How to Raise Your GPA

August 29th, 2007 by John Wesley Print This Post

Getting straight A’s won’t guarantee success, but it sure doesn’t hurt. A high GPA will help you make more money, pursue further education, or change career paths. If you’re going to spend many thousands of dollars on a college education, you might as well make the most of it. Right?

Being smart will help you get good grades, but it isn’t required. Neither is studying nonstop. The key to academic success is being disciplined and efficient in your study habits. These 7 strategies will help you raise your GPA while minimizing stress and overall study time.

1. Go to class – I know this one is mind-numbingly obvious but it’s important. Many professors lecture directly from PowerPoint and post the slides to the internet. This makes it tempting to skip class, download the lecture notes, and learn the material on your own. Although you can probably get away with this in easy courses, you’ll face problems in challenging ones. By skipping class, you miss out on a few important things:

• Detailed verbal explanations that are key to understanding the material
• The chance to ask questions and listen to the Q&A of other students
• Special announcements
• Opportunities for extra credit

It’s also important to consider how skipping class affects your reputation. In most classes, grades are somewhat subjective. This means that the grader’s perception of you can make or break your grade. If you frequently miss class, you’ll be perceived as someone who lacks respect for the professor and the subject matter. Why should they give you the benefit of the doubt or round that B+ up to an A-?

2. Sit in the front row - Not only will sitting in the front row build self confidence, it will automatically engage you in the lecture. You’ll appear to be an eager student and highly visible to the teacher. This will help your academic reputation and make it more likely you’ll develop a relationship with the professor. You’ll have a much easier time maintaining focus and will feel more like a participant than a passive observer.

3. Take notes by hand – Another unfortunate side effect of the PowerPoint revolution is that it discourages students from taking notes. Taking notes by hand will improve your grades because a) it forces you to pay attention, and b) the physical act of writing aids memorization. If you take notes, you’ll find it much easier to stay engaged. Your notes also provide a point of reference that will help you build a mental link between a written concept and the professor’s verbal explanation. This is key for efficient studying.

4. Do a weekly review – A common problem students encounter is trying to learn an enormous amount of material right before the midterm or final exam. This is practically impossible. You’ll find it much easier if you take a gradual approach to studying. At least once a week, review your notes starting from the beginning of the course. This only needs to take 15 or 20 minutes, just enough time to build familiarity with the material.

By doing a weekly review you’ll gradually memorize everything and will better understand how one concept builds on the next. Putting in small amounts of effort on a consistent basis will drastically reduce the amount of studying you need to do right before the test.

5. Go to office hours – Professors and TA’s usually make themselves available at regular times during the week for students to ask questions about assignments. Do yourself a favor by taking advantage of this opportunity. First, attending office hours will motivate you to get ahead on your work and prepare questions to ask. This will give you a huge edge in understanding problems that aren’t clearly explained in the lectures. Second, it will build your reputation as a high-effort student who deserves high grades.

6. Find smart people to work with – In courses that involve group work, this is essential. No one wants to get stuck with a bunch slackers, have to do all the work themselves, and end up with a poor grade to show for it. The quality of the your learning experience is directly related to the attitudes of the people you work with. Working with smart people will facilitate discussion. The best way to understand an idea is talking about it with other intelligent people.

Who you work with also affects your academic reputation. If you associate with students that aren’t interested in learning, teachers and graders will assume you feel the same way. It’s also a great way to connect with people who have similar interests and ambitions.

7. Avoid all-nighters – Generally, having to pull an all-nighter means that you slacked off all semester and need to fit 3 months of learning into one day. If you use a gradual study strategy this will never be necessary. All-nighters don’t work! Yes, it might be possible to get a good grade if the course is easy, but it’s much more likely that your grade will be significantly lower. All-nighters harm performance because they make you tired and stressed. You’ll also forget most of what you learn right after the test, decreasing the practical value of your education.

9 Websites to Satisfy All Your Research Needs

April 17th, 2008 by Tony Howell Print This Post

The internet is a vast ocean of information. The challenge is separating the valuable, trustworthy information from the spam. If you know how to find what you need, you can save yourself precious time and embarrassing factual errors.

These 9 websites that will help you do just that. Whether you need to research a paper, study for a test, or get help on a homework assignment, these sites are the best place to start.

1.) Google

I think it’s safe to say we’re all familiar with the Big G. Google is the king of search. With the rising popularity of niche content sites, it’s getting easier and easier to find exactly what you want by searching for it in Google.

Quick Tip 1: Memorize the most important Google operators and learn to use them efficiently. These extra commands are crucial for laser-targeting your search queries.

Quick Tip 2: Get the Google Toolbar for your browser (or just use Firefox.) It lets you search Google right from your browser, and saves you the added step of going to the Google homepage each time.

2.) Wikipedia

I don’t care what your instructors say, Wikipedia is great! If you want a brief overview of a topic and you want it fast, Wikipedia is second to none.

Wikipedia is a good textbook-replacer because it gives the same broad, over-arching view of a topic that any textbook can give you. Sometimes Wikipedia is better than your textbook. I’ve successfully used Wikipedia to study for a 300-level college psychology exam.

