact. So I stare down at the pool table and pretend to study my opponent’s next move. But only long enough for her to look the other way, so I can once again catch a glimpse of magnificence. I do this, not because she intimidates me, but because I think she may…
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WebWorkerDaily
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The Value of Twitter Followers: Quality Over Quantity
2 Jul 2009 | 1:00 pmTwitter followers have become the status symbol of 2009, but how valuable are they, really? I think we’re placing too much importance on the numbers and paying far too little attention to the actual reasons why followers can be valuable to us. I’m not saying that you shouldn’t want to have a lot of followers. I’m saying that you don’t want to have a lot of the wrong followers. There is nothing to be gained by accumulating “empty” followers. Why? Because they are not listening to you! Your core followers — those you who actually listen to you and… -
Streamline Photo Sharing on Multiple Social Networks
2 Jul 2009 | 11:00 amHere are a couple of ways to be more efficient when it comes to sharing your photos online from events. Like most web workers, you’re probably on many different social networks. How do you share those great photos from the event with all of your contacts on all of your social networks, without having to log in to each one separately? Fortunately, there are ways to automate the process of cross-posting photos to many different services at one time. Flickr One of the best ways to broadcast your photos is via Flickr. It’s very simple to set up, and the results will save you a great deal… -
Web Work 101: Jumping Into Your Web Business
2 Jul 2009 | 9:00 amStarting a business can be a huge undertaking, but fortunately for the aspiring web worker, it doesn’t have to be. The really great thing about starting a web working business is that getting set up can be easy and low cost. You don’t need a fancy set-up. You can get by with a few basic necessities (in most cases, a computer, an Internet connection, a web site and maybe some business cards). You don’t need to quit your day job. You can keep working at your current job until your web work picks up enough to support you. You can work around your current obligations. You can… -
3 Options for Sharing Your Project Research
2 Jul 2009 | 7:00 amWhen it comes to collaborative projects, there’s one area where I’ve found it particularly easy to trip up, especially if you’re working with a team you never see in person. As you put together the initial research for a project — maybe interview notes for a series of blog posts, great examples for a web site design, or the figures for a marketing plan — keeping the information organized and accessible for everyone involved can be a major hassle. In the past, I primarily used wikis for this sort of information organization, but they really aren’t the best… -
Must-Have iPhone Apps for Surviving Air Travel
1 Jul 2009 | 4:00 pmEditor’s note: With this post we welcome Nancy Nally to the WebWorkerDaily team. Nancy is the owner of Balalaberry Media and is the editor of its online scrapbook industry trade journal Scrapbook Update, which she founded in 2004, along with working on other writing projects. She shares her home in Palm Coast, Fla., with her geek husband and young geek daughter, who has autism. I may not be able to make a phone call on my iPhone from 30,000 feet (yet), but I’ve still found that when I’m out of my office and have to fly, having an iPhone in my pocket is a powerful sanity-saving…
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Organize IT
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Ask The Readers: What Is A Good Life?
1 Jul 2009 | 11:58 amAs I mentioned on Monday, I’m currently reading a book called Do Good Lives Have To Cost The Earth? which discusses what living well actually means (basically, not the consumerist pursuit of material things that we’re used to) and how we do not have to damage the planet in order to achieve it. It’s well worth a read, but it brings up the question of what a good life really is. All the contributing authors in the book have their own take, but what is yours? To me, it’s not a simple answer, but it’s certainly worth thinking about (and I look forward to reading your… -
Do Good Lives Have To Cost The Earth?
28 Jun 2009 | 10:43 amLast week I took a book out of my local library on a whim that was called Do Good Lives Have To Cost The Earth? and, so far at least, I’ve found it to contain some very intriguing ideas. In a nutshell, the book is a collection of writings from a diverse mix of people about climate change. What really got my attention though was about how this was tied into the whole idea of living a good life, dismissing common notions on what that actually means and, in particular, providing an often vicious indictment of how the pursuit of our current ad-driven consumer/hedonistic notion of what a… -
Best Of Organize IT: June 2009
26 Jun 2009 | 10:10 amThe end of another month approaches so it’s time to recap the best posts from the last several weeks. Whether you want to know what productivity means to me, how you can deal with a mistake in a proactive manner, what my favorite blogs of 2009 are or why you should always identify the root cause of any problems in life, hopefully there will be something here for you. Thanks as ever for the support! GTD Is An Attention Management System What’s The Root Cause? Ask The Readers: What’s Your Take On Work/Life Balance? My Top 10 Productivity Blogs 2009 Ideas I’ve Implemented… -
GTD Is An Attention Management System
24 Jun 2009 | 9:27 amI’ve always wondered how best to describe GTD to people. I’ve found that once you get through the hyping up and the fancy wording that David Allen increasingly uses when discussing his methodology, it’s a fairly straightforward system (though of course, understanding it and being able to use it on a regular basis are two entirely different things). However, that doesn’t really help me when somebody comes along and asks what the hell it’s all about. Explanations abound I’ve noticed lots of people point the puzzled productivity-aspirant to the GTD entry on… -
What’s The Root Cause?
22 Jun 2009 | 9:09 amI’ve always frowned upon the whole idea of tracking your time in detail. As useful as it might be to know you spend 40% of your time at work, 5% of your time commuting and 10% of your life on Facebook, if you do genuinely need to know that information there are deeper issues to resolve. Such data might reveal to you where time is being wasted, and that by taking a different route to work and paying less attention to Facebook, you may resolve that problem. But it doesn’t resolve why you’ve got that problem in the first place (anyone want to suggest what the root cause may…
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Parent Hacks
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Make your own single-serve Jell-O cups
1 Jul 2009 | 5:48 amI love it when the whole family's involved! Will, husband of legendary Parenthacker Hedra, sent this in...perfect for grab-and-go summer snacking: A few weeks ago I was grocery shopping with the girls, and Miss M wanted more Jell-O (tm) cups, but they now use high fructose corn syrup, which she can't have. Very sad Miss M. So I suggested we look at the powder mix and make it ourselves. The mix has no corn syrup, so we bought some and took it home. When my mom made Jell-O, she would pour it into custard cups so that we had individual servings. We don't have custard cups, but then… -
Store kids' divided plates on their sides to save cabinet space
30 Jun 2009 | 1:44 pmVanessa's smart dish storage tip: Kids love those cheap character plates made out of melamine that have divided sections. But they're a pain to store because the wells are different sizes which makes it impossible to stack them together flat. We now store our kiddie plates in a shoebox in our cabinet on their edges, facing out. No more avalanche every time we open the cabinet door and it's easier to find the exact plate we're looking for when a grilled cheese sandwich absolutely must be served on Thomas and not Little Einsteins. Related: Reuse lidded divided storage containers… -
Load the dishwasher's silverware basket on the counter where it's out of the toddler's reach
25 Jun 2009 | 5:13 amWell, Marie -- it may have taken you ten years to figure out this hack, but I never figured out either one: A decade ago I figured out that when unloading the dishwasher I should immediately remove the silverware container from the dishwasher and put it on the counter above the drawer. That put the most dangerous things out of reach and I could focus on unloading the rest of the dishwasher. This week (10 years and four kids later) I figured out that to reload the dishwasher, I should remove the silverware container and place it in or next to the sink. That keeps the most dangerous things out… -
Organize hair bands by color using a pill case
24 Jun 2009 | 5:01 amLisa's simple organizing tip for rubber hair bands: Little rubber bands are invading our bathroom! I took an empty seven day pill case (they come in various sizes and shapes) and filled it with hair bands. So now those 400 rubber bands from Wal Mart have a nice neat home in the drawer. Easy peasy, just flip the lid, take what you need and close the lid. Our pill case is clear so my daughter can pick what color she wants and even get them out with no mess. It took me FOREVER to organize my daughter's hair thingies. I ended up finding a little set of acrylic canisters that screw… -
Newborn baby hats make good ice pack covers
23 Jun 2009 | 5:41 amAmy's smart hack will help cool down summer scrapes: In my house, when someone needs an ice pack, we always wrap it with a towel to take the "bite" off. I recently discovered that ice packs fit perfectly into newborn hats, and it stays in there much better than using only a towel! What a great idea. I find that most towels are too thick -- they never get cold enough. Anyone else have a good suggestion for insulating ice packs? Related: Baby feeder converts to teething ice pack
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The Happiness Project
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True Rule: Rock the Boat.
2 Jul 2009 | 12:54 pmI've started a feature -- the True Rules series. These are concrete lessons that come out of people's specific experiences. Whether you agree with these rules or not, they’re fun to consider. I was very excited to have lunch with the brilliant Debbie Stier in her office at HarperStudio, which is part of my publishing house, HarperCollins. A few weeks ago, I’d been in a meeting she led, and I'd immediately realized that she was a treasure trove of information about how to use online tools – and specifically, how to use them as a writer. I came away from the meeting with a long list of… -
Fourteen Tips for Running a Good Meeting.
1 Jul 2009 | 11:40 amEvery Wednesday is Tip Day. This Wednesday: 14 tips for running a good meeting. Nothing can drain the happiness from you faster than a long, unproductive meeting. You’re bored; you’re not getting anything done; emails are piling up while you sit, trapped. On the other hand, a productive meeting is exhilarating. A long time ago, when I was working in Washington, D.C., I remember a friend who worked at the Department of Justice saying, “Jamie Gorelick runs a meeting so well, it brings tears to my eyes.” Meetings come in all shapes and sizes, so not all of these strategies will be… -
Happiness: Paddling a Canoe, Not Biting the Hook.
30 Jun 2009 | 11:09 amFrom time to time, I post short interviews with interesting people about their insights on happiness. During my research, I’ve noticed that I often learn more from one person’s highly idiosyncratic experiences than I do from sources that detail universal principles or cite up-to-date studies. One of the most consistently fascinating and provocative writers – online and in print – is Seth Godin. I love his blog, Seth Godin’s Blog, and I’ve read several of his many books. Seth’s field is marketing, but marketing understood very broadly – he often discusses subjects like… -
Jung, Buffy, Twilight, Virginia Woolf -- and Happiness.
29 Jun 2009 | 11:19 amI love Carl Jung (the bits of his work that I understand, which isn’t much), and one of my favorite Jung quotations is, “The creative mind plays with the objects it loves.” This video clip is a perfect example – found on my friend Lev Grossman’s excellent blog, Nerd World. I love the fact that Jonathan McIntosh had the creative energy and interest to create this mash-up of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Twilight: I connected with this remix on several levels: -- Take time for projects – clearly Jonathan McIntosh is following that very important resolution. -- though I’m not a… -
"Go Outside; Enjoy the Sun and All Nature."
28 Jun 2009 | 6:34 pm"At such moments I don't think about all the misery, but about the beauty that still remains. This is where Mother and I differ greatly. Her advice in the face of melancholy is: 'Think about all the suffering in the world and be thankful you're not part of it.' My advice is: 'Go outside, to the country, enjoy the sun and all nature has to offer. Go outside and try to recapture the happiness within yourself; think of all the beauty in yourself and in everything around you and be happy.' I don't think Mother's advice can be right, because what are you supposed to do if you become part of the…
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Everlasting Designs
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The illusion of change
17 Jun 2009 | 6:41 amAt times it may seem that if only we could call a “time out” from the continual demands on our attention and energies, if we could somehow just take a break from constantly having to deal with one thing after another, then perhaps we might get a glimpse of what we were looking for. And so we may attempt to shift gears: a change of scene, a vacation, a new hobby, some alteration in our usual routines. We make some outward change in the hope it will bring us closer to some peace with the outer world, equilibrium within, or a vantage point from which we will be able to make more sense of our… -
Just for Fun
17 May 2009 | 4:44 pmTomorrow, sneak into someones office and replace all their pens and pencils with crayons~ -
Time Bandits: Saving Time with Technology
6 May 2009 | 4:33 pmWe are all bound by ball and chain to a clock of one kind or another. Appointments to keep, meetings to attend, sleep to catch up on. Centuries have made little headway on how we measure or regard it. The sunup to sundown method has long been replaced in most societies by a plethora of technologies. When was the last time you were at a loss for what time it was? Computers, televisions, cell phones, stoves, microwaves, car dashboards all blink the hour and minutes of the day and have all but made the timepieces of old extinct. Remember watches? I haven't worn one for years.With all the… -
New Sister Site: Elm City Beat, New Haven
3 May 2009 | 6:21 amIf you've noticed the posts here went MIA for a short while....we've been hard at work on a local site focused on New Haven happenings. We thought we owed you an explanation and wanted let you know we're back!Elm City Beat features stories and contributions from you...the people of New Haven. With news about New Haven neighborhoods, people, events, dining, business, arts and culture. We'll try and leave the politics to the pundits since other sites cover government far better than we could ever hope to.Send us your photos and news tips and let us know what you like--and don't like (nicely). -
How has the internet saved you money/time? A list to get you started
17 Apr 2009 | 8:46 amWe stumbled on the start of this thread and thought it so much fun we wanted to find out what our readers could add to the list.Tell us...how does being connected internet save you time or money?I used to buy newspapers/magazines, now I get all my news and print entertainment online.I used to use manila folders and paper but now use File-sharingI used to rent movies, but now I watch Hulu.I used to pay for cable, now I watch TV on the internet for free.I used to pay travel agents, now I use Travelocity/Expedia/Southwest/Orbitz/etcI used to go to used car dealers, now I go to craigslistI used…
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Mind Hacks
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Eight way distortion
2 Jul 2009 | 3:00 pmPetra's written up her barnstorming talk she gave last night at the Troublemaker's Fringe where she discussed 'eight problems with science/health journalism and what we can do about it' from her perspective as a social psychologist specialising in sex and relationships. It's a fantastic guide to how health stories get badly spun and why sexual health material is most likely to be misrepresented as it is considered 'light' and so not worthy of serious attention. One of the main culprits seem to be the reliance on PR surveys which are intuitively easy to understand but are specifically designed… -
A touch from a phantom third arm
2 Jul 2009 | 1:00 pmA 64 year old woman developed a phantom third arm after a stroke, but unusually, the patient was able to see and feel the illusory limb. A study just published online in the journal Annals of Neurology used brain scans to examine the patient. They established that the phantom sensations were accompanied by similar sorts of brain activity as you'd get from a real arm. Unlike a classic 'phantom limb', where a patient feels sensations as if they're coming from the previously amputated body part, a 'supernumerary phantom limb' is where a phantom seems to appear additional to the already existing… -
Sign O' The Neuro Times
2 Jul 2009 | 5:00 amThe Neuro Times is a fantastic new blog about the history of neurology written by a historian with a passion for the development of brain science. The author is Stephen T Casper, whose own work has focused on how the US-UK collaborations and rivalries during the 20th century shaped our understanding of the brain. Although the blog has a similar 20th slant it also casts its net a little wider making it a wonderful historical resource. It has book reviews, profiles of influential neuroscientists from times past, and discussions of key moments and debates. Excellent stuff. Link to The Neuro… -
Fringe benefits
2 Jul 2009 | 1:00 amThanks to everyone who came along to the Troublemaker's Fringe last night and I hope you all enjoyed the evening as much as I did. The slides for my talk "Don't touch that dial! Technology Scare and the Media" are online as a PowerPoint file and everything was captured as audio recordings so you should be able check out the evening's events, including Ben and Petra's excellent talks, as they appear online. Apparently, they'll be a discussion kicking off on badscience.net about some of the issues raised by the speakers, so I'll keep you posted as the links appear. -
Troublemaker's Fringe, tomorrow, after the day job
30 Jun 2009 | 1:00 pmIf you're in London Town Wednesday evening, don't forget to come along to the Troublemaker's Fringe, where we'll be tackling the problems of science journalism and discussing how misleading, dangerous and inaccurate stories keep making the headlines. Hilariously, we've already been slagged off by Steve Connor of The Independent who deals out some scorching criticism, calls us arrogant, and defends the accuracy of the mainstream media by saying: The medics met in a pub in London last night to explain why the "mainstream media's science coverage is broken, misleading, dangerous, lazy, venal and…
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How to of the Day
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How to Survive when a Parent Threatens Suicide
2 Jul 2009 | 1:00 pmIt's hard enough getting through your own life. But when a parent threatens suicide, it can rock your world in ways you can hardly imagine. What do you do? Can you help? And where do you turn to find support yourself? This article will not have all the answers, but it can help direct you as you navigate these very difficult, dark waters. -
How to Make a Chain and Bead Bracelet
2 Jul 2009 | 1:00 amThis bracelet will take time but is fairly simple to make and with practice and high quality materials, will look professionally made. -
How to Start Your Own Sports Team
1 Jul 2009 | 1:00 pmWould you like to create and run your own amateur sports team? Most cities and regions have recreational sports teams participating in team sports. Follow this guide, and you will be on your way to running your own amateur sports team. -
July is Cell Phone Courtesy Month. How to Practice Cell Phone Etiquette
1 Jul 2009 | 1:00 amEveryone on their phones...To most of us, cell phones are a life saver, but rude cell phone users are the thorns in our sides. They're pretty much anywhere that there's a cell phone signal. The thing is, we could all probably use a little primer on cell phone etiquette. After all, most people who are being annoying don't realize they're being annoying. Could that be you? -
How to Make a Water Flower from a Plastic Bag and Straw
30 Jun 2009 | 1:00 pm"Suichuka" is an artificial flower which opens when immersed in water. The flower seems to bloom and has a Venetian glass appearance due to the lens effect of the water. This used to be a summer ornament in ancient Japan, but you can make your own using household materials.
