Time Saving Tips

Time Saving Tips

Be aware of time thieves around you:
1. Lack of motivation
2. Mistakes-my own
3. Failure to listen
4. Mistakes of others
5. Indecision
6. Poor planning
7. Lack of self-discipline
8. Unclear goals
9. Conflicting priorities
10. Procrastination
11. Lack of delegation
12. Poor communication
13. Unwillingness to say no
14. Lack of procedure
15. Cluttered workspace
16. Equipment failure
17. Interruptions
18. Meetings
19. Waiting for answers
20. Socializing
21. Shifting priorities
22. Unreal time estimates
23. Over-involvement with details
24. Junk mail
25. Red tape
26. Low company morale
27. Peer demands
28. Civic activities
29. Over-sleeping
30. Negative attitudes

We are what we think we are

We are what we think we are:

1. Others see, in us what we think of ourselves.
2. How you think determines how you act and how others react to you.
3. Look important, it helps you think important.
4. Dress right, it always pays
5. The sharper you look, the sharper you will be. (A pencil, when sharpened, has a clear defined point and writing is easily read, but a dull pencil is just that, (Dull)
6. Pay twice as much and get half as many; example, 2 fine suits are much nicer, last longer, and look better than 4 cheap ones.
7. If you think of yourself in poor situations, that is what you will get.
8. Think of yourself as sharp, clean, together, intelligent, informed, and interesting, and that is what you will be.
9. I’m short: Practice uplifting self-praise, not belittling self-punishment, think more of your self, and there is more of you.
10. Be self improving in academics, family and friends. Make progress in changing bad habits, eliminating negativism, and wasting time. What you spend the most time on is, "what and who you are going to be".

IMPRESSION REPETITION ASSOCIATION

IMPRESSION REPETITION ASSOCIATION

(What do they look like) (Repeat their names 5 times) (what do they do)
27. Try to exercise a little sympathy, tolerance and kindness; it goes a lot further than a short fuse.
28. Learn the difference between appreciation and flattery; one is from the heart, the other is from the teeth.
29. Accept the fact that everyone is superior to you in one way or another, and learn from that trait.
30. When not engaged in some definite problem-solving, most people think of themselves 95% of the time. If we could cut it to 50%, the results
would be dramatic.
31. Why should people be interested in you and me, unless we are first interested in them?
32. We are all interested in what we want; be a little different, be interested in what the other person wants and needs (get the other person’s point of view and see things from his angle as well as your own. (Be interested in helping others, not only yourself.)
33. Try to do things without ulterior motives.
34. If we do things that require time, energy, unselfishness and thoughtfulness, we will make many friends.
35. The ability to listen is rarer than almost any other trait. (Listen and learn.)
36. This is an old one- "do unto others as you would have them do unto you; we all know who wrote that one.
37. Do unto others as they would have you do unto them.
38. When dealing with people, use little phrases like, "I’m sorry to trouble you", "would you be so kind as to", "Won’t you please", "Would you mind", "Thank you", they are the hallmark of good breeding.
39. Be wiser than other people if you can, but not tell them so.

In business, we could try to

In business, we could try to:

1. Be professional, follow procedures, don’t be lazy.
2. Improve communication skills. (Keep people informed).
3. Avoid procrastinating. (Maintain control and be effective. Plan and carry-out tasks.)
4. Improve delegating skills. (give authority and responsibility to others.)
5. Maintain orderly forms, applications, desks and files.
6. Have a sense of humor, not too much.
7. Emphasize long-range relationships.
8. Have wide ranges of conversation; don’t be narrow-minded.
9. Be able to absorb criticism objectively and constructively.
10. Be on time for all appointments; give honest reasons for being late.
11. Always express appreciation for the time of the people you deal with.
12. Improve reasoning abilities.
13. Increase self-reliance, enthusiasm, initiative, self-control, charm, thinking, concentration of effort.
14. Master persistence, will power, ambition, and memory.
15. Always act with a definiteness of purpose.
16. Think positive on our jobs, this determines how our subordinates think toward their jobs-set the example.

PERSONALITY DYNAMICS

Personal Magnetism:
1. The hand-shake
2. Tone of voice
3. Posture and carriage of the body.
4. Vibrations of thought (idea conveyance).
5. Body adornment.

FRIENDSHIP IS NOT FREE; IT MUST BE EARNED!

FRIENDSHIP IS NOT FREE; IT MUST BE EARNED!