Quick Tip: Add “wiki” on the end of whatever you’re searching for in Google, and it will give you the Wikipedia page on that topic.

Quick Tip #2: The good Wikipedia pages cite their sources. When you are writing a research paper, instead of citing the Wikipedia page (which most instructors don’t allow,) cite the source that Wikipedia lists at the bottom of the article.

3.) Scholarpedia

Looks and feels like Wikipedia, but with a more “scholarly” atmosphere. It has less topics than Wikipedia, but goes more in depth into each subject.

Scholarpedia has more stringent posting standards, like only allowing experts to post, giving each article a “curator,” and requiring each article to be peer-reviewed. Use this site if you need a little more detail than the Wikipedia page provides.

4.) Yahoo Answers

Yahoo answers is a community where regular folks can ask and answer questions. Have a history question? Stuck on your math homework? Go to the Yahoo Answers and ask anything you want. I guarantee it will get answered; and fast too.

Quick tip: If you have a specific homework question you need answered, go to “Education & Reference” and then “Homework Help.” Then type up the whole question verbatim. I’ve seen people post Calculus and Trigonometry equations and get them solved fairly quickly!

5.) AllExperts

Like Yahoo answers, but with experts. It will take longer to receive replies, but they are usually more informative.

6.) About.com

About.com has thousands of articles on thousands of topics. It’s a little more reliable than Wikipedia because they pay free-lance experts to write for them.

Plus, About.com is old school. They have been around since 1996, so they have quite a library of good informative content built up.

7.) CliffsNotes

Good old CliffsNotes. They have saved my hide many times. CliffsNotes provide study guides and summaries of many novels. If a book typically part of a school curriculum, it’s probably in CliffsNotes.

CliffsNotes will help you analyze the main points of a book, understand the symbolism, and even give you a practice quiz. And it can be a big help when you…er….you know, maybe didn’t really read the book.

8.) SparkNotes

Like Cliff’s notes, and just as good. Sometimes one site won’t have a book you need so you can use them both interchangeably.

9.) How Stuff Works

If you need to figure out “how something works,” go here. Their guides aren’t just on machines either. They give detailed explanations of science theories, political systems, historical events, and a lot more.

How Stuff Works is great if you’re in a class that’s heavy on theory, and you need things explained in normal every-day language.

Improve Your Ability to Learn

7 Secrets to Improve Your Ability to Learn (For Students of All Ages)

May 14th, 2008 by David B. Bohl Print This Post

No matter what your age, throughout your life you will be learning. Your formal education ends with high school, but for many the learning never ends. You may attend a university, trade school, night school, community college or adult school. You may enhance your knowledge via business seminars, lectures, books, e-courses, and whatever else shows up in our information society. So wouldn’t it be helpful to have some good study habits and some tools to increase your ability to learn?

Although you may not be studying information to get good grades, retention of what you are learning can help your career, your parenting skills, your business, your relationships, your hobbies, and so much more. So it makes sense to acquire good learning skills sooner than later. Skills such as speed reading and good comprehension are useful for all the great information you want to take in.

Here are some more secrets for improving your ability to learn. Most apply to classes, but you can adapt them to any learning situation.

1. Be Prepared. If you’re taking a class online or at a school, study the curriculum in advance so you know what to expect. Engage in necessary prep work like downloading software, getting a workbook, or setting aside the dates for the course.

2. Get and Stay Organized. If you’re a computer note taker, make sure you set up a file folder system that will enable you to find what you need when you need it. Learning good computer organizational skills will save you a lot of time and headaches. If you take notes by hand, keep them in a labeled binder so you can review them later. Keep any other course papers in the binder as well.

3. Be On Time. If you’re taking a teleclass (this is a class conducted via telephone), call in five minutes early. Clear your desk, and have your pen and pad or a new computer file open. For live classes, show up a few minutes ahead of schedule. When you’re on time, you will have your full attention focused on the class, and not on “catching up” with yourself and what you may have missed.

4. Take Good Notes. If you’re unable to listen and write at the same time, just listen and then write notes after the class is over. If it’s recorded, you can review the class and take notes then. You can also ask the teacher for his/her outline, summary, or notes. Review your last class notes before your next class.

5. Establish Your Learning Style. Which is your best and preferred learning style: visual (reading), auditory (listening) or kinesthetic (doing)? When you know your learning style, take classes that incorporate that style. For example, audio learners keep CDs in their car to turn traffic jams into productive time. Book learners may keep a notebook handy to take notes and read as they exercise on the stepper machine or treadmill. When you study, do you need silence or do you enjoy having music playing in the background? Knowing how you learn best improves your effectiveness.

6. Ask Questions. If you’re taking a course online or in a school, make sure to jot down questions as they come up and ask them when you have a chance. I’ve always believed there are no dumb or silly questions. If you need clarification, you won’t continue learning until you have your questions answered. Most instructors see questions as a sign of an alert, intelligent mind.

7. Complete All Assignments. Stay current with your assignments and complete each one. If you’re reading a self-help book, do all the exercises. If you miss a class, find a way to get the assignments–from another student or the teacher. Online classes are often recorded, so make sure to listen to the recording if you can’t make a class.