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Through The Illusion
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Rocking Your Purpose!
2 Jul 2009 | 9:22 amWe talk a lot about rocking your passion and amping your marriage and fabulosity and working it and (of course!) all that is awesome. I’ve received several emails from people asking if it is ok to use this verbiage. Just in case you were wondering, the answer is YES! Make that a HELLZYES! by Pannonica The best way to improve anything in your life is to be excited about it. And excitement is contagious! If talking about rocking your purpose gets your awesome amped, then do the world a favor and go for it! Throw down some extraneous exclamation marks! It is ALL GOOD. In… -
How To Be Flexible
1 Jul 2009 | 10:39 amI’m not talking about coping-with-the-vagaries-of-life, I’m talking about how to touch your toes! Photo by dotbenjamin In a typical day, our bodies are typically in a seated “chair” position. We sit in “chair position” to work and to travel to work, we use it to eat and watch tv and play video games and go to the theater and get our hair done. The only time we are not in “chair position” is when we are standing/walking (usually on our way to our next chair) or when we are sleeping. Yikes! Really, I should have titled this post “How… -
6 Ways to Rock Your Wedding
30 Jun 2009 | 10:59 amSpeaking of weddings, wedding costs can spiral quickly out of control if you let them. Here are 6 ways to rock your wedding without emptying your wallet! Photo by iChaz Joint Expenses. I personally dislike the whole concept of a proposal. Especially how men are under substantial social pressure to spend 3 months worth of their income on a ring, hoping that it is her taste and that she’ll say “yes”. No, thanks! Chris and I made the decision to get married together and so we shared the cost of the wedding, as well as the cost of our rings. Why not start your wedding the… -
Why I Almost Called Off My Wedding
29 Jun 2009 | 9:55 amIf I had to do it all over again, I would have skipped the wedding and eloped instead! Photo by evergreenplace It was important to me, however, that my friends and family take my marriage to Chris seriously. Here I was, fresh out of college, making the ultimate lifelong commitment! And while I wasn’t the first of my friends to get married, it was still highly unusual. But they needed to understand that he would be my husband and that meant something to me. Plus our courtship period was laughably short. We were married 11 months from the day we met, and it was only the arduousness… -
The Man in The Mirror
26 Jun 2009 | 10:03 amMichael Jackson was a hot mess. He had issues stemming from his unusual childhood and early fame, as well as familial problems we can only imagine. Michael Jackson has never not been famous and it is no wonder that the eerie, ghost faced man we saw in his later years had little concept of reality. His abnormal ideas of appropriate adult/child interaction, how to procreate and raise his own children, and even his own perception of what he looked like…all warped through the lens of fame that had been so entrenched in his life. But when he danced? It’s like he was suddenly…
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Robert Walker Online
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What is Ego?
29 Jun 2009 | 10:50 amSo, people “see something,” either literally, or figuratively. They think that the way they see it is the only real way to see it, the “true” way to see it (whether it be an “object” or a “situation”). This is what the idealists are talking about when they say that the world exists in our minds, because we can only see the world the way we see it; thus, a thing is, to the idealist, the way he sees it, for how could it be any other way? One problem with this way of thought is that it is closed off to the reality of process, of change, of the fact… -
(We) Separate Things
24 Jun 2009 | 7:13 pmNow, here are two ways to approach this issue. One is to be open to the possibility that we can see things as they really are, that with the right efforts it is possible to dissolve the illusions of our conditioned existence and see things as they really are. The other is (as Kant has suggested) that it is not possible to see things as they really are, that we cannot escape the prisons of our own minds, nor of the hard-wired processes of that mind, nor of our (and this, initially, seems impossible to get past) inherently limited angle of vision (i.e., perspective) at any given moment. We… -
Inadequacy of the Western Rational System
17 Jun 2009 | 10:10 amIllusion (n): 1) The faulty perception of an external object. 2) Something that deceives by producing a false impression of reality. 3) A misleading perception of visual stimuli. (Random House Webster’s Dictionary) Of course, it is also a confounding possibility that the very duality that assumes external objects is an illusion. Much philosophical exploration has been concerned with just this problem. But, look at definition 2. Initially, we might think that that “something” which deceives us is the external object itself, or even the play of light and shadow, or, even when… -
This is What an Illusion Is
13 Jun 2009 | 11:52 amThe point I’m making here is that the way to begin to understand this stuff is to focus on questioning the illusions you have about such things as life, death, birth, beginning, end, process, etc. Unless you are an enlightened buddha, anything you believe or opine about the subject of life/death/rebirth is wrong. Period. It’s better to focus on the illusions in front of us. When you truly start to question your illusory concepts, you will be surprised to discover just how much you had been credulously assuming without even realizing it. We are the products of our perceptions of… -
Distorted Perceptions
4 Jun 2009 | 1:09 pmLife is, of course, complicated by the fact that our lives are, for the most part, the consequences of our actions, and for most of us, our actions are dictated by our unexamined whys (as in, why we do what we do, why we think what we think, etc.). Now, how much control we have—as opposed to our “whys”—over what we do seems to, you know, have at least some relevance in human life. While I don’t think we can be responsible for what happens “to” us, we are certainly responsible for our own actions, whether those actions are manifested as beliefs,…
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Alex Shalman . com
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Permission to Think Big
29 Jun 2009 | 7:52 amAt any given point in the day, I’m just one thought away from losing it and going over the edge! At the very same time I’m just one thought away from being ecstatically happy. Last Sunday I was rear ended by a car while standing at a red light. I took a second, got out of the car, smiled and walked over to the other driver. With a lighthearted attitude I asked if she was okay, and asked her if she’d like to pull over around the corner to clear room for traffic. I asked her if she would like to have a police report made, or handle it ourselves. She didn’t care either… -
AlexShalman.com Podcast #017 - Interviewing Suzy Welch
23 Jun 2009 | 5:36 pmAlexShalman.com Practical Personal Development Podcast #17 Suzy Welch graduated at the top of her class at Harvard Business School, wrote a column in Oprah’s O Magazine, and was the editor of the prestigious Harvard Business Review. Since then Suzy has gone on to marry the ex-CEO of General Electric, Jack Welch, who now runs 11 companies. Jack and Suzy Welch co-authored the bestselling book Winning. Most recently, Suzy Welch documents the decision process that has brought her much success in life in her bestselling book 10-10-10: A Life Transforming Idea. Suzy Welch: The Mission… -
AlexShalman.com Podcast #016 - Interviewing AJ Jacobs
9 Jun 2009 | 12:27 pmAudio Podcast at the very bottom. AJ Jacobs is a fascinating NY Times bestselling author, current editor of the infamous Esquire magazine, and what I would say is the “father of outsourcing.” AJ Jacobs has written The Know-It-All, in which he documented his experience of reading the whole Encyclopedia Britannica from front to back in his journey to becoming the smartest man on earth. Another riveting book written by AJ Jacobs is The Year of Living Biblically, in which he followed all the laws of the bible as literally as possible. Some of the other wacky-genius things that AJ… -
7 Ways To Escape From Confusion Island
5 Jun 2009 | 9:07 pmSo you’re metaphorically stuck on an island, with a group of people who think, dress, and act in the same way. As your mind and body begin to reject the notion of spending your whole life on this island, you fall into a whirlwind of uncertainty and depression. You emerge on the other side, confused. You want nothing more but to experience life, become an interesting person, establish which unique values you want to define you, and move forward in life - sure of yourself. There’s just one little caveat. In your state of confusion you’re just not sure how to plan your great… -
You’ll Love This Doctor
29 May 2009 | 2:22 pmCaution: Don’t read this without your sense of humor. I don’t know original source, so if you point it out, I’ll cite it. Q: Doctor, I’ve heard that cardiovascular exercise can prolong life. Is this true? A: Your heart is only good for so many beats, and that’s it… don’t waste them on exercise. Everything wears out eventually. Speeding up your heart will not make you live longer; that’s like saying you can extend the life of your car by driving it faster. Want to live longer? Take a nap. Q: Should I cut down on meat and…
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Scott H Young
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How to Achieve a Goal (If You Don’t Know Where to Start)
1 Jul 2009 | 10:00 amReaching some goals is simply the straightforward application of effort. If you want to get in shape, eat less and exercise more. It doesn’t require a brilliant strategy. However, I’d say most accomplishments don’t fall into this category. I’ve set many goals that I don’t even know where to start. I recently set a new income goal for this website, to earn $3000 per month, on average. The problem is, that if I knew exactly how to earn $3000 per month, I’d already be doing it. The problem with uncertain goals twofold. First, you need to apply effort in order to reach your goal. Even… -
Showing Up and Deliberate Inconsistency
29 Jun 2009 | 10:00 amShowing up every day doesn’t mean doing the same thing every day. I don’t normally do follow-up posts, but a reader comment triggered an important point I forgot to mention. Here was the comment: “Congrats on another good post. Now check your OWN archives. You started at between 16 and 22 posts a month for the first 2 years. The average this year has been 12. … You ARE a smart young man and I applaud your work. I even follow [you] on a RSS feed. So expect me to call you out whenever I see anything that resembles, ‘Do as I say, not as I do.’” Actually, my posting rate has… -
I’ll Be In Europe for One Month
26 Jun 2009 | 10:00 amNext week, I’m leaving for Europe for most of July. I’m visiting my sister, who was living in Denmark for the last year. I’ll be touring through England, Belgium, Norway, Sweden and Denmark. I have a feeling I’ll be pretty busy, so it will be difficult to meet up with readers. However, feel free to give me a shout if you’re from one of these countries! I’m trying to work as little as possible while I’m traveling, so I don’t know how frequently I’ll be able to answer emails or moderate blog comments. However, I have already written a… -
Show Up, Every Day
24 Jun 2009 | 10:00 amIt’s easy to look at the moments of key progress. When your income is growing, when you’re finally losing weight, or when you ace that difficult final exam. But I think it’s more important to focus on the moments of zero growth. Where you’ve gone to the gym for months without seeing improvements, studied for weeks just to get a C or watched your business stagnate. Because, in the moments of stagnation some people give up, and some people keep showing up day after day. And even though they aren’t making progress in the moment, the latter group are more likely to succeed. Why the Gym… -
The Art of Nonconformity
22 Jun 2009 | 10:00 amEvery once in awhile, I get a chance to promote a great blogger. Chris Guillebeau is one of those bloggers. For those of you that haven’t heard of Chris before, here’s a few details: He’s been gainfully unemployed for over a decade, earning his income online. His goal is to travel to every country in the world. He has already reached 111 out of 197. He’s written a manifesto on world domination. Chris’s website is The Art of Nonconformity, and it’s a must-read resource for anyone who wants to live an unconventional life. I got a chance to chat with Chris recently, and I wanted to…
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LifeDev
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Want to Fail? Just Repeat These 3 Phrases Daily
1 Jul 2009 | 12:31 pmPhoto by Mr T. in DC Post by Jason D Barr. “It wasn’t that I was able to persevere. I was unable to stop! I just couldn’t give it up. It was just too important. It never entered the realm of possibility. But, I never was sure, really sure, that it was going to work and I would ever really be an astronomer.” – Vera Rubin, Astronomer (emphasis mine) Is that an awesome quote, or what? Talk about putting yourself out there. Vera Rubin wanted to be an astronomer during a time when it just wasn’t acceptable for women to have those kinds of ambitions. She tried to… -
A Guide For When Your Day Has Been Blown to Pieces
22 Jun 2009 | 9:25 amPhoto by laszlo-photo Ever have one of those days where everything you touch seems to break? I had one of those last week. In a period of 24 hours, my dishwasher broke car battery died (we only have one car) air conditioner broke (it’s currently 94F, but feels like 102F with Kansas humidity) dryer stopped drying clothes And the icing on the cake: the local Internet was spotty (at best). What this meant was on top of a borked dryer and dishwasher, I wasn’t able to leave (broke car) my sweltering house (broke AC) to get some work done. It wasn’t pretty. Apparently I had gotten… -
LifeDev Roundup: Everything You Need to Take Better Breaks
16 Jun 2009 | 4:12 pmPhoto by AmUnivers Ah yes. It’s almost officially Summer, and hopefully things are starting to slow down for you. Summer is the time for barbecues, baseball games, vacations, going to the lake or pool, and in general having more fun. Or at least that’s what it used to be. Thanks to the ever increasing connectivity that technology provides, it’s becoming harder and harder to really break free. In fact, for many we’ve forgotten altogether what it means to really kick back without the outside world clawing at our conscious. It’s not pretty, folks. I’ve written… -
Living a Prolific Lifestyle
15 Jun 2009 | 11:26 amPhoto by dawvon Post by Ibrahim Husain. Follow him on Twitter. One thing that I push my readers to experience is living proactively instead of reactively. A prolific lifestyle is one where you create your own opportunity, you take responsibility for your life and you go into your world and shape it into what you want it to be. A reactive lifestyle is just the opposite; you go out into the world and wait for life to interact with you, then you just react to each stimulus as it comes. People who live prolifically are more satisfied with their life, and I’ll tell you why. People who live a… -
8 Tips for Working On the Go (Learned the Hard Way)
11 Jun 2009 | 11:38 pmAs I sit listening to the rain pound on the Denver airport windows, I can’t help but compare my work spaces in the past couple of days. You’ll recall that one week ago I was typing happily in a serene location. Today: not so much. Working by a scenic stream in northern California, exactly one week ago. Working at the rainy Denver airport tonight. See the difference? Instead of sleeping soundly in my bed, I’ll be “bunking” inside the airport terminal in Denver. The stormy local weather has delayed our flight until the early morning. So, with LifeDev to run, an…
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Next small step
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How to stick to your plans Part 3
30 Jun 2009 | 10:23 pmHere is part 3! Click here to see the previous parts in this series. Have you tried any of the previous tips? What works for you? Here are some more tips. The fourth and last installment will follow in about 2 weeks. Look ahead You don't have control over your past failures or successes anymore. If your goal is to improve in the future, the only question is what you do next. So whether you ate healthily or badly at lunch doesn't really matter anymore. What matters is whether you are going to snack before dinner and what you have at dinner. So forget your successes and failures and focus ALL… -
How to stick to your plans Part 2
24 Jun 2009 | 12:09 amHow to stick to your Plans Part 1 gave some tips on how to keep doing the things that we know we are supposed to do. Those good habits that keep on sneaking away from us like a rainbow. This post has three more ideas for how to stop feeling guilty about not doing these things and to start doing them. Don't change with the times Whenever a new fashion or fad comes along we are tempted to drop what we are doing and to run off to Tae Bo, Pilates, Alpha Mind Power or whatever the new thing is. Resist the temptation. Remind yourself that you will fall in and out of love with the new thing as well. -
How to stick to your plans Part 1
1 Jun 2009 | 12:23 amAll of us have things that we know we are supposed to do, but that we somehow neglect to do. Drinking enough water, getting enough exercise and sleep, or eating healthily. We learn about things like this from a class, a friend or a good book. And it is as if we fall in love. We start doing exercise or meditating and we love it and the way that it makes us feel.This lasts for some time and then slowly the initial thrill wears off. We still know that this thing is good for us and that we should do it. We even feel good when we do get around to it. But by and large the fervor is gone. And it… -
Discover yourself in Boredom
19 May 2009 | 2:07 amSometimes the best thing that you can do is nothing at all. Yet most of us dread being at a loose end: That space after the completion of a big project or the end of a relationship or just being stuck in traffic or when there isn't anything good on television. When we get to the point where we don't have anything pressing to do or we are waiting for someone else, we make a phone call, send a text message, check email or generally fidget around with whatever we can lay our hands on. As Carol Johnson says in her recent article The Joy of Boredom : "Increasingly, these empty moments… -
Supple Body, Supple Mind
10 May 2009 | 12:03 amStretching is a free pleasure that you should avail yourself of. Not all spiritual work is physical. Sometimes working on the body goes directly to the source of the problem. Apart from being fun, a supple body works better, recovers better and can do more things.Twenty years of yoga and stretching has also convinced me that suppleness of the body translates to suppleness of mind. When I stretch regularly I become more resilient and accommodating in general. Stretching also combines well with almost any other form of exercise. Want to run or cycle faster? Want to chase better in tennis or…
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Life Coach Blog: The Discomfort Zone :
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Look Up!