We should try to do these things better:
1. Encourage others to talk about themselves.
2. Talk in the interest ranges of the things that people
treasure most when talking to them.
3. Talk to people about themselves and recognize
their importance.
4. Respect other people’s good judgment and avoid
arguments.
5. Never tell anyone they are wrong, we all will
rationalize to the point of thinking we are
unequivocally right.
6. We should criticize ourselves before other people
have a chance to; if you are wrong, admit it!
7. Tread softly, you will go farther.
8. We should try to let our friends feel as though they
have excelled us at some time or another.
9. Let others do a great deal more of the talking.
10. Figure out why others think as they do; look at it
from their viewpoint.
11. Show compassion to others (this is yearned for).
12. Treat people with respect, dignity, honesty, truth-
fulness and willingness; they will generally
emulate those feelings.
13. Challenge others to do something better, never force them.
14. Call attention to mistakes indirectly (don’t broadcast).
15. Make difficulties seem easy to conquer.
16. Praise minutest improvements; and inspire hidden treasures in others.
17. Be friendly.
18. Force yourself to smile! (you will.)
19. Consider other’s good points.
20. Make others want to follow your suggestions.
21. Always appreciate people’s time.
22. Be interested in everyone you meet.
23. Always remember, good manners are made up of petty sacrifices.
24. Remember names; a person’s name is truly the most treasured phrase to that person’s ears. Use the I.R.A principles to help remember name:
25. Try saying this three (3) times, "Act enthusiastic and you’ll be enthusiastic", it works.
26. Perfect yourself first, then worry about everyone else.

13 Fitness Tips To Stay Motivated And Workout Effectively

13 Fitness Tips To Stay Motivated And Workout Effectively

Rejuvinate your fitness routine with these 13 tips. Find out how to stay motivated, interested, and effective.
1. Read fitness magazines. Fitness magazines are a great source of both information and inspiration. They can help remind you of why you want to get fit in the first place!

2. Work out with a friend. Not only can this help you actually get to your workout appointment, but friends can help encourage each other to work out with more intensity.

3. Set a regular time for fitness. If you have fitness time incorporated into your schedule, it's much easier to stick with it, especially over time.

4. Find exercise activities that you enjoy. Whilst it's important to have a balanced workout, there are many ways to build muscle and strength, flexibility, and get aerobic exercise. List the types of activities you enjoy, or think you might enjoy, and start working through all of them. You could even rotate them every 6 weeks.

5. Build variety into your program. Not only does this make it more interesting, you'll actually work different muscle groups, or the same muscles but in a different way. The challenges we create for our body in adapting to new types of exercises results in a fitter and stronger body. Change your program every 6 weeks.

6. Try new fitness activities - Try dancing, boxing, plates, yoga, or kickboxing.

7. Frame the thought of exercise in a positive way in your mind. Even if you don't like exercise, try and think of it in a positive way - that way you are less likely to talk yourself out of it. Think of how good you feel afterwards, not the pain involved in getting there!

8. Exercise outdoors. Whether it's team sports or swimming, get out in the fresh air!

9. Try skipping. Skipping ropes fit into small bags, don't require expensive gym memberships, are available for use 24 hours a day, are never overcrowded, and are great aerobic activity.

10. Try resistance training. Resistance training will increase the size and strength of your muscles, thus preventing injuries. If you're not up to free weights, take a circuit class, or a bodypump class.

11. If you're tired, or your muscles ache, try something a bit gentler - but don't avoid fitness entirely 'until you feel better'. Swimming is good because it helps support the whole body, and it is still a good workout.

12. Don't rest too long between sets. Otherwise your workout will take a lot longer to complete, and it could be off-putting mentally the next time you are scheduled to do a workout, especially if you don't have a lot of time that day.

13. Use a heart rate monitor. That way you can make sure you are working out at the right intensity, thus maximizing your workout time. You'll see improvements a lot more quickly that way.

For information on discount fitness equipment, click here. For more fitness tips and ideas, click here.
By Rebecca Prescott
Published: 10/22/2006

5 Tips and Motivation Hints to Start Your Fitness Routine This Fall!

5 Tips and Motivation Hints to Start Your Fitness Routine This Fall!

Lynn VanDyke provides several motivation secrets to get back into your fall fitness routine. In addition, she divulges the 5 fat loss tips to fat loss.
The crispness of autumn’s air settles in after a long summer of hot and humid weather. The leaves begin to turn vibrant colors and the children head back to school. Adults settle back into their regular routines and begin preparing for the upcoming winter months.

If you’re like most adults, one of your priorities is to lose weight and tone up. Perhaps you want to drop a few dress sizes or add a few pounds of lean muscle. Whatever your goal may be this season, here are a few tips that will jumpstart your fat loss:

1) Eat 5-6 small meals throughout the day. Each meal should be 2-3 hours apart. Each meal should contain one protein and one carb. The first meal should be eaten within an hour after waking.

2) Drink a cup of water at each meal.

3) Rest properly. This means taking at least 48 hours between strength training the same muscles, and it also means getting at least 7-8 hours of sleep per night. Lastly, it means taking 1-2 days off from exercising per week.

4) Cardio should be done at different intensity levels and different session lengths. Consider doing a low intensity/long session, a high intensity/short session and a few medium intensity/medium length sessions.

5) Strength train each muscle 1-3 times per week. You should lift a proper weight and perform the proper amount of sets/reps for your strength training method. If you need more guidance or exercise ideas you can search the web. Try using the search term "strength training woman" or "strength training men" to narrow down your results. Include the quotation marks for best results.

It is possible for us to begin the autumn season and start checking things off of our "To Do" list. The secret to successful fitness programs lies in correct execution. Non-stop dieting or crash course fitness regimes will not help you achieve lasting fat loss.

There are many ways to keep your motivation strong through the fall and winter months. Here are a few that you can begin using right now:

# Join a gym and talk with a personal trainer about your specific goals.

# Find a workout buddy.

# Create a fitness and nutrition journal. Log your daily food intake and workout program. Also note your moods and feelings. Contact me for a free workout log.