With information coming at us from so many directions and in so many formats, it’s difficult to sort out what’s important. It’s even more difficult to retain data with so much to store in our brains. Ultimately we have to be more selective in what we choose to learn, and we need in order to develop effective learning habits. Having good study habits can help.

Do you have any tips that weren’t mentioned above? Please share them in the comments below.

This article was written by David B. Bohl – Husband, Father, Friend, Lifestyle Coach, Author, Entrepreneur, and creator of Slow Down FAST. For more info visit his blog at Slow Down Fast blog.

How to Build Self-Discipline

July 29th, 2008 by Peter Clemens Print This Post

Discipline is freedom. You may disagree with this statement, and if you do you are certainly not alone. For many people discipline is a dirty word that is equated with the absence of freedom. In fact the opposite is true. As Stephen R. Covey once wrote, “the undisciplined are slaves to moods, appetites and passions”. And in the longer term, the undisciplined lack the freedom that comes with possessing particular skills and abilities – e.g. to play a musical instrument or speak a foreign language.

Self-discipline involves acting according to what you think instead of how you feel in the moment. Often it involves sacrificing the pleasure and thrill of the moment for what matters most in life. Therefore it is self-discipline that drives you to:

• Work on an idea or project after the initial rush of enthusiasm has faded away
• Go to the gym when all you want to do is lie on the couch and watch TV
• Wake early to work on yourself
• Say “no” when tempted to break your diet
• Only check your email a few of times per day at particular times

In the past self-discipline has been a weakness of mine, and as a result today I find myself lacking the ability to do a number of things which I would like – e.g. to play the guitar. But I have improved, and I can say that it is self-discipline that got me out of bed this morning at 5am to run and then write this article. Believe me, I would love to be curled up in bed right now, but this desire is subordinated by my inner sense of purpose.

If you struggle with self-discipline, the good news is that it can be developed. For example, it is only in the past two years that I have trained myself to wake early. The following are what I have found to be the five traits of self-discipline:

1. Self-Knowledge

Discipline means behaving according to what you have decided is best, regardless of how you feel in the moment. Therefore the first trait of discipline is self-knowledge. You need to decide what behavior best reflects your goals and values. This process requires introspection and self-analysis, and is most effective when tied to written expression. I highly recommend taking the time to write out your goals, dreams and ambitions. Even better, write out a personal mission statement. I found that writing such a statement gave me a greater understanding of who I am, what I am about and what I value. Dr. Covey has an excellent Mission Statement Builder on his site.

2. Conscious Awareness

Self-discipline depends upon conscious awareness as to both what you are doing and what you are not doing. Think about it. If you aren’t aware your behavior is undisciplined, how will you know to act otherwise?

As you begin to build self-discipline, you may catch yourself being in the act of being undisciplined – e.g. biting your nails, avoiding the gym, eating a piece of cake or checking your email constantly. Developing self-discipline takes time, and the key here is you are aware of your undisciplined behavior. With time this awareness will come earlier, meaning rather than catching yourself in the act of being undisciplined you will have awareness before you act in this way. This gives you the opportunity to make a decision that is in better alignment with your goals and values.

3. Commitment to Self-Discipline

It is not enough to simply write out your goals and values. You must make an internal commitment to them. Otherwise when your alarm clock goes off at 5am you will see no harm in hitting the snooze button for “just another 5 minutes….” Or, when initial rush of enthusiasm has faded away from a project you will struggle to see it through to completion.

If you struggle with commitment, start by making a conscious decision to follow through on what you say you’re going to do – both when you said you would do it and how you said you would do it. Then, I highly recommend putting in place a system to track these commitments. As the saying goes, “What gets measured gets improved”.

4. Courage

Did you notice the sweat dripping from the man in the picture at the start of this article? Make no mistake, self-discipline is often extremely difficult. Moods, appetites and passions can be powerful forces to go against. Therefore self-discipline is highly dependent on courage. Don’t pretend something is easy for you to do when it is in fact very difficult and/ or painful. Instead, find the courage to face this pain and difficulty. As you begin to accumulate small private victories, your self-confidence will grow and the courage that underpins self-discipline will come more naturally.

5. Internal Coaching

Self-talk is often harmful, but it can also be extremely beneficial if you have control of it. When you find yourself being tested, I suggest you talk to yourself, encourage yourself and reassure yourself. After all, it is self-talk that has the ability to remind you of your goals, call up courage, reinforce your commitment and keep you conscious of the task at hand. When I find my discipline being tested, I always recall the following quote: “The price of discipline is always less than the pain of regret”. Burn this quote into your memory, and recall in whenever you find yourself being tested. It may change your life.

Top 5 Ways to Build a Wonderful Life

May 9th, 2007 by John Wesley Print This Post

1. Live Below Your Means

There will always be temptation to forsake the future for immediate gratification. We all want to buy that new piece of technology, treat ourselves to an expensive night on the town, or take out a loan for the flashy car we can’t afford. It might feel great at the time but rash spending hurts a lot later on.

Enjoy life’s simple pleasures and save as much as you can. Expensive things don’t create lasting happiness and security. Careful spending will bring you greater leisure and enjoyment in the long run.