1 Jul 2009 | 5:43 amYears ago there was a women in the UK called Mary Whitehouse. She was the bane of every teenage boys life as she went on a puritanical campaign to purge everything that was fun from TV, including ‘Dr Who’, ‘Till Death Us Do Part’ and nipples. She believed Society was fast forwarding into a bacchanalian abyss with TV leading the charge. The dropping of standards by allowing violence, nudity and bad language, she reasoned, would only lead to moral bankruptcy. And we all laughed heartily at the old lady with funny hair and silly glasses. It seems however, she may be right… -
How To Get A Free Upgrade
28 Jun 2009 | 9:52 amI approached the Delta check-in at JFK Airport with trepidation. The lady behind the counter wasn’t laughing a lot. In fact she wasn’t laughing at all and may never have laughed in her entire life if the look on her face were anything to go by. I mentally rehearsed what I was going to say as I neared the front of the line. I knew I needed to execute my plan with clinical precision if it were to succeed. “Yes!” she barked. All of a sudden my mind went blanker than Sarah Palin facing a Katie Couric question. “Er” I stammered. “Er, I was thinking that you, er…er. Look, look! -
I Don’t Care About Michael Jackson
26 Jun 2009 | 11:27 amOk, so that headline is inflammatory and it’s not totally true. I do feel sorry for those closest to Michael Jackson and I also felt sorry for Michael Jackson when he was alive. He was obviously a tortured soul and it seems endured the kind of upbringing even the most level headed person would have struggled to cope with. I’m sure that most of his actions in later life were learned behaviors developed in his formative years. If you want to apportion blame (and quite frankly, I don’t), look no further than those that raised him, and those that stood back and watched his behavior… -
A Life Less Boring
25 Jun 2009 | 4:40 amTracy O’Connor runs the ‘I Hate My Message Board’ blog and is the women that brought the infamous ‘Chicken in a Can‘ to the Internet, videoed her brother eating Silkworm Pupa and makes me laugh out loud more than any client I have ever worked with. Even if most of the time I have absolutely no idea why. That’s not to say I don’t have some hilarious and fun clients, because I do, it’s just that Tracy is a tad different. I have been haranguing her to do me a guest post for some while and I’m delighted to say under pain of death and the… -
These Are The Good Old Days
22 Jun 2009 | 8:51 amI was sat in my office the other day talking with my co-author for ‘How To Be Rich and Happy’, John Strelecky. We were dong some high tech strategic launch planning stuff, or just having a laugh, depending on your viewpoint. The conversation turned to what it really means to be rich and happy and I said something along the lines of: “It’s a bit weird for me to be writing about this stuff because I’m so far away from being rich, it’s not even funny. I don’t have a 401K, I don’t own a home and I don’t have any stocks and shares” John laughed and said “Tim, you really…
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PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement
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Why Am I Not Making Progress? 3 Steps To Motivate Into Action
1 Jul 2009 | 9:13 amImage courtesy of Chelsea Grainger Are you progressing in life, or are you just treading water? This is a brief article intended to motivate you beyond stagnation into purposeful action, once and for all. These are the steps I use to get things done. Almost everyday I go to the gym, and almost everyday I see people in the gym who are unfortunately making very little progress. Although these individuals frequent the gym quite regularly, they are experiencing very little change in their bodies. This is quite the misfortune. Today I want to discuss this phenomenon and explain the steps… -
3 Stupid Ways to Try to Cheer Yourself Up – and 3 Ways Which Work
30 Jun 2009 | 8:31 amWhen I’ve got a case of the blues, I sometimes cheer myself up by buying a new book or two on Amazon. Perhaps you have some similar habits: you know what cheers you up, whether it’s going shopping, eating a giant bag of chips, opening a bottle of wine, lighting up… The problem is, a lot of these little habits don’t really cheer us up, and, over time, they can have a very negative effect on our health, our wallet, or both. These are some perennially popular ones – and reasons why they’re not a good idea: 1. Comfort Eating Do you ever turn to food when you’re bored,… -
4 Effective Ways to Reclaim Your Lost Time
29 Jun 2009 | 9:00 amTime is our most valued asset. Our most precious resource. Many people claim that they are overworked, over-stressed, and incredibly pressed for time. While I don’t know if that’s necessarily true or not, I can say that time is something that’s always on everybody’s mind. In the personal development world, we often think of time as something we “spend,” and when we want to grab more time for an activity, time is something we then “create.” But is that really true? The fact is that you can never really create any more time than what you’ve been… -
8 Powerful Career Lessons They Should’ve Handed Out On Graduation Day
25 Jun 2009 | 9:11 amImage courtesy of Rosswell86 It has been 7 years since my graduation day and I still remember the excitement; I was relieved that the ”exam phase” of my life was over; I looked with enthusiam towards my first job. Little did I know that the “working world” would require an extraodinary effort and loads of other skills! My journey on the career ladder would have been smoother, had I known a few important lessons. While there are many ”on the job” lessons, some things in life must be experienced, to be truly understood. What follows are 8 such career lessons, I wish they’d… -
6 Motivation Tips When You’re Feeling Depressed
23 Jun 2009 | 9:55 amDepression is a difficult illness for even the most iron-willed of individuals. Whether you’re clinically depressed or just in a rut, depression can make basic tasks like cleaning the house, taking a shower and even getting out of bed incredibly difficult and physically and mentally draining. It is important to stay motivated to continue to live your life and work towards feeling better, even when you’re at your lowest point. Here are some simple ways that you can motivate yourself on a daily basis: • Don’t be too harsh with yourself. It’s going to take time to get things done…
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Life Optimizer
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Learn New Skills With Project-Based Learning
1 Jul 2009 | 2:15 amLearning is something I always enjoy. I love learning because it gives me new challenges to overcome. In the past, however, I often learned just for learning’s sake. There was nothing real I got out of it. I just absorbed new knowledge without thinking about its practical value. Recently I realized that while learning is fun, it’s even more fun if it’s related to my practical needs. The thrill of learning something that can immediately improve my life is more than just learning for learning’s sake. For that reason, now I mainly learn new skills that can improve my life and… -
Assess Your Potential Before Taking Action
25 Jun 2009 | 10:36 pmNote: This is a guest post by Armen Shirvanian of Timeless Information Before you start a task, you are going to want to assess the potential limit you can hit in aspects of the project. If you are about to set up a meeting for 24 dancers in your local area for them to get to know each other, you want to take the time to see how far your skills can take the occurrence. Will you simply keep it as a networking event, or will you try to set up a future dance contest, or will you go even further, and have everyone provide their information to be part of an e-mail group that continues to… -
Proven Principles for Managing Your Energy
18 Jun 2009 | 7:02 amWhen people talk about productivity, one term that often shows up in their conversations is time management. There are countless books that talk about time management. But there is one less-popular term that may actually be more important when it comes to productivity. That term is energy management. The importance of energy management is discussed thoroughly in The Power of Full Engagement by Jim Loehr and Tony Schwartz. The book argues that managing your energy, not time, is the key to high performance. Looking at my own experiences, I agree with them. If you want to be productive, managing… -
4 Good Resources to Learn History
12 Jun 2009 | 3:00 amIn The Joy of Living Today, I wrote that one reason to learn history is to make you realize how good your life is so that you can be grateful for it. But there are other reasons to learn history. Learning history helps you see current and future events from a rich perspective. It helps you avoid the mistakes people made in the past. It also helps you make the right decisions in life. In short, learning history makes you wise. But what resources should we use to learn history? Here are my favorite resources: 1. Stuff You Missed in History Class Podcast If you aren’t interested in… -
The Joy of Living Today
8 Jun 2009 | 8:58 pmAfter watching Red Cliff (which led to me writing The Importance of Being Smart), I decided to read Romance of the Three Kingdoms, the historical novel upon which the movie is based. I’ve been familiar with Romance of the Three Kingdoms for more than ten years since its PC game was my favorite game, but I never read the book itself (here is an electronic copy of the book). One thing I notice throughout the book is the level of warfare and violence at that time. There was almost no time of peace. The warlords always fought each other even for seemingly simple matters. And the level of…
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Adversity University Blog
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The Art of Shedding the Alter Ego
16 Jun 2009 | 9:17 amWitnessing the rising sun drench the entire valley with glorious light. Are you surprised that I’m back already, especially a day or so after posting my last article? Me too — It’s been a long time since I’ve done that! I can’t explain it and I’m not going to even try but suddenly I feel inspired to share a new development with you this morning. Right now my brain is buzzing with pure delight - it’s one of those “high as a kite” kind of things except that it’s all natural. As I write, I’m staring out the window,… -
Goals Are Not the Answer to Success!
15 Jun 2009 | 5:47 amDo you know yourself? (Photo taken at Maharishi University during Visitor's Weekend in April 2009) I bet the title of today’s article threw you for a double loop, didn’t it? Good. That was intentional - not as an attention grabbing gimmick but something I’ve come to realize over the years. This topic came up because I had to answer the following question on my graduate school application: What are your personal and professional goals? (minimum 50 words) Without knowing it, I had been using the power of my subconscious mind over the last several years, especially… -
Transcendental Mediation: My Experience Thus Far
6 Jun 2009 | 8:52 amArgiro Student Center, America’s first student center constructed according to the ancient principles of Vedic architecture for harmony with natural law. As we go through different seasons in life, there comes a time of big change like going back to school for the first time in decades. In my last post, I announced that I was accepted in the Masters’ program at Maharishi University of Management where I’ll be studying Vedic Science (the study of consciousness). Since I’m about to make a cross country move to Iowa to attend this university, I’ve been busy purging… -
NEWSFLASH: It’s Official…….
13 May 2009 | 4:35 amYesterday afternoon I was taking a much needed catnap when my Blackberry vibrated, jolting me awake. I meant to take the holster off my belt and set it aside so that I wouldn’t be disturbed but I was very glad I didn’t because of a special email I received from Maharishi University. It’s official: I’ve been accepted. Wahoooo!! I’m sitting here in my office in child-like wonder and awe at what will unfold next. I’m exceedingly grateful and can’t wait to see what God has in store for me. Here’s what I read after rubbing my eyes and yawning… -
Visitor’s Weekend at Maharishi University of Mgmt
10 May 2009 | 5:55 amArgiro Student Center, America’s first student center constructed according to the ancient principles of Vedic architecture for harmony with natural law. My challenge is that when I write, I love to keep writing, which means I take forever to get an article just right. It takes HOURS to write one and I think the fact that I tend to be a perfectionist sometimes takes away the joy of writing - I find it harder to get motivated because of this tendency. That’s partially why you haven’t heard from me in a while. Corinne Edwards, a long time subscriber and dear friend, once wrote…
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The Positivity Blog | Increase Your Happiness and Awesomeness
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Free Paraliminal Download + Special Offer with Greatly Reduced Prices
29 Jun 2009 | 10:31 amLearning Strategies are now offering a free download of their Peak Performance Paraliminal (more specifically session B on that CD) plus a special offer with greatly reduced prices for all Positivity Blog readers. Paraliminals are CDs that are focused on various aspects of your life. One is about getting you to become more focused and effective. Other ones are focused on such things as overcoming anxiety or improving relationships, confidence and health. You use the Paraliminals by first reading through a few short instructions in the small booklet included with each CD (the instructions for… -
3 Simple Ways to Free Up More Time for Yourself This Summer
23 Jun 2009 | 12:35 pmImage by muha… (license). “Don’t be fooled by the calendar. There are only as many days in the year as you make use of. One man gets only a week’s value out of a year while another man gets a full year’s value out of a week.” Charles Richards “A well-spent day brings happy sleep.” Leonardo Da Vinci One thing many of us want is simply to free up time so we can do more of what we really want to do. Here are three simple tips that have enabled me to find more time for myself to do so. And since I have a lot to do this summer I will apply them even more diligently than… -
How to Take Consistent Action: 7 Powerful Tips
16 Jun 2009 | 10:49 amImage by vramak (license). “In essence, if we want to direct our lives, we must take control of our consistent actions. It’s not what we do once in a while that shapes our lives, but what we do consistently.” Anthony Robbins Maybe the biggest problem people have when trying to improve something in their lives is that they never take much action at all. Perhaps the second biggest problem is that they don’t take consistent action over a longer time period. Now, consistency isn’t really the sexiest or most exciting word in personal development. But it is, coupled with time, what… -
Wayne Gretzky’s Top 3 Tips for Becoming the Best You Can Be
12 Jun 2009 | 7:24 am“The highest compliment that you can pay me is to say that I work hard every day, that I never dog it.” Wayne Gretzky needs no long introduction. He is the most well-known ice hockey player of all time and one of the absolute best that there has ever been. But how did he make that happen? Here are three of Gretzky’s tips that may give some insight into his phenomenal success. 1. Remember to have fun. “The only way a kid is going to practice is if it’s total fun for him… and it was for me.” I think this is a step that many of us have a big problem with. Or just forget… -
Do You Make These 7 Common Mistakes and Bore People Half to Death?
9 Jun 2009 | 8:16 amImage by left-hand (license). “You can have brilliant ideas, but if you can’t get them across, your ideas won’t get you anywhere”. Lee Iacocca “The best way to be boring is to leave nothing out.” Voltaire One way to make conversations a lot more awkward and unfulfilling is to bore people to half to death. Sometimes you don’t even know you are doing it (that’s at least what I have done). So today I’d like to list 7 common mistakes that I have made in conversations to help myself – and maybe someone else too – to avoid them in the future. If you find you might make one or…
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GTD Times
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Is that a problem or a project?
1 Jul 2009 | 3:08 pmGTD Secrets: True Confessions of a GTD Coach - Episode 4 One of the things that I have seen over the years is a lot of incomplete Project Lists. And I think some of it is because we have a tendency to have a narrow view about what a project is. Years ago, David said in a seminar, “Hey folks, you don’t have problems; you have projects.” And one of the things that I see is people not necessarily bringing their “problems” into their GTD system. It just doesn’t really occur to them, and it was the same with me. When I’m coaching people now, and they start sharing about their… -
The Strategic Value of Personal Productivity
30 Jun 2009 | 5:37 pmDavid Allen is doing a webinar event next Wednesday, July 8th, hosted by Unbound Ideas. In this 90-minute interactive webinar, David Allen will describe the strategies, tools and specific behaviors that dramatically upgrade individual and organizational productivity. In particular, he will focus on: The 5 stages of control and the 6 horizons of focus necessary for personal self-management How to get immediate control of “current reality” How to keep track of the total inventory of your commitments Why organizational issues are often personal process issues Why it’s so challenging to… -
OmniFocus Speed Keys
29 Jun 2009 | 6:44 pmStudies show that most people will be 4 times faster on the keyboard by using shortcut keys versus reaching for the the mouse and clicking their way through menus. You don’t need to know all of them, but certainly the keyboard shortcuts that represent the tasks you use the most can be a tremendous time saver. One of our Coaches was recently working with someone on OmniFocus and passed along a great summary of all of the OmniFocus keyboard shortcuts. We also have these posted for Windows & Outlook. ShareThis -
Taking a deeper look at control & perspective
29 Jun 2009 | 12:41 pmMaking It All Work, David Allen’s latest book, ties together what many people were hungry for after reading Getting Things Done: control + perspective. In MIAW, control (5 phases of mastering your workflow) gets married to perspective (your horizons of focus) to give an overview of the whole game. Chris Taylor, editor for Goose Educational Media, wrote up a detailed book review of Making It All Work that we thought you may find helpful. He wrote: We broke the review into two parts, as I felt Making it all Work really lent itself to that format. Part 1, focusing on control Part 2,… -
Join the GTD Fan Page on Facebook
26 Jun 2009 | 2:36 pmWe’ve setup a page on Facebook for all of you David Allen and GTD fans out there. It’s a great place, if you’re so inclined, to follow some of the latest bits of noteworthy news, quotes and musings from GTDGuy. Check it out: facebook.com/gettingthingsdone.You can also follow David on Twitter as GTDGuy. ShareThis
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WOWNDADI
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Social Media Inside
30 Jun 2009 | 3:00 amLast week’s workshop on using social media for internal communications at Melcrum was a packed house and a packed agenda. As intranets become less effective, and distributed working arrangements challenge traditional lines of communication, interest in social media is on the rise. Here are three examples of what people have been doing: The JetBlue University, within the US Airline, picked up social media and ran with it as a business tool. Notice how they allowed the structure to ‘evolve’ – social media allows “bottom up” development, which usually leads to… -
Creating a Bad Social Media Habitat
23 Jun 2009 | 4:33 amThe Campaign That Went Oops… The @habitatuk Twitter account looks all nice and shiny today, but that isn’t how it started out for the UK retailer. Last week an account in their name started spewing messages about their Spring/Summer collection, but tagged with random keywords from Twitter’s trending topics items. It isn’t a great mental leap to work out that the connection between the Habitat’s new furnishings collection and things like the #iranelection, #iran and #Mousavi is at best tenuous, and at worst a blatant bit of opportunism. Here’s some of the… -
Twitter to Replace the Phone?