# Invest in an ebook. An ebook is an electronic book that many fitness professionals are creating. The ebook should be authored by a master trainer and offer you a complete program on fitness and nutrition. Having a complete guide by a master trainer is one of the cheapest and best ways to succeed.


Whether your goal is to slim down or bulk up, combining the 5 tips above with a focused fitness and nutrition program is the absolute best path to long-lasting fat loss. Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact me. Your success depends on you!

About the Author:

Lynn VanDyke is a master trainer and fitness nutritionist. Her fitness site, Strength-Training-Woman.com is ranked within the top 1% of all websites. She has authored the wildly popular ebook, Melt-the-Fat.com. It is yielded as one of the best fitness and nutrition ebooks available.

By Lynn VanDyke
Published: 9/12/2006

Control Your Success, Control Your Mind

Control Your Success, Control Your Mind

Who Controls Your Success? Your Mind Does. The vast majority of people don't have control over their mind ask themselves poor questions, consequently never achieve the heights of success they desire. Use these tips to take Control and Attract Even More Success into Your Life
Your success is controlled by your thoughts.

Do you have control over your thoughts? Sadly, the vast majority of people don't.

The quality of the questions you ask yourself and the quality of your answers will dictate the degree of success and fulfillment in your life.

When something goes wrong or you are met with a challenge what thoughts immediately enter your mind? For many, many people they are de-energizing thoughts and questions that sound something like this:

* What's wrong with me?


* How come this always happens to me?


* Can I avoid being blamed for this?


* Why me?


* Why do I always/never ...?


* Am I good enough?"


* What if I'm not good enough?



De-energizing questions trap you where you are (or in your history), they tend to be backward focused, defensive, dis-empowering.

If you find yourself guilty of regularly using a repertoire of questions similar to those above, then ...

Do this exercise

* Grab a piece of paper right now!


* Draw a line down the middle of the page and on the left-hand side write down all the benefits you get from this type of thinking.


* Now on the right-hand side, write down all the damage that this type of thinking causes you.



So how are these questions serving you? Are these de-energizing questions helping you to move forward in life, toward achieving what you want?

To power-fill your life you need to focus on asking energizing questions. Energizing Questions sound like:

* What can I learn from this situation?
* What is the opportunity here for me?
* How can we all win from this?
* How can I get around this problem?
* What is the end-result I want?
* What will be the benefits if I ...?
* How can we best support each other to ...?

Energizing Questions are forward moving, forward focused ... they send you down a path of looking for solutions that are energizing and empowering.

They have a positive impact on your attitude, energy, feelings and performance.

If you are responsible for leading and/or influencing others then Energizing Questions are a very useful tool. They enable you to inspire people to focus on possibilities rather negativities.

Here are the principles in asking/developing great energizing questions (whether you are using them on yourself or on others):

* They are open-ended. Yes/No answers discourage thinking.


* They focus on where you are heading, not what went wrong. Yes, you can learn, indeed must learn, from your mistakes and errors, however give your primary focus to where you want to go


* They focus on the 'what' or the 'how' and not 'why'. Think back to the last time you were asked a 'why' question - "Why did you do that?" - did you get defensive, start to back-pedal? As soon as you are asked 'why' you tend to feel judged. Instead, ask questions like "Help to understand what lead up to you doing ...?", "How are you planning to ...?"; "What is the next step in ...?" "What do you want to ...?"



If you, or the people around you are, are not being as successful as you want, then Energizing Questions can be a great place for you to start to turn things around.

What you focus on is what you will receive, I promise!

Growth Opportunity

* Identify the primary questions you ask of yourself and others - are they Energizing or De-Energizing Questions?


* Listen to the questions you hear others around you asking - are they Energizing or De-Energizing Questions?


* If they are focused on de-energizing what can you do to help yourself and others to shift your thinking toward more of what you do want, rather than what you don't want?



Ready to jumpstart your career, your life and be more fulfilled? To get your free success tools and tips now from recognized High Performance Leadership expert Shelley Holmes visit leadership-and-motivation-training.com

By Shelley Holmes
Published: 2/18/2007

Your Motivation for Success

Your Motivation for Success

When you own a business, it's not always easy to stay motivated, but there are a few things described here that can keep you on track.
If you are someone who follows my article posts, you may have noticed that I haven't written so many lately…Why? Okay, excuse time! It's summertime, I love the sun, being outdoors, and being active, and this has been one of our very few heat-wave type summers! No, that doesn't mean I have lost my motivation to be successful at my online business, but let's face it, we all go through ups and downs, productive times and unproductive times – and this maybe isn't my most productive time of year. Maybe it's a good thing I live in Canada where there are four seasons and not just one hot, sun-sizzling summer year round! Yes, I am truly blessed to be where I am. As much as I love the outdoors and enjoying the beauty and solitude of the Rocky Mountains, I also have a pretty strong work ethic that makes me want to be the best I can be at the online business that I have started. At times like these it is tough to stay motivated, but that's precisely when you have to take charge of your self and the direction you are headed.