2. Put Your Money to Work

Saving is great, but to make the most of your money you need to put it to work. Good investments can be the difference between retiring in your 40’s or in your 60’s.

A post today at The Simple Dollar really got me thinking. According to Trent’s projections, if a person in their early 20’s invests 20% of their income in an S&P index fund, the interest they earn will equal their current salary when they reach their early 40’s. They could retire without a drop in income!

Wise investing is the surest path to financial independence and it’s something everyone can work on. It’s definitely an area I’ll be devoting more attention to in my personal life and on this blog.

3. Educate Yourself

To be happy we need continuous growth. The best way to grow is life long education. This doesn’t mean you need to pursue a doctorate or spend 2 hours reading every day. Self education can be anything that takes you out of your comfort zone. The important part is keeping an open mind and searching for fresh ideas and perspectives.

Education builds over time. It might feel like the bits of wisdom you acquire don’t mean much, but over the years they add up to form a wiser, kinder, more interesting person.

4. Develop Lasting Personal Relationships

Suppose you had everything you wanted. Would you be happy without anyone to share it with? The personal relationships we develop with friends and family members are the greatest source of happiness in our lives. Don’t forget about them.

Taking the time to cultivate and enjoy personal relationships is essential to longterm happiness. Without the people you care about you’ll probably be miserable, no matter how successful you become.

5. Work Towards a Dream You’re Passionate About

Even if your life isn’t perfect, you can always build towards a goal you’re passionate about. If you aren’t building towards something, you’re probably stagnating. When this happens to me I start to feel like a victim trapped by my own life. The best way to reverse this is working towards a goal.

We can’t control everything about our lives, but working towards a goal gives us something positive to focus on and lays the foundation for future success. No matter what your passion is, get out there and start doing something. As Lao Tzu said, even a journey of 1,000 miles begins with a single step.

Bonus: 6. Stay in Shape

You only get one body. Once it’s been ruined there isn’t much you can do about it. Exercise to keep the rust off. Avoid excessive consumption of damaging substances and unhealthy foods. It may feel like terrible self denial at the time but enjoying good health in your later years is worth the sacrifice.

Note: This post is part of the Problogger Top 5 Group Writing Project.

Motivation123

Are You Trapped by the Autopilot Dilemma?::

An epidemic is occurring all around you, and there is a
good chance it has already found its way into your life. It
begins slowly at first, nearly imperceptible. But it grows.
In time it can take over your entire life.

I have seen it happen too many times, and if you don’t act
now, it may happen to you.

It’s easy to fall into the trap. Well-intentioned
individuals of all ages don’t mean for it to happen, but
that doesn’t matter. It takes much more than good
intentions to steer clear of this problem.

If all it took was good intentions the world would be
packed with people living their dreams and accomplishing
their goals.

But that’s not how it works, and this trap is one of the
most common reasons why it has happened too often in the
past, and will continue to happen in the future.

What exactly are we dealing with here? What is so deadly to
the goals and hopes you have stored away in your head?

Routine.
_________________________________________________

The Results of an Amazing Experiment
_________________________________________________

A very unusual experiment was conducted by John Fabre, the
French naturalist, consisting of processionary
caterpillars, a type of caterpillar that blindly follows
the one in front of it.

This explains the name processionary caterpillar. The
experiment consisted of several of these caterpillars, a
flowerpot filled to the rim with dirt, and pine needles.

The caterpillars formed a complete circle around the rim of
the flowerpot, with the first one touching the back of the
last one. The pine needles, the food of the processionary
caterpillar, were placed in the center of the circle.

The caterpillars began their procession around the
flowerpot, one following the other in a circle. This went
on hour after hour, day after day, for an entire week. In
the end, every one of the caterpillars dropped dead of
starvation.

The one thing that could have saved them was only six
inches away, but without purposeful thought or action, the
caterpillars continued with a habitual routine that
eventually proved too much to endure.
_________________________________________________

The Bottom Line
_________________________________________________

This is happening to people you know, maybe even you,
although not to this degree. Get stuck doing the same old
thing every single day and your goals, sitting only inches
away, are as good as gone.

Plain and simple. You might think it’s a little too simple,
but falling into a routine can destroy your life. I have
very strong beliefs about this because I have seen it
happen to people close to me, as I’m sure you have as well.

Good friends and family start off with bright hopes for the
future, but their routine begins to take their place. ‘No
time, no time,’ is a common excuse. After seventy years of
having no time to do the things you have always wanted to
do you’ll end up with nothing but a good excuse in the end.

This is your life we are talking about here. It’s worth
taking the time to break the pattern of habit and creating
the changes you wish to make.

There is little more that is as important as the life you
create and the good you leave behind. Recognize if you are
in a routine and break free.

Sometimes it’s a matter of an attribute we all seek in life
- confidence. Permanent change requires courage and a
strong belief in your ability to succeed, something that we
all doubt from time to time.

If you would like to learn how to create the confidence you
dream about having, visit the address below for the answer:

http://www.motivation123.com/cmd.php?ad=211382

_________________________________________________

What Are You Talking About???
_________________________________________________

The routines I’m referring to are much deeper than a
morning process of a shower and shave. I’m talking about
turning off your brain and letting autopilot kick in. Doing
the same things you did the day before with no plans to
change the pattern any time soon.