22 Jun 2009 | 6:40 amWho needs telephones? We’ve got Twitter! Phone calls are all good and well, but by the time you’ve looked up the number, dialled it, listened to the ring tone and got through to the person you are trying to reach – or left the inevitable recorded message – you could have made a cup of coffee or had your next million dollar idea. Besides, it is so last-century… There must be a better way to make a restaurant booking. Twitter might not replace the telephone any time soon, but for lots of things it can be a faster way to communicate. There are times when it is… -
Beyond Social Media Strategy
16 Jun 2009 | 10:44 amAfter being caught calling myself a social media expert during the BBC Radio 5 Live Pods and Blogs program this morning, I’d better explain what I’ve been up to. Having stumbled into digital communication in the 80’s, I was always captivated by the ability of technology to change things. In the 90’s I was able to play a part in building intranets that really did change how businesses operated, from car manufacturers like Renault and Volvo, to big banks in Asia and the US. Something happened along the way, and I think that something may well have been email. Business… -
Engaging Employees – Social Media Inside
16 Jun 2009 | 3:18 amAre you happy in your job? Do you know what is expected of you in your role? If you answered yes to both, you are in a privileged minority. According to John H. Fleming, Chief Scientist at Gallup Consulting, 43% of employees in the UK are not engaged at work, while 17% are actively disengaged – and over a third of employees are unsure what their job actually is. The figures come from a 2006-2008 survey discussed during Melcrum’s 5th anual conference on employee engagement. Whilst social media wasn’t the focus of the event, it came up many times as a way to change company…
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Say it Better
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Create a Tag Line to be Top of Mind in Your “Market”
2 Jul 2009 | 11:32 am"Because the earth needs a good lawyer" is oneof my favorite tag lines. It is specific, emotional and short. What shorthand description do others use when describing your cause, business or other group? If it’s not the one you cite then maybe you want to create a more compelling one. Why not craft an apt, memorable tag line or slogan that describes your organization’s core value to us? An extra benefit is that a clear, specific and vivid slogan provides a focal point for doing “first things first” and for making other choices when one seems… -
"It happens when nobody is watching”
29 Jun 2009 | 2:43 pmIf an ad stops you in your tracks it must be good.At a Berlin bus stop a camera detects that you’re looking at an interactive poster. You see a happy-looking couple when staring at the posterYet when you turn away it morphs into an image of the man hitting the woman (“It happens when nobody is watching.”) Too bad that Amnesty International only got one of these anti-domestic violence ads. This high-profile, high-risk taking non-profit had another attending-grabbing ad format and tagline in 2006 – images on transparent posters with the line .... "It's not… -
Guess How Soon You Could Read Others
29 Jun 2009 | 8:17 amIt didn’t take long for you to recognize basic behaviors and know what they meant for you. Even before you were a year old • You understood that individuals you saw over time would to act in certain ways. • You recognized different emotions in those around you —fear, anger and happiness. • You knew how to manipulate others as soon as you could move your body. • When you saw people who were helpful and others who were hurtful, you understood the ones to avoid – even if you couldn’t. Even before your first birthday, you knew all that according Paul Bloom, Yale psychology… -
From Obesity to Resilience, Performance and Happiness – How We Can Do Better By Our Children
27 Jun 2009 | 11:09 amNurtureShock. From the real root cause of obesity to where the worst bullying really happens this book is a wake-up call for parents and anyone involved with schools or children. I’m betting it will spark some excited – and heated conversations From letting kids sleep longer to starting school later to keeping kids off the “hedonic treadmill”, this heavily-researched yet highly captivating book takes on many of the major myths about how we raise our children. Some findings have already generated pushback from school administrators who “just feel it… -
A Clue to Why Friendships Enable Women to Live Longer
21 Jun 2009 | 9:35 amLetting down one’s guard. Chatting. Getting to know each other in comfortable ways. These are not frivolous activities for women after all. Scientists have long known that having close relationships – even simply social contact – leads to living longer. Until now they did not have proof as to why -especially for women. One clue comes from the chemical reaction to social closeness – even with strangers. What happens, for example, when women who are strangers to each other are put in a situation where they are encouraged to talk or collaborate? Their…
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Productive Flourishing
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July 2009 Planners Available
1 Jul 2009 | 10:01 amI’ve just uploaded this month’s planners. I wanted to have them up yesterday but got sidetracked – but at least they’re not late this month! Release Notes: I made some minor changes to the Freelancer Workweek. It’s just a few words, but the old phrases and words bugged me a little. I’m still a bit stuck with the planners. They all need some TLC, but I’ve got two problems: 1) I only use them when I have to, and I’ve gotten better at not needing to structure my day, and 2) I’m still really insecure about my graphic design skills. I’ll… -
A Lost Weapon, A Person Revealed, and A History Hidden
26 Jun 2009 | 1:09 pm“We don’t have to do this tonight do we, sir? Couldn’t we get our convoy delayed until the route changes?” I think I’ll always remember the look in his eyes and the tremble in his voice as he asked me that question that rainy evening. I couldn’t blame him for feeling that way – I remembered my first time commanding a convoy along a route I didn’t know. The feeling of complete overwhelm and fear that you’ll take a wrong turn and be out in the middle of nowhere, beyond the help of the better armed and armored route security forces. Getting… -
The High Cost of Information
22 Jun 2009 | 8:41 amSeth wrote a post back in December that really touched a nerve on a ubiquitous problem that I see pop up nearly every day. His point was about the High Cost of Now – and his key insight: More than ever, there’s a clear relationship between how new something is and how much it costs to discover that news. But what I began to think about is not the High Cost of Now, but instead the High Cost of Information. They’re very similar, but the salient feature of the problem that he was looking at was the time-sensitivity of information, whereas the problem I’m looking at is the… -
You May Have Seen Me On TV…
19 Jun 2009 | 2:49 pmThis one is just for fun. Which of the pictures below is mine? If you picked the last one, you are correct; what gave it away? Although, with the size of my melon, I wouldn’t be surprised if the picture of Mr. Potato Head threw you off. Marissa is not alone in that I remind her of someone else – in fact, this happens to me all the time. Depending on the time of year, how long my hair is, and whether or not I’ve been working out, people have commented about how I remind them of someone else. Normally I remind them of one of the celebrities pictured above, but that’s… -
Turn The Instant Off
18 Jun 2009 | 4:42 pmMy first video post. YAY! I’ve been wanting to do one of these for a long time, but they’ve never been good enough. The lighting was wrong. The sound was bad. I said “Um” too much or wouldn’t look at the camera. Today, I’m just doing it and putting it out there. I have to start somewhere. The video is just shy of 10 minutes and safe for work. If you’d like to see more of these, please let me know. If this post turned a light on, maybe these will, too:Why Are You Trying to Save Time? A lot of pA Weekend Unplugged When was t Related posts brought to you…
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MonkMojo's 1000 Cuts
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Psychotherapy vs. Zen Meditation
26 Jun 2009 | 2:21 am& -
The 10 Cat Herding Pictures of Enlightenment
21 Jun 2009 | 4:25 pm& -
Hooked by the Desire to Understand
18 Jun 2009 | 12:20 amMindful Beginner.com -
Come Together Right Now Over Me
13 Jun 2009 | 12:12 amTo appreciate the full penetrating depth of this post, you should look at this one first. Church of the Churchless Related Bonus Stuff: YouTube video: Beatles Come Together Lyrics: Here come old flattop he come grooving up slowly He got joo-joo eyeball he one holy roller He got hair down to his knee Got to be a joker he just do what he please He wear no shoeshine he got toe-jam football He got monkey finger he shoot coca-cola He say "I know you, you know me" One thing I can tell you is you got to be free Come together right now over me He bag production he got walrus gumboot He got Ono… -
Two New Radical Diagrams About How the Mind Utilizes Time.
10 Jun 2009 | 3:05 amBe sure to check out part 2 of this post. &
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Technotheory.com
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Bottom up 101: how to empty your inbox fast by learning from Google
1 Jul 2009 | 9:34 amWhy does it take less time to find something on the web than on your hard drive? It’s because the internet has no order, but we’d like to think we do. Guess again: using an orderly approach to storing and retrieving is similar to paying full price for airline tickets: it made sense twenty year ago but is a costly decision today. Here’s how to file and find things in the next decade. Bottom Up vs Top Down Storage and retrieval ultimately fit into two methods: top down and bottom up. A top down approach is to come up with categories, and perhaps sub-categories, and… -
3 DC must-sees that have nothing to do with productivity (and everything to do with living) – NOTE: this weekend only
18 Jun 2009 | 7:28 pmI’m leaving town for a couple months. In the mean time, I’ve taken in some of the best that DC has to offer, and I hope you won’t miss out. I recently saw a play and a film that hit me, and there’s one more coming up. So even though I don’t usually write about this, I want to share—fyi, DC only for now. Looped A few weeks ago I went to the opening for Looped at The Lincoln Theatre (put on by Arena Stage). It was a ridiculously funny play that tackled some tough topics. From the show description: Human nature always continues to fascinate me. Why do so many… -
Information Overload: an invitation and some new videos
16 Jun 2009 | 9:18 amAfter a few days at a conference focused on project management, I no longer think I’ve got it bad: I met someone last night who receives over 1000 emails every day. Fortunately there are still people fighting the good fight. The following are clips about the current state of information overload, as well as possibilities for the future. And don’t miss the Information Overload Research Group’s upcoming conference in September! First, the conference. I had a great time at the Information Overload Research Group’s inaugural conference (my lessons learned). And now… -
How to find balance…in 13 minutes
8 Jun 2009 | 7:01 amI haven’t blogged lately because I’ve overcommitted. When I figure out how to say “no” to more things, I’ll be sure to write about that. But I have figured out how to make better use of the time I do spend working and relaxing. The following is a video of me from WordCamp Mid-Atlantic talking about both productivity at work and balance in life. Though the presentation was initially geared toward blogging, there are 13 minutes I’ve highlighted that I hope you’ll enjoy. Below the video I’ve listed out the timestamps to skip to, as well as some articles that… -
To manage your money with less effort and greater returns, follow these steps from Ramit Sethi
25 May 2009 | 9:01 pmThree years ago I went through a bunch of books and paid $500 for advice to get my finances in order. I’m so glad I built a system for myself, and I’ve been happy to help many friends since. Much of my interest in personal finance started when I began reading a blog that’s just now morphed into a book. This book would’ve made my life easier and wallet thicker three years ago. The following are some highlights from the bestselling I Will Teach You To Be Rich. Ramit from I Will Teach You To Be Rich Ramit Sethi and I have always gotten along. While he’s funnier and always a few…
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Steve Pavlina's Personal Development Blog
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Climate Change
29 Jun 2009 | 2:03 pmRecently the U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP) released a new report on how climate change is already affecting the United States, plus predictions for the next 100 years based on different scenarios. If you care to read the report, you can find it online at www.globalchange.gov/usimpacts. This group is comprised of respected U.S. scientists from a variety of disciplines. According to their web site, the USGCRP “coordinates and integrates federal changes in the global environment and their implications to society.” They’ve been conducting heavy peer-reviewed… -
Your Wealthy Avatar
26 Jun 2009 | 10:28 amThere was a recent discussion in our forums about the contrast between playing an online computer game (MMORPG) and, over a period of weeks or months, acquiring a substantial amount of gold for your character (avatar) versus experiencing the opposite situation of financial scarcity in real life. The question posed was: What’s it like to enjoy financial abundance in real life? Honestly it’s pretty much the same thing you’d experience in a virtual game world when your character has a lot of gold. When you have an abundance of gold, the nature of the game changes, doesn’t… -
3-Day Las Vegas Workshop Oct 2-4
25 Jun 2009 | 12:59 pmI’m happy to announce that I’ll be doing a 3-day public workshop here in Las Vegas on October 2-4, 2009 (Fri-Sun), and I invite you to attend. This event will be held in a very nice meeting room at Harrah’s Hotel, right in the middle of the Las Vegas Strip. This will be a personal development workshop, not a blogging workshop. The content will be loosely based on the material from my book, so we’re going to cover the whole she-bang of personal growth — habits, career, money, relationships, health, and spiritual growth. This workshop will include a nice blend of… -
How to Make a Raw Fruit Pie
22 Jun 2009 | 5:00 amSince December 2008 I’ve been attending monthly raw potlucks here in Las Vegas. Erin and I hosted one at our house a few months ago, and we’ll be hosting another one in August. Typically 20-25 people will attend (I’ve seen as many as 35), so these potlucks are a nice way to meet local raw food enthusiasts and to sample a variety of tasty items. At previous potlucks I’ve brought guacamole, nori rolls, and garlic “bread,” but by far the most popular item I’ve made was a raw fruit pie. I’ve brought raw pies to three potlucks, and I always brought… -
Events, Perception, Truth, and Subjective Reality
18 Jun 2009 | 11:29 amWhat exactly is an event? An event is something that happens at a given place and time. An event is essentially a point or interval in space-time. Place and time are both relative concepts. To define a place, you need a reference location. Places are defined by relationships, such as by coordinates (relative to a coordinate system) or directions (relative to a starting location). To define a time, you must also use relationships, such as a time’s relationship to the present moment or to another date and time. When you try to define events in objective terms, you internally translate…
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THE WEEKLY REVIEW
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Snow Leopard, Safari 4 and Other Miscallaneous Meanderings
16 Jun 2009 | 5:37 amSnow Leopard - featureless? No way. Now that WWDC is past and all the Mac developers have settled back in at home, there should be a good bit of content this week focused on the updates Apple unveiled during the conference. For the most part, there was nothing truly shocking. As they have the past couple of years, Apple’s updates were focused on gradual improvements to their existing lineup. Here’s what got my attention. Snow Leopard Enhancements Although Snow Leopard is lacking in new features, there are a few updates to current applications within the operating system that are… -
Great Moments by Design - Ego App
5 Jun 2009 | 5:42 amAll your numbers in one place. There are times when a software application becomes tightly integrated with your routine without you even realizing it. Then you come across a scenario where that software is not available and you realize how much you’ve come to depend on it. Ego for the iPhone/iPod Touch is one of those pieces of software for me. Some while back I came to this realization—even when sitting at my desk working on my computer where all of my information is accessible, if I want to look at stat for a site of mine, I would rather use Ego. That is one of those great moments… -
A Loft with a View
27 May 2009 | 5:52 amA Loft with a View When I was young, the majority of my family’s holidays involved long drives and sleeping in our camper. Even when visiting other cities we often found a local RV park and camped rather than any alternatives. Hotels and motels were not a regular occurrence for us. My memories of those trips are all good—kids like to run around and campgrounds are a more suitable environment for that than a hotel lobby. Now that I’m the parent, I realize how hard it can be to travel with young children and find the appropriate accommodations. Left to my own devices, I would most… -
A List of Productivity Tips
20 May 2009 | 1:35 pmMichael Ramm created a great list of tips on how to increase your productivity. Forget GTD and four hour work weeks … use even a few of the items on this list and you will increase your output and feel better about your work. -
Fusion: Behind the Scenes
13 May 2009 | 6:12 amBuilding the Fusion Ads network I’ve always enjoyed getting an insight into how certain companies or people work. Case in point—the design decisions posts by the crew at 37signals. They give their readers a taste for how they work as a team as well as the tools and techniques they use to perform their work. And if you like someone’s work, it makes sense that you would be interested in how they ‘do’ it. Last week, Michael Mistretta gave an update on where things are with the Fusion Ads network. I want to follow up and give some insight into how we got to where we are today.
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Widows Quest
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Can we change our life?
2 Jul 2009 | 11:18 amSometimes it feels as though everything is out of our control, sometimes we feel that life is controlling us…rather than us controlling our life. But you know we can change our life, we can the way people look at us and react to us. We can pull our shoulders back and our chin up…..we can walk as though we embrace life rather than suffer life. We can smile at people when we are out and about - you will be amazed how people smile back and how your mood lifts. We can walk towards life rather than sitting fearing life. We can make a point of complimenting others and boosting their… -
The Art of Forgiveness
1 Jul 2009 | 12:49 pmAs widows and widowers I believe forgiveness is a big part of coming through grief Forgiving yourself. I spent so much time wishing that I had done things differently. That I had prioritised family more than work, not that this was deliberate but I look back wishing that I had enjoyed more time at home rather than feeling tired alot. I realise now that the time has gone, that I did the best that I could, that he worshipped me and loved me for my energy with work. Forgiving the world for taking him from me. I realise that there is no logic why the good people are taken from us, just that death… -
Is Love Wonderful?