A lot of motivation has to do with your attitude about yourself, your life, and your direction. You know what I'm going to say…If it's the pits, then so is your level of motivation. Attitude is not only about the state of mind you are in – it's also about taking action. You not only have to think what it takes, you have to do what it takes to get your desired results. What some people don't realize is that a lot of what it takes to have a positive attitude is all about self-maintenance. Taking care of your physical, spiritual, emotional, mental, and intellectual self is the key to maintaining a healthy attitude that leads to success. Simply having an awareness of what motivates, challenges, and inspires you can give you the energy and passion you need to do what it takes.

I know it's not easy to always stay positive. Truth be known, I have always been very strong, but never the perfect model of positive thinking. I am working on it though, and the more I learn about success, internet marketing, and personal development, the more I feel changes taking place within me that feel good and that I know are steps in the right direction. It's important to engage yourself in continuous, life-long learning in any area that interests you. But when you make an investment in yourself and your success, then you are doing yourself a huge favor.

You never really become a true master of yourself as things change, people change, and circumstances change. That's why learning is a life-long process. Once it stops, you stop growing, and when you stop growing, you are stuck with negativity, which always finds a way of sneaking in and taking hold of you. So keep your learning in check, and keep yourself in check. When you have mastered this concept, then you can take things a step further by realizing the importance of giving something to others, or making a contribution. When you do things for other people, you have found a cause greater than yourself, and this can only make you better.

Be sure to know why you are doing what you are doing. It may be tedious to write down what you want out of life, but when you have it in writing, you can read it over and over again when times get tough, as a reminder of what you're shooting for. Our minds can be nasty sometimes – flooding us with negative thoughts that can completely take over. We need constant reminders, just like a refresher course they offer in schools. Even though we already know the concepts and know what it takes, how we have to think, and what to do, there are just too many outside influences that affect our thinking, and our attitudes. Writing what we want down on paper, and keeping it in front of us where we can read it often will help us stay focused, motivated and successful. This article is my partial written word of inspiration to keep me learning and motivated. I hope it helps you too!

By Liane Bate
Published: 12/13/2006

Motivating the Individual Within!

Motivating the Individual Within!

One of the traps which management has evolved into over past decades is to believe that all people are motivated in the same manner. In actuality, surveys reveal that what may be a motivator to one individual may in fact be a de-motivator to another.
Motivating the Individual Within!
"The world belongs to the energetic." - Emerson

Recognizing a performance well done is accomplished in many different ways from a managerial-leadership perspective. Cultivating energies and dedication from an organizations bench is essential and whether done as incentives, bonus systems, perks, recognition initiatives or what-ever, the act of motivating one from their perspective is the equivalent to a new tank of gasoline in an automobile.

One of the traps which management has evolved into over past decades is to believe that all people are motivated in the same manner. In actuality, surveys reveal that what may be a motivator to one individual may in fact be a de-motivator to another. Management and personnel experts invest a tremendous amount of energies to determine what works and what doesn’t. Research detailed in Yield Management: The Leadership Alternative for Performance and Net Profit Improvement (by CRC Press, ISBN# 1-57444-206-6 /USA $29.95) illustrates that most of what has been done has been a complete waste of everyone’s time!

For any motivator to have real impact, there are three guideposts that must be adhered to first:

1. The act or offering must be of meaning to that specific recipient regardless of applicability to others!
2. The act or gesture must be repeatable… what do you do for the next accomplishment which warrants recognition?
3.The act or gesture must be of such nature that there is some degree of lasting impact … not an act or gesture that the next day has lost all meaning and memory! By rewarding the desired behavior and net results from a star player on your bench, the action given having more meaning to the recipient, allows for that player to be psychologically and subconsciously reminded of the reward every time they do a similar future act.

Here is a fast track formula that we have found amazingly always works with our Fortune 100 clients and governmental agency leaders for determining what works and what doesn’t work with every employee within an organization. While, occasionally there may be some environments that have become stagnant due to institutional mediocrity which has been allowed to take hold, the following is a great process for determining what works:

1. Have each employee or direct report on your bench complete a self motivator assessment sheet or profile by detailing as many responses as appropriate for/to themselves, under two headers or categories and keep it in your personnel files for future reference.
2. Have each employee list those things that to them would be appreciated acts or gestures welcomed from management that would be free on one side of a sheet and on the other side of the page list those items that would have actual 'financial'perimeters about them.

The beauty of this sheet is that the "self motivator assessments" allow managerial-leaders the ability to ensure that every time meaning is attained, the actions are easily repeatable and in that the actions are coming from the recipients inventory, lasting impact is more often attainable!

This simple three-step formula is even more powerful in today’s work place, as studies have determined that individuals are motivated in professional environments in one of three core ways:

1.By Self Fulfillment acts.
2.By Recognition delivered in many ways.
3.By Intrinsic motives.

Using the above two templates, managerial-leaders in today’s high speed, results oriented environments can increase their ability to connect with individuals and motivate each individual from within their own rulebook of what matters!

"No man who continues to add something to the material, intellectual, and moral well-being of the place in which he lives is left long without proper reward."