You know the drill – wake up, shower, work, home, sleep,
repeat. This is no way to live, and you know that. But it’s
still hard to break free once the routine has gotten hold
of you.

All hope is not lost. If you want to turn off the autopilot
and start taking control of your life it takes only one
moment to make the decision. And then everything changes.

You’ve heard it a thousands times, and it’s a good thing,
because it’s true. If you keep doing what you have always
done in the past you will keep getting the exact same
results.

People experience a partial insanity when it comes to
routine. Perfectly logical creatures believe that doing the
same thing again and again will get different results.
That’s crazy!

If you want to lose weight but continue with the same
eating habits, you won’t lose weight. If you want to have
more energy but stay up until four and get up at six it
won’t happen.

You have goals, just like everyone else. If you are stuck
in a routine you won’t accomplish them. Be honest with
yourself about this one. It’s the only way you’ll realize
the need for a change before you can enjoy improvement.
_________________________________________________

Here’s What You Have to Do
_________________________________________________

What does it take? It takes a decision. A choice of what
you really want to do with your life and the corresponding
actions to make it happen. I want you to create a plan for
your future and the goals you want to accomplish.

If you know where you are going and how to get there you
will not be disappointed in the end.

If you would like to get a head start and learn every step
involved in mastering motivation, The Motivated Mind may be
the solution for you. This complete program will guide you
step by step from choosing your goals, getting motivated to
achieve them, and staying motivated until you get exactly
what you want

Thousands of people have already benefited from the six
keys of The Motivated Mind, perhaps it’s your turn to make
a change and live life at the next level! Visit the address
below to learn exactly how The Motivated Mind can help you:

http://www.motivation123.com/cmd.php?ad=211383

The pattern will continue until you do something to change
it. That change can happen whenever you are ready; today or
twenty years from now. It’s up to you. Knowing how exciting
life can be when you achieve your goals and dreams, I hope
you decide to make the changes sooner than later.

My Best,

Jason M. Gracia
Founder and President
www.Motivation123.com

10 Ways to Instantly Build Self Confidence

by John Wesley Print This Post

Self confidence is the difference between feeling unstoppable and feeling scared out of your wits. Your perception of yourself has an enormous impact on how others perceive you. Perception is reality — the more self confidence you have, the more likely it is you’ll succeed.

Although many of the factors affecting self confidence are beyond your control, there are a number of things you can consciously do to build self confidence. By using these 10 strategies you can get the mental edge you need to reach your potential.

Build Self Confidence

1. Dress Sharp

Although clothes don’t make the man, they certainly affect the way he feels about himself. No one is more conscious of your physical appearance than you are. When you don’t look good, it changes the way you carry yourself and interact with other people. Use this to your advantage by taking care of your personal appearance. In most cases, significant improvements can be made by bathing and shaving frequently, wearing clean clothes, and being cognizant of the latest styles.

This doesn’t mean you need to spend a lot on clothes. One great rule to follow is “spend twice as much, buy half as much”. Rather than buying a bunch of cheap clothes, buy half as many select, high quality items. In long run this decreases spending because expensive clothes wear out less easily and stay in style longer than cheap clothes. Buying less also helps reduce the clutter in your closet.

2. Walk Faster

One of the easiest ways to tell how a person feels about herself is to examine her walk. Is it slow? tired? painful? Or is it energetic and purposeful? People with confidence walk quickly. They have places to go, people to see, and important work to do. Even if you aren’t in a hurry, you can increase your self confidence by putting some pep in your step. Walking 25% faster will make to you look and feel more important.

3. Good Posture

Similarly, the way a person carries herself tells a story. People with slumped shoulders and lethargic movements display a lack of self confidence. They aren’t enthusiastic about what they’re doing and they don’t consider themselves important. By practicing good posture, you’ll automatically feel more confident. Stand up straight, keep your head up, and make eye contact. You’ll make a positive impression on others and instantly feel more alert and empowered.

4. Personal Commercial

One of the best ways to build confidence is listening to a motivational speech. Unfortunately, opportunities to listen to a great speaker are few and far between. You can fill this need by creating a personal commercial. Write a 30-60 second speech that highlights your strengths and goals. Then recite it in front of the mirror aloud (or inside your head if you prefer) whenever you need a confidence boost.

5. Gratitude

When you focus too much on what you want, the mind creates reasons why you can’t have it. This leads you to dwell on your weaknesses. The best way to avoid this is consciously focusing on gratitude. Set aside time each day to mentally list everything you have to be grateful for. Recall your past successes, unique skills, loving relationships, and positive momentum. You’ll be amazed how much you have going for you and motivated to take that next step towards success.

6. Compliment other people

When we think negatively about ourselves, we often project that feeling on to others in the form of insults and gossip. To break this cycle of negativity, get in the habit of praising other people. Refuse to engage in backstabbing gossip and make an effort to compliment those around you. In the process, you’ll become well liked and build self confidence. By looking for the best in others, you indirectly bring out the best in yourself.

7. Sit in the front row
In schools, offices, and public assemblies around the world, people constantly strive to sit at the back of the room. Most people prefer the back because they’re afraid of being noticed. This reflects a lack of self confidence. By deciding to sit in the front row, you can get over this irrational fear and build your self confidence. You’ll also be more visible to the important people talking from the front of the room.