30 Jun 2009 | 12:58 pmLove can be spectacular and yet when you think about love can be dangerous. Love makes you lose control with giddiness Love can cause fear…fear of losing your love Love causes pain when they are taken from you Love is comforting, love is precious and yet it makes me wonder why something so wonderful can never be enjoyed without pain. So would I say it was worth it…would I want to have felt love if I had realised the danger…. …YES. Post from: Widows Quest -
Carnival of Positive Thinking
29 Jun 2009 | 12:51 pmEach week I ask for articles that will help us through our grief, thank you to all who have contributed…enjoy! Alvaro Fernandez presents Debunking 10 Brain Training/ Cognitive Health Myths posted at SharpBrains: Your Window into the Brain Fitness Revolution, saying, “Think about this: How can anyone take care of his or her brain when every week brings a new barrage of articles and studies which seem to contradict each other?” Aparna presents Your personal bill of rights posted at Beauty and Personality Grooming. Warren presents Positive Priming posted at… -
The Loss of Icons
27 Jun 2009 | 7:49 amThis week saw the world lose Michael Jackson and Farrah Fawcett, two people who were very prominent entertainers during my teenage years. Whenever someone famous dies I always have mixed emotions The sense of loss of their genius - the sense that we will miss their brilliance and of course just the utmost feelings for their family. Confusion how the world can focus on the death of one person, when each day people lose people their love and face death without the sympathy or empathy of the world. Death is such a private feeling and yet when someone famous dies..the grief is forced to be so…
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LifeSpy
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Saving on Medical Care
2 Jul 2009 | 2:20 pmAre you unemployed or struggling at making ends meet? Here are a few suggestions on how to save on medical care without compromising the health of yourself or your family: If you are going to buy medicine for minor ailments, for example aspirin, cold and cough syrups, and indigestion aids, why not buy generic brands? Do some research first and compare labels. You will observe that the working ingredients are the same as those name-brand medicines. When you buy generic medicine, you can get the same remedy for less. If you need treatment, choose a hospital or clinic that receive government… -
More Tips on Working at Home
2 Jul 2009 | 2:07 pmWorking at home can be a great (and in certain circumstances the only) option. You can still grow in your profession but it takes a lot of skillful planning to make sure that you get more projects, and that your skills won’t go stale. Know what you need to know. Even if you decide to work on something right up your alley (you were a copywriter for your previous company and then you decide to still be a copywriter), it still won’t hurt if you do some research. Find out what makes your previous company successful. See if you can incorporate it in your own venture. Find out what… -
Choosing Eyewear
1 Jul 2009 | 6:10 pmAccessories, like eye wear, are like clothes. Not everything fits everyone. They can be choosy when it comes to their particular wearers. Here are some guidelines when choosing the correct eye wear for you, whether they are frames for corrective glasses or fashion sunglasses: Accessories, like eyewear, are like clothes. Not everything fits everyone. They can be choosy when it comes to their particular wearers. Here are some guidelines when choosing the correct eyewear for you, whether they are frames for corrective glasses or fashion sunglasses: Consider the bridge of your nose. The glasses… -
Managing Anger
1 Jul 2009 | 5:33 pmAnger, like any emotion, can be healthy when expressed and managed in the correct manner. If you feel that you have little control of your anger, or if you have difficulty expressing anger, here are some tips that might be helpful: Back away from the whatever it is that is making you angry. Take a time-out. Count from one to ten and breathe. This usually helps dissipate that dangerous first burst of anger. A little space or some fresh air will help you cool down and give you the chance to contemplate. During that time, make a quick assessment of the situation. To what or whome is your angery… -
Five Things You Shouldn’t Forget When Working Out
30 Jun 2009 | 3:30 pmWorking out is fine. It’s actually great. But before you happily skip off to gym land, make sure that you don’t forget the following: Warming Up and Cooling Down. You experiencing cramps while working out? Maybe you also complain about tight knotted muscles after going to the gym? Perhaps you haven’t warmed up or cooled down enough. These may be insignifcant but the ten minutes you’ll spend warming up before a work out will make sure that your body is ready for the hard work. Another ten minutes for cooling down after a work out will help ease the muscles that tensed…
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Leading Hands Through Technology
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Full Length Movies on YouTube
2 Jul 2009 | 4:47 amDid you know that YouTube is now playing completely unedited full length movies? If you didn’t make it over the hump into digital TV switchover and you’re looking for entertainment, then never fear, YouTube is here! Now you can watch your favorite movies from the comfort of your home for free. In the quest to remain [...] -
Poll: Why Aren’t You Using Twitter?
1 Jul 2009 | 2:08 amTwitter has been around for over two years now and every local news network has an account. It seems everywhere you turn, there seems to be a conversation about “Tweeting”. If you are not on Twitter yet, what are you waiting for? If you did open a Twitter account and it now lays dormant, [...] -
Oh No, Twitter is Falling
30 Jun 2009 | 4:25 amA friend told me about a cool new Twitter service that NPR touted called Twitter Fall. What’s so special about this Twitter app? The site processes a live feed of all Twitter entries and delivers them to you in real-time feed. Obviously you can’t watch every entry at once, so the application ques tweets up. Twitter [...] -
No More Fakes: Twitter Verified Accounts
29 Jun 2009 | 4:21 amTwitter is attempting to make it clear that you are actually talking to an actual celebrity or their representatives by introducing verified accounts. Now if you search a profile on Twitter, look in the upper right corner of the page for the “Verified Account” symbol. What prompted this change? Twitter recently got sued by St. [...] -
Reset Your Credit Card at Point of Purchase
27 Jun 2009 | 3:50 pmThe other day I was standing in line and the credit card machine wasn’t working. The guy standing in front of me was trying to get his Master Card to slide through the unit twenty different ways. After about ten minutes, the line behind me starting slowly growing and the crowd was getting restless. Like [...]
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On Simplicity
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Simplify Your Life by Bartering for What You Need
30 Jun 2009 | 5:00 amToday’s post is from Kathryn Vercillo. One of the goals of simple living is to reduce the time that you spend doing work that you’re not passionate about and to replace it with time spent doing the things that you truly enjoy. One of the key ways to do this that often gets overlooked in the modern world is the option of bartering for the products and services that you need. You can offer products and services that you already have or that you enjoy doing to benefit others who in turn can provide you with the things that you need. You’ll be able to work less because you’ll be spending… -
Toxic Friends and How to Dump Them
23 Jun 2009 | 5:00 amI think just about every person in the world has had a toxic friend in their life at one point or another. There’s no blueprint of toxicity and no warning signs to steer us clear of these folks. (That’s unfortunate…) There are some common patterns that emerge in a toxic friendship: An unequal expectation of how much each person is supposed to give to the relationship A person who claims “star status” in the friendship A lack of flexibility and room to grow Any of these sound uncomfortably familiar? It may be time for some distance if you’ve got… -
Four Simple Ways to Make the Most of Your Day
15 Jun 2009 | 4:00 amWhether we like it or not, days bleed into one another and weeks slip by quickly. I hate the feeling of looking back on a month and thinking, “Wait… Now what did I do again? Anything?” One way to ease your mind that your days have been well spent is to focus less on checking tasks off a list, and more on making each day valuable to you and to the world. Do One Thing That Scares You This one has become a cliche, but that doesn’t make it irrelevant. (Please don’t run into traffic just to get heart rate up, though.) Seek out fears that may be holding you… -
Make Life Luxurious–Without the Complication
9 Jun 2009 | 4:00 amIt’s a common saying that integrity is doing the right thing when no one’s there to notice. In that same vein, I think that luxury might be enjoying impressive things when no one is around to notice. Do you ever: Save your best new shirt for an important occasion? Pull out your stylish glassware only for company? Wear your nice PJs for when you might be seen? Use your moleskin only for out-and-about brainstorming? Own guest towels that are way nicer than the ones you use on a daily basis? A Little Luxury Goes a Long Way Consider switching your routines up and save your best… -
Are You Wasting the Best Moments of Your Life with Simple Living?
3 Jun 2009 | 4:00 amWhen you live simply, days run together beautifully. Evenings spent relaxing with a good book blend seamlessly into morning walks and late afternoon glasses of wine into… evenings spent relaxing with a good book. It’s all well and lovely, but where’s the adventure, the drama, the stuff to tell grandkids about? In the end, are we wasting our lives by living simply? Think back on your favorite memories of the last few years. Chances are, they revolve around vacations, parties, special events, and the like. Less likely to come to mind is the time you sipped a glass of…
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Homegrown Evolution
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Mullein (Verbascum thapsus)
1 Jul 2009 | 9:38 amEvery time we visit the nice folks at Petaluma Urban Homestead they send us home with some strange plant. Thanks to PUH, who are busy actually doing things as opposed to blogging about doing things, we now have a beautiful flowering mullein plant (Verbascum thapsus).Verbascum thapsus is one of those plants that most people think of as a weed. Native to Europe and Asia, Verbascum thapsus was introduced to North America because of its many medicinal uses, almost too many to list. Most commonly used for respiratory problems, it also makes both green and yellow dyes and doubles as a fish poison! -
Chicken Coop Made From Ikea Parts
28 Jun 2009 | 8:31 amRemix the following Ikea items--Mydal bunk bed, Trofast storage unit with shallow drawers, Vika Oleby legs and a Gorm bottle rack--and you get a stylish chicken coop mashup. Read more about Aaron Bell and wife Corinne's coop at Ikeahacker. -
Japanese Hackberry Tree Lifts Junkyard Car (and Motorcycle)
26 Jun 2009 | 6:42 pmJapanese hackberry (Celtis jessoensis) can live to the ripe old age of 1,000 years. Apparently, they can also lift junkyard cars.Via Mark Frauenfelder at BoingBoing -
Shelter
25 Jun 2009 | 5:58 pmWe've been huge fans of author Lloyd Khan ever since reading his seminal book Shelter. For many years Khan has traveled the world chronicling indigenous and extreme DIY architecture. He has an eye for buildings that have a sense of place and a connection with nature. Reading and viewing the photos in his books you'll pick up both practical ideas and daydream of fantastical structures at once spiritual and playful.Like the Whole Earth Catalog, Shelter's wide ranging and inclusive topics anticipated the non-hierarchical structure of the Internet. On one page you're looking at Turkish rock… -
Real Estate Bubble Bananas
24 Jun 2009 | 11:00 amThere's a house in our neighborhood that's been for sale for over a year. Two months ago the for sale signs disappeared, junk mail littered the front porch and the mow and blow guys stopped showing up, leaving the lawn to go wild. A busted sprinkler head creates a nightly fountain as the houses' infrastructure lapses into a timer operated zombification. We knew the nice young family that used to live here and I hope that they were able to sell somehow, but it doesn't look good.I started picking up the junk mail to make the place looked lived in. I also remembered that the backyard had both…
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Office Supplies Blog
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GREEN MACHINE- tips to green your office
2 Jul 2009 | 11:08 amYou may not know this but the U.S. alone consumes enough office paper to build a wall 10 feet high and 6,815 miles long. With the recent trend of “going green” becoming more popular, many businesses are jumping on the wagon. Not only is this change warranted, it is needed. There are many large corporations as well as small businesses that are lending their skills to this need. Many companies such as Microsoft’s Sharepoint tool are offering ways to cut back on paper consumption. They are able to do this by offering ways to make… -
Congratulations to our Bunny Winners!
1 Jul 2009 | 9:08 amWe had a blast picking our 10 favorite comments today! If you won, you should have a received an email from me. If you didn’t receive an email, don’t worry we’ll make your comment worth your time. Don’t forget to check our blog periodically for the next contest and thank you to everyone for entering! -
The Fix All that is Scotch Tape: 350+ Uses??
29 Jun 2009 | 3:06 pmYeah yeah duct tape is really great, but when the Duct Tape isn’t there, what do you reach for? And sometimes you go for Scotch tape first when you are nervous about damaging the item you are taping up. (Especially skin!) I was thrilled to find the book Transparent Tape: Over 350 Super, Simple and Surprising Uses You’ve Probably Never Thought of by Vicki Lansky. You can buy it Here 1. Served as an anti-corrosive shield on the Goodyear blimp. 2. Covered cracks in the soft shells of fertilized pigeon and turkey eggs – which then hatched! 3. Attached labels to horses to be… -
Dry-Erase Board Ghosts..oooh scary!
24 Jun 2009 | 1:33 pm[Thanks to Adam Kinney for this great visual] The marketing team at Shoplet received a whiteboard last month for scheduling! Great right? It came with a special marker and advised you only use that special marker. Sadly to say I decided that one color was not enough. One of my co-workers gave me a pack of bright, colorful dry-erase markers and I wrote our schedule in lots of nice colors. It looked great until it came time to change the schedule. Oops. A ghosted whiteboard does not look professional and it gets more and more annoying as time goes on. My solution was to switch from the… -
Soda Lovers: Get Soap in Your Favorite Bottles
23 Jun 2009 | 7:44 amThis morning I found the site of a soap that is getting a lot of talk right now. New Soap, Old Bottle. I read a few opinions about this new product and it seems to be pretty widely endorsed. One comment I read explained that if nothing else this should inspire us to reuse our soda bottles for cleaning liquids. I agree with that comment except for the fact that you, as a consumer, would still have to buy a giant bottle of Windex to refill your little soda bottle. The difference with New Soap, Old Bottle is that they buy the soap buy the barrel. I’m not sure what the barrel looks like…
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Think Simple Now
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Time for a Retreat – Personal Update
13 Jun 2009 | 8:05 amBy: Tina Su For the next four weeks, I will be living in an ashram near Bangalore India. I will be attending a meditation and spiritual retreat called Inner Awakening that I have been anticipating for many months now. It’s an opportunity to learn directly from an enlightened guru in a serene environment, along with several hundred other spiritual seekers from around the world. I’ve decided not to bring my laptop or cell phone, and to fully emerse myself in the experience. Besides, a month without technology sounds like a really nice cleanse of its own. During this time, no new… -
How to Quiet Your Mind
11 Jun 2009 | 12:22 pmPhoto by Andrea D’Aquino (Germany) By: Tina Su Do you regularly feel at ease and at peace? Are you continuously overflowing with Joy and Bliss on a daily basis, such that you seem free of problems and emotional pain? If so, go directly to the comment section and share with us your secrets. If you’re still reading, you are amongst the vast majority of us striving for a better life, yearning for a more peaceful and joyful existence. Yet, it seems like an impossible challenge, where we end up mentally punishing ourselves for failing, concluding that “I’m just not made to live… -
Overcoming a Rough Week
3 Jun 2009 | 8:59 amPhoto by Carlos Yepez (flickr stream). By Ralph Jean-Paul We all have bad days, but have you ever had one of those weeks when it seems everything is going wrong? Monday, your alarm didn’t ring and you were late for work. Tuesday, your car broke down. Wednesday you lost your credit card. Thursday was your annual review and your employer informed you that, due to the economy, the company is not issuing raises this year. By the time Friday arrives and you can see the light at the end of the tunnel, you get a ticket for speeding. How do we handle a series of setbacks and bad news? I… -
Personal Change You Can Measure
28 May 2009 | 9:37 amBy Scott Young As we approach mid-year, are there any goals you had set at the start of this year that you want to make progress on? Here is a simple tool that can help you in becoming more productive and effective. There is an old business adage, “what is measured, improves.” I believe that lesson applies, to not just your business, but also your life. If you measure something, you gain conscious awareness of it. If you gain conscious awareness, you increase your ability to control it. Today is the third day of a week-long diet log I’m running. My diet log is simply… -
How to End Suffering
14 May 2009 | 9:49 amBy Tina Su “While pain might be inevitable, the suffering that comes from the pain is not. Suffering is not a state of life, it is a state of mind. Suffering is your response to an event. Whether you suffer or not depends entirely on your reaction to that situation.” ~ Paramahamsa Nithyananda (Swamiji) Today, I will get (more) personal. I’ve debated about whether or not to share this information in a post. It was a quiet battle between keeping my personal life somewhat private, and the intense desire to share the lessons from this important chapter of my life. In sharing,…
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FitHacks.com
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Healthy Habits
26 Jun 2009 | 9:15 amIt has been said that it takes three weeks of repeating a specific action before it becomes a habit. After this time, the action takes less thought to initiate and less effort to perform. Basically, it’s like cruise control. As long as you continue to steer in the right direction, the pre-programmed car will take you where you want to go. In the same manner, establishing these healthy habits in your life will take much of the struggle out of eating and living well. Sure you will still have to put in some effort to initiate and maintain these habits, but after a while, your fitness plan… -
Diet Cola: Lesser of Two Evils?