- Booker T. Washington
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Internet SUCCESS Radio
By Jeff Magee
Published: 10/18/2007

Maintaining Motivation Whilst Distance Learning

Maintaining Motivation Whilst Distance Learning

If you are studying a distance learning, online, or correspondence course, aiming for a formal qualification or purely as personal development, this is for you. If you are not currently suffering from lack of motivation, this is still for you because there will come a time when your motivation level falls. If you are currently not very motivated, and your studies are suffering, then this is for you.
For most students, whether studying in the classroom or by distance learning, their course of study is usually spread over many months, and in some cases, two or three years, and maintaining consistently high levels of motivation over such long periods is almost impossible. The reasons for this are many, and each of these reasons affects different individuals in different ways.

Firstly, in general terms, once you have started your course of studies, this event itself changes the balance in your life. Study time has to be planned and fitted into a pattern of life where it didn’t exist before. Family, friends, and work colleagues are all affected, to a lesser or greater degree, by your decision to study. The demands of studying, the planning, the organizing of facilities, the concentration needed, the pressure of coursework and-or examination deadlines – all add stresses to your life that have to be managed effectively. Once the initial excitement of starting the course and setting out on the road to achieving a new objective has passed, then the pressures and the workload start to have more impact on your life.

Secondly, over these relatively long periods of study, you change. By this I mean that after one year, for example, you have gained more experience in your work role, you will have completed a large part of the course of studies. You may have been promoted, or been disappointed that you weren’t. Your work colleagues may have changed, or your manager may have been replaced with another. You may have changed jobs, moved to a new work location, or moved to a new home. You may have found new friends, or a new partner, be having relationship difficulties, or have become a father, or mother. You may feel unsure, albeit temporarily, that the course of studies is going to be as useful as you first thought, or the qualification as relevant to your career as you initially believed.

Thirdly, the people in your life will have changed, perhaps in small ways, perhaps in significant, major ways.Your partner and family members will also have changed, at least in some ways. If you have children they will have grown older, and perhaps become more demanding of your time. Your friends may have developed new interests, or moved away, or changed jobs, and are not as close as before. Any one or more of your family, friends, work colleagues, may have themselves changed jobs or started a course of studies, and taken on the pressures that accompany these.

Fourthly, a long course of studies will almost inevitably include areas of study that you are not excited about, or find boring, or which you can’t see the relevance of. Personally, I have always struggled with subjects like Statistics and Data Analysis, and motivating myself to study these was very difficult! Some of my colleagues love these subjects but dislike what they view as vague subjects such as those around managing people.

Finally, studying for a professional development qualification is hard work. Very hard work. Working full time and also studying at professional level is the equivalent of having two jobs at the same time. This means that you will inevitably become tired and listless and probably irritable, at least on some occasions, as you work through a long course of studies. The result is that your motivation level will fall as it becomes more difficult to study effectively in this condition.

The first, most important, most critical, step is to recognize and accept that maintaining a consistent level of motivation is impossible. The second, equally important step is to accept that although motivation levels will fluctuate, the extremes of high and low can be controlled. The third, equally critical step is to plan and take positive action to counter the influences that will be attacking your motivation levels.

This action should be planned as early as possible, ideally at the very start of your studies, but it is never too late to implement such action. The specific actions are, individually, simple ones, and relatively easy to implement. The difficulty is in maintaining these actions, integrating them into your approach to your studies, to your work, and to your personal and home life, so that they become part of your lifestyle, rather than occasional, irregular activities.

Before you start your studies, talk with your family or partner about the course of studies and why it is important to you, and to them. In some cases it will be appropriate to take their views into consideration before you decide to go ahead. Be as certain as you can be, through research, asking advice, consulting specialists, that the course, the qualification, is appropriate for your personal development, and that it fits in with your plans.

Select a course provider, college, business school, university, that offers a format, a style, an approach, that you will enjoy being part of. Check with current and previous students. Ask colleagues and friends who have also studied by distance learning about their experiences.

Set up a Personal Study Area, which you can organize and use for your studies. This should be a place where you will be comfortable, properly equipped, relatively undisturbed and where you can switch into "study" mode. Help yourself to avoid distractions occurring. Make it clear to family and friends, in the discussions you have with them, that once a timetable of study has been set and they have agreed that it is reasonable, they must not try to distract you. Turn off your mobile phone. Don’t have a television set visible from your personal study area. Take defensive action to prevent distractions occurring, such as contacting work colleagues before they contact you.

Plan your studies so that you study at times that suit you, but also are times that don’t clash with times when it is important that you are with your family, partner, or friends. Keep your family, your friends, your partner, your work colleagues, your manager, appropriately up to date with your progress. Build in time for leisure and pleasure. Make sure that you take it! You will return to your studies fresh and re- invigorated. Plan your studies to take into account, and leave room for, working on tests, assignments, and revising for exams if required. Don’t set yourself unreasonable targets. If you can't study for more than an hour at a time, don’t plan to. Plan to work in 30 minute sessions. If you can't study effectively in the early morning, don’t plan to. Plan to study later in the day, or in the evening. If you can't actually manage to study for more than 8 hours a week, don’t plan to.