8. Speak up

During group discussions many people never speak up because they’re afraid that people will judge them for saying something stupid. This fear isn’t really justified. Generally, people are much more accepting than we imagine. In fact most people are dealing with the exact same fears. By making an effort to speak up at least once in every group discussion, you’ll become a better public speaker, more confident in your own thoughts, and recognized as a leader by your peers.

9. Work out

Along the same lines as personal appearance, physical fitness has a huge effect on self confidence. If you’re out of shape, you’ll feel insecure, unattractive, and less energetic. By working out, you improve your physcial appearance, energize yourself, and accomplish something positive. Having the discipline to work out not only makes you feel better, it creates positive momentum that you can build on the rest of the day.

10. Focus on contribution

Too often we get caught up in our own desires. We focus too much on ourselves and not enough on the needs of other people. If you stop thinking about yourself and concentrate on the contribution you’re making to the rest of the world, you won’t worry as much about you own flaws. This will increase self confidence and allow you to contribute with maximum efficiency. The more you contribute to the world the more you’ll be rewarded with personal success and recognition.

The Billion-Dollar Decision

The Billion-Dollar Decision
_________________________________________________

Thousands cover the landscape from New York to California,
from London to Tokyo. It doesn’t matter how young or old
you are, chances are good that you’ve walked into one, most
likely more than once. And regardless of what you think
about its image and impact, no one can argue that McDonalds
isn’t an empire in the world of business.

The point of this McDonalds’s story isn’t about what they
serve over the counter each day, nor does it have anything
to do with the debate over where these restaurants should
and should not be located. No, this story is different.

It’s one of dreams and inspiration. And the leading role is
played by its legendary fountainhead, Ray Kroc.

With the World Series getting underway and the Olympics right
around the corner, we are constantly reminded that greatness
often begins at an early age.

We hear of children becoming athletes only years after they
learn how to walk, about young stars working decades to
reach the pinnacle of their sport.

This theme, success being achieved by those who started at
an early age, is found in much more than sport.
_________________________________________________

Busting the Myth
_________________________________________________

Entrepreneurs like Bill Gates of Microsoft and Phil Knight
of Nike, both beginning their drive toward success at an
early age, lead us to believe that all success follows this
path.

And if success in life requires an early start, millions
around the world have already missed their chance.

But then a man named Ray Kroc comes along and gives us
hope. He gives us proof that an early start isn’t as
important as a deep desire to make the most of our lives.

When most people believe their life is winding down and
heading for retirement, Kroc was just beginning to create
one of the most successful businesses in history.

To begin working toward his dream at twenty years of age
would be quite amazing given the size and success of his
company at the time of his passing. Thirty or forty years
old would be almost ridiculous.

So how old was Ray Kroc when he took the first step toward
growing McDonald’s into a worldwide phenomenon?

52.

Even now I can’t believe it. But it’s true, and it gives
hope to every single person out there who feels that their
time has passed. As long as you’re alive and breathing,
your time will never pass.

But the history of Ray Kroc and his decision to achieve a
dream late in life is about much more than age. It’s about
a lesson we all must learn if we are to be truly happy and
successful.
_________________________________________________

What’s the Real Lesson?
_________________________________________________

What I want to do with this newsletter more than anything
else is to get one point across: you must take all that you
are at this moment and make the most of it.

Excuses about age, time, money, and every other item we
throw into the mix to help us feel better about putting our
dreams on hold will end up killing our hopes for a happy
and fulfilling life.

Ray Kroc teaches us that age is never an issue when it
comes to getting what you really want in life. Use his
story to inspire action if you are at an age when you felt
that your time had passed. But this is only one example.

If you look hard enough you will find a story like Kroc’s
that shatters every excuse we hide behind. People from
every walk of life, facing extraordinary odds, have
achieved great things and created truly amazing lives.
Proof that you can do it as well.

_________________________________________________

An Exercise to Inspire Success
_________________________________________________

It’s time to take what we have learned and put it to use.
If you’re human, you probably have a few excuses that you
tell yourself about why you can’t do something about your
goals today.

Perhaps the time isn’t right or the time has already
passed. Maybe the money isn’t there or the people around
you just won’t support your plan. Whatever it is, I want
you to make a short list of the most powerful excuses you
tell yourself.

When you have them, I want you to do something a little
different than usual. Instead of writing down all of the
reasons why your excuses aren’t true, I want you to act as
if you’re giving advice to a friend who has told you about
his or her goal but ends it with the excuses you use for
putting off following through.

Think about it. What would you tell your best friend if he
or she came to you and said…

‘I really want to (goal), but I can’t because (excuse).’

What would you say to change their mind? What would you say
to motivate them past their excuses and onto success?

When you know what you would say to them, say it to
yourself and follow through.

_________________________________________________

How Much Do You Want It?
_________________________________________________

The reason for this role reversal is simply that we are
great at giving advice but rarely as good at taking it
ourselves. By changing the roles you can get your best
advice out of your head and hard to work for you and your
future.