15 Jun 2009 | 7:31 pmOccasionally a situation arises where I’m tempted to buy a diet cola. This is hardly common since when I usually crave a Dr. Pepper I go straight for the real stuff. But sometimes, when I feel like I’ve had too much sugar for the day, I reluctantly get a diet drink. These drinks, sweetened with aspartame instead of the HFCS found in regular colas, contain zero calories, but taste far from the real thing. Also, there has been some controversy over whether aspartame is even considered safe for human consumption. Given the controversy and the taste, I usually am successful in avoiding these… -
5 Helpful Nutrition Tips
15 Jun 2009 | 7:30 pmI’ve been meaning to post a more thorough article about nutrition lately, but in the meantime, here is a great post about some quick tips on how to eat a more healthy diet. These 5 tips aren’t all encompassing but are certainly good guidelines for the next time you go to the grocery store. “1. Shop the perimeter of the grocery store. The perimeter is where you find your produce, your fish and meat, eggs and dairy, etc. It is not where you find twinkies, chips, or donuts. Make quick ventures into the middle aisles to get other items like salsa, tuna, oats and flax. Sticking to the… -
Hack Your Morning Routine
15 Jun 2009 | 7:26 pmThe mornings are literally the worst time of day for me. I am such a zombie right after I wake up that I really need things to be as simple as possible for me in my process of getting ready for work. If I have to spend too much time doing mundane morning activities I’m likely to get really grumpy toward anyone near me. With that in mind, I’d like to share a few of the quick and dirty shortcuts I use in my daily morning routine. Only Use Two Colors of Socks: I have been doing this one for years. It saves me tons of time both in the morning and when I’m doing laundry. By only buying two… -
How To Make Fast Food More Fit
29 May 2009 | 1:15 pmIn today’s society, it’s hard to imagine life without fast food. The quick and easy restaurants are virtually everywhere and provide a plethora of cheap, tasty meals. However, the stuff you can find at a fast food restaurant is almost guaranteed to be high in calories, saturated fat and cholesterol. Almost all professional nutritionists demand that you completely cut all fast food from your life. But is this really practical? Yes you could definitely find something better in a health food store, but if you are pressed for time and just want something quick and easy, here are a few…
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Reason-4-Smile Weblog
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Three Innovator Lessons from Larry Wall
29 Jun 2009 | 6:00 amphoto credit: Veyis Polat Who is Larry Wall? Many of you may not know who he is. He is the father of Perl, a programming language that is more popular among system administrators. He created Perl in mid-1980s. You may never hear his work, but there is something we can learn from his life as a programmer and innovator. Today I want to share the three attributes of innovators, inspired by Larry Wall as he is mentioned and described in the book Learning Perl, by Randal L. Schwartz, Tom Phoenix, & brian d foy (I don’t have any idea why the last name is written in lower case). 1) Be Lazy… -
Every Post is an Opportunity
25 Jun 2009 | 6:00 amphoto credit: kevindooley Do you know what surprised me recently? It’s the number of my RSS subscribers. I couldn’t believe it that in two weeks after I re-launched the new theme, the subscribers number goes from below 200 to 253 the day I wrote this article. I’ve secretly made a goal of reaching 200 subscribers by the end of last year. But as you know, I didn’t make it. The number is fluctuating around 180-190. It’s hardly increased, and new subscribers are almost always accompanied by other unsubscribed readers. So it’s indeed really surprised me that the… -
Simplifying Your Life Message
22 Jun 2009 | 6:00 amphoto credit: arquera I am preparing for another Toastmaster (public speaking) project on 30th of June. And this time, the project is about Persuading with Power. I was thinking about a topic to share about in my next speech, and GTD came out. Getting Things Done is the topic I have shared earlier in my previous project. This time I am going to repeat the same message with different structure and purpose. Basically, I’m integrating the lessons I have learned from the earlier speech. These are some of them. 1. Simplify Recently, while searching for a quote from Timothy Ferris on… -
Three Life Lessons From My Room
18 Jun 2009 | 6:00 amphoto credit: MaZzuk Last weekend, my room taught me a number of lessons. It all started with my old wardrobe, a fabric wardrobe (the first picture in the gallery below). Over 5 years of usage, it has degraded. The fabric is torn here and there, it is not zipped properly, slanted and it cannot stand properly. I’ve been hesitating to replace it until now. As I just renewed my room rental contract, I thought this is a good time to get me new furniture and rearrange my room. And more than a new room, the experience taught me a number of lessons. I’ll share three of them in this post. -
You can say “Maybe”
15 Jun 2009 | 6:00 amphoto credit: Crystl There is one event I was invited, a farewell for a minister in a campus organization I was actively involved before. I am not sure if I will come to the farewell party, as I do not know him very well. So I went to the Facebook event where I’m asked to RSVP. And I’m the first person who put it neither “Attending” nor “Not Attending”. I put my answer as “Maybe Attending”. Maybe? That sounds like a lame response. It’s so uncertain, so irresponsible, so uncommitted. People say that it’s not good to say I try, you…
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Sources of Insight
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Crucial Moments
1 Jul 2009 | 11:05 pmIn my previous post, I talked about Vital Behaviors, which I learned about in my Influencer Training. I’m elaborating here on Crucial Moments because they are one of the key ways to help you find Vital Behaviors. A Crucial Moment is the point in time where you have a critical choice to make. It’s the event or trigger where, depending on how you respond, you can positively or negatively impact results in a significant way. For example, a critical moment is when your alarm goes off in the morning. You can do your workout routine or you can hit the snooze alarm and put it… -
Vital Behaviors
30 Jun 2009 | 11:33 pmOne of my favorite take aways from my Influencer Training is Vital Behaviors. Vital behaviors are the smallest set of actions that lead to the results you want. They are the few high-leverage actions that if you keep doing, produce the outcomes you’re after. Vital Behaviors are key to change efforts whether you are trying to change yourself or something larger (your team, your organization, or the world.) In fact, change efforts often fail because they either focus on the results but don’t identify the specific actions to get there, or they spend time and energy on a bunch… -
There is No Shortage of Time
30 Jun 2009 | 12:45 amWho doesn’t want more time? We all want more time to do the things we want to do. The reality is, we have to make the most of the time we’ve got. The real problem is we spend time on the wrong things, we do things the least efficient way, or we simply let time expand to fill its container (see Parkinson’s Law.) The real key to improving time management is first changing how you think about your time and taking steps to own how you spend it. In the book, The 80/20 Individual: How to Accomplish More by Doing Less-The Nine Essentials o , Richard Koch teaches us that… -
If You Miss the Train, Catch the Next One
29 Jun 2009 | 11:04 amOne of my mentors shared a lesson with me from the book, The Black Swan: The Impact of the Highly Improbable . His lesson was this: If you miss the train, don’t chase it. Catch the next one. Missing a train is only painful if you run after it. It’s such a simple point, but it’s sticky. I do a self-check now and ask whether I’m chasing after a train or getting ready for the next one. The key here is to get ready for your next chance, rather than beat yourself up over missed opportunity. Cut your losses and move on. I think there is a related lesson. … -
Information x Focus = Personal Reality
24 Jun 2009 | 7:37 amI was listening to a Tony Robbins Power Talk the other day about guarding your mind. In it, he mentioned a simple formula: (I) X (F) = Personal Reality. I is information and F is focus. In other words, your personal reality is based on the information you focus on. I think the simplest thing to remember is just like you are what you eat, you are the information you feed on. Information Shapes Your Experience You get to choose what channels you watch, what stations you listen to, what Web pages you browse, what people you listen to, what friends you hang out with, what books you read,…
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WHAKATE Journal News
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Increasing Motivation – Yours and Others’
2 Jul 2009 | 12:00 amWhat are the best ways to increase motivation – in oneself and in others? Read on to discover useful tips for living a more productive and effective life, not to mention leading a happier and more productive group of employees. -
Morning Routines – Get the Day Off to the Best Start Possible
30 Jun 2009 | 12:45 amA good morning routine can make or break the rest of the day. Learn how simple – and effective – morning routines can be in increasing productivity and wellbeing. -
E-Mail Sanity as a Step to Work-Life Balance?
25 Jun 2009 | 3:14 amTime Management consultant Randall Dean explains his approach to keeping your e-mail inbox clean. -
Best Tips to Boost Creativity
22 Jun 2009 | 11:45 pmFeeling a creative slump? Read on to discover some great tips to boost creativity both at home and in the workplace, and find out how to use your personal creativity to solve various problems. -
Whakate Wrap Up – Time for Some Humor?
22 Jun 2009 | 2:31 amHere is our newsletter summarising news and popular discussions in the Whakate Journal & Club.
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Get Organized Wizard
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Getting Organized Quick Tip: How To Make SMART New Year’s Resolutions – Any Day Of The Year!
2 Jul 2009 | 7:47 amCan you believe it - we’re halfway through the year! It’s a good time to reflect on those new year’s resolutions we made 6 months ago. If you’re on track, congratulations! If not, here’s a quick tip for making resolutions that are a lot more likely to stick – any time of the year. Getting Organized Quick Tip #2: To improve your chance of achieving your goal, sticking to your resolution or realizing your plan, make it a SMART goal: Specific Measurable Achievable Relevant Time-framed. If you’re not familiar with SMART Goals, you might like my article How To Set SMART Goals, which… -
Get Organized Mission #8: Declutter 50 Items
1 Jul 2009 | 10:09 pmOne of the simplest ways to live a more organized life is to have less stuff - in fact, the less you have, the easier it is to get organized and stay organized. So in this mission we’re going to get rid of 50 pieces of clutter from your home. It’s easier than you think – especially with my room-by-room, clutter-busting suggestions. Now before you hyperventilate, please let me reassure you that you won’t have to part with anything you use and love. I promise. Remember – you only need 30 minutes for the basic mission. Extended Options are below. Note: If you started with 52 Organizing… -
Getting Organized Quick Tip: How To Short-Circuit Perfectionism and Procrastination
26 Jun 2009 | 10:07 pmIf you’re a (a) perfectionist and/or (b) procrastinator, here’s a quick tip for you. Getting Organized Quick Tip #1: Don’t over-engineer. Start with the simple version. Lower your target and you may well improve your aim. This applies whether you’re organizing your closet, decluttering the living room, starting an exercise program or anything else. Getting started can be the hardest part of any change. To make a start and gain momentum, it’s a great liberator to let yourself opt for the baseline version of a task or challenge. And you know what? You can always come back and… -
Organizing Missions Update: More Tasks To Help Organize Your Life and Achieve Your Goals Coming Soon!
26 Jun 2009 | 9:20 pmIf you’re one of the first to have committed to 52 Organizing Missions on the blog (as opposed to the 52 Organizing Missions e-program, which is right on track), don’t worry – your new missions are coming! I’m a little behind, thanks to an intense conference followed by the obligatory post-conference handshake-induced flu (uh, yuk!). But I’m back on deck now, and I’ll be doling out the missions over the next week. We’ll be fully caught up in a little while. So take advantage of the little break - and prepare yourself to make some great progress on getting organized very soon. -
Organizing Q & A | How To Deal With OPD - Other People’s Disorganization: My Top 3 Tips
9 Jun 2009 | 12:00 amIf you have a question about a post, personal organization, decluttering, simplicity or goals, simply post your question on the blog. If it’s of broad interest I’ll do my best to answer helpfully in this Q & A ‘column’. And of course if you have insights of your own, feel free to share them as well. NB: Questions may be edited for brevity. Q: There’s a fellow manager at work who’s a train wreck - and they don’t realize it. How do you help someone who’s clearly not organized but who thinks they’re doing fine? A: In general, trying to change…
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BLOGitse
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I still remember...celebrating my healing Muistan vielä...juhlimme parantumistani
2 Jul 2009 | 2:15 amWhile in Helsinki my mother cooked excellent dinner 4 us!First we had pink sparkling with a strawberry, nam! We ate yammy salad and two different kind of fish and white wine...Helsingissä ollessani äitini kokkasi tapansa mukaan erinomaisen illallisen!Ensin otettiin pinkkiä kuplivaa mansikalla, kippis!Söimme kahta eri tavoin tehtyä maukasta kalaa ja joimme valkkaria...a sparkling pink with a -
back in Cairo! Kairossa taas!
1 Jul 2009 | 6:49 amHi everybody!We came home yesterday afternoon - it was + 41 C, 105,8 F! it felt like in a sauna! The water in the pool is +28 C, 82.4 F!Today I've been busy with laundry etc.I promise to visit your blogs sooooon! - sorry I haven't been very active but I've been busy...with myself! "See you"! :)Moi kaikki!Tulimme eilen iltapäivällä himaan ja päin pläsiä iski 41 asteen lämpö! Tuli saunamainen olo! -
bye, bye Helsinki! hello Cairo, Egypt! Näkemiin Helsinki ja päivää Kairo, Egypti! täältä tullaan taas...
29 Jun 2009 | 3:58 ambusy, busy...shopping Finnish bread etc. to take with us...We're leaving early on Tuesday (tomorrow) - I'll be with you again on Wednesday! :)Have a great beginning of the week!kiire, kiire on ollut ostaa mukaan mm. suomalaisia herkkuja mukaan Kairoon...Lähdemme huomenna, tiistaina, aikaisin aamulla - olen kanssanne jälleen keskiviikkona! :)Mukavaa alkanutta viikkoa kaikille!Helsinki Cathedral ( -
EDITED version of your WOrds & my IMAges = WO*IMA, nro 23
28 Jun 2009 | 10:26 amyour WOrds about this IMAge…Elegia "GET YOUR MOTOR RUNNINGHEAD OUT ON THE HIGHWAYLOOKING FOR ADVENTUREAND WHAT EVER COMES OUR WAY" mythopolis Hold on tight, baby! Yaelian I want to get those wheels going..... Ballerina Girl Hop on sweetie, we're going for a ride! Arjaanneli Beauty and the power at the same pakage! utukka Roaring into the highways and byways of life!Thank you all! -
you give me WOrds and I give you an IMAge(s) = WO*IMA
26 Jun 2009 | 11:18 pmyour WOrds & my IMAge nro 23:my friend's HD...cool!? kaverini HD, aika cool?!as usual you have time till Sunday 6 pm Cairo timeDon’t know what WO*IMA is? Look at the posts 20. & 21.6.2009 Et tiedä mistä WO*IMAsta on kysymys? Katso edellinen postaus 20.& 21.6.2009
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PluginID
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My Latest Project: Cloud Living
2 Jul 2009 | 12:41 pmSince being self employed at the start of this year, my life has changed in a number of ways. Perhaps the most important change, for me, is that I now work around life, instead of living around work. Anyone in a typical job seems to do their ‘living’ whenever we’re not scheduled for another shift (for most people, that means weekends). We book our holidays whenever leave is available, attend family events when we’re not on ‘lates,’ and try to fit our social life somewhere in between. These days, my work (which I love) fits around my life. Even as I type… -
Expression Not Impression
29 Jun 2009 | 3:00 amIf how we live each day ultimately becomes how we live our lives, then it’s probably a good idea, now and then, to zoom in on the things we do on a daily basis. One such thing could be the actions that we take in terms of goal achievement and advancing in certain areas of our life. In the average person, our actions are a mix of both expression and impression. Expression simply being sharing your true feelings with the world and doing things for you. Impression being changing yourself and what you do in order to get other people to like you or think highly of you in some regard. Photo… -
How Much Of Life Are You Actually Living?
24 Jun 2009 | 3:00 amEarlier today I took some time out from my usual tasks and started work on organising my finances. I’m moving to Amsterdam (The Netherlands) in a few months so wanted to make sure I have enough money in place to cover my expenses. I’m going there for three months with one of my best friends, partly so I can enjoy a different culture and partly because we have some ideas for PluginID. Mind-blowing ideas. It’s nice to see that I already have enough money for the trip, so now I’m working towards other expenses like purchasing a Macbook and my planned trips to India and… -
My Biggest Fear (and How to Overcome It)
22 Jun 2009 | 3:00 amRight now, I’m fairly happy with my life situation. I work for myself, I run online communities which provide value to thousands of people, and I’m about to embark on a journey that will take me to some awesome countries for at least 6 months. Yet, although this is the case, I still don’t feel anywhere near like I’ve ‘made it’ or that I’m living up to my potential. A common misconception people have about those who write on the subject of Personal Development is that their lives must be perfect. They must wake up at 6am, exercise daily, eat a balanced… -
BloggingBlueprint: Your Free Guide to Blogging Success
15 Jun 2009 | 3:00 amNote from Glen: This is not a typical PluginID post so if you have no interest in how I managed to grow this blog or how you could start one of your own, feel free to skip this entry. To everyone else, I have a nice treat in store for you today. For the last few weeks I have been working hard on a blogging eBook which, I’m very happy to announce, is now available to download. This isn’t your typical blogging guide, it includes solid advice but also has quite a few personal stories amidst its 69 pages of free content. To top it all off, I don’t even want your email in order…
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Simplistic Thoughts
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Making Choices
18 Jun 2009 | 8:27 amIt’s been a while since I have made a post and for that I apologize. I have no excuse. Only that I have been exploring and enjoying Miyakojima. Anyways, I came across this great video on choices and wanted to share. Besides being quite entertaining I think it makes a really great point. We can’t always control what happens around us or even to us, but we can choose how we deal with it. -
A Question For Hackers
17 May 2009 | 9:49 pmAbout a week ago I received an e-mail from a good friend mentioning that his website wouldn’t work. Someone had hacked it, and instead of displaying his normal blog it showed a message describing what a hacker was and why they do what they do. Yesterday, Simplistic Thoughts was also hacked. No serious damage done (as far as I can tell), but it did cost me time to fix it. So here is my question to hackers. Why not use your talents to do something helpful? The message that was put on my friends website went on to describe that hackers were people who found school boring and too easy… -
The Thing You Are Trying to Avoid
12 May 2009 | 2:52 amIs most likely the thing you should be focusing your energy on. Often we choose to complete the tasks that don’t really mater much and so we are left feeling empty. Luckily, it is usually easy to find the things you should be doing. They are the things you are trying to avoid. They are also the things that will most likely give you the most rewards when done well. The hard part is really getting started. Often the actual act isn’t near as difficult as we imagine it. In fact, sometimes it can even be fun. I have recently started studying kanji (Japanese characters). Getting started is… -
What’s Your Purpose?
1 May 2009 | 8:42 pmIn the last few posts I have been talking a lot about starting new things and being successful at them. I discussed how important it is to limit your focus so you can spend more time at each thing you attempt. Something that is just as important, is to clearly understand your purpose and goals with whatever activity your try. This idea may seem may seem a little weird at first. You are starting something because it looks fun or maybe because it will help your career right? Those are certainly good reasons to start something new. Unfortunately, they are too vague to push you up the steep… -
Open to Change
21 Apr 2009 | 10:32 pmLast night I was studying Kanji (Japanese chracters) and came across the character for “stubborn or obstinate”. The thing that was so interesting about the character was the truth in the story it tells. The Japanese character for stubborn (頑) is made of two basic elements. The first is (元) which means “beginning” and the second is (頁) meaning “page”. So basically, the character means the beginning page. Or even better, someone refusing to move past the first page and therefore stubborn. This stubbornness seems to cause a lot of the worlds problems.