Build some of your study activities into your everyday life. For example, if you are studying for a professional management qualification, read a business newspaper or journal instead of your usual newspaper, look out for business focused programs on the television and radio, read business and management books to gain background knowledge and understanding, talk with your manager and specialists at work to see if you can be included, perhaps as an observer, in management meetings.

Talk regularly with your Tutor. Good distance learning providers will have tutors who are accessible on a regular basis, and who will talk with you in the evening and weekends as well, at least for emergencies. Use email, instant messaging, and the telephone, appropriately but regularly.

Equip yourself with the best study aids that you can afford. Your PC or Laptop doesn’t have to be the latest model, or the most powerful, and it’s not necessary to have the latest versions of software, but if it regularly crashes, or you lose valuable work, that can be very demotivating. Make sure that you have good quality anti-virus software (this should be kept up current through regular updates). Losing completed coursework and other files and folders because of a virus can make the most sane person suicidal! Don’t risk it, our own experiences and those of many of our students tell us that viruses are a real, ever-present danger.

Keep fit and healthy. This is crucial. You need to take regular exercise, eat a balanced diet, try to avoid too much alcohol. It is well established knowledge that poor diet and lack of exercise has a very detrimental effect on concentration levels and on achievement levels.

Reward yourself. When you meet a key target, submit an assignment on time, pass an examination, give yourself some time off, or a special treat. Be pleased with yourself.

Finally, work at your studies to the best of your ability. Study hard. Study effectively. This will almost certainly guarantee that you will meet your deadlines and that the standard of your work will be high. The result will be that your progress will be successful and you will complete the course and achieve the qualification. Nothing is more powerful in raising morale and motivation levels than success.
BSBM Ltd
Distance Learning Courses

By CJ Williams
Published: 5/17/2007

Motivation Techniques And Strategy For Success

Motivation Techniques And Strategy For Success
Truth About How To Succeed In Life Every Time

This article aims to reveal the truth behind the techniques and motivational strategies for success in life. Whether it is for wealth, a perfect relationship, health or just happiness. The reader will also find in this article a proposed formula for success.
Using simple techniques and strategies along with a powerful motivation for success, you can succeed in life at anything every time. - Let's find out how!

I was talking to a friend over dinner and he was just telling me how he met his wife, who he has been with for 17 years now and counting. They are still in love like as if they just met - A great success story I must say.

He told me how his former girlfriend had left him, how he was depressed, and how he really wanted to fill that gap in his life. One year had past, all motivation techniques were useless, and he still wasn't himself, he had lost his drive, and it was affecting his work as well. There was no Motivation for success any more.

One day, he decided to straighten his life out, and the best way, was to take a trip so he can clear his head. He promised himself that when he would be back that he will be a new man, full of energy, a zeal to succeed and would surely find himself someone he loves - and loves him back.

While he was in Malaysia, he got caught up in the middle of a bar fight, where a broken glass injured him. He was taken to the hospital for stitches.

... To cut a long story short, he met his future wife in the hospital. - He succeeded, he was motivated once again. What happened was that she came in to visit a friend who was ill, they talked a bit - nothing much happened then, but soon after, they met at the airport, they were on the same flight, and there you have it... 17 years later he is happily married with three kids... Talk about techniques and strategy, there was none... motivation to succeed was the winner.

Now, our stories may not always be as glamorous as my friend's, - but it may be, if we take a closer look... Success and motivation are key players in getting anything you want, but technique cannot be overlooked either.

So, what did we learn from this story?

This life we live in, is full of mysteries, and we cannot have absolute control over the things that happen to us, and when, no matter the techniques and strategies we apply. However, when we are motivated and ready for something, and really want it bad enough to work our way towards achieving success, we will eventually succeed at it for sure.

You may have been in a similar situation, where you wanted to succeed at something so bad, and you decided on the best technique and strategy to go about getting it. Eventually you find yourself facing so many difficulties, that you just wanted to give up. However, just because of the motivation, desire and effort you had already put in, you could not stop moving forward to success. You still kept pushing, and eventually what you were seeking just came to you without effort.

You thought to yourself... why all the hassle?

Or did you give up before it happened?

I've tried for some time now, to study this phenomenon, to find if there is a formula, a technique on how things really work. I came up with an answer based on a popular saying "God helps those who help themselves".

What I discovered is that, if we do nothing about it, we will get nothing. But if we try hard enough, believing that it will work, it will eventually fall into our laps... Even if the results are not directly related to our effort and techniques. The motivation for success and the targeted act alone is proof enough that we really want it and we will get it.

A very simple example is what happened to me just last month. Whenever I start a new project, I have this habit of trying to balance my payments with another- actually, it's just so I get the sensation that it is free money I'm putting into that investment. I know it's silly, but it works for me.

I hired someone to build a new software that will cost me $7,000. So now, I needed to balance that payment. To do this, I will want to take on a new client just for that purpose.

What happened next was amazing; - After my search for a new client to balance that payment (I applied Motivation and techniques for success). I got an email 2 weeks later from an old client I had not spoken to in 4 years, and he referred me to someone who needed my help with a website. What he wanted was an auction site just like eBay as well as the strategies to make it work. Guess what, I do run an auction business, and guess what again. I sold my custom script, plus some hours of consulting for $7,500. How weird is that?