When it comes down to it, you’ve got to ask yourself how
much you want to change your life, how much you really want
to achieve your goals. If they are worth it, which I know
they are, put an end to the excuses and follow Ray’s lead.
Accept the facts of your situation and move ahead with an
unwavering confidence.

You may not end up selling billions of hamburgers to
billions of people around the world, but you will do
something much more important – you will live your best
life.

As we wrap up today’s issue I want to share an exciting
breakthrough with you. Motivation, one of the most
important skills you can have in life, isn’t what you
think it is. Most believe it’s a drive that comes and goes
without notice.

Nothing can be farther from the truth.

Feeling motivated to do the things you have always wanted
to do can happen every single day – if you know the six
keys of motivation. Imagine what you could do with your
life, and the lives of others, if you knew how to get and
stay motivated to change your life and achieve your goals
for the next twenty, thirty, or forty years. And it’s easy
to do!

If you’re serious about making the most of your time and
living the best life possible, I invite you to take a few
minutes to learn about the six keys of motivation as well
as the special subscriber offer mentioned above. A few
minutes could change your life.

Visit: http://www.motivation123.com/cmd.php?ad=412146

Ray Kroc could have used his age as an excuse to pass by
the opportunity that brought him unimaginable success. He
could have shrugged his shoulders and lowered his head in
defeat. Instead, he grabbed life by the horns and plowed
full speed ahead toward the dream he was unwilling to pass
by.

Follow his lead.

My Best,

Jason M. Gracia
Founder and President
www.Motivation123.com

MY MOTIVATION PROGRAMMED

Dear Readers,

Routine is a murderer.

Years ago, before starting My Motivation Programmed,
I had pockets full of plans and ideas. My mind was in a
constant state of activity.

As for my reality, nothing ever changed. Nothing in my
life went in the directions I had hoped for. It got to
the point that I began to doubt whether or not a better
life was even possible. Could I change?

Then, while paging through a magazine at the doctor’s
office, I came across a question, just a short team of
words that gripped my attention.

It was simple–as most powerful truths are–but it made
an immediate impact. And from that day I possessed a
key to progress that has served me ever since.

Before we get to that answer, however, we need to pin
down the problem.

_________________________________________________

The Killer
_________________________________________________

In a word, it’s routine.

It’s the pattern of living that, like molten lava,
slowly crawls into adulthood, covering and consuming
our hopes, dreams, and ambitions.

It’s doing the same thing every day because that’s what
you’ve always done. It’s a vicious circle of repeating
actions and events that leads to nowhere.

The reason nothing was changing in my life was because
I was stuck in a routine. Every day I followed the same
basic outline of living: wake, work, sleep, repeat.

I had new ideas, to be sure, but my actions were old.

Then I was hit with the truth while waiting – for what
seemed like weeks – in my doctor’s waiting room.

- – -

At this point you might be thinking to yourself that
the most important question to answer is ‘What do I
want?’ If you don’t yet have clearly defined goals,
you’re right.

_________________________________________________

The Question I Took with Me
_________________________________________________

The sad reality is that most people never realize what
is happening until it’s too late. That is the skill and
cunning of habit and routine.

It wraps its arms around the minutes and hours of your
life, distracting and luring you into autopilot, into a
dazed mode of living.

All the while, the little time you have to construct
your ideal experiences is being sucked away, stolen.

Routine is a murderer. It kills hope and the chance for
change. It blinds us to the truth and with a scalpel
cuts away our goals and ideas. Routine puts a hand in
the face of growth and improvement, leaving room for
nothing but the same.

You need a way out of the routine. And for me, the way
out came in the form of a question:

‘If you continue to follow the same patterns, what are
the chances you’ll ever experience the things you want
to do and ever become the person you hope to be?’

I read the sentence again. What would my chances be?
Things hadn’t worked out so far, so why would doing the
same thing result in anything different?

_________________________________________________

My Realization
_________________________________________________

I had my answer. My chances were none.

I would never do the things I had always thought about,
never grow into the character I hoped for. If I
followed the same routines, the same patterns, I could
expect pretty much what I had been getting.

For some, this is the perfect scenario. But for me, I
wanted more. I knew how much life had to offer and I
wanted to dive in head first. I wanted to experience it
all and live a life worth living again.

I looked around the office, looked at the people next
to me. None of us would reach that place without a
change in pattern. We were all trapped in a circle of
habit.

This brings us face to face with a truth that most men
and women would rather avoid.

It’s relieving to let our goals live in ’someday.’ We
don’t have to worry about never attaining them.
Instead, we can put them off and fool ourselves.

‘It will happen someday.’ No, it won’t.

The truth is, if you don’t change your routine now, you
will never reach those goals. You will never wake up to
a life that matches the one in your mind. Never.

Don’t hide from this. Accept it. Embrace it. Use it to
smash through the chains of routine and drive you into
a new way of life, into a new pattern of progress.

This is the first step. Realizing a change is needed is
the beginning of something amazing – but it is only the
beginning.

Would you like to continue the process?

If so, visit the address below. It will show you a new
way to think about motivation – the key to changing
your patterns and your life.

Believe it or not, inner drive (that feeling that makes
you want to get up and do what it takes) is a switch
that can be turned on and off at will.