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LEGENDmag
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Apple (itunes) bites LEGENDmag, with indie-pendence day campaign
1 Jul 2009 | 5:07 pmWe figure we won’t do alot of talking about it we’ll let you be the judge! Our INDIEpendence day campaign ‘09 or maybe try 2 years ago -
July 2009 Indie Events
1 Jul 2009 | 10:00 amJuly 2009 Indie Events: Chicago, IL –Jul. 18–20 — Pitchfork Music Festival Coney Island, NY –TBA — Siren Music Festival New York, NY –Jul. 19–26 — Int’l Indie Film/Video Festival San Diego, CA –Jul. 23–26 — Comic Con San Francisco, CA –Jul. 17 — PSFK Conference (Marketing) If you know of any events that we missed, please post them in the comments. -
The Philippino culture has the great food debate - Traditional or Fusion
30 Jun 2009 | 12:03 pm -
Catch up on your indie intake and check out the most popular posts on LEGENDmag last week
29 Jun 2009 | 3:00 pmPride: It’s Not Just About Being Gay… It’s About Being Naked Out and About: The Brooklyn Hip Hop Festival keeps it indie in NY The Day That Indie Died… eMusic Adopts Major Labels, Increases Prices, and Effectively Kills Indie Music Looking for your soul? You might find Asya Shein, an Indie Legend in the making Maker Faire 2009 “B-boy” videogame? Finding your “Soul Power” with Raashan Ahmad, of the Crown City Rockers (video) Murphy-Goode Winery Holds Contest for Employment -
Recent LEGENDmag Twitter Updates
27 Jun 2009 | 1:00 pm@indieblacksheep Finding out where the independent music store is closest to you just got a little easier. thinkindie.com/state.html # Is loving #IndieBlackSheep indies are getting together all over the place. Support independents! # Everyone remember to support independent businesses on the 4th of July. Feel free to use these banners. http://ow.ly/fokJ # What up to our people over at #audibletreats Lots of west coast love to you # Psst! Something is brewing at LEGENDmag. Tell a friend… #
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Karin Manske's Weblog
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Men Show Their Love Differently - And What To Do About It
29 Jun 2009 | 1:48 pmMen show their appreciation through achievements, women through words. In one of my seminars a woman asked, “How do you know how much a man loves a woman? They certainly don’t seem to tell us every day, do they?” I asked my husband the same question that evening, “How can you tell how much a man loves a woman?” He thought about it for a brief moment and then said, “By what he is willing to do for her.” Plain and simple. In relationship coaching, this issue comes up in almost every session. Men and women show their love differently and not only does… -
Want to Find Your Passion? Two Exercises
25 Jun 2009 | 9:39 amIn yesterday’s post I showed you initial steps to discover your passion. Today I want to follow up with two exercises that will help you in defining what lights you up even more. You will start to see your unique soul purpose and how to align it with your life and your career. There is one tricky part in finding your passion: Whatever it is you love doing can come so easy to you that it’s hard to recognize. It may even look like something you should not be doing. For example: One of my clients, who loves reading romance novels, for some strange reason thought this was not… -
Want to Find Your Passion? Here’s What You Can Do
22 Jun 2009 | 1:18 pmIn the new economy, and especially if you want to build a fulfilling life for yourself, the emphasis is on Following Your Passion Doing What You Love For a Living Living Your Dream It’s all great and true when you know what your passion is. What, if you don’t? What if you are clueless about what you want from life, let alone knowing what your dreams or passions are? When I ask my clients the same question more often than not I get a blank stare and a shrug: “I am really not sure.” The good news is that this is perfectly fine. There is nothing wrong with you if you… -
What Lights You Up? Action Steps
17 Jun 2009 | 4:45 pmIn my last post and in yesterday’s coaching interview I introduced what I call the ‘Follow Your Lights’ process. Since not everybody has a coach at their disposal to guide them in finding and following their ‘lights’, I want to show you two things that you can do right now to find out what it is that lights you up. Take these two action steps: Observe yourself: Use observation to find out what you love doing. Watch your body: What are the activities that make you feel good? When do you relax and when do you tighten up? For example, think about one of your most… -
Career Coaching ‘Live’ ~ What Lights You Up?
16 Jun 2009 | 1:52 pmIn today’s coaching show Coach TV LA, I am working with Jessica Gregson in Los Angeles. At the beginning of the session, Jessica does not know what she wants in her career. She likes her job ‘well enough’ but it does not excite her. During the coaching interview you can see how by applying the ‘Follow Your Lights’ process, we effectively hone in on what it is Jessica really loves doing. Watch life coaching live, it’s enlightening and it is fun What Lights You Up? from Karin Manske on Vimeo. On the show I mention the book ‘Curious? Discover the Missing…
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Declutter You
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Get Organized & Save Money
2 Jul 2009 | 12:05 pmOprah has once again teamed up with the awesome folks at The Container Store to offer you 25% off everything in the store now through, Sunday, July 12. You’ll need to download this coupon to take in to the store or to use online. Be sure to measure your spaces and make your shopping list before you go. Know what you’re shopping for so you don’t buy items that clutter your living space. -
Organizing Your Closet - Measuring & Planning A New Closet
1 Jul 2009 | 8:26 pmOrganizing your closet is possible for you to do at home. However, knowing how to measure and plan your space is the difficult part. In this how-to series, I’ll show you how to measure your space, measure your clothes and how to come up with a custom closet design for yourself. This is part 2 of a 9 part series on how to organize you closet like a professional. I’ll be sharing one video post per day until all 9 videos are shared here on declutteryou.com. Please leave your questions and comments below. I look forward to our conversations. If you missed the first video, please view… -
Organizing Your Closet, A How-To Series
30 Jun 2009 | 8:02 pmRecently I filmed a series of how-to videos for MonkeySee.com, a website where you can learn how to do, just about anything. They contacted me to film a series called, “How To Organize Your Closet, Like a Pro“. This nine-part series, shows all the steps I take when organizing a closet. We event show you how I ripped out the existing closet, and installed a new elfa® system from The Container Store. This is a must-watch video series for the DIY organizer. Today, I’m sharing with you, Part One of this series. You’ll see how I turned this cluttered closet into… -
Fashion Meets Eco-Friendly Shopping in DC
16 Jun 2009 | 7:21 amI’m a huge fan of Goodwill for many reasons. Mainly because it’s a convenient way for my clients to donate items that have outgrown their home. And by doing so, they support Goodwill’s mission to educate, train, employ and place people with disabilities and disadvantages. By supporting Goodwill of Greater DC, we’re assisting people right here in our own area. Goodwill will be hosting a Trunk Show in DC and is calling all fashionistas, designers, and eco-friendly shoppers to attend and shop ’til they drop! Goodwill of Greater Washington’s Travelin’ Trunk… -
Get Organized At Home With These Helpful Products & Services
11 Jun 2009 | 3:24 amI recently attend the National Association of Professional Organizers Washington, DC - Metro Chapter’s June meeting. Members featured new products and resources from the NAPO Conference in Orlando, Florida which I attended this past April. One by one, members demonstrated various products and explained the highlights of some new services. Everything shown was new, unique or a great resource. Below is a list of eight items featured. I’ll blog about the other five items in a future post. Thank you to all the companies who donated their product. Each product was given away as a…
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Lifescript.com: Life
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9 Reasons Why Men Cheat
26 Jun 2009 | 5:00 pmBy The Lifescript Editorial Staff Why do men cheat? South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford is the latest politician to admit he had an extramarital affair… and Nevada Sen. John Ensign before that. Yet cheating isn’t limited to the famous and powerful. So seriously, what’s the deal? We examine 9 reasons men say they stray. Plus, take our quiz and find out if your guy will cheat… Gov. Sanford seemed to have it all: power, success, money, a loving family. Yet with everything to lose, he cheated on his wife, Jenny. Could she have spotted the warning signs? Why DO men cheat? And could it… -
Q&A - Help! I Don't Love My Husband Anymore
22 Jun 2009 | 5:00 pmBy John H. Sklare, Ed.D, Lifescript Personal Coach Q: I’ve been married for 20 years to a man who I don't love anymore. We have two daughters and are a very close family. I fell in love with another man who is a family friend, but he’s not in love with me. I’m trapped in my life and responsibilities to my children. My thoughts are only of this other man, who is unmarried, and I feel like I’m losing my mind. Breaking up my family life to find happiness would mean breaking my children's sense of security. I feel like a responsible adult living a lie. -Lauren M. A: Hi Lauren, I’m so… -
Padma Lakshmi's Endometriosis Struggle
22 Jun 2009 | 5:00 pmBy Linda Childers, Special to Lifescript Padma Lakshmi is best known as the host of Bravo’s hit reality show “Top Chef,” but for years she suffered silently with endometriosis, a painful gynecological condition that affects more than 10 million American women and girls. In this Lifescript exclusive, the star discusses her experience with the disorder, plus the scoop on “Top Chef” and more… While she’s graced dozens of magazine covers, Padma Lakshmi harbored a painful secret: She suffered from endometriosis, a female reproductive disorder in which the endometrium, which… -
Calling All Papas!
18 Jun 2009 | 5:00 pmBy John H. Sklare, Ed.D, Lifescript Personal CoachThis Sunday is the day we celebrate that wonderful character we all call Dad. The first observance of Father's Day is believed to have taken place on July 5, 1908, in a church in Fairmont, West Va. Being a father is one of the most precious titles, and even though my children are not young kids anymore, I still enjoy being a dad. I want to extend a special shout-out to fathers who are hands-on and involved in their children’s lives. Almost any male can have a child, but it takes a real man to be a father and earn that coveted title of… -
Q&A - How Do I Lose the Baggage from a Bad Relationship?
15 Jun 2009 | 5:00 pmBy John H. Sklare, Ed.D, LifeScript Personal Coach Q: I’m 46 years old andmy life has been chaotic since having a whirlwind romance. I had never been in love before, and the man I dated turned out to be a very false person. I am having trouble getting past the deceptions. Where do I start? -Debbie B. A: Hi Debbie, I am so sorry that you’re upset and disappointed following your first experience with love. Unfortunately, that’s the risk we all take when we offer our hearts to another, no matter how old we are. And please don’t feel alone because we have all been fooled by false persons…
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Lifescript.com: Soul
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Do Simple Math to Reach Your Goals
28 Jun 2009 | 5:00 pmBy John H. Sklare, Ed.D, Lifescript Personal CoachWhat is the key to getting what you want out of life? Why is it that some people seem to have everything they want while others seem to always be on the sidelines watching their dreams pass by? The famous author and motivational speaker Zig Ziglar once said that the way to get what you want out of life is to help others get what they want out of life. I personally practice that philosophy in my private and professional life and it has served me well thus far. However, when all is said and done, getting what you want out of life is really only… -
Be Proactive
25 Jun 2009 | 5:00 pmBy John H. Sklare, Ed.D, Lifescript Personal CoachThere is a lot of uncertainty in our lives these days. With the economic downturn, people are uncertain about their jobs, savings, dreams and ability to plan for the future. In the employment arena alone many have already lost their job, some are about to lose their job and nearly everyone is worried about their job security. If you find yourself full of worry today about your job, your finances or some other area of your life, I have a suggestion for you to consider. Be proactive. For example, if you’re in fear of losing your job, start… -
Q&A - Is It Ever Too Late for Grief Counseling?
24 Jun 2009 | 5:00 pmBy John H. Sklare, Ed.D, Lifescript Personal Coach Q: My father died five years ago, and I still feel pain. I don’t know what to do. My mom and I didn’t know about grief counseling then, and fear it’s too late. Do you have some suggestions for me? -Alla S. A: Hi Alla, I am very sorry to read that the sting of your father’s passing is still very raw and painful. Your feelings give evidence to the fact that losing a loved one is one of the most difficult things we must endure in life. You also provide proof that the past is never truly the past as long as it’s still a significant part… -
Crazy Thoughts
21 Jun 2009 | 5:00 pmBy John H. Sklare, Ed.D, Lifescript Personal Coach It’s easy to get caught up in your negative thoughts. But how do stop them from becoming an unhealthy fixation? Learn how to control the “crazy thoughts…” I received an email from a woman the other day who was in a state of panic. Apparently, nearly a year ago she had discovered her husband chatting “inappropriately” with a woman online. Since then, she says she has “crazy thoughts, anxiety attacks and feels depressed every time he gets on the computer. He works from home, so all his work is done on the computer. What do I… -
Extra! Extra! Read All About It!
11 Jun 2009 | 5:00 pmBy John H. Sklare, Ed.D, LifeScript Personal CoachI have a wonderful suggestion that I hope all of you will embrace. My request comes from my own personal experience and is reinforced by real scientific research. In short, you should become an avid reader! Reading provides you with an array of benefits that expands your universe, exercises your mind and makes you a deeper and more interesting person. It can help you deal more effectively with stress and anxiety and provide you with a form of relaxation and escapism like nothing else can. Other benefits include improving your vocabulary,…
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Quips & Tips for Achieving Your Goals
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Understanding Finances After a Spouse’s Death
1 Jul 2009 | 2:05 pmWomen are commonly left with the finances after a spouse’s death - and not all wives understand how their husbands handled the money, bills, and other financial tasks. Here, money expert and creator of Navigating Wealth Pam Stearns describes how to start understanding your finances after a spouse’s death… “It’s very common for women to feel both financially and emotionally lost after a spouse has passed on,” says Stearns. “Women are numb, lost, emotionally drained, abandoned, paralyzed, lonely, fragile, angry, weak, aimless, forgetful, frightened,… -
Top 10 Things to Pack for a Hiking Trip or Mountain Vacation
30 Jun 2009 | 3:47 pmIf your vacation involves hiking, cycling, horseback riding, fishing, golfing, and swimming - here are the top ten things to pack for a hiking trip or mountain vacation! Before the tips, a quip: “Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature’s peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves.” ~ John Muir Isn’t that a beautiful quotation? Wow. For more packing tips for a hiking trip, click on Trailside Guide: Hiking and… -
Ways to Reduce Clutter and Decrease Debt
29 Jun 2009 | 2:51 pmRead for an easy, effective way to achieve your financial goals? Here’s how reducing clutter decreases your debt, from prosperity advisor and author Paula Langguth Ryan. Before her tips, a quip: “Amidst all the clutter, beyond all the obstacles, aside from all the static, are the goals set,” said Donald Rumsfeld. “Put your head down, do the best job possible, let the flak pass, and work towards those goals.” Here’s how reducing clutter helps you achieve your money goals - including decreased debt. For more info on money and abundant living, click… -
How to Fight a Bad Credit Score Report
29 Jun 2009 | 2:36 pmCredit reports affect your financial goals and reputation - but if you have a bad credit score report, you can fight it! Here’s how…. “Your credit score not only affects your interest rates on a mortgage or auto loan, but credit reports also might be viewed by prospective landlords, employers and insurers,” says Ethan Ewing of Bills.com. “The credit report often is the first indicator that identity has been compromised by fraud or theft. It is important to monitor your credit report at least yearly to be certain it reports accurate information about your use… -
What is Good Debt?
28 Jun 2009 | 6:37 amSome financial experts call some debt “good”, while others say all debt is bad debt. Here’s a description of good debt — and two benefits – from financial expert Charles Sizemore. “Debt is not inherently good or bad; it is simply a tool,” says Sizemore. “It’s a lot like nuclear energy. Nuclear energy used correctly is a great benefit to society. Used incorrectly, and it has the potential to “blow up,” taking us all with it.” Sizemore describes the best way to approach debt below, and describes what good debt is. For…
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Change Your Life Hacks
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Four Easy Ways to Keep Your Goals On Track
27 Jun 2009 | 5:16 amOne of the most common reasons that people don’t get to accomplish their goals is that we tend to get distracted, and we lose track of important things that need to be done consistently in order to move forward towards our goals. Maybe you have set a perfectly achievable goal and planned every detailed step, but without effectively tracking your goal and knowing your progress, most certainly you will get discouraged when the first obstacle gets in the way and end up giving up on your goal eventually. To really achieve any goal worthwhile, we need to discipline ourselves to keep it on… -
Weight loss tips that can change your life
25 May 2009 | 1:04 amYou probably have read a lot of weight loss tips on the Internet and other media. All of them are made out in a way to support a particular miracle diet, which can change your life. Most probably you were convinced to follow a diet that would help you lose weight fast, and perhaps for some limited period you were able to do it. The bad news is that in a few months time you got the weight you lost back and probably some more. The truth is that most weight loss diets fail. This is because they are not based on healthy principles and they are not suited for your own individual needs. This… -
How to Use Contact Lenses?
