Personal Development Articles

At a conference this year, I heard many self employed and small business owners lamenting how hard they were working, yet not gaining any new business growth or profit. In today’s business environment many emerging entrepreneurs mistakenly attempt to wear all the hats when running their business. Instead of hiring someone to conduct some of the work for them, they mistakenly believe that they are saving money by doing everything themselves.

Are you a forgetful person and always trying to figure out how other individuals can recollect so much while you can't? Science has discovered a number of simple methods that can be used for fixing folks with bad memories. Thus, this article is ideal for people wishing to learn about how to memorize quickly. The loci method The loci method is known as one of the most widely used memory improvement tips . According to this method, you have to draw a picture of a couple of plac

After the warm glow of Christmas, January and February can appear to be cold, somber and miserable months. The gloomy days of winter are mirrored in many people’s lives as they feel slightly depressed, and low on energy and motivation. Here are six ways to banish the “winter blues” by remaining positive during those months. Set Goals Rather tha New Year’s resolutions, set a few goals for January and February. These will help you to remain motivated during these months. Make sure that your goals are specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time-defined.

The expression “attention to detail” has become something of a cliché on most job descriptions. What job doesn’t require attention to detail? But recently, I witnessed first hand, a group of professionals whose entire workload is attention to detail. My mission was to provide training for Event Coordinators within a large organization.

Translation: please respond A client writes: There seems to be a lot of confusion about RSVP. I noticed this with two invitations I recently sent out. The first was to an intimate bridal shower at my home, and the second, to a costly destination wedding. I understand my experience was typical. Today, brides and mothers-of-the-bride must routinely call guests who ignore RSVP’s, even when a reply card is included with the wedding invitation. Diane: You’re absolutely right – there is tremendous confusion about RSVP’s. Not just surrounding weddings but for all kinds of events.

The Shadow in ourselves consists of all the emotions and thoughts we repress as being socially inappropriate. Jealousy, rage, that evil twinge that relishes the thought of your boss being called on the carpet? That is shadow material. The more we repress shadow material, the more of a hold it has on us. An example? I think this is most easily seen in homophobic people. It is said that people who are homophobic harbor homosexual feelings themselves, or fear that they do. So th

Delayed gratification. That's a phrase that few people like to hear—we are the "give it to me and give it to me now" generation. Literally, we don't often think along the terms of "grow” rich. We want to start a business and have it do what Google did. Everybody wants that. But can you plan on that? No. Can you plant an oak tree in your yard and have it reach majestic heights of 100 feet in one season?

“I am seen as a pillar of strength. I was brought up this way. I don’t show my emotions or to talk about the bad stuff going on in my life. When people ask how I’m doing, I say, ‘I’m fine.’ As a nurse, I am always there for others. I don’t want to have to ask for help or lean on others for ...

We all have our faults and failings. That is a statement of ordinary, honest fact. However, the vast majority of us mistake our inappropriate behaviour for some inherent character flaw that leads everyone to whom I have ever posed the questio "Are you 100% happy with yourself?" to immediately and forcefully answer "No!" All my clients tell me that they have "inadequacies", things they'd like to change about themselves. But when we dig deeper, two things become apparent.

The Institute of Marriage is not to be entered into lightly. A marriage is about longevity, not about a weekend fling. It should not be entered into with thoughts of, "oh, if it doesn't work out, we can always get a divorce". It is an institution of love, commitment, respect and understanding. This means that excess emotional baggage, which includes childhood issues, past relationship issues and adult insecurities should be worked through before taking that final leap into a committed marriage.

There is a pervasive discontent in our society today. We seem to be suffering from an epidemic of unhappiness. Why do some of us seem to constantly be looking for something that we simply never quite seem to catch up to? What causes this discontent and how can we overcome it? In your mind, you ...

The World Health Organization believes that stress will be one of the biggest killers of the 21st century. Stress is responsible for millions of lost workdays in the US and UK each year. Stress leads to eating disorders, sleep disorders, heart problems, a multitude of other health problems – stress kills.

There is over seventy years’ research that proves conclusively that you and I, as normal people, are crazy. Our minds control us, not the other way around as it should be – as sure a definition of madness as I have ever seen. The evidence started mounting up all the way back in 1936 when a certain Professor Stroop proved that our inability to pay attention even hinders us paying attention to what we want we have decided to pay attention to!