All you need to know are six simple steps to make it
happen. To discover what they are and to begin using
them today, visit:

http://www.wirajayaexcellence.com
Routine may be a killer, but it can only work in the
shadows. Now that you know it’s there, you can stop the
damage, stop the patterns, and start something new.

My Best,

Your Friend

HIN DE RAF – SATU AGENDA LUPA

Salam dan SELAMAT HARI RAYA diucapkan kepada semua rakan pembaca seagama seluruh nusantara. Terkejut dengan kejadian semasa di Kuala Lumpur baru-baru ini, teringat kembali rentetan peristiwa yang telah berlalu sekian masa. Isu ketidak puashatian dan Isu mahukan keadilan telah dimanipulasikan menjadi Isu yang boleh meningkatkkan kebencian kaum. Saya secara peribadi menyarankan kepada pihak yang berkenaan agar mengambil langkah segera bagi menangani Isu yang berat ini.

Bagi sesebuah negara sedang membangun seperti MALAYSIA, beberapa perkara asas haruslah diperbetulkan terlebih dahulu, saya secara peribadi bukanlah pakar dalam bidang ini, cuma ingin menjadi seorang wargga dan rakyat yang perihatin. Sebaik sahaja kita MEDEKA 51 tahun yang lalu, penjajah telah berpesan supaya kita haruslah bersatu dalam membangunkan negara kita sendiri, dan jikalau kita tiiddak dappat bersatu, NEGARA yang kita cintai ini akan dijajah semula.

Sekarang dapat dilihat bagaimana NEGARA ini dengan perlahan-lahan telah dijajah semula oleh bangsa asing secara diam. Kita semua tahu bahawa, pejuang kemerdekaan dahulu telah berjuang habis-habisan untuk menuntut kemerdekaan dan membina sebuah negara yang berdaulat.

Tetapi sekarang, dengan pimpinan yang lemah dan rakyat tidak bersatu, kedaulatan ini semakin terhakis. Kedaulatan NEGARA kita MALAYSIA ( MALAY-MELAYU, SIA – NEGERI ) terletak pada AGAMA, BAHASA dan ADAT MELAYU yang kita pegang selama ini. Walaupun negara ini terdiri dari rakyat yang berbilang bangsa dan agama, sebagai majoriti dan bangsa yang telah bersungguh-sungguh berjuang demi kemerdekaan, bangsa lain haruslah menghormati BAHASA MELAYU dan AGAMA ISLAM ini dengan erti sebenar dan tanpa konpromi.

Awal abad ke-20, semasa perjuangan orang melayu menentang penjajah sampai ke kemuncaknya, pihak penjajah telah mengubah dasar dan membawa masuk imigran-imigran dari tanah jajahan mereka yang lain ke TANAH MELAYU bagi tujuan supaya dasar PECAH dan PERINTAH dapat dijalankan dengan lebih berkesan dan kawalan terhadap bangsa MELAYU lebih mudah dijalankan. Ini berlaku kerana kelemahan bangsa MELAYU itu sendiri dan orang melayu ini telah diketahui penjajah adalah bangsa yang mudah dipengaruh dan diprovokan.

Mengenangkan sejarah lalu dan sayangnya kita kepada bangsa dan negara ini, saya menyarankan agar

1) Akta ISA diubah supaya ditambahkan lagii menjadi, seorang yang cuba untuk merosakkan kedaulatan negara ini samaada menghina BANGSA MELAYU( bahasa kebangsaan), BAHASA MELAYU dan BUMIPUTERA ( Penduduk asal ) dan AGAMA ISLAM ( Agama Rasmi ) akan dikenakan tindakkan keras BUANG NEGARA, kita tidak perlu rakyat sebegini.

2) PENDIDIKAN – dasar pendidikan harus diubah dengan mengembalikan kepentingan bahasa kebangsaan. Semua pelajar haruslah belajar di sekolah kebangsaan, hapuskan sekolah jenis kebangsaan, dan sekolah agama yang dibenarkan hanya sekolah agama persekutuan.

3) SOSIAL – Kerajaan haruslah bertegas tentang kedaulatan bahasa melayu, dimana setiap ULASAN MENTERI di TV haruslah dalam bahasa melayu yang baik ( kalau TV ENLISH suruh depa translate saja ). MENTERI HANYA AKAN BERUCAP DALAM ENGLISH DI PERSIDANGAN ANTARABANGSA SAHAJA.

YANG LEBIH PENTING- BAGI BANGSA MELAYU- untuk mendapatkkan hak keistimewaan melayu, seseorang itu haruslah BERBANGSA MELAYU, BERAGGAMA ISLAM DAN MENGAMALKAN ADAT RESAM MELAYU. dan jika bangsa lain mahukan hak keistimewaan ini, mudah sahaja, BANGSA LAIN HARUSLAH BERAGGAMA ISLAM DAN MENGAMALKAN ADAT RESAM MELAYU, maka layak memohon untuk menjadi MELAYU ISLAM.

Ini dapat dilihat, apabila seorang bangsa lain memeluk islam dan hidup secara melayu, mereka lebih melayu dari melayu yang asal.

Sekian setakat ini….jumpa lagi