So you see; anything is possible!

We just need to define the end result - Whether it is health, wealth, happiness, or a perfect relationship... anything. Then be motivated and create a success plan to achieve it, using various number of techniques... really all this is to keep you motivated and allow you see your path more clearly... you should really work hard to follow through to success. The end results will most likely be positive, even if not in the way we imagined, but it will be.

The message for today is Visualize your goals, take action and you will succeed.

~ EXERCISE ~

Motivation techniques and strategy for success:

1: Write down on a piece of paper or on your word processor, ONE clearly defined end result you desire.

2: When you have determined your goal in a clearly written form, also using figures as a measure of success where relevant, then, set a time frame you expect to reach this goal.

Taking you health for example: Instead of focusing on the illness, think about something that this illness has been depriving you of achieving, (think of the bigger picture) and work towards achieving that.

3: Now let's say you set a short term goal for one month. We can break down the techniques and strategies of that goal into weeks, then days, hours, minutes and even seconds... Starting right now.
By doing this, you can easily create short term multiple checkpoints to help you measure your success of your techniques and strategy in the long run.

You should reward yourself at each checkpoint to keep you motivated to succeed.

Remember the key is to be realistic in your goal setting and most of all, confident that your technique will work... just as simple and straight forward as mathematics. 1+1+1 = 3 :)

The world would be a much better place if you and the people around you all experienced inner peace, abundance, joy and happiness... We count on you to help spread the word of the wonderful gifts of life.

By Edward Hadome
Published: 6/28/2008

Finding Inspiration Now

Finding Inspiration Now
Creative people are often asked, "Where do you get your ideas?" or "Where do you get your inspiration?"

What people usually mean by these questions is, "How can I find my own inspiration?"

The surprising thing about inspiration is that it rarely comes when you're sitting on the beach waiting for an idea to strike from the heavens.

Most creative people get inspired by sitting down and working on a project.

Let's take a writer. She has an idea for a book, and knows she wants to write about a young artist who loses her sight in a car accident.

Our writer does not sit down in her comfortable recliner and just "think" about her story. She instead sits down at her desk and starts writing the story, or at least writing about the character.

She may start writing a character sketch, or make up a story involving the character to learn more about her.

As she works, she becomes "inspired" and makes notes for later in the story, as she really begins to understand what she is writing and get moving on the story.

The next day, when she comes back to write, she again may not feel inspired at first, but she has the work from the previous day to start with, and the inspiration comes.

The real story behind finding inspiration is that inspiration comes when you devote energy to something. Inspiration is not usually a sudden stirring in your brain that you just have to jump up and work with.

It's more like a stream of water that originates from a hand pump. You must prime the pump, and then pump for a while, and then the water begins to flow. Just standing in front of the pump doesn't produce water, but many people spend a lot of time looking at the pump wondering how it works.

To get inspired, the best thing you can do is just start working. You may find that your early steps are not what you eventually want, and you may have "wasted" work, but it's not wasted if it gets you to your eventual destination, which is an inspired final product.

Inspiration is not nearly as hard to find, or as hard to keep flowing, as people often believe it is, but the difficulty with inspiration is that it does not always flow immediately, and many people are too impatient to keep moving through the beginning work to reach the inspiration.

It is sometimes hard to find inspiration. Sometimes we work for much longer than we expect, and just can't get the energy flowing right. Sometimes we need to walk away and come back. But inspiration is far more consistent than most people realize.

This week, as you look for inspiration in your life, remember:

• Get started with your work, and the inspiration will come. Spend at least 30 minutes getting inspired before you give up.
• Watch what inspires you. Notice the things that really bring inspiration pouring forth.
• Try to leave your desk each day with a little fuel, in the form of notes, waiting for the next day.

By David Bohl
Published: 11/2/2007

Do You Love You?

Do You Love You?

Do you really know who you are at your core? Do you love that self? The strongest and most savvy business executives and the most effective parents have taken the time to discover themselves.
I so enjoy new clients who tell me: ‘My spouse knows me better than I know myself." This tells me two things. First, they have chosen a life partner willing to dedicate time and intense effort to get to know who they are, and the fall in love with this person they’ve discovered. Second, my eager new client likely has self-discovery work in their future.

Celebrating ten years of business and executive coaching I’ve learned a tremendous amount about those who succeed and those who do not. I’ve learned that the strongest leaders, savviest business executives and most effective parents have taken the time to get to know who they are at their core.

After all, how can you motivate another to do anything if you first don’t know what makes you act, think and process information in the manner which you choose? When contacted 18 months ago to contribute to a new book on ‘relationships’ (A Guide to Getting It: Vibrant & Lasting Relationships) my topic came easily. I set out to write a chapter on how to enhance one’s intimate relationship with himself or herself.

As I interviewed numerous people and delved more deeply into the topic, I discovered that if you are going to get to know yourself on this intimate level, then why not go all the way and fall in love with yourself. Those parents who told us not to ‘toot our own horn’ as we were growing up are rolling in their graves with this notion.

If you think of the pure concept of falling in love and take yourself out of it, the process comes more easily. First there is attraction, then curiosity, eagerness to spend time with the other person to learn more about them and your energy is ignited.