Mastery; a foreign concept in our western way of thinking. It’s a word that is hardly relevant to our understanding of how the western world functions today. In our new world we assess achievement with diplomas, certificates and degrees and aggressively climbing the ladder to success. In the old world, however achievement was determined by mastery and degrees of mastery of skill sets.

To win in business today every department needs to understand how they support other departments. When each department is only conce ed about their piece of the success, failure will appear somewhere in overall customer satisfaction. Business mistakes internally can cost you dearly exte ally. Your actions affect others actions internally as well as exte ally. Business suffers when customer satisfaction is not taking place internally. What I find when working with companies is

The power of language, and its workings on my sub-conscious mind, never ceases to amaze me. Words have feelings and emotions attached to them, by our association. When I say the word MOTHER, every single one of you experienced a different feeling and emotion. Your subconscious received that communicated word, via your emotions and feelings. We often believe that it is the actual words producing a particular state, when in fact it is our associative perceptions of those words that communicate. Recently, I was watching a program about Louise Hay.

What would you create if nothing was holding you back? What if you could literally change your experience of success on a cellular level? In other words, change your DNA. Actually you can. And it doesn’t involve surgery! But first, let’s look at what’s going on. Let’s say you’ve explored your inner world quite extensively. You know all kinds of things about the law of attraction, manifestation, emotional and spiritual intelligence, and yet you’re still not experiencing life and success in the way you could.

My invitation arrived unannounced. Just as I was rushing out to a meeting, an email came in from my client, Royal Caribbean Cruise Line (RCCL). I started reading and right at the end of the message, there it was: “I want you to know how much I value your partnership … I’d like to invite you and a guest to join me in November onboard our newest ship — the beautiful Allure of the Seas!!!” Incredible, I thought and kept reading: “You would be my guest onboard for a 2-day inaugural sailing out of Port Everglades, Fort Lauderdale.

Have you ever been frustrated when others fail to heed your suggestions for change – changes that will bring value to the organization or project beyond what anyone could possibly hope to achieve? Does it seem that others who don’t have a clue get immediate access to decision makers, when no one is listening to your solution that actually works? If you’re not in a place where your ability to impact change comes from your position or relationships, you need a strategy for getting your voice heard. You need to stop relying on a griot approach to communication.

Ever wonder what you’re doing here – what life is all about? Ever wonder why life’s ups and downs toss you around like a piece of driftwood – why life seems to go swingingly for some people but not for you? Ever wonder will there be an end to stress and worry – whether, some day, you’ll be able to sit back, smell the roses and say to yourself “I have it all”? These questions, which bother us all in some shape or form, are simply answered if you understand that life is lived in moments, just as the universe exists in moments, and that it is in these moments of time and space

The Basics

Do you have a fear of goal setting? Have you set goals in the past that did not work out how you wanted? Are you disheartened as a result? Or maybe you are afraid to set goals in case you fail and you know how awful that feels so end up staying safe instead. Some people are afraid to set a goal in case they cannot handle the success so they put off setting the goal and keep putting it off. Do you procrastinate when it comes to goal setting?

The adage that knowledge is power rings true ever more. Companies are looking for people who are intelligent, and able to apply this intelligence to their work. Having a photographic memory comes into play here, as the advantages of being able to recall every minute detail as if you had the object right in front of your eyes is a skill that cannot be more strongly emphasized. nnnThis is an extremely useful tool to have, and one that is not quite that easy to pick up. If it wa

What better time than now is it to grow and prosper? We are approaching yet the end of another year or for some, a new beginning. It is a fact that the majority of new and existing businesses flourish this very time of year because so many people are making resolutions for change in their lives. They are tired of their job and feeling a renewed substance within them that any new year brings. We all are conscious that January 1st is really just another day, but each of our subconscious minds sing to an entirely different tune.

Write a list of your 101 personal accomplishments and 101 personal achievements for last year. Then write a list of your 101 intended accomplishments for the new year. While you write, you may notice secondary thoughts or things you say to yourself. You have likely heard it before that we have approx. 60,000 thoughts a day. Nearly two-thirds of those are not very positive and that does not mean the remaining third are much to write home about either! Recall all the things you said to yourself, as you wrote your lists.

The point was well made in the first part of this article, that there is NO security in this life, that “playing it safe” is not the best strategy to live life to the fullest. The best strategy, in my opinion, is to… Be Bold and DARE … “Don’t persist in the routine and the predictable simply because you’re too scared to try anything else. Don’t take care ... TAKE RISKS. We cannot progress unless we take some sort of risk.” Michael McKinley “There is nothing valuable that does not have inherent risk.

As published in RISMedia: The Inauguration was witnessed by the world, and at the same time hundreds of thousands were communicating and sharing their impressions of the event online. It's a new age fairy tale that transcends Technicolor! Imagine speaking to the entire world, having your message resonate across oceans, land and sky, on radio, television and the internet.

The age cycle, like Shakespeare's Seven ages of man speech, is interesting in a sort of detached way. Far more evident, pervasive and dangerous is the second cycle, The Fertility Cycle. As a female design feature it links in with survival of the fittest, and the notion of planned obsolescence. But to a man it's a minefield. Simply put; a reproductively mature woman, over a 28 day cycle; makes eggs, waits for seed, Not getting any, gets rid of eggs, Rests a bit, and them repeats the above. This happens with monotonous regularity from puberty to menopause.

I got an invoice from my lawyer a couple of days back – for what exactly I’m not sure, as his services didn’t really match the bill! He said he was sending out invoices to a as many people as he could think of, to “keep the wolf from the door in these challenging times”.

This is the conventional “wisdom” that has been foisted on so many children during their formative years – when we all formed our view of the world, how it works and our place in it. It suggests that hard work will be rewarded and that you have to work hard to be a success. It suggests that higher level education will make you a better person and will secure your future. And, of course, it suggests that a good job will provide the necessities of life on an ongoing basis and, indeed, security into old age. All of these myths have been busted over the last couple of years.

Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you sat down to do an important task only to realize then that your clothes needed ironing? Or that your digital music collection was in need of some serious reorganizing? And then there’s this fascinating documentary on bird migration on YouTube that you just can’t put off watching any longer. And since you’ll be watching a video might as well go ahead and make something to eat to go with it, right? Fast forward a few h

Truth be told, it’s really hard to build a successful home based business these days. For one thing, you have a ton of competition. Good competition from all the other legitimate home business opportunities. And competition, in a way, from all the bottom-feeders of the world who pretend to be businesspeople when they’re only snake-oil merchants peddling gifting programs and similar schemes. There are hundreds of marketing gurus out there who can show you dozens of technical ways to increase your traffic, and improve your conversion and closing ratios.

You have reached your 50’s. You certainly aren’t old. The new 50 is the old 35, the new 60 is the old 40 and all of that stuff. You are not feeling any sense of decline. You are at the peak of your working career and getting many of the benefits of your hard work.

Delayed gratification. That's a phrase that few people like to hear—we are the "give it to me and give it to me now" generation. Literally, we don't often think along the terms of "grow” rich. We want to start a business and have it do what Google did. Everybody wants that. But can you plan on that? No. Can you plant an oak tree in your yard and have it reach majestic heights of 100 feet in one season?

I read an article recently that stated according to research, despite unemployment and any number of economic and social indicators to the contrary, 80% of the population holds “unrealistic, optimistic beliefs” about their own future. It really got me to thinking about the two sides of hope. On the one hand there is great power in hope because it brings light into dark sad places, gives us something to hang on to and the strength to press on for a better future.

Visualisation is a lovely tool we can use to enhance our ‘cosmic orders’ or simply take ourselves away from the present to a lovely place. You ‘cosmic orderers’ out there will no doubt already be visualising the end result of your orders and imagining how you will feel once they’ve been achieved. And that’s the key really, to enhance the ‘feeling’ aspect of it. This brings your dreams so much closer, so much faster.

Testing Our Strength

Are you letting your fears hold you back and keep you from reaching your goals? Then you are not alone. Fear of one sort or another is usually the basic factor in your lack of success in any area of your life. In fact, fear is the biggest dream killer I know of. But it doesn't have to be that way. Here is a simple method that will help you overcome your fear so that you can achieve your goals.

Do you believe that you can succeed? Do you believe that you can reach your goals? That is probably the single most important question that you can ask yourself, because if you don't believe in your own abilities, you are always going to struggle to reach your goals. Your success in life - regardless of your goals - starts with your belief that you can succeed. Here is how to believe that you CAN succeed at reaching your goals.

I can feel just this heading is enough cause for me to duck some eggs, oranges and other missiles, but your actions would be uninformed, so let’s have a truce while I state my case. A woman was recently sentenced to ten months in prison, suspended for two years, for “marrying” four men while she was still married to her first husband. She was cautioned by police for two of these illegal marriages, and spent six months in prison for one of them. Despite all this, she went ahead and “married” a fifth man who discovered his place in the pecking order while they were on honeymoon.

I am often told to be tenacious, courageous, persistent, pushing, and dedicated to a direction. This post is about being aware of the signs when a change is needed and yet be dedicated to the right direction. Here is my main thought around this subject. Do not fight your journey when life moves you on, if your heart is on a target, even the unfamiliar will lead you to your goal. Saying a Day Keeps the Blues Away Be Patient or Move On? This reminds me of a caterpillar that knows when it is time to spin a cocoon and transform as opposed to continue moving forward as a caterpillar.

"Most men live a life of quiet desperation." ________________________________________ Do you? Do you force a smile on your face, stand up straight and go out to meet the world. Do you stoically keep the dreaded commitments that fill your planner? Do you unquestionably carry out your mounting ...

Does it sometimes seem like no matter how hard you work, little gets done? It does to me. Last week it seemed like every time I looked around we were either having to redo something or some new semi-crisis would present itself. All work towards building the barn got put on hold to fix a broken ...

Most of us have come face to face with intimidation at some point either at work or in our personal lives. It’s never easy because at the moment it occurs, there are two big things to manage: • YOU and your emotional state and • The other person’s behavior You have to assert yourself in a way that defuses the bully and his or her anger while at the same time managing the rage that is exploding inside you.

What business do negative people have in your life? Why are they there in the first place? Because you let them hang around. Could it be you hang around them? What happens when you are surrounded by even just one negative Nellie? Your whole day, attitude, perspective, and direction changes - for the worse. Before you know it there's a pattern that goes like this; "I know she's negative but she has some good qualities, too." Then; "I can fix her negativity." Next; "She really

My dreams are worthless, my plans are dust, my goals are impossible. All are of no value unless they are followed by action. I will act now. Never has there been a map, however carefully executed to detail and scale, which carried its owner over even one inch of ground. Never has there been a parchment of law, however fair, which prevented one crime. Never has there been a scroll, even such as the one I hold, which earned so much as a penny or produced a single word of acclam

You may be wondering what our dreams have to do with personal growth. Everything! You see, our dreams are an ancient communication tool with our soul - through our subconscious mind - directing us, coaching us, guiding us to what's most important for US. It's not for others - it's like your own personal life coach right inside of you, dedicated to you and what you want most in life!nnn What Messages Are We Receiving nnWe filter over 60,000 thoughts each and every day. Unfortu

Yoga is an intense form of exercise, which if done correctly brings to you many physical, spiritual and emotional benefits. There are numerous studies out there that will prove that people who practice yoga are calmer, more at peace and better able to deal with the challenges that arise in life. They also attain strength in body, balance and flexibility. I have been practicing yoga for a short time and have already seen dramatic improvements in my flexibility, strength, balance and in my ability to connect to the source of my power.

Each and every one of us has the potential to achieve anything you want in Life. On your jou ey to this discovery, you will all be made aware of a flame that has been lit deep within you for some great time now. This flame was lit long ago by a single spark. Even the tiniest of sparks can cause great transformational change. Think of a forest fire. The largest of forest fires are caused by a single spark. Now don't confuse your Self with the damage forest fires cause, because even after such devastation, new Life is born.

I will summarize the third book in John Maxwell's Laws series(The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership, and The 17 Indisputable Laws of Teamwork), which is 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth. This is the third Laws book: the first was to help the leader understand how leadership works. The second was to help people understand teamwork and develop stronger teams. And this book is published to help understand how personal growth works and to help the leader to become a more effective an