21 May 2009 | 11:41 pmContact lenses are used as substitutes for eyeglasses. They are often worn by people who have vision problems such as astigmatism, near-sightedness, or far-sightedness. Contact lenses are small plastic discs that cling directly on the cornea. There are several types of contacts but each eye problem has a corresponding type of lens to be used. Eye specialists can easily determine which type of contact lens to be used so make sure to consult one before buying. Utmost care is needed when using and handling contact lenses. They must be cleaned properly and disinfected when you take them off your… -
How to fight depression
30 Apr 2009 | 12:50 pmWhat is depression? Depression is a very common problem. A lot of adults will experience symptoms of depression at some point. In more mild forms depression does not prevent you from living a normal life, but the most severe forms of depression can be life-threatening, with thoughts of death and suicide. It is important in both of the cases to be able to identify that you are suffering from depression and know how to fight depression. These are some of the signs or symptoms you might experience if you have depression. Emotions or feelings Feelings of sadness, guilt, distress, despair or… -
7 hacks to set goals that can save you money and increase your savings
18 Apr 2009 | 4:18 amTo make money savings you need something more than to spend less money. How much to save? Where to place them? How can you be sure that it will remain there «spared»? The first step is to set realistic goals, to keep control of costs and to «pay yourself» first of all. 1. Define your objective For short-term objectives setting goals can be simple. If you just want to buy a game, all you have to do is find out how much it costs. If you wish to buy a house, calculate the amount of the advance you should provide. For longer-term goals such as retirement, you should do more planning (estimate…
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Dimitar Nikolov
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Complain Less
2 Jul 2009 | 1:22 amComplain as little as possible. It’s the easiest thing you can do to become a nicer person who respects others and who doesn’t bother them with his problems. It also helps you build a more positive attitude towards everyday life that influences your actions and other people’s state of mind. You know that’s not a secret, but people tend to like others who don’t complain and who are more convinced of their own power and possibilities. Scientists have proved that less complaining lowers your stress levels and increases your happiness mood. So, please, in your sake… -
We Never Really Reach Success
25 Jun 2009 | 2:07 amImage © Circotasu, www.dreamstime.com People can strive for success for years and do everything it takes to realize their ambitions. Yet when they succeed, they stop doing what they have to to keep their achievements and often lose everything. That’s why many have 15 minutes of fame and few have a lifetime of popularity. That’s why loads of companies go bankrupt. Never stop doing what you can to be successful. Because once you stop, you’re grinding to a halt just like a train on a steep hill. Sooner or later, if you don’t do something about it, you’ll start… -
Do You Really Need That?
17 Jun 2009 | 6:11 amI’m bringing a new habit into my life. Each time I want to buy something, I’ll be asking myself the question if I really need it. To memorize the question, I’ve placed it as a note on my monitor, so that I can see it all day long. Do I really need to ask that question? The idea behind my new initiative is simple. From now on, I’ll be buying only what I really need and what I deeply desire. Only what I will use and enjoy after my purchase. I really recommend you try the same thing. We often get involved with buying too many items that we don’t really need or even… -
Guy Kawasaki On Happiness
14 Jun 2009 | 11:57 amQuite a long time ago, I stumbled upon a speech by Guy Kawasaki given in Palo Alto High School in 1995. What he shares is amazingly inspirational and true. One particular part of it, the one on happiness, really impressed me. So let me share his wise thoughts in today’s post: Pursue joy, not happiness. This is probably the hardest lesson of all to learn. It probably seems to you that the goal in life is to be “happy.” Oh, you maybe have to sacrifice and study and work hard, but, by and large, happiness should be predictable. Nice house. Nice car. Nice material things. Take my word… -
You Control Your Life
8 Jun 2009 | 5:54 amYour life is in your hands. Your success or happiness depends completely on your own actions. If something has gone wrong, it was your fault that you didn’t take action on time. And you know it well. So why do you keep slacking off when it’s time to work? Is there really a reason you should be alone right now when you can be with your loved one or your closest friends? Why is it that you feel bad about something when you can simply take the steps towards changing it? Honestly, I have no idea why. But don’t worry – it’s not only you. I slack off just like any…
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Mystic Madness
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Hack the Mind
10 Jun 2009 | 4:36 amHack the Mind is one of the essential tool for Success. We live in a highly Competitive Environment where we compete not only with people in our environment but also against us. Our success or failure is relative and depends upon how we perceive the outcome of any situation. But human beings tend to ignore the failures and at times undermine their own success too. There can be other situations where we may never wait for the outcome but prefer to Quit from the whole scenario with reasons justifying our ... Related posts:How to find a solution deep within your mind Problems aUnderstanding… -
How to Attract People like Magnet
8 Jun 2009 | 2:19 amAttracting People like a Magnet has always been at the top of human wish list. From Politicians to even the introvert next door guy, everyone likes to be loved and known. Being Popular, Famous or even Rocking are nothing but forms of attracting people. It is essentially a Personality that emanates a Charisma which pulls people more like a Magnet. We may envy such people or work against them but truth remains that it is an inherent inbuilt quality that has no match. At same time does it mean that ... Related posts:How to Make People Do What You Want Them to Do How to Mak Related posts brought… -
How to Lay a Golden Egg
5 Jun 2009 | 5:05 amEveryone must have heard of story about the goose who laid the Golden Egg. While that story is popular to show how Greed can cause you a loss, what particularly attracted me was the goose who laid the Golden Egg. We got the lesson of greed but at same time the Goose is something which cannot be ignored. We struggle every minute in our life to earn our daily living. No matter how hard we work the cycle is repetitive and need to be continuously fed. It is more of ... No related posts. Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin. -
Emotional Meltdown
4 Jun 2009 | 12:11 amEmotional Meltdown is a state or a condition experienced by most of us in our lives. This can be of varying degree and of different nature but the ones with sever implications on human mind are disastrous. Not every human being is strong enough to get past the emotions which drag them deeper into the sorrow and pain. People at different point in time in their lives have experienced this and have devised their own ways to cope with it. But not everyone is lucky in this world mainly because ... Related posts:10 Situations Where You Always Lie You are ab Related posts brought to you by Yet… -
May 2009 was Fabulous- An Open Letter by Author of Mystic Madness
27 May 2009 | 1:18 amOn June 5, 2009 my blog would complete full three months. I must admit that I started with some very broad concepts but have now decided to narrow on couple of topics. This would help me to connect better with my readers and build a better social group. The disadvantage of writing about too much topics at one place is no real connection with your readers as you might end up with different kind of visitors with different interests from different part of world. One of the best advice I got ... Related posts:Welcome to Mystic Madness grand Wel Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related…
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Illuminated Mind
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24 Ways to Be an Ordinary Radical
18 Jun 2009 | 2:31 pmSometimes in order to find balance, you need to fall many times. In order to find the center, you often have to walk the edges. To find equilibrium, sometimes you have to experience instability. That’s why I’ve found it helpful to pursue: The Path of the Ordinary Radical In the revolutionary sense, radicals are often seen in a negative light. But when it comes to your own self-development, you’ll often need to go to extremes in order to find balance. You will likely need to pursue radical undertakings to uproot your currently undesirable patterns. (It’s probably useful… -
When You’ve Been Given Back Your Time
17 Jun 2009 | 4:23 pmWhen I walked into work on my final day of employment, there was a box sitting on my desk with a note resting beside it. The note read: Early in the industrial revolution, workplaces typically had no clocks. This was done to reinforce the concept that the company owns you and your time. Thus, on retirement, a watch was given as a token that the worker was given back his time. My friend and coworker Craig Collins wrote this note to me, and inside the box on my desk was the clock you see in that picture. This is probably the most heartfelt gift I’ve ever been given. I feel as if… -
So I Quit My Day Job, Dear Boss: You’re Fired
2 Jun 2009 | 11:02 amNext year, my grandfather will celebrate his 40th year of self employment as owner of one of the longest running plumbing and heating businesses in his city. At the age of 74, he is still going strong as the oldest plumber in business in Boise, Idaho. Nonconformity and delinquency are still pumping fiercely through his veins. My grandfather no doubt transferred his contagious thirst for autonomy to me early in my life. I guess entrepreneurship is in my blood. Just as my grandfather did 40 years ago, last Thursday I gave my boss my two week notice. I will no longer be requiring your employment… -
How to Start a Revolution
21 May 2009 | 3:09 pmI’ve found the secret to being excited about waking up every day; and I’ll tell you what it is right now. It’s starting a Revolution. I didn’t always think in these terms though… I used to ask: What can I gain? How can I turn this into a business that will support me? I focused on helping others by sharing my perspective, but that was the extent of it. When I did that, working on this blog would be exciting sometimes, and at other times it would feel like just a chore. Now, I can’t even contain my energy for the work I’m doing. I feel like… -
The Liberation Manifesto: It’s Time to Cut the Cubicle Umbillical Cord
15 May 2009 | 9:31 amCubicle-dissenters and freedom-seekers, I present you with this manifesto on the liberation revolution. This movement happening all around us is, quite literally, the story of mental bondage to freedom. People everywhere are finding liberation through ditching the work-template and living on their own terms. If this movement interests you, we would like you to be a part of it. You kick so much ass, it would be a shame to see that squandered by asphyxiation, due to fluorescent lighting and pointless committee meetings. What you’ll find in this manifesto is 5,000 free words on the…
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My Life List
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Is Anything Possible?
26 Jun 2009 | 10:40 amI recently watched a documentary about a group that climbed Mount Everest. Incredibly 90% of the people who ever attempt to reach the peak of Everest fail and many have lost their lives. One of the people featured in the story is Erik Weihenmayer, a former middle school teacher and wrestling coach. He’s written a book about his experience called 'Touch the Top of the World'. Here is an excerpt from his book:“I had dreamed about Everest since I had begun climbing, and it was almost beyond my imagination just being here, experiencing this legendary mountain for myself. For half my life, I… -
What can we learn from a young person?
19 Jun 2009 | 9:57 amThis week a friend of mine shared this wonderful story about his daughter.My nine year-old just started Gracie's Creamy Heaven Ice Cream Company, "It's heavenly delicious"! She researched Ice Cream Makers, then took a loan from me to buy one. She made 5 different ice creams and found one that was really good. She then made a bunch of samplers and sold them for ten cents and then took orders. She not only had great Ice Cream, she had the courage to say I am going to do it. She stood outside and watched the cars go by until some stopped. She was determined not to end the day without sales so… -
Who can you learn from to help you achieve your goals?
12 Jun 2009 | 7:40 amA few weeks ago I was watching ‘Star Wars – The Empire Strikes Back’ and it reminded me of an important lesson many of us can learn from. In the movie the young Luke Skywalker had a goal to be a Jedi, so he got in his space ship and flew to learn from Yoda. Yoda was clearly a master and Young Skywalker wanted to learn from him.Now many of you probably don’t have a goal to be a Jedi warrior but what if you want to run your own business, learn a new language or write a best selling book. Who can you learn from?This week I went to a conference with a group of extraordinary people with… -
What have your learned from your mistakes?
5 Jun 2009 | 11:36 amBy the time I was 18, I considered myself pretty comfortable around the water. I was a lifeguard, a water skier, a scuba diver and a sailor. So when the opportunity came to go white water kayaking I felt I was up to the challenge.The venue of choice for our kayak adventure was the heritage listed St. Croix River, which separates Canada and the US on the Maine/New Brunswick border. On the day we arrived the white water would have rated class 5 and looked pretty sporty!As we prepared to take on the rapids one of the other paddling crew gave me some encouragement by saying a log will always find… -
Can achieving goals improve the quality of your life?
29 May 2009 | 10:57 amI received a note this week from a college friend who completed an item on her life list and ran a marathon. As a wife, mother and professional she certainly had a full schedule but she made the time to dedicate to this personal achievement. To her surprise and joy she ran the marathon in under 4 hours. An amazing achievement for her first marathon! Check out her story Running a Marathon These are the kinds of experiences I love hearing about and sharing with others. It was a significant goal and the thing I love about it was how her family became such a big part of the experience. Think of…
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Awake @ The Wheel
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Beyond Fear
29 Jun 2009 | 10:41 amWe were 20 feet off the ground, suspended among the treetops in a dense forest in Western Massachusetts. My little girl looked up. “Daddy,” she said, “I’m scared…” She just turned 8, so I wasn’t surprised. What did surprise me, though, was that 30-minutes and 6 stations into her first ever high-ropes course, this was the first time she voiced her fear. She’d pretty much flown through every challenge, scampering across wire bridges, floating block ladders and navigating itty bitty platforms wrapped around trees high above the earth without a hint… -
Into the Social Media Abyss?
25 Jun 2009 | 9:39 amPeople keep talking about what a huge time sink social media can become… But, I’ve noticed something else happening with increasing frequency. It seems like more and more bloggers and social media regulars are actually living their lives through social media, rather than living extraordinary lives outside of social media and blogging, then tapping it as a means to share their experiences with a like-minded community online. And, I have to confess, since selling my last company and coming down off my book launch, I’m feeling a bit like I’m one of them. If you write… -
Goalsetting Smackdown: Big Hairy Audacious vs Baby Steps
19 Jun 2009 | 2:20 pmPicture this, your 20 year reunion is coming up and looking to made a huge impression…but you you’re feeling a bit, um, huge. Truth is, you’ve needed to lose about 100 pounds for years, but now there’s a reason and a target date. The event is 6 months away, so it’s doable but extremely aggressive. Question is, what do you focus on in order to maximize the likelihood of success? Two major approaches offer radically different advice. Goal Setting By Focusing on a Massive Change First, there’s the mega-goal approach. Made famous in business by Built to Last… -
Stop Trying to Recreate Your Last Big Hit
15 Jun 2009 | 11:51 am -
Ready to Make Your Competition Irrelevant?
8 Jun 2009 | 9:58 amIt’s no secret I’m madly passionate about entrepreneurship, marketing and the health and fitness world. Which is why I’m psyched to share an article I’ve been working on for some time over at my CareerRenegade.com blog, called, “Marketing From The Heartbeat Out.” Here’s how it starts… One of the biggest mistakes I see entrepreneurs and companies of all sizes make is treating product development, marketing and sales as three independent pursuits. Truth is, they are all hopelessly intertwined parts of the same process. And, without fail, the more…
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Human SEO Self Exploration Optimization
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Does Social Media Equal Social Skills
1 Jul 2009 | 8:12 amSocial Media Still Pisses Me Off ::Begin Rant:: Ok it doesn’t really piss me off. It’s the people who still don’t “get it” or worse yet, get it but don’t care. There is a reason why Social Media doesn’t work for most people and below is a big reason why. Yesterday I’m on Facebook and I get a few [...]Post from: Tony Teegarden Does Social Media Equal Social Skills Related posts:Why Social Media Doesn’t Work For Most People WelcomeOpening The Door On Social Media If you've You Can’t Make Money With Social Media You CanTampa Tweetup… -
4 Steps To Begin Re-Discovering Your Dream
19 Jun 2009 | 7:34 amCover of The Dark Side of the Light Chasers Re-Discovering Your Dream Well yesterday I certainly touched and stirred a couple of people up with my post on What Happened To Living My Dream. Needless to say I had comments from: “Ahhh forget it just give me a 100 feet of rope, a box of razor blades, a bottle [...]Post from: Tony Teegarden 4 Steps To Begin Re-Discovering Your Dream Related posts:5 Steps To Gaining Self Confidence Rules of GWhat Happened To Living My Dream What HaSuccess Acceleration Steps Accelerate -
What Happened To Living My Dream
18 Jun 2009 | 11:51 amWhat Happened To Living My Dream This post was inspired by my good friend David Risley who wrote a great post about Lifestyle Design yesterday morning. I suggest you go read it after you’re done here. He gives you some great insights and what I call “hope in action” to move forward and live your life [...]Post from: Tony Teegarden What Happened To Living My Dream Related posts:4 Steps To Begin Re-Discovering Your Dream Cover Are You Standing In Light Or Walking In The Dark Are You St -
Contribution And It’s Power To 5 Unique Stories
13 Jun 2009 | 7:19 amContributing To Your Wealth The word contribution has been popping up in a lot of my reading & audio’s that I’ve been listening to lately. I’m sure it’s not by accident either. Have you ever given specific thought to what it means to contribute? A bigger & much deeper question is have you given consideration to what your contribution [...]Post from: Tony Teegarden Contribution And It’s Power To 5 Unique Stories No related posts. -
Motivational Music And Video Represents Life (Tony On Piano)
6 Jun 2009 | 11:52 amSelf Composed Piano Self Composed Life I came up with this piano piece one day, decided to record it using my flip and let it fly. As you can see I’m not shaved and bit scruffy looking lol. I didn’t really care because I had no intentions of ever putting something like this out. But then I [...]Post from: Tony Teegarden Motivational Music And Video Represents Life (Tony On Piano) No related posts.
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There, I Fixed It.
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Ahhh, Air Conditioning
2 Jul 2009 | 10:00 amImage Credit: Rednecks Unlimited -
Lakers Game Lakeside
2 Jul 2009 | 6:00 amImage Credit: Maude -
The first semi-regular “Here, Fix This” Photoshop Contest
1 Jul 2009 | 9:49 pmThis is clearly broken (see train below) . You must now open up your pirated copy of Photoshop and “fix” it the best you can. And send it in to thereifixedit+contest1@gmail.com Winner’s name will live in infamy. Contest ends 11:59pm, July 3rd. What are you procrastinating for? Click the pic to download the huuuuuge original file. (I’m also sorry for using Comic Sans. Sorry.) -
Post-Modern Manhole
1 Jul 2009 | 10:00 amImage Credit: DrcOnline -
Jacked Up Bed
1 Jul 2009 | 6:00 amImage Credit: Stephen Witherden Editor’s Note: I’ll leave how the bed got broken in the first place up to the fertile minds of the public…