Why not start your year with this theme of falling in love with yourself? If you accomplish this simple goal, how will you be different one year from this very moment? Happier, more fulfilled? Certainly more successful, effective and alive!

Begin with the concept of attraction. Look in the mirror for what others see in you. Look at those strong expressive eyes, well-earned laugh lines, and genuine smile. What draws you in to this person? What questions do you have? What motivates you to learn more?

Bring that supercharged energy of falling in love and curiosity to life. Drop your self-judgment and criticism. Replace it with a brand new sense of curiosity. It may look like this: "Isn’t it fascinating that I think this way, act this way, like this and dislike that?"

Next, write your own script. What is your path to falling in love? Do you go snowshoeing, skiing, to movies, for long walks? Do you put on your favorite music, cook luscious meals and stay inside? Map out the activities you’ll do this year to create a stronger more intimate relationship with "you."

Be the one individual who knows ‘you’ better than anyone else. Enjoy falling in love for the first time - with you!

"A Guide to Getting It: Vibrant & Lasting Relationships" is available at http://tinyurl.com/2x73up.
By Ann Golden Eglé
Published: 7/16/2008

Best Motivational Speakers

Best Motivational Speakers
Where To Look When Trying To Find The Cream Of The Crop

How to find the best motivational speakers for your business or event without relying on guesswork
Motivational speakers can be a great asset for any number of events, get-togethers, and conventions. Among others, groups such as schools, companies, and non-profit organizations have utilized the talents of motivational speakers over the years. After all, these types of speakers can use their own backgrounds, stories, and helpful wisdom to help others reach their goals. If you find yourself requiring the services of this type of speaker, here are some ways to find the best motivational speakers.

One great way to find the best motivational speakers is by going through a professional public speakers bureau to book your speaker. A bureau will be affiliated with many different motivational speakers, all of which should be very talented and experienced. A public speakers bureau will also often be helpful with helping you to determine exactly what type of speaker is most appropriate for your event. Most bureaus ask a number of questions to get an idea for what your event is all about, as well as to determine which motivational speaker would be well suited for the event itself.

The internet is a great way to find excellent motivational speakers, as well. Before the internet was around, it could be very difficult to locate the appropriate candidate, and organizations relied mostly on word of mouth to do so. However, these days it is quite easy to locate a wide variety of professionals suitable for your requirements. In fact, the hardest part has become deciding which one would do the best job and be the best fit for your event in particular. For this reason, you should read reviews by others regarding a public speaker's ability whenever possible. You should also keep in mind what type of motivational speaker your event requires. For instance, if you are looking for a speaker for a Catholic retreat, you know that you should find an individual with a similar background, or a faith-based message.

The biggest secret to finding the best motivational speakers is to not rely on guesswork. It is important that you get recommendations from others whenever possible, whether you are getting them from a speakers bureau, colleagues, or anonymous reviewers on the internet. Also, see if you can find video of the speaker's work, as well. If you do your research, rather than simply picking a name out of a hat, you will find that your results will be much more successful.

Read more information about enlisting the services of top Motivational Keynote Speakers and Inspirational Motivational Speakers at Speakers Bureau.

By Dean Forster
Published: 7/21/2008

Top Motivational Speakers

Top Motivational Speakers
Techniques They Use To Captivate An Audience

Techniques that have turned normal speakers into top motivational speakers that captivate and inspire audiences
It is no secret that motivational speakers who are successful can really enjoy a wonderful career as a result. Besides being able to be your own boss, you get to make money doing what you love-speaking in front of and sharing your experiences with others. The perks of a career in motivational speaking are plentiful and well-known, but what is not always so obvious is what makes some motivational speakers into the top motivational speakers in the country. Let's explore some of the techniques that have helped to make these men and women into such great motivational speakers.

First of all, it is important that even the best motivational speakers remember the fundamentals of public speaking. These include moving your eye contact and field of view around the room, so that you can connect with the entire audience. Also, it is obviously important to use hand gestures and humor to establish a rapport with the audience, and help them to remain entertained by what you are saying to them. Although elite motivational speakers almost always have the fundamentals down, a lot of the reason that this is true is because they reinforce these fundamentals through practice.

The best motivational speakers are experts at tailoring their messages for a variety of groups and events. For instance, it is only reasonable to expect that you will not always have the same type of audience from event to event. You may speak for educational professionals at one event, a retired persons group at another, and then high school students at yet another event. Each of these particular groups of people have to be approached in a different way for you to reach them with your message. That must be taken into account when you are writing your speech, and also when you are delivering your speech.

Also, some events call for a different approach to speaking style. For a group of students, for example, it may behoove you to adopt a very casual style, and to also include some humor during your speech. For other speeches, you may want a more formal approach, although in general, motivational speakers use a casual speaking style.

The number one thing to do to join the ranks of top motivational speakers is to practice. By practicing your craft, you will only get better at what you do. Also, when you speak, your audience will be able to tell that you practiced beforehand.

Read more information about all types of professional speakers, including Sales Motivational Speakers and Motivational Keynote Speakers at http://www.speakersbureautraining.com

By Dean Forster
Published: 7/22/